1 10 20 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/87a23ba96abdf9051d20c527b7676552.jpg 66353b8ad9c52813f6df90a0967484b8 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/285d296649f0b7a7529c4cb2577023dc.mp4 cded83733acb5801c76bc2b73d72dda1 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound 911 or 333? Jeremiah 33:3 ? Who do we call first when life breaks down? 911? Google? YouTube? Ourselves? Or God? In Luke 4:23, Jesus quotes an ancient proverb: “Physician, heal thyself.” In medicine and healthcare, this basically means that experts should “practice what they preach” and sometimes seek help themselves rather than relying entirely on self-treatment. Well… I just returned from a 10-day health program where all nine of us probably thought we were experts on health and nutrition — and yet there we were together, all seeking help in order to become healthy again. Since my late teens, I have been fascinated — maybe sometimes even obsessed — with alternative health and natural healing. Back then, all we had were a few hard-to-find health books and articles in Prevention Magazine. Now we have the internet, YouTube, podcasts, influencers, and A.I. to ensure we remain thoroughly confused about the right choices to make. And in recent months, my own thoughts have sounded something like this: “What if I try this?” “What if I stop eating that?” “What am I doing wrong?” “What do I need to change?” “What supplement am I missing?” And honestly… this is humbling to admit. But I suspect some people listening today can relate. And what is the common element in all those questions? “I.” “Me.” “My effort.” “My understanding.” The focus becomes what I can do. But the older I get, the more I realize: Self-focused effort can only take us so far. Sooner or later, we all come to the end of ourselves. And that brings me to the real question this morning: Who are you going to call? 911… or 333? Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Rather than merely seeking healing… we must run directly to the Healer. When life breaks down… when our bodies fail… when our minds are overwhelmed… when our hearts are exhausted… God says: “Call unto Me.” Not: “Figure it out yourself.” Not: “Carry it alone.” Not:“Trust only your own understanding.” “Call unto Me.” I remember my pastor many years ago quoting this verse to me: 1 Tim 4:8: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Paul was telling Timothy that while physical discipline and exercise have benefit, spiritual life and fellowship with God are far more important because they affect both this life and eternity. And hear me clearly: There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve your health. There is nothing wrong with learning wisdom about the body God gave you. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. But rather than merely seeking healing… we must run directly to the Healer. Rom 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. And remember: Our New Covenant salvation touches every area of life — spirit, soul, and body. We needed salvation, so God sent a Savior. Jesus said in John 6:47: “Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth in Me hath everlasting life.” There is nothing I can do in my own power to overcome sin. Nothing I can do to cleanse myself. Nothing I can do to redeem myself. And in the same way, even with all the modern knowledge and technology available today, Jesus Christ is still the True Healer. (True or true?) The question is: Where is our focus when we seek restoration? Because self-effort without God eventually becomes exhausting. Salvation and healing flow from God’s grace through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:24: He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. And when we finally come to ourselves… we must run back to Jesus. There is healing today at the Throne of Grace. One more day of God’s amazing grace. Jesus said: “Repent ye and believe the Gospel.” Acts 20:24 calls it: “the Gospel of the grace of God.” And then Acts 20:32 says: “And so now, I entrust you into God’s hands and the message of his grace, which is all that you need to become strong. All of God’s blessings are imparted through the message of his grace, which he provides as the spiritual inheritance given to all of his holy ones.” Did you hear that? The message of His grace is what makes us strong. Paul said: “But whether I live or die is not important, for I don’t esteem my life as indispensable. It’s more important for me to fulfill my destiny and to finish the ministry my Lord Jesus has assigned to me, which is to faithfully preach the wonderful news of God’s grace.” Church, we must get this Good News about the good things of God to as many people as possible. Romans 10:14 says: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” I think about the woman with the issue of blood. She spent everything she had. She suffered for twelve years. She tried everything within her own power. And the Bible says her condition only became worse. But then… “she heard about Jesus.” She stopped chasing methods… and reached for the Master. And today we must do the same. We look to the Savior.We look to the Healer. Now, yes — it is wise to have discipline concerning what we put into our bodies. They belong to God. It is His temple. But scripture also warns us not to become overly consumed with comparisons, arguments, dietary restrictions and external regulations. Romans 14:6: The one who eats everything eats to honor the Lord, because he gives thanks to God, and the one who has a special diet does it to honor the Lord, and he also gives thanks to God. This does not mean we throw away common sense. It means we keep our focus centered on Christ. We all need wisdom. And Jesus Himself is our wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:30: For it is not from man that we draw our life but from God as we are being joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. And now He is our God-given wisdom, our virtue, our holiness, and our redemption. Christ becomes our wisdom. Our guide. Our direction. He teaches us how to live. How to conduct ourselves. What to pursue. What to avoid. How to walk through unique situations. “Lean not unto your own understanding.” Psalm 19:7 “The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul.” And the Book of James tells us that if we ask in faith without doubting, God will give us wisdom for every unique situation we face. So why depend entirely upon worldly wisdom… when as believers we have access to Divine Intelligence? (D.I.) God still says: “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” So now - this very morning, let us prepare our hearts to come to the table of God’s amazing grace. Come as you are. Romans 10:4 says: “For Christ is the end of the law. And because of him, God has transferred his perfect righteousness to all who believe.” Bring your needs. Bring your burdens. Bring your prayer requests. Come knowing that through Jesus Christ, you have been accepted into the Beloved. John 6:47: “I speak to you living truth: Unite your heart to me and believe—and you will experience eternal life!” John 6:35: Then Jesus declared, ‘I Am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” Closing Congregational Prayer Heavenly Father, today we come to You honestly and humbly. We confess that so often we rely upon our own understanding, our own strength, our own wisdom, and our own efforts. But today we turn our hearts back toward You. Teach us to call upon the Lord first. Teach us to trust You more deeply. Teach us to rest in Your grace. Lord Jesus, thank You for carrying our sins, our burdens, our fears, and our brokenness to the cross. Thank You that by Your wounds we are healed. Thank You that Your grace is still greater than our weakness. Today we bring You every need: our physical needs, our emotional needs, our family needs, our spiritual needs. Give us wisdom for every situation. Give us strength for every battle. Give us peace in every storm. Help us to keep our eyes upon You, Lord Jesus — our Savior, our Healer, our Wisdom, and our Life. And as we come to Your table today, we come by grace alone. We receive Your love. We receive Your mercy. We receive Your life. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 911 or 333? 911 或 333 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 05/24/2026 Description An account of the resource Jeremiah 33:3: Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. 耶 利 米 書 33:3: 你求告我，我就应允你，并将你所不知道、又大又难的事指示你。 (page 1290) Romans 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 羅 馬 書 10:13: 因为“凡求告主名的，就必得救。(page 1836) 1 Peter 2:24: He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 彼 得 前 書 2:24: 他 被 挂 在 木 头 上 ， 亲 身 担 当 了 我 们 的 罪 ， 使 我 们 既 然 在 罪 上 死 ， 就 得 以 在 义 上 活 。 因 他 受 的 鞭 伤 ， 你 们 便 得 了 医 治 。(page 1968) Acts 20:32: “And so now, I entrust you into God’s hands and the message of his grace, which is all that you need to become strong. All of God’s blessings are imparted through the message of his grace, which he provides as the spiritual inheritance given to all of his holy ones.” 使 徒 行 傳 20:32: 现在，我把你们交付给上帝和他恩典的信息，它能坚定你们的信仰，并把上帝赐给他所有圣民的祝福赐给你们。(page 1804) 1 Corinthians 1:30: For it is not from man that we draw our life but from God as we are being joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. And now He is our God-given wisdom, our virtue, our holiness, and our redemption. 歌 林 多 前 書 1:30: 但 你 们 得 在 基 督 耶 稣 里 ， 是 本 乎 神 ， 神 又 使 他 成 为 我 们 的 智 慧 、 公 义 、 圣 洁 、 救 赎 。 (page 1848) Psalm 19:7: The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. 詩 篇 19:7: 耶 和 华 的 律 法 全 备 ， 能 苏 醒 人 心 ； 耶 和 华 的 法 度 确 定 ， 能 使 愚 人 有 智 慧 。(page 897) John 6:35: “I am the bread of life,” replied Jesus. “Anyone who comes to me will never be hungry! Anyone who believes in me will never be thirsty!” 約 翰 福 音 6:35: 耶 稣 说 ： 我 就 是 生 命 的 粮 。 