Prayer Meeting
      Worship Songs
   Sharing of Testimony
         Message
      Thanksgiving
      Closing Prayer
What A Friend We Have in Jesus
 What a Friend we have in Jesus,
  all our sins and griefs to bear!
     What a privilege to carry
   everything to God in prayer!
  O what peace we often forfeit,
  O what needless pain we bear,
   All because we do not carry
   everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations?
   Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
  take it to the Lord in prayer.
 Can we find a friend so faithful
 who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
  take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden,
    cumbered with a load of care?
   Precious Savior, still our refuge,
     take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
    Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you;
      you will find a solace there.
                  (end)
At Calvary
    Years I spent in vanity and pride,
    Caring not my Lord was crucified,
  Knowing not it was for me He died on
                 Calvary.
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
   Pardon there was multiplied to me;
 There my burdened soul found liberty at
                 Calvary.
By God’s Word at last my sin I learned;
 Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,
  Till my guilty soul imploring turned to
                  Calvary.
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
    Pardon there was multiplied to me;
 There my burdened soul found liberty at
                  Calvary.
Now I’ve given to Jesus everything,
    Now I gladly own Him as my King,
  Now my raptured soul can only sing of
                 Calvary
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
   Pardon there was multiplied to me;
 There my burdened soul found liberty at
                 Calvary.
Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
 Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at
                  Calvary
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
    Pardon there was multiplied to me;
 There my burdened soul found liberty at
                 Calvary.
                   (end)
Count Your Blessings
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
 When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by
                       one,
  And it will surprise you what the Lord hath
                      done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
 And it will surprise you what the Lord hath
                     done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
  Does the cross seem heavy you are called to
                     bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
  And you will keep singing as the days go by.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
 And it will surprise you what the Lord hath
                     done.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
  Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
   Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

   Count your blessings, name them one by one,
   Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
   Count your blessings, name them one by one,
  And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
   Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
 Help and comfort give you to your journey’s
                     end.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
 And it will surprise you what the Lord hath
                   done. (end)
Holding Too Tightly
Luke 12:13-21
13 And one of the company said to        18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull
him, Master, speak to my brother, that   down my barns, and build greater; and
he divide the inheritance with me.       there will I bestow all my fruits and my
14 And he said to him, Man, who made     goods.
me a judge or a divider over you?        19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you
15 And he said to them, Take heed, and   have much goods laid up for many
beware of covetousness: for a man's      years; take your ease, eat, drink, and
life consists not in the abundance of    be merry.
the things which he possesses.           20 But God said to him, You fool, this
16 And he spoke a parable to             night your soul shall be required of you:
them, saying, The ground of a certain    then whose shall those things be,
rich man brought forth plentifully:      which you have provided?
17 And he thought within                 21 So is he that lays up treasure for
himself, saying, What shall I            himself, and is not rich toward God.
do, because I have no room where to
bestow my fruits?
II. There is more to life than living for
                  yourself
• A. In the parable, God blessed a rich man with abundance.
  But the one who received this great provision failed to
  acknowledge the Lord as its source. In arrogance, he planned
  to take life easy, but God ended his life that very night.

• B. It is foolish to ignore our Maker and think only of what we
  can experience, achieve, or accumulate.

      Luke 12:15 And he said to them, Take heed, and beware
of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of
the things which he possesses.
III. What do people hold too tightly?
• Relationships
     A sure way to
destroy a relationship is
to smother or try to
control someone.

