Happy Tuesday Harvest!
Once again the heavy machinery and workmen are hard at work on the retaining wall downstairs in the new parking lot. At this pace they should be done VERY quickly- take a look this coming Sunday and I’m sure you’ll be impressed.

As I mentioned this last week, the Gideons International are going to be joining us March 14th for a presentation of God’s work through their ministry. Please welcome them! Since they will be doing a presentation during the Sunday School hour as well, please be on time and usher others into the Sunday School room at 11:30 AM!

Here, again, are the notes and the announcements.

Byron

Rest In Peace
Live Like a Song: Psalm 122

3 Applications from Psalm 122:

1. Church Ought to be a Happy Place! A place that we’re glad to come to, even when it means that we face some painful realities. We should be happy to connect to God, His people, and a clear view of reality.

2. We need to Wonder at the Work of God. The Psalmist expresses marvel at how God puts the people of God together in unity despite their diversity.

3. We need to Work toward the Principle of Peace. Enjoying fellowship and God’s work comes as we work toward not disturbing the peace that God gives to believers. It takes sacrifice!

Weekly Application Exercises:
1. Take stock of your ministries here at Harvest South Bay. How are you contributing to the Body here? What is your attitude toward that contribution? Do you look forward to ministering to others?

2. How can you work harder at making your time at church spiritually productive for others? Have you been praying with and for people as we were challenged to do at the beginning of the year?

Special Missions Offering
The Board has approved to set up a special offering for Mike and Nancy Tseng to provide for them two round trip air tickets for two of their parents to go from LA to visit them. If you like to participate in this offering, please specify in the memo of your check: “Mission Gift”. We are currently short only ~$400.

Refreshments Sign Up
The new sign up sheet is in the foyer! Sign up to do your part and thanks to all who have been faithfully supplying refreshments thus far!

Parking Lot Construction
Take a look out the window and see the progress of the retaining wall! Constuction has been delayed due to rain but completion of the project is not far off. Please advise your children to be careful during this period. Also, the project budget is still short $10,000. Please prayerfully consider giving toward the finalization of the parking lot as it adds to the ministry and welcoming nature of our church.
Communion Sunday!
Today is communion Sunday! Going forward we will partake of communion every last Sunday of the month. Prepare your hearts and anticipate the table of the Lord.

Baptism
As has been shared in the past, we are planning a Baptismal service. Please contact Byron if you are interested being baptized.

Sure!
Live Like a Song: Psalm 121

The Environment of the Psalms:
There was always the temptation of polytheism for the Old Testament believer since the mindset was to guard oneself by paying homage to more than one deity. If one deity was either angry or let you down, at least another who you worshiped would be on your side. We are idolatrous in the same way when we invest our security in different sources, whether education or money, popularity or personality.

3 Applications from Psalm 121

1. Have no other Saviors: Don’t rest secure in anything else except for Christ.

2. Fear no other gods: Don’t be afraid that anything in life can overpower our God: He is omnipotent.

3. Trust God for Salvation: Trust that God is both good and powerful, that He will save us.

Weekly Application Exercises:
1. Take some time to identify your major goals in life: the things you spend serious time devoting energy and thought to. Examine how these have become your source of security or help supplanting God. Reaffirm your confidence and security in God.

2. Examine your fears about life, the sources that hold you back from living fully for God. Recall God’s power over your other sources of fear in the past and how He has proven Himself faithful and sovereign.

Special Missions Offering
The Board has approved to set up a special offering for Mike and Nancy Tseng to provide for them two round trip air tickets for two of their parents to go from LA to visit them. If you like to participate in this offering, please specify in the memo of your check: “Mission Gift”. We are currently short only ~$400.

Refreshments Sign Up
The new sign up sheet is in the foyer! Sign up to do your part and thanks to all who have been faithfully supplying refreshments thus far!

Parking Lot Construction
Construction has begun and will continue throughout the month of February. Please advise your children to be careful during this period. Also, the project budget is short $10,000. Please prayerfully consider giving toward the finalization of this project as it adds to the ministry and welcoming nature of our church.

Hello Harvest!
It’s exciting to look out my window and see the progress of the new “basketball court.” It will be such a great change to come to church and not have to worry about having our cars damaged since the new basketball court will afford us so much more room for our cars to maneuver as well! Remember to keep your kids safe out on the blacktop while construction is occurring!

Here are the note and announcements for this week. Also, keep an eye out since I will be trying to send out daily morning devotions during Tuesday-Friday sometime soon. I had planned on doing it sooner but many life changes prevented it happening for a bit!

Byron
Harvest South Bay: February 14th , 2010
Mad at the World
Live Like a Song: Psalm 120

The Nature of the Psalms (and studies therein):
The Psalms are first and foremost SONGS- they were meant to resonate with our hearts and help us to sing to God the different emotions that we experience in life. They affirm truth about God and about our own inner state and are meant to be memorized, sung, hummed (when we have a tune!) and made a part of our experience. These Psalms that we are studying, the Psalms of Ascent (PS 120-134) were sung on the journey to Jerusalem during the three national festivals: Passover, Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles.

