A FIRM FOUNDATION

“For the king trusts in the LORD;
through the unfailing love of the Most High
he will not be shaken.”
                Psalm 21:7

Sometimes events happen in our lives that leave us shaken: A company where you have worked for the past 25 years asks you to leave in the name of downsizing. A spouse tells you over breakfast that “this isn’t working out.” The results from the medical test come back with the word “malignant.”

Such times not only test our resilience and ability to cope — they also test our faith.

Throughout the Bible, we find men and women who have had their faith severely shaken. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers, taken to a foreign land, and later imprisoned under false accusations. Hannah cried out in her barrenness for a child. Certainly David went through numerous trials — his repeated cries for relief from his enemies and afflictions fill the pages of the Psalms.

Each one, however, overcame their circumstances and emerged victorious. Joseph became second in command to the Pharaoh. Hannah gave birth to a son. David defeated all his enemies and remained on the throne. Though shaken, they never faltered. Though tested, they remained faithful. Their trust was firmly planted in the “unfailing love of the Most High.”

Despite the human tendency to do so, David did not trust in his own ability or his prowess on the battlefield. He didn’t consider the throne of Israel as something he deserved or something he had earned. David knew that all he had were gifts from God — his heart’s desire, success and prosperity, a crown of pure gold, long life, unending blessings.

And it was all, as we discover in Psalm 21, because “the king trusts in the Lord.”  Because of that trust, David knew that God’s love would protect and sustain him. While events in his life might leave him shaken, God would not let him stumble and fall.

The same is true for us. At times it might not feel like God is there at all. But consider all the good gifts that you have. Look for the many ways that God has sustained you — maybe through the kindness of a friend, or an unexpected check. It might be through His word that tells you He will hold you in his everlasting arms.

When the foundation of your world is seemingly crumbling around you, remember God’s love for you will never be shaken.






How Firm A Foundation
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Sing Praise To The Lord

Mark

SEA THE OCEANS

Bali Diving
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So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds
                Genesis 1:21



The sea is His, for He made it
                Psalm 95:5



There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small.
                Psalm 104:25



Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and all that move in them
                Psalm 69:34



Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths
                Psalm 148:7





Oceans Will Part - Hillsong United
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Sing Praise To The Lord

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Wisdom's Call

Does not wisdom call out?
   Does not understanding raise her voice?
At the highest point along the way,
   where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
beside the gate leading into the city,
   at the entrance, she cries aloud:
“To you, O people, I call out;
   I raise my voice to all mankind.
You who are simple, gain prudence;
   you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.
Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
   I open my lips to speak what is right.
My mouth speaks what is true,
   for my lips detest wickedness.
All the words of my mouth are just;
   none of them is crooked or perverse.
To the discerning all of them are right;
   they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
Choose my instruction instead of silver,
   knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
   and nothing you desire can compare with her.
 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
   I possess knowledge and discretion.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
   I hate pride and arrogance,
   evil behavior and perverse speech.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
   I have insight, I have power.
By me kings reign
   and rulers issue decrees that are just;
by me princes govern,
   and nobles—all who rule on earth.
I love those who love me,
   and those who seek me find me.
With me are riches and honor,
   enduring wealth and prosperity.
My fruit is better than fine gold;
   what I yield surpasses choice silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness,
   along the paths of justice,
bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
   and making their treasuries full.
 “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,
   before his deeds of old;
I was formed long ages ago,
   at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
   when there were no springs overflowing with water;
before the mountains were settled in place,
   before the hills, I was given birth,
before he made the world or its fields
   or any of the dust of the earth.
I was there when he set the heavens in place,
   when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
when he established the clouds above
   and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
when he gave the sea its boundary
   so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
Then I was constantly at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
   rejoicing always in his presence,
rejoicing in his whole world
   and delighting in mankind.
 “Now then, my children, listen to me;
   blessed are those who keep my ways.
Listen to my instruction and be wise;
   do not disregard it.
Blessed are those who listen to me,
   watching daily at my doors,
   waiting at my doorway.
For those who find me find life
   and receive favor from the LORD.
But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
   all who hate me love death.”
                Proverbs 8





Wisdom
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The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
   Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
                Proverbs 4:7



Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
                James 3:13-18



