Discouragement and Grace

^{My dear sisters, I’m sure that many of you have had days when life seems to really get you down…perhaps today is one of those days. No matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to triumph over the trials that are causing despair in your life.  At times stressful situations such as volatile relationships, struggles with finances, raising kids, job changes, ministry commitments, and various other issues seem to overwhelm all of us with despair and discouragement.} 

^{In my quiet time this morning, the Lord opened my eyes (again!) to a familiar passage of Scripture that immediately brought comfort and peace to my soul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9    Wow!  I once again realized that His grace truly is amazing as the songwriter penned those many years ago.  Also, I once read in a devotional these words, “Grace is all that Christ is, made available to me”.  Isn’t that awesome! Our Lord can handle anything that we are going through, but we really do have to admit that we are weak and without power; any strength that we have comes totally from Him. Of course, grace is not something that we earn; it is what God chooses to give to us in spite of us!} 

^{When I begin to recognize my inadequacy to handle life’s circumstances on my own, there is great joy that floods my soul knowing and believing that I have a Savior who conquered death, and He has the power to guide me through the tribulations that are inevitable.  Sometimes the Lord will give me what I call “surprises of His grace”, where I sense a special manifestation of His grace and presence in my life during the day. For example, I have had days when I have needed encouragement, and the Lord will have someone pray for me or He will show me a Scripture that immediately speaks to me heart.  He is so attentive to our needs!!}

^{When God makes a promise, He is Faithful to keep it!  So when discouragement comes, HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT to see us through all life’s challenges!}

^{Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”  2 Corinthians 12:9}

A Celebration To Come

^{This time of year two types of celebrations come to my mind: weddings and graduations.  Weddings celebrate the joining of two individuals who have committed to love one another and spend their lives together.  Graduations celebrate the completion of a stage of one’s academic journey.  Both of these events evoke joy and  tears…… yet happy tears.   Also, these events are definitely worth every bit of the fanfare they bring, since they represent milestones in an individual’s life.}

^{Yet as wonderful and exciting as they are, there is a celebration on the horizon for God’s forever family that is beyond comparison.  The Word of God speaks of the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.  When I think about this grand and glorious future event, at times it brings joyful tears to my eyes.  One day my Lord will celebrate with me, and all the saints,  His glorious return to receive His bride, the church, who has “made herself ready”, with “fine linen, bright and clean” (Revelation 19:7-8).  It is very difficult to imagine how grand this occasion will be, when we celebrate the Second Coming of our Savior,  and we will be joined with Him forever!}

^{So, in the midst of life’s disappointments and discouragements, remember we have a glorious celebration to look forward to, and no one can keep us from it.   When our names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, we secured our invitation!  No need to RVSP for fear of being turned away; our salvation means we are accepted in the Beloved for all eternity.}  

^{Reflect on this celebration to come, and may it bring you hope and peace!}  

^{Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb!’ ” Revelation 19:9}        

It’s That Time Again!

^{Well, guess what?   It’s that time again.  What time you may ask?}

^{I am speaking of  Vacation Bible School (VBS) time!   This is an exciting time because during the summer months many churches go outside their four walls to reach the lost in their communities and neighborhoods to introduce them to the Lord Jesus Christ!   Last week we hosted our VBS events, and we truly had a wonderful team at our church that put together a great week of activities, and the curriculum theme this year reminded us all of how great, awesome, and powerful our glorious God is!!}

^{For me personally, I really get excited about VBS!  As a young child growing up in the church, I never experienced VBS; it was not until I became an adult that I attended my first class.  I had always thought that VBS was just for kids…..wow was I wrong!   The adult classes I have experienced were actually very fun and exciting; we played games, did crafts, learned songs…….it really made me feel like a kid all over again!   In recent years, I have been a teacher instead of a student, and it is a tremendous blessing to teach kids Biblical truths and introduce them  to the Gospel of Christ!  It’s also very rewarding to see kids come to faith in Christ as a result of this type of outreach.}  

^{Of course evangelism and reaching out to those who don’t know Christ is not just a once a year event;  we can purpose in our hearts to be about spreading the Gospel all year round.  However, traditionally it is great to host VBS events in the summer in order to generate better attendance, since kids are out of school, and for many families life slows down the pace a little.}

^{Yes, it is that time again, so why not get involved (in some capacity)  in your church’s VBS program and do your part in sharing the life and love of Christ with those who don’t normally set foot in a church or those who have not even heard of our Savior. The Lord could you use to plant and water seeds of faith in another person’s life.   Wouldn’t that be awesome?}

^{“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”     1 Peter 3:15}

Baby Update

Satan ATTACKS

We have been at our current church, going on 16 years, so we have watched folks come and go.  We've witnessed babies being born and the death of our folks.  However, even though we are barely half way through 2012...we have experienced some very dramatic things already this year, especially considering we are a small church.

• one of our members committed suscide, leaving a husband and son.
• a leader was arrested for domestic violence.
• a lady discovered her husband had been having an affair for two years and claims he loves them both.
• a deacon is going through a nasty divorce.
• two Sunday School teachers just up and quit.

It is easy to minister to a church when things are going good.  It is harder to minister during trying times, but that is when "they" need us the most.

I think our church is just an example of where the world is going....there is a major bread-down in the family.  If you look at my list above, ALL of the situations stem from SIN and most of them are centered around a break-down in the family.  We need to pray for each other like we have never prayed before.

The CHURCH will never be any stronger than the FAMILY.  The NATION will never be any strong than the CHURCH.  When satan can break the family, he has won the victory.

Are you also witnessing similar situations?

V.B.S. 2012 - Amazing Wonders Aviation!!!

We have been at our church for 15 years so this is the 16th V.B.S. that I have directed. Directing V.B.S. was never one of the jobs that I even wanted….but it was the job I was handed because “I was the preacher’s wife.” Apparently the preacher’s wives in the past had all been the V.B.S. Directors. One of the disadvantages of being in the Bi-Vocational Ministry is that your church is probably so small that you and your husband have to do a lot of the work.

Like I previously said, we just completed our 16th V.B.S. last week and I am happy to say it was once again very successful and rewarding. When I first began as director, I was told that I would have to go to the association and see if there were volunteers to help with V.B.S. because all of the women at the church had already “served their time” and was not available. At first I was scared and even a little angry that the job was just handed to me, but I prayed about it. THEN, I went back to the church and told them I would direct, BUT….I had prayed about it and as long as God saw fit to leave them on this earth, there was a place for them in V.B.S.; whether female or male. And, I also told them that when God could no longer use them, he would take them home. Guess I scared them into helping with V.B.S. because after that the men and women were volunteering.

Over the years, I have never turned anyone down to help in V.B.S. I have even created positions for some of the elderly that are not capable of doing as much. I am proud to say that we always have lots of men and women working in V.B.S.  I think my oldest V.B.S. volunteer was 80+ years old.  What a blessing!!!  He sat in the soft pulpit chair and passed out candy to the kids as they stopped and told him their memory verse.  He called himself the "Candy Man".

Vacation Bible School is one of our biggest outreach tools for the community.  We provