This past weekend was filled with lots of life and activity at LFC. On Saturday we held a class for those newer to faith, called Beyond Yes! It was my honor to teach this class and after 3 ½ hours of teaching I raced over to the incredibly decorated Kids Corner, where the balloons and signs were carrying the Valentine’s Day motif and reminding all who entered that Jesus needs to fill their hearts. Games, drama, puppets, hot dog lunch, cotton candy, popcorn and the clear message of Jesus being the one who loves us was clear and crisp. Our servants team did an incredible job, joining forces with our CM team. Seeing so many children and families from the community was an amazing joy and the heartbeat of LFC. Thanks to all who participated and served. We then enjoyed our second week in the sanctuary with the new carpet and new chairs. Though the new foyer entrance is not complete nor the new guest services and resource room. There is so much additional room that I never knew how we handled it and even grew while being so cramped. Studies prove that once you reach 80% capacity, people get that crowded feeling and consciously or subconsciously find it hard to return. Thanks for your giving and praying that make this all possible. Sunday AM was filled with joy as we worship the Lord, the attendance was up (even on an incredible sunny and gorgeous day) and we were graced by two incredible leaders in the body of Christ and our Foursquare Presidents, Dr. Jack and Anna Hayford. Their incredible ministry is known by so many and if you don’t have any clue who Jack Hayford is, you can check him at http://www.jackhayford.org/ I am honored to serve in the Foursquare family and though I don’t have a denominational flag on my car or wave the logo around, I do love this “clan” God has allowed me to be saved into and pastor in. I do not take this for granted. For those of you not in the third service you would be unaware of the Hayfords visit and the incredible and sensitive way in which Pastor Jack prayed for us and lead us in the closing moments of my message. Debbie and Jamie and I were blessed to share an incredible meal with them and enjoy the kind fellowship that the Lord allows around the table. I could personally not be happier that God has allowed Pastor Jack and Anna to lead our denomination for such a time as this and that I am honored to not only serve under his leadership but to be able to have a friendship with he and Anna as well.
As we gathered this Sunday I was reminded that one of the greatest gifts we can give to the Lord is worship. It is what we always do when we gather. We may mix up the songs or the style a bit, but we always come to sing, to speak praise and to applaud the grace and goodness of our God. Though there are many ways in which to express our love, the book of Romans says: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Rom. 12:1) Worship includes our bodies not just our minds. The Bible also says, “…the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.” (Jn. 4:23) In other words, God looks for those who love Him so much that they worship with all their hearts. “For the eyes of the Lord are looking throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His…” (2 Chr. 16:9)
I want God to find me and you and our LFC family as He looks for worshipers. I don’t want Him to have to look far when He gazes our way. I want Him to find us and know we are ready, eager and willing to worship Him with all our hearts. I thought about worship and was reminded that the soundtrack to creation was worship.
Listen to how God responds to Job after he questions the Lord about his afflictions. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding…Or who stretched the line on it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7) There was worship going on as God put His creation together.
As we worship, God moves and does some creative work in us and around us.
I was feeling some writers block the other day as I worked on one of my sermons and then an article for my column in the Lompoc Record. I took a moment and began to worship Him and when I was done, I had three new ideas – amazing!
Worship has always been a part of God’s people. In fact, the Israelites journeyed through the desert, they would stop, build an altar, offer a sacrifice to God, and worship Him. So one of the things worship does is it identifies us as God’s people.
Now I am not contending for us to worship as a display to others, but it is amazing how people realize we have a true and genuine love for God when we worship in spirit and in truth – in sincerity. If we begin to move away from worship and not see the value of our lives being worship to the Lord, we begin to weaken in our faith and simply blend in with the rest of the world.
So how do we worship? There are many ways but let me remind you of a few and these are things you can do alone, with family, in small group settings or when we gather corporately at LFC.
The first is singing.
“…let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” (Heb 13:15). (See also: Rev. 14:3 & Ps. 66:1)
The Bible does not tell us that only those who sing well or have perfect pitch are allowed to sing. If that were the case, I would most certainly be disqualified. But all are called to sing: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” (Ps. 66:1) Consider it a joyful noise when you sing to God from your heart. Catch this: God hears your heart long before He hears a note or a tune. Now, you might sing very well, but with the wrong heart, no true worship will take place. I am so grateful to our singers and musicians at LFC. They will be the first to tell you they are not the most qualified and gifted but I will be the first to tell you they possess genuine hearts of service and desire to worship. So God hears their hearts and loves it.
We also worship with uplifted hands. Not everyone feels comfortable doing this and at LFC we never attempt to make conformists out of people. Some don't do it simply because they have not been taught the biblical reasons for it. “So wherever you assemble, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.” (1 Tim. 2:8 NLT) One of the reasons that we are to lift our hands is in doing so we are saying “Lord, cleanse my heart”. Lifting our hands to God is not mere ritual, it is that we invite God to purify us. When we lift our hands as a posture to the Lord that says we are ready to be healed. “…lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children…” (Lam 2:19) Not only is it a sign of invitation to the Father to cleanse us, it is also a sign of surrender. It is also a sign of victory as one who crosses the finish line with raised hands signifying victory. We also raise our hands to bless others. “…And the Lord lifted up his hands and blessed them.”( Lk. 24:50) We extend blessings in Jesus’ name by lifting our hands and praying. We should lift our hands to bless our children and family and when we gather to bless those around us.
