Today’s post is going to be super short.
I helped cater a wedding for a sweet couple who are recent graduates from Rhema.
In the process I:
It was hard work, but I enjoyed every minute. Getting to be a part of someone’s special day was neat.
The Nacho Social was awesome! It was nacho average social. 😛
Sorry…couldn’t resist the pun…
I enjoyed floating around and talking with different groups of folks.
You can’t make it around the whole church auditorium during fellowship times but you can easily walk around the cafe!
Besides eating some yummy nachos (and drinking a Dr. Pepper and a Coke. No judgment, okay?) I had the opportunity to help clean up.
It takes many hands to feed a big church–and many hands to help clean up, too.
I met a really fun group of volunteers, which made clean up time go faster.
This Sunday was busy with morning worship, nursing home ministry, serving as a camera op, and ending with the social.
All in all, it was a great beginning to the week.
I love when a prayer is answered in an unexpected way.
Tonight I stumbled upon a community of Christians who are living out the principles the Lord is asking me to more closely examine.
Their hospitality is downright refreshing.
I look forward to further connecting with this group and the larger ministry as a whole.
And the coolest part is that they meet on Friday nights, so it doesn’t interfere with my involvement at Rhema Bible Church.
The body of Christ at large is doing great things.
I enjoy connecting with different churches and parachurch ministries because it broadens my perspective.
A narrow viewpoint, to me, is one of the biggest killers of unity.
Just like God’s plans are bigger than us, so is His body as a whole. The idea that I’m a small, yet vital, part of the body of Christ, His hands and feet on earth, truly humbles me.
And to think there are many members of the body and God knows us all personally?
One more reason to add to my list of why God is awesome.
I got to run camera for the first time today. The media department didn’t really teach me to swim–they just threw me into the pool!Â
And it was awesome!
I observed Sunday morning and evening. Someone showed me the basics of how to run the camera before the evening service, but that was it.Â
Today the supervisor walked me through step by step–through my headphones–how to set up the different kinds of shots.
What was strange was to look up at the big screens and see that my shot could be seen by everyone…
Whoa!Â
Plus, I did a lot of zoom shots (kind of like panoramic action shots) which was seen by everyone on watching online.Â
I look forward to learning more and more about running camera because it’s a valuable skill that helps ministries get the gospel message spread around the world.
Remember what I told you a few days ago?Â
I’m not against the use of technology in the church.
Just go to church and get involved yourself!Â
Then listen to podcasts and watch the sermons again on YouTube.
I listen to teachings all the time at work. And today I paid particular attention to the quality of the video and the kind of shots being used.Â
Kinda cool to think that one day a sermon that I helped record will be online for someone else to watch.
No one will know it was me who helped, but I’ll know. God will know, too, which is all that matters anyway.Â
This Sunday was a Sunday of firsts.
Getting plugged in as a volunteer is a great way to get to know and to serve your church family.
Maybe there are not a lot of opportunities to serve in your most favorite areas, but I encourage you to not be a pew sitter.
Get involved.
I think, for me, this is the biggest reason that staying home and watching a live streamed church service is not my thing.
Of course, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with live streaming church–hear me out, okay?
I simply question saying you’re a member of such and such church when all you do is tune in online.
For instance, I know of a couple who are “members” of a church that is at least 2 states away…
You can’t be involved from 2 states away.
There are 50 trillion churches in Oklahoma (only a slight exaggeration).
They can’t find one church to connect with?
Once again, I’m not against live streaming church nor am I against posting the video or audio of church services online.
Not everyone can physically go to church or have a church come to them like Rhema’s nursing home outreach provides to shut ins.
But what about us who can walk out the door and go to any church we like?
Is online church the best option?
There’s just something about showing up…
In a world that is so disconnected, showing up is powerful.
Coming home to my apartment is still a bit surreal.
I live here…Cool!
This weekend I hope to have some friends over because hospitality is a big deal to me.
I look around and can already tell this is a place where truth and grace and peace and fun (can’t forget the fun!) will be in abundance.
Do you know that you already have enough?
There’s nothing stopping you from being hospitable and friendly.
There’s nothing stopping you from sharing the gospel and befriending in your neighbors.
