8 10 102 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/8f98a5406f32830ce080359e13d4a442.jpg 0911dbd8545489fa45d2f3f848da1204 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/f5ef5452d841f5dd897cc90342125dc1.mp4 c0966a5b93af4dc1b210fa4b22c54ea8 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 Don’t Forget to Remember John 20:30-31 A few weeks ago, during a water-only fast, something unexpected happened. After about three days it felt as though a switch had been turned back on in my mind. Memories began flooding back. Things I had not thought about in years suddenly came into focus. I found myself saying, “Wow! I haven’t thought about that in years!” (can you relate?) The word remember means “to recall to mind” or “to bring again to memory.” Its Latin roots literally mean “to become mindful again.” There are some things we desperately want to remember, and there are some things we would rather forget. Sometimes we chase our tail into a seemingly downward spiral of despair. One thing after another.  It isn't punishment. It isn't bad luck. It's conditioning. We’re running on autopilot. I heard it said, “Most people aren't consciously creating their lives. They're unconsciously continuing them.” We need to be like Paul and forget those things which are behind us… while still remembering the good things God has done for over in the past. Remember His unfailing love. His mercy. His grace. …but God also says to us, “Forget the former things. Seee I Am doing a New Thing!” Today I want to speak about the spiritual power of remembering. John tells us that many things Jesus did were not written down, but these things were written so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ and that by believing we might have life in His name. The Gospel itself is a holy reminder. God knows we can be prone to forget. Point 1: We Forget More Than We Realize Life has a way of obstructing our memory about the faithfulness of God. We sometimes forget answered prayers. We forget miracles. We might somehow forget how God carried us through difficult seasons. Fear often grows where memory is weak. Anxiety causes us to become intensely aware of the problem. Faith causes us to become intensely aware of God's presence. Think of Peter walking on the water. As long as he looked at Jesus, he walked. When he became focused on the wind and waves, he began to sink. Sometimes our greatest need is not more information. Sometimes our greatest need is to simply remember. David said, “In my distress I called upon the Lord.” He remembered where help comes from. When we remember God's faithfulness, our faith becomes stronger. Point 2: The Holy Spirit Helps Us Remember Jesus said in John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit would bring all things to our remembrance. But the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. The Spirit does more than teach us new things. He reminds us of truths we already know but may have forgotten. The Psalmist declared, “I won't forget to walk in Your words.” (Psalm 119:16 TPT) Notice he did not simply say, “I won't forget Your words.” He said, “I won't forget to walk in Your words.” Re-membering is not merely recalling information. Remembering is returning to alignment. God's Word was never meant to simply occupy our minds. It is meant to direct our steps. The Holy Spirit continually reminds us so that we can walk in alignment with what God has said rather than merely admire it from a distance. He reminds us: • God is still faithful. • God is still present. • God still keeps His promises. When fear rises, ask yourself: “Where is God in this moment?” The answer is always closer than we think. The Holy Spirit continually points us back to Christ. He reminds us that we are never abandoned – we are never alone. Point 3: Re-Membering Means Being Put Back Together One of the most fascinating discoveries in preparing this message was realizing that “dismember” means to take apart, while “remember” can be viewed as putting back together. Life can leave us feeling dis-membered. Disappointments can fragment our confidence. Failures can fragment our hope. Loss can fragment our peace. But God's grace specializes in putting people back together. Re-Membering The Holy Spirit reminds us Who God is and who we are. He restores what fear, failure, and discouragement have attempted to tear apart. Colossians tells us that we are being renewed into the likeness of Christ. God is continually at work renewing our minds, renewing our hearts, and renewing our lives. Sometimes we must let go of old stories in order to embrace God's new story. What story are you carrying today? ( ) I once heard anxiety described this way: “Anxiety is often two competing ideas fighting against each other.” “This is the way I want things to be.” vs: “This is the way things currently are.” When those two realities collide, tension is created. James tells us that “a double-minded person is unstable in all his ways.” Sometimes our instability comes from trying to live in two stories at the same time. One story is the old life. The other story is the new life Christ is calling us into. One story is centered on self. The other story is centered on Christ. “Remember the Mission” One story says, “I have to figure this out.” The other says, “Apart from Him I can do nothing.” The Christian life is not learning how to improve the old story. It is allowing Jesus to become the center of a completely new story. Point 4: Remember the Past, But Don't Live There There is a balance in Scripture. We already stated: God tells us to remember His faithfulness. But He also says, “Forget the former things. See, I am doing a new thing.” We remember God's goodness, but we do not remain trapped in yesterday. We remember His mercy. We remember His grace. We remember His provision. But then we move forward into the new thing He is doing. Some old doors must close before new doors can open. Sometimes delays are actually divine preparation. As John Maxwell says, “we either prepare or we repair.” God wants us to move forward with wisdom, faith, and expectancy. Conclusion To walk into God's future, we must release the old story that no longer defines us. We are not who we were before Christ. We are not defined by our failures. We are not defined by our fears. We are not defined by our past. We are being renewed into His image day by day. The more Christ becomes the center of our lives, the more the old story loses its power. Psalm 27:13 says, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Maybe today God is asking you to remember what fear has made you forget. Remember His faithfulness. Remember His promises. Remember His presence. And as you re-member, allow God's grace to put the pieces back together. Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your faithfulness through every season of our lives. Forgive us for the times we have forgotten Your goodness, Your promises, and Your presence. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, bring to our remembrance all that You have spoken. Strengthen our faith. Renew our minds. Heal the places that have become fragmented through fear, disappointment, or discouragement. Help us remember Your mercy while embracing the new thing You are doing. Let Your peace rule in our hearts and Your hope fill our minds. Today we choose to remember that You are with us, You are for us, and You are still at work in our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. "The Christian life is not learning how to improve the old story. It is allowing Jesus to become the center of a completely new story." 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: Returning To Alignment 记得: 回到与神对齐的位置 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 06/14/2026 Description An account of the resource JOHN 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. 约翰福音 20:31 但记这些事，要叫你们信耶稣是基督，是 神的儿子；并且叫你们信了他，就可以因他的名得生命。 JOHN 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 约翰福音 14:26 但保惠师，就是父因我的名所要差来的圣灵，他要将一切的事指教你们，并且要叫你们想起我对你们所说的一切话。 PSALM 119:16 (TPT) I won’t forget to walk in Your words. 诗篇 119:16 我要在你的律例中自乐； 我不忘记你的话。 COLOSSIANS 3:10 Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 歌罗西书 3:10 穿上了新人；这新人在知识上渐渐更新，正如造他主的形象。 PSALM 27:13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 诗篇 27:13 我若不信在活人之地得见耶和华的恩惠，就早已丧胆了。 PSALM 62:5-6 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. 诗篇 62:5-6 我的心哪，你当默默无声， 专等候 神，因为我的盼望是从他而来。 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/8789c419339dbb7a73571099f4383655.jpg ef2e0976d9306fe792f966fc8b433b12 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/4559ecc18453fe263182f1097f111022.mp4 b1e244b2fe5315baa4933fd8970fd702 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 RENEWAL 2026 Psalm 51:10-12 Have you ever been watching a movie, and you find yourself cheering — out loud — for the hero? (Come on, I know I'm not the only one.) You're leaning forward, saying, "Come on... it's not too late. Don't quit. Get back in the fight!" That moment on screen — that comeback — it never happens in a vacuum. It's always sparked by something: a word from someone else, a sudden realization, an awakening. And in that instant, the character finds the strength to rise and try again. Here's my question for you this morning: Can you remember a moment like that in your life? A moment your head lifted. Your eyes opened wider. New strength came from somewhere you didn't expect. I can. There have been seasons in my life where renewal came through a shift, a change — or simply through someone else's words, spoken or written, landing at just the right time. My sister Bev and I were recently recalling the first Saturday morning we spent in our new home when we moved from Athens to Columbus. After our first night sleeping in the new house in a new town, we got up early and sat on that cold wood veneer paneled floor and turned on that black and white television to see our first Saturday morning television show in a new town. It was so exciting. It was such a special time. Then in my mid-20s, at a time when I felt like I had already made a lot of poor career decisions in my young adult life, I was in a local drug store and happened to find a paperback book by a writer just slightly older than me… a book called “Unlimited Power” by Tony Robbins. The chapters I would read over the next few weeks forever changed my life and perspective as I gained new confidence that I (even I) could still grow and change - and my future was, still indeed, “Unlimited” Then (decades later) there was that Saturday night in Houston, Texas at Lakewood Church where I heard Joel Osteen preach a sermon that my pastor back home (and I) felt was written just for me. That possibly God took me all the way to Houston just to hear this sermon. It put me back on my feet and lifted up my head during a very difficult season in my life. We all need those moments – and hopefully you can recall some in your life as well? Those true awakenings where something inside us wakes back up. Maybe today is one of “those moments” for you in your life story? “Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough you bring to me.” Renewal. Without that sense that something more purposeful is still possible, the odds are we will remain in a state of ambivalence, apathy… inertia. (we won’t move forward) Purposeful living comes from a sense that there is something more than what we are currently experiencing. “Renew a Right Spirit within me.” Renewal: Reawakening to our destiny Dr. Joe Dispenza: “Remember Your Future” We work best with a compelling future to run toward (David) Psalm 51:10-12: Keep creating in me a clean heart. Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please you. May You never reject me! May You never take from me Your sacred Spirit! Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough you bring to me. Hold me close to You with a willing spirit that obeys whatever You say. …and later on, David’s son Solomon would teach, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is” Eph 4:23: Now it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you. We’ve got to be open to something new – even as we are ready to leave the old behind us. vs 12: “a willing spirit that obeys whatever you say.” Remember: Not every voice you hear in your head is telling you the truth. “Your inner critic (that voice in your head) is not always telling the truth. It’s telling you a story that you (now) have the power to rewrite.” ( ) We can beat ourselves up over our past – sometimes for decades, or even… longer. Jesus: “Let the dead bury the dead” (Luke 9:60) Remember how Lot’s wife looked back at Sodom and turned into a pillar of salt Luke 9:62: Jesus responded, “Why do you keep looking back to your past and have second thoughts about following me? If you turn back you are not fit for God's kingdom.” Renewal is a moment where our hearts reawaken and God shows us a new door that we may not have ever noticed before. There are chapters in our lives still waiting to be written. “Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough you bring to me.” A renewed spirit should once again lift up our heads so that we can see clearly once again. Listen – if you’re breathing today (which you are) you’ve already beat the odds. Place yourself in that theater seat… watching the movie of your life in 2026. What would you yell at the movie screen of your life? “Come on – you got this!” Heb 12:1: 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. Psalm 42:7: “Deep Calleth Unto Deep” I want to speak to that part of you that hasn’t given up yet. The part of you that is still ready to rise up from the ashes and fulfill your calling Philippians 3:12: I am not saying that I have already reached that place in my life. I have not yet completely become the person that God wants me to be. But I am trying very hard to reach that place. That was Christ's purpose when he first made me his own. “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” (Hand on Heart) “Hold on. Rise Up. Take hold of that which is still glowing in the embers. God hasn’t forgotten you – He has forgiven you! God hasn’t forgotten you – and neither has your church family. We’re here for you. We are on this Holy journey together.” (Law 11: Inner Circle) 1 Thess 4:18: Therefore encourage one another with these words You are so much more than what you have expressed up until now Today is our Transformation Day We’re moving from particle to wave - From matter to energy The Crucible of Divine Purpose. Forged in Purpose – Shaped by Adversity Don’t leave your treasure buried Eph 6:13: “ …you are destined for all things and will rise victorious.” Prayer: Father, Create in us a clean heart. Renew a right spirit within us. Awaken what has fallen asleep. Restore what has grown weary. Rekindle what has almost gone out. Where the past has held us captive, give us courage to release it. Where we've listened to voices of fear and regret, help us hear Your voice again. Speak to that place deep within us that still hopes. Still dreams. Still knows there is more. Give us courage to believe our story is not finished — there are still doors to be opened, still chapters waiting to be written. So we will not look backward. We will rise. We will run the race set before us — with our eyes fixed on You. Renew us, Lord. Let this be the moment something inside us woke up again. …to be remembered for the rest of our lives here In the name of Jesus, Amen. “Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough you bring to 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 Renewal 更新 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 08/31/2026 Description An account of the resource PSALM 51:10-12 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 诗篇 51:10-12 神啊，求你为我造清洁的心，使我里面重新有正直的灵。不要丢弃我，使我离开你的面；不要从我收回你的圣灵。求你使我仍得救恩之乐，赐我乐意的灵扶持我。 PROVERBS 23:7 As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. 箴言23:7因为他心怎样思量，他为人就是怎样。 EPHESIANS 4:23 Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. 以弗所书4:23又要将你们的心志改换一新。 LUKE 9:62 No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. 路加福音9:62手扶着犁向后看的，不配进神的国。 HEBREWS 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. 希伯来书 12:1 我们既有这许多的见证人，如同云彩围着我们，就当放下各样的重担，脱去容易缠累我们的罪，存心忍耐，奔那摆在我们前头的路程，仰望为我们信心创始成终的耶稣。 PSALM 42:7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and billows have gone over me. 诗篇 42:7 深渊与深渊响应；你瀑布的声音，你的波浪洪涛都漫过我身。 1 THESSALONIANS 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 4:18 所以，你们当用这些话彼此劝慰。 EPHESIANS 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 以弗所书 6:13 所以，要拿起神所赐的全副军装，好在磨难的日子抵挡仇敌，并且成就了一切，还能站立得住。 GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH YOU.｜神对你的计划尚未完成。 NEW HEART. NEW MIND. NEW SEASON. NEW DESTINY.｜新心・新思维・新季节・新命定。 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/22f4e59843a1c2054ee5105addf402be.jpg cef41b01bfc6846cd8c8a04bb42f0009 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/6bc521f6dd05e94a393a5aa7225104b0.mp4 443a323e13e40963b84dcfd497fe83b6 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 Restoration Isaiah 40:28–31 Have you ever gotten off to a good start on something — only to find yourself quickly back to the very place you thought you had left behind? Have you ever felt disappointed in your own spiritual growth? Maybe you've found yourself thinking, 'I just can't seem to get beyond myself.' If that resonates with you today, you are not alone — and you are in the right place. Truth: we need each other to stay on course in our walk with the Lord. And isn't that exactly what the Church is all about? Christ is the Head. We are the Body. And together, we are a church with a mission — a mission to bring restoration to our community, to our city, to our nation, and to the world. restoration: a restoring to an unimpaired or improved condition But it starts here, among us, as we first experience God's restoration in our own lives. By God's hand, we experience His power of restoration — in our Faith, in our Relationships, in our Bodies, in our Minds, in our Finances, and in our Vision — as He reveals His will through His written Word and through our openhearted pursuit of His presence every single day. We’ve spoken often about 'Good Things' — on how God wants to satisfy our desires with good things so that our youth is renewed like the eagles. MSG: 'Those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles. They run and don't get tired. They walk and don't lag behind.' That sounds like exactly what we need. But let's be honest about where many of us actually are right now. I heard a prophetic word from the Lord that said this: many people do not even realize the extent of the battle they have been going through. There is a deep, pervasive weariness among God's people. An exhaustion that goes beyond tired bones — it reaches into the soul. And here is what Scripture confirms in Isaiah 40:30 — 'Even young people grow tired and become weary, and young men will stumble and fall.' Even at our very best, our natural strength gives out when we try to fight spiritual battles with physical power. We were never designed to carry this weight alone. When we stay weary and disconnected from God's restoring power, something subtle but dangerous happens — we lose our focus. Q: If we focus on what we fear, what are we attracting into our lives? Professional racers know that we unconsciously steer in the direction of our focus. So with their lives on the line, they train themselves to turn their eyes away from the wall and fix them on the open track. 'Where we put our focus is the direction we tend to go.' “FOCUS on where you want to go – not on what you fear.” This is true in the spirit as well. When we fix our eyes on our failures, our shame, our nation's downward spiral — that's the direction we drift. The enemy wants us to believe there is no way back. But God (your Creator) has a different word for us today. What 'wall' have you been focusing on that may be pulling you off course? What would it look like to shift your gaze back toward Jesus instead? ( ) Here is the truth that changes everything: there is a time of restoration coming — and by faith, it is already here. A Divine Shift. A True Breakthrough. Isaiah 40:29 declares: 'God strengthens the weary and gives vitality to those worn down by age and care.' And Isaiah 40:31 TPT: 'But those who wait for Yahweh's grace will experience divine strength.' Grace. Divine Strength. Soaring like eagles. Does that sound good to you? But restoration requires that we turn our gaze in the right direction. Hebrews 12:2 gives us our clear instruction: 'Fixing our eyes on Jesus.' Not on the wall. Not on the failure. Not on the weariness. On Jesus. (seek HIM) Acts 3:19 tells us: 'You must repent and turn back to God so that your sins will be removed, and so that times of refreshing will stream from the Lord's presence.' Repentance is about redirecting. It's adjusting our mindset, turning our focus, and running back to the One who restores. Joseph Prince: 'When you see Jesus in His grace, He sees you in your faith.' The invitation from the Lord Himself is simply this: 'Run to Me — and keep running to Me.' ( “rewarder of those…”) Zechariah 10:6 seals it with this promise: 'I will restore them because I have compassion on them.' So what does this restoration actually give us? Romans 3:21–24 paints a breathtaking picture: 'But now, independently of the law, the righteousness of God is tangible and brought to light through Jesus, the Anointed One... It is God's righteousness made visible through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And now all who believe in Him receive that gift... Yet through His powerful declaration of acquittal, God freely gives away His righteousness. His gift of love and favor now cascades over us, all because Jesus, the Anointed One, has liberated us from the guilt, punishment, and power of sin!' His gift cascades over us. That is restoration. And Romans 6:22–23 reminds us of the contrast: 'But now, as God's loving servants, you live in joyous freedom from the power of sin... you are brought deeper into the experience of true holiness that ends with eternal life! For sin's meager wages is death, but God's lavish gift is life eternal, found in your union with our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.' …And when we stumble? Proverbs 24:16 assures us: 'The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.' Restoration is not a one-time event — it is a continual, compassionate work of God in your life. Restoration begins the moment we recognize we cannot do this work ourselves. The ancient Orthodox Church has practiced a simple but powerful prayer for centuries — one version goes: 'Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.' That is where it starts. Not with striving. Not with willpower. With surrender & faith. Here is how we walk in restoration practically: First — Fix your eyes. Turn your focus away from the wall and onto the open road. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith. Second — Remember the battle belongs to the Lord. You were not meant to fight spiritual battles in your own strength. As we wait upon Him, we position ourselves to receive His divine strength. Third — Stay in community. We need each other. The Body of Christ is not optional. We keep each other to stay on course. Fourth — Receive His grace daily. His mercies are new every morning. The times of refreshing are not just coming — by faith, they are here. Receive them. We usually start out strong. But for one reason or another, we can grow weary through the process. Life wears us down. Battles drain us. And sometimes we drift further than we ever intended. But here is the word of the Lord for you today: the biggest need in America is also the biggest need for every one of us — Restoration. True restoration. The kind that only God can provide. Not self-improvement. Not a new strategy. True change — the kind that is difficult, even impossible, in our own strength — comes only through Jesus. Through His Divine Mercy. His Divine Compassion. His all-sufficient grace. 'God strengthens the weary and gives vitality to those worn down by age and care. But those who wait for Yahweh's grace will experience divine strength.' — Isaiah 40:29, 31 (TPT) Are you ready for a mighty new move of God's Spirit? A time like you have never experienced before? Then fix your eyes. Turn toward the open road. Run to Him — and keep running to Him. The restoration you've been waiting for is not far away. By His grace, it begins today. Consider: Maybe what you have been holding on to is holding you back. Release. Restore. It is in the releasing – the letting go – that we can be restored 1 Peter 5:6,7: If you bow low in God’s awesome presence, he will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in his hands. Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you. Let’s pray together. Heavenly Father, We come to You today as people who need Your strength. Some of us are weary in body. Some are weary in mind. And some are weary deep in our souls. Forgive us for the times we have tried to carry life in our own strength instead of waiting on You. Today we turn our eyes back to Jesus. Restore our faith. Restore our joy. Restore our strength. Teach us to wait upon You until our strength is renewed — until we rise again like eagles. Holy Spirit, bring times of refreshing from Your presence. We receive Your grace. We receive Your mercy. And by faith we declare that restoration begins today. In the mighty name of Jesus, 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 Restoration 恢复 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 03/08/2026 Description An account of the resource Isaiah 40:29–31: God strengthens the weary and gives vitality to those worn down by age and care. But those who wait for Yahweh's grace will experience divine strength. They will rise up on soaring wings like eagles, run their race without growing weary, and walk through life without giving up. 以赛亚书 40:29-31: 疲乏的，他赐能力；软弱的，他加力量。 就是少年人也要疲乏困倦，强壮的也必全然跌倒， 但那等候耶和华的，必重新得力。他们必如鹰展翅上腾，他们奔跑却不困倦，行走却不疲乏。(page 1177) Heb 12:1b,2a: let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 希伯来书 12:1b,2a:…我们就要放下一切重担，摆脱容易缠累我们的罪，以坚忍的心奔跑我们前面的赛程， 定睛仰望为我们的信心创始成终的耶稣。(page 1954) Zechariah 10:6: "I will restore them because I have compassion on them." 撒迦利亚书 10:6: ...他们必好像从未被我抛弃一样， 因为我是他们的上帝耶和华，我必应允他们的祷告。(page 1545) Acts 3:19: "You must repent and turn back to God so that your sins will be removed, and so that times of refreshing will stream from the Lord's presence." 使徒行传 3:19: 所以，你们应当悔改，应当回转，使你们的罪孽被抹去 (page 1768) 1 Peter 5:6,7: If you bow low in God’s awesome presence, he will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in his hands. Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you. 彼得前书 5:6,7: 所以你们要在上帝大能的手下谦卑，时候到了，祂必擢升你们。 你们要把一切忧虑卸给上帝，因为祂眷顾你们。 (page 1971) 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/512eca45192514f7a7c271eea87ae12c.jpeg aba1bda322e25c1789d763519d624935 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/091df1156c5ab07f16c80eaa681389dc.mp4 ec500cb4de32ff2f0401bfac675a3920 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 Resurrection Revelation John 20:11-18 There’s a well-known story about a famous violinist who took his $3.5 million Stradivarius onto a platform of a Washington DC subway and started playing music. He was dressed in a T-shirt and a ball cap. Joshua Bell was accustomed to playing for packed concert halls and getting paid $1,000 a minute. During his 43-minute solo concert in the subway a total of 1097 people passed by. But only seven people stopped to listen. He earned $32 in change. J.T. Tillman, a computer specialist, was one of the people who walked by. He said, “I didn’t think nothing of it, just a guy trying to make a couple of bucks.” Tillman would’ve given him some cash, but he spent all his money on the lotto. When he was told that he stiffed one of the best musicians in the world, he asked, “Is he ever going to play around here again?” The reporter said, “Yeah, but you’re going to have to pay a lot to hear him.” Exactly one person recognized Joshua Bell. Her name was Stacy. She positioned herself 10 feet away from Bell, front row, center. She had a huge grin on her face. She said, “It was the most astonishing thing I’ve ever seen in Washington. Joshua Bell was standing there playing at rush-hour, and people were not stopping, and not even looking, and some more flipping quarters at him! Quarters! I was thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, what kind of a city do I live in that this could happen?’” It’s not what we see – it’s what we perceive (what LENS are you looking through?) “the eyes of your heart being enlightened” John 13: Then Jesus was moved deeply in his spirit. Looking at his disciples, he announced, “I tell you the truth—one of you is about to betray me.” John asked: “Master, who is it?” Jesus: “The one I give this piece of bread to after I’ve dipped it in the bowl,” Jesus replied When Jesus gave the bread to Judas, none of the others connected it with what He had just said! John 13:26, Jesus tells his disciples that he will give a morsel of bread to the one who will betray him. He then dips the morsel and hands it to Judas Iscariot. vs 28: But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. John 12:16: Now Jesus’ disciples didn’t fully understand the importance of what was taking place, but after he was raised and exalted into glory, they understood how Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies in the Scriptures that were written about him. Do we have an intellectual understanding – or do we have a revelation? Today on Resurrection Sunday, may we truly have a Resurrection Revelation Eph 5:14: “Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” “flesh and blood hath not revealed this” Matthew 13:15: Their minds are dull and slow to perceive, their ears are plugged and are hard of hearing, and they have deliberately shut their eyes to the truth. Otherwise they would open their eyes to see, and open their ears to hear, and open their minds to understand. Then they would turn to me and I would instantly heal them. We need a resurrection revelation. It is not something we see with our natural eyes. It is spiritually discerned, and revealed by Holy Spirit. Start this Resurrection Sunday – and in affect – your New Life – with this Divine Revelation: 2 Cor 5:19: God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them. And he has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation. Christians should be the people of The Way. Light Bearers. “We are offering hope, dignity, mercy and love.” WE have all been give the ministry of sharing the Good News about Jesus with everyone Col 2:14: “ …he canceled the unfavorable record of our debts with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross.” We’re here to give others the hope and confidence of a better life We look beyond ourselves and we become confident in God’s Gift of Divine Mercy “Mercy is always an invitation to a better life.” The Resurrection Revelation can change everything for you As Believers – as followers of Jesus - You are “risen with Christ” Once we get that revelation living in our hearts, our next job is to share it with the whole world. Eph 1:18: I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, “flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling” • Open the eyes of my heart, Lord Open the eyes of my heart I want to see You I want to see You To see You high and lifted up Shinin' in the light of Your glory Pour out Your power and love As we sing holy, holy, holy Phil Pringle: Dead for Nothing? “We are completely set free from sin through Christ’s death” “Everything keeping us from God has been removed by Jesus through His blood.” Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law, but under grace. A Resurrection Revelation is a spiritual awakening to what Jesus paid the price for you and I to have. When you have a true Resurrection Revelation, and you understand our Redemption, our New Covenant – if you love God and walk in the Fear of the Lord, you will never minimize what Jesus has won for us in His crucifixion. 