• Goals and dreams
     We should ask the
Lord to show us which
goals to pursue.
• The past
    One of the most destructive things
    you can cling to is the past.
• Old hurts
    Surrender those difficulties,
    heartaches, and problems to the
    Lord.
E.Wrong ideas and
     perceptions
     Every thought should be
     tested against the
     Word of God
F. Timing
     We must learn to
     submit to God’s
     schedule.
G. Possessions
     We should be careful not
     to make anything into an
     idol.
IV. Benefits of Intimacy with the Father

A. Stability
    In the midst of life’s storms, a solid
relationship with God is your anchor.
B. Security
    You can have the assurance that He
is always with you, ready to help in any
situation or circumstance.
C. Serenity
    Intimacy gives you quietness and peace
in your spirit, no   matter what happens.
You can trust that the Lord will guide  you
through difficulty.
D. Sensitivity
    God will give you greater spiritual
understanding and increased awareness to
the needs of others.
V. Biblical Examples
A.   Some people believe that Judas betrayed Christ in hopes
     of forcing Him to take military action and set up an
     earthly kingdom.
B.   Pilate agreed to have Jesus crucified because he feared
     losing political power.
C.   King Saul relentlessly pursued David, who had been
     anointed as the next king.
D.   Peter tried to protect the Lord, even when his good
     intentions hindered Christ’s divine mission.
E.   Potiphar’s wife forfeited all interaction with Joseph when
     her false accusations put him in jail.
F.   When the children of Israel tried to hoard manna, it
     always spoiled.
V. Biblical Examples
• Fear of loss
      Remember that if God gives you something, He can
      guard it for you.
• Failure to trust God
      When we start to love His gifts more than we love
      Him, we lose our contentment and joy.
• Pride
      We can grasp our positions, possessions, or
      prominence in a way that deeply hurts other people.
• Wrong sense of values
     Many folks place too much importance on worldly
goals, such as accumulating wealth. Don’t let anything
ruin your relationship with God.
• Jealousy
     Do you ever wish you could have someone else’s
looks, accomplishments, or wealth? Most likely, you
wouldn’t be prepared for it. God gives each of us  what
we are equipped to handle.
V. Biblical Examples
• When we make anything a higher priority than our
  relationship with the Lord, He sees it as competition.

• God will target whatever comes between Him and us.

• The Lord may allow us to experience brokenness so
  that we turn from sin. He doesn’t want any idol to
  hinder our fellowship with Him.
VI. How can you release your grip?
A. Begin by recognizing that God is not first in your
life.
B. Then ask Him, “How much of my
time, thoughts, or energy do I put towards this
item, position, or person?”
C. Acknowledge that you devote more time and
energy to something other than the Lord.
D. Decide to put everything in its proper place. Let
Jesus be first, and He will help you arrange all
other priorities.
Conclusion
• Is the Lord the most important person in your life?
  Don’t fixate on your own objectives and thereby
  miss out on His blessings and purpose for you.

• I pray that you will make the Lord top priority.
  Open your hands and let Him have what you’re
  holding. When you allow God to be number one in
  your life, the blessings will flow beyond human
  explanation.