3 Applications from Psalm 120

1. It’s Okay to be Frustrated!: Believers do not belong to the world and so it is okay to feel frustrated at how the world does things.

2. It’s Okay to Complain: We are not to push down and extinguish our emotions, but let God know about them. Then, as we complain to Him, He changes our hearts, addresses our issues and helps us through the frustration that we have with the world.

3. Trust in God’s Deliverance: We need to go to God and trust in Him as our savior in all circumstances instead of placing our hope in other sources to fix our lives.

Weekly Application Exercises:
1. Take some moments to understand what you most complain about in life: whether at work or school or within your family. Let God into your complaint and ask Him for strength, wisdom and grace in that situation.

2. Memorize Psalm 120:1-2 in order to remember God’s deliverance. Apply God’s deliverance by asking for His help in your everyday struggles to grow in Christ.

Special Missions Offering
The Board has approved to set up a special offering for Mike and Nancy Tseng to provide for them two round trip air tickets for two of their parents to go from LA to visit them. If you like to participate in this offering, please specify in the memo of your check: “Mission Gift”. We are currently short only ~$400.

Refreshments Sign Up
The new sign up sheet is in the foyer! Sign up to do your part and thanks to all who have been faithfully supplying refreshments thus far!

Parking Lot Construction
Construction has begun and will continue throughout the month of February. Please advise your children to be careful during this period. Also, the project budget is short $10,000. Please prayerfully consider giving toward the finalization of this project as it adds to the ministry and welcoming nature of our church.
Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) Joint Meeting (Feb 21 11:30)
Per the request of the EFC South Bay SPC (Strategic Planning Committee), a meeting to discuss Harvest’s future, Byron’s ordination and any other church matters is scheduled on Sunday, February 21 with the Harvest Leadership Team. Please pray for the discussion and outcome.

Hey Harvest South Bay!
Quick check! How many people sat and prayed with someone after the GA meeting? After Sunday School? Well, there’s one more way to follow through on this Sunday’s application: praying with someone SOMETIME this week in a casual setting!

As many of you know, our family will be away for the weekend in sunny (actually the forecast is for rain) Solvang. We’ll catch up with you and see you all NEXT week!

Byron

Harvest South Bay                January 31st , 2010

Will Empowered
Live Big: Ephesians 6:10-20

The Passage:
A. Overall Motive: Be Strengthened

B. The Armor

1.  Belt of Truth          2.   Breastplate of Righteousness (God’s Imputed Righteousness)

3. Shoes of Peace (the preparation of the Gospel of Peace)

4.  Shield of Faith          5.   Helmet of Salvation         6. Sword of the Spirit

C. The Activator: PRAYER!

Follow Through Applications

1. Realize the Nature of the Battle

2. Rely on God’s Strength (How?)

A. Ask for God’s Strength (Admit our own weakness)

B. Rely on God’s Defenses (affirm what He says in His Word about the Armor)

3. PRAY

Weekly Application Exercises
1. Pray with a fellow believer outside of a church structured time of prayer.

2. Spend some time meditating on changes God would have you commit to this year. Express your dependence to Him in prayer concerning each change that needs to happen in your life.

Announcements!
Prayer Ministry every Sunday @ 9AM
Sunday Morning prayer meetings are starting up weekly. Come join us in the Sunday School room to pray for our church and our community.

Special Missions Offering
The Board has approved to set up a special offering for Mike and Nancy Tseng to provide for them two round trip air tickets for two of their parents to go from LA to visit them. If you like to participate in this offering, please specify in the memo of your check: “Mission Gift”. We are currently short only ~$400.

Annual General Assembly Meeting Join us today after service for our annual general meeting with the rest of EFC South Bay. We will vote on the new year’s budget and approve other items of business! We need you there for a quorum!

Refreshments Sign Up
The new sign up sheet is in the foyer! Sign up to do your part and thanks to all who have been faithfully suppying refreshments thus far!

Haiti Earthquake Relief
The Republic of Haiti was hit by a severe earthquake on January 12th, and the EFCGA is seeking to raise funds for disaster relief. Collected funds will go towards: 1. Financially helping Taiwanese/Chinese immigrants in Haiti who are in urgent need 2. Supporting the re-building of Taiwanese/Chinese churches in Haiti 3. Identifying opportunities to provide a caring center or to build a local EFC church in Haiti. This ministry will be handled by the North American Eastern Regional Assembly. If you would like to contribute to this fund, please write the check out to “EFC” and designate “Haiti Disaster Relief” on the memo line.

Parking Lot Construction
Contruction has begun and will continue throughout the month of February. Please advise your children to be careful during this period. Also, the project budget is short $10,000. Please prayerfully consider giving toward the finalization of this project as it adds to the ministry and welcoming nature of our church.