1 Peter 2:24: “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” Jesus said “according to your faith let it be to you.” (Matt 9:29) How can we have faith for things we don’t know? How can we know unless we hear it? How can we hear it unless someone shares the whole truth with us? Jesus was disruptive in His time on earth Jesus is still disruptive in 2025 – He is calling us out of our complacency. Romans 13:11: now it is high time to awaken out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed. Today is Resurrection Sunday. After the resurrection, Jesus would soon ascend into heaven. John 16:7: But here’s the truth: It’s to your advantage that I go away… …for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. (Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit, Who would come on the Day of Pentecost when all in the upper room received the baptism of the Holy Spirt and Fire) Luke 24:49: I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. What Jesus promised was not a lesser form of Himself, but all the fullness Eph 3:19: “…that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Jesus is the True Vine. We are the branches. Apart from Him we can do nothing. But yes, we have our part to play Jesus said: “According to your faith let it be done to you” When Jesus visited His hometown we read: Matt 13:58: And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. Faith comes by hearing… Brothers and sisters in Christ: May our hearts become New Wineskins to receive the Word of God. Eph 4:13: until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. “ … until we all experience the fullness of what it means to know the Son of God” May we truly have a Resurrection Revelation this Easter morning. 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 Resurrection Revelation 复活启示 Description An account of the resource John 20:16: Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 約 翰 福 音 20:16: 耶稣对她说∶“马利亚！”她转过身，用希伯来语叫道∶“拉波尼！”（意思是老师）(page 1759) Eph 5:14: Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 以弗所书 5:14: 因为光能使一切显明出来。因此有人说：“沉睡的人啊，醒来吧！从死人中起来吧，基督要光照你了！” (page 1899) Matthew 13:15: Their minds are dull and slow to perceive, their ears are plugged and are hard of hearing, and they have deliberately shut their eyes to the truth. Otherwise they would open their eyes to see, and open their ears to hear, and open their minds to understand. Then they would turn to me and I would instantly heal them. 马太福音 13:15: 因为这些人心灵麻木，耳朵发背，眼睛昏花，以致眼睛看不见，耳朵听不见，心里不明白，无法回心转意，得不到我的医治。(page 1580) Col 2:14: “ …he canceled the unfavorable record of our debts with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross.” 歌 羅 西 書 2:14: 他取消了对我们不利和反对我们的记录，把它钉在十字架上毁掉了它。(page 1910) Eph 1:18: I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people 以弗所书 1:18: 我也求上帝照亮你们心中的眼睛，使你们知道祂的呼召给你们带来了何等的盼望，祂应许赐给众圣徒的产业有何等丰富的荣耀 (page 1895) Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 罗马书 6:14: 罪不能再主宰你们，因为你们已经不在律法之下，而是在恩典之中。 (page 1829) Revelation 1 Peter 2:24 - "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." 彼 得 前 書 2:24: 基督在十字架上的身体负载着我们的罪孽，为了让我们死于我们的罪孽，而为义而生。他的创伤，使你们得到治愈 他拯救了我们，不是因为我们的行为，而是靠他的怜悯、重生的洗礼和使我们更新的圣灵。(page 1936) Romans 13:11: now it is high time to awaken out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed. 羅 馬 書 13:11: 你们知道我们处在一个重要的时代，所以我说了这番话。现在是应该从沉睡中醒来的时候了，因为现在我们的拯救比最初相信时更接近我们了。(page 1841) Luke 24:49: I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. 路加福音 24:49: 我要把我父所应许的赐给你们。不过，你们要留在城里，直到你们得到天上来的能力。(page 1715) Eph 3:19: …and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 以弗所书 3:19: 并知道基督的爱是远超过人所能理解的爱，好叫上帝无限的丰富充满你们。(page 1897) Matt 13:58: And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. 马太福音 13:58: 因为他们不信，耶稣就没有在那里多行神迹。 Eph 4:13: until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 以弗所书 4:13: 直到我们对上帝的儿子有一致的信仰和认识，逐渐成熟，达到基督那样完美的生命。(page 1898) 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 04/20/2025 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/10755dd26e4ac79086cf6c6ccadf44b6.jpg 68182b7fac40fc1179699228315ccca9 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/295343d0cb4a7fdf79cfc99ca60e0bf9.mp4 635b07e590b23545cfd60dbf15de9d06 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 RETURN Isaiah 30:15 Job 22:21-23 Time flies. That is a cliché, and yet, so very true, especially as you get older. The holidays were special. It was a time to redirect our focus a bit – and hopefully (for some) to get a little rest. It’s January – and things are getting busy again. Returning is an act of coming back – maybe for some of you went back to your home town to see family – or maybe family returned home to see you? Returning is an act of coming back – maybe it’s a physical return – but I can also be an emotional return – appreciating the ones who love you the most. Maybe it is a spiritual return. Returning is an act of coming back – it can mean coming back into God’s Holy Presence and receiving the restoration that cannot be found elsewhere. It means making a place in your heart to ABIDE once again. Jonathan Edwards: “In close meditation, prayer and conversing with God, when alone and separated from the world, a true Christian doubtless delights… to converse with God in solitude and this also has peculiar advantages for fixing his heart, for fixing what is inside him.” “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength” The verse is a message from the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, that returning to him and resting in him will save people. The verse also says that quietness and trust will give people strength. We all need those people and places where we can let down our guard and just be ourselves. Fully let our hair down (so to speak) Those people and places provide acceptance and grace. Our heavenly Father offers us that – and so much more. It’s still January… our New Year has just begun. It’s time to Return. It’s time to Come Home “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength” Returning is an act of coming back – it can mean coming back into God’s Holy Presence and receiving the restoration that cannot be found elsewhere. Job 22:21-23: Come to terms with God and be at peace; in this way[c] good will come to you. Receive instruction from his mouth, and place his sayings in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be renewed. Returning (in our Christian lives) usually entails some form of repentance. Maybe repenting of something we previously weren’t even aware of. (do we take time to hear? to listen?) Psalm 19:7: The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. God’s direction in our lives will restore our souls and gives us wisdom for living a better, more fulfilling life. People sometimes say to me, “I don’t know how you do everything you do.” I know from them it is coming from a place of love and concern for my well-being. …but the truth is, I don’t do everything I should be doing. (not proud of that fact) Sometimes (for me) overwhelm causes me to just shut down and do nothing, as opposed to doing what I should be doing. Time management and self-preservation may actually devolve into a form of selfishness. That’s where repentance can open the door to returning to right thinking, right actions, based on right priorities. “Confess you faults one to another that ye may be healed” (forgiven – restored) “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength” It’s time to Return. It’s time to Come Home I believe the act of returning here is first and foremost a heart issue. …and returning requires that we leave someplace else. Returning also means leaving some other place Forsaking abandon (someone or something). renounce or give up (something valued or pleasant) We have to give up – renounce – turn – turn away (forsake an old pattern) It seems that choice will always redirect us to some form of service – service to God – service to others To use the gifts we were given and blessed to be able to share To follow the example of Christ Gal 6:2: Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. “Love empowers us to fulfill the law of the Anointed One as we carry each other's troubles.” Jesus told us what His commands were: Matt 22:37-39: Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ vs 40: “The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” “Contained within these commandments to love you will find all the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.” “The Law of the Lord is perfect, giving new strength to the soul. “ WE are commanded by God to forgive, to love God, to love others …but don’t let this draw you down into legalism Romans 11:6 And since it is by God's grace, it can't be a matter of their good works; otherwise, it wouldn't be a gift of grace, but earned by human effort. We are only branches – apart from Christ we can do nothing …but we yield, and we find our empowerment through the Vine “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength” “He restores my soul.” “If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored…” It’s God Grace that will allows us to enter into that secret place – that place of stillness and rest. Have you ever had a moment of awareness where you finally realized you were not on the right path? …of course you have, right? So doesn’t that also mean we should show grace to those who are still awaiting that moment of revelation? That epiphany that leads to repentance? When we recognize how good and merciful God has been to us Like the prodigal son: “When he came to himself…” To whom much has been given… What will we do with the time we have left? Time is short, but God is great. "Eternity is calling your soul. It inspires you to awaken, to dream again, and to take risks." A place of peace and restoration is always there ...it is we who have to return to it. In Zechariah 1:3 Almighty GOD says: “Return to me, and I will return to you.” Let God’s Word guide you back to that place of returning to Him today. Job 22:21-23 “Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored…” Make my life a prayer to You… “If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored…” 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 RETURN 返回 Description An account of the resource Isaiah 30:15: For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest shall ye be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength; but ye would not. 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。 但你们却不肯。 (page 1160) Job 22:23: “If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored…” 约伯记 22:23: 你若归向全能者，就必得到恢复。 (page 855) Psalm 19:7: The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 诗篇 19:7: 耶和华的律法完美，能更新生命；耶和华的法度可靠，让愚人有智慧。 (page 1909) Gal 6:2: Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 加拉太书 6:2: 你们要分担彼此的重担，这样就成全了基督的律法。 (page 1892) Matt 4:22:37-39: And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 马太福音 22:37-39: 耶稣回答说：“‘你要全心、全情、全意爱主——你的上帝’， 这是第一条也是最重要的诫命。 第二条也相似，就是‘要爱邻如己’。(page 1600) Romans 11:6: And since it is by God's grace, it can't be a matter of their good works; otherwise, it wouldn't be a gift of grace, but earned by human effort. 羅 馬 書 11:6: 既然是靠着恩典，就不再是由于行为了；不然的话，恩典就不再是恩典了。(page 1837) 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 01/19/2025 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/09ac32cd75d37d80cc8103d5122eaaa6.png 54aee4c9693b2ed9eb7b5c493e076195 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/bd1e8dd11f35fc7366119e9fee47c31c.mp4 a70a500713cc18c351f1a2f3666815f7 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/e1ef3a2f91249065efa54a8afa31d6ba.jpg d66d4a0311407d71395618a4ea4e0d07 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 SECRET CODE Matthew 6:6 Have you ever known exactly what you needed to change — and still didn't change it? You knew the conversation you needed to have. You knew the habit you needed to break, the thing you needed to start, the person you needed to forgive. You could see it clearly. And yet, somehow, the same familiar patterns kept winning. Here's the hard truth: to know to do better and still not do it can leave us in the same place as not knowing at all. Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, the opportunity, and the responsibility to give something back by becoming more. But "becoming more" doesn't happen by accident. Something has to get upsized in us. And if we keep thinking the same things in the same way, the familiar past will sooner or later become the predictable future — unless we do something new. So how do we actually change? Where does real, lasting change begin? It begins with a seed — a desire, a revelation, an epiphany of some kind. And like every seed, it may sit in a dark place for a while, waiting for the breakthrough, waiting for the new morning that coming to the surface will finally reveal. And that's where we're headed today — to discover what it means to meet God there, and why that's where real change begins. I sometimes catch myself thinking, “I would like to go on this retreat…” RETREAT: To retreat means to move back, withdraw, or go to a quiet and safe place — a private, secluded, peaceful place where we can get away from the constant stress and stimulation of everyday life. We all need times of retreat. We all need silence. And there are ways to make that happen even without going out of town. Luke 5:16 — “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Matthew 14:23 — “After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.” We don’t just need a retreat every few years. We need a daily retreat. Where can we go? How can we do that? Maybe the change we need isn’t first something we need to DO. Maybe it’s somewhere we need to GO. Not necessarily to a retreat center. Not out of town. Into the Secret Place. The Secret Place is where we deliberately remove the constant stimulation of our external environment and become attentive to God. There are answers awaiting us in the Presence of the Lord. I can recall, many years ago now, sitting down with a Benedictine monk who helped unwrap this verse for me in a much deeper way. Matthew 6:6 — Jesus said, “But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Go in. Shut the door. Meet the Father. Listen. Come out changed. ? How can God speak to us if we will not listen? The answers are revealed (revelation) in the Secret Place Remember – the Book of Revelation was revealed to John while he was exiled on the Isle of Patmos. (“what the enemy meant for evil…”) What we are trying to do, sometimes only God can do. Getting alone in God’s presence is where real change occurs. Psalm 91:1 — “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Notice the progression: First we GO there. Then we learn to DWELL there. Eventually, we learn to LIVE from there. The Secret Place is not merely an appointment on our calendar. God invites us to develop a life that is lived from His presence. Jesus told His disciples, “Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.” How can we learn if we are not being taught? How can we be taught unless we take time to be quiet and listen? Matthew 6:5–6 — “Whenever you pray… go into your innermost chamber and be alone with Father God, praying to him in secret. And your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly.” In the world, people who achieve greatness in their chosen fields often do most of their work — their training and preparation — behind the scenes. We see the performance. We rarely see the preparation. Tony Robbins: “You get rewarded in public for what you practice in private.” Jesus taught us to go into a private room, close the door, and speak to God in secret. The reward is not merely recognition. God sees sincere devotion. And more importantly, we encounter Him there. Psalm 51:16–17 — “The source of Your pleasure is not in my performance… The fountain of your pleasure is found in the sacrifice of my shattered heart before you.” “rend your hearts – not your garments” (Joel 2:13) Ash Wednesday “Tear your heart and not your clothes.” Return to the Lord your God, for He is full of loving-kindness…”  We need to be guided by the voice of the Holy Spirit so we can make wise choices and see our lives from the right perspective. Romans 8:14:“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” WHAT VOICES ARE WE LISTENING TO? We have all heard stories about people born into successful families — people with every possible advantage — and yet their lives end in regret and untapped potential. I once attended the funeral of a person who took his own life, to the unimaginable shock of his family and friends. The minister performing the eulogy described his situation in a unique and thought-provoking way. He said this man “had a hearing problem.” He couldn’t hear the kind words — the voices of people who loved him, cared about him, and depended on him. What voices are we listening to? How can we hear if we don’t truly take time to listen? It’s not that God isn’t speaking. Maybe we have a hearing problem because we have never closed the door. Deuteronomy 29:29 — “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever…” We come to God in the Secret Place with an open heart and an open mind. Dispenza: “The unknown is the perfect place to create something new.” John 14:26 — “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit… He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 12:16: His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The Holy Spirit has a reminding ministry. In these special times in God’s presence, He not only shows us deeper things; He can also lead us in the ordinary, seemingly mundane things of life. We may remember something important that needs to be done. We may suddenly see the next step. God is a God of order. He orders our steps and leads us in the best path for our lives. It’s okay to take notes. The closed-door times alone in God’s presence should be the foundation of our Christian lives. But eventually, the Secret Place becomes more than somewhere we visit. It becomes the place from which we live. Psalm 91 uses the words dwell and abide. It speaks of ‘Elyon — the Most High; Shaddai — God Almighty; and Adonai — Lord, my Lord.’ The One who dwells in the shelter of the Most High learns to live beneath the shadow of the Almighty. 1 Thessalonians 5:17–18 — “Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks…” Or, as another rendering expresses it: “Make your life a prayer.” This is dwelling. This is abiding. John 15:7 — “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” Jesus told us what to do — and how to live our lives. Romans 16:25 — God strengthens us “according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages.” 2 John 1:2 — “…because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.” CLOSE THE DOOR There are really two doors in this message: the physical door Jesus tells us to close, and the mental and spiritual door we must close on the competing voices. Close the door on the noise. Close the door on yesterday. Close the door on everybody else’s expectations. Close the door on the voice that keeps telling you nothing will ever change. And enter the place where Jesus said your Father is in secret. The great promise of Matthew 6:6 isn’t merely that God rewards us there. … It is that the Father is already there. You aren’t going into the Secret Place trying to find God. You’re going there because He is already waiting for you. The SECRET CODE isn’t something God is hiding FROM you. It’s something He wants to reveal TO you — in the Secret Place. Psalm 91:1 — “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Go there. Dwell there. Abide there. Live from there. CLOSING PRAYER Father, thank You for meeting me in the Secret Place. Quiet the noise around me and the noise within me. Help me to close the door and listen for Your voice. Holy Spirit, teach me. Guide me. Remind me of Your truth. Help me not just to visit Your presence, but to dwell there. I release yesterday. I open my heart to You. Speak, Lord. I am listening. Lead my steps. Renew my mind. Change my life. I will dwell in the Secret Place and abide under Your shadow. 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 Secret Code 属灵的秘密 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 09/20/2026 Description An account of the resource Matthew 6:6 “But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” NLT 马太福音 6:6 “你祷告的时候，要进你的内屋，关上门，向你在隐密中的父祷告。你在隐密中看见的父，必然报答你。” 和合本 Psalm 91:1 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” KJV 诗篇 91:1 住在至高者隐密处的，必住在全能者的荫下。 和合本 John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” NKJV 约翰福音 14:26 “但保惠师，就是父因我的名所要差来的圣灵，他要将一切的事指教你们，并且要叫你们想起我对你们所说的一切话。” 和合本 Romans 8:14 “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” NKJV 罗马书 8:14 因为凡被神的灵引导的，都是神的儿子。” 和合本 John 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you will, and it shall be done for you.” NKJV 约翰福音 15:7 “你们若常在我里面，我的话也常在你们里面，凡你们所愿意的，祈求，就给你们成就。” 和合本 THE SECRET PLACE — WHERE REAL CHANGE HAPPENS 在隐密之处，生命得以改变 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/5e15599ba7afa35c3852fc001c82fa6e.jpg 8337ce0b005df687d495064098bd08ee https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/1fcf4ac184427edc00d5f01ba28eb5c8.mp4 4bf6ec578557bcaf81e5a92a1bb73923 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 SENT John 20:21 Ever look at yourself in a funhouse mirror? The image staring back is wildly distorted — and kind of funny. But that image in the bathroom mirror at midnight? Not so funny. I remember one night at the movie theater... "Yikes — when did I get this old?" "Be careful what you hear"* — and also — *"Be careful what you see."