A challenging aspect of living for the Lord is waiting for, understanding and being content with HIs direction. We tend to want immediate clarity and gratification, but faith, humility, patience, prayer and sacrifice are the means to discernment. So there are 4 actions we can take to "roll away" the stress and anxiety, requiring that we yield our expectations and what is easiest, while anticipating seeing the extraordinary goodness of the Lord. Video of this service is also available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRT2y_vhYzM

An example of a failure in building a backyard hockey rink has strong parallels to a verse in Proverbs that warns that the beginning of strife is like letting out water...so we need to abandon the quarrel before it happens. This causes us to humbly examine our emotional reactions to conflict and to walk in the Spirit so He can rule our spirit to have strong and holy relationships. Video of this service is also available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA2glDCCtwI&t=4233s

In pointing us to the example of Jesus Christ, Philippians 2 is very direct in commanding us to "do nothing from selfishness, but in humility regard one another as more important than yourselves". This calls us to confront the seemingly logical justifications we have for being selfish, and to understand that being like Christ and showing love requires joyful sacrifice. Video of this service is also available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6-aUcQGiyQ&t=5528s

The Holy Spirit is given as a gift to all believers, but how fully do we open up and ask for His ownership and empowering of our lives? 3 of HRT's elders teach how the Spirit fills us to carry out our calling, with streams of living water to refresh and strengthen us, and then to offer the hope, life and healing that only the Lord can give. Video of this service is also available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuM8xQ5xBj4&t=2118s

Often, we make important decisions based on what we're feeling in the moment, but that can allow hurt and disillusionment to dictate a new reality in our mind. Naomi fell into this thinking after experiencing heartbreaking personal loss, becoming bitter towards the Lord and literally wanting to change her identity. But recognizing His goodness pulled her out of her discouragement and gave her a wonderful new purpose. Video of this service is also available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3uTFsGPhhY

A man named Obed-edom was unexpectedly put in the challenging position of housing the Ark of the Covenant after the tragic death of Uzzah. Having the literal presence of the Lord in his living room was a serious, intimidating assignment, but Obed-edom was chosen by the Lord because he trusted the Lord fully, abided in His presence, and set a powerful example of faithfulness to his family. Video of this service is also available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilbs5CVlI-g&t=4918s

Looking at the significance of world events and changes to our culture, the apostle Paul's statement in Romans 13 that "the day is near" reminds us that Christ can return at any moment. So as believers, we are called to holiness--casting off anything that at all has the appearance of evil, behaving properly and soberly, and making no provision for the flesh. This prevents the "drift" and "neglect" of our faith that would incline us to lower our standards rather than living like Christ. Video of this service is also available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45lGWIcBcio

Within Christianity, it is possible that we have communicated far too much latitude to be slow and undisciplined about advancing to spiritual maturity. The enemy leverages this to promote spiritual inertia in believers, by distracting and discouraging us, while pushing us to be soft in our convictions and purpose. But 1 Corinthians 9 calls us to action--to run with discipline the race of our faith, aiming at the prize of pleasing the Lord and influencing others for Christ. Video of this service is also available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gxYv1GNiqU&t=339s