7 10 102 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/57183e41b04fa12ccfac6305a532ae1e.png b4a583b7f3426161b2d053fe84dc216c https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/368ea84be605234ef02df59db7d4c33a.mp4 2a0a57325b9a34d715a10b65bf033d87 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 ONLY THE BEGINNING Saved by His Life Romans 5:10 COMMENCEMENT When you graduate, it is only the beginning—the start. Growth and learning continue and expand beyond who we were at “commencement.” Jim Rohn never stopped learning. Conferences, mentors, books, and conversations. He said, “The day you stop learning is the day you start declining.” In most martial arts disciplines, a belt system indicates rank and training. In Tae Kwon Do, a white belt is a beginner. The Japanese word “Shoshin” means “Beginner’s Mind.” Stay open. Drop the ego. Growth often starts when we unlearn what we think we know. When you're green, you grow; when you're ripe, you rot. Your youth is renewed as you stay fresh—learning and growing. God doesn't simply want us to stay as we are. He wants us to become the man or woman He created us to be. Jesus spoke of a sheep that had fallen into a pit. He did not say, “It is your own fault. Stay there.” He reaches down and lifts it out. If you cannot change, you are not free. Growing old is not a bad thing. It is a gift. What matters is what we do with the time we are given. We are to become more and more Christ-like. What began at salvation (justification) is to continue through sanctification. Hebrews 10:14 — “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3 — “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” What happened at salvation was not the finish line. It was only the beginning. Romans 5:10 “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!” FOREVER JUSTIFIED Justification is a once-for-all declaration by God. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, believers are forgiven and declared righteous. It is complete and secure. BEING SANCTIFIED Sanctification is the ongoing process of being transformed into the character of Christ. Our position is secure, but our daily lives continue to be shaped by the Holy Spirit. God wills our sanctification. Sanctification and holiness both carry the idea of being set apart for God. John Wesley said, “The perfection I teach is perfect love.” The process of sanctification begins with justification. We must first receive and believe that we have been redeemed. Romans 5:1–2 reminds us that we have peace with God and stand in His grace. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. (TPT) Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us and he now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us. And this is only the beginning. Romans 5:10 means that if God loved us enough to reconcile us while we were His enemies, He will certainly keep us now that we are His children. Two truths emerge: • Reconciled by His death. • Saved by His life. John Wesley saw Romans 5:10 as a progression of grace. If God reconciled us through Christ’s death while we were enemies, we can be confident that His living power continues to save, sanctify, and ultimately glorify us. So what does Romans 5:10 mean for us today? It means that God is not finished with us. If He loved us enough to reconcile us while we were still His enemies, He certainly will not abandon us now that we are His children. What began at salvation is meant to continue through sanctification. God is still teaching us. Still shaping us. Still transforming us into the likeness of Christ. So stay teachable. Stay humble. Stay green. Because when you're green, you grow. Christ’s life is at work within you. Phil 2:13: God will continually revitalize you, implanting within you the passion to do what pleases him. The good news of the Gospel is not simply that we were saved by His death. The good news is that we are being saved by His life. And that means your story is not finished. God is still at work. What happened at salvation was not the finish line. It was only the beginning. PRAYER OF COMMITTAL Heavenly Father, Thank You for reconciling us to Yourself through Jesus Christ. Thank You that Your work in us did not end at salvation. Continue to shape us, teach us, and transform us by Your Spirit. Keep our hearts humble and teachable. Help us to become more like Christ with each passing day. And Lord, as we leave this place today, help us to remember that You are not finished with us yet. We place ourselves in Your hands and trust You to complete the good work You have begun in us. 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 Only the Beginning 这只是开始 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 05/31/2026 Description An account of the resource Romans 5:1,2: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 罗 马 书 5:1-2: 我 们 既 因 信 称 义 ， 就 借 着 我 们 的 主 耶 稣 基 督 得 与 　 神 相 和 。我 们 又 借 着 他 ， 因 信 得 进 入 现 在 所 站 的 这 恩 典 中 ， 并 且 欢 欢 喜 喜 盼 望 　 神 的 荣 耀 。 Romans 5:10: For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 罗 马 书 5:10: 因 为 我 们 作 仇 敌 的 时 候 ， 且 借 着 　 神 儿 子 的 死 ， 得 与 　 神 和 好 ； 既 已 和 好 ， 就 更 要 因 他 的 生 得 救 了 。 1 Thessalonians 4:3: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification. 帖 撒 罗 尼 迦 前 书 4:3: 神 的 旨 意 就 是 要 你 们 成 为 圣 洁 。 Hebrews 10:14: For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. 希 伯 来 书 10:14: 因 为 他 一 次 献 祭 ， 便 叫 那 得 以 成 圣 的 人 永 远 完 全 。 Philippians 1:6: Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. 腓 立 比 书 1:6: 我 深 信 那 在 你 们 心 里 动 了 善 工 的 ， 必 成 全 这 工 ， 直 到 耶 稣 基 督 的 日 子 。 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/ba292d536e813518bbe99492df4686ab.jpeg 46db21a42d925a3aab44fa58ed865ef1 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/dc66541b1be38d87a97fb888420efe76.mp4 b5a2061ccf3d6c96ee995fd800307435 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 2025 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 Pathways of Mercy Psalm 41:1-3 a famous writer: “We teach best what we most need to learn.” (this is the sermon I need to hear) Those people at the edge of the exit ramp. (we’re used to it now…) I remember the first time I saw a sign that said “Will work for Food” We never really know who is “for real” do we? Heb 13:2: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. This verse encourages believers to be hospitable and kind to others, as they might be unknowingly entertaining divine messengers. We are to be channels for God’s Divine Mercy “restoring human dignity” “Mercy is rehumanizing” Our choices help to shape our lives – and people do make bad decisions – (and although that’s true) we aren’t called to judge them for that. We here to lift them out of their pit. Matt 5:7: How blessed you are when you demonstrate tender mercy! For tender mercy will be demonstrated to you. We are to be Channels of God’s Mercy. Just like God showed US His Mercy – the grace and mercy we did not deserve. “We pray “forgive us our trespasses…” We have to allow God’s grace to flow to others, too. “The mandate of Divine Mercy is to continually expand our definition of “neighbor” until no one stands outside the circle of compassion.” God blesses those who are kind to the poor. He helps them out of their troubles. Although you may feel less than successful in being this kind of giving and forgiving Christian, God’s strength and power are ready to fill that gap. “ …my weakness becomes a portal to God’s power.” This message is not meant to condemn – maybe it is not even meant to convict. Maybe it is really to correct. To correct our course and our priorities. Starting with me. “…those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and… the gift of righteousness (will) reign in life…” To fully experience God’s grace we have to be willing to show it as well. Matthew Kelly: “Do you have a relationship with the poor? If we want to have a personal relationship with God, a personal relationship with the poor is vital.” God always blesses those who are kind to the poor and helpless. They’re the first ones God helps when they find themselves in any trouble. The Lord will preserve and protect them. They’ll be honored and esteemed while their enemies are defeated. When they are sick, lying upon their bed of suffering, God will restore them. He will raise them up again and restore them back to health. “Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” James 4:10: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. The Heart of GOD GOD’s Heart “…working in and through you…” We help by giving alms… …but we also help by lifting up heads – pointing others to the truth we have received. Andrew Carnegie didn’t just make donations – he deliberately found ways to get life-changing information to people to lift them out of their poverty. “Give a man a fish…” A smart investor knows it is important where they invest their hard-earned resources. We know that when we give to a ministry (such as Hillside) that preaches the gospel, that continues to direct people to the Cross – to Jesus – that it is fertile soil for the Kingdom of God. That means your seed you plant will produce an abundant crop. A good harvest …but what about when you give to that person on the street corner? Prov 19:17: Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. Matt 25:40: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ unto the least of these… you have done it unto ME So we’re giving and serving Jesus when we do this (how could there possibly be a better investment?) Just like everything else – we must do it in faith “Lord Jesus, I trust in You” Matt 25:34-36 (read) “We are offering hope, dignity, mercy and love.” Mother Teresa (1979 Nobel Prize): “Sometime ago, this to you will sound very strange, but I brought a girl child from the street, and I could see in the face of the child that the child was hungry. God knows how many days that she had not eaten. So I give her a piece of bread. And then the little one started eating the bread crumb by crumb. And I said to the child, eat the bread, eat the bread. And she looked at me and said: I am afraid to eat the bread because I’m afraid when it is finished I will be hungry again. This is a reality, and yet there is a greatness of the poor. One evening a gentleman came to our house and said, ‘There is a Hindu family and the eight children have not eaten for a long time. Do something for them.’ And I took rice and I went immediately, and there was this mother, those little ones’ faces, shining eyes from sheer hunger. She took the rice from my hand, she divided into two and she went out. When she came back, I asked her, ‘Where did you go? What did you do?’ And one answer she gave me: ‘They are hungry also.’ She knew that the next door neighbor, a Muslim family, was hungry. What surprised me most, not that she gave the rice, but what surprised me most, that in her suffering, in her hunger, she knew that somebody else was hungry, and she had the courage to share, share the love. And this is what I mean, I want you to love the poor, and never turn your back to the poor, for in turning your back to the poor, you are turning it to Christ.” “Prime the Pump” even a little bit at the start will open up the channels for God to use you in even greater ways. “Then the King will turn to those on his right and say, ‘You have a special place in my Father’s heart. Come and experience the full inheritance of the kingdom realm that has been destined for you from before the foundation of the world. of the world! For when you saw me hungry, you fed me. “ Matt 25:40: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 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 Pathways of Mercy 仁慈之路 Description An account of the resource Psalm 41:1-3: God always blesses those who are kind to the poor and helpless. They’re the first ones God helps when they find themselves in any trouble. The Lord will preserve and protect them. They’ll be honored and esteemed while their enemies are defeated. When they are sick, lying upon their bed of suffering, God will restore them. He will raise them up again and restore them back to health. 诗篇 41:1-3: 善待穷人的有福了！耶和华必救他们脱离困境。 耶和华必保护他们，救他们的性命，使他们在地上享福，不让仇敌恶谋得逞。 他们生病在床，耶和华必看顾，使他们康复。 (page 921) Heb 13:2: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 希 伯 來 書 13:2: 愿你们在家里不要忘记款待陌生人，因为你们可能不知不觉地把天使请进了门。(page 1956) Matthew 5:7: How blessed you are when you demonstrate tender mercy! For tender mercy will be demonstrated to you. 马太福音 5:7: 心存怜悯的人有福了，因为他们必蒙上帝的怜悯。(page 1563) Matthew 25:34-36: Then the King will turn to those on his right and say, ‘You have a special place in my Father’s heart. Come and experience the full inheritance of the kingdom realm that has been destined for you from before the foundation of the world! For when you saw me hungry, you fed me. When you found me thirsty, you gave me drink. When I had no place to stay, you invited me in, and when I was poorly clothed, you covered me. When I was sick, you tenderly cared for me, and when I was in prison you visited me.’ 马太福音 25:34-36: 那时，王会对右边的人说，‘我父所赐福的人啊，来承受创世以来为你们预备的国度吧。 因为我饥饿时，你们给我吃的；我口渴时，你们给我喝的；我身在异乡时，你们接待我； 我赤身露体时，你们给我穿的；我生病时，你们照顾我；我坐牢时，你们来看我。’ (page 1607) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike J Koger Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 03/30/2025 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3739 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/d8be244ef1796f31d5e25373dbc82e40.jpg 51e182056f1fcbddbaca7551e0fde7a5 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/a9799406bf53fa98704bfa7d604e3330.mp4 e265bdaeadacff363db8ccc28244ac88 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 2025 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 Peace & Purpose John 14:27 Ed Mylett podcast: an interview with a famous singer who had gone through a very devastating time period. “the scariest time of my life where I'm still living in my car. I'm still I was still $200,000 in debt. I got tired of living a life trying to put on a mask or pretend to be what everybody else thought I should be. the words of a song called “living a lie” came on his radio and he woke up to where his life really was.” “ I couldn't get it out of my head. I went on Facebook and said, “you think you know me. You have no idea right now I'm $200,000 in debt I'm living in my car I've hurt everyone in my life. I have no relationship with my family. I just put it all out there - the scariest moment in my life. The first message I got was from a stranger who told me of the incredible impact my honesty about my own personal struggle made on him. He wrote to me, “I said to myself, ‘how did he have that kind of strength?’” He said, “When I read your testimony, I put the gun down.” “I Put the gun down” …and it was in that moment that my purpose was birthed I said, “I know why I'm here! Yes - to speak to the voice of the voiceless or the parts of you that you haven't yet given a voice.” Ed Mylett says, “in life (here we go) you are most qualified to help the person you used to be” Sister Kayla posted this quote by Watchman Nee: “There is no one more beautiful than one who is broken!” When we take an honest assessment of where we are in our lives, offer it up to God, He can form a purpose from any kind of struggle – any kind of pain. …and if we are living from that true purpose we also experience something wonderful: True Peace ? Are you willing to be brave enough today to look at your life honestly, open your heart, and let the come in so that it can then flow out of you to others who need what only you can share? What I am going to tell you today is that by living your God-given purpose, you can discover a life of peace. Peace Through Purpose “Don’t become a wandering generality. Be a meaningful specific.” ― Zig Ziglar We are to be bright lights – living epistles – testimonies of God’s grace and Mercy. (Jesus) “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” What is Jesus’ peace like? (Jesus led His disciples by example) Jesus Calms a Storm Matt 8:23-27: They all got into a boat and began to cross over to the other side of the lake. And Jesus, exhausted, fell asleep. Suddenly a violent storm developed, with waves so high the boat was about to be swamped. Yet Jesus continued to sleep soundly. The disciples woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We’re going to die!” But Jesus reprimanded them. “Why are you gripped with fear? Where is your faith?” Then he stood and rebuked the storm, saying, “Be still!” And instantly it became perfectly calm. The disciples were astonished by this miracle and said to one another, “Who is this Man? Even the wind and waves obey his Word.” ? Can we have this same kind of peace? Jesus said, “I’m leaving you peace. I’m giving you my peace. I don’t give you the kind of peace that the world gives. So don’t be troubled or cowardly.” ? Do you believe what Jesus says is true. True for YOU? Col 3:15: …let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. As we discussed before - We all have a higher purpose than we have walked in so far… even if we are striving to attain it now. …and we need our lives made whole so we have something more to give others. What is Your Purpose? What is anyone’s purpose? Your Purpose is to be a vessel God can use for His glory. Ephesians 5:16: Take full advantage of every day as you spend your life for his purposes. We continue to live in Peace as we live to fulfill God’s Purpose for our lives. Jesus: I will go away but I will give you a gift of peace. It is mine to give and yours to keep. It is not like a gift that this world gives. My cry to the Lord is that we could begin to walk in a new level of health and wholeness, mind, body and spirit. - That we as a church would lead as examples of New Covenant Believers. Part of that should be how we demonstrate that “peace that passeth all understanding” "Peace that passeth all understanding" refers to a peace that transcends human understanding and cannot be fully comprehended. This peace is a harmony and calmness of body, mind, and spirit that's not dependent on circumstances. • It's a peace that's promised to those who pray with thanksgiving. • It's a peace that's distinct from what the world offers. • It's a peace that's found in a relationship with Christ. • It's a peace that's a result of divine intervention rather than human effort. In Philippians 4:7 we have a wonderful promise: “The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Prov 14:30: “A heart at peace gives life to the body…” When we are living our Divine Purpose, we can have a heart at peace because we know whatever the situation, God will use it all for good – and for His glory. Living on purpose, from purpose, becomes a daily practice. Phil 2:13: God will continually revitalize you, implanting within you the passion to do what pleases him. Trusting in God – believing His promises are true – brings our heart to a resting place. “A heart at peace gives life to the body…” When you’re in the midst of the storm, it’s hard to hear the Master’s voice unless you listen for it. He speaks to your heart today and says, “Peace Be Still.” Isaiah 30:15: In repentance and rest you will be saved; in staying calm and trusting will be your strength. staying calm and trusting Sometimes we can feel peaceful until something rocks the boat. The peace Jesus gives to us transcends this very natural reaction and causes us to respond in peace. (Gal 5 - Peace is the fruit of the Spirit) “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” The Power of God’s Word to shape our lives is demonstrated from the beginning of the Bible until the very end. (“I delight to do Your Will…) So you see – we can receive this peace by faith because of Jesus’ words. God calls you to live from a higher place, where His rule brings peace and purpose. He calls us all to repentance today. Repentance isn’t just turning from sin—it’s returning to God’s original design for you. As you renew your mind, you step back into the life He intended. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Prayer Father, help me change my thinking and return to the life You designed for me. Rule over my heart, my mind, and my steps. Give me the grace to receive the peace you promised to me. 1 Peter 1:8,9: Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 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 PEACE & PURPOSE 和平与目的 Description An account of the resource John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 约翰福音 14:27: 我把平安留给你们，把我的平安赐给你们，我赐给你们的平安不像世人给的平安。你们心里不要忧愁，也不要害怕。(page 1749) Col 3:15: …let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 歌罗西书 3:15 要让基督的平安掌管你们的心，你们就是为此而蒙召成为一个身体。 要常存感恩的心。 (page 1911) Ephesians 5:16: Take full advantage of every day as you spend your life for his purposes. 以弗所书 5:16,17: 要爱惜光阴，因为现今是个邪恶的世代。 所以，不要做糊涂人，要明白主的旨意。(page 1899) Prov 14:30: “A heart at peace gives life to the body…” 箴言 14:30: 心中安静是肉体的生命 (page 1054) Phil 2:13: God will continually revitalize you, implanting within you the passion to do what pleases him. 腓立比书 2:13: 因为你们立志行事，都是神在你们心里运行，为要成就他的美意。(page 1904) Isaiah 30:15: In repentance and rest you will be saved; in staying calm and trusting will be your strength. 