futuregrace

Apr 17, 2012

Support Zach Lutz ^{0}

One of our Redeemer children, Zach Lutz will be an Intern with BEAMM (Border Evangelism And Mercy Ministry) this summer. BEAMM is a subgroup of our denominations missions organization MTW (lots of initials thrown around this one is Mission to The World).

I asked him to make a video that gives a little info about what he’ll be doing this summer and how you can help. You can watch the video below and you can visit his website, http://zalutz.blogspot.com to stay up to date with how to pray for him as well as how to give financial support to him.

I expect this summer Internship will be a huge benefit for Kingdom ministry on the border as Zach ministers. I also believe this will do wonders for training and preparing Zach for wherever God leads him to preach the Gospel. If you can pray (and you can) please look at Zach’s request and pray. If you can give anything financially at all please visit his site and click on the donate button.

By futuregrace Category: Feature, Serving, Youth Personal

Apr 17, 2012

Mary or Martha? ^{0}

Luke 10:38–42 tells us about an interaction between Jesus and the Martha and Mary. It should give us some understanding about priorities in life. Give it a read.

“ Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.””

Last night Beckham had a game he learned at school/church about Mary and Martha he wanted to teach us. The game worked like this. I held the Bible and prepared to read God’s Word. Beckham and Sadie Piper and Berkley wandered about. When I said Mary they would stop and star listening to me with the Bible. When I said Martha they would run around frantically cleaning things (pretending). It was bit like red light, green light.

The game was great because it helped them to understand that for Martha the priority was doing things, cooking, cleaning, her focus was on stuff. For Mary her focus was on Jesus. Now I don’t believe this is an excuse to abandon responsibilities. It wouldn’t glorify God if you just sat around reading Scripture and praying while your house and homework wasted away.

However, it does cause us to ask the question. Am I more concerned with my todo list today or my Savior? Would I rather have a spotless clean house or a heart of joy having spent time with God in His Word? A simple question, but the way each of us answer it will more than likely not be so simple.

So what will it be today? More busy schedules full of soccer games, homework, plays, shopping until you collapse in exhaustion or a little slowness as you sit and soak in the Scriptures? Wil it be Mary or Martha?

Well, I can’t help but already feel guilty on this one as I rush to post this and run off to complete my todo list for the day.

By futuregrace Category: Devotional, The Clover Patch

Apr 16, 2012

Junior High Sunday School Session 7 Devotional ^{0}

This Quarter Chip Prins is leading the Junior High Sunday School Class through a study called Knowing The God Who Is. Included in this study are weekly devotional helps. I’ll post these the week leading up to Sunday School. Please encourage your son or daughter to work through these, even better work through these with your son or daughter.

SESSION 7
Q. How is marriage like Christ’s relationship to the church?
A. Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her. Marriage is designed to reflect that relationship.

Read the following Bible passages and answer the questions. (You may not have answers for every question).

1 John 3:1–3

How does God show his love for me?
What does God promise?
How am I to love others?

1 John 3:16–18
How does God show his love for me?
What does God promise?
How am I to love others?

1 John 4:7–12
How does God show his love for me?
What does God promise?
How am I to love others?

1 John 4:13–18
How does God show his love for me?
What does God promise?
How am I to love others?

1 John 4:19–21
How does God show his love for me?
What does God promise?
How am I to love others?

Just how much does Jesus love you?
Make a list of all the ways you know that God loves you.

By futuregrace Category: Devotional, Feature, For Parents, Junior High, Sunday School

Apr 14, 2012

2012 HCA Junior/Senior Banquet ^{0}

Here is a slide show of pictures from the 2012 HCA Junior Senior Banquet. You can see all the photos here as well if you don’t like slide show things.

By futuregrace Category: Event, Heritage, Photos

Apr 13, 2012

Indelible Grace & RUF Video ^{0}

This is a cool video that gives a feel for the Reformed University Fellowship hymns as they have developed in recent history. Great hymns put to singable tunes.

By futuregrace Category: Feature

Apr 11, 2012

Lady Jane Grey & Psalm 51 ^{0}

This Sunday I get to preach God’s Word to God’s people at Redeemer. In my reading recently I enjoyed Psalm 51 so much that I decided to preach this text. As I researched it yesterday I learned about a 17 year old girl in church history named Lady Jane Grey. So what does she have to do with Psalm 51? I’ll tell you.

She was the daughter of Henry the VII, she was married at age 15 to a boy who was also 15 named Lord Guildford Dudley. When he became ill and lay dying he changed his will and left the throne of England to Lady Jane Grey. She was a devout protestant and corresponded with the well known reformer Heinrich Bullinger.

It gets confusing at this point, lots of Marys, Elizabeths, Henrys, Thomas, Charles and other British Royal inbreeding names get involved. Jane becomes Queen for 9 days. During this time the Catholic “Bloody Mary” manages to get the throne from her and has her convicted of high treason which called for her to choose her punishment between the two options of burning at the stake or beheading.

She choose beheading. Jane’s executioner asked for her forgiveness before hand and she granted it. She gave a short speech proclaiming her innocence and before her death she recited Psalm 51, “Have Mercy upon me, Oh God.”

At 17 years her life was taken and while it seems a tragedy we know that she was with Jesus Christ immediately after this and remains with Him now and for all eternity. I’m am thankful for the Mercy of God in the Gospel of Christ.

Here is another artist concept of the execution.

By futuregrace Category: Devotional, Feature

About Brian Hough

Posts by Brian Hough:

Support Zach Lutz ^{0}

Mary or Martha? ^{0}

Junior High Sunday School Session 7 Devotional ^{0}

2012 HCA Junior/Senior Banquet ^{0}

Indelible Grace & RUF Video ^{0}

Lady Jane Grey & Psalm 51 ^{0}

Clover Patch Devotional

LInks

Links

Recent Photos

About Brian Hough

Posts by Brian Hough:

Support Zach Lutz {0}

Mary or Martha? {0}

Junior High Sunday School Session 7 Devotional {0}

2012 HCA Junior/Senior Banquet {0}

Indelible Grace & RUF Video {0}

Lady Jane Grey & Psalm 51 {0}

Clover Patch Devotional

LInks

Links

Recent Photos

Categories

Support Zach Lutz ^{0}

Mary or Martha? ^{0}

Junior High Sunday School Session 7 Devotional ^{0}

2012 HCA Junior/Senior Banquet ^{0}

Indelible Grace & RUF Video ^{0}

Lady Jane Grey & Psalm 51 ^{0}