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Qualifying For Blessing

Great blessings come to people who simply show up and faithfully do what they’ve been asked to do. When we’re where we’re supposed to be, doing what we’re supposed to be doing, some really amazing things happen.

In the New Testament book of Acts we find a great story about a group of folks who showed up at the right place at the right time, and did what they were supposed to do. The result was a life-changing encounter with God.

And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit … — Acts 2:4 (NLT)

This verse describes an amazing event in history. After Jesus’ resurrection and return to heaven, His disciples did what He told them to do. They went to an upper room in Jerusalem, prayed and waited for a promise to be fulfilled. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be poured out on them in a few days.

120 of Jesus’ followers showed up in a very ordinary room. They simply prayed and waited. They occupied themselves with what Jesus told them to do, believing that when they did what they were instructed to do, Jesus would do what He promised He would do. And it happened. This ordinary room became the venue for an extraordinary experience. Because they showed up, God showed up!

The Bible says that EVERYONE PRESENT was filled with the Holy Spirit!” The only way you could miss out on this experience was by not being present!

Think about it. The one thing that qualified these believers for this amazing blessing was being where they were supposed to be, doing what they were supposed to be doing! Doing these simple, ordinary things in a very ordinary place led to an extraordinary encounter with God. None of the 120 believers regretted showing up!

God has given all of us a place to show up everyday. All He asks is that we faithfully fulfill the work He has given us to do.

If we’re not careful, we can begin to think that there’s nothing great about our place or glamorous about our assignment. This is one of the most common tricks and traps of the enemy. Don’t let it happen to you. Keep showing up in your ordinary place. Faithfully and joyously do the ordinary work Jesus has given you to do, and be sure of this, extraordinary things will happen in and through your life!

Pastor Dale

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Sing, Sing, Sing!

Everybody’s  a singer, or at least a “wannabe” singer!  Singing is a natural human expression.  We sing happy songs, sad songs, love songs, songs that tell stories, songs that ask questions and songs that make statements.

The greatest singer in the Bible was King David.  He’s known as the “sweet singer of Israel.” As a young man he sat on the hillsides of Judea, watching his father’s sheep.  During those long days he often composed and sang songs, likely accompanied by his harp.  This love for music continued throughout his life.  Even as an old man, David was still singing!

While David’s songs were inspired by God, were incredibly articulate and inspirational, and have endured for millennia,  he never sang  for crowds.  As far as we know, David received no applause for his music, he never had a recording contract, he never performed a public concert or received a standing ovation, and yet he kept singing.  He sang for an audience of One!  And He faithfully served the One he sang to and the One He sang about.

Many of David’s songs are recorded in the Bible’s book of Psalms.  In David’s songbook we find declarations of victory, requests for comfort, cries of desperation and celebrations of praise.  As you read through the psalms you’ll see that David often sang himself to new levels of faith and hope in God.  His songs of worship kept him going and growing.  Singing was a key to his spiritual life and strength.  He kept songs of worship in his heart and on his lips.  His worship was practiced faithfully in private before it ever became public.

David set an example for us.  He taught us to be singers, praisers, worshipers.  He commanded us to keep the right kind of song in our hearts and on our lips everyday:

Sing a new song to the LORD!  Let the whole earth sing to the LORD!  Sing to the LORD; praise His name.  Each day proclaim the good news that He saves.  –Psalm 96:1, 2 (NLT)

Keeping songs of praise in our hearts and on our lips is a key to spiritual breakthroughs, daily joy and to living a life of contentment.  Worship works wholeness in us.  It demonstrates our trust in God.  It declares our faith in the living God who is great, loving, and always available.  Our songs of praise testify to God’s majesty and power, and they draw others to join in and sing along.

Never underestimate the power of a song — the right song.  Ask God to put a melody in your heart and sing it out in praise to HIm.  It will release spiritual life in you and to others!

