CAN YOU HEAR THE SOUND OF HEAVEN?
Over the last week or so, I have been contemplating eternity again. Don’t get nervous, I don’t want to go anytime soon but when my time comes- I want to be ready! It was four years ago this Wednesday that my daughter, Meeghan Lyn, went to be with Jesus. For now, I can only read about and imagine what she is experiencing. But one day I will see Jesus face to face and “O, what a glorious day that will be!” One of the most magnificent descriptions of the throne room of heaven is found in Revelation 4. John’s description takes us right into the very presence of God. I see the Lord seated on a throne of jasper, rubies and emeralds. Every color of the rainbow is shining forth and the beauty is more than I have ever seen before. Around the throne are the twenty-four elders all in white robes with beautiful gold crowns. The elders represent the church, you and me, and we are singing the song of redemption (5:8-10). I hear the beautiful sounds of thunder and voices. I see the brilliant lights like lightning!
In front of the throne is a crystal sea that serves as the pavement for the floor of heaven. There are four living creatures around the throne constantly proclaiming “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” Finally, I get to hear from them what I have been singing here on earth my entire life. The best part of John’s description is when he tells us what we will be doing for all of eternity. We will bow down and worship Jesus and cast our crowns before Him and say “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”
I so look forward to one day when I will see my little girl again, but I also look forward to joining with the heavenly host as we worship the Lord for eternity.
How will you get prepared for that day? Are you ready? To be ready you must first know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. If you have never accepted Him, then today is your day of salvation. Secondly, you must take every opportunity to practice worship. Being in the choir and orchestra is a great way to get ready. I believe that in heaven there will be great rejoicing and celebration. The Lord will wipe away every tear! Therefore, let’s use our time here together to celebrate and practice our reunion with loved ones and our Savior!
“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. BLESSED be the name of the Lord.”
Aaron Hodges
Monday, February 23, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
GET YOUR RUNNING SHOES READY!
Get Your Running Shoes Ready!
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24
Get your running shoes ready for the race of a lifetime! God has given us a task to serve the people of First Baptist Canton and we need to be ready for the task. The scripture says that “everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.”(1 Corinthians 9:25a) The game for us in the worship ministry is not merely a game but an awesome responsibility. The game He has given us is to serve by leading in worship every week. Is this a task that can be done on our own power? Is it a race that can be won by giving only part of our time and energy to the task? I think not! It is going to take a lot of commitment and work to be successful. For we do not “do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (1 Corinthians 9:25b) In 1 Peter 5:4, Peter reminds us that “when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will not fade away.” Our work is not the kind of work that will be burned up in the judgment (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) but is the kind of work which will pay dividends for eternity. Just think of all the lives that you will touch for God’s kingdom. We play a major role in helping people connect with a Holy God. As we do that, the only response the worshiper can have is a changed heart. I look forward to seeing the crown of glory and the lives that were changed by our work. Another aspect of our race is attitude. To quote Allan Taylor from last Sunday night: “We are one attitude away from greatness and one attitude away from disaster.” I do not want to do anything to disqualify me from the prize. A wrong attitude or wrong agenda will possibly do just that. I do not think that my attitude can disqualify my salvation but I do believe that it can disqualify me from all the reward the Lord has to offer me. Therefore, “Choose you this day who you will serve.”
Run in such a way as to get the prize!
Aaron Hodges
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24
Get your running shoes ready for the race of a lifetime! God has given us a task to serve the people of First Baptist Canton and we need to be ready for the task. The scripture says that “everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.”(1 Corinthians 9:25a) The game for us in the worship ministry is not merely a game but an awesome responsibility. The game He has given us is to serve by leading in worship every week. Is this a task that can be done on our own power? Is it a race that can be won by giving only part of our time and energy to the task? I think not! It is going to take a lot of commitment and work to be successful. For we do not “do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (1 Corinthians 9:25b) In 1 Peter 5:4, Peter reminds us that “when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will not fade away.” Our work is not the kind of work that will be burned up in the judgment (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) but is the kind of work which will pay dividends for eternity. Just think of all the lives that you will touch for God’s kingdom. We play a major role in helping people connect with a Holy God. As we do that, the only response the worshiper can have is a changed heart. I look forward to seeing the crown of glory and the lives that were changed by our work. Another aspect of our race is attitude. To quote Allan Taylor from last Sunday night: “We are one attitude away from greatness and one attitude away from disaster.” I do not want to do anything to disqualify me from the prize. A wrong attitude or wrong agenda will possibly do just that. I do not think that my attitude can disqualify my salvation but I do believe that it can disqualify me from all the reward the Lord has to offer me. Therefore, “Choose you this day who you will serve.”