Holding too tightly

  • 1.
    Prayer Meeting Worship Songs Sharing of Testimony Message Thanksgiving Closing Prayer
  • 2.
    What A FriendWe Have in Jesus What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
  • 3.
    Have we trialsand temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
  • 4.
    Are we weakand heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer. Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there. (end)
  • 5.
    At Calvary Years I spent in vanity and pride, Caring not my Lord was crucified, Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary. Mercy there was great, and grace was free; Pardon there was multiplied to me; There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.
  • 6.
    By God’s Wordat last my sin I learned; Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned, Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary. Mercy there was great, and grace was free; Pardon there was multiplied to me; There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.
  • 7.
    Now I’ve givento Jesus everything, Now I gladly own Him as my King, Now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary Mercy there was great, and grace was free; Pardon there was multiplied to me; There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.
  • 8.
    Oh, the lovethat drew salvation’s plan! Oh, the grace that brought it down to man! Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary Mercy there was great, and grace was free; Pardon there was multiplied to me; There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary. (end)
  • 9.
    Count Your Blessings Whenupon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
  • 10.
    Are you everburdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, And you will keep singing as the days go by. Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
  • 11.
    When you lookat others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold; Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
  • 12.
    So, amid theconflict whether great or small, Do not be disheartened, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end. Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. (end)
  • 13.
  • 14.
    Luke 12:13-21 13 Andone of the company said to 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull him, Master, speak to my brother, that down my barns, and build greater; and he divide the inheritance with me. there will I bestow all my fruits and my 14 And he said to him, Man, who made goods. me a judge or a divider over you? 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you 15 And he said to them, Take heed, and have much goods laid up for many beware of covetousness: for a man's years; take your ease, eat, drink, and life consists not in the abundance of be merry. the things which he possesses. 20 But God said to him, You fool, this 16 And he spoke a parable to night your soul shall be required of you: them, saying, The ground of a certain then whose shall those things be, rich man brought forth plentifully: which you have provided? 17 And he thought within 21 So is he that lays up treasure for himself, saying, What shall I himself, and is not rich toward God. do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
  • 16.
    II. There ismore to life than living for yourself • A. In the parable, God blessed a rich man with abundance. But the one who received this great provision failed to acknowledge the Lord as its source. In arrogance, he planned to take life easy, but God ended his life that very night. • B. It is foolish to ignore our Maker and think only of what we can experience, achieve, or accumulate. Luke 12:15 And he said to them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.
  • 17.
    III. What dopeople hold too tightly? • Relationships A sure way to destroy a relationship is to smother or try to control someone. • Goals and dreams We should ask the Lord to show us which goals to pursue.
  • 18.
    • The past One of the most destructive things you can cling to is the past. • Old hurts Surrender those difficulties, heartaches, and problems to the Lord.
  • 19.
    E.Wrong ideas and perceptions Every thought should be tested against the Word of God F. Timing We must learn to submit to God’s schedule. G. Possessions We should be careful not to make anything into an idol.
  • 20.
    IV. Benefits ofIntimacy with the Father A. Stability In the midst of life’s storms, a solid relationship with God is your anchor. B. Security You can have the assurance that He is always with you, ready to help in any situation or circumstance.
  • 21.
    C. Serenity Intimacy gives you quietness and peace in your spirit, no matter what happens. You can trust that the Lord will guide you through difficulty. D. Sensitivity God will give you greater spiritual understanding and increased awareness to the needs of others.
  • 22.
    V. Biblical Examples A. Some people believe that Judas betrayed Christ in hopes of forcing Him to take military action and set up an earthly kingdom. B. Pilate agreed to have Jesus crucified because he feared losing political power. C. King Saul relentlessly pursued David, who had been anointed as the next king. D. Peter tried to protect the Lord, even when his good intentions hindered Christ’s divine mission. E. Potiphar’s wife forfeited all interaction with Joseph when her false accusations put him in jail. F. When the children of Israel tried to hoard manna, it always spoiled.
  • 23.
    V. Biblical Examples •Fear of loss Remember that if God gives you something, He can guard it for you. • Failure to trust God When we start to love His gifts more than we love Him, we lose our contentment and joy. • Pride We can grasp our positions, possessions, or prominence in a way that deeply hurts other people.
  • 24.
    • Wrong senseof values Many folks place too much importance on worldly goals, such as accumulating wealth. Don’t let anything ruin your relationship with God. • Jealousy Do you ever wish you could have someone else’s looks, accomplishments, or wealth? Most likely, you wouldn’t be prepared for it. God gives each of us what we are equipped to handle.
  • 25.
    V. Biblical Examples •When we make anything a higher priority than our relationship with the Lord, He sees it as competition. • God will target whatever comes between Him and us. • The Lord may allow us to experience brokenness so that we turn from sin. He doesn’t want any idol to hinder our fellowship with Him.
  • 26.
    VI. How canyou release your grip? A. Begin by recognizing that God is not first in your life. B. Then ask Him, “How much of my time, thoughts, or energy do I put towards this item, position, or person?” C. Acknowledge that you devote more time and energy to something other than the Lord. D. Decide to put everything in its proper place. Let Jesus be first, and He will help you arrange all other priorities.
  • 27.
    Conclusion • Is theLord the most important person in your life? Don’t fixate on your own objectives and thereby miss out on His blessings and purpose for you. • I pray that you will make the Lord top priority. Open your hands and let Him have what you’re holding. When you allow God to be number one in your life, the blessings will flow beyond human explanation.