Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

Matthew 4:12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 15 “ The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: 16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”

God is light. In every place that He is present, His light will shine. This is especially important for people who "sit in darkness." The best solution to darkness is always light. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

We want people to see our light so that they can see our "good works" and experience the presence of God. Since it is the "goodness of God" that leads people to repentance (Rom. 2:4), we have an opportunity to lead people out of darkness by showing them a positive, fruitful life.

The prophetic words of Isaiah 9:1-2 found fulfillment in Christ's ministry, but the fulfillment of the promise did not end there. We are far beyond the land of Zebulun and the Jordan. However, here in America there are no lack of people who "sit in darkness" and in the "region and shadow of death."

Let God's light shine through you today and everyday! To people in darkness, It will look like dawn.

Believing is always better than doubting!

Having faith is God's environment for blessings and miracles. Doubt clouds our minds and makes it difficult to see past our present circumstances.

John 11:40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

This is what Jesus said to Martha and Mary just before He raised Lazarus from the dead.

Jesus can give life to everyone and everything, even things that seem to be lifeless.

"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)

Every one has dreams, aspirations and expectations for his or her life. The Word of God sums up all of these desires in a single word - HOPE. Hope is at the beginning of every great exploit carried out for God. Hope is the foundation for a life that is lived with peace, joy and encouragement.

Here are some nuggets from a message I taught about hope:

Hope defined: noun - confident expectation, the happy antici-pation of good, a belief that something is obtainable. verb - to trust, to have confidence
For a believer, hope is not expressed by the number of things that we desire, rather hope is centered on and around the Lord Jesus Christ.
God creates hope in us by His Word. Psalm 119:49 “Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope”
“The hope of His calling” (Eph 1:18) is the prospect before those who respond to His call in the Gospel.
“The hope of your calling” Eph 4:4, The full manifestation and realization of that life which is already the believer's possession.
There is a special statement in the Word of God to describe the essence of every hope. Colossians 1:27 “Christ in you, the hope of glory”. J.B. Phillips translation: “Christ in you, the hope of all glorious things to come”. This reveals that every hope that God has put in our heart will have a glorious manifestation. Nothing in God is mediocre or insignificant.
The key to realizing the “hope of glory” is to know that Jesus lives on the inside of us and desires to express Himself in fulfillment of every hope.
If you can believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has put His spirit within you, then you will have the faith to receive the hope that is set before you.

Media plays a vital role in the lives of today's youth. The 15th annual Multimedia in Focus 2013 Summer Media and Arts camp takes place June 9 – July 11. The media and arts camp will introduce youth to the world of new media and multimedia arts. The mission of the Vision Multimedia Workshop is to introduce urban youth to the multimedia arts of digital video and interactive media. By providing access to high quality hardware and software, participants will learn to create multimedia and traditional art content. The program features college-trained instructors and professional-level hardware and software. Multimedia in Focus is one of the many summer programs that receive grants provided by the Lilly Endowment Summer Youth Program Fund. We offer five, one-week sessions this summer. Come one week or all five. Take different workshops each week.

What We Offer | The Multimedia in Focus 2014 summer media camp provides a wide range of exciting, hands-on opportunities for young people. The program provides participants with a head start to higher education or a future career in multimedia as well as gaining confidence and self-esteem through the creative and team building process. We also visit media and arts institutions, as well invite media/arts related guests to present at our “VisionTime” talks. This summer’s workshops include:

Digital Music | Create original digital tunes using Logic Pro and Apple Garageband loaded with instrument loops, beats, and sampled sounds. Work with a USB keyboard, electronic drums, and microphones to create music and sound tracks of all types! (Listen to Projects)

Digital Video | Do creative and cutting-edge projects and special effects using our professional-level equipment and Final Cut Pro software. Learn how to script and storyboard your concepts to create exciting projects like short films, public service announcements, green screen effects. (See Projects)

Photography | Learn to take great pictures using various cameras from point-and-shoot up to DSLR cameras. Learn to edit and enhance photos in software programs like iPhoto and Photoshop, as well as perform special effects.

Graphic & Motion Design, Interactive Media | Create exciting graphic projects using Photoshop, After Effects, and Wacom digital drawing tablets. Create motion graphics projects, logos, special effects, and other exciting projects.

Sign up for one or more sessions (First come, first served. Not all workshops are available for every sessions)

Session #1: June 9-13

Session #2: June 16-20

Session #3: June 23-27

Session #4: June 30 July 3 (closed on July 4)

Session #5: July 7-11

Ages: 11 - 17

Cost: $65/week ($55/week for alumni, sibling or relative)

More information and registration: www.visionmultimedia.org

Listen to message on Firm Foundation Podcast
Download MP3
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And Jesus said unto him, “No man, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

Isaiah 49:6 Indeed He says,‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

1. Your Assignment Is To A Person or A People

Jer. 1:7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you,

The Apostle Paul said, 2 Tim. 1:11 And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.

2. Your Assignment Determines The Challenges You Will Overcome

2 Tim. 1:12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.

3. What Concerns You Is an Indicator of What You Are Assigned To Change, Heal And Restore.

Nehemiah understood this. Neh. 1:3...The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” 4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

4. Your Assignment Requires Laser-Beam Focus & Passion.

(Philippians 3:13-14).Focus keeps your attention on the correct things within your assignment. Passion is a great motivator. But don't make "passion" the most important thing. You have to actually be good at what you're doing!

5. Your Assignment Will Require Seasons of Preparation.

(2 Timothy 2:15). Jesus invested 30 years of preparation for three-and-one-half years of ministry. (See Luke 3:23)

6. Your Assignment Reveals Enemies and Allies

John 15:18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.

1 Chro. 12:22 Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.

John 15:20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.

Enemies turn nobodies into somebodies. The only difference between obscurity and significance is the enemy you decide to conquer. Without Goliath, David would remain hidden without significance in the pages of history as a shepherd boy on a hillside. Goliath was a stepping stone to David's promotion.

7. Your Assignment Produces Provision. Provision for Your Vision.

God instructed Elijah to go to the brook where a raven would feed him.

1Kings 17:5 So Elijah did as the LORD told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.