* Who do you see yourself as in Christ? James 1:23-24 (read) As followers of Christ, we are no longer the person we used to see in that mirror. That image is a distortion. You have a bigger mission — a greater purpose — than what you've experienced thus far. *Do you believe it?* What if everything you've believed about your life has been too small? "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." John 20:21 "Yeshua said to them again, 'Shalom aleichem! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.'"* We aren't "went ones" — we are sent ones. And if that's true… it's time we begin to see ourselves differently. Col 1:28-29: Christ is our message! We preach to awaken hearts and bring every person into the full understanding of truth. It has become my inspiration and passion to labor with tireless intensity — with His power flowing through me — to present to every believer the revelation of being His perfect one in Jesus Christ. If you're feeling tired today — that's okay. It could actually be a great thing. When we are weak, HE is strong. We rely on His strength and power to do what He sends us to do. Feeling like you've lost your mind? Relax — you now have the Mind of Christ. Paul said: *"Grace alone empowers me so that I can boldly preach this wonderful message."* Maybe that's why it takes a while for us to fully understand this. It takes a revelation from God — through the Holy Spirit and the Word. John 8:47: "Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."* James 1:21: With a sensitive spirit we absorb God's Word, which has been implanted within our nature — for the Word of Life has power to continually deliver us. Here's something we all understand: when you decide to make a real change — health, weight loss, more energy — you add new disciplines and new perspectives… and you subtract some things that just *"gots ta go." Same in our Christian walk. When we give our life to Christ, the Bible says our lives are no longer our own. 1 Cor 6:19-20 — We are bought with a price. It's time to subtract that out-of-date image of your old nature. "Put on Christ."(Rom 13:14)* Col 3:3: "For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God." Choosing to live for Jesus is not just adding something new — it is letting go of the old. This is sanctification. A sanctified life is also a crucified life. Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. "I Live by the Power of the Son of God." We now have new purpose — new passion — new plans. God's plans. We draw our life from the Vine. Some of the greatest movers and shakers in history rose up out of the greatest adversity. (Remember last week...)* Psalm 73:26: My mind and my body may grow weak, but God is my strength — He is all I ever need. "God is the strength of my heart and all I need forever." TPT: Lord, so many times I fail; I fall into disgrace. But when I trust in you, I have a strong and glorious presence protecting and anointing me. Forever you're all I need! Our church family — in the sanctuary and online — has such a heart for prayer and ministering to others. We believe in God's power and we want to see it manifested. "As my Father has sent me, even so send I you." — This is our heart for ministry to each other. But we're not doing this alone or under our own strength. Jesus is wherever we are. John 16:7: "It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you." And Jesus is *"the same yesterday, today and forever." Eph 4 — Jesus "gave apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors and teachers as gifts to His church — for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ." Our job is to be equipped as conduits of God's power — standing on and speaking His Word to all who need it. And isn’t that really everyone? One of the lessons I've recognized in my own healing journey: we all desperately need the prayer of others. Others who truly believe the uncompromised truth of God's Word. Eph 3:20: Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us… Eph 3:20 TPT: *Never doubt God's mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination — His miraculous power constantly energizes you.* We are relying on Divine strength — not human limitation. To flow in the mighty power given to us by Jesus would be a very good thing indeed. – John 6:28-29: The people asked Jesus: *"What must we do to perform the works of God?"* His answer? Believe. Faith — not striving — is the foundational work that fulfills God's requirements. We can do what we are called to do, by Grace, through Faith. We can only use what we have. *What do you have?* Acts 3:6-9: Peter said, *"Silver and gold have I none — but such as I have, give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."* And he took him by the hand… and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. He leaped up, walked, entered the temple — walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him. *"I Live by the Power of the Son of God."* Our anointing is not for ourselves — it is for the ones God gives us to bless. Isn't it time we released that anointing — by Grace through Faith — for the sake of those God has given us to minister to? 1 John 2:2: He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins — and not only for ours, but for the sins of the whole world. *"Be doers of the Word."* *"Faith without works is dead."* John 20:21: *"Peace to you. Just as the Father has sent me, I'm now sending you."* --- *(Closing prayer — keep exactly as written.)* 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 SENT 差遣 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/26/2026 Description An account of the resource John 20:21: Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I Am sending you. 約翰福音 20:21: 願你們平安！父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣 你們。 (page 1760) James 1:23–24: Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 雅各書 1:23–24: 人若聽道而不行道，就像人對著鏡子看自己本 來的面目，看見，走後，隨即忘了他的相貌如何。(page 1960) Colossians 1:28–29: Christ is our message! We preach to awaken hearts and bring every person into the full understanding of truth. 歌羅西書 1:28–29: 我們傳揚他，是用諸般的智慧勸戒各人，教 導各人，要把各人在基督裡完完全全地引到神面前。(page 1909) James 1:21: …Instead, with a sensitive spirit we absorb God’s Word, which has been implanted within our nature, for the Word of Life has power to continually deliver us. 雅 各 書 1:21: 因此，要摆脱一切污秽和一切盛行的邪恶，要温 顺地接受植根于你们心底的上帝的教导，这教导能够拯救你们。 (page 1960) Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. 加拉太書 2:20: 我已經與基督同釘十字架，現在活著的不再是我 ，乃是基督在我裡面活著。(page 1887) Ephesians 3:20: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. 以弗所書 3:20: 神能照著運行在我們心裡的大力，充充足足地成 就一切，超過我們所求所想的。(page 1897) 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/931c0bf629b876fa214571a79011279f.jpg 6c2ab3afef7b8197f7f888c4a46b12c8 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/c69f078b619e4edafb41fb7718b8ff64.mp4 8597eba146247604d9feaa3184a69494 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 SHATTERED Psalm 30:2 “When everyone thinks something is true, it does not make it anything more than effective marketing.” We now live in what may be considered very polarizing times …and it can make for some interesting discussions When we have strong feelings about a topic – any topic – we may feel the need to stand our ground- dig in our heels – and refuse to budge an inch. It is good to believe strongly – and it is good to take a stand ? But what if what we believe is true is not really true at all? What if it is a total lie – a deception? “The brainwashed don’t know they are brainwashed.” There’s an old song that says, “’tain’t necessarily so.” You’ve heard me say many times, “You are not your thoughts” Your mind can be lying to you. “If you had friends in your life that talk to you the way your mind does, they wouldn’t be your friends very long.” We may sometimes argue in support of our limitations – our misery – our seemingly hopeless situations. We defend our weaknesses. Our shattered lives. Some people will argue for their right to continue to try to save themselves. In our shattered situations, we need to look to our Creator for help. Psalm 51:17 - The sacrifice God desires is a humble spirit— O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject. MSG: “I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered.“ The healing we need in our lives requires us to return to the Healer. Psalm 30:2 - LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. “Eternal One, my True God, I cried out to You for help; You mended the shattered pieces of my life.” “ …be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” It’s time to take back what belongs to you. The life God planned for you to live. It’s time to rise up from that mindset that says our lives have become too shattered to ever fulfill our higher calling. It’s time to take back what belongs to you. The life God planned for you to live. “Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy. “I went to the enemy’s camp…” 1 Samuel 30 tell us the story of how King David and his men returned to Ziklag to find the Amalekites had raided Ziklag and burned it down, taking the women and everyone in the city prisoner, whether young or old. They hadn’t killed anyone but carried them off and went on their way. their wives, their sons, and their daughters taken prisoner David and the troops with him broke into tears and cried until they could cry no more. David asked the LORD, “Should I pursue these troops? Will I catch up with them?” The Lord replied to him: “Pursue them,” the LORD told him. “You will certainly catch up with them and rescue the captives.” (and that’s exactly what happened) It’s time to take back what belongs to you as a Child of God – and to give back what doesn’t belong to you “LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.” “I cried out for a miracle and you healed me!” “you didn’t let my enemies rejoice over me.” “thou hast restored me.” “You mended the shattered pieces of my life.” ? Which has more power - your sin or God’s grace? God’s grace can mend the shattered places in our lives Psalm 31:24 - Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD. The broken pieces that we see as un-fixable, God says He can restore and use for even bigger things to come. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise. Just like the broken pottery, our lives may seem Shattered – and then restored to greater beauty It’s time to take back what belongs to you as a Child of God It is a higher level of repentance based on our New Covenant “Some things have to end for new and better things to begin.”  