Author: Shameless Plug

Advent Week 1 (2013)

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Isaiah 40:1-5 says to “prepare the way for the Lord” – to make straight paths for our God. On this first week of Advent, we focus on “hope”. By definition, hope means a feeling of expectation or desire for something to happen.

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is less than 4 weeks away. But as we begin this season of Advent, we have an expectation for Jesus – an anticipation for His birth as God’s glory is revealed. So instead of hoping for that thing you didn’t get during Thanksgiving weekend, or hoping for other things this Christmas, let us put our hope in Christ. Let us put our faith in God’s promise, believing, so that we will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we start with Advent Week 1, may we make straight paths for the Lord, clearing away all the distractions of what the mall might make us think of Christmas. Instead, may we make Christmas about Christ, as it should be.

Reflection Song: Prepare The Way

Advent Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

“If Only” (A Thanksgiving Blog)

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In the book of Exodus in the Old Testament, God uses Moses to lead the Israelite slaves out from Egypt. Yet on the fifteenth day of the second month since they came out of Egypt, all the Israelites did was complain to Moses:

“If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” (Exodus 16:3)

How quickly their celebration in freedom turned to complaint! Moses reassures the people that God hears their grumbling and surely, soon after, God provided manna and quail. But really, what good was their grumbling and complaining? Of course our God who freed them would surely provide, if not already! God who showed His power through ten plagues. God who parted the Red Sea. God who delivered them from bondage and oppression. Their grumbling was part of their forgetfulness: “if only we had stayed”, “if only we had food to eat”, “if only”, “if only”, “if only”… “If only” they remembered God’s provision! I mean, how could they forget?

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s easy for us to overlook Thanksgiving and what we’re thankful for. Time to time, we might find ourselves grumbling with complaints, regrets, or even “if only I could get this or that for Christmas”. There’s no need to look back on our lives and think how it “could be”. Let’s not forget to be grateful for what God has done, is doing, and will do in our lives. It’s not a matter of “if only” – since we are in Christ, all things are possible with God and through God.

Hopefully the only grumbling this Thanksgiving will be coming from our stomachs before dinner. Let’s be thankful: Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Not So Black Friday

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Yes, we know it’s a little early – but we’ll be having a sale in time for Black Friday and also for Christmas… and into the New Year too, actually! So grab what you want, what you can, in our store, at 15% off!

Any order between now and December 31, 2013 11:59pm EST will also get an early link to download a free Christmas track we’re working on! It will be MP3 format, and should be ready in early December.

Head over to our Store and grab the latest t-shirt design for a friend, or an extra copy of Unending Praise as a Christmas present. Sale ends when it hits 2014!

God Who Hears Me

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In Genesis 16, Hagar (Sarai’s servant) is pregnant with Abram’s first son, Ishmael. But Hagar is mistreated by Sarai and runs away. An angel of the Lord finds Hagar and tells her to stop running away & to submit. Here she realizes God’s omniscience in her life and calls Him “God Who Sees Me” because God knows her inside & out through all the joys & troubles in her life.

We may face struggles and uncomfortable situations of our own, but have we realized God’s omniscience and presence in our own lives? Have you found God to be the one who sees you, hears you, knows you? He knows your life and circumstances, your past and future… So this song, “God Who Hears Me”, is us submitting & saying “yes” to our God who listens to us – our God who sacrificed His son for us – and so we sacrifice ourselves to Him.

Thank you, Jesus, for dying on the cross for us and tearing down the veil (Matthew 27:45-56) so that we would have a means of communication with the Father… Jesus, we sing to You forever!

God Who Hears Me
Words & Music by Andy Lee

God who hears me, God who sees me
You search me and You know me
God who loves me, God who leads me
You paid the price for me

Jesus, we sing to You forever
Jesus, we sing to You forever
You’re our reward and our treasure
Yes, we give our lives to You

God who heals me, God who shields me
You hear my every call
God who made me, God who saves me
You sacrificed it all

To You alone, our God who hears us
To You alone, our God who’s near us
To You alone, our God who hears us
To You alone, our God who’s here with us

Church Anniversary

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It seems like October was the month of church anniversaries this year. All over Facebook this month we saw churches in our area celebrating another year of ministry. We were honored to be a part of our home church’s 41st Anniversary Revival at KCCNJ with guest speaker Pastor Sam Choi.

It’s amazing to look back at the 41 year history of KCC and realize how faithful God has been through the thick and thin. What’s even more amazing is the ability to look forward, trusting in Him to continue providing for the church. We enjoyed celebrating with them this past weekend with songs of praise & thanksgiving. Here are some of those songs:

Dead In Our Sins

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A couple of weeks ago, I had slept weird one night and developed an incredible back/shoulder pain that was so painful for at least 3 days… I hadn’t felt this sort of pain in my back for a few years! Usually it would stop by the end of the first day, but in this case it only got worse by the hour. Stretching, massages, aspirin, Icy Hot… nothing seemed to work.

Thankfully, it eventually healed thanks to prayer and diligence. I had to take it easy the next few days, but it made me think about how grateful I was for this life – I mean, if God is able to heal us from our hurt, illnesses, pain, injuries… He’s quite an awesome God!

But the Bible says that we were dead in our sins and God made us alive with Christ! Can you imagine? We were dead in our sins, dead in our old ways, dead in our old selves… but God, through grace, saved us and raised us up with Christ! How much more awesome, more merciful, more loving, and more amazing is our God now? It really puts into perspective the little things in our lives and amplifies the bigness of God that He ought to have in our lives.

Ephesians 2:1-10 is for anyone today who has any pain or hurt (not only physical) that is slowing them down from thanking the Lord, or worshiping Him wholly today. Remember that if God has made us alive in Christ, then we’re dead to our old ways and now living for Christ! We hope you can be joyful today in our God who is rich in mercy and grace!

Reflection Song: Christ Is

The Record Publicity Photos

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Last year, our local newspaper The Record contacted us about our Kickstarter for Unending Praise. They interviewed us for an article and took some photos (almost exactly a year ago). We’ve been using some of these photos throughout our pages and materials but thought we’d share the rest for “Throwback Thursday” today! Unfortunately our fourth member Charles wasn’t available for the shoot that day… But click the image below to see the gallery for yourself on our Facebook page. And it’d be great if you guys can continue to share our Facebook page to help us get to 200 likes! We’re planning on some more giveaways and free things to give out before Christmas!