以赛亚书 30:15: 主耶和华——以色列的圣者说“你们回转、安息便可得到拯救；你们安静、信靠便可得到力量。(page 1160) 1 Peter 1:8,9: Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 彼得前书 1:8,9: 你们虽然没有见过基督，却爱祂；虽然现在看不见祂，却信祂，并且有无法形容、充满荣耀的喜乐。 因为你们得到了信心带来的果效，就是你们的灵魂得救。(page 1965) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike J Koger Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 02/23/2025 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3739 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/bad55c55ffdf831ed014357cb9069f45.jpg d082be24548083b8b1732cfbd55ef9bc https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/737c143be9e2db04c828578b769af81e.mp4 3b76870d0c731217dbc97cfea05d7ef3 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 2025 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 Finding True Peace: Advent Week 2 "We've got work to do to put right what has gone wrong, to heal what is broken, to mend the relationships, and to prepare for the company that will come." Peace. It's what we all long for, isn't it? That freedom from disturbance, that tranquility, that wholeness the Bible calls 'shalom.' As Augustine so beautifully put it: "Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee." Without peace, our souls cannot truly rest. Colin Hay captures this internal turmoil in his song "Storm in My Heart": "I used to wonder as I lie on my bed Can I hear thunder or am I confused By what lies ahead? And I got storm in my heart Tearing me apart Storm in my heart" That storm - that restlessness - is what brings many of us here today. We're searching for something our world simply cannot provide. We desperately seek peace in our lives, don't we? We try everything - relationships, achievements, possessions, even religious activities. …Yet so many of us still find ourselves coming up short, still feeling that storm raging within. “storm in my heart - tearing me apart” Why? Because we're often building our peace on shifting foundations: - our house upon the sand • Where there is guilt - there can be no peace Where there is shame - there can be no peace Where there is double-mindedness - there can be no peace “all other ground is sinking sand” ? Is our identity built upon the finished work of the cross? We must understand the crucial difference between conviction and condemnation. One leads us toward God; the other drives us away. Some people have learned to control others through guilt and shame, or maybe they have been controlled by these themselves. Guilt and shame are powerful forces. And in that environment, true peace becomes impossible. Romans 5:1,2: Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us and he now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us. Our faith guarantees us permanent access into this marvelous kindness that has given us a perfect relationship with God. What incredible joy bursts forth within us as we keep on celebrating our hope of experiencing God’s glory! Peace. There are many different definitions for peace – but it all goes back to Shalom. One of God’s names is Jehovah Shalom - "the Lord is peace" “Shalom” - Wholeness. A wholeness we cannot create on our own. Sometimes when my world feels like it is spinning, I will just say “Peace.” (anxious) Without Divine Peace anchoring our souls, each day becomes a struggle. Our hearts remain unfixed, unstable. We find ourselves asking: "Are we saved one day and lost the next?" This uncertainty creates a spiritual restlessness that affects every aspect of our lives. As James writes, "A double-minded person is unstable in all they do." This instability manifests in anxiety, broken relationships, and a disconnect from our true purpose. People ask: "Have you made your peace with God?" - knowing deep down that without this fundamental peace, nothing else will satisfy. But here's the good news of Advent - Romans 5:1-2 tells us: "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." Notice the source of this peace - it's "because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." That sounds like Grace to me! As Ephesians 2:8 reminds us: "For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift." This peace isn't something we achieve; it's something we receive. "Our faith in Jesus transfers God's righteousness to us and He now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us." Romans 8:1-2 assures us: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." Only Jesus can speak to the storm in your heart and say, "Peace, be still." When we embrace this Divine Peace that comes through Christ, everything changes. We find ourselves blessed as described in Psalm 32 and quoted in Romans 4: "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them." This Divine Peace brings: Freedom from guilt and shame Confidence in our relationship with God Stability in life's storms A heart that is fixed, not double-minded The ability to rest in God's presence and love As 2 Peter 1:2 promises: "May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord." This peace grows as our relationship with Christ deepens. So, what should we do to establish or re-establish the divine peace that is already ours through Jesus? Here are some practical steps: **Pray consistently**: Jesus taught that we "should always pray and never give up." 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to "pray without ceasing." TPT puts it this way: "Make your life a prayer." Not fancy prayers, but open-hearted honesty with God. **Practice thanksgiving**: (“in everything give thanks”) Philippians 4:6 instructs: "Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart." The Amplified version adds: "Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your specific requests known to God." **Draw near to God**: James 4:8 promises: "Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting." **Grow in faith**: Hebrews 11:6 reminds us: "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." **Embrace your new identity**: Eph 4:24 "take on an entirely new way of life - a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you." These practices don't earn us peace; they help us experience the Divine Peace Christ has already secured for us. As we continue this Advent journey, remember that the Prince of Peace came to bring you what you cannot find elsewhere. If you are seeking refuge from the storm, if you are seeking peace today, there is only one true answer. His name is Jesus. Ephesians 2:14: "For He Himself is our peace” Our reconciling “Peace” is Jesus! ...By dying as our sacrifice, he has broken down every wall Isaiah 53:5: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. “The punishment that He received has brought peace to us.” “ … we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus… has done for us.” Our answer to the storm is a new heart - a heart at peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Peter reminds us to continue growing in the fruit of the Spirit: "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins." So today, let us not forget - instead, let us remember our so great a salvation - and in so doing, live in God's peace. "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." This Advent season, will you accept His peace? Will you allow the Prince of Peace to calm the storm in your heart? You can take that step of faith today. Luke 12:32: Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. 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 PEACE 和平 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 12/07/2025 Description An account of the resource Romans 5:1,2: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 羅 馬 書 5:1,2: 并通过基督，使一切，不论是天上的还是地上的都与自己再和好。上帝通过基督洒在十字架上的血缔造了和平。(page 1827) Col 1:20 - …and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. 歌 羅 西 書 1:20: 并通过基督，使一切，不论是天上的还是地上的都与自己再和好。上帝通过基督洒在十字架上的血缔造了和平。 (page 1909) 2 Peter 1: 2: May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 彼 得 後 書 1:2: 愿你们借了解上帝和耶稣我们的主，领受到更丰富的恩典与和平。(page 1972) Romans 8:1,2: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 羅 馬 書 8:1,2: -所以现在，在耶稣基督之中的人们不被定罪， 因为在耶稣基督之中，带来生命的圣灵的法，已把我从那导致罪和死亡的律法中解脱出来了。(page 1831) Col 3:15 – “ …let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” 歌罗西书 3:15 要让基督的平安掌管你们的心，你们就是为此而蒙召成为一个身体。 要常存感恩的心。(page 1911) 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/05cf0a7ab6bf2de3bcaf7a92721dbe25.jpg 8ef4407c63af388708a0604c247d7ce8 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/360ad8e02cdb47e381351548f5500807.mp4 31df5cc31c2f8bd6584cc08faad516bb 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 2025 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 Power in the Presence Luke 10:38-42 Sometimes it feels like I am riding an emotional roller coaster… “One moment you’re up – the next you’re down.” Does this describe you? Doesn’t this seemingly describe everyone? Do you have woulda-coulda-shoulda’s? “Left to my own devices” It’s normal to feel occasional feelings of discouragement - - but the successful people in life learn how to deal with those moments and push on. to discourage - cause (someone) to lose confidence or enthusiasm. The enemy wants to dis-courage you and make you feel unenthused about pursuing your dream – about changing your life – about serving the Lord. “The matters on your heart matter to God.” When we get inspired – whether it’s by a scripture that stirs our heart, a song that moves us, or a flash of memory that reminds us of who we want to become or what we want to accomplish in our lives… this is a seed. …A seed that can take root in our hearts and cause us to live life on a higher level. …or not. Jesus warned us of how certain things can rob us of the power of those seeds… Mark 4:18, 19: The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. The cares of this world can put your fire out with dis-couragement. It’s 2025: This is no time for discouragement. “The cares of this world” will try to tell us that there’s no point in even trying – - and yet, all around the world there are people making a difference. (and yet) …even today - There are people getting healthier. There are people building successful businesses. There are people living victorious Christian lives and not continuing down the old paths of their old nature. ? Do you dare to be en-couraged today? Are you willing to let God in-spire you with enthusiasm as His Word speaks directly into your heart? The answers are waiting in the Presence of the Lord Col 1:22: ...he reconnected you back to himself. He released his supernatural peace to you through