到 我 这 里 来 的 ， 必 定 不 饿 ； 信 我 的 ， 永 远 不 渴 (page 1728) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/7470cab28a66c099bfe6251d590a9d2f.jpg b8962439b5d11d7fa47446b73affcc17 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/4897b07f534823f3f6715270cc0742cf.jpg f6b7221341ce791bf1e913fe99999021 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/f98b30a9e0f04924860b903a0cce593f.mp4 5c65005d92a217faef9294268c7f599c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound The Quiet Place Psalm 145:18,19 It’s easy to get caught up in all the to-do’s “There’s always something that needs to be done.” Always chasing. Always thinking about the next step and almost missing the current step. Not being in the present moment. …and the Present Moment is All That We Really Have. “Slow down, young man.” (I can still hear that voice calling out to me.) For years now we have heard we live in a “microwave culture” Lamentations 3:26: it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. How often do we actually take time to “wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD?” One of my favorite (and maybe one of my most quoted) Bible verses is Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I Am God.” This verse has always meant so much to me – even though it can be such a challenge for someone like me to actually practice it. I have always had to be very deliberate in order to follow this lesson, whether it meant locking myself away, taking a walk on a nature trail or even going away to a monastery. This season of my life has made it more essential to practice this, and it was through such a deliberate effort that this message began to take shape. I hope there is some learning here that maybe you can benefit from, too. Will it require a desperate moment for you to “Be Still and Know that He is GOD?” Are you willing to embrace a new way of living? The old ways won’t go away quickly or easily. (routines, habits, learned behaviors) It will require Divine help – and with your humble cooperation. Psalm 46:1: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Good News: New Beliefs can grow into a new reality. “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.” “We all find time to do what we really want to do.” So, in other words, this message won’t be for everybody. You will have to really want this shift in your daily life. David Wilkerson: "When God wants to bring you into a new place, He first brings you to the end of yourself." Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6) Jeremiah 29:13: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. so – are you still with me? Are you in? “The LORD is near to all who call on him…” drift. It’s easy to get off track and find yourself in a place or situation you weren’t meant to be in. A little compromise. A little comfort. A little distraction. Next thing you know… ( ) Drift doesn’t announce itself. It just slowly pulls you away. For us to Be Still and Know we have to release the distractions that take our attention off of God’s Presence Those “distractions” could also be called “attachments” Attachments are like unnecessary chains – holding us back from the higher objectives we should be focused on “The greatest enemy of stillness can often be distraction.” Col 3:2: “Set your affection on things above…” “fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm.” Where are we pointing our hearts today? Psalm 145:18 states: "You draw near to those who call out to you, listening closely, especially when their hearts are true" Not being at peace is when your soul is still attached to outside distractions. These distractions can be attachments to who we think we must be – outside our identity in Christ Jesus said “My yoke is easy” “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life” Matt 5:3, (Jesus taught) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," is recognizing our own spiritual bankruptcy and utter dependence on God's grace, rather than self-righteousness. Being "poor in spirit" means emptying oneself of self-assurance to receive God's kingdom and His righteousness.” “God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness” In the still quiet moment, we come Him just as we are. Attachments and all. How else can we be made free? If we could do it ourselves we would have already done it. Paul: “I will show you a still more excellent way.” (1 Cor 12:31) LOVE When we “arise and go to our Father” we need to come to Him in faith, trusting in His love, His grace, His mercy. 1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. “If we really love God, we will not be afraid of him. We cannot love him completely and also be afraid. We would only be afraid of God if we thought that he would punish us. So, if someone is afraid that God will punish them, it shows that they do not completely know God's love.” When we come to God, do we really trust that He loves us and has made us righteous through the blood of Jesus? from last week: Romans 5:10,11: Now that we are at peace with God, and because we share in his resurrection life, how much more we will be rescued from sin’s dominion! And even more than that, we overflow with triumphant joy in our new relationship of living reconciled to God—all because of Jesus Christ! There is a saying that says, 'To lose yourself is to find yourself.' From a Christian perspective, we know “Apart from Him (Jesus) we can do nothing.” John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” This is the scriptural, spiritual answer to “There’s always something that needs to be done.” We have something in us called the “Fight or Flight” or “Stress Response” The fight-or-flight response is your body's natural, automatic reaction to stress or danger. It triggers physiological changes, such as a faster heart rate and tenser muscles, that prepare your body to deal with the source of the stress. This can be helpful in the short term, but if it goes on too long without giving your body a chance to relax, it can have negative effects on your physical and mental health. We can remain in a state of Fight or Flight – or we can “be still and know” That “Power, Love and a Sound Mind” is starting to make even more sense now, isn’t it? John 17:22,23: For the very glory you have given to me I have given them so that they will be joined together as one and experience the same unity that we enjoy. You live fully in me and now I live fully in them so that they will experience perfect unity, and the world will be convinced that you have sent me, for they will see that you love each one of them with the same passionate love that you have for me. Psalm 119:130: Break open Your Word within me until revelation-light shines out! “Those with open hearts are given insight into your plans.” Psalm 145:18: You draw near to those who call out to you, listening closely, especially when their hearts are true. In every situation, the pattern was the same First, the reaction Then, acceptance Then, surrender When you release resistance and trust that God knows the path, solutions appear in ways you couldn’t plan. You don’t need to control everything. You don’t need to fear negative thoughts. You simply need to return to trust. God is the solution. God is the way. So today, let go of fear. Accept where you are. And trust that you are being guided. Wait upon the Lord and let your strength be renewed Meditate on God’s Name – Jehovah Shalom Prayer: Heavenly Father, Right now, we come to You—not with performance, but with open hearts. You are near to all who call on You in truth. Lord, we confess—we’ve been busy, distracted, pulled in too many directions. We release the striving. We release the fear. We release the need to control everything. And we choose to be still. Teach us to abide in You. To rest in Your love. To trust in Your goodness. For those who feel overwhelmed—be their peace. For those who feel distant—draw them near. For those who feel bound—set them free. We trust You. We rest in You. We return to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource A Quiet Place 安静之处 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/12/2026 Description An account of the resource Psalm 145:18–19: The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. 诗篇 145:18–19: 耶和华靠近一切求告祂的人，就是诚心求告祂的人。敬畏祂的，祂必成就他们的心愿，也必听他们的呼求，拯救他们。 (page 1028) Psalm 46:10: Be still, and know that I am God. 诗篇 46:10: 你们要安静，要知道我是神。(page 926) Lamentations 3:26: It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. 耶利米哀歌 3:26: 人仰望耶和華，靜默等候他的救恩，這原是好的。(page 1341) Matthew 5:6: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 马太福音 5:6: 饥渴慕义的人有福了！因为他们必得饱足。(page 1563) Jeremiah 29:13: You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. 耶利米书 29:13: 你们寻求我，若专心寻求我，就必寻见。 (page 1280) John 15:5: I am the vine; you are the branches… apart from Me you can do nothing. 约翰福音 15:5: 我是葡萄树，你们是枝子… …离了我，你们就不能做什么。(pg 1749) 1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. 约翰一书 4:18: 爱里没有惧怕；爱既完全，就把惧怕除去。(page 1981) Return to the Quiet Place 回到安静之处 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/86691f42591acd135c31629b25582f60.jpg f3f2546e8e253f6a27dc13822cd82462 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/68ba5102272dddfd58b4b0952e9d5c0d.mp4 315903fc3676303f73f1cddba55c3e31 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound ALL THINGS NEW John 12:12–19 What if the only thing standing between you and the life God has for you... … is something you refuse to put down? Think about that for a second. Not the enemy. Not your circumstances. Not your past. Just... your grip. Imagine someone hands you a gift. A brand-new life. A fresh start. A clean slate. And you reach out to take it... but you won't let go of what's already in your hand. You cannot step into something new… while holding on to something old. We often think we can grow, change, and move forward without releasing the things behind us. But that’s not how transformation works. You don’t get transplanted into the garden… while still clinging to the flower pot. Some of us are emotionally attached to things God has already delivered us from. We cling… Not because they were good — but because they were familiar. And sometimes… familiar feels safer than free. God makes all things new—but we must be willing to release what is old. If you go on vacation but only think about what you left behind… is it really a vacation? (Overcoming conditioning will require some willpower and awareness) You’re somewhere new physically—but mentally, you’re still in the old place. Some people never leave their past. They replay conversations, revisit failures, relive moments. And they try to live today while emotionally trapped in yesterday. 