We apologize but the very beginning of the recording was so the audio picks up in the middle of the Scripture reading.  Also, attached below is the file for the over head.  If you have powerpoint, you may click here to view what everyone was able to see on Sunday.

Story

But could there be one story that defines who we are?  I mean, there are so many stories, there are so many people groups and cultures, with their own stories?  How can you say there is just one?  Isn’t that exclusive and narrow?  I want to suggest to you that, YES, each and every person has a different story, each and every people group has a story, and yet they are all somehow connected to our Creator’s narrative.  His story, is the drama that holds them all together.  As Christians, his story is our story.  To worship is to enter into the drama, to re-enact the story God has told and is telling…to worship is to participate in the story.

How can we, today, hope to attain a true peace in the midst of a turbulent economy and unstable world?

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!
2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The LORD will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD!

The other morning when my 6 year old daughter woke up I could hear her wandering around the house. Eventually she made her way into the study where I was working and asked, “where’s mom?” Rhonda was out exercising and wouldn’t be back for a while. I said, “she’s out, what do you need baby?” “I want to talk to mom.” I’ve learned what that means. My daughter, Eliana, isn’t the only one to pull this phrase on me. When they don’t want to ask me it means they want to do (or eat) something that they think mom will give them a more favorable answer. So the conversation continues. “Mom’s not here, but I can help you.” “No, I want to ask mom.” “Why don’t you want to ask me?” “I don’t want to ask you because you always say ‘no’!”

I think often times many people have the same view of God. We’re not real quick to go to him with requests, or at least specific requests. Perhaps you’ve gone to the Lord with a specific request in the past, healing for a loved one or a sign to confirm (or deny) a decision you made or a situation to work out in a particular way, only to see no answer come your way. Your loved one doesn’t recover. No sign, one way or another, comes to help you make your decision. The situation you hoped would turn out one way turns out another. Consequently you grow reluctant to go the Lord with prayer requests, or you lose faith that your requests are heard. You may have even stopped praying specifically and turned your prayers into more general requests in hopes that this leaves God more room to answer and leaves less room for your faith to take a hit.

The truth is, God is not stingy, as we might wrongly interpret his non-answers just like I am not stingy when it comes to my kids. Most fathers love to give generously to their kids – to see them enjoy the richest of lives. When their answer is no, it is not because they are stingy, but often because they have something else in mind – something much better. If earthly fathers are this way toward their kids, how much more our heavenly father.

This passage speaks to the generosity, as opposed to the stinginess, of God, and invites us to pray specifically and with great expectations.

If you’re interested in attending or willing to host a dinner or BBQ, you can also shoot us an email at info@cornerstonekaty.org and let us know.

We must remember that we are in a spiritual battle, advancing the Kingdom of God. This is our mission. God supplies our daily needs and forgives our outstanding debts so that nothing might keep us from daily dependence. We need that because we are going up against the enemy who will tempt us to turn aside from God’s mission, subtly persuading us that it’s the better choice. The danger lies in the fact that turning from the narrow way puts us on a path toward the evil one and destruction.

Because God delivers us from evil, we must trust him when facing temptation.

Please join us June 19th to serve ARTreach by helping them get their supplies organized. We have volunteered some garage space until they can find a proper location for their art supplies. We’re looking to partner with ARTreach in future outreach events. Sign-up via a form available in the foyer of the Sanctuary building.

We’ll have an informational meeting regarding the work on Friday, June 18th in the evening which will be concluded with a movie out on the lawn, so make plans to join us for this fun event!

Future community service projects are in the works, so keep your ears and eyes open!