God's Love.

God's love for us isn't based on who WE are, but on who HE is.

God didn't choose His people because they were numerous or strong; they were the weakest. Because He loved them, He chose them.

God doesn't love you because you're good, or because of your behavior, or because of your appearance. Not because of our giftedness or what we bring to Him. We are loved because God is Love.

^ 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
(26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to uswisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,31 so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”)

This isn't elementary school kickball! We are not chosen because we are good, popular, athletic, strong... We are chosen by God because God is Love. 

God has set apart His people as His treasured possession.

"For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth." (Deuteronomy 7:6)

Definition of holy: set apart or consecrated

God stands by us. He is constant, unshakable, and ever-keeping His promises. 

Ecclesia; notes from Pastor John Durham.

We exist to demonstrate and declare the good news of Christ in Waco and the world.

The enemy's plan? Distract us. Divide us. Destroy us.

What divides churches today? It is personality and style. Just the differences in worship and preaching. When we fall to preferences, we are falling to the trap the enemy has set for us.

[Update January 4, 2014: That couldn't be more true, and I've experienced it over the past semester of college and church hopping. In my search for a new church I was able to go to many different churches that didn't believe any differently than I, yet had so many differing ways in how they did things. Dayspring is intellectual and incorporates famous philosopher's writing. Fellowship Bible plays contemporary music but also feels like a church from ten years ago, or so my mom said. Harris Creek caters to the younger crowd, with upbeat music and on-top-of-it technology and graphics. First Woodway is large but still feels like family, with my previous worship pastor leading; their big service worship is meaningful. My church home, Acts, is small and close-knit, reaching out just as much as they disciple those in the church. I loved them all, and just felt a pull towards Acts and the challenge God gave me to be bold in my faith in certain ways. But, I digress. My point? I was able to experience God at all of these places, despite their differences. But there are still rivalries and disagreements and divisions that shouldn't exist simply because one group likes hymns and one group likes David Crowder.]

The enemy HAS come to destroy us.

God, give us confidence in prayer. 

We pray to the One who is in control of the world, the One who is faithful to His Word.

God, make us generous. 

We own nothing, and Christ owns everything. It's amazing how much more generous you can become when you realize everything you own is God's. It's easier to spend someone else's money.

We should give humbly, there should be no pride when we give. We need to give sacrificially.
Acts 4:34, people would sell their houses.

"A Gospel saturated church is a church filled with people who give everything they have because they understand that in Christ, they already have everything they need." -- Billy Graham's grandson

God, send us out.

The Holy Spirit will lead us, and use us.

God, give us a heart to advance the Gospel. 

Psalm 125, a Song of Ascent

Are we looking to the right things for security?

The world tells us to look to popularity, or an alarm system, or some other method for security. Maybe our possessions or planning. Some look to their feelings to judge how secure they are, but feelings change daily.

We should actually look to God. He surrounds us as the mountains surround Jerusalem and He will not forsake us when we need Him. He gives us our true security and peace and we cannot depend on worldly things to take His place.

Even when it looks like evil is all around and it's going to last forever, we have to remember from verse 3 that evil is only temporary. Jesus will prevail in the end and we cannot get discouraged by what we see in a fallen world.

Our life of faith is like we are sitting in a FORTRESS, where nothing can get in. God surrounds us.

Just confessing does not give us a free card to sin. If one is really in the Lord, then they will have a desire to do as He says and will feel a longing in their heart to be as close to God as possible. The Holy Spirit will give them grief over their sin and they won't take it lightly. This is the difference between a true Christian and someone who is a hypocritical one.

Psalm 121, a Song of Ascent; notes from Travis.

Psalms 120-134
These are the Psalms known as the "Songs of Ascent". The Hebrews would sing these songs when they would climb the hills to Jerusalem.

Christianity is referred to as "the way". It is a journey, a road that we are on.
The path you're on will determine your destination.
The important thing is the direction of the path, it's a series of choices that leads to the end of the journey.

We are on a spiritual journey through our lives, and our goal is the new Jerusalem in heaven.

Psalm 121...

Verse 1
"I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?"
At this time, pagans had a number of deities that they worshiped, like the sun and such. They thought that high places were places of holiness. This is a metaphor because they are looking at the mountains for their help, but help is not from the mountains, it comes from the Lord!

Verse 3
"He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber."
Baal (a false god) was known to sleep a lot, and priests had to wake him up. Our God does not sleep, He watches over our every footstep. He is vigilant in watching over us and this verse is likely a direct reference to Baal and other pagan gods.

Verse 6
"The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night."
How does the moon harm us? Well there was something called moon sickness. It was more of an emotional sickness. The sun could physically harm us in the daytime but the moon mentally harms us, but God won't let that happen.

Verse 7
"The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul."
The Lord will keep us from all harm! Except we have all been physically and emotionally harmed... What does that mean?
He will never let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. Nothing we ever experience can separate us from the love of God against our will.

Six times in these eight verses, it mentions the Lord watching over us or keeping us. FLIPPANCY IS A DANGEROUS THING. We have lost the meaning of words.

What does being kept by the Lord really mean?

He will keep us on the path. When we are on this path, we will never reach our destination in this earthly life. The journey IS the goal. We have to stay on this road and He will keep us on it so that we can reach our destination when this life is over.

[Update January 4, 2014: I am aware that some of the grammar is atrocious, and this is confusing at times to read. I am taking these straight from the notes, and I am loathe to change them much. My newer notes are much clearer and incorporate my own thoughts.]

Keep on Asking.

"And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." (Luke 11:9, NLT)

The power of persistent prayer is incredible. Strength rises up in your voice as you continuously seek God's answer to your prayers. Rest assured that He will always answer: through fulfillment of your prayer, a firm "no", or by guiding your heart in a different direction, causing you to no longer seek the answer to that prayer. Go ahead and pray a specific prayer daily.

Church; notes from Ronny.

What will you do when things are falling apart? Will you look for Jesus in those circumstances? Try and hear Him through all the chaos so you can focus on Him. He will bring you calm and peace.

We can't look at the problems and circumstances of getting to where God wants us; we just have to trust that He can get us there.

Are you letting circumstances stop you from jumping out of the boat? What is God calling you to? Do you really believe Jesus is the safety net if you fall?

[Update January 4, 2014: This was note-taking that happened long before I started this site. That's why it's so short and stuff.]