This coming Sunday we are going to be getting back into our series of teachings on the topic of WORSHIP. This was a series that I started back in June of 2010 and so needless to say, it has been a long time since we have considered this topic of WORSHIP as a church.
Since Pastor Edmund is currently in California supporting his wife and her family, (Martha's mom is in her last stages before going home to be with the Lord.) I will be teaching at our Sunday morning and evening services.
I am personally looking forward to what the Lord will want to do with us (as a church) through this series on WORSHIP. I do ask that you would please be praying for these next weeks as we look into God's Word to see what worship is really all about!
We covet your prayers!
Friday, February 25, 2011
WORSHIP SERIES
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Streams in the Desert - February 24
February 24
Grow in the Gloom
"I have all, and abound" (Phil. 4:18).
In one of my garden books there is a chapter with a very interesting heading, "Flowers that Grow in the Gloom." It deals with those patches in a garden which never catch the sunlight. And my guide tells me the sort of flowers which are not afraid of these dingy corners--may rather like them and flourish in them.
And there are similar things in the world of the spirit. They come out when material circumstances become stern and severe. They grow in the gloom. How can we otherwise explain some of the experiences of the Apostle Paul ?
Here he is in captivity at Rome. The supreme mission of his life appears to be broken. But it is just in this besetting dinginess that flowers begin to show their faces in bright and fascinating glory. He may have seen them before, growing in the open road, but never as they now appeared in incomparable strength and beauty. Words of promise opened out their treasures as he had never seen them before.
Among those treasures were such wonderful things as the grace of Christ, the love of Christ, the joy and peace of Christ; and it seemed as though they needed an "encircling gloom" to draw out their secret and their inner glory. At any rate the realm of gloom became the home of revelation, and Paul began to realize as never before the range and wealth of his spiritual inheritance. Who has not known men and women who, when they arrive at seasons of gloom and solitude, put on strength and hopefulness like a robe? You may imprison such folk where you please; but you shut up their treasure with them. You cannot shut it out. You may make their material lot a desert, but "the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose."--Dr. Jowett
***
"Every flower, even the fairest, has its shadow beneath it as it swings in the sunlight."
Where there is much light there is much shade.
from "Streams in the Desert" a daily devotional by Mrs. Charles Cowman
Monday, February 21, 2011
High fever
Hello everyone.
Can you please be praying for Aliyah's health once again? She has a high fever and is coughing. Please pray for healing and the strengthening of her immune system.
Thank you
Love,
The Ropers
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Noah's Birthday
This past weekend we celebrated Noah turning two years old! This is coming to you a little late because I was sick throughout the weekend, even on his birthday:( We are so blessed with this little boy that the Lord has given to us! It is hard to believe that it has already been two years since he first came into our lives! He is growing up so fast and is learning so much. As he is learning to speak, it is so funny that most of the words that are coming out of him, are in German! So here is a little video that we made from his birthday day...
Noah turns 2 from Joey Roper on Vimeo.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Worship Night - This Wednesday!
All of you who are available to join us... We are having a night of worship and prayer this coming Wednesday night at Calvary Chapel Herborn! Come and let us bring our worship and praise to the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
Don't miss out!
Our Girl's Theology
This morning I was taking my daughters (6 & 4 years old) to Kindergarten and the following statements were some that they shared with one another. I thought I would share it with all of you.
- Katie - "Hey Yaya, guess what?! God can see you when you are in your room!"
- Aliyah - "Yeah, He also sees us in our Kindergarten!"
- Katie - " and He also sees us in our car!"
- Aliyah - "and He also sees us when we are at Gramma Shoshi's and Papa Cliff's house."
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Book of Joel
Tomorrow night we will be getting into the last chapter of the book of Joel. Although this is a little book with a total of only 73 verses, it is a book with a message filled with conviction, direction, restoration, promise, and ultimately with a prophetic word that declares about the coming Day of the Lord. As I have been reading over and looking at this last chapter of the book of Joel, I am reminded about Hebrews 4:12, which states, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (NASB)
As we study through the word of God, we see that 1/3 of it is the prophetical word of God, meaning that it deals with prophecy. As we have been studying through the minor prophets on Wednesday nights, I have thoroughly enjoined growing in my understanding of the prophetic events that will take place. In the days that we are living in, it is so important for us believers in Jesus Christ to not only be reading our Bibles, but to have a clear understanding of it so that we will be constantly encouraged and reminded that our God (the God of the Bible) is in COMPLETE CONTROL of all that is going on in this world!
As we look to the news to see what is going on around the world, we are seeing the events that are taking place catch up to that which has already been prophesied about in God's Word.
I love the Bible! It is TRULY GOD-BREATHED!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Book Recommendation
Hey everyone, as you know we like to share with you the books that we are reading through. If you did not know that, you can scroll down a little bit and you will notice on the right hand side a list of books that we are currently reading. The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer is a book that I have just finished reading. Now I know that many of you may have already read through this book and maybe there are a few of you who have never read this book. If you have not, get this book and read through it as soon as possible.
In our lives there are many things that we can get occupied with or should I say, there are many things that we pursue after. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, I do want to ask you this question...
I can honestly say that this topic of "Pursuing After God" has been something that the Lord has really been speaking to me about over these past few months. That is one of the main reasons why I picked up this book to read next. Something that the Lord really spoke to me just the other morning about was out of Hebrews 12:1-2, which says,
As I personally consider this topic of Pursuing God I need to consider the things that are weighing me down. I know what it is like to run long races and I know what it is like to have to endure to the end of that race. Something that is very basic for every runner in the race, is to be as light as possible and to not have anything weigh you down.
So I want to encourage you to get alone with the Lord and to ask Him what it is in your life that you need to get rid of so that it is no longer weighing you down in PURSUING AFTER HIM.