God understands the way to wisdom
   and he alone knows where it dwells,
for he views the ends of the earth
   and sees everything under the heavens.
When he established the force of the wind
   and measured out the waters,
when he made a decree for the rain
   and a path for the thunderstorm,
then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
   he confirmed it and tested it.
And he said to the human race,
   “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
   and to shun evil is understanding.”
                Job 28:23-28





The Wisdom of God
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Sing Praise To The Lord

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RESURRECTION

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
                John 11:25



He is not here, but is risen!
                Luke 24:6





I'm In Need of Resurrection - Nicol Sponberg
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I Will Rise - Chris Tomlin
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And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
                Revelation 21:4





There Will Be A Day - Jeremy Camp
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I Can Only Imagine - MercyMe
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But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying,
‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?  God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
                Matthew 22:31-32





Forever - Michael W Smith
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Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
                Romans 6:3-10



For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
                I Corinthians 15:3-9



But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
                I Corinthians 15:20-22





























Sing Praise To The Lord

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THE PRAYER

The Prayer - Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli
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The Prayer - Andrea Bocelli & Josh Groban
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The Prayer - Charlotte Church with Josh Groban
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The Prayer - Jackie Evancho
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Sing Praise To The Lord

Mark

THE LORD'S PRAYER

The Lord's Prayer - Andrea Bocelli
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Sing Praise To The Lord

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GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
                I Peter 1:3-9





Great Expectations - Steven Curtis Chapman
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Here are just a few examples of Great Expectations:



For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
                John 3:16



But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
                Romans 5:8-11



“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
               John 14:1-4



Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
                II Corinthians 4:16-18



I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
                John 16:33



You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
                I John 4:4



Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”  “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
                I Corinthians 15:51-57



The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
                Romans 8:16-17



“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also.
                John 15:18-20



If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.  Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
                John 13:14-17



And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
                Luke 9:23



Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
                II Timothy 3:12



Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.  Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.  And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
                II Corinthians 1:3-7



Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
                I Timothy 6:6-9



Be content with such things as you have.  For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?"
                Hebrews 13:5-6



“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
                John 15:1-4



But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  
                I Thessalonians 4:13-17



The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.
                Ephesians 1:18-19



And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
                Romans 8:28



If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
                Romans 8:31-32



For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
                Romans 8:38-39





In Christ Alone
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Sing Praise To The Lord

Mark

WHO AM I

Who Am I - Casting Crowns
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Sing Praise To The Lord

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I CAN ONLY IMAGINE

I Can Only Imagine
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Sing Praise To The Lord

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AMAZING GRACE

Amazing Grace
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Sing Praise To The Lord

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MIGHTY TO SAVE

Mighty To Save
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Sing Praise To The Lord

Mark

IN CHRIST ALONE

In Christ Alone
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Sing Praise To The Lord

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THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON

That He Gave His Only Son
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How Deep The Father's Love For Us
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Sing Praise To The Lord

Mark

I'LL BE GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

I'll Be Going Home For Christmas
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I'll Be Home For Christmas
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I'll Be Home For Christmas - Carpenters
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Sing Praise To The Lord

Mark

O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL

O Come All Ye Faithful - Anne Murray
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O Come All Ye Faithful - Josh Groban
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Sing Praise To The Lord

Mark

OH HOLY NIGHT

Oh Holy Night - Celine Dion
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Oh Holy Night - Jackie Evancho
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Sing Praise To The Lord

Mark

BRING THE RAIN

Bring the Rain - Mercy Me
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Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

 
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
 
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

                Romans 5: 1-11





Who Am I - Casting Crowns
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Praise You In This Storm - Casting Crowns
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You Are My All In All
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Sing Praise To The Lord

Mark

SOMEDAY FACE TO FACE

"Where's the Line to See Jesus" - Becky Kelley

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Sing Praise To The Lord

Mark

GREAT LIGHT - YOUR GREAT NAME

The people walking in darkness
   have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
   a light has dawned.
                Isaiah 9:2



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the people living in darkness
   have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
   a light has dawned.”
                Matthew 4:16



When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
                John 8:12



"While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
                John 9:5



I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
                John 12:46



Great Light of the World - Bebo Norman
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Your Great Name - Natalie Grant
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Sing Praise To The Lord

Mark