Weekly Message / Prayer Request

Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship

“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.” Psalm 63:3,4 NKJV


“What is the value of your life?”

During my daily devotions with the Lord these past few weeks, I have been considering this age-old question. Each person I am sure would have a very different answer if you were asked this question, with many of the answers probably being rather deep and philosophical.

But today I do not believe the answer is as important then the meaning behind the question. Instead, I believe the Lord desires all Christians to understand why anyone would even ask that question; because at the heart of the question there is almost a currency exchange taking place or the establishment of a value system. And I would love to say that I am the only one who has asked this question, but I also believe each one of ask it to ourselves each and every day…

We ask this question by what we are doing on a Saturday afternoon with sun and the temperatures in the mid-80’s. We ask this question by how we spend our money throughout the week. We ask this question by who we spend time with. And the list could go on-and-on; but essentially there is an exchange which is taking place with time on one side of the scale and our life on the other.

We are in effect saying that my life is worth this much.

In this Psalm (Psalm 63:3,4) David is addressing the question by revealing an answer that shows the value system we are to hold as Christians. For he is not matching his life up with time on the scale; he is matching his life up with God. He is saying that everything in life, when it is set on the scale, can never equal how much God loves each one of us through His mercy, lovingkindness, and grace. When you consider what this means, your life should radically change.

But the world does not understand this value system and continues trying to balance the scale between life and God by filling it with money, material things, activity, people, ect. Life instead becomes a quest of meaning based completely upon the world’s standard. Hollywood becomes the model that many people strive for. Yet the eternity which has been set within our hearts by the Lord in Ecclesiastes 3:11 can only filled by one thing—Jesus Christ.

And Jesus is the gift which has been given to each one of us because of Psalm 63:3. God loves us so much that He has given each one of us eternal life with Him if we only believe (John 3:16).

The Apostle Paul understood this very well and knew how much to value His life when he wrote to the Philippians:

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 NIV

Both Paul and David understood the value system that the world uses is completely rubbish when it comes to understanding the ‘new creation’ which is inside each one of us who believe. For our lives can never be measured by the standards of this world. Instead we must evaluate our lives based upon one standard—God’s eternal design and his ultimate purpose for each one of us.

When we know that the scale is completely tilted in God’s favor and understand that we can never balance the scale through our own endeavors, surrendering to His will is bound to happen. Then by living out the rest of the passage (My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name), we can be mightily used for His glory.

Brothers, let us use the value system God has designed for our lives. Let us pray that all of us can begin to live out the Philippians 1:21 by giving it all to Him. Our lives are worth nothing apart from God and only through Christ can our connection with Him take place. But since this has happened let us know that our lives are now measured by a completely new standard.

Therefore let us praise Him and know how much we are loved by the One who has given us life…

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I look forward to meeting with you on Wednesday at 7:00 pm. We are going to be diving into discipleship during our time in the Word. Please be aware that we are going to be meeting in room C214 which is on the academy side. I look forward to spending time together in the Word, prayer, and fellowship with all of you as we journey together down the road of life…

Mark


Prayer requests

Kelcy – pray for wife and I to continue to do God’s will, pray for the car ministry here at Northshore, pray for Al Moran and a speedy recovery

Steve S – pray that he can continue to find faith in God

Greg – praise God for a beautiful family and continuing to give him so many blessings

Ernie – pray for his wife who is having some pancreas problems and needs healing, pray that he may be able to sell his motor home

David – pray that he is willing to hear the Lord and to know His ultimate purpose for his life

Monte – praise God for a new job that he has been blessed with

Ramon – pray that he will be able to finish all of his taxes, pray that he can receive strength from the Lord

Mark – pray that I can resist temptation to give into the worldly value system, pray for financial discernment as we continue to adjust to our financial situation, pray that this group can continue to walk in the will of the Lord

Tim – pray that he will find out what his health problems are and the best treatment for him

Vince – pray that his wife may do well in an upcoming job interview, pray that she may become encouraged by some recent blessings, pray for Vince and her that they may hear the Lord

***Pray as Northshore begins a new chapter in its ministry to people who desperately needs to hear the gospel message


Continued prayer needs

Gary – pray for sister-in-law who has serious infection in organs, pray for wife Terry who may have to have surgery here in the near future to take care of a serious health issue

Keith – pray that their youngest daughter will be able to do well in college, pray that Nate will be able to find a job

Craig – pray that he will become more diligent in his Bible reading, pray that all pain will be removed someday from his body

Bret – pray for rest, pray for a the right relationship with a girl he recently met

Mike – pray that his interview will go well with the City of Everett

Larry – pray for financial security as he works on building a new house near Arlington

Brett S – pray for a small girl in his wife’s class which had a heart transplant

Carmine – pray that he can find peace with his coworkers

Jeff – pray for more quality time with children and family

Gary Cercone – pray that daughter Jennifer and grandson will receive continued blessings from the Lord

Norman – praise for the health of daughter in dealing with her seizures

Dick – pray for strength in new employment

Joe – pray that his condo may sell and that he may finally be settled here in Mukilteo

Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life


Future Meetings

Wednesday, May 21st, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church in room C214 on the academy side of the church

Wednesday, May 28th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church

Wednesday, June 4th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church


Memory Verse

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:11-12 KJV