2 Corinthians 5:17: Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! Palm Sunday John 12:12–19 (read) In John 12, Jesus rides into Jerusalem. The crowd celebrates—but the Pharisees resist. They were committed to the old system, while Jesus was bringing something new. Truth: The old mindset will fight to survive. Your old identity doesn’t want to die quietly. It will say: 'You’ve always been this way.' But that voice is history trying to override destiny. It's like someone leaving prison. They are free — but still think like a prisoner. Spiritually, many believers live the same way. If you think the same old thoughts, you will replay the same old life. Transformation happens when something changes within you. Renew your mind — and your life will follow. The Apostle Paul knew this firsthand. He had a past he could have been buried under — and yet he wrote these words in Phil 3:13-14: "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Notice what he said: *forgetting* what is behind. Not ignoring it. Not pretending it didn't happen. But refusing to let it define where he was going. That's the posture God is calling us to today. Press on. “Don't look back.” Here's something we need to get clear on — because the enemy is sneaky. Condemnation can sound spiritual. It can feel like humility. But it's a trap. The Holy Spirit convicts — He does not condemn. Conviction leads you forward. Condemnation holds you back. There is a verse I need you to hold onto today. Romans 8:1 says: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." No condemnation. Not a little. Not conditionally. None. That means the voice that keeps replaying your worst moments? That is not God. That is the enemy using your past as a weapon against your future. And then Isaiah 43:18-19 makes it even clearer: "Forget the former things... do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" God is not asking you to pretend the past didn't happen. He's asking you to stop letting it have the final word. Jesus rode into Jerusalem to bring something new. And that same Jesus is still making all things new — today. So let me ask you directly — What could you be holding on to that God has already released? Is it a sin He's already forgiven? Is it a version of yourself that no longer exists? Is it someone else's words that were never true to begin with? Here's the challenge today: You cannot walk into the new thing God has for you with both hands full of the old. You have to choose. Not because God is withholding anything from you — but because freedom requires your participation. Jesus opened the door. But you have to be willing to walk through. He paid the price. He made you new. Today might be the day you finally put it down. Not tomorrow. Not when you feel ready. Today. The same Jesus who rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday — who turned the world upside down with a donkey and a crowd of worshippers — is riding into your situation right now. And He is making all things new. Will you let Him? Closing Prayer Father, thank You that You make all things new. We release our past into Your hands. Renew our minds, heal our hearts, and lead us forward. In Jesus' name, Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource ALL THINGS NEW 一切都更新了 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 03/29/2026 Description An account of the resource Rev 21:5: He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” 启示录 21:5: 坐在宝座上的说：“看哪，我正在使一切都更新！” 2 Cor 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 哥林多后书 5:17: 若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人；旧事已过，都变成新的了！ (page 1408) Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. 以西结书 36:26: 我也要赐给你们一个新心，将新灵放在你们里面。(page 1183) Isaiah 43:19 : See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? 以赛亚书 43:19: 看哪，我要做一件新事，如今要发生，你们岂不知道吗？ (page 1875) Luke 19:38: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” 路加福音 19:38: “奉主名来的王是应当称颂的！” (page 1702) Lam 3:22–23: His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 耶利米哀歌 3:22–23: 祂的慈爱永不止息； 每早晨都是新的，祂的信实极其广大。(page 1341) God is not patching the old—He is making all things new. 神不是修补旧的，祂是在更新一切。 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/f320ee2779221d9a76a734074991f780.jpg ff34f89916dc01900c4aea068e274512 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/165ae22e2ceb5c6fa0c3109eb5e698b7.mp4 6c76614fbb241ee9c36b38cefc21f1e1 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound All We Need Psalm 73:26 When was the last time you gave yourself permission to be joyful—right now, today, exactly as things are? Not when the diagnosis improves. Not when the bills are paid. Not when everything settles down. Right now. Most of us are living in the “if” and the “when.” “I’ll be happy if…” “I’ll rejoice when…” But joy was never meant to be a destination. Joy is a decision we make in the middle of the journey. Solomon said that “as a man thinks, so is he.” We think many thoughts—but not all define us. It is our dominant thoughts that shape our lives. How we interpret what we are going through. What we choose to focus on. …and what we focus on expands. If we focus on what’s missing, joy will always feel out of reach. If we focus on what God is doing—even in small ways—something begins to shift inside of us. I’ll be honest with you… Lately, I’ve been focused on my health challenges. And while it’s good to be aware, there comes a point where awareness becomes obsession. And when that happens, we begin to miss the simple joy of being alive. There comes a moment where we must choose: Will I live by how I feel? Or will I walk by faith? So here it is: It is time to stop postponing joy. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not when everything changes. Right now. Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” God is enough—right now. Philippians 4:6-8 Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. (Don’t rush these next quiet lines: Those are the moments where the room will lean in.) Philippians 4 gives us a pathway: Release anxiety. Refocus your thoughts. Receive peace. “Do not be anxious about anything…” “Present your requests to God…” “And the peace of God will guard your heart and mind…” Peace does not come from control. Peace comes from surrender. King David understood this. After one of the most painful seasons of his life, Scripture says: He arose. He washed. He anointed himself. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He did not wait to feel better. He chose to move forward. That is what it means to stop postponing joy. [Control vs Trust] So many of us are trying to fix what we cannot fix. Trying to control what we cannot control. And it is exhausting. Peace begins where control ends. In Mark 6 we read: There was such a swirl of activity around Jesus, with so many people coming and going, that they were unable to even eat a meal. So Jesus said to his disciples, “Come, let’s take a break and find a secluded place where you can rest a while.” They slipped away and left by sailboat for a deserted spot. But many of the people saw them leaving and realized where they were headed, so they took off running along the shore. When Jesus looked at the crowds, He saw people who were tired, overwhelmed, and burdened. Scripture says: He was moved with compassion. Jesus said: “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” What is important to understand is the way Jesus says this. He does not say it like a boss giving orders. He doesn’t say it like someone who is tired of listening to people's problems. He says it as someone who is gentle, someone who understands, someone who is not annoyed by our weakness and not surprised by our struggles. You are not coming to a God who is tired of you. You are coming to a God who understands you. Come. Rest. Stop striving. Stop postponing. It’s time to Rejoice — not someday — but now. Our strength comes from remaining (abiding) in the Vine As Jesus said in John 15:7, ”If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” "The Christian life is not a testing ground to see how much you can handle. It is a living connection to the One who handles everything." It is time — right now — to stop postponing our joy. As we prepare our hearts to come the Table of the Lord today for Holy Communion, we do not come with conditions. Not: “God, I will trust You when…” But: “God, I trust You now.” Peace does not come from control. Peace comes from surrender. Jesus said: “I Am the bread of life.” He is our source. He is all we need. Prayer Lord, we come before You right now—not when life changes, but just as we are. We confess that we have postponed our joy. Today, we choose to trust You. Be our strength when we are weak. Be our peace in the middle of uncertainty. Fill us with a joy that the world cannot give and cannot take away. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource All We Need 我们所需要的一切 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/19/2026 Description An account of the resource Psalm 73:26: My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 诗篇 73:26：我的肉体和我的心肠衰残；但神是我心里的力量，又是我的福分，直到永远。 Philippians 4:6–8: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 腓立比书 4:6–8： 应当一无挂虑，只要凡事借着祷告、祈求和感谢，将你们所要的告诉神 Ecclesiastes 3:1,4: There is a time for everything… a time to weep and a time to laugh… 传道书 3:1,4：凡事都有定期…有时哭，有时笑… 2 Samuel 12:20: Then David got up… washed… and worshiped the Lord. 撒母耳记下 12:20： 大卫就从地上起来，沐浴，抹膏…进耶和华的殿敬拜。 Matthew 11:28: Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 马太福音 11:28： 凡劳苦担重担的人，可以到我这里来，我就使你们得安息。 Luke 10:20: Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. 路加福音 10:20：要因你们的名记录在天上欢喜。 1 Timothy 6:6: Godliness with contentment is great gain. 提摩太前书 6:6： 敬虔加上知足的心便是大利了。 John 6:47–48: Whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. 约翰福音 6:47–48：信的人有永生。我就是生命的粮。 Psalm 107:9: He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. 诗篇 107:9： 他使心里渴慕的人得以知足，使心里饥饿的人得饱美物。 Psalm 31:19: How abundant are the good things You have stored up… 诗篇 31:19： 你为敬畏你的人所积存的恩惠是何等大呢！ Romans 12:12: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 罗马书 12:12：在指望中要喜乐，在患难中要忍耐，祷告要恒切。 