the sacrifice of his own body as the sin-payment on your behalf so that you would dwell in his presence. And now there is nothing between you and Father God, for he sees you as holy, flawless, and restored God says His Word will not return to Him void. He desires that when you hear the Word that it takes root in you and changes you. Ø Something struck me big-time one morning as I was praying. I can’t even get close to the president. My congressman probably wouldn’t have any time for me. I probably couldn’t get a sit-down meeting even with our mayor (not very easily) …and yet – here I am – talking to the Creator of the Universe. I’m not just “talking to the sky” – or to a voicemail. I am talking to and with GOD. How awesome is that? 1 Peter 3:12: For the eyes of the Lord YAHWEH rest upon the godly, and His heart responds to their prayers. I don’t have to go to a heavenly “waiting room” and have some angel take down my message and hope that maybe they will put it on God’s desk somehow. I commune with the Father. I come directly into His Presence. A famous minister spoke of being on an elevator in a high-rise building. He said he’d never been particularly comfortable on such elevators. There was something about riding up and down in a little box several hundred feet off the ground that has never sat well with him. He worried that something would go wrong. One day it did. The car he was riding in got stuck in between floors way up in the higher floors. He noted that some of the people in the car became frantic. They began to beat on the door hoping to get someone’s attention. Others began to yell in the hopes that their voices would get someone on the surrounding floors to come to the aid. But nobody heard their noise or their cries. He quietly made his way to the front of the car, opened a little door in the wall and pulled out a telephone. Immediately he was connected with someone on the outside. He didn’t need to beat on the wall to get their attention. He didn’t need to speak loudly in the phone to receive their help. He could have whispered and they would have heard him. The preacher said that - in this world, we’re going to get "stuck" in places we aren’t comfortable with. Some people begin to beat against the walls, others cry out in dismay. But the person who trusts in the power of confident prayer knows there’s someone on the other end who hears their call and comes to their aid. Two Lessons: 1. The desperation, panic and shouting were unnecessary 2. Once the call was made, the people could rest and let the experts do their work Hebrews 10:19 tells us that we now can have "boldness" to enter into very presence of God because of the blood of Jesus: And now we are brothers and sisters in God’s family because of the blood of Jesus, and he welcomes us to come into the most holy sanctuary in the heavenly realm—boldly and without hesitation. Paul wrote (2 Corinthians 3:5) Yet we don’t see ourselves as capable enough to do anything in our own strength, for our true competence flows from God’s empowering presence. Jesus has opened the way for us to approach God’s throne and earnestly ask whatever It is an awesome thing to know that because of the Cross, we can come into the very Presence of God. Acts 3:19 says, “times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” If your enthusiasm is waning – if your spirit needs a boost – the place for renewal is in God’s Presence. If “the worries of this life” can choke out the Word and cause it to be of no affect, then the obvious solution is to not allow those cares to take root in your heart. In our gospel lesson today: Martha let the cares of other things keep her in stress, even as Mary sat at Jesus feet and rested in His Presence. 2 Cor 3:4: We carry this confidence in our hearts because of our union with Christ before God. There is a time to work… there is a time to think about things that must be done. …but there is also a time to rest. The needful thing at that time is to let Jesus do what you cannot. We all need those “times of refreshing” that “come from the presence of the Lord” Holy Communion is just such a time. It is a “means of grace.” It is a means of God getting through to you with His grace and His renewal. We’ve got to enter into His rest so the Word can do its perfect work in our hearts. all we are to do in this sacrament is to (by His grace) receive by faith with thanksgiving “…the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” We’ve got to become Good Soil. Say, “I am good soil” It’s so easy to get distracted. Even in church. (or online church) To forget the needful thing and start worrying about your job, the state of the world, family members… It’s time to REST. The Grace of God will allow you to rest from your striving. When we are weak, He is strong. Jesus told the Samaritan woman, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." Jesus keeps calling us to come to Him – to trust Him – to rest in His care for us. “how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” The Savior is calling to us – calling us home – calling us to rest. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” ? What are you struggling with today? ? What has become more important to you than just being in God’s Presence and resting in Him this morning? I’ll help you. It was what you were really thinking about just now when I asked you that. The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.” “Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me…” Those that wait upon the Lord… 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 Power in the Presence 力量在场 Description An account of the resource Luke 10:41,42: The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.” 路加福音 10:41,42: 耶稣对她说：“玛大，玛大，你为太多事情忧虑烦恼。 其实最要紧的事只有一件，玛丽亚选择了上好的， 是夺不走的。” (page 1682) Mark 4:18, 19: The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 马可福音 4:18,19: 种子落在荆棘丛中，是指人虽然听过道， 但生活的忧虑、钱财的迷惑和其他欲望把道挤住了，以致不能结出果实 (page 1623) Col 1:22: ...he reconnected you back to himself. He released his supernatural peace to you through the sacrifice of his own body as the sin-payment on your behalf so that you would dwell in his presence. And now there is nothing between you and Father God, for he sees you as holy, flawless, and restored 歌罗西书 1:22: 但现在上帝借着基督肉身的死使你们与祂和好了，让你们在祂面前成为圣洁无瑕、无可指责的人 (pg 1909) 1 Peter 3:12: For the eyes of the Lord YAHWEH rest upon the godly, and His heart responds to their prayers. 彼得前书 3:12: 因为主的眼睛看顾义人，祂的耳朵垂听他们的祈求。(page 1969) 2 Cor 3:5: Yet we don’t see ourselves as capable enough to do anything in our own strength, for our true competence flows from God’s empowering presence.歌 林 多 後 書 3:5: 我们的意思并不是说我们凭自己能做任何好事，是上帝使我们能够做到我们所做的。(page 1872) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike J Koger Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 02/02/2025 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3739 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/931fb40db1974dac5359053b9a3a0787.jpg f229a3867739c105555d8ffbf650769e https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/f3351bfb618aca1849d4562eee37691e.mp4 1300ac3c6cbc416d39bc9c67d8f1f36a 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 Powerlessness: Finding God's Strength in Our Weakness Matthew 9:35-38 "When he saw the vast crowds of people, Jesus' heart was deeply moved with compassion, because they seemed weary and helpless, like wandering sheep without a shepherd." I've shared with you before about some of my simple prayers that received immediate answers: "Lord, I need a ride." "Lord, I am out of ideas. If you want me to see that church..." What do these prayers have in common? They were born from a place of helplessness—moments when I recognized my own limitations and surrendered to God's power. Do you ever find yourself in a state of powerlessness over a certain situation? Perhaps you're facing something that feels completely beyond your control. Some challenges might seem small—like those I mentioned—but maybe yours is life-threatening...for you, or someone you love. It's often difficult for believers to admit their own struggles. We can be powerless over destructive habits or behavior patterns in our lives—or watch helplessly as someone we love battles their own demons. In twelve-step recovery programs, the first step acknowledges: "We admitted we were powerless over __________ - and that our lives had become unmanageable." When we find ourselves in an unmanageable situation, we stand at a crossroads: Do we give up—throw in the towel—or do we decide that we need help, and that maybe—just maybe—finding that help is actually possible? Jesus said: "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs." (Matt 5:3) MSG: "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule." Can we humble ourselves enough today to admit, "I am powerless (in my own ability) to control my own tendency to do the wrong thing—and my life is unmanageable?" Your first thought might be, "Sure, I'm not perfect, but I'm not struggling like others are." Yet it doesn't take much reflection to realize everyone has their own set of struggles. If you can't identify one area of struggle in your life right now, maybe God has positioned you to be that one who can stand strong for the rest of us. Use this message (today) to build your faith so you can stand in the gap and believe for others. 