Pastor Dale

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When Prayers Are “Unanswered”

Have you struggled to believe that your prayers were making a difference?  Have you wondered about prayers that are still “unanswered?”

We all have times when it seems that our prayers go “unanswered.”  If we’re not careful, these experiences can be discouraging and become a significant stumbling block in our relationship with God.

To live effectively as Christian believers, we must know what to do when it seems that our prayers are “unanswered.”

That’s the focus of this upcoming weekend’s message at Church of the Redeemer.  In our series “What To Do When … “ we’ll see what the Bible has to say about “unanswered” prayer.  We’ll also learn something about praying with new and greater confidence.  Don’t miss this important teaching and invite someone to come with you.

Worship with us this weekend at any of our campuses:

GaithersburgFrederickSpanish or online.

For campus service times, directions and more information, check out the Church of the Redeemer website.

I look forward to seeing you!

Pastor Dale

And one more thing …

Israel Houghton and New Breed will be at Church of the Redeemer this weekend.  Make plans to be with us Sunday night, January 15 at 7:00 for a great time of worship. Get your tickets today!

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Time To Rest

If you’ve ever been restlessness, you know that it’s a terrible, frustrating condition.  It’s the inability to find rest.  Restlessness comes in many forms and robs us of many blessings.

Physical restlessness causes us to toss and turn through the night.  A restless mind or body can deny us the sleep we desperately want and need.

Some people suffer from spiritual, emotional and relational restlessness.  They never get settled and satisfied in any relationship or place for very long.  They’re constantly looking for that one person, job, city or church that will make them happy.  They never realize that the real issues causing their unhappiness are inside them.

Restless people are rarely satisfied people.  Restless souls are troubled souls.  Without personal peace — without contentment on the inside — nothing or no one will ever be able to meet the expectations, wants or needs of a restless person.

The solution for restlessness is rest.  To rest is to settle down in a committed position.  It’s to relax and embrace.  Rest is an internal attitude with wonderful external consequences.  It’s the result of trust.  It’s the result of “plantedness.”

The psalmist David understood his need for a restful heart.  David recognized that the condition of his soul was the key to health and happiness in his life.  If he could find rest in his soul, he could be at peace in any circumstance he experienced.

Take a look at his words:

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.  –  Psalm 62:1 (NIV)

David found his rest in God.  He knew that only God could cure the restlessness in him.  There were no relationships, no places, no possessions, no life experiences or “perfect” situations that would give him the kind of rest he really needed.  David said, “My soul finds rest in God alone …”

Are you wrestling with restlessness?  Even if you’re not conscious of restless feelings, take look at the symptoms.  Are there signs of it in your life?

Don’t fall for the age-old trap of trying to solve restlessness through people, places and things.  God is the only true source of rest.  He knows how to settle the restless, discontented soul.  Confront this thief in you and determine to drive its controlling power from your life!

Pastor Dale

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When Life Is Hard

LIfe is filled with all kinds of circumstances and experiences.  Sometime it gets hard.  In a short period of time life can dramatically change from “good” to “bad,” for “easy” to “tough.”  All it takes is one phone call, one doctor’s report or one negative interaction with someone to change the emotional climate in our “world” from sunshine to rain.  It’s important for us to know how to handle times like these.  We need to know what to do when life gets hard for us.

This weekend we begin an important new  teaching series at Church of the Redeemer“WHAT TO DO WHEN …” This Saturday and Sunday we’ll find answers that help us know what to do “When Life Is Hard.” Don’t miss this important teaching.  It will give you some valuable spiritual equipment for a strong and successful new year.

This would also be a great time to invite someone to join you for church.  Maybe you know someone that’s going through a hard time right now.  Encourage them to come with you for this special teaching.  Your invitation can change someone’s life!

Join us this weekend at any of our campuses: Gaithersburg, Frederick, Spanish or online.  For campus service times, directions and more information check out the Church of the Redeemer website.

I look forward to seeing you!

Pastor Dale

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