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/1f6d87359191e1d0fea11fcf7186ce8d.jpg da873cb12abb972d2a4782109b7b678d https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/56e30a476b09a641cb6d6fa6e6c77a79.mp4 c4959c9363ea9d895998250229840f52 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound CONTINUE Living From the Finished Work Colossians 2:6 (I believe in the power of new beginnings, but…) Every morning when you wake up, you don’t start your life over. You don’t reintroduce yourself to your family. You don’t relearn your name. You simply step back into the life you already have. You don’t earn the new day — you receive it. The sun doesn’t ask whether you’re ready. It rises because that’s what it does. And grace works the same way. You don’t wake up each morning to become a Christian all over again. You wake up to walk in what you already received. That’s why Paul says: “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” Have you ever noticed how easy it is to start something one way… and then slowly switch methods? You begin relaxed. You begin trusting. You begin hopeful. And somewhere along the way, without realizing it, you begin trying harder, managing more, and carrying weight you were never meant to carry. Paul is writing to believers when he says this — not to unbelievers. And what he’s really asking is simple: Why would you change the way you live, when the way you began was working? We should live each day with Presence, Peace & Purpose Col 2:6: In the same way you received Jesus our Lord and Messiah by faith, continue your journey of faith, progressing further into your union with him! Let’s pause there for a moment - How did you receive Christ? Not with a plan. Not with all the answers. Not with everything cleaned up. You received Him by: • trusting • opening your heart • admitting need • letting go You didn’t negotiate grace. You didn’t earn forgiveness. You didn’t prove anything. You simply received. And Paul says: “That way right there — don’t abandon it.” Heb 2:1 - We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. When you look at today’s key scripture, you recognize that it is a verse that contains a gentle caution: “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” Walking speaks of daily life. Ordinary moments. Normal pressures. Real relationships. Paul is saying: “Don’t switch systems after salvation. Don’t trust Jesus for eternity and then trust yourself for today. Don’t receive grace freely and then live under pressure.” Walking in Him means: • the same dependence you started with • the same openness • the same receiving heart Grace is not just how we enter the Christian life. Grace is how we continue. Here’s the drift most of us don’t notice: We don’t reject grace — we just somehow try to supplement it. We start saying things like: • “I should be stronger by now.” • “I should know better.” • “I shouldn’t still be struggling with this.” And suddenly the weight is back on us. But striving doesn’t make us mature — it makes us tired. …And tired hearts don’t flow well. That’s why Paul warns elsewhere: “Having begun by the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by the flesh?” Galatians 3:2,3: “Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” So what does this look like practically? It looks like: • bringing weakness to God instead of hiding it • trusting grace in the middle of the day, not just on Sunday • letting Christ be the daily source, not just a one-time Savior (HE is the Vine) Psalm 119:130: The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. We need compounded interest – and compounded trust Psalm 23:1: The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want… This is not just about provision (although that is included) but it is also about identity. Jesus said in John 15:8: When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father! It’s all about abiding It’s waking up each day and saying: “Lord, I’m still receiving today.” Not dramatic. Not complicated. Just honest. Hebrews 4:10-11: For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall. And when we live this way: our hearts stay soft - joy stays near - flow continues This week, there’s no new technique. No added burden. No spiritual upgrade required. Just this invitation: Live the way you started. The irony is: Living this way actually facilitates our spiritual growth. Grace is not static—it develops as you walk faithfully with God. As favor increases, so does responsibility, visibility, and reach. God expands your capacity so your life can serve more people for His purpose. As you received Him — with trust, humility, and open hands — - so walk in Him. Because we don’t graduate from grace. We learn how to live from it. “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” Lord, thank You for reminding us that the way in is also the way forward. Help us to stop striving where You invite us to trust. To rest in your strength Teach us to walk the same way we received — dependent, open, and at rest in You. Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CONTINUE 继续 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01/25/2026 Description An account of the resource Colossians 2:6: So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him 歌 羅 西 書 2:6: 所以，正如你们接受了耶稣为基督和主一样，你们应该继续生活在他之中。(page 1910) Heb 2:1 - We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 希 伯 來 書 2:1: 因此，我们必须更加重视所听的道， 以免随流漂去 (page 1940) Galatians 3:2-3: Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 加 拉 太 書 3:2-3: 我只问你们一件事：你们是通过遵守律法，还是通过听到并相信福音才领受到圣灵的恩赐的呢？ 3 你们真会这么蠢吗？你们以圣灵开始了你们生活，现在想要靠自己的力量来继续它吗？ (page 1887) Psalm 119:130: The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. 詩 篇 119:130: 你 的 言 语 一 解 开 就 发 出 亮 光 ， 使 愚 人 通 达 。(pg 1010) Hebrews 4:10,11: For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall. 希伯来书 4:10,11: 因为那进入　神安息的人，就歇了自己的工作，好象　神歇了自己的工作一样。所以，我们要竭力进入那安息，免得有人随着那不顺从的样子就跌倒了。(pg 1943) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/74ab11946b80757d84b899e0cf24c3d0.jpg a9d53f44b591e0924d854662d0816da3 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/cb1558adcf8a641b368d682222424ea4.mp4 c913b15be000eff6420e9d242b528e21 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Delight: When Obedience Becomes Desire You ever notice... there are things in your life you say you want to change... but somehow... you keep going back? You told yourself this year would be different. You made the list. You set the alarm. You downloaded the app. Maybe you even told somebody — which made it feel more real. And for a few days... maybe even a few weeks... it worked. And then... you fell right back into the same pattern. And we usually say the same thing every time: "I just need more discipline." "I just need more motivation." "I just need to try harder." But what if that's not the problem? What if the issue isn't your willpower... but your delight? Because here's what I've noticed — you don't have to motivate people to do what they love. Nobody has to remind you to check your phone. Nobody has to hold you accountable to eat your favorite meal. You just... do it. Because you want to. So what if the real question isn't "How do I do better?" — but "How do I want better?" Psalm 40:8 — David says it like this: "I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart." Not "I force myself." Not "I white-knuckle it." Not "I tolerate it." He said — “I delight.” That's where we're going today. What's in Your Heart Matters "What's in your wallet?" The idea was simple: what you carry with you determines what's available to you. Proverbs 4:23 says something far more important: "Above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. From there flows the wellspring of life." Let me say it plainly: the results you are currently getting... are flowing directly from what is in your heart right now. So if something isn't changing in your life... it's not random. It's not bad luck. It's revealing something deeper. Here's a truth that might sting a little — habits are not about willpower. If they were, most people would already have the life they want. Habits are about emotional association. What you link pain to... and what you link pleasure to. If you link pain to discipline... you will avoid it. If you link pleasure to comfort... you will stay stuck. Let me be honest with you — and with myself. I may not like being lazy. But there is something in me that still enjoys sitting in the big chair... watching videos... doing nothing. At some level... I like it. And that's why change feels so hard. Because you don't fall back just because you're weak. You fall back because something in you still finds pleasure in the old pattern. The old habit isn't just a bad decision — it's a desire. And you can't out-discipline a desire. That's why James 4:3 says: "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives." In other words — we say we want change... but part of us still wants the old life. We want the results of discipline without the discomfort of it. We want transformation without transition. And God, in His wisdom, goes straight to the root. He doesn't just want to change your behavior. He wants to change what you want. James 1:25 says: "Whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it — not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it — they will be blessed in what they do." Here's what's powerful about that verse: it's not just about actions. It's about identity. Because habits are not just things you do — they are emotional patterns. And emotional patterns, over time, create a sense of who you are. You may be making better confessions about your life. You may be saying the right things. But does your nervous system believe it? Does your gut believe it? Does the part of you that wakes up at 2am believe it? Here's the part most people miss: when real change begins... it feels awkward. It feels forced. It feels uncomfortable. And we think — "Something must be wrong. This doesn't feel natural." But that discomfort is not your enemy. That discomfort is the sound of the old you losing its grip. You are interrupting an old identity. You are stepping out of a pattern that your mind and body have practiced for years — maybe decades. Of course it feels strange. New always feels strange at first. Think about it — the first time you drove a car, it felt unnatural. Now you do it without thinking. The first time you spoke in front of people, your hands shook. Now it's second nature. Transformation works the same way. 2 Cor 5:17 says: "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!" Mark Hankins puts it this way: "You are such a new person in Christ, you will have to let God introduce you to your new self." You are not trying to become something you're not. You are becoming who you already are in Christ. And that process... takes some getting used to. And that's why motivation will never sustain you. Motivation is a feeling. And feelings rise and fall based on sleep, stress, weather, what somebody said to you on Tuesday... Feelings are not a foundation. They are a forecast — and the forecast changes every day. If your future depends on motivation... your future will always be unstable. That's why real change doesn't come from motivation. It comes from standards. A standard is not something you hope to live up to. A standard is something you live by. It's not "I'll try to eat better." It's "This is how I eat." It's not "I'm going to try to pray more." It's "This is who I am — I'm someone who prays." See the difference? Motivation asks, "Do I feel like it today?" Standards say, "This is just what I do." And here's the spiritual foundation for that: "If you believe God is everything the Bible says He is... you must believe you are everything the Bible says you are." Your standard for your life is not set by your history. It's not set by your feelings. It's not set by what other people expect from you. It is set by the Word of God — and the Word says you are a new creation, you are more than a conqueror, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. That is your standard. Live from it. Here's where it gets powerful — and this is the heart of everything. Christianity is not behavior modification. It is heart transformation. Phil 2:13: For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Did you catch that? Not just the power. The desire. God is not just telling you what to do. He is changing what you want to do. He is going after the root, not just the fruit. He's not just pruning the branches — He is transforming the soil. Psalm 37:4 says: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Most people read that as a transaction — "If I delight in God, He'll give me what I want." But I think it goes deeper than that. When you delight yourself in the Lord... He begins to reshape what you desire. He doesn't just fulfill your desires — He transforms them. That's why David could say in Psalm 40:8: "I delight to do Your will, O my God." Not "I force myself." Not "I tolerate it." Not "I do it because I have to." I delight. ? What if doing the right thing didn't feel like a burden... but like a delight? David tells us exactly how it happens. He says: "I delight to do Your will... because Your law — Your Word, Your will — is written within my heart." Psalm 119:11 confirms it: "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Jer 15:16: Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart. When God's Word gets deposited into your heart — really gets in there, not just in your head — it begins to rewire what you love. It changes your desires. It shifts what brings you pleasure... and what doesn't. You know how it works with food — you ate something bad once, got sick, and now you can't even stand the smell of it? Something changed on the inside. Your body made a new association. You didn't have to discipline yourself to avoid it. You just... didn't want it anymore. That's what the Word does to sin. That's what the Word does to old patterns. It doesn't just tell you to stop — it changes what you want. So here's the invitation — and I want you to really hear this: Stop trying to force behavior change... and start allowing God to transform your desire. You don't need more motivation. You need a new affection. You don't need a better system. You need a transformed heart. Because when His Word gets in your heart — really gets in there — your heart begins to want what He wants. Your desires start to align with His desires. And one day, you won't just say, "I have to obey God." You'll say, "I delight to do Your will." That's not a distant dream. That's the normal Christian life. 1 Cor 1:30 says: "God Himself made the way so you can have new life through Christ Jesus. God gave us Christ to be our wisdom. Christ made us right with God and set us apart for God and made us holy. Christ bought us with His blood and made us free from our sins." You have been given everything you need — not to white-knuckle your way through life — but to live from a transformed heart. The freedom is already yours. The new desire is already available. The question is: will you let the Word go deep enough to change what you want? Start there. Not with more effort. With more Word. Let it in. Let it go deep. And watch what it does to your desires. Prayer and Declaration of Victory Father... Thank You that You are not just calling us to change...You are working in us... to transform us. Lord, we confess... there are areas in our lives where our heartsare still drawn to what is comfortable...instead of what is life-giving. But today... we don't just ask for more discipline... We ask for new desire. Let Your Word go deep into our hearts... until what You love... we love... and what You desire... we desire. Teach us to delight in Your will. Not out of pressure... but from a transformed heart. And we thank You... that You are faithful to complete what You have started in us. In Jesus' name... Amen. As a Believer - you have been given liberty and freedom and victory. Today. Romans 5:17 "Those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through Jesus Christ." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource DELIGHT 以耶和华为乐（在祂里面找到真正的喜乐） Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 03/22/2026 Description An account of the resource Psalm 40:8: I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart. 诗篇 40:8: 我的　神啊！我乐意遵行你的旨意；你的律法常在我的心里。(page 920) Prov 4:23: More than anything you guard, protect your mind, for life flows from it. 箴言 4:23: 你要谨守你的心，胜过谨守一切，因为生命的泉源由此而出。(page 1038) James 4:3 - When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 雅各书 4:3: 你们求也得不到是因为你们动机不纯，只求享乐和满足自己的欲望。(page 1962) Phil 2:13: For it is God who is at work within you, giving you the will and the power to achieve his purpose. 腓立比书 2:13: 因为你们立志和行事都是上帝在你们心中工作，为要成就祂美好的旨意。(page 1904) Jer 15:16: Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart. 耶利米书 15:16: 万军之上帝耶和华啊，我把你的话视为甘饴，它们是我心中的快乐和喜悦，因为我属于你的名下。 (page 1256) Psalm 119:11: I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 诗篇 119:11: 我将你的话藏在心里，免得我得罪你 (page 1004) Psalm 37:4: Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 诗篇 37:4: 又要以耶和华为乐，他就将你心里所求的赐给你。(page 915) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/c8620d8fadcd1a311f8fbe8ae897fd8c.jpeg 81c0530320f00f9188011fb91914509c https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/96d9e00a5722b5622bf635907f7db453.mp4 a21a53c0b0fd1a7b6f602093d72efe62 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Discern the SEASONS I’m listening to an audio program called “The Miracle Morning After 50” It’s based on a best-selling program called “The Miracle Morning” and designed for people who are… over 50. It’s a plan to help you make the most of your days – making new daily choices – starting from the moment you get up out of bed.. Scripture teaches us a profound truth: we need to prepare in advance for what lies ahead. There are seasons of preparation and seasons that should reflect completion. Proverbs 20:4 reminds us: "Some people are too lazy to plant seeds. So at harvest time, they look for food and find nothing." Winter time in Alabama can mean anything from one day to the next Though the weather shifts weekly, we are indeed, still in a season. From Genesis forward, God established this principle: "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest..." We understand the four seasons of nature, but what about the other seasons Scripture reveals to us? Seedtime and harvest are both real seasons, each with distinct purposes and impacts. Ecc 3:1 declares: "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven." Seasons change. Our responsibility is to discern our current season. “I choose purpose over impulse” (don’t let external seasons impact your spiritual season) Proverbs 4:25 instructs: "Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life's distractions." If we continually look backward at seasons past, we'll miss the season we're in. Missing your season means losing something irretrievable. The restlessness you feel may be because you need to catch up to what should be your present season. We must be sober-minded, observant, and aware. Jesus taught this principle when He said, "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near" (Matthew 24:32). Proverbs 10:5 warns: "A wise youth makes hay while the sun shines, but what a shame to see a lad who sleeps away his hour of opportunity." Failing to observe changing seasons can bring regret. Some regrets may be minor—easily dismissed: "I wish I had set my alarm" or "I wish I had remembered to buy milk." Other regrets cut deeper and bring lasting pain: "I wish I had told them I loved them" or "I wish I had told them I forgave them" or "I wish I hadn't spoken those words." Ignoring the changing seasons can sometimes lead to profound regret. 