Let's visit Lincoln's Government

Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth. ~ Abraham Lincoln Here’s the context from a portion of his address at Gettysburg: But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. So people, church... let us live forward with the heart of Lincoln’s words in a message to congress:

And having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear, and with manly hearts.

Post election Victory

Yes - the Hawaii election results were discouraging to me personally. But nationally, conservative politics took liberals by surprise.

Aren't you soooooo Grateful as a child of God, that our security and future rests in God's hands and plans!

Colossians 1:15-20 [niv]

The Supremacy of the Son of God

¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

¹⁷He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Evangelism Calendar

Evangelism Calendar Communication – as of Nov. 2, 2010

• Nov 4 fire by night in OR, John & Lanu, Fred & Jana, Tim, Gaston
• Fri., Nov 5, Sun., Nov 7 – Farrington High T-Shirt Theatre – Let’s rally troops to Support them!
• Fri., Nov 12 – Hoike at Ministry Center
• Sat Nov 13 – Willow Creek Leadership Seminar for our Evangelism leaders/teams
• Sun., Nov 14 – Hawaii Stars - Weinburg Concert of Extraordinary achievement– FHS, approx. 430 or 5pm, Rehearsals form about 3pm
• Thur., Dec 9 – Gift if Hope Charity Concert, FHS
• Dec. 17, Ala Moana Center stage, Point: Lanu Programming
• Dec. 22-24 (W-F), Christmas Eve. Musical Services
• Dec. 25-26, Sat/Sun. Weekend services
• FYI – 5pm service only on Sat., Jan 1. Normal Sunday service schedule on Jan. 2

Cast my Vote

Today in Hawaii, we the people will decide who we want leading our government. No matter what the outcome, Jesus is King, thus my hearts vote is to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength - then to love others as myself.

My prayers are with all those at New Hope who have taken the bold - faith leap running for office in their districts. That they will draw near to God no matter the outcome. Thanks for being a witness of Jesus through your lives!

Let's pray for our leaders, soon to be elected leaders of our state - for God to reach the lost through His church!

Malia's Devotion

I want to share my 14 year old daughters devotion. I hope you are drawn closer to Jesus through this word. I would also like to highlight her "observation." For those of you "diggin' deeper" in God's Word, correct observation can lead you to fruitful application while not taking Scripture out of context. As you read God's Word, remember to always consider the context of the Scripture you are journaling on. Context always leads us to proper observation and determines the meaning of Scripture.

Thanks for sharing your devotions Malia!

November 1, 2010

Malia Shimabukuro

Scripture

And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” Mark 9:28&29

Observation

A father had a son that had an evil spirit in him. The father expecting to find Jesus, see His disciples and transfers his expectations on the disciples, who are learning to represent Jesus. But they could not do it, so when the father sees Jesus he says my son has an evil spirit in him from childhood. I asked your disciples, but they could not do it. And Jesus said to His disciples “O faithless generation…” A problem that people had even the disciples is that they are faithless. Jesus said to the father “All things are possible for the believers.” Immediately he repented and cried out I believe, help my unbelief. And Jesus healed the boy! Later when they went to the house the disciples asked Jesus privately, probably because they were ashamed or embarrassed that they could not cast out the spirit. Jesus said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but PRAYER.” Besides their lack of understanding, the disciples ability to fully carry out their commission from Jesus. This time that they failed is a place for encouragement for more prayer, and more time and effort into prayer. And therefore in closer fellowship with God leads to growth in their faith.

Application

I want to be a woman of God that is always praying. Because in this leads to growth in faith. I do not want to just pray for my food three times a day and that is it. But I want to be a woman of God that is devoted to praying to God about anything and everything. I do not want to be a generation that is of little faith or faithless, but to be courageous and pursuit after what God has called me to do. I do not want to lack understanding, but I want to represent Jesus.

Prayer

Jesus help me have a hear t that believes more firmly. Help me to pray to you daily. Meaning everything with all of my heart, help me to grow in faith. And but time and effort into my prayers. Help me be a part of a generation with so much faith. To do anything because I am a believer of You. I.J.N.A.

Kierra Sheard Invisible with lyrics

Sabbath your soul

How do you live in a way where you are at rest in your soul?

I see, talk to and counsel many of our “yes-hearted” volunteers and leaders, who are serving with great fervor, yet such restlessness in their souls. There’s different reasons why unrest, tension, strife live within our souls. Why do we live with such unrest? Servants of God are burning out, rather than burning with fire of passionate intimacy for Jesus. Could it be that God is calling us to rest?

The rest I need comes from knowing who God is, having God centered desires and living a Christ focused life.

Let these passage simmer in your soul:

Psalms 16:7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,

God is my Lord, counselor, instructor, my foundation whereby I will not be shaken. Who God is, our God centeredness, heart to focus on Jesus, living gratefully unto Him, seeking His counsel before any other counsel, believing and knowing that God is by our side - should be what we choose to live by, and attitudes and confessions of our faith.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Ahhhh...maybe I need NOT strive to being such a productive, fruitful Christian. What I mean is that my disciplines and works towards becoming Christlike and God centered must be the overflow of who Jesus to me in love and grace. His grace is sufficient to me and in me! Maybe I need to rest in my weakness, not try to “self-improve” to the point that I fail to recognize that His power is made perfect in my weaknesses.

Embracing my weaknesses are a bit more difficult for me to do. I’d rather live secure, confident in who I am in Christ. Maybe the strength of my Christian life is resting in who I’m not - by resting in my weakness.

My friends, sabbath your soul finding rest in Jesus!