Tonight, we will have a special guest singer and speaker: Randy Phillips.  Randy is the pastor of PromiseLand West (West Austin) and the ‘Phillips’ of Phillips, Craig and Dean (PCD).  PCD has been together for 20 years and sold millions of Christian albums all over the world.  Their version of “Revelation Song’ was number 1 for almost 3 months in 2010, and Fearless won a Dove Award for Inspirational Album of the year.  Randy is a frequent host to TBN’s Praise the Lord program.  Randy is a community leader and often a guest on Bob Cole’s radio program. He is a guest host of Jeff Ward’s afternoon show on 590am.

He will be speaking to us and singing a song he wrote called, “Awake My Soul“.

Wed. March 2, 7:15pm
Children’s ministry will also be going on.  Get here early to get a good seat.

Randy’s song writing skills are amazing.  His most popular song “Crucified With Christ” was voted the leading “Inspirational Song of the Decade” (90s) by CCM Magazine.

Here are the lyrics:

When I look back at what I thought was living
I’m amazing at the price I chose to pay
And to think I ignored what really mattered
‘Cause I thought the sacrifice would be too great
But when I finally reached the point of giving in
I found the cross was calling even then
And even though it took dying to survive
I’ve never felt so much alive

For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live
Not I but Christ that lives within me
His cross will never ask for more than I can give
For it’s not my strength but His
There’s no greater sacrifice
For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live

As I hear the Savior call for daily dying
I will bow beneath the weight of Calvary
Let my hands surrender to His piercing purpose
That holds me to the cross yet sets me free
I will glory in the power of the cross
The things I thought were gain I count as loss

And with His suffering I identify
And by His resurrection power I am alive
And I will offer all I have
So that His cross is not in vain
For I’ve found to live is Christ
And to die is truly gain

This Marriage is the perfect example of the hope and life we can find in God.  When the world brings an end to things, God picks up the pieces and begins to create a masterpiece one piece at a time.  Michelle, as you take different media and begin to create your works of art, pieces that have little to no value on their own take on a whole new definition.  Beauty and value are redefined as things come together.  Those things come together because of the vision of the artist.

As I look at you Daniel and Michelle, it is obvious to me that God is creating in you both something new, beautiful, and valuable.  It is not a composition that you as pieces can create, but only  the creator.   Ezekiel 34 says “I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak…”, God takes that which is lifeless and resurrects it.

Romans 8 says “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

So, we give thanks and recognize that God has played a huge role in both of your lives and now is presenting you both with the new start.  Where you take this blessing is up to you.  I encourage you to pursue one another after marriage more than you did before.  Don’t let this be a ball and chain.  The only ball and chain that should be in your relationship is the one you use for one of your brutal workout routines.

Keep Christ at the center of your home.  Daniel, as you are fully aware, as soon as you start letting your discipline slip in your physical body, you start seeing negative results.  The same will apply to this relationship.  Consistantly lead your family.  There are 3 significant others in the household that are sharing in this union.  Continue investing in those kids and provide for them stability, integrity, and leadership towards Christ.