2 Cor 4:18 reminds us: "...we don't focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal." There are seasons to recognize in every dimension of our lives—in our natural lives and our spiritual lives. There are seasons in our society, our nation, and our world... and crucially, there are seasons in the Kingdom of God. (not “age sensitive”) Psalm 102:13 speaks of when "the set time has come." Romans 13:11 urges: "And now consider this. You know well the times you are living in. It is time for you to wake up and see what is right before your eyes: for salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed." "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven." I firmly believe, as Scripture confirms, that we are always in some type of season—whether preparation or completion. (or somewhere in-between) You cannot experience satisfactory completion without proper preparation. In Genesis 41, God revealed to Joseph that seven years of abundance would be followed by seven years of devastating famine. Joseph advised Pharaoh to store grain during the plentiful years to prepare for the coming scarcity, which would be so severe that "the abundance in the land will not be remembered." Because Joseph discerned the season and obeyed God, not only was Egypt saved, but Genesis tells us that "all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere." Had Joseph not responded, all would have been lost. How devastating would that regret have been? God guided him to take the proper steps to prepare—to work in the proper season. Proverbs 6:6-8 instructs: "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest." What we've covered so far is practical and natural, though it still requires wisdom. But there's certainly a spiritual dimension to our preparations as well. God's Word clearly directs us to observe the seasons and prepare—not to coast passively through our lives. Discerning the seasons requires wisdom. Proverbs 9:10 tells us, "The starting point for acquiring wisdom is to be consumed with awe as you worship the Lord." "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven." Amos 8:11 warns: "'The days are coming,' declares the Sovereign Lord, 'when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.'" How should we be preparing? How should we now be storing up spiritual resources? 2 Timothy 2:15 exhorts: "Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman tested by trial who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth." When you squeeze an orange, what comes out? Orange juice. What comes out of you when life's pressures squeeze you hard? Are you filling your spiritual reservoir with proper nourishment? How can we hear from the Lord if we're not listening—if we're not allowing His Word to speak to our hearts? "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." GOD says, "Step into My New Thing." I learned something new and amazing on Friday: “Clarity follows order.” Unnecessary clutter reflects our resistance to moving on with the new season that God wants to give us. Hoarding and holding on to unnecessary clutter is an outward expression of, “My best days are behind me.” Our external environment should declare, “I am ready for the new thing that God has for me.” There is a season you have seen in your heart of what you truly believe God has wanted to do in your life. In you family. In your business. In your health. It is to time to come into alignment with that season. Answer the restlessness with a true shift. To “call things that be not as though they were.” This season God wants to take us into is not limited by what others think we should walk in. 1 Cor 1:30: For it is not from man that we draw our life but from God as we are being joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. And now he is our God-given wisdom, our virtue, our holiness, and our redemption. We must not miss our season to hear from God — and to respond to that still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. In the Spirit, GOD can shift our season in an instant – but it may take a while for our souls to catch up. (ponder) Isaiah 55:6 urges: "Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near." "So turn your attention and seek the Eternal One while it is still possible; call on Him while He is nearby." This indicates there is a finite window of opportunity—a window of His Grace. As Hebrews reminds us, quoting the Psalmist: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. Seasons always exist. Seasons change. Seasons end. "It's better to know Him before you meet Him." “Buy your coat before the cold weather arrives.” Romans 10:9 promises: "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Acts 4:12 declares: "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Romans 10:13 assures us: "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Will you call on Jesus today? To everything there is a season. One day this door—this season—will close. Romans 13:12 urges: "Night is almost over, and day will soon appear. We must stop behaving as people do in the dark and be ready to live in the light." Stop merely reacting to external seasons and instead respond to GOD's Kingdom Season. GOD says, "Step into My New Thing." Father God, We recognize that You are the Lord of seasons. Today, we choose awareness over distraction and purpose over impulse. Where we have drifted, bring us back into alignment. Where we have delayed, give us grace to respond. We do not want to miss what You are doing in this season. We choose to seek You while You are near, to hear Your voice, and to step into the new thing You are calling us into. We commit our hearts and our future to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Discern the Seasons 分辨季节 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01/11/2026 Description An account of the resource Ecc 3:1: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven 传道书 3:1: 天下万物都有定期，凡事都有定时。(page 1089) Prov 10:5: A wise youth makes hay while the sun shines, but what a shame to see a lad who sleeps away his hour of opportunity. 箴言 10:5: 夏天聚敛的是智慧之子，收割时沉睡的是贻羞之子。 Romans 13:11: And now consider this. You know well the times you are living in. It is time for you to wake up and see what is right before your eyes: for salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 羅 馬 書 13:11: 你们知道我们处在一个重要的时代，所以我说了这番话。现在是应该从沉睡中醒来的时候了，因为现在我们的拯救比最初相信时更接近我们了。(pg 1841) Amos 8:11 - “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.” 阿 摩 司 書 8:11: 主 耶 和 华 说 ： 日 子 将 到 ， 我 必 命 饥 荒 降 在 地 上 。 人 饥 饿 非 因 无 饼 ， 乾 渴 非 因 无 水 ， 乃 因 不 听 耶 和 华 的 话 。(page 1495) Isaiah 55:6 - Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. 以 賽 亞 書 55:6: 要趁着还可以找到耶和华的时候寻找祂， 趁祂还在附近的时候求告祂。(p 1961) Romans 10:9 - “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” 罗马书 10:9: 你若口里承认耶稣是主，心里相信上帝使祂从死里复活，就必得救。 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/21c2c9fcdf2fe479dde3c329c06e5341.jpg cd83232f5d5e67e1a697e0f560f375e0 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/d350125c622ed8016484d0faa329a1de.mp4 5d1d785251eef2976dd06e9977066b40 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Enough for ALL Matthew 15:29–39 Have you ever felt left out? There is something beautiful about the way the Kingdom of God works. Jesus said (Matt 4:17) “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” “You must change your hearts—for the kingdom of Heaven has arrived.” In the kingdoms of this world, people are often sorted and categorized. Some people qualify. Others are disqualified. Some people are welcomed.Others are pushed aside. But when we look at Jesus, we see something very different. We see Kingdom distribution. Not scarcity. Not favoritism. Not spiritual elitism. Overflowing generosity. In Matthew 15 we see a remarkable moment where Jesus feeds over four thousand people. But before the bread is multiplied… before the baskets are filled… …we notice something deeper. The passage tells us something extraordinary. For three days these people had been with Jesus. Three days! Listening. Watching. Following. …And now they are hungry. Jesus says, “They have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.” These are not perfect people. These are not religious professionals. These are simply regular people who came to Jesus. And that is the KEY. Jesus once said in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I Am your oasis.” Notice the word ALL. Not the strong. Not the successful. Not the spiritually impressive. ALL. All who are weary. All who are burdened. All who are hungry. The Kingdom of God begins with an invitation: Come. And in today’s passage, everyone (all) who came received something from Jesus. May this message today prepare your heart for not only an abundance of provision… but also an abundance of Grace… Mercy… and God’s Loving Care over all parts of your life From today’s historic event (Matt 15) we see four powerful truths about the Heart of God. 1. Healing Flows at the Feet of Jesus Matthew 15:30: “They laid them at Jesus’ feet, and he healed them.” People brought the blind. The lame. The crippled. …and they laid them at the feet of Jesus. And the Holy Scripture says: “He healed them.” Not a few. Not the most deserving. But all who were brought to Him. This is still the posture of the Kingdom. Healing begins at the feet of Jesus. When we stop trying to fix ourselves. When we stop pretending we have it all together. When we simply come. And lay it down. 2. The Kingdom Is Received, Not Earned Matthew 15:35 “Jesus told the crowd to sit down on the ground.” Notice something interesting... Before the miracle happens, Jesus tells the people to sit down. They were not working for the food. They were not earning the miracle. They were simply receiving. This is one of the hardest truths for religious people to understand. The Kingdom is not something we achieve. It is something we receive. Grace is not a paycheck. Grace is a gift. KEY: Our God is supernatural, and you can’t calculate His goodness. You can’t quantify His blessings, His increase, His favor. There are things He has already planned for you that are out of the ordinary. That’s why the Scripture says to “trust Him with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.” Back to Matt 15: God already knew what would be needed and when. It was not a surprise there would be hungry people. 3. Gratitude Unlocks Kingdom Multiplication Matt 15:36 “Then he took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks.” Before the miracle… Jesus gave thanks. There were only seven loaves. A small supply. But Jesus gave thanks. John 11:41: (when Jesus raised Lazarus) “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me…” Scripture says, “In everything give thanks.” Gratitude shifts our focus. Instead of seeing what is missing… We begin to see what God is multiplying. 