Christian Church of Santa Clara

09/08/2026

Monday, September 7, 2026
Before You I Kneel (A Worker's Prayer)
"Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!" (Psalm 90:17)
Percy Shelley's classic sonnet, "Ozymandias," tells of discovering the ruins of a statue of an ancient ruler. The inscription on the pedestal invites the viewer to marvel at the magnificent city this king built. However, that entire city is gone. All that remains is a shattered stone statue and bare sand as far as the eye can see.
Labor Day is a good time to contrast our eternal God with fragile, fleeting human life. We work hard, but time slips away. Are we working for things that will last?
The king in Shelley's poem was arrogant and proud of his accomplishments. For a time, what he built was probably pretty impressive. In the long run, though, the results of his effort were only temporary.
Asking for God’s favor brings His presence into our daily tasks. When God establishes our labor, He anchors our ordinary tasks to something eternal. Our work now has meaning, rather than empty boasting.
How do we find meaning in our labor? Offer your daily work, chores, and activities to God before you begin. Trust Him to take your small, temporary efforts and give them lasting value.
Stuart Townend, one of the authors of today's song, says, "We are probably all aware that our attitude and practice of worship should not be restricted to an hour in church on a Sunday, but should overflow into our daily activities. For many of us, the single activity (apart from sleep) that takes up most of our time is work.
"So, this hymn seeks to do two things: to remind us that God is just as present and interested in us at the office, building site or school as He is at church; and to help us to foster a godly, God-honoring attitude to the paid work He has called us to do."

Monday, September 7, 2026Before You I Kneel (A Worker's Prayer) ...

09/07/2026

09/07/2026

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we present everyone perfect in Christ.
—Colossians 1:28

09/07/2026

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09/06/2026

test

09/05/2026

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
—Matthew 28:18-20

09/04/2026

Friday, September 4, 2026
Everlasting Arms (Lean Hard)
"The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deuteronomy 33:27)
Life comes with problems. We all wish it were not so, but it is. Jesus promised, "In the world, you will have tribulation." (John 16:33) The question is, when troubles come, how do we handle them?
Sometimes, it depends on what's bothering us. Trials come in various sizes. A car cutting in front of you on the road that causes you to brake suddenly? That deserves merely a deep sigh and a muttered, "Bless their heart, they must be in a hurry." But what about a major loss -- a home, a job, a loved one?
Blows like those seem too much for us to handle. In fact, they are too much for us handle -- on our own.
"When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed and the day is half done,
When we’ve reached the end of our earthly resources,"
That's when we need to lean hard on God.
"God has not promised us a life without difficulties and pain," writes Maggie Hughes. "Instead, He has promised to be with us through the trials. It is in the pain that we come to know His presence in a more real way. It is only when we are in need of comfort that we can truly experience the comfort and strength that God can give us."
Grief brings tears. That's okay. God's not offended by your crying, and you don't have to be embarrassed. Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." In the midst of our pain, God comes close to lead us into new life.
"God is in the business of bringing freedom to every area of our lives," writes Lou Fellingham, the author of today's song. "He is the one who saves. He is the one who heals. He is the one who binds up the broken hearted and gives strength."
Proverbs 3:5 teaches, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." Lean instead on God's everlasting arms, lifting you up, holding you close, and carrying you forward.

Friday, September 4, 2026Everlasting Arms (Lean Hard) "The et...