1 Cor 10:12-13 reminds us: "Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence. No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it." The truth is, we ALL struggle with something. We all need help in some area of our lives. Matthew 5:3 (TPT) declares: "What happiness comes to you when you feel your spiritual poverty! For yours is the realm of heaven's kingdom." Part of our human nature is to refuse change until our pain exceeds our fear of changing. We deny our struggles until they become so overwhelming that we're finally crushed into realizing we need help. ? Why don't we save ourselves the misery and admit now what we're inevitably going to have to admit later? When we try to fix our problems ourselves, we often only make things worse. When we deny our humanity, our need for a new nature, and our total reliance on Christ—when we attempt to be the center of our own universe—we're playing God, and we always end up doing a poor imitation. We try to control our image—telling people we're fine when inside we're torn apart. We try to fix ourselves and our problems until they're so big and out of control that we finally have no choice but to reach out for help. We do everything we can to control our pain—whether by avoiding it, denying it, reducing it, or postponing it. But there's always ultimately that moment of truth when we can no longer deny reality... when we finally admit, "I am powerless in my own ability, and my life is unmanageable." In essence, we're admitting, "I am not God." Psalm 145:8-9 tells us: "The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made." When Jesus walked this earth, He demonstrated that compassion. Our Scripture says, "When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." The people around Jesus probably had no idea just how broken their lives really were. We need to understand God's heart toward us and how He longs to heal our brokenness. Jesus lamented, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me." Isaiah 57:18-19 offers these beautiful promises: "I have seen how they acted, but I will heal them. I will lead them and help them, and I will comfort those who mourn. I offer peace to all, both near and far! I will heal my people." Notice the five promises God extends: If you are hurt, God says, "I will heal you." If you're confused, God says, "I will lead you." If you feel helpless, God says, "I will help you." If you feel alone, God says, "I will comfort you." If you feel anxious and afraid, God says, "I will offer peace to you." "Trusting in His promises, we find hope for a better future—a life of freedom, peace, and happiness." We desperately need God because our lives are unmanageable without Him. We'll be forced to learn that lesson someday. We may as well admit it now. Are there still issues you struggle with? If you answered "yes," you know without a doubt that you're a citizen of the human race. The Bible tells us clearly we were born with a sin nature—a carnal mind. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives can we rise beyond this. Colossians 3:10 instructs us: "Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him." This reveals two important truths: It is a choice—and it is a progressive change. We can't do it without the Power of Christ in us. Spurgeon wisely noted: "You may invite men to listen to your message, but you are only inviting them to gaze upon an empty table unless Christ is the very center and substance of all that you set before them." Psalm 62:5 reminds us: "Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him." We need new hope sometimes—and we need the House of God to pick us up and help us find the restoration that we will never find anywhere else. • What needs changing in your life? What hurt, hang-up, or habit have you been trying to ignore? Choosing to admit that you can't do it alone and that you need God is the first and hardest choice. It's humbling to say, "I have a problem and I need help." It means acknowledging, "I'm not God, and I don't have it together as I'd like everybody to think." But that is truly the beginning of healing. It is the road to victory. Jesus warned about the alternative: "For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them." It's time to ask God for the help we need. Do you recognize that God's grace offers real solutions to overcoming ourselves? Psalm 46:1 assures us: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Publishers Clearinghouse) What if the Grand Prize was going to be delivered to your door? Jesus stands at the door of your heart today with the true answers you are seeking. John 16:24 promises: "Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." Matthew 18:19-20 reminds us of the power of agreement: "Again, I give you an eternal truth: If two of you agree to ask God for something in a symphony of prayer, my heavenly Father will do it for you. For wherever two or three come together in honor of my name, I am right there with them!" Today's scripture reminds us: "Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. 'What a huge harvest!' he said to his disciples. 'How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!'" Isn't that our job as a church—and as the Body of Christ? We need to be the hospital where souls find healing and restoration. Let's pray together: "Dear God, I want to take the first choice to healing and spiritual health today. I realize I am not You, God. I've often tried to control my problems, my pain, my image, and even other people—as if I were You. I'm sorry. I've tried to deny my problems by staying busy and keeping myself distracted. But I'm not running anymore. I admit that I am helpless to control this tendency to do things I know are unhealthy for me. Today I am asking for Your help. I humbly ask You to take all the pieces of my unmanageable life and begin the process of healing. Please heal me. Please give me the strength to choose health. Help me to persevere and continue this journey, led by Your hand. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. 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 POWERLESS 无力 Description An account of the resource Matthew 9:36: When he saw the vast crowds of people, Jesus' heart was deeply moved with compassion, because they seemed weary and helpless, like wandering sheep without a shepherd. 馬 太 福 音 9:36: 他 看 见 许 多 的 人 ， 就 怜 悯 他 们 ； 因 为 他 们 困 苦 流 离 ， 如 同 羊 没 有 牧 人 一 般 Matt 5:3: Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. 馬 太 福 音 5:3: 虚 心 的 人 有 福 了 ！ 因 为 天 国 是 他 们 的 。(page 1563) 1 Cor 10:12-13: Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence. 歌 林 多 前 書 10:12,13: 因此，那些自认为站稳脚根的人要谨防跌倒。 你们所受到的诱惑与所有人类受到的是一样的。但是上帝是可信的。他不会让你们受到你们无法承受的诱惑，而是在你们受到诱惑时，给你们提供一条出路，好让你们抵住诱惑。pg 1859 Psalm 46:1: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 诗篇 46:1: 上帝是我们的避难所，是我们的力量，是我们患难中随时的帮助。( page 926) Isaiah 57:18-19: I have seen how they acted, but I will heal them. I will lead them and help them, and I will comfort those who mourn. I offer peace to all, both near and far! I will heal my people. 以赛亚书 57:18,19: "我看见了他们的所作所为，但我还是要医治他们，引领他们，使他们和那些哀伤的人得安慰， 使他们开口赞美。愿远近各方的人都得到平安！我要医治他们。这是耶和华说的。" (page1208) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 08/31/2025 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3739 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/ca9bfb8660e661882ea95a1ecd082e28.jpg 43f684629709ebeb01a98c361a7e4ac8 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/e7562ef298764d47c179372b9d354bc2.mp4 70254a55bbf079275c59d29b47aefe2b 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 2025 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 Power of Purpose 2025 Col 1:12-14 Last week I heard this great quote: “Purpose isn't just about knowing what to do. It's about knowing why you do it.” I sent it to my self as an email so I could reference it later. When I went back to search my emails , I used the word “purpose” and found I had to already wade through 2 pages of emails in order to find it. What I am saying is, people talk a LOT about “purpose.” Back during World War II, enemies torpedoed a Navy cruiser carrying more than 1,100 crewmembers. As the ship sank into the frigid water, the crew floundered in the sea for five days. They were starving, drowning, and being attacked by sharks. The ocean current pulled nine of the guys away, splintering off from the rest of the ranks. Seeing these men were beginning to lose their will, a young officer started asking them about their families and lives back home. He asked them to describe what they were going to do when they got back. He asked them what they wanted to accomplish and what difference they wanted to make. He had them envision how scared their spouses and children were; how their parents must feel not knowing if they were alive. He asked them to fight to stay alive, not just for themselves but for their loved ones back home. Finally a passing plane spotted the men in the water. Two-thirds of the 1,100 crew members perished. However, all nine inspired by that young officer lived. This story helps illustrate the importance of purpose & vision. Prov 29:18 - where there is no vision, the people perish. What is the vision for your life? It needs to be bigger than yourself. What are you willing to fight for; who are you willing to fight for; …or rather… live for? Our Vision should rise from our Purpose. Purpose is what we are here to focus on today – right at the early start of 2025. purpose: the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. have as one's intention or objective. Our Vision should rise from our Purpose. Our purpose should guide our choices in life. Where we go in 2025 will depend largely upon where we are looking. Robert Schuller (recovery story) “How beautiful it is to stand on the edge of tomorrow.” Let’s thank God for His Grace this morning. Your hearts can soar with joyful gratitude when you think of how God made you worthy to receive the glorious inheritance freely given to us by living in the light. He has rescued us completely from the tyrannical rule of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom realm of his beloved Son. For in the Son all our sins are canceled and we have the release of redemption through his very blood. Isn’t wonderful to know that no matter what your past was – you can have a spotless future? Fact: GOD has a bigger vision and purpose for your life than you can comprehend right now. Eph 3:20 – GOD “is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Col 1:16 - For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. So you – as a created being – were created for Him – and you therefore have a purpose for being here. What is your purpose? What is my purpose? I know we all struggle with that question at times. Some people struggle for a lifetime. Many people live a life based on a selfish, self-serving purpose. If that is the case, and we are pursuing our own stuff – we are working on our own. If you are pursuing your Divine Purpose – GOD is your partner. - and HE will add HIS “Super” to your “Natural” What’s something that irritates you? What do you see that needs to be changed or improved? Maybe that is your purpose rising up in your soul. Your questions just may be revealing your calling – your purpose ? What if YOU were the one called to address these needs? The health clubs may be full this week – filled with people who made that their New Year’s resolution. …but we all know all too well that most won’t make it to February Will 2025 be an amazing year of breakthrough for you? “According to your faith it is done unto you.” There are a lot of ways to make a true SHIFT in the upcoming year. One of those ways is in how we speak about our lives. Our words. Your true core beliefs will manifest in the words you speak over your life. Prov 12:14 - A man will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words “The sower sows the word.” (Mark 4:14) What are you sowing in your life?  