Psalm 33 Gearup the next days - Eastside 3rd December

A psalm of encouragement - worship and prayer.

Worship and praise has two sides without which, worship is a purely self-centered exercise.

What make up the best thing of worship.

1. The fear of the Lord
- He made everything out of nothing
* the lord merely spole and the heavens were created, he breathed the words and the stars were born
* he spoke and the world appeared at his command

- there is no one who can stand against him
* he fustrates the plans of nations
* his plans stand firm forever
* the best equipped army the strongest army cannot save you
* do not relay on your war horse to give you victory

- Nothing can be hidden from him
* from his throne he observes everything

We must come into GOD'S presence with fear and reverance and respect.

GOD'S plans are firm and never waiver - forever!

GOD does not observe from a distance, he is permanently on his throne, overseeing all.

We have replaced the respect of GOD with respect for ourselves.

Spend time over this CHRISTmas period spending time with GOD. Spend time in his presence, hear his word ...

2. The second part of worship is - The JOY of being a son
- Ephesians 1:3-5 'for he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight'
- when we spend time in christmas we invited into the throne room as HIS son.
- as having accepted Lord Jesus as my savior, I don't come into his throne room as a guest, but rather as a Son!

HE made our hearts , so he understands everything we do (v15)
The Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love (v18)


Sing a new song to the Lord

Application
- Sing a new song this Christmas
* let Christmas be a time of reverence - make special time.
* Enjoy your sonship / daughtership

* Ask the Lord to meet with us in a special way this Christmas.
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Positioned for Blessing - Eastside Community Church (Pastor Mark)

(Shortened notes - Steven Ball)

What is a blessing?

'A blessing is an empowerment to succeed.'

Its not as simple as going into God's shopping mall each morning and choosing and getting what we want.

'Prosperity is not measured by material possessions but by the presence of God in our lives'

Genesis 32: 24-29
As Jacob wrestled with God ...
- Thoughts -

1. Jacob was ALONE with God (v24) - when last have we had the GUTs to truly be alone with GOD? What if I speak to God and he does not reply ... Does that mean I am alone? No! What 'Quality' time am I spending with God specifically?
The blessing of God comes from our relationship with God - grow in intimacy with God.

2. Jacob was BROKEN by God - too often we pretend all is ok, all is good. We need to though make ourselves vulnerable to God and in front of others. God is glorified when in our weaknesses we come before God and he is able to live and act in our lives.
More often we need to be broken so that God can rebuild us!

3. Jacob was HUNGRY for God - 'jacob said you may not leave before you feed me'. Jacob was hungry for the blessing of God. Don't substitute other false things into our lives, instead make sure we are fed by the God of all creation.
God your will be done, not ours!

4. Jacob was HONEST with God - do we actually know who this person is? Who is my indentity. 'What is your name' - Tell me who you REALLY are! Only after struggling a long time with God, can and will your identity be found ...

PUT our pride aside and Humble ourselves in front of God in a REAL way! Become real and
God will bless!

God has a desire to bless us all! Are you ready and willing to get alone with God in our lives?!?
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Share a note

"Servantship" -- coachstevenball


http://bible.us/n/CAsL
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Share Today's Reading

I'm currently reading day 15 of Breathe Life. To join in and read along go to:

http://bible.us/r/V.F.U
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How often Do I reflect on the good?

We so often get caught up in the deserts of our lives, in the bad parts, the times of drought, the things that do go according to our plans.

We forget and barely ever reflect on the good, the times of greatness according to God's plan and not our wish list.

Spend time in acknowledging God's greatness in our lives. Acknowledge all the happiness, all the positives. In hindsight reflect on God's plan and influence on our lives.

Thank you Lord for the amazing bessings in my life. Thank you for the abunce you have provided us this year.
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Thank YOU for the Cross

Thank YOU for the Cross

Today, on this day almost 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ the son of God the father, fulfilled the promise that had been given. The promise that He will send His only son, who will become man, walk on this earth of ours, will die for each & everyone of our sins, and then rise again to sit at the right hand of God the Father in heaven.

Today we celebrate Gods promise to each one of us, His promise of the resurrection and the promise that God cares for each one of us, just as Jesus called Mary by name in the garden after she was at the tomb. He knows us all.

Jesus has risen, He has risen indeed. Thank YOU for the Cross my Lord.
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5 lessons from the fig tree - Luke 13v6-9

5 lessons from the fig tree - Luke 13v6-9

(From & Excerpts & applications of Eastside Community Church Service - Pastor Riaan Niemand)

1. Fig trees are sought after.

Jesus told his story to real people. These lessons are real from a real God dealing with Real people. We are precious in God's eyes, each one of us.

Incredible truth is that God was willing to send his Son for each one of us.

2. Uselessness invites disaster.
Everyday the God that Loves us with a love we can't explain, looks at us each day to see the fruit he want from each of us.
However, if we are not fruitful and only live a life focused on ourselves we end up dead & lifeless.

3. Nothing survives that just takes & takes

We as Christians often just want to feel nice. To just take and not focus on God as our center and to give back what God gave us. The challenge is to heal the broken hearted, by going into the broken world through the life that God has called us to.

Can you imagine if we all were as fruitful as God intended for each of us.

4. The reality of a second chance
God gives second chance. Jesus lived by different set of rules. As He hung on the cross He asked God to forgive them as they know not what they do.

5. The finality of not being useful.

There won't always be another chance. (Matthew 21:17-20). The warning of the fig tree. God is a God of second chance, IF we submit to the Holy Spirit.

Application
God has placed his hand on us, each one of us. We are His fig trees! We are placed to produced fruit love a fruitful fig tree.
This is an awesome message for all sportsmen & women. This is each of our stories.
Are we bearing a lifestyle of fruitfulness or one of sin?
Am I willing to bear God's fruit for him?
What are we embracing today?

Go & bear fruit!!!
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God's Love

God's Love

Psalm 91: God will send his ministering angels to protect us. Nothing is hidden from the Lord.
The Holy Spirit will hold me accountable.
He is Most High, Almighty

I can have a relationship with God because:
- Because He loves me!
- Because He acknowledges my name
- Because we r friends.

KNOW GOD!
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'Just walk across the room' - Bill Hybels

'Just walk across the room' - Bill Hybels

The back of the challenges us through saying the following:
"Astounding things happen when you follow the model of Jesus. Emphasizing the leading of the Holy Spirit, Hybels invites you to step out of your 'circle of comfort' & into encounters with people who long for someone to take an interst in them - men & women with stories to tell & hearts that yearn to experience God's love reaching out to them through your smile, your encouragement, your transparency, your friendship"

Challenge is that, as me as a coach working with particularly athletes, am I firstly willing to do this answer secondly am I anywhere near to doing it in some small way already.
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Every Christian should be in full time ministry.

Sermon by Abel Loedloff - Eastside Community Church
FInding God when the Heat is on

Every Christian should be in full time ministry. Otherwise u r a part time christian.

God is faithful.
Will we give up before we receive, even if the road is long?!?
James 1v2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when u meet trials of various kinds;
James 1 v 3 - for u know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

- Don't ask 'why's - Ask 'what now'
- Positive confession - Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17)
- Seek first kingdom, then all things will be added to u!
- Trust Him no matter what - Job
- Wait upon the Lord - Isa40:31 'But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their Strength.'

What I deserve is Hell, cause I sin, so anything better than that is a bonus!

We must find our center / quiet part of the storm, there God is for us.
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