Good afternoon!

In case you missed it last week, or are searching for some mid-week encouragement, here is a recap of the songs we sang this past Sunday, along with some of the scriptures that inform them! Also included today is a New Song Highlight: Center My Life. 

We hope you are refreshed by the truths that you hear and read below.

New Song Highlight: Center My Life  

Below is an exerpt from an article by Jon Dansby, discussing the story and heart behind this song...
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The Bible gives us a vision of heaven:

“And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’” (Revelation 5:13 ESV)

The Christian life has many aims: joyful living, missional witness, sacrificial giving, living in purity and holiness, loving others, keeping God’s commandments, etc. Yet all of these are but a reflection of our highest duty and joy—worshiping the Lord Jesus as the most beautiful, powerful, and glorious Person, as the Center.

Theologian Jonathan Edwards shows us that to discover our greatest purpose we must look where our faith exists in its highest and purest form, in heaven:

The way to learn the true nature of anything is to go to where that thing is to be found in its purity and perfection. If we would know the nature of true gold we must view it, not in the ore, but when it is refined. If we would learn what true religion is, we must go where there is true religion, and nothing but true religion, and in its highest perfection, without any defect or mixture. —Jonathan Edwards, “The Religious Affections,” 43

Heaven is the place of the truest religion, nothing but true religion, in its perfection, without defect or mixture. In heaven seeing Jesus, singing of His love, and growing in the knowledge of Him is the constant occupation. He is the Center. All else exists to glorify Him as the Lamb who was slain. On earth as in heaven, everything finds its proper place when Jesus is the Center.

To continue reading about Center My Life, click here. 
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Come To The Water 

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1)

Found In You

One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:25-26)

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8)

White Flag

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (Romans 12:1-5 ESV)

I Surrender

I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)