Run in such a way as to get the prize!
Aaron Hodges
Monday, February 9, 2009
What an incredible Lord's Day
Thoughts from yesterday:
Started off early, ended late
Heard great sermon from Brian Ergle
Awesome corporate worship
Incredible band and orchestra all day
What a priviledge to work with such incredible talent
Malia was awesome! I'll keep her!
The worship team did a great jobe interacting with the congregation, keep up the great work
We had a solid number in choir both services
The choir is catching on to their responsibility as worship leaders
The song "Mighty to Save" was super!
Lunch was great with new church members
Connection class went very well. We had 14 in attendance.
One hour nap in my office was much needed.
XDM was fun. Everything going great this semester. So Proud!
The youth are really working hard.
The banquet was really well attended and the food was great!
The day was long but it was a wondersful day.
Started off early, ended late
Heard great sermon from Brian Ergle
Awesome corporate worship
Incredible band and orchestra all day
What a priviledge to work with such incredible talent
Malia was awesome! I'll keep her!
The worship team did a great jobe interacting with the congregation, keep up the great work
We had a solid number in choir both services
The choir is catching on to their responsibility as worship leaders
The song "Mighty to Save" was super!
Lunch was great with new church members
Connection class went very well. We had 14 in attendance.
One hour nap in my office was much needed.
XDM was fun. Everything going great this semester. So Proud!
The youth are really working hard.
The banquet was really well attended and the food was great!
The day was long but it was a wondersful day.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The Great Commission/Command
The GREAT COMISSION/COMMAND
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
In this passage Jesus begins by asserting His authority. Because He has been given the authority, He has every right to command action of us. The first command is to “go.” This is not simply a suggestion but an emphatic command. There are so many people in Canton, in Georgia, in The United States and in the world that have never heard the good news of Jesus Christ. How will they hear unless we go? The second command is to “make disciples.” How do you make disciples? First, you must proclaim the good news of Jesus, and then you must trust the Holy Spirit to do His work. The Lord commands us to tell and then it up to the Holy Spirit to convict sin and change hearts. The third command is to “baptize.” The first act of obedience of a new believer is to proclaim their new life by publicly demonstrating the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus through baptism. The last command is to “teach.” I feel that many times churches make a huge mistake and forget the final command to teach. We get so caught up in the transformation that we forget to teach them and grow them in their faith. The greatest verse in this passage is the promise that we do not have to do this on our own. Instead we have the reassurance of Him who cam to earth to be “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
We looked at this verse again because we have been given an in incredible opportunity to put this passage into action as a choir and orchestra in November of this year. A few months ago, Pam Mitchell introduced me to the vision of taking the handbell choir to Amberg, Germany in the fall. This vision has been expanded to include the FBC choir and orchestra. We will be given many opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ to a lost world while we are there. We are looking into concerts, street evangelism, helping with a live nativity, and much more as the Lord provides opportunity. Begin praying about how God will use you on this incredible trip to bring glory to Him.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
In this passage Jesus begins by asserting His authority. Because He has been given the authority, He has every right to command action of us. The first command is to “go.” This is not simply a suggestion but an emphatic command. There are so many people in Canton, in Georgia, in The United States and in the world that have never heard the good news of Jesus Christ. How will they hear unless we go? The second command is to “make disciples.” How do you make disciples? First, you must proclaim the good news of Jesus, and then you must trust the Holy Spirit to do His work. The Lord commands us to tell and then it up to the Holy Spirit to convict sin and change hearts. The third command is to “baptize.” The first act of obedience of a new believer is to proclaim their new life by publicly demonstrating the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus through baptism. The last command is to “teach.” I feel that many times churches make a huge mistake and forget the final command to teach. We get so caught up in the transformation that we forget to teach them and grow them in their faith. The greatest verse in this passage is the promise that we do not have to do this on our own. Instead we have the reassurance of Him who cam to earth to be “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
We looked at this verse again because we have been given an in incredible opportunity to put this passage into action as a choir and orchestra in November of this year. A few months ago, Pam Mitchell introduced me to the vision of taking the handbell choir to Amberg, Germany in the fall. This vision has been expanded to include the FBC choir and orchestra. We will be given many opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ to a lost world while we are there. We are looking into concerts, street evangelism, helping with a live nativity, and much more as the Lord provides opportunity. Begin praying about how God will use you on this incredible trip to bring glory to Him.
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