Posted on 2009 06, 30 by Scott Turner
“energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. tell fearful souls, “courage! Take heart! God is here, right here, on his way to put things right and redress all wrongs. He’s on his way! He’ll save you!” isaiah 35:3 (msg)
life isn’t really fair… is it? one minute you are on top of the world, the next minute you are hit with something that floors you and causes you to to curl up in a fetal position. this life (and the enemy) has a way of zapping your energy and strength and leaving you questioning and wondering when will God make things right… when will He show up and save the day.
whether you are dealing with a relationship blow-out, with financial pressure, with career changes or set-backs, with a health problem or anything else… never forget that God is in it with you! ”God is here” is the most encouraging truth to grasp when you are surrounded by the pain and problems of this life.
we have a God who never leaves us, never forsakes us, is ever-present and is always helping us breakthrough and overcome whatever adversity we find ourselves stuck in. He is with you… He is with me… He is with us and that should bring us confidence and comfort.
“when the one who hates us comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a well against him.” isaiah 59:19b (nlb) God is always there to protect us and shield us from the floods and schemes of the wicked one. regardless of what you are going through right now… God is with you, He is strengthening you and the dark, toxic waters of the enemy will not touch you.
Posted on 2009 06, 17 by Scott Turner
i am super excited to announce that we have found our new worship leader. his name is steven shaw and he lives here in south orange county. he and his wife (lauren) will be starting with us on sunday, june 28th. steven is an incredibly gifted singer and musician and lauren has an amazing voice as well. we are trusting God to use them as a catalyst to take the worship at the summit to new heights. we have offered steven a summer position and are expecting the next few months to be confirmation that he is our guy. i know the band is pumped and ready to be step up to another level. God has sent steven and lauren to us and we are all trusting that this is a good fit and great things will happen as a result of our partnership.
james will be leading this sunday and we will be honoring him and thanking him for 2.5 years of incredibly faithful (and sacrificial) service to God and to our church. james will continue to be involved with the worship - playing as needed (on guitar, bass, drums or keys) and leading for steven occasionally. please make sure and thank james personally for his heart to help all of us get closer to God in worship and for the remarkable job he has done. i’m so thankful for his friendship and heart to serve God and others - he is phenomenal! i’m trusting God to use him in a big way as he plans to launch into a new phase of ministry. i’m hoping his schedule will allow him to teach more often - he if a gifted communicator and has a spiritual depth and wisdom way beyond his years.
if you go to the summit, i wanted to encourage you to be here this sunday to thank james and not to miss june 28th as our new leader steps in. make sure and come with a big smile and a heart full of worship - God is moving in our church and the best is yet to come!
“be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. it’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? there it is! i’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.” isaiah 43:19 (msg)
Posted on 2009 06, 04 by Scott Turner
i came across this scripture and think it is amazing - i’m totally adding it to my life verse list…”Jesus came enjoying life.” Matthew 11:19 (Phillips). if He did, then we should… right? most people i know don’t really seem to enjoy life. i know i don’t always enjoy life - maybe i enjoy life 65% or 75% of the time, but not all the time. i think the pressures of life, relationship drama, money issues, career stuff, kids and other responsibilities seem to (at times) suck the joy out of life. when you look at the life of Christ, it is obvious that He joyfully kept moving forward (and doing God’s will) regardless of the circumstances He faced. Jesus never had a bad day. i think He saw each day as a gift - as an opportunity to enthusiastically reach people and change lives. i’m convinced that the joy He had is what gave Him the strength to love and lift others everywhere He went.
“The joy of God is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:10b (MSG). where do we get the joy of God? the answer is revealed in Psalm 16:11, “In Your presence is fullness of joy…” taking time in the secret place (anywhere when it is just you and God) everyday is what allows God’s Spirit to fill us with joy and to infuse inner strength into us. when this life ends and all the pressures and challenges we have to deal with quickly fade away, we hope to hear, “well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of our Lord.” why not go ahead and enter into that joy right now! take a minute and cast every care, weight and anxiety on God. ”God is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.” I peter 5:7 (msg).
“the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 13:52. ask God to fill you up with joy, ask him to help you to start enjoying life. ”but the fruit of the Spirit is… JOY!” galatians 5:22. ”my brother and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy.” james 1:2. everyday is a day that God has made and He tells us to rejoice and be glad in it. we all have days when nothing seems to go our way, but if we choose to respond joyfully, no matter how bad it gets - we can always enjoy life and trust that God is in control.
i pray that you start enjoying life regardless of what you are having to face in your life right now. may God fill you with joy and grant you unlimited strength.