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2019 |
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Christmastide - Wednesday, January 1, 2025 |
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Scripture: Matthew 11:28 (NIV) – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Message: Life can often feel like a symphony, a complex arrangement of notes, rhythms, and melodies that come together to create a unique composition. Each person’s life story is filled with dynamic movements – some lively and exhilarating, others slow and contemplative. Just like a piece of music, our experiences ebb and flow, transitioning from crescendos of joy to adagios [slow tempos] of sorrow. In this grand symphony of life, the pauses – those moments of rest – are just as vital as the notes themselves. In music, rest signifies a pause in sound, a moment where the listener can reflect on what has been played. It allows melodies to breathe and creates space for contemplation. Likewise, in our lives, rest is essential. It provides us with the peace we need to process our experiences, recharge, and prepare for the next movement. Without these moments of stillness, we might find ourselves overwhelmed, unable to appreciate the beauty of our journey. Matthew 11:28 invites us to come to Jesus when we feel weary and burdened. He offers us rest – not just physical respite, but a deep sense of peace that transcends our circumstances, allowing us to find solace in His presence. It is in these moments of rest that we can reflect on our life’s symphony, recognizing the highs and lows, the joys and challenges, and how they have shaped us. Imagine a musician who plays tirelessly without pause. Eventually, fatigue sets in, and the quality of their performance declines. Similarly, when we push ourselves without rest, we can lose sight of our purpose and the joy that life offers. We become weary and burdened, missing out on the beautiful harmonies that surround us. As we navigate the symphony of our lives, let us remember the importance of rest. Seek out those moments of quiet where we can sit in God’s presence, reflect, and recharge. Whether through prayer, music, or simply enjoying nature, let’s experience the peace that comes from resting in Him as an essential component of our life’s journey. Let His peace envelop us, allowing our life’s symphony to play on with renewed strength and joy. Prayer: Dear Lord, Help me to embrace the significance of these pauses, and remember that by coming to Jesus, we can find the rest that our soul longs for. Amen. Lance and Tamara Alexander |
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Thursday, March 3, 2022 Do Not Love The World by Lance |
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Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17 (ESV) – “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” Message: Recently I have noticed the increasing time I give to my phone, television and/or other media devices that connect me to the world. On reading the verses from 1 John, it became clear that this Lenten season was a perfect time to address this issue. Tamara and I spend our evenings putting our kids to bed and then retreat to the internet via the television or phone. In some cases simultaneously! This is why we bring this Lenten message. We are changing these media moments to connect with God through prayer. Praying out loud and often. In a world that creates images to promote responses through likes and loves, God calls us to quiet our spirit and become open to His will. The Scripture is relevant to the ever-changing personal struggles of the modern world. We are addicted to our media technologies! Images of humankind separating their minds from their surroundings can be seen everywhere. We see recurrent heartache, pain, struggle and the world teetering on the edge of chaos. The inter-generational divide that is creating a spiritual war, will become the world’s standard for social norms. Modern day “Pharisees” control the social norms and standards from platforms throughout social media. GOD is asking us to put our phones down, and our TVs and computers away, and return to Him through our conscious prayer, seeking His will. People say that once something is on the internet it is there forever, but even social media will not outlast the glory and promise we receive in His word. Prayer: Lord, teach me to surrender my pride and desire and seek Your truth and will. Remove pride from my heart. Teach me to do Your will in my daily work so that I may abide with You forever. Thank You for the opportunity to help me change. Change that will last forever. I long to be in Your forever design. Amen. Lance Alexander |
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Tuesday, March 10, 2020 Building The Body Of Christ by Lance and Tamara |
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Scripture: Matthew 6:1-8 (NIV) – “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." Message: In a world that sets media and fashion trends as the standard, people who have achieved fame and success are often acknowledged for what they do to help the world. Media communication is constant, in multiple formats. Jesus asks us to put down our trends, and focus on His actions. The world seeks personal gain and satisfaction. Whereas Jesus' teachings show us the way for H is world.In Matthew 6:1-8 Jesus instructs us how to follow Him and act in a world that constantly changes its moral standards. Jesus is FOREVER; His mission stays the same. How do we act as members of his church? He calls us to seek His will and not seek praise from others. Jesus shows us how to pray and what is required to be in communion with Him. God knows that all are in need and that each person will move closer or farther from Him depending on how we act. He provides His “action guidelines” for building His church. It is hard to trust the media, but it is not difficult to close your eyes and pray. Prayer: Heavenly Father, give us strength and courage to be like You. Help us to resist the temptation to judge others and turn us to prayer and humility. We ask that You guide our hearts and minds. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Lance and Tamara Alexander |
