Second Baptist Baytown

A couple weeks ago my family and I boarded flight 439 in Houston and prepared to be taken to Nashville’s International airport where we would spend a weeks vacation with our son Jared. As we were in flight I began to think about this Sunday’s service and the musical God Is In This Place. My prayer is that every week God would be in this place...  From the greeters who say hello to everyone as they enter our building, to our fellowship as we prepare to worship, our music service, special elements, message spoken, the congregation’s response, announcements of the week, to the final parking lot volunteer flagging the last car on the next destination....in every part, God would be present.. So often I pray and ask God to show me what I need to do to usher in the spirit in each worship service... I was reminded this week that I cannot do anything to usher in his spirit. All I can do is prepare for his spirit to come and expect him to do so.... and true to his word He will. It is a bit like getting on a plane and flying somewhere. All we really do is prepare for the journey, get to the airport, expect our plane to be there then get on... Then we fly... We participate fully in the action but God is doing the work of lifting our spirits, revealing himself, exposing our sin and encouraging our heart..

I am convinced we need to approach each worship service just like we would any flight. We should prepare our hearts for wherever God is going to take us today. Our destination is to be with Him and learn what He wants us to learn. We should expect Him to take us.... He will. He can then take our hearts to a place where He wants us to discover truths about Him and ourselves and convict us to be more like him when we return.

This week we will be sharing this message musically.... God is in this place and no matter what you may be going through, He is in control. He is God. Our job is to worship Him and lift Him up no matter our circumstances. “His Love is Irresistible” and He will “Inhabit our Praise” if we “Just Stand” and bless Him, our rock.  Just like the rushing of a “Mighty Wind” God’s spirit will come and take us with Him. We just need to be prepared to be blown away.

On Tuesday, I took the choir to surprise shoppers with a Christmas Flash Mob at Baybrook Mall. It was definitely something to check off on my "bucket list". Enjoy the entire experience by watching this four minute video shot on an iPhone. What a way to spread the gospel and a little Christmas cheer!

Start the Christmas season with the Second Baytown adult choir, orchestra and drama team as we follow the star to the birthplace of the King and discover the true meaning of the season.

December 4th, 5th, & 6th at 7p. Tickets are $10.00, on sale now!

Tickets purchased online will be held at WILL CALL to be picked up the night of the event.

Purchase tickets for Tuesday, December 6th at the door. 

You can also call the church office at 281.427.6506.

The great old hymn ‘O Worship The King” was written by Robert Grant many years ago. The first two verses expose us to the glory of God and the opportunity we each have to truly worship Him....

O Worship the King, all glorious above, O gratefully song His power and love; Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days, Pavilioned in splendor, and girded in praise. O tell of His might, O sing of His grace, Whose robe is the light, Whose canopy space, His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form, And dark is His path on the winds of the storm.

However, all too often in our churches today we come together and attend on Sunday because it is the right thing to do.....not to unselfishly worship the Lord.  We become focused on seeing and catching up with our friends and fail to open our hearts and minds to the worship experience of the day....

It is a lot like the couple who decided to have a large family gathering and celebrate the birthday of their youngest child. Aunts and uncles, grandparents, nieces and nephews along with a few friends all began arriving early. There was lots of talking and eating until someone asked, “Where is the birthday girl”.  She had gone into her room to take a nap... Everyone was so busy enjoying the fellowship that they had overlooked the real reason why they were there....

Scripture teaches us that “When we understand the gift the Father has given us, we will want to worship Him without ceasing.” Jesus was explaining to a woman who had committed many sins, that a time was coming when true believers would worship in spirit and in truth. The Messiah was standing in front of her and in Him she found forgiveness for all she had done and salvation for her soul. At that moment she realized all that God was offering her. And she began to worship Him by telling others of His marvelous grace and love...

God honoring worship is real people with real needs, understanding the gift of the Father.  That realization will make us worship without ceasing...This Sunday, come focused on the one for whom true worship is intended and reserved.....Jesus.

As I woke up this morning I spent some time remembering 9/12 ten years earlier. I recalled the warm September day, lots of sunshine, but most of all, the amount of information we were being provided about the events less than 24 hours earlier. I have a clear memory of this day, 10 years ago. The morning after was filled with silence, fear and wonder. I remember the seemingly endless stream of questions that everyone was asking. Who could have done this? Why would anybody do such a thing? Who would want to kill so many innocent people. What did I do to deserve this? Where was God in all of this “terror”? How could he possibly let this happen?

I remember standing outside in my front yard, and the sky, which is usually streaked with a contrail or two and at least one or two aircraft on approach, was eerily quiet. There was no traffic on our normally buys street, no neighbors out watering or tending to their chores, no walkers walking, just quiet...

As those memories consume my thoughts and become vivid visions I am reminded that God is still in control. He was on 9/12/01 and He is today. He is in the middle of every situation and He has already provided a solution. He is here, in the good times, bad times, days of joy, or times of sorrow... He is here. Proverbs 20:24 tells us that our steps are directed by the Lord, and Psalms reminds us over 10 times to “fear not”. Today I encourage you to be still....be quiet and know that He is God....and still in control.....and His name is Jesus..