Great Is Thy Faithfulness

“Calling A Time-Out In Your Life To Remember, Rehearse and Return”!

This week in our Sunday morning worship time, we took a look at “Developing a Heart of Thanksgiving” in a world that portrays “self entitlement” as the greatest virtue. We took a look at what it means to be truly thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
We are living on one of these four different existing levels:

1) The Lowest Level- Those who are constantly complaining
2) Those who are not always complaining, but they never give thanks for anything
3) Those who only give thanks for the obvious blessings
4) The highest level- Those who always give thanks despite the circumstances

From the book of Ephesians we learn five principles that we would do well to put into practice in our own lives.
Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”
1. Your Gratitude is Proper
2. Your Gratitude is Perpetual
3. Your Gratitude Is To Be Pervasive
4. Your Gratitude Will Be Pleasurable
5. Your Gratitude Is Possible

“Great Is His Faithfulness”

A.W. Tozer in His remarkable book titled “The Attributes of God” wrote, “Faithfulness is that in God which guarantees that He will never be or act inconsistent with Himself. He will always be true to Himself, to His works, and to His creation.”

David wrote in Psalm 89:1, “I will sing of the lovingkindness of the LORD forever; to all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth. For I have said, ‘Lovingkindness will be built up forever; In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.’”

I know that I might be out of date but my favourite church hymn is

“Great is Thy Faithfulness”

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

In Lamentations 3:19- 25 we read these words:
“I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

I am sure if I were to ask you to describe a time in your life when you have witnessed the faithfulness of God, you would rush back to that scene and describe to me in detail how and when you saw the faithfulness of God shine through in your life like the sun on a cold winter’s day. But, what happens when it seems as if God is silent, as if everything you touch falls apart, the time when you cannot find the answer to those life challenging questions-is your God still faithful?

As I write those words, my heart is broken over a three year old boy who has been diagnosed with cancer. His parents are doing all they can but this is something that is out of their hands and totally in His hands. We cry out for God to intervene, to give this family God’s peace, and to perform a miracle but we must realize that He remains faithful. This family has been active in the church and they continue to serve their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because they are trusting that God is faithful to meet all of their needs and that His will will be worked out at this time.

What about when you are entering into the eye of life’s storm, you are walking into the “valley of the shadow of death, you have just lost your job, your children have run away from home, your children are not walking with God, do you believe that He is still faithful to you?

If you want to recognize His faithfulness in your life you must:

1. Turn over the situation to God and allow Him to be God- some things are beyond you
2. Trust that He is still working in every area of your life- even when you don’t feel Him working
3. Teach those around His faithfulness by demonstrating your hope in Him through your actions
4. Take a Time-out to do the following...
a) Remember “Great is His faithfulness”! Go ahead and type it out on your computer and then paste it on your fridge! (I’ll wait till you get back to finish the blog)
b) Rehearse- On “His faithfulness” and on those times that you have seen Him come through in your life!
c) Return thanks for “His Great Faithfulness”-you know your heart wants to, you have been waiting for that right opportunity to do it, so get up and dance a dance that makes God smile! (No one is watching and I won't tell on you)

This week the church calendar seems to be pretty hectic, but is there a greater place to be than in the Lord’s House?

Wednesday our AWANA clubs will pick up again at 6:30 at the church
Saturday is the church work day at 9:00am
Saturday is also the first youth group event
Sunday is our Family Fun Night at 6:30 at the church

We have been given the privilege and opportunity to worship our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in a free country. As the Psalmist said, “Let us worship His name together”. I invite you to come and worship the Lamb of God. This Sunday morning we will be meeting for Sunday School at 10:00, followed by the morning service beginning at 11:00. Come worship our Saviour with us!Like never before, the words of the book of Hebrews should be on the minds and hearts of all of those who belong to Jesus Christ: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together; as in the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see that Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24, 25.

Pastor Paul

May God richly bless your life as you continue to serve and remain faithful to Him!