I had a couple ask for the notes from the sermon yesterday

Our Response to God

1. God’s Revelation of Himself on the Throne

2. God’s Direction to Fear Him Alone

3. God’s Invitation to Call Him Dad

4. The Gap between Fear and Father
a. Two Motivating Factors
i. Fear
ii. Love

5. God’s River
a. Life
b. Healing

6. Our Response

Isaiah 32

¹Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice.
² Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.
³ Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention.
⁴The heart of the hasty will understand and know, and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly.

1. We are part of the River
a. By God’s power
b. In God’s direction
c. Accomplishing His purpose
d. For His Glory

2.We don’t control the River
a. His power
b. His direction
c. His purpose
d. His glory

3. We can simply choose to be in His current

Isaiah 58
¹"Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet;declare to my people their transgression,
to the house of Jacob their sins.
² Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw
near to God.
³ 'Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?' Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.
⁴Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.
⁵ Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?

1. His Current/Intention is not to create:
a. religious people v 1-2
b. self helpers v 3-4
c. mournful/emotional followers v 5-6

⁶"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

⁷Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house;when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

2. His Current/Intention is to create:
a. free people v 6
b. selfless givers v 7
c. authentic followers v 7

⁸ Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. ⁹Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, ¹⁰ if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. ¹¹And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
¹² And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.

First Day of First Grade

A New Era

I haven't written in a while. Let's just say things have been a little bit busy! Not the kind of busy that leaves you frustrated and worn out but instead the kind of busy that leaves you absolutely grateful to have been alive!

February 9, 2011 was an amazing day in Branson, MO. As ten inches of snow fell in sheets, covering the ground, Mikala and I found ourselves driving to the hospital shortly after our doctor had succinctly said, "Let's get to the hospital. You're going to have a baby today." We drove through the snow. . . Mikala in shock and myself more nervous to drive in snow than ever before. It was a tender point in time full of expectation and the kind of depth of emotion that is etched into your mind for life. What a strange blessed moment! That evening Kiley Maks King finally greeted the world face to face. She had already become such a blessing in our lives, but to see her was a magnificent moment! It was just the beginning of many beautiful times as we have now seen her develop these six months, each day more amazed at the blessing God has chosen to place in our lives.

It is funny how God chose to orchestrate the time just after Kiley came. February 20th, I found myself doing something that I thought would never happen, I was announcing to fbcBranson that though I would still be on staff with them that my role as youth pastor would be coming to an end. Instead I would be serving as pastor for Ozark Mountain Community Church where God had called me to lead. We started our journey with OMC March 6 and have been amazed to see God's movement there as well.

I have smiled many times when I think of the two major changes in our lives. I must admit that I have seen similarities in the two circumstances. I have been desperate for my Father to teach and lead me in areas that I had no experience. I have also been blessed to see His guidance and faithfulness at each new turn. Just as in the life of our child our church has seen growth physically, spiritually, and emotionally. At the same time I have continually grown as a pastor, to Him be the glory!

Yes these last few months have been a remarkable blessing. The kinds of times that leaves me completely overwhelmed yet absolutely confident that I am secure in the palm of my Father's hand. Thank you all for your prayers. May God be glorified as we continue to mature in Him.