4. In the Kingdom There Is Enough Matthew 15:37 “They all ate and were satisfied.” Not partially fed. Not rationed. The scripture says: Everyone was full. The Kingdom of God is not built on scarcity. It is built on abundance. uh-oh… “Is this a prosperity message?” God’s Word tell us Everyone was fed. Everyone was satisfied. Jesus did not discriminate. No one was turned away. ..and it was more than enough for ALL This is the Heart of our God. The Super-Abundance of Grace The Apostle Paul later explains this same principle in Romans 5:20 “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” One translation says: “Where sin abounded, grace super-abounded.” Grace is not just equal to our failure. Grace is greater. Grace is stronger. Grace is deeper. Phillips translated it: “Thank God his grace is wider and deeper still!” And Paul continues in Romans 5:17 “Those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through Jesus Christ.” Notice that phrase: abundance of grace. Not “barely enough” grace. Not just sufficient grace. But overflowing grace. In your own life – have you received that abundance of grace? That grace you need to pick back up and start again – or maybe just to keep going? A new season is here for you. So stop Letting Your Past Be Your Identity This is where many people struggle. They truly believe their past defines them. Their trauma. Their failures. Their mistakes. But the Kingdom says something different. Stop allowing your past trauma to be your identity. Stop allowing your worst moment to become your name. Your story does not end with failure. Your story continues with grace. And grace always has the final word. So the message of this passage is simple. Come. Come weary. Come hungry. Come burdened. Come broken. Come tired. Come exactly as you are. Matt 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” And when you come to Jesus… You will find healing. You will find rest. You will find provision. You will find grace that is greater than anything you have carried. “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace” Because in the Kingdom of God… There is always enough. John 1:16: And from the overflow of his fullness we received grace heaped upon more grace! Closing Prayer Lord Jesus, Today we thank You for Your compassion. Thank You that Your Kingdom is not built on exclusion, but on invitation. You call the weary. You welcome the burdened. You feed the hungry. Help us come to You with open hearts. Teach us to lay our burdens at Your feet. Remind us that our past does not define us—Your grace does. Fill our lives with gratitude for all that You provide. And help us live in the abundance of Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen. All who are thirsty All who are weak Come to the fountain Dip your heart in the stream of life Let the pain and the sorrow Be washed away In the waves of His mercy As deep cries out to deep (We sing) “Come Lord Jesus come. Come Lord Jesus come.” Holy Spirit come Holy Spirit come Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Enough for All 恩典使众人得饱足 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 03/15/2026 Description An account of the resource Matthew 15:29-38: Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?” “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.” He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. 马太福音 15:29-38: 耶稣离开那地方，来到靠近加利利的海边，就上山坐下。 有许多人到他那里，带着瘸子、瞎子、哑巴、有残疾的和好些别的病人，都放在他脚前，他就治好了他们。 甚至众人都稀奇，因为看见哑巴说话、残疾的痊愈、瘸子行走、瞎子看见，他们就归荣耀给以色列的神。 耶稣叫门徒来，说：“我怜悯这众人，因为他们同我在这里已经三天，也没有吃的了。我不愿意叫他们饿着回去，恐怕在路上困乏。” 门徒说：“我们在这野地，哪里有这么多的饼叫这许多人吃饱呢？” 耶稣说：“你们有多少饼？”他们说：“有七个，还有几条小鱼。” 他就吩咐众人坐在地上， 拿着这七个饼和几条鱼，祝谢了，掰开，递给门徒，门徒又递给众人。 众人都吃，并且吃饱了，收拾剩下的零碎，装满了七个筐子。 吃的人，除了妇女孩子，共有四千。 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/9ccad9fabd12b05079b3c529298f9fca.jpeg f0f85bfff38e383711df9298e3422492 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/3a3ebbde9cfffc56b0e53987818c2a5d.mp4 19036eaefa27418c469c0905298310c0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Hands Raised in Victory Hebrews 12:12,13 A lectionary calendar is a structured, three-year cycle of pre-selected scripture readings — Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle, and Gospel — used for worship, study, and daily prayer. It aligns with the Christian liturgical year and allows congregations to hear large portions of the Bible consistently. When used properly, it can be a good thing. Today is Mother’s Day. I have rarely followed the calendar to offer the weekly message. I trust God to guide my heart as to what I feel led we need to hear… …but this message today should really hit home with many mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers. Because many people are carrying burdens no one else can see. And strong, God-fearing mothers are the best example I know of. They have often gone without rest or concern for themselves for too long at a time. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” If your heart is tired today, please hear these words. Like me, you may say, “I know, I know…. but…” This message is not here to condemn you. It is here to call you back. Maybe you have been carrying more than people know. Maybe you still smile, still answer, still do what must be done, but inside, your soul is running low. For a moment, let your heart become still before the Lord. Let these words settle deeply into your spirit. You do not have to pretend before God. You do not have to act strong in the presence of the One who already knows your weakness. Maybe the morning came quietly and you stepped into it with a heart that was still heavy from yesterday. But before your feet touched the floor, mercy had already reached you. God saw your exhaustion before you knew how to name it. “Lord, I begin this new day for You, with You, and because of You.” This morning, as you prepare to face whatever this day holds, the challenges, the uncertainties, the responsibilities, - you have a choice. You can carry the weight of it all on your own shoulders, or you can start with thanksgiving and the sacrifice of praise and watch God transform your entire day. The enemy wants tired people to believe they are abandoned. But exhaustion is not evidence of abandonment. Today we are going to bring this burden before the Lord. We will remember His mercy and lay it down together. When you anchor your morning in gratitude, you're not denying the reality of your problems. You're declaring the greater reality of God's power. You're not ignoring your needs. You're acknowledging that God is your ultimate provider. You're not pretending everything is perfect. You're proclaiming that God is sovereign over it all. Gratitude is an act of faith. It's trusting that God is good even when circumstances aren't. It's believing that he's working even when you can't see it. It's choosing to praise him before you see the breakthrough. You may not have everything you prayed for yet, but you are still here. And since God woke you up this morning, it means He still has purpose for your life. That is why Lamentations 3:22–23 :“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning.” Your life is not being held together by luck. It is being held by mercy. So even when our souls — and sometimes our bodies — feel tired, our best choice is still to praise Jesus for His strength in our time of weakness. Hebrews 12:12,13 says: “So be made strong even in your weakness by lifting up your tired hands in prayer and worship. And strengthen your weak knees, for as you keep walking forward on God’s paths all your stumbling ways will be divinely healed!” Phillips translation: “So take a fresh grip on life and brace your trembling limbs. Don’t wander away from the path but forge steadily onward. On the right path the limping foot recovers strength and does not collapse.” Notice what scripture is teaching us. It does not say we become strong by pretending we are not weak. It says: “Be made strong even in your weakness…” Sometimes faith is simply lifting tired hands. Sometimes worship comes with trembling knees. Sometimes praise is whispered through exhaustion. But heaven still hears it. The Bible speaks about a “sacrifice of praise.” Hebrews 13:15: “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” A sacrifice costs something. Anybody can praise when the battle is over. But faith praises while the battle is still raging. • Sometimes praise costs tears. Sometimes praise costs pride. Sometimes praise is offered while the heart is still hurting. But there is something powerful about choosing worship in the middle of weakness. Psalm 89:1 says: “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever…” Not just when life is easy. Not just when every prayer has been answered. But forever. Jesus is the Great Shepherd. (“His name is Wonderful”) Sometimes we realize we still do not have it all figured out… …and we need the Great Shepherd to guide us back again. Sheep do not usually realize how well they are being cared for… protected… provided for… guided. A child may cry when the father takes a sharp knife out of his hands, but it is for the good of the child, isn’t it? And sometimes we do not understand why God allows certain interruptions, delays, or corrections in our lives. But the Shepherd sees dangers the sheep cannot see. Some of you have spent so much time caring for everyone else that you forgot the Shepherd still wants to care for you. (and that you need His care) Today’s scripture says: “Be made strong even in your weakness by lifting up your tired hands in prayer and worship.” Raising our hands is a form of surrender. And in the natural world, surrender may look like defeat. But in the Spirit, surrender to Jesus becomes the beginning of victory. When we lift our hands before God, we are not surrendering to fear. We are surrendering to the One who can make us whole again. He becomes our peace. Our strength. Our Shepherd. Our victory. Sometimes our mission is also to help guide someone else back to this place of grace. Hebrews 12:15 says: “Watch over each other to make sure that no one misses the revelation of God’s grace.” There are weary people all around us. Some are quietly breaking under burdens they have never spoken aloud. And