We also clap alot at LFC. “Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!” (Ps. 47:1) Clapping is an old Hebrew covenant sealer. Clapping is the oldest form of contractual agreement. I often have people clap at the end of a wedding to “seal the deal.” Clapping is to be in agreement after worship or a prayer. It is an outward sign we agree! Not merely some expression of being excited – it is heartfelt agreement. So we sing and proclaim who we are as we express our love for Him and stand with uplifted hands in surrender and victory. And as we do, we must also extend our hands to bless others and applaud the greatness of our God. There are many more ways and postures of worship but these are some that are familiar to us at LFC and some that will stretch you a bit if you currently do not ascribe to the them. Don’t wait until the next time you gather as students at youth group, or as adults this next Sunday at church. Take some time this week to simply raise your hands, clap a bit and bless the Lord. And while you are at it, bless someone else too.
This is a great season at LFC and the future will only be brighter as we continue to follow God and worship Him!
I love being your pastor and I love worshipping our God with you,
Pastor Bernie
As we gathered this Sunday I was reminded that one of the greatest gifts we can give to the Lord is worship. It is what we always do when we gather. We may mix up the songs or the style a bit, but we always come to sing, to speak praise and to applaud the grace and goodness of our God. Though there are many ways in which to express our love, the book of Romans says: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Rom. 12:1) Worship includes our bodies not just our minds. The Bible also says, “…the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.” (Jn. 4:23) In other words, God looks for those who love Him so much that they worship with all their hearts. “For the eyes of the Lord are looking throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His…” (2 Chr. 16:9)
I want God to find me and you and our LFC family as He looks for worshipers. I don’t want Him to have to look far when He gazes our way. I want Him to find us and know we are ready, eager and willing to worship Him with all our hearts. I thought about worship and was reminded that the soundtrack to creation was worship.
Listen to how God responds to Job after he questions the Lord about his afflictions. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding…Or who stretched the line on it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7) There was worship going on as God put His creation together.
As we worship, God moves and does some creative work in us and around us.
I was feeling some writers block the other day as I worked on one of my sermons and then an article for my column in the Lompoc Record. I took a moment and began to worship Him and when I was done, I had three new ideas – amazing!
Worship has always been a part of God’s people. In fact, the Israelites journeyed through the desert, they would stop, build an altar, offer a sacrifice to God, and worship Him. So one of the things worship does is it identifies us as God’s people.
Now I am not contending for us to worship as a display to others, but it is amazing how people realize we have a true and genuine love for God when we worship in spirit and in truth – in sincerity. If we begin to move away from worship and not see the value of our lives being worship to the Lord, we begin to weaken in our faith and simply blend in with the rest of the world.
So how do we worship? There are many ways but let me remind you of a few and these are things you can do alone, with family, in small group settings or when we gather corporately at LFC.
The first is singing.
“…let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” (Heb 13:15). (See also: Rev. 14:3 & Ps. 66:1)
The Bible does not tell us that only those who sing well or have perfect pitch are allowed to sing. If that were the case, I would most certainly be disqualified. But all are called to sing: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” (Ps. 66:1) Consider it a joyful noise when you sing to God from your heart. Catch this: God hears your heart long before He hears a note or a tune. Now, you might sing very well, but with the wrong heart, no true worship will take place. I am so grateful to our singers and musicians at LFC. They will be the first to tell you they are not the most qualified and gifted but I will be the first to tell you they possess genuine hearts of service and desire to worship. So God hears their hearts and loves it.
We also worship with uplifted hands. Not everyone feels comfortable doing this and at LFC we never attempt to make conformists out of people. Some don't do it simply because they have not been taught the biblical reasons for it. “So wherever you assemble, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.” (1 Tim. 2:8 NLT) One of the reasons that we are to lift our hands is in doing so we are saying “Lord, cleanse my heart”. Lifting our hands to God is not mere ritual, it is that we invite God to purify us. When we lift our hands as a posture to the Lord that says we are ready to be healed. “…lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children…” (Lam 2:19) Not only is it a sign of invitation to the Father to cleanse us, it is also a sign of surrender. It is also a sign of victory as one who crosses the finish line with raised hands signifying victory. We also raise our hands to bless others. “…And the Lord lifted up his hands and blessed them.”( Lk. 24:50) We extend blessings in Jesus’ name by lifting our hands and praying. We should lift our hands to bless our children and family and when we gather to bless those around us.
We also clap alot at LFC. “Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!” (Ps. 47:1) Clapping is an old Hebrew covenant sealer. Clapping is the oldest form of contractual agreement. I often have people clap at the end of a wedding to “seal the deal.” Clapping is to be in agreement after worship or a prayer. It is an outward sign we agree! Not merely some expression of being excited – it is heartfelt agreement. So we sing and proclaim who we are as we express our love for Him and stand with uplifted hands in surrender and victory. And as we do, we must also extend our hands to bless others and applaud the greatness of our God. There are many more ways and postures of worship but these are some that are familiar to us at LFC and some that will stretch you a bit if you currently do not ascribe to the them. Don’t wait until the next time you gather as students at youth group, or as adults this next Sunday at church. Take some time this week to simply raise your hands, clap a bit and bless the Lord. And while you are at it, bless someone else too.
This is a great season at LFC and the future will only be brighter as we continue to follow God and worship Him!
I love being your pastor and I love worshipping our God with you,
Pastor Bernie
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