Laurelbrook Academy SDA Church

Heissel (senior) talked about "Despite Everything…Life is Beautiful"

On October 19, 2019, the Laurelbrook church service began with a welcome and announcements by Clayton Brandt. Lori Brandt’s health is at a point where she cannot have visitors.

Beth Brandt played an introit, Heissel (senior) had the invocation, and the congregation sang “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory.” Clayton Brandt had the Morning Prayer, and the congregation sang “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord”.

Clayton Brandt then called for the morning offerings; the loose offerings went towards the local church budget.  Beth Brandt played while Eldric (junior) and Sebastien Roy Lavallee collected the offerings.  The congregation sang “Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow”, and Clayton Brandt prayed for the offerings. Clayton Brandt sang a vocal solo, accompanying himself on the guitar.

For the scripture reading, Maria (senior) read Revelation 21:1-7 “1 ¶ And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”

Heissel (senior) had the sermon titled “Despite Everything…Life is Beautiful”. The congregation sang “I’d Rather Have Jesus”. Heissel had the closing prayer.

Personnel Other Than Students:

Clayton Brandt – works with Laurelbrook’s heavy equipment

Sebastien Roy Lavallee – head local church deacon / Laurelbrook men’s work coordinator / maintenance man

Following are some notes from the sermon:

1. Revelation 21:11-7 talks about the earth recreated after sin.
2. Are you tired of this world?  We are in this world, and life can be beautiful.
3. Success takes into account this life and God’s plan for your life.  We need to look up, look for those things that elevate you, but never look down.
4. Look up to see the better things to come.
5. Perseverance is not quitting.
6. Proverbs 24:15-16 “15 ¶ Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: 16 For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”
7. Challenges will come along your way, but God will help you overcome those challenges.
8. John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
9. We can communicate with God anytime by talking to Him through your prayers to Him as you are doing other things.
10. Even pain (something that hurts a lot) can offer a positive approach to life. You trust that God will heal you and continue on in life. Many lessons can be learned by thinking about why you are sick or in pain.
11. Matthew 5:4 “Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
12. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 
13. Are you taking care of your body, which can glorify God, too?
14. John 14:1-3 “1 ¶ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.”
15. Are you prepared for a place in heaven?
16. Jesus says that He will be with us every day to the end of the world.
17. Self-sacrifice might be necessary when we walk the Christian way. You may feel lonely.
18. Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
19. Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
20. God is waiting for us to accept Him to take care of loneliness.
21. John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
22. What have we been doing for Jesus?  Have you shared about God’s love?
23. Everything we have is provided by God.
24. But there is a better life than the dreary life of this world to come.
25. Life here has problems, but God wants to work in our lives to help us make sense of these problems.