sometimes the greatest ministry is simply helping someone lift their hands again. Helping them remember mercy again. Helping them believe again. Psalm 118:25: “O God, please come and save us again; bring us Your breakthrough-victory!” Today God is not asking you to prove your strength. He is asking you to lift your hands. Because victory does not begin with striving. Victory begins with surrender. These are not hands of defeat today. These are hands reaching toward mercy. These are hands raised in victory. Prayer: Heavenly Father, Today we come to You with tired hands, weary hearts, and burdens that sometimes feel too heavy to carry alone. Thank You that Your mercy reached us before we even knew how to ask for it. Thank You that Your compassion has not failed us. Thank You that Your grace is still holding us together. Lord Jesus, teach us to lift our hands again — not in defeat, but in surrender to You. Where there is exhaustion, bring strength. Where there is heaviness, bring rest. Where there is fear, bring peace. Where there is wandering, lead us back beside still waters. Help us to offer You a sacrifice of praise even in difficult seasons. Help us trust the Shepherd who sees what we cannot see. And Father, for every mother, grandmother, caregiver, and weary soul in this room today — surround them with Your presence and remind them they are not forgotten. Strengthen weak knees. Restore trembling hearts. Heal every stumbling path. Today we raise our hands toward Heaven and declare that our victory is found in Jesus Christ alone. In the mighty and merciful name of Jesus we pray, Amen. I Surrender All – pg 354 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Hands Raised in Victory 高举双手得胜 Description An account of the resource Hands Raised in Victory 高举双手得胜 Matthew 11:28: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 马太福音 11:28: “凡劳苦担重担的人，可以到我这里来， 我就使你们得安息。” Lamentations 3:22,23: Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. 耶利米哀歌 3:22,23: 我们不至消灭，是出于耶和华诸般的慈爱； 是因他的怜悯不至断绝。每早晨这都是新的。 Hebrews 12:12,13: So be made strong even in your weakness by lifting up your tired hands in prayer and worship... 希伯来书 12:12,13: 所以，你们要把下垂的手、发酸的腿挺起来. Hebrews 13:15: Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God... 希伯来书 13:15: 我们应当靠着耶稣，常常以颂赞为祭献给神... Psalm 89:1: I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever... 诗篇 89:1: 我要歌唱耶和华的慈爱，直到永远... Hebrews 12:15: Watch over each other to make sure that no one misses the revelation of God’s grace. 希伯来书 12:15: 又要谨慎，恐怕有人失了神的恩... Psalm 118:25: O God, please come and save us again; bring us Your breakthrough-victory! 诗篇 118:25: 耶和华啊，求你拯救！耶和华啊，求你使我们亨通！ Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 05/10/2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/2871b16e8ffb0cc2c550738579d46d6c.jpg 2f97b676c6c68343db696da2b3c7b540 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/8794ffa092f9361749afadb6d2d77daa.mp4 f94fa929009091839238638fd399d100 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound HE IS RISEN — NOW I WILL ARISE Romans 5:9-11 “The stone is sealed. The grave is quiet. But God is still working. What looks like the end is actually preparation for something amazing. SUNDAY IS COMING. Hold on to hope.” Sore muscles usually mean you're on the right track. Sometimes things feel harder not because you're failing — but because you're growing. So - Just because you're in a dark season doesn’t mean you’ve slipped. You just might be underground… growing roots… getting ready to rise. Think about Good Friday. Dark. Painful. seemingly Hopeless. Jesus was beaten, crucified… and placed in a grave. It looked like the enemy had won. But Sunday changed everything. The grave could not hold Him. Death could not contain Him. Darkness could not stop Him. Jesus declares: “I was dead… but now I am alive forevermore.” Here’s what the resurrection teaches us: God always finishes what He starts. No matter how dark it looks… No matter how long it’s been… No matter who is against you… God will take you from Friday… to Sunday. Today is not just about what Jesus did. It’s about what is available to you now. Romans 5:10,11: Now that we are at peace with God, and because we share in his resurrection life, how much more we will be rescued from sin’s dominion! And even more than that, we overflow with triumphant joy in our new relationship of living reconciled to God—all because of Jesus Christ! Two words I want you to lock in your heart this morning. Resurrection. …means bringing something back to life. Something that was dead — breathing again. Arise. …means to get up. To wake up. To move from where you have been. So the question is— Have we been asleep? Paul writes to the church in Ephesus — people who already knew the Lord — - and he says this in Ephesians 5:14: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” He is not writing to pagans. He is not writing to people who had never heard the Gospel. He is writing to church people. People who were already saved, already loved, already filled with the Spirit. And he is saying — “wake up.” Could it possibly be that some of us need to wake up to what we already have? Could it be that the resurrection is not just a doctrine we believe — but a reality we need to walk in every single day? "it is finished" Tetelestai (tetel-is-sty) Greek Business. Judicial. Military context. The debt of your sin has been fully paid The judgement for your sin has been fully served The war against sin and death has been won Salvation and Reconciliation is fully Yours. Do we need to wake-up to our inheritance, just like the prodigal son did when he “came to himself?” In Luke 15, the prodigal son says: “I will arise and go to my father.” This is Awakening. This is True Repentance. This is the message of Easter: Because Jesus rose — you can rise. When life hits you— (sometimes by surprise, right?) When you're overwhelmed… When you're broken… When you're bound… There is one response: “I will arise and go to my Father.” Say it when: life doesn’t make sense the report is bad your heart is broken you feel stuck “I will arise and go to my Father.” As true believers, we are no longer on the outside looking in In Matt 27: 51: “Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.  At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two…” At the moment of Jesus' death on the cross, the thick curtain in the Jerusalem temple separating the Holy of Holies was torn in two from top to bottom. This event symbolized the removal of barriers between God and humanity, signifying that Jesus’ sacrifice granted direct access to God, ending the need for priestly mediation and the old covenant. The veil, which was roughly six inches thick and impassable, could not be torn by human force, suggesting the tear was a divine act indicating the sacrifice was complete. It marked the end of the old sacrificial system, as Jesus became the final, perfect sacrifice. The cross tore the veil. Heb 10:10: By God’s will we have been purified and made holy once and for all through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus, the Messiah! We now have direct access to God. He is not distant. He is your Father. You are not abandoned. You are accepted. Maybe sometimes your heart stirs in the middle of the night and you know something needs to change… yet, the next morning, it’s so easy to just go back to the usual routine and forget what you felt Dog & the Nail Story I want to be careful here — but I also want to be honest… Some of us may be sitting on a nail today We are uncomfortable enough to whine about it — but not uncomfortable enough to get up (arise) and do something about it. We talk about our situation. We may even pray about our situation. We may ask others for prayer about our situation. …but for some reason we haven’t moved off the nail Some people are in a pit… …but not uncomfortable enough to leave. So why do we do it? Because sometimes the familiar pit — even when it is painful — feels safer than the unknown of climbing out. Because change requires movement, and movement requires faith, and faith means trusting something you cannot yet see. “rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life." Why wait for rock bottom when resurrection power is already in you? When you’re in darkness… You don’t follow what you see. You follow His voice. “He has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Today is your day. Not tomorrow. Not someday. Today. Say it with me: “I will arise and go to my Father.” He is risen — Now I will arise. Heavenly Father, Thank You for the power of the resurrection. Thank You that Jesus is alive— and because He lives, we can live too. Today, we choose to arise. Out of darkness… into Your light. Out of fear… into faith. Out of bondage… into freedom. Father, we come back to You. Just like the prodigal son, we say: “I will arise and go to my Father.” Restore what has been broken. Renew what has grown cold. Awaken what has been asleep. Fill us again with Your life, Your Spirit, and Your power. From this day forward, we will not stay where we’ve been— we will walk in the new life You have given us. We declare: Because He is risen… we will arise. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource He is Risen 他已复活 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/05/2026 Description An account of the resource Romans 5:9-11: Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. 罗马书 5:9-11: 现在，我们既然因祂所流的血而被称为义人，岂不更要靠着祂免受上帝的烈怒吗？ 如果我们还与上帝为敌的时候，尚且可以借着上帝儿子的死亡与上帝和好，和好后的我们岂不更要借着祂儿子的生命得到拯救吗？ 不但如此，我们借着主耶稣基督与上帝和好之后，还要借着祂在上帝面前欢喜。 (pg 1828) Eph 5:14 - “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” 以弗所书 5:14: “沉睡的人啊，醒来吧！从死人中起来吧， 基督要光照你了！”(page 1899) Luke 15:18: “I will arise and go to my father…” 路加福音 15:18:“我要起来，到我父亲那里去…”(pg 1694) Matt 27: 51: Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.  At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two… 马太福音 27:51: 忽然，殿里的幔子从上到下裂为两半，地也震动，磐石也崩裂 (pg 1614) Heb 10:10: By God’s will we have been purified and made holy once and for all through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus, the Messiah! 希 伯 來 書 10:10: 凭上帝的意旨，耶稣基督只牺牲了自己的身体一次，便使得我们永远圣洁。(pg 1950) 他已复活! 现在是起来的时候 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States