Brothers and sisters, I'll be posting more here soon but I wanted to encourage you again to read the other blogs below and be thinking about and praying for this Sunday. I'm asking to the Spirit's help for us to thankfully and patiently gather in our houses another day while we long for when we can gather in God's house together.
YOUNG KIDS - I would encourage you this Sunday during the message to draw a picture of something you think about during the service (or a picture of me preaching). Then ask one of your parents to send me a picture of it, as I miss seeing your sermon drawings and hope you can keep it up :)
PARENTS (OR ALL) - our fighter verse this weekend is Hebrews 13:5-6: “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Our family is trying to memorize this as part of family devotion time and would encourage you to as well as families or individuals.
Click here for a video devotional on the above fighter verse by Pastor Cliff that we watched around our dinner table tonight to help our family worship
Let's all pray:
RELATIONALLY - that this weekend would draw people together
EMOTIONALLY - for discouragement that grows as the length of time grows along with death tolls
SPIRITUALLY - for sustaining grace and that this Sunday would stir gratitude and gospel fruit
FOR THE CHURCH LOCALLY - for Pastor Oliver to able to come back to the States soon as Grace Reformed Baptist have been sheep without a shepherd nearby for many weeks now.
FOR MISSIONS GLOBALLY - we're hoping to set up a special Zoom prayer time for missions soon, but in the meanwhile please remember Bob and Maria Hill. They are our missions special giving focus of the month (if online giving, just specificy "Hills" on memo). This is an update from him:
"We are doing well with the lock-down. We are able to get out (which we do for shopping, and for helping some people who need it). Classes start again for me on Monday (we're just finishing the Easter break according to the Eastern Orthodox calendar...) I'm frustrated that we can't be in the same room for class, but we're doing the best we can with these situations. They are announcing another week of restrictions (and hopefully on Monday May 4 things will be a bit more relaxed!) But we don't want to prematurely end the safety measures and then have a setback! We are grateful for your love and support; thank you for your prayers. May God bless you all. Warmly in Christ:"
Lastly, here's a prayer we can all pray for ourselves, our family, and church family this weekend:
"Do not waste our misery and grief, O Lord. Purify your people from powerless preoccupation with barren materialism and Christless entertainment. Put our mouths out of taste with the bait of Satan. Cut from us the roots and remnant of pride and hate and unjust ways. Grant us capacities of outrage at our own belittling of your glory. Open the eyes of our hearts to see and savor the beauty of Christ. Incline our hearts to your word, your Son, and your way. Fill us with compassionate courage. And make a name for yourself in the way your people serve." (John Piper, Coronavirus and Christ, p. 100)
Treasuring His supremacy and sufficiency with you this weekend,
Pastor Phil