We can waste our days or we can invest them. Get beyond the petty and go for Purpose. You may think you have missed out by being in the wrong place and the wrong time. In the carnal landscape it may be “Location. Location. Location.” but in the spiritual realm, God’s Plans and Purposes will still prevail. His Favor upon your life goes wherever you go. Psalm 30:5: His favor is for a lifetime Psalm 1:3 - They are like a tree replanted by streams of water, which bears fruit at just the right time and whose leaves don’t fade. Whatever they do succeeds. Your Purpose will override the distractions and you will move forward like a laser-guided missile. Here’s a story to help illustrate this: In the Andes Mountains, there were two warring tribes that not-so-peacefully co-existed—one that lived in the lowlands and the other, high in the mountains. One day, the mountain people invaded the lowlanders plundering and kidnapping a baby from the village. They vanished with the child and took her back up into the mountains. The lowlanders—pushed to action at the disappearance of one of their own—didn’t know how to climb the mountain. They didn’t know any of the trails that the mountain people used, and they didn’t know where to find the mountain people or how to track them in the steep terrain. Even so, they sent out their best party of fighting men to climb the mountain and bring the baby home. The men first tried one method of climbing and then another. They tried one trail and then another. After several days of effort, however, they had climbed only a few hundred feet. Feeling hopeless and helpless, the lowlander men decided that the cause was lost, and they prepared to return to their village below. As they were packing their gear for the descent, they saw the baby’s mother walking toward them. They realized that she was coming down the mountain that they hadn’t figured out how to climb. They saw that she had the baby strapped to her back. How could that be? One man greeted her and said, “We couldn’t climb this mountain. How did you do this when we, the strongest and most able men in the village, couldn’t do it?” She looked intently at them and said, “It wasn’t your baby.” Your purpose and your passion is YOUR Baby. I can tell the difference between a difficult task that is on purpose and that if “off purpose” When you are on-purpose – when you are in the zone – time disappears and the effort becomes “effortless” – or at least a labor of love. Commit 2025 to Living Your Divine Purpose. Ultimately your true Divine Mission in Life is something you will discover along the path – as you continue to seek and serve the Lord with an open heart. 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 PURPOSE 2025 目的 2025 Description An account of the resource Col 1:12-14: Your hearts can soar with joyful gratitude when you think of how God made you worthy to receive the glorious inheritance freely given to us by living in the light. He has rescued us completely from the tyrannical rule of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom realm of his beloved Son. For in the Son all our sins are canceled and we have the release of redemption through his very blood. 歌 羅 西 書 1:12-14: 并且充满欢乐，向父感恩吧，他让你们有资格去分享那属于生活在光明之中的上帝子民的遗产。 他把我们从黑暗势力中解救出来，带到他爱子的王国里。 通过他的爱子，我们得到自由，罪过得到饶恕 (page 1908) Prov 29:18 - where there is no vision, the people perish. 箴言 29:18 - 百姓无神谕便任意妄为，但遵守律法的人必蒙福。 Col 1:16 - For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 歌罗西书 1:16: 因为万物都是借着祂创造的，天上的、地上的、有形的、无形的、做王的、统治的、执政的、掌权的，一切都是借着祂也是为了祂而创造的。(page 1909) Prov 12:14: A man will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words 箴言 12:14 - 口出良言，饱尝美福；双手勤劳，终得回报。 Mark 4:14: The sower sows the word. 马可福音 4:14 -农夫撒的是上帝的道。(page 1623) Psalm 1:3 - They are like a tree replanted by streams of water, which bears fruit at just the right time and whose leaves don’t fade. Whatever they do succeeds. 诗篇 1:3 -他就像溪水旁的树木—— 按时结果子， 叶子也不凋零。他必凡事亨通。 (page 881) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike J Koger Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01/12/2025 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3739 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/5c7b60082122ef395d8df2cc2a86fa97.jpeg 372e83bded2423cbb9bb0bf91d606bc3 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/cb0510cff773865337df231cbe24ba63.mp4 be27db3972304b226e0eee64c369ec71 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 Rediscovered Gift Matthew 16:25 I’ve been pondering my own mortality lately. Not in a morbid way. In a clarifying way. There is something about remembering that your life is temporary that makes everything more intentional. Psalm 90:12: So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. TPT: Help us to remember that our days are numbered, and help us to interpret our lives correctly. Set your wisdom deeply in our hearts so that we may accept your correction. “Every day above ground is a good day!” Every morning is proof that God hasn’t given up on you. But some day… we’ll run out of new mornings And when that day comes, the question won’t be: “How comfortable was I?” The question will be: What remains? What did my life produce? Who did it shape? What did it multiply? (we call that a “legacy”) Jesus says in the Gospel of Matthew 16:25: “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for My sake will find it.” That is a paradox. ( ) Our lives are a gift. But it is a gift that must be given away in order to keep. If you clutch it, you lose it. If you surrender it, you find it. Emerson: “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” A selfish existence is never really a satisfying life. It is an unfulfilling chase. Chasing comfort. Chasing recognition. Security. Status. Approval. (like Jesus said) You can gain the whole world, but if you lose your soul in the process — what have you gained? Not everything that feels good is right. Not everything that is right feels easy. We have to choose Alignment over approval. Growth is not very comfortable. “Comfort is a casualty of growth.” Legacy requires discomfort. You cannot create generational impact while protecting personal convenience. Question: Does leaving a legacy resonate in your heart? Prov 13:22 “A good person leaves an inheritance to their children’s children.” That inheritance is not just money. It is mindset. It is an attitude and approach toward life and life’s challenges. It is faith. It is courage. It is alignment. A Legacy is not accidental. It is built. And it costs something. Matt 23:11: “he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” ( ) To change our lives, we have to change our minds. (True or true?) Philippians 2:5: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…” And what did Jesus do? He emptied Himself. Not of power. Not of identity. He emptied Himself of any self-centered glory. He took the form of a servant. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…” (real change comes from the inside out) Luke 9:24: "Whoever tries to save his life shall lose it." The ego seeks control and safety. But a life lived only to protect itself never fully lives. Letting go reduces fear, and restores freedom. “whoever loses their life for My sake will find it.” For us, today, consider: It is about releasing the smaller version of ourselves. The ego-driven version. The comfort-addicted version. The fearful version. Because the “you” that God is pulling you toward requires stepping away from the usual, the norm, the comfort zone. This message is not about shrinking. It is about leadership. When Jesus says, “Disown your life,” He is not calling you to disappear. He may be calling you to rise. “Rise Up, Kingdom Leaders!” To shake off mediocrity. To shake off inherited limitations. To shake off passivity. “But I’m just… ME.” 2 Peter 1:3: “His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness…” You are not lacking. You may still be under-activated. It may be time to rediscover your gift. Your Buried Treasure. 2 Cor 4:7: We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that this immeasurable power will be seen as God’s, not ours. Leadership is not position. Leadership is responsibility. It is becoming “the one.” The one who breaks cycles. The one who raises the standard. The one who thinks generationally. The one who chooses legacy over comfort. ? What if losing your life does not mean destruction? What if it means losing: Insecurity. Small vision. Self-protection. Fear of failure. Addiction to approval. What if the life you are asked to lose is the lesser version of you? …and the life you gain is the Divine version God saw in you (that buried treasure) long before time began? (this could be your wake-up moment) If it takes years just to discover what does not work, those years are not wasted. Those years become wisdom. But at some point, pondering must turn into surrender. Buried in the genealogies of Scripture is a man named Jabez. In the First Book of Chronicles 4:10, he prays: “Oh that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.” And God granted him what he requested. Notice what he did not ask for. He did not ask for comfort. He did not ask for ease. He asked for capacity. “Enlarge my territory.” Not so I can consume more. But so I can carry more. Not so I can be known. But so Your hand would be with me. Worldly ambition says: “Enlarge my territory so I can win.” Kingdom surrender says: “Enlarge my territory so I can serve.” That is leadership. Here is Jesus’ definition of true leadership: “he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matt 23:11) That is legacy. That is alignment. When Jesus says “lose your life,” He is not calling you to smaller living. He is calling you to surrendered expansion. You keep it by giving it away. You expand by surrendering. You lead by serving. So today, maybe the prayer is not: “Lord, make my life easier.” Maybe the prayer is: “Lord, enlarge my heart before You enlarge my territory.” “Increase my capacity to carry what You have already placed inside me.” “Let Your hand be upon my family.” “Let Your hand be upon this church.” “Let my life become a gift that multiplies.” A selfish existence is never really a life. …But a surrendered life… becomes a legacy. UPW Unleash the Treasure Within 2 Cor 4:7: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. “The gift you once buried is not dead. It is waiting. And today… it is ready to be rediscovered.” PRAYER: Father, Today we acknowledge that our lives are a gift from You. Forgive us for clinging to comfort when You have called us to legacy. We lay down the smaller version of ourselves — the fearful, self-protective, comfort-seeking version. Teach us to lose our lives so we can truly find them. Enlarge our hearts before You enlarge our territory. Increase our capacity to serve. Strengthen our leadership. Let Your hand be upon our families and upon this church. Keep us from selfish ambition. Keep us from shrinking back. Make our lives a gift that multiplies. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Psalms 103:21: Bless and praise the Lord, you mighty warriors, ministers who serve him well and fulfill his desires. 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 Rediscovering the Treasure 重新发现宝藏 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 02/22/2026 Description An account of the resource Matt 16:24-26: Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 馬 太 福 音 16:24-26: 于是，耶稣对门徒说：“若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我。 因为凡要救自己生命的，必丧掉生命；凡为我丧掉生命的，必得着生命。 人若赚得全世界，赔上自己的生命，有什么益处呢？人还能拿什么换生命呢？ (page 1588) Philippians 2:5: Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus… 腓立比书 2:5: 你们当以基督耶稣的心为心。(page 1904) Matthew 23:11: "He that is greatest among you shall be your servant." 马太福音 23:11: 你们中间谁为大，谁就要做你们的用人。 (page 1601) 1 Chronicles 4:10: Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. 历代志上 4:10: 雅比斯求告以色列的神说：“甚愿你赐福于我，扩张我的境界，常与我同在，保佑我不遭患难，不受艰苦。”神就应允他所求的。 (page 660) 2 Cor 4:7: We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that this immeasurable power will be seen as God's, not ours. 歌 林 多 後 書 4:7: 我们有这个宝藏，但是我们只不过就像装宝物的瓦罐。这就表明这个不寻常的大能来自上帝，而非来自我们 (page 1873) 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/96cb0ca0c83771fff4ac215e701dcb03.jpeg 53c4f1e12185314da5a64073ccf1901c https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/8844eef916c081f2224fbd5cfcdf11e1.mp4 acaca25975db37c4c025c8d8edd2236c 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 2025 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 Remaining in Him: The Power of Love and Reconciliation Monday morning... a time of reflection... and possibly repentance. Psalm 101:8 reminds us: "At each and every sunrise I will awake to do what's right..." Every morning we can declare that "His mercies are new every morning." …But how many Mondays do we actually have left? Will we have a Monday morning next week? Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning 'remember you must die'. How many wake-ups do we have left? How many chances do we still have to get yet another fresh start because we discover we have drifted away? My goal and desire is always to provide you with words from God's Word to strengthen and encourage you. In these times of unforeseen changes, we need God's wisdom and power to not only to survive, but to thrive—to live victoriously. And the KEY is this: we need to align ourselves to remain in Him—to stay close to God. 1 John 2:14 says: "I write these things to you, dear children, because you truly have a relationship with the Father. I write these things, fathers and mothers, because you have had a true relationship with him who is from the beginning. And I write these things, young people, because you are strong, the Word of God is treasured in your hearts, and you have defeated the Evil One." How do you feel when you hear this scripture? Do you feel comforted—or challenged? Maybe a bit concerned? Coming up short? The Apostle John repeatedly emphasizes that we should "remain in Him." To remain means to stay in the place that one has been occupying, to continue to possess a particular quality or fulfill a particular role. If we don't remain, we are at risk of ending up somewhere we should not be. 1 John 2:28 urges us to "remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame." We must remain in Him. We can no longer afford to live as if time will go on forever. 1 John 2:7-8: Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining. God's commandments referenced throughout this book are all about LOVE— a real love that is demonstrated by our actions. "Love your neighbor" goes all the way back to Leviticus 19:18. It's repeated in Romans 13:9, Galatians 5:14, 1 John 3:11... Jesus said this was the fulfillment of the law. 1 John 2:5-6 confirms: "Those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did." Conversely, verse 11 warns: "Anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness." If we love our brother, we live in Light. We remain in Him. True Repentance and Reconciliation We all need God's forgiveness. We all need His grace. We pray "forgive us our trespasses..." But true repentance is more than just an apology, isn't it? It's one thing to ask for forgiveness—it is another thing to truly seek reconciliation. Sometimes that means a real demonstration of your desire to make things right through corresponding actions. Making amends. True repentance. Consider the wisdom from the 12 Steps—Steps 8 & 9: "Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others." If I burned your house down (only an analogy)—it is one thing to say "I am sorry" —it is quite another to rebuild your home. As Joseph Prince wisely notes: "Knowing that repentance is returning to God's grace, how can grace be a license or excuse to sin, as some claim? Grace is the power of God to overcome every sin. The authority of God's Word proclaims that 'sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace' (Rom. 6:14). No one can use God's grace to justify his or her sin! It is contrary to God's Word and contrary to the gospel of grace. True grace swallows up the destructive powers of sin." 1 John is telling us if we are saved, our lives should show it. Our actions—our behavior—should grow out of our right standing with God through Jesus Christ, which is accomplished by faith in Jesus and His finished work on the cross. Philippians 2:13 reminds us: "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." In this volatile season we are now living in, we are the ministers of reconciliation. God has given us this ministry of reconciliation. 2 Cor 5:20 says we "carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading with them directly through our lips. So we tenderly plead with you on Christ's behalf, 'Turn back to God and be reconciled to him.'" We are to build a bridge of reconciliation. …and We have to ensure that we make it crossable. Our love and forgiveness offered to others is not based on their openness to us. We have to receive others in mercy and forgiveness and give them another chance. (Are you listening?) We offer them the same grace we have been offered. 1 John 2:6 states: "Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did." What did Jesus do? "While we were yet sinners," He died for us. New Mercies Every Morning Even as we look at our world and see all that is wrong... and our hearts hurt and our minds are troubled... we pray for change... and God tells us to start with our own hearts. We know we are not supposed to conform to the world’s value system We know worldy thinking is death 1 John 2:16,17: For all that the world can offer us—the gratification of our flesh, the allurement of the things of the world, and the obsession with status and importance —none of these things come from the Father but from the world. This world and its desires are in the process of passing away, but those who love to do the will of God live forever. God tells us, His church, to humble ourselves and pray and seek His face. We have to persist. We have to remain faithful: "I don't give up. Thank you God that you don't give up on me." Perseverance, in its simplest definition, is the quality of continuing to try to achieve something despite difficulties or setbacks. 2 Cor 5:21 assures us: "God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Jesus Christ is the bridge that we all cross to eternal life. Hebrews 12:1 encourages us: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." The Passion Translation puts it beautifully: "As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life's marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us." “the path has been already marked out before us." “My friend, Jesus, is doing something new. His mercies wash over you every day, infusing you with life and causing a well to spring up in your heart. The unending rivers of grace flow freely, and the Lord provides fresh vision and renewed hope to help you through each day. He is with you and for you, and the fountains of His goodness and love will never run dry!” Remember: The Victory is already ours through Jesus’ Victory on the cross. Let us close with this prayer of repentance and reconciliation: "Thank you, Lord, for the grace that empowers me to live a Godly life. Thank you that your mercies are new every morning, giving me another chance to remain in you and to demonstrate your love to others. 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 REMAIN 留 Description An account of the resource 1 John 2:14: I write these things to you, dear children, because you truly have a relationship with the Father. I write these things, fathers and mothers, because you have had a true relationship with him who is from the beginning. And I write these things, young people, because you are strong, the Word of God is treasured in your hearts, and you have defeated the Evil One. 约翰一书 2:14: 孩子们，我曾写信给你们，因为你们认识了父。父老们，我曾写信给你们，因为你们认识了从太初就存在的那位。年轻人，我曾写信给你们，因为你们刚强，上帝的道常存在你们心里，并且你们战胜了那恶者。(page 1978) 1 John 2:7,8: Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining. 约翰一书 2:7,8: 亲爱的弟兄姊妹，我写给你们的并不是一条新命令，而是你们起初接受的旧命令，这旧命令就是你们已经听过的真道。 8 然而，我写给你们的也是新命令，在基督和你们身上都显明是真实的，因为黑暗渐渐过去，真光已经照耀出来。 (page 1978) 1 John 2:17: The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 约翰一书 2:17: 这世界和其中一切的私欲都要过去，但遵守上帝旨意的人永远长存。(page 1978) 1 John 2:5,6: those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 约翰一书 2:5,6: 遵行主话语的人是真正全心爱上帝的人，我们借此知道自己是在主里面。 6 所以，自称住在主里面的，就该在生活中效法基督。