One morning, the Lord woke me up with these words: “It is time to come to the end of yourself.” Isn’t that what it will take to get to the next level of where God wants to take us? (Prayer of St Francis) “it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.” “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” cling: hold on tightly to clinging to the wrong things – sometimes even “good things” from our past, can keep us stuck. Stagnant. ? are you open to new revelation? new learning? new awakenings? we have to trade our best for God’s highest. I like to cook Chinese dumplings. My dumplings are pretty good (to me) until I eat one that was made by a true expert. Sometimes we have to just admit that even our best efforts will never get us where we need to go. “Sometimes you can’t make it on your own” Psalm 32:5 – “ … until I finally admitted all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, “I will confess them to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” “It is time to come to the end of yourself.” “ …and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.” • Take back what was stolen from you now. • Take back that power, love and a sound mind that God has given you • Trade your sorrows for the joy of the Lord • All of this is possible, but only by God’s grace. Eph 4:23,24: Now it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you. And to be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ-within as your new life and live in union with him! For God has re-created you all over again in his perfect righteousness, and you now belong to him in the realm of true holiness. 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 SHATTERED 破碎的 Description An account of the resource Psalm 51:17 - The sacrifice God desires is a humble spirit— O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject. 诗篇 51:17: 神所要的祭，就是破碎的灵； 神啊！破碎痛悔的心，你必不轻看。 (page 932) Psalm 30:2 - LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. 诗篇 30:2: 耶和华我的　神啊！我曾向你呼求，你也医治了我。 1 Sam 30:8 - Then David asked the LORD, “Should I pursue these troops? Will I catch up with them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD told him. “You will certainly catch up with them and rescue the captives.” 撒母耳记上 30:8: 大卫求问耶和华说：“我可以追赶这群匪徒吗？我可以追上他们吗？”耶和华回答他：“你可以追赶，你必定追上，也必定把一切救回来。” (page 492) Psalm 31:24 - Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD. 诗篇 31:24: 凡仰望耶和华的人啊，要刚强壮胆！(page 909) Psalm 32:5 – “ … until I finally admitted all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, “I will confess them to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” 诗篇 32:5: 我向你承认自己的罪，不再隐瞒自己的恶。 我说：“我要向耶和华认罪。”你就赦免了我。(page 909) Eph 4:23,24: Now it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you. And to be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ-within as your new life and live in union with him! For God has re-created you all over again in his perfect righteousness, and you now belong to him in the realm of true holiness. 以弗所书 4:23,24: 洗心革面， 穿上照着上帝形象所造的新人。这新人有从真理而来的公义和圣洁。 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 02/16/2025 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/d81c405d58eed3f5244299452b24c591.jpeg 50665085701ed55111af6965ac21f1c1 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/051df7b45f4e590578f096bdb30f1c98.mp4 548e81828dd15ba9575fd024051d62c3 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 SHINE: Reflecting God's Light in a Dark World Daniel 12:3 Have you ever been in a place of complete darkness, where even the smallest light becomes a beacon of hope? Like a power outage or in an unfamiliar place at night? …where even the tiniest flame can illuminate an entire room? When things are darkest, we need a good source of Light to be able to see. Today’s scripture tells us, 'People who are wise will shine like the bright sky. Those who help many people to do what is right will also shine brightly forever. They will shine like the stars in the sky at night.' In our world with so much spiritual darkness, God is calling each of us to SHINE—not with our own light, but by reflecting His divine light that can transform lives and illuminate paths. We live in a world desperate for authentic light. People are stumbling in darkness—making decisions without guidance, seeking purpose without direction, and searching for hope in places that only deepen their despair. John 1:4-5 reminds us, 'In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.' The problem isn't just the darkness around us—it's that too often, we who carry God's light have covered it up – made it hard for others to find. We've hidden our light under cultural conformity, fear of rejection, or simple complacency. As Proverbs tells us, 'As a man thinketh... so he is.' Our lives reflect our thoughts, and when our minds are filled with the world rather than God's Word, our light dims. The world doesn't need more artificial light. It needs the authentic reflection of God's glory through transformed lives. Sometimes it may feel challenging to be a light in the midst if darkness. Maybe because of the shame or condemnation we have experienced about our own personal failings. TODAY I want to release you to “walk by faith and not by sight” so you can become Bright Lights for the Kingdom. To SHINE as beacons of Hope for a lost and dying world. The beautiful solution is that we don't need to generate our own light. 2 Cor 4:6 declares, 'For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.' When we are shining properly, we are actually reflecting. Like how the moon doesn't generate its own light but reflects the sun, we reflect the glory of God. 2 Cor 3:18 puts it this way: 'We all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus.' God shines on us first—then we reflect that light. Our purpose is not to seek our own glory but to be vessels that God can use for His glory. Ephesians 5:8 reminds us, 'Once your life was full of sin's darkness, but now you have the very light of our Lord shining through you because of your union with him. Your mission is to live as children flooded with his revelation-light!' When I was in China for two weeks, I stood out as the only American I saw there. I couldn’t escape being “noticed” Similarly, as Christians, we should stand out in this world. We are ambassadors for Christ. Philippians 3:20 tells us, 'For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.' As citizens of another Kingdom, we have both rights and responsibilities. Imagine what our community would look like if every true believer truly reflected God's light: Ÿ Families would be restored as God's love shines through forgiveness and grace Ÿ Workplaces would be transformed by integrity and excellence that glorifies God Ÿ Neighbors would be drawn to Christ not by our words alone, but by seeing His character reflected in our actions Ÿ Those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death would find the path to peace through our consistent witness The closer we get to the Light, the brighter our lives become. As we draw near to God, His light reflects more brilliantly through us. Even when we stumble, we have a solution—run back to the Light! As Micah 7:8 encourages us, 'Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.' 2 Cor 3:18 promises this beautiful transformation: 'We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another.' Let Your Light Shine Jesus commanded in Matthew 5:16, 'Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.' Notice the word 'let'—it indicates intentionality. It's a choice we must make daily. How do we “let our light shine” in practical ways? 1. **Daily Reflection** - Spend time in God's presence through prayer and His Word. You cannot reflect what you haven't first experienced yourself. Make this your first priority each morning. Peter 3:18: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2. **Remove the Veils** - Identify what might be covering your light—fear, sin, busyness, worldly thinking—and surrender these to God. Confess them daily. “Chip away that version that doesn’t serve you.” 2 Cor 3:16: But the moment one turns to the Lord with an open heart, the veil is lifted and they see. vs 18: with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. 3. **Intentional Witness** - Look for specific opportunities to help others do what is right. Remember : 'Those who help many people to do what is right will also shine brightly forever.' 4. **Community Illumination** - Join with other believers to multiply your light. Commit to serving in one area where our church is bringing light to darkness. 5. **Persevere in Darkness** When facing dark circumstances, remember Micah 7:8: “Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light." Your light shines brightest against the darkest backgrounds. From Glory to Glory 2 Cor 3:18 continues: “…We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” it “comes from the Lord” Proverbs 27:19 tells us, 'As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart.' What does your life reflect today? God has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light, not just for our benefit, but so we can shine for others. As we reflect His glory, we are being transformed 'from glory to glory' into the image of Christ. This week, I challenge each of us to identify one specific way we will intentionally reflect God's light. Perhaps it's in your family, your workplace, or your neighborhood. Write it down, pray over it, and then act on it. Remember the promise from Daniel 12:3: 'People who are wise will shine like the bright sky. Those who help many people to do what is right will also shine brightly forever. They will shine like the stars in the sky at night.' Let us pray: Father, thank You for shining Your light into our hearts. Help us to reflect Your glory in every aspect of our lives. Remove anything that dims our witness, and use us to bring Your light to those still walking in darkness. (removing the veils – “the abundance of grace & the gift of righteousness”) May our lives bring glory to You alone. In Jesus' name, Amen. 2 Cor 4:6: For God, who said, “Let brilliant light shine out of darkness,” is the One Who has cascaded His light into us—the brilliant dawning light of the glorious knowledge of God as we gaze into the face of Jesus Christ. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource SHINE 发光 Description An account of the resource Daniel 12:3: People who are wise will shine like the bright sky. Those who help many people to do what is right will also shine brightly forever. They will shine like the stars in the sky at night. 但 以 理 書 12:3: 智者必发出光辉，如耀眼的穹苍；引导多人归向公义的人必如闪烁的星辰，直到永永远远。 (page 1459) John 1:4,5: Life was in him, and this life was the light of the human race. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 約 翰 福 音 1:4,5: 他蕴含着生命，这生命给人类带来了光明。 光明在黑暗中闪耀，但是黑暗无法战胜光明 (page 1716) 2 Cor 4:6: For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 哥林多后书 4:6: 因为那吩咐光从黑暗中照射出来的上帝光照了我们的心，为要让我们认识上帝在耶稣基督的面容上所彰显的荣耀。 (page 1873) 2 Cor 3:18: We all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. 哥林多后书 3:18: 我们这些脸上不再蒙着帕子的人，可以像镜子一样反映主的荣光，渐渐变成主的样式，荣上加荣。这都是主的作为，主就是那灵。(page 1873) Matthew 5:16: Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 马太福音 5:16: 同样，你们的光也应当照在人面前，好让他们看见你们的好行为，便赞美你们天上的父。(page 1563) Micah 7:8: Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. 弥迦书 7:8: 我的仇敌啊，你们不要对我幸灾乐祸！我虽跌倒，但必再爬起来；我虽坐在黑暗里，但耶和华必做我的光。 (page 1515) 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 07/27/2025 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/00a401d89dfce6149a479939903fa396.png 489991a382d507e7943bc38e153c9942 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/97f5b89d5d86766f9fead49d0710976f.mp4 00e0add8d61c53077a46fb01236c4eee 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 STRENGTH (to do GOD's Will) Psalm 37:5 Monday morning. My coworker is out. I already know I will have a LOT on my plate - more than usual. So what do I do with a day like this? My first instinct says: stay focused, get ready, and get out the door as quickly as possible. Just push through. I had a plan. God had a different one. God has a Word for me — not a to-do list, a promise: "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act" (Psalm 37:5). That's the shift I need before I even turn on my PC. A message is already brewing, and when Holy Spirit says, "Write," I need to listen. I need to stop what I am doing and write. REMEMBER THE MISSION. I thought "strength" that morning meant staying focused on my plan. But it seems God was reminding me that real strength is staying sensitive to His plan. Sometimes missing the target you intended to hit is a blessing - because God is redirecting you toward the target that actually matters. The purpose of this message is to help you and me gain the strength we need by surrendering to a Higher Authority - our Creator. We are still growing. We are still learning. And God knows what we need for the next steps of our lives. Jeremiah 10:23: "Lord, I know that people's lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps." We stay committed to the purpose, while remaining flexible about the approach. That can be difficult because we get stubborn. We think we have it figured out. Or we assume that because something worked before, it must always be the direction to take. But if you read your Bible... you discover that God does not always lead the same way twice. We always have a choice. We have free will. The question is: Do I choose to obey? "I CHOOSE TO OBEY." Ron Carpenter has said that obedience positions our lives to experience the blessing, order, and presence that come from following God's ways. When His design becomes our pattern, we make room for Him to dwell. Philippians 2:13: "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." (elaborate) This is important: Christianity is not simply, "Try harder to obey God." It is learning to surrender to the God who is already working within us. It is easy to have faith when you can see and feel the answer. Real faith is when you do not see anything happening yet, but you thank God because you believe He is already working upstream. Jesus: "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." God gives us the desire and the power, but we still walk by the Spirit. We listen. We yield. We obey the instruction we have today. Psalm 37:5: "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." Ephesians 1:11: "Before we were even born, he gave us our destiny; that we would fulfill the plan of God who always accomplishes every purpose and plan in his heart." There is a purpose for your life. But our purpose is safest in the hands of the One who created us. Psalm 37:4: "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires." Psalm 37 does not invite us simply to ask God to fulfill every desire we happen to have. As we delight in Him, He shapes our desires. As we commit our way to Him, our hearts become aligned with His heart. …and something begins to change: obedience moves from "have to" toward "get to." PUSH motivation says, "I have to make something happen." It relies primarily on willpower. And eventually, especially when life does not unfold the way we think it should, we wear out. PULL motivation is different. Something bigger is pulling us forward - a greater vision, a Holy Cause, a God-given mission. Eph 3:9: "My passion is to enlighten every person to this divine mystery." When you know the mission, it changes how you interpret both apparent success and apparent failure. You can miss one target without missing God's purpose. "REMEMBER THE MISSION." As Jesus' time to leave this world drew near, He focused on giving His disciples His peace - peace that would carry them through what was coming. We often hear world leaders speak of "peace through strength." But for us as believers, there is another powerful reality: "STRENGTH THROUGH PEACE." When I know God is directing my steps, I do not have to carry tomorrow today. I do not have to force every door open. I do not have to understand every delay. I do not have to control every outcome. I can obey the instruction I have today - and trust God with what comes next. We weren't called to solve tomorrow's problems with today's strength. ? What is the first step to success in anything we want to accomplish? "KNOW YOUR OUTCOME." For Christians - for true believers - our #1 outcome should be the will of the Father. Jesus Himself showed us this. John 6:40: "For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day." Matthew 7:21: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." If the Father's will is our objective, (our outcome) then we must acknowledge that He owns the plan and the mission. His plan may not always line up with how we pictured things happening. 1 John 5:3: "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." True love for God expresses itself in obedience. And His commands are not intended to crush us under a heavy burden. Last week we looked at Ephesians 4:23: "Now it's time to be made new by every revelation that's been given to you." Tuesday morning, I had an amazing revelation. (It only took me 65 years to get this!) LIFE IS MUCH LIGHTER WHEN WE LET GOD TAKE CONTROL AND STOP TRYING TO CONTROL EVERY EVENT IN OUR LIVES. When we are "crucified with Christ," that surrender also includes our agendas. Anyone can change temporarily. What we are after is sustained growth - being conformed to the image of Christ. That transformation happens at the level of identity, and identity is renewed through revelation: God's Word and His Spirit speaking to our hearts. Psalm 36:9 The fountain of life flows from you to satisfy me. In your light of holiness we receive the light of revelation. We find our strength renewed when we put ourselves in the Potter's hands. Weakness becomes a doorway through which God's Almighty Power can be displayed. There is a divine, supernatural rest that gives us the freedom to become who God created us to be. Psalm 37:5: "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this." Can you surrender it all to Jesus today? "All to Jesus I surrender..." We weren't called to solve tomorrow's problems with today's strength. Isaiah 40:29: "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength." God Is a Faithful Finisher - God finishes what He starts. Sometimes we become frustrated because things are not happening as quickly as we think they should. Some things God develops over years. Some prayers are answered through a process. Some dreams require us to become the person capable of carrying them. But our job is not to control the timetable. Our job is to remember the mission, stay yielded, and obey the next step. May God give us what we need - the strength and the power - to do what He has called us to do. Today's lesson is simple: when we yield, when we rest, and when we trust the process - trusting that God is directing our steps - we stop wearing ourselves out trying to push life in our direction and begin to live a life pulled toward God's purpose. Philippians 2:13: "God will continually revitalize you, implanting within you the passion to do what pleases him." Monday morning, I thought strength meant staying focused on my plan. Maybe God was teaching me that real strength is staying sensitive to His plan. Sometimes missing the target you intended to hit is a blessing - because God is redirecting you toward the target that actually matters. "REMEMBER THE MISSION." -You don't need tomorrow's strength today. You don't need the strength to control every outcome. You only need enough grace to say: "FATHER, I CHOOSE TO OBEY." And here is the good news: you do not even have to manufacture the strength to do that. "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him." The desire comes from Him. The power comes from Him. The direction comes from Him. And the outcome belongs to Him. So commit your way to the Lord. Trust Him. And let God do what only God can do. Surrendering Worry and Embracing Peace Prayer Let's pray Heavenly Father, we surrender our need to figure everything out. We surrender our agendas. We surrender the outcome. We choose to trust You instead of controlling every outcome, and we choose to obey instead of striving in our own strength. Give us the courage to act on what You've already shown us - to take the next obedient step today, not when it feels comfortable, but now. Give us the strength for today's assignment and the grace to trust You with tomorrow May we remember the mission. May we listen when Your Spirit speaks. And may our lives say, again and again: "Father, I choose to obey." In Jesus' mighty name we pray. Amen Strength isn't always pushing harder. Sometimes strength is trusting enough to surrender. 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 Strength(to do GOD's Will) 力量(去行上帝的旨意) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 09/06/2026 Description An account of the resource PSALM 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will do this.” 诗篇 37:5 “当将你的事交托耶和华，并倚靠他，他就必成全。” ISAIAH 40:29 “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” 以赛亚书 40:29 “疲乏的，他赐能力；软弱的，他加力量。” PHILIPPIANS 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 腓立比书 4:13 “我靠着那加给我力量的，凡事都能做。” 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 哥林多后书 12:9 “我的恩典够你用的，因为我的能力是在人的软弱上显得完全。” NEHEMIAH 8:10 “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” 尼希米记 8:10 “你们要靠主常常喜乐。因为你们的力量是从主而来。” ROMANS 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 罗马书 8:28 “我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按他旨意被召的人。” PROVERBS 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” 箴言 3:5-6 “你要专心仰赖耶和华，不可倚靠自己的聪明；在你一切所行的事上都要认定他，他必指引你的路。” 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