Hydro Methodist Church

06/25/2026

FURTHERING THE GOSPEL
Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel.
PHILIPPIANS 1:12
There are two ways to look at every situation: how it will affect you, and how it will affect God's kingdom. The apostle Paul was always concerned with how his circumstances might aid the spreading of the gospel. When he was unjustly imprisoned, he immediately looked to see how his imprisonment might provide God's salvation to others (Phil. 1:13; Acts 16:19-34). When he was assailed by an angry mob, he used the opportunity to preach the gospel (Acts 22:1-21). When Paul's criminal proceedings took him before the king, his thoughts were on sharing his faith with the king (Acts 26:1-32)! Even when Paul was shipwrecked on an island, he used that opportunity to share the gospel there. Regardless of his circumstance, Paul's concern was how he could use his current situation to tell others of God's good news of salvation.
Often when we encounter a new situation, our first thoughts are not about God's kingdom. When we face a crisis, we can become angry or fearful for our own well-being, rather than looking to see what God intends to do through our circumstances. If we remain self-centered we will miss so much of what God could do through our experiences, both for us and for those around us.
Ask God to make you aware of how He could use your present circumstances to bless others. Perhaps someone around you needs to see the difference Christ's presence makes in your life. Are you willing for God to use your circumstances to demonstrate His saving power to those around you?

From Experiencing God by Henry and Richard Blackaby

06/24/2026

BE MERCIFUL!
"Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?"
MATTHEW 18:33
Mercy is a gift. It is undeserved. Punishment and consequences are sin's just reward, but the merciful person does not demand justice for the guilty person. If it were not for God's mercy, we all would have faced His terrible judgment long ago. If not for His mercy, He would have condemned us after our first offense. If not for His mercy, He would punish us each time we sin. But rather than letting us bear the full punishment for our sin, God demonstrated His mercy when He paid the penalty for our sin Himself.
Do you find it hard to show mercy? It may be that you do not comprehend the mercy that God has shown to you. Jesus commanded His disciples to extend the same mercy to others that they had received from God. When they considered the incredible, undeserved mercy they had been granted, how could they refuse to extend the same unconditional mercy to others?
Could anyone sin against us to the same degree that we have sinned against God? Could any offense committed against us be as undeserved as the abuse hurled against the sinless Son of God? How quickly we forget the mercy that God graciously bestowed on us, only to focus on the injustices we endure from others!
If you find it difficult to forgive others, you may need to meditate on the mercy of God that prevents you from experiencing God's justifiable wrath. Scripture describes God as
"a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in faithful love" (Neh. 9:17b).

From Experiencing God by Henry and Richard Blackaby

06/24/2026

Wednesday Musings from the Pastor's Desk
June 24, 2026

This post is being made while on vacation and I've been thinking about gratitude.

Not the kind of gratitude that comes easily when everything is going our way, but the kind that chooses to see God's blessings even in the midst of ordinary days.

It's easy to reserve our thankfulness for the big moments,graduations, new jobs, answered prayers, and celebrations. Yet Scripture continually points us toward a lifestyle of gratitude, not just gratitude for special occasions.

The Apostle Paul writes, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Notice Paul doesn't say to give thanks for all circumstances, but in all circumstances. There is a difference. Some situations are difficult, painful, and heartbreaking. Yet even in those moments, we can give thanks for God's presence, His promises, and the people He places around us.

Living in a small community reminds me of this often. We are blessed by neighbors who help one another, teachers who invest in students, volunteers who quietly serve, and church members who faithfully show up week after week. These are gifts that can easily be overlooked if we're not paying attention.

This week, I challenge you to take inventory of God's blessings. Not just the extraordinary ones, but the everyday ones.

Give thanks for the family gathered around your table. Give thanks for a friend who checks in on you. Give thanks for the rain that nourishes our fields, the sunshine that brightens our days, and the opportunities we have to serve others. Give thanks for the church family that walks alongside us in faith.
The more we practice gratitude, the more we begin to see God's fingerprints everywhere.

As we move toward the end of June and the heart of summer, may our hearts be filled with thanksgiving, not because life is perfect, but because God is faithful.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights." James 1:17

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Adam Brinson

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06/23/2026

Church Family Update

Pastor Adam will be out of the office for the next two weeks. Because of his absence, the weekly prayer list will not be posted today.

Prayer list updates will resume on June 30.

Thank you for your understanding. Please continue to keep our church family, community, and one another in your prayers during this time.

Blessings,
Hydro Methodist Church

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06/23/2026

KINGDOM GREATNESS
"For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving?
Isn't it the one at the table?
But I am among you as the One who serves."
LUKE 22:27
The measure of greatness in the kingdom of God differs vastly from that of our world. Our society idolizes the rich, the powerful, the beautiful, and the athletic. We even make celebrities out of those who brazenly flaunt their immorality. The world claims it is demeaning to serve others.
However, God's kingdom completely rejects the world's measure for esteem, giving the greatest honor to the one who serves most. The person who serves selflessly, lovingly, without complaint, and without seeking recognition is highly regarded in the kingdom of God.
When Jesus and His disciples entered the upper room, the disciples looked for a prominent place to sit; Jesus looked for a place to serve. As they awkwardly waited to be served, Jesus took a towel and basin and washed their feet (John 13:1-15).
We Christians like to refer to ourselves as servants, but we are seldom content to be treated as servants! We are tempted to adopt the world's evaluation of importance. But when we look to Jesus as our model, we see that it takes a far more noble character to serve than to be served.
The world will estimate your importance by the number of people serving you. God is more concerned with the number of people you are serving. If you struggle to be a servant, your heart may have shifted away from the heart of God. Ask Jesus to teach you selflessness and to give you the strength to follow His example. Watch for Jesus' invitation to join Him in serving others. It will come.