(page 1977) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike J Koger Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 07/13/2025 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3739 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/a6d23ed4a6275f4db76679495bedfe80.png 78640caa3b6bbc4ec523e8bcacd793bd https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/c2e26ef139826588a390f7197d33656b.png 79bcea086d342132c77a1a76afbb636f https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/ba826ecd45d11d5763a0e8f9db78b1e5.mp4 a5d38287436162e4014e91cdaa306596 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 Remember to Forget Luke 17:32,33 Some of you have done this. You pull down an old photo album, or you scroll back through your phone to pictures from ten or twenty years ago, and an hour disappears. You smile. You laugh. And somewhere along the way, a quiet thought slips in: "Those were the days." The kids were small. The church was full. The family was all together. We felt younger and stronger, and we didn't know how good we had it. But think about what a photo album actually is. It's a collection of the moments we chose to keep. Nobody snaps a picture of the argument in the car on the way to the family reunion. Nobody frames the stack of unpaid bills, the sleepless night, or the diagnosis. The album shows us the smiling moments and quietly leaves out the struggle behind them. So when we say "the good old days," we're often remembering an edited version. Now, hear me clearly: Remembering is not a sin. Scripture tells us again and again to remember what God has done. The problem comes when remembering turns into longing, when we stop thanking God for the past and start living in it, as if today is just a disappointing leftover. That is the danger Jesus has in mind in Luke 17. He tells His disciples not to turn back for what they've left behind. Then, in just three words, He says something that should stop us in our tracks: "Remember Lot's wife" (Luke 17:32). Of all the people Jesus could have named, He picked her. We don't even know her name. She is remembered for one thing: she looked back. This morning I want to ask a question I'll keep coming back to: Why? Why would you keep looking back when your life is happening right here, right now? Let's go back to the story Jesus points to, in Genesis 19. Sodom is under judgment, a city marked by abomination, violence, cruelty, and a deep disregard for God and for people. In His mercy, God sends angels to get Lot and his family out. And notice how reluctant they are. Genesis 19:16 says that "while he lingered, the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city." They had to be pulled out. Then comes the instruction in verse 17: "Escape for your life. Do not look back." It's simple and clear, and it's given out of love. Vs 26: "But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt." Here is what we need to see. (by God’s Grace) She was already rescued. She had been taken by the hand. She was out of the city, and the destruction hadn't touched her yet. Physically, she had left Sodom. But in her heart, she was still there. Jesus tells us why in Matthew 6:21: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Her treasure was still in Sodom: her home, her memories, her comfort. Her feet were on the road out, but her heart followed her treasure back. Think about what Sodom looked like in her rearview mirror. Every photo album she owned was in that city. When she turned around, she probably wasn't thinking about the violence or the sin. She was thinking about the kitchen, the friends, the life she knew. That is how nostalgia works. It remembers the comfort and forgets the chains. That is how I remember boot camp. Some of you may be able to relate. I remember the friends I made – the funny moments. I forget the pain, the frustration and daily humiliations. Six weeks felt like six years. So let me ask the question again. “Why? Why look back?” Why trade the mercy of the hand that pulled you forward for the memory of a place that could not hold you? God did not rescue you so that you could spend the rest of your life facing the wrong direction. Even if some of those days were genuinely good, that season has done its work. God has moved you on, and He has not left you. He is in front of you, not behind you. Jesus doesn't stop at "Remember Lot's wife." He explains why it matters. Luke 17:33: "Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it." Look at the irony in that. The person who grips the old life tightly thinks they are protecting something. But Jesus says clinging doesn't preserve your life. It loses it. Lot's wife wanted to keep what she had, and she lost everything, including the future God was walking her into. So what does clinging cost us? First, it costs us the people in front of us. Think of someone who spends every family gathering saying, "Remember when? It was so much better then." The people at the table are alive and hungry for attention, but the one living in the album doesn't see them. Second, it costs us the purpose in front of us. God has work for you now: someone to serve, someone to encourage, a risk to take in faith. But you cannot do today's work with yesterday's eyes. Third, it costs us gratitude. When we say the best days are behind us, we are quietly telling God that what He is giving us now is not enough. Nostalgia can sound like worship, but it often hides a complaint: "Lord, things were better before." In Numbers 11:5, the children of Israel complained about the manna and looked back longingly to what they ate when they were in total slavery: We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. And fourth, it costs us the future. A quick glance in the rearview mirror is helpful. A long stare ends in a wreck. And we may miss the very thing God says He is doing. Through Isaiah He declares, "I am doing a new thing," but you can't see a new thing while you're staring at an old one. We'll come back to that promise in a moment. So, in our text today, Jesus isn't being harsh - He is being honest, because He loves us. He is saying, "Don't spend the life I've given you trying to hold on to a life that's already gone. Let go, and you'll find the real thing." The Gospel is not about preserving the old. It's about being made new. Paul puts it this way in Philippians 3:13: "I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead” Paul had a past too, with both achievements and regrets, and he refused to let either one set his direction. So here is the invitation this morning: Close the album. I don't mean throw it away. Keep the pictures. Thank God for every good gift in them. But don't let the album become your address. Don't live there. Because today is not yesterday. Yesterday is finished. Whether it was wonderful or painful, it has done what it was going to do. But today is real, and God is present. Lamentations 3:23 says “His mercies are new every morning.” This morning's mercy was not available yesterday. It was made for today. The God who rescued you did not bring you out just to leave you with a good memory. He brought you out to bring you into something new. Lot's wife missed that. Listen to what God Himself says in Isaiah 43:18-19: "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" Notice who He is talking to. Just before this, He reminds Israel of the Exodus, the greatest rescue they had ever known. And then He says, "Don't dwell on it." God is not asking us to erase our memories. He is telling us not to treat even His greatest works of the past as the ceiling of what He can do. The God who parted the sea is not finished. Now, some of us hold on to the past for very different reasons. Some of us are holding the golden years, afraid that if we let go, we'll lose the best we ever had. And some of us are holding the wounds: the failure, the betrayal, the loss. We replay them again and again, as if guarding the pain could keep us safe. Hear me. God is asking both hands to open. To release their grip. Open the hand that grips the glory, and open the hand that grips the grief. You are not dishonoring what was good, and you are not excusing what was bad. You are refusing to let either one be your master. And you cannot take hold of the new thing while your fists are full of the old. So ask yourself: Where is your treasure? Is it in the album, or is it in what God is doing today? Your heart will follow it. The new thing is not a threat. It is a gift from a Father who has never once lost track of you. The hand that pulled you out is the hand that will lead you on. So here is a simple challenge for this week. When you catch yourself saying, "Those were the good old days," or when an old hurt starts to replay, do two things. First, thank God for what He gave you then, or hand Him the pain and open your hand. Second, ask Him, "Lord, what are You doing today?" Then do one thing in response. Call the person you've been meaning to call. Serve someone. Take the next small step of obedience. Lot's wife was rescued, and then she looked back. Jesus says to us today, "Remember Lot's wife," so that we won't. Our scripture today says, “Don’t forget the example of Lot’s wife and what happened to her when she turned back. All who are obsessed with being secure in life will lose it all—including their lives. But those who let go of their lives and surrender them to me will discover true life.” So let go. Open your hands, open your heart, and say yes to what He is doing next. Today is NOT yesterday. So why look back? “For your heart will always pursue what you esteem as your treasure.” Let's pray. Father, thank You for every good thing You've given us in the past. And we bring You the hurts we've carried too. Forgive us for the times we've held on to what was and missed what You are doing now. We open our hands. Take the glory and the grief, and fill them with Your new thing. Pull us forward by Your hand, as You pulled Lot's family out. Give us open hearts, and eyes for the people in front of us. Help us trust that You are with us today and already in our tomorrow. 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 Remember to Forget 记得要忘记 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 10/11/2026 Description An account of the resource Luke 17:32-33 “Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it.” 路加福音 17:32-33 「你們要記得羅得的妻子。凡想要保全自己生命的，必喪掉生命；凡為我失去生命的，必救了生命。」 Genesis 19:17 “Escape for your life. Do not look back.” 創世記 19:17 「你要逃命，不可回頭看。」 Genesis 19:26 “But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” 創世記 19:26 「但羅得的妻子在他後邊回頭一看，就變成了一根鹽柱。」 Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 馬太福音 6:21 「因為你的財寶在哪裡，你的心也在哪裡。」 Philippians 3:13-14 “Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal.” 腓立比書 3:13-14 「忘記背後，努力面前的，向著標竿直跑，要得神在基督耶穌裡從上面召我來得的獎賞。」 Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” 以賽亞書 43:18-19 「不要記念從前的事，也不要思想過去的事。看哪，我要做一件新事！」 Lamentations 3:23 “His mercies are new every morning.” 耶利米哀歌 3:23 「他的慈愛每早晨都是新的。」 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