Good morning everyone,
“He has showed you ,
O man,
what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly
and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8
GIVING THANKS:
* Kris Eddy gives thanks that his employee received his second CT scan results indicate there is no tumor! He was grateful for the prayers, so thanks everyone. Praise God!
* Chelsey Eddy's great uncle's surgery went well for his jaw cancer. He was discharged earlier than was expected. Praise God!
* We give much thanks to God that Jessica and Rich Lennon had a healthy baby boy. Here is a photo to share of Naomi, Mali and their new cousin Ronin.
CELEBRATION:
* We are excited about the installation of our new Deacons:
Bob Discala, Patrick Keller and Derin Wilson.
Please join us on Sunday, June 11th for a Pot Luck that will follow right after worship to celebrate the day! Plan on bringing enough food for your family, and others.
Please note that the Secret Prayer Sister reveal will also be held at the same time.
Lots to REJOICE about and give thanks to God!
REMINDERS:
* Keep the donations of food coming in for SPOONER HOUSE.
* TRCC has asked our congregation to supply the large bags of Potato Chips and cookies by June 10th. The bin is in the foyer.
* Men, please be sure to register for the KENT MEN'S RETREAT on June 16th & 17th
* May 31st will be a brief meeting for VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL right after worship.
* May 31st – Danbury church of Christ Hymn sing from 3:00-4:30pm with refreshments to follow
* May 31st – Memorial service for Suzanne Babcock at the Sterling church of Christ, Sterling, CT
COMING UP:
* June 16th will be the last Ladies Tuesday morning Bible class of the season at 9:30 a.m. watch for the zoom link. Many thanks to Lisa Saracino, Mary Lou and also Nadine Keller for teaching these classes.
The meaning of value is a principle or standard about what is important in one's life.
Albert Einstein said, “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.“
Christian values are the principles that a follower of Jesus Christ holds as important – the principles of life that Jesus taught.
Christian values don't change over time, for they remain steadfast and rooted in Christ. Christian values are good, because God is good.
Values are a set of beliefs, priorities or views that we find most important in our lives, thus affecting the way we act and make decisions.
What does God say about the value of life?
“For if we live, we live to the LORD,
and if we die, we die to the LORD.
So then,
whether we live or whether we die,
we are the LORD's.”
There is a chasm of difference between God's values, and the world's values. For He is God, having all authority of life. Our omnipotent, omniscient, and omni-present creator established a standard for us to follow. It is God who has set this standard about what is real, what is true, and what is everlasting.
The world however, says that each of us get to make up our own standards. This thinking is contrary to God's standards and we are seeing chaos unfold right before our eyes! Mankind leans toward the dark side and is everything that God is not.
Our values are linked to our minds and our hearts. What we desire most, is what we value most, and the way we are programmed is to value a certain set of things, and then live according to those principles. Our actions, and our identity, are intertwined with the values we have.
God looks at the heart:
“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:21
“People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
“…but in your hearts honor Christ the LORD as holy. ” 1 Peter 3:15
All of the choices we need to make in life, should be made with God at the core.
He deserves the primary seat on our hearts for He created us, and knows what is best for us.
The values of truth, peace, love, righteousness and more flow from Him.
Worship Him
Mark 12:28-30 “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.“
Be Kind and LOVE…
1 John 4:7-21 “God is Love“
Without GOD'S LOVE, our works have no use on this earth.
Mark 12:31 “The second is this, love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.“
Romans 5:8 “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.“
Be Humble
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:10
“He who exalts himself, shall be humbled.” Matthew 23:12
Honesty and Integrity
“A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies” Proverbs 12:17
Live Morally
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.“
Forgive
Romans 12:9-10 “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
We can tell if someone embraces God's values, by how they treat others.
As we continue to read God’s Word, we begin to know God better, and understand His purpose for us in the world. We learn the values He holds dear, and we also grow to love those values. The Holy Spirit works through us to spread God’s love through good works, leading others to eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Who does God value?
US!
“For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him
shall not perish,
but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
Jesus gave his blood to purchase the church. Acts 20:28
He made us something, when we were nothing. Ephesians 1:4
He created us with incredible value, and had the most regard for us. Ephesians 1:7
He values US, and loves US so much that He exchanged HIS VALUE, for ours. Romans 5 & 6
The Holy Spirit works through us to spread God's love through good works, which eventually leads others to eternal life through Jesus Christ. Galatians 5:16-24 & Ephesians 1:13-14
Join us as we dive into the “Fruit of the Spirit” on Wednesday night bible study lead by Ron. These lessons on the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit works within us, are true reminders that GOD is by our sides as we walk in this life. The nine hallmarks of the Holy Spirit working in our lives are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Love is at the top of the list! This was an excellent discussion. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… the love of God, and the Love of Christ.
Joy, goes deeper than mere happiness. Joy comes from the radiance, the brightness of God himself. The JOY of the LORD is our strength. This Joy in Christ is eternal. We can experience true comfort during difficult trials. Psalm 94:19.
Peace. God's peace, passes understanding. The Holy Spirit helps us with our peace within, and peace with others. Romans 5:1, Phil. 4:4-9
The study on the remaining fruit of the Spirit will continue over the next few weeks. Thanks to Ron for leading this great series.
KEEP GOD AT THE HELM & KEEP SINGING….
YOU REIGN IN ME
Over all the earth
You reign on high
Every mountain stream
Every sunset sky
But my one request
Lord, my only aim
Is that you reign in me again
Lord, reign in me
Reign in your power
Over all my dreams
In my darkest hour
You are the Lord of all I am
So won't you reign in me again?
Over every thought
Over every word
May my life reflect
The beauty of my Lord
'Cause you mean more to me
Than any earthly thing
So won't you reign in me again?
Lord, reign in me
Reign in your power
Over all my dreams
In my darkest hour
You are the Lord of all I am
So won't you reign in me again?
Over all the earth
You reign on high
Every mountain stream
Every sunset sky
But my one request
Lord, my only aim
Is that you reign in me again
Lord, reign in me
Reign in your power
Over all my dreams
In my darkest hour
You are the Lord of all I am
So won't you reign in me again?
Lord, reign in me
Reign in your power
Over all my dreams
In my darkest hour
You are the Lord of all I am
So won't you reign in me again?
Won't you reign?
Won't you reign in me again?
Come and praise the Lord
Won't you reign in me again?
You reign on high
Every mountain stream
Every sunset sky
But my one request
Lord, my only aim
Is that you reign in me again
Lord, reign in me
Reign in your power
Over all my dreams
In my darkest hour
You are the Lord of all I am
So won't you reign in me again?
Over every thought
Over every word
May my life reflect
The beauty of my Lord
'Cause you mean more to me
Than any earthly thing
So won't you reign in me again?
Lord, reign in me
Reign in your power
Over all my dreams
In my darkest hour
You are the Lord of all I am
So won't you reign in me again?
Over all the earth
You reign on high
Every mountain stream
Every sunset sky
But my one request
Lord, my only aim
Is that you reign in me again
Lord, reign in me
Reign in your power
Over all my dreams
In my darkest hour
You are the Lord of all I am
So won't you reign in me again?
Lord, reign in me
Reign in your power
Over all my dreams
In my darkest hour
You are the Lord of all I am
So won't you reign in me again?
Won't you reign?
Won't you reign in me again?
Come and praise the Lord
Won't you reign in me again?
HUMBLE THYSELF IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD
Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord
Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord
And He, shall lift you up,
And He, shall lift, you up.
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound,
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound,
that saved, a wretch like me.
that saved, a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now I'm found,
I once was lost but now I'm found,
twas blind, but now, I see,
twas blind, but now, I see.
In closing, people know a lot about baseball and sports scores, stock market values, top 10 songs, and a lot about everything else. The apostle Paul shared,
“I pray that out of his glorious riches
he may strengthen you with power
through his Spirit in your inner being,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you being rooted and established in Love,
may have power together with all the saints,
to grasp how wide
and how long
and high
and deep
is the love of Christ
and know
that this Love surpasses knowledge
that you may be filled
to the measure
of all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:16-19
He has given us so much.
He has given us everything.
The world needs to know about the wonderful Love of God, and the saving message of Jesus Christ.
Value your life…and use it for God's glory.
Our love In Him,
Bruce & Paula