Jesus Paid It All

So today this was the first song we sang in church. This same version. Most people know the hymn, however this is a contemporary version. We have an amazing praise and worship band and today they had the choir perform as well. I was hoping someone would post the video, there were a few people recording it with their phones. It was so moving...if you could have just been there to feel the energy in the room! I couldn't find one from today's service, but I did find this video someone put on You Tube and I must say sometimes actually seeing the words to a song has a bigger impact on me than just hearing a song. I love this version and think it's such a great song to remember as we face the storms that come our way in life.

Today's message was on giving your life over to God, building it on a "foundation of rock". Matthew 7:24-27 says "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

You are betting your marriage, family, children, finances on this foundation. There are storms all over and everyone faces them. What's your foundation? I loved how our pastor gave the example of how convenient (remember this series is on convenience), how convenient and flexible sand is. He talked about how when his little boy sits to play in his sand box the sand conforms to his little bottom. It's very easy, flexible, convenient, it conforms to how YOU want it! But following God isn't about being easy or convenient.

He also compared Spiritual Awakening vs Spiritual Conversion. Many people think they are the same thing... Awakening is realizing what you need, the light goes off, you think "I get it I need to follow God" and many end at that. Spiritual Conversion is giving your life over to God, completely. Words are not enough. It's so very hard sometimes to hand things over to God, especially for me because I like to be in control (shocker huh?). I can say all day long that I love God and that I live a "christian, spiritual" life, but what happens when I'm faced with challenges or what about when we care what others think? That's a big one...every tried to stand on your faith and had people give you a look like your crazy?

After the sermon they held open baptism and over 100 people were baptized. And this was just one out of the three services!! It was so amazing to see these people profess their faith. Remember to turn off the music at the bottom of the page. Enjoy the video!