Psalm 113 ~ Who is like the LORD our God, Who is seated on high

Psalm 113

David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ Praise the LORD! Praise,
O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD!

² Blessed be the name of the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore!
³ From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the LORD is to be praised!

4 The LORD is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the LORD our God,
who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the LORD!


The year is still New. Ball drop in Time Square... wouldn't it make more sense if the ball went up to the New Year. It makes sense to me. Still .... we should have Expectation for this Year.

If you have a good party, you want to have another one. We are starting again. It was wonderful. With unexpected memories.

Our Church Family started the New Year off this time last year with gathering with 28- 30 Jesus Christ honoring, Bible believing, different denomination Churches in our area for a get together. One of the Pastors said he hoped about 40 people would show up. We thought it would last about two hours & we all stayed past 3 hours with 600 chairs filled and the room overflowing to standing room. More than 700 people in our 220 + Church home. It was one of the most memorable evenings in my Christian faith journey since I was 16 years old.



There was a repeat saying - One of the phrases drawing laughter was the phrase, "All is not right behind the trees." Living in The Woodlands, referred to as 'the bubble', there is a certain pressure to appear to always have our perfection on. To strive, to achieve, to be perfect. Not to be lonely, or worried, or afraid. Church should be the place your real self reaches out to the Living God. Come as you actually are.

Father God has a unique way of using words for His beloved ones. We all could empathize with the emotional needs of an upwardly mobile community - we live here. But we had no way of knowing we would experience amazing sunsets from the worst drought, forest fires seen in recorded history for our area of Texas.

Three of our area, bordering counties - here in Texas - drew fire fighters from all over the USA. The wind can be like tornadoes and a spark can float for many, many feet and start another fire.

One of the most amazing things were the number of homes saved. Sure the walls were marked and scorched. But God Almighty, how the wind didn't carry away so many of the homes. I, personally, attribute this to prayer and the January effort of 30 Churches praying for our community in January of 2011.

So... with that much love in one place and so many hearts touched - we are beginning this celebration again. 21 days of fasting and prayer. Fun huh? Fasting can be lots of different aspects. Clark, our priest, is giving up two of his favorite television shows. Fasting can be missing a meal. Or giving up a food item. Adding exercise into life. Prayer is for the Christian Community or any other thing that moves you.

We, as the Bride of Christ, the Christian Community - did not show up unprepared. Last year we fasted and prayed for 21 days. Let me tell you, after our praying group prayed for all of the Pastors by name and the Churches and the parents and the children - I think that our Deacon Lisa and Karen and I were just about like the ink blot tests, because finally prayer just becomes a mind wandering to pray. Not a bad prayer conversation - I know it blessed me.

This year - the party is bigger. Each Wednesday will be a different Church gathering together to pick up momentum for the Big Sunday Night 21 days from now. And a Thursday night covered dish. And like last year, this will not be any newspaper or television show. I asked Clark why and he said the media draws too much negative attention. This is purely for the joy of honoring Jesus.

Why tell you this? This isn't a secret event, if you went to these 30 Churches you'd hear of it. This is your New Year. Expectation. Hope. Faith. Love. Join us. Wherever you are. Believers are the Body of Jesus Christ. Look up to Him.



Revelation 19:6

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns."

MIDWEEK WEDNESDAY WORSHIP SERVICES

for the next three weeks

ONE MISSION

is worshiping together

7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at these locations:

January 11th

at The Church at Alden Bridge

January 18th

at HopePointe

January 25th

at Faith Bible Church

ONE MISSION

21 DAYS OF PRAYER AND FASTING

January 09 - 29th

Join Christ-honoring congregations in the greater Woodlands area

in 21 Days of prayer and fasting for a "consecration process" in our region.

The prayer and fasting is for "committing ourselves to His purposes"

and "walking in the fullness of His Spirit" in three areas:

Our Personal Lives

The One Church in Our Area

Reaching Our Community for Christ

A guide and devotional available at One-Mission.net

COMMUNITY-WIDE WORSHIP SERVICE

January 29th at 6:00 p.m.

at WoodsEdge Community Church

Hallelujah - Alleluia - Michael W. Smith. So beautiful, quiet and sincere.

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