The Return Part 3
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The Return Part 3
- Hayden 9-29-20
Well, the event known as “The Return” is over and this morning is a new day. Saturday was a wonderful day as Christians gathered in Washington DC and throughout the world by simulcast, praising God, repenting of sin and sharing the message that all of us need to return to God. It was a blessing. However, now we need to carry that message to others and live out the mandate of the Scriptures to walk out our salvation with our Creator. Always leaning on Him and staying faithful to the commitment of being a disciple of Christ. It says in Matthew 16:24-25 the Bible reads, “24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].” (Amplified).
The Scripture we read in the first paragraph is a serious mandate that is meant for a serious people. To be a disciple of Christ is not just a tag we put on ourselves as believers in Christ, it is a way of living that God has called us to. And for many in the Church, it is a call to return to the commitment we made when we first declared in our hearts that Jesus Christ is Lord. Throughout the history of the Church, God calls His people to come closer and to return to their First Love. After giving the believers in Christ a compliment, Revelations 2 has Jesus speaking to the Church at Ephesus and saying these words, 4 “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” Sometimes we can get caught up in worldly things, even us “good Christians.” Often we have a tendency to walk away from God when we are drawn away by the affairs of life and forget our God. God calls us to return to Him. If this describes you, do not hesitate to call on the Name of the Lord. He has open arms for you and is ready to receive you back in His arms. Return to Him, He will in no way reject those who wish to draw close to Him.
Be blessed even more!!
Pastor Chris
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We’re Ba-a-a-ack!
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- Hayden 4-9-19
Well it is good to be back from the land down under! We spent time in the beautiful metropolitan areas of both Sydney and Melbourne, soaking in a different culture as well as having some relaxing moments on the sandy beaches of the Indian Ocean and Tasman Sea. We explored new experiences including drinking real coconut milk from newly harvested coconuts on the beach in Seminyak, bumming around with mostly docile primates (except the one who tried to steal my son’s water bottle from him) in Bali’s Monkey Forest, visited the absolutely awesome rice terraces in Bali’s interior, relaxed in the cultural backstreets of downtown Melbourne, and took a launch around Sydney Harbor capturing many angles of the Sydney Opera House.
We took our life in our own hands (surely God was watching over us) as Heidi and I rode a scooter for 3 days in the crazy, scooter-filled streets of Ubud, and swam with the fishes, snorkeling in the Blue Lagoon located on Bali’s east coast.
These holiday encounters were but of few of the many wonderful experiences we were blessed with over the last 3 weeks. However, and I know this may be cliché but, our most exciting and enjoyment filled times were being with our children and their significant others, loving them and being loved by them. Yes, our trip to Australia was a huge success, but mostly because we were able to share it with our family and their friends.
God wants to share these experiences with us as well for we have been adopted into His family. All of His creative order was for us to share together and with Him, our family! Scripture tells us, “God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure” (Ephesians 1:5, NLT). The whole time we were with our children, they kept asking us what we wanted to do. I think we frustrated them a bit because all we could tell them is that we didn’t care what we did, just as long as they were with us to do it! God has given us these wonderful experiences to share with our family, and He wants us to invite Him in to share them together.
By the way, it is so good to be back with our family in Huntington that we can share our adventure with you as well!
May God bless you even more!!
Pastor Chris
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Anticipate Great Things
April 22, 2015 Chris Hayden
One thing you may not know about me is that I am a world news junkie! If you ask my wife, Heidi, she will roll her eyes saying, “Oh really, you think!” I watch and listen to several news outlets to keep up on world events. As I do so, I must keep reminding myself that God is sovereign during this mess. It is easy to become pessimistic when it seems like so many things are going wrong and the world continues to seemingly spin out of control. The Apostle Paul is a prime example for us to follow of one person who received bad news and experienced difficult circumstances, yet remained positive that great things would happen regardless. Paul regularly experienced the abuses of an unrighteous, decadent Roman Empire. He saw paganism and idolatry running rampant within the entire known world as well as his own nation of Israel. He endured personal attacks from other “believers”, imprisoned by multiple civic authorities and stoned to the point of death by his own people. What a life!
Amid persecution, Paul declares while in chains in Philippians 1:12-14 & 20 NLT, “And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear…For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.” He always saw the great things God was doing and anticipated great things to happen regardless of what the devil brought his way. Whether he lived or died, God will be glorified and great things were on their way.
You may feel that aspects of your life are being riddled with trials and struggles that are bringing you down. News that you receive from some may not be pleasing to your ears. But God is still in control and he will not allow you to go through anything you cannot handle without providing a way of escape (1 Cor 10:13). And always be reminded, as the Apostle indicated, whether we live or die, have great wealth or live in modesty, like what we currently view or are dismayed by the news, God will be glorified in us and great things are on the horizon for those who keep their eyes on Jesus.
Pastor Hayden
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