Nothing except you.
The list of supposed limitations we place on ourselves doesn’t match up with what the Bible says.
Christians are a people blessed with all spiritual blessings. God’s given us access to the best of everything!
Rhema Bible Church’s motto is “Living Life Unlimited.”
Do you know of a better way to live?
Unlimited.
Free.
Called.
Equipped.
Don’t just talk about the good life–live it!
Fahrenheit 451 is one of my favorite books because it highlights the importance of reading.
Bradbury said, “You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.”
At the end of Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag finds the Book People whose entire purpose is to preserve books by memorizing them, becoming a living book.
Ms. Lynette asked us earlier in the week how much Word was hidden in our hearts.
God could’ve chosen any medium to express himself, but He chose a book.
I don’t think many of us understand or even think of the significance of reading enough.
Sure, I enjoy reading different genres of literature–reading is my favorite thing to do–but Father God expressed His will for us in a book…
We need to read the Bible!
Jesus said, “Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the Father” (Matt. 4:4).
In Fahrenheit 451, the Book People’s goal was to be a living book. Their whole existence was wrapped up in remembering their books.
What a great parallel for us as Christians!
We should know the Word enough that we’re living Bibles–walking, talking testaments of God.
And Christians have it even better than Bradbury’s Book People because the Holy Spirit lives within us and one of His jobs is to remind us of the Bible’s truths!
I carried the Peruvian flag tonight during the Parade of Flags.
It’s amazing the reach Rhema has around the world!
Brother Hagin was given a charge by the Lord to “Go teach my people faith.”
Rhema Bible Training College is a fulfillment of that charge to take the gospel to all of the world!
Brother Hagin knew he couldn’t do it alone. This would be something that would continue after his death.
Hundreds of schools and thousands of graduates later, Rhema is going strong!
And the gospel is being proclaimed throughout the world.
It’s amazing how one man’s willingness to obey God has made such an impact…
Here’s my question to you:
Is your vision big enough?
Or do you try to limit God by saying, “This can’t be done”?
Of course, nothing can be done alone, but God’s not asking us to do all these things by ourselves.
God’s asking you to have faith and to leave the rest up to Him.
Pastor Hagin prayed for several international directors tonight.
He spoke words of encouragement and change from the Lord. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for those regions!
This time of edification is necessary because of the times. Our world is not a tame, safe place to live.
My friends, Jesus is coming back.
This is not a hell, fire, and brimstone message. It’s simply the truth, but I want to point out something:
Hell is a real place and the punishment for not accepting the free gift of salvation is not just an embellished scare tactic used by Christians to “convert” you to Christianity.
I put convert in quotations because Christianity is more about a relationship with God than anything else.
Like I said before, Jesus is coming back!
He’s waiting on his cue from Father God to take the church up to Heaven with Him. And Father God is waiting as long as possible because it’s His desire for all to be saved.
So, the reason the Rhema family is talking about taking a stand for the truth is simple:
Rhema’s mission is Jesus’ mission. We want to spread the gospel through all the world and see many come to know Christ.
The gospel will be confirmed by signs, miracles, and wonders. The Holy Spirit’s power accompanies the message we carry!
Jesus scolded the religious leaders of the day for not understanding the times. Therefore, I’d say the church needs to understand the times as well.
As Ms. Lynette said this morning, “This is the season of declaration.”
Why do we need to declare?
Because Jesus is coming soon and the world needs to hear the message.
The world is here at Rhema!
Winter Bible Seminar Day 1 was a success.
Pastor Hagin and Ms. Lynette preached on strongholds being broken and our authority as believers over every dominion of darkness.
Wow!
Talk about a powerful word from God…
We came together today as a family to pray with and for each other as chains fell off.
Fears are gone.
Strongholds are broken!
We needed to be reminded of these powerful, yet fundamental messages on authority because our school and church is reaching the nations.
Places where you have to stand strong and assured of your authority because the missionaries are literally carrying the light into darkness.
I’m so thankful to be a part of a school that has such reach around the world and that brings the family back together to encourage each other.
This is only Day 1, so I can’t wait to see what the rest of the week has in store!
audra gayle 