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Monday, June 1, 2020 - "The Connection" Series by Tamara and Lance |
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Scripture: Psalm 139:1-24 (NIV) – “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar…. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Please read the entire text in your Bible)Message: When we are born, all precautions are taken to ensure that life will be sustained. We aren’t given the choice to decline that experience. We often find ourselves seeking purpose. Finding “purpose” is the other half of our mission. We know Christ wants us to spread His word. How can we develop our SPIRIT with all the chaos to which we are subjected, through media and publicity. Answers can be hard to find. Using your gifts to build the body of Christ is the purpose God is seeking. Why am I here? How am I here? Where should I go? In Psalm 139, David uses the role of the primary musician to express the human experience in a complete and artistic way. The beauty of the text gives us a complete understanding of the human role and purpose. God paints the entire picture of time through David’s meaningful writing. He was able to share this with you and me! Even in the future! The world is set on addressing conflicts of the physical body. The Body of Christ is set on addressing the conflicts of the Spirit. The mission to pass Christ along is for fellowship of the Spirit, that we may be brought into the presence of God. If we focus our prayers on Godly Wisdom and conflict resolution we will see His works through faith. The verses so eloquently depict every human experience in life. We are called to work for the Spirit, so that we may experience the transformative powers of Jesus Christ. As we enter the unknown future, let our lives be our prayer. Prayer: Father, lead us into the future with no doubt of our purpose, so that we may be Your vessel of love and truth. Give us Your blessing to carry the banner of love and pass Christ to everyone we come into contact with. Please let the verses of Psalm 139 bring me peace. Accept my future as Your Will for Your bigger picture of my purpose. In Your name we pray. Amen. Tamara and Lance Alexander |
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Saturday, July 18, 2020 - "The Connection" Series by Alisa |
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Scripture: 1 Samuel 7:12 (NIV) – “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mishap and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’”Message: During this time of worry and confusion, I’d like to share some thoughts about my favorite hymn, “Come, Thou Fount.” This hymn is a great reminder of the grace, mercy and sufficiency of God. He is alive, active and engaged with us every day if we just call out to Him. He is not an inactive or faraway God, but actively moving and speaking to us as He pursues us with His grace and mercy. The first verse says: “Come thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing your grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.” I love that idea. The image of the mercy of God, like a stream of water that never stops but is always flowing and available to us, available to cover our brokenness; refreshing our heart and soul. Are you experiencing the mercy of God today? May it be like a stream of water refreshing your soul. The second verse says: “Here I raise my Ebenezer; by your help I’m come.” That refers to 1 Samuel when the Israelites were fighting the Philistines. The Israelites were anxious and nervously crying out to God. As Samuel was offering a prayer asking God to deliver the Israelites, God confused the Philistines and allowed Israel to defeat them. Samuel made a stone memorial, naming it “Ebenezer” which meant, “the Lord helped us”. During this season, let us look back and see our own stones that we placed during these uncertain times saying “it was here that God helped us”. God is moving today; He gives us the grace and mercy that we need. This verse goes on to say, “Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; he to rescue me from danger, interposed his precious blood.” I love the picture of God pursuing and seeking us even when we are strangers, wandering from the heart of God yet, He still comes to rescue us. Prayer: Will you allow yourself to stop and be caught by the grace and mercy of God and let it refresh your soul like a stream of water? May this be our prayer today and every day. Amen. Alisa Alexander |
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Wednesday, December 4, 2019 by Lance and Tamara |
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Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV) - "This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means "God with us")'. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave him the name Jesus." Message: Much like Joseph, we often feel like our lives are spinning out of control. We wonder why God puts these trying obstacles in front of us. We have a difficult time seeing past the conflict of today, and believing that although the path may not always be clear, God always provides a way for us. As Christians it is our mission to put our trust in the Lord as Joseph did. In music, sometimes the most beautiful harmony begins with a clash of pitches. This is known as dissonance. The presence of dissonance can act as catalyst for perfect harmony. When the dissonance resolves it can be appreciated and enjoyed! Humbly praying through life's struggles with hope and humility in our hearts for God's resolution is a key part in experiencing our mortal lives. Joseph's struggle to trust in God represents this exact type of dissonance, but the birth of Jesus was the greatest harmony ever written. Prayer: Dear Lord, prepare our hearts to accept all of life's dissonance. In trusting and believing in You we open our hearts to all of the heavenly pitches in Your great design. Amen. Lance and Tamara Alexander |
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