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The Best Joys are Unexpected Perhaps the greatest joy is the unexpected joy. Consider our celebration of someone’s birthday or Christmas; as we labor to pick out just the right present for those we love, do we not consider not only what they would like, but also what would be totally unexpected? Consider…

Ruth accompanied a despairing Naomi home to Bethlehem out of a strong bond of loyalty. She did not expect anything from the move. Yet she gained a protector and a son, and even a place in the ancestry of the savior of the world! What pleasant surprises have we had in our own new beginnings?

Scene 1: Being caught by surprise is very unsettling. Whether it be physically, Emotionally, Or Intellectually! When Matthew was in his early teens he decided it would be a good idea to try and sneak up on people and scare them. Where we lived at the time there was a space outside the bathroom door that…

When God acts, praise is multiplied and response is expected.

The unexpected events surrounding Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem cause us to wrestle with the question, "Am I willing to follow a God who works in unexpected ways?"

The Victorious life that God intends for you is evidence that the Spirit of God is in control.

The Christmas story is about journeys. We know this to be true. It starts with Mary and Joseph heading to Bethlehem. The Magi come and journey for probably up to 2 years to see the Christ. Yet, if I am honest this is where I see things essentially stopping. The Christmas journey is over. Christmas ends…

8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” Life is characterized by unexpected…

“the annointed one, the leader appointed by God to carry out the special mission of redemption and liberation.” - Millard J. Erickson Three questions this text will answer: What is the source of our help? What is this King like? What will a world under the hand of God’s blessing look like? There shall…

God’s way often surprises us - but leads to victory Intro me Last week, Ed helped us see that Jesus declares himself greater than great King David, greater than the Holy Temple, greater even than the Sabbath, that central feature of Jewish identity. He’s making some serious claims - it almost feels like…

Are you ready for the unexpected? In John 5, two groups encounter the unexpected when Jesus drops into their lives. How often does Jesus do the same to us, does it matter, and does it help to try to be ready for Him? (Spoiler: yes, yes, and yes.)

1 Thessalonians 5:1- 9 / Day of the Lord 1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,”…

The mystery of the gospel can sometimes seem a little blurry when life throws a lot at us; the Bible reminds us how to find our focus back again.

Unbreakable When Your World Is Shaken Up Thriving No Matter What They Throw at You We’re going to start this journey with just three simple suggestions today. We’ll get into the actual life of Daniel next week. This sets up the theme for the entire series. First suggestion when your life is thrown into…

The End of Something Old, the start of something New Holiday reflections - what do I want to leave behind? What do I want to sow into my life this year? How does this fit with our life together in TPP? Is it too little, too late? The end of last year we seemed to face obstacle after obstacle with getting…

Ten Virgins Before we get into Matthew 25 , I want us to look at a similar event where it was not just a parable. Turn with me to Genesis 6 . 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord…

Jesus has a family tree that goes all the way back to Abraham.  There are a few unexpected characters along the way.  The first one we meet is Tamar.

The rough road 6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. 8 And David became…

During our Tuesday morning prayer, I encourage us to seek the moving of the Holy Spirit to impart to the Body a Word — something we need to hear. We have had many good Words to guide us, encourage us and challenge us. This past Tuesday morning Hector and Madeline Rivera were with us in prayer just before…

Expectations That Can Cause Us to Stumble Expectations — we all have them. Christmas Day and receiving certain gifts. Year-end bonus All family members coming together for Christmas. We all have expectations that things will happen in a certain manor, or that life will go a certain way. The people of…

1 One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord . But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.” 2 “What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you…

With the rapid changing of times. The new age movement being introduced into the churches today. The idea that feelings trump knowledge. The idea’s that all paths lead to God. Our rapidly degrading view of the character of God. It is important that we heed the warning set before us by our Lord and savior.…

The prophets speak of God’s peace NOT as rest which comes apart from our places of wilderness, BUT as rest that comes even within our places of wilderness.

A journey can have surprises. Unexpected events which are inspirational. It might be a veiw that was far better than you imagined it would be. It might be an unexpected encounter with a magnificant example of God’s creation. It might be listening to the story of an inspiring person whom you just meet…