Emotional, Physical and Spiritual Healing

"Good morning. How's everyone doing?" Pastor Brad welcomed us and shared a little but about the Ash Wednesday service and the theme for this time of Lent. Lent is forty days, and traditionally a time of new beginnings. The overarching theme is one of healing. There is so much brokenness in the world. It's not just out there but in here as well. What will it take to heal us so we can move forward in our faith walk.

It can be any number of things that hold us back, but what we have is Jesus who promises to make all things new. Brad's prayer for each of us is healing not only now but all through Lent.

Announcements
Next Sunday we are having a special dinner for the contractors who worked on our church. It's our way of saying Thank You.

The quartet opened with Led By The Master's Hand by Mosie Lister. Brad asked for God to bless our gather and we continued with singing. "There's victory in Jesus, my Savior forever." We proceeded to sing choruses from the blue songbook and then took the offering while the quartet raised our spirits with a rousing "Heaven On My Mind."

Susan Jessico called the kids to come forward for a special Valentine time. The kids were asked, "How many times is the word Heart used in the Bible?" The kids guessed numbers from 3 to 21 but the correct answer is 570. Hearts have a lot to do with love... and so she asked how many times the word Love is used. The children guessed much closer this time, and the answer was 551. The best expression of love is found in John 3:16.

The needs of our church family were then lifted up in the time of prayer that preceded the message.

Emotional, Physical and Spiritual Healing

The starting point for the sermon was Psalm 109. In verse 22 the psalmist states, "For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me." But the good news is found a few verses later. "I will praise him. For he stands at the right hand of the needy."

Brad outlined the various ways we can be walking wounded, and encouraged us to be aware that we're not alone, neither the first nor the last. The wounds can be a result of many things, including abuse and horrible things we can't imagine.

What Lent is about finding genuine healing. To this end Brad offered is three prayers to make our own.

1st Prayer: "Lord, renew my mind with Your truth." Romans 12:2
There are all kinds of lies we tell ourselves. What is it that holds you back?
Brad led us to Ephesians 4:22-23 where it says, "Be made new in the attitude of your minds."

2nd Prayer: "God, would you restore in me what has been lost?" God specializes in finding what is lost and healing what is broken. Several of Jesus' parables touch this truth. What have you lost? Maybe it's hope that God wants to restore in your life.
Jeremiah 30:17  "But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the Lord,

3rd Prayer: "God would You help me release my offender?" Forgiveness is an essential step in moving forward. "Forgive as the Lord forgave you," says the Scriptures. Until we release the one who hurt us, we are forever linked to that hurt. Carrying our hurts gives us false power so that we feel we have a right to behave badly. Holding a grudge against those who hurt you only hurts you more.

Whatever the offense, we have to let it go.

When Jesus was on the cross, and the world had done its worst to Him, he said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Our prayer during Lent this year is that you would find healing during this time. Let go of your wound, lay it down at the foot of the cross. Allow God to show up and do what only He can do.

A Take Home Truth

Well, it's Super Bowl Sunday, and even though we're Northern Minnesotans, there's quite a bit of Orange here this morning. Why? Because a lot of people who love Brooke want to show their support for her inasmuch as her roots are in Colorado. The abundance of orange jerseys will not distract us from why we're gathered here. It is a vivid and bright color, like joy.

Susan Jessico took a minute to share a pair of special gifts for Brooke and Brad for today. For Brooke Susan had an orange ball that she could bounce off the walls so that Brooke wouldn't have to bounce off the walls. Susan also brought orange and blue bottles of Gatorade for the congregation to use. When Pastor Brad makes a point today, we were encouraged to pour Gatorade over his head.

This week we'll be celebrating the beginning of Lent with an Ash Wednesday worship service at 6:30 preceded by a dinner at 6:00 p.m. There will be no kids club, though Youth Group will still meet.

Brad and Gail Carlson led our singing this morning, beginning with the classic How Great Thou Art. We then sang Here I Am To Worship, Cornerstone and For You Are Good.

After the offering and a time of prayer we listened to Brad deliver the message.

A Take Home Truth

Succeeding in the big things has a lot more to do with our succeeding in the little things... our thoughts and words and actions.

"My one point is this," Pastor Brad stated, "If you want to accomplish the big things people see, it all boils down to the little things no one sees."

The good news is that it's not big changes that enable us to do big things. It's the small things that make all the difference.

Small things make a big difference. It may be your walk with Christ, or your relationship with your spouse, or fulfilling your life purpose.... God can help you see the way, and it will be little things that take you there.

Brad directed us to Zachariah 4 to bring home his message before we entered into communion.

"Not by might, nor by strength but by My Spirit, says the Lord."

After the message the congregation shared the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.