From Experiencing God by Henry and Richard Blackaby

06/22/2026

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06/22/2026

SPIRITUAL MARKERS
The Israelites did just as Joshua had commanded them.
The 12 men took stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each of the Israelite tribes, just as the LORD had told Joshua.
They carried them to the camp and set them down there.
JOSHUA 4:8
Spiritual memory is crucial in the Christian life. Do you vividly recall times when you know God spoke to you It would be tragic if, in your haste to advance in your Christian faith, you neglected to leave spiritual markers at the key crossroads of your life. Without the help of these markers, you will lose your spiritual bearings.
The Israelites experienced a tumultuous pilgrimage. Their doubt that God was powerful enough to give them victory cost them forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Then God miraculously parted the waters of the Jordan River so they could pass over and continue their conquest. God knew that at times the Israelites would face intimidating enemies and would need a reminder that He was powerful enough to protect them. The Israelites might be tempted to think they made a mistake entering Canaan. For this reason God instructed them to build a monument on the banks of the Jordan River. Whenever they returned to this spot, they would see the monument and be reminded of God's awesome power. This marker would give them confidence to meet the new challenges they taced.
A spiritual marker identifies a time of decision when you clearly know God guided you. Can you remember the moment you became a child of God? Were there specific times when He called you to His ways of living? Can you point to times when He clearly guided you in a decision?
Were there times when He spoke powerfully to you about a commitment you should make? Keep track of these important moments! Regularly rehearse them and notice the steady progression in the way God has led you. This will help you understand God's activity in your life and give you a sense of direction as you face future decisions.

From Experiencing God by Henry and Richard Blackaby

06/21/2026

SPIRITUAL FAMINE
"Hear this! The days are coming"-this is the declaration of the Lord GoD-"when I will send a famine through the land: not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD." AMOS 8:11
One way God communicates is through silence. The Israelites blatantly ignored and rejected God's Word to them, and God responded by sending a famine. This famine was far more severe than a shortage of food and water.
Instead, they were deprived of His words of life. God's silence may be hardly noticeable at first. You may still remember times when God spoke to you, but you gradually realize you've not heard His voice for a long time. If you realize you are in a "drought," immediately seek God and ask Him what adjustments your life requires so you can once again enjoy fellowship with Him. It may be that you disobeyed His last instructions to you and that He is waiting on your obedience before giving you a new direction. It may be that there is unconfessed sin in your life or that you have a damaged relationship (Isa. 1:15; 1 Pet. 3:7). It is possible that you have done too much talking in your prayer times and that He wants you to listen. God's silences can be powerful times for Him to communicate with you.
God is God! Because He is God, when He speaks He expects a listening ear and an eager response. He will not be mocked (Gal. 6:7)! When we ignore Him, He may withhold His voice until we repent and get right with Him. The prophet Isaiah assured King Asa,
"The LoRD is with you when you
are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you abandon Him, He will abandon you" (2 Chron. 15:2).

From Experiencing God by Henry and Richard Blackaby

06/20/2026

T-shirt deadline Wednesday, June 24. Register TODAY! https://forms.gle/NUpbfu5trdpzuaUh8

Kids Pre-K to 5th grade join us for VBS, July 7-9 6-8:30 pm! Dinner and snack will be provided.

06/20/2026

WHEN GOD SAYS NO
And he killed James, John's brother, with the sword.
When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to arrest Peter too.
ACTS 12:2-3a
Can you accept God's will when His answer is no? If you are praying in God's will, He will always answer you when you pray (Jer. 33:3). However, sometimes His answer will be no.
King Herod arrested Peter and prepared to have him exe-cuted. During the night, as his church prayed, Peter's life was spared when an angel freed him. God miraculously answered the prayers of His people that night. Yet not long before, James, too, had been arrested by Herod. James, however, was executed. Surely the church had prayed for James as fervently as they did for Peter, yet that time God's answer had been no.
Did God love Peter more than James? Of course not. James had been one of Jesus' closest friends. Yet God allowed James to die while He continued to use Peter in His service. The church in Jerusalem did not become bitter toward God. They accepted His answer because they trusted His love and wisdom.
There are times when God wants us to persist in our praying until He has completed His work in us (Luke 11:5-8; 18:1-6). However, when God's answer is no, it is futile to continue pleading for a yes. Some refuse to take no for an answer, insisting that if you pray long enough and hard enough, God will ultimately grant any request you make. It is an affront to your Lord to continue pleading with Him when He has clearly said no. The purpose of prayer is not to conform God to our will but to adjust our will to God. We must learn to trust God so that if He says no, we accept that His will is best.

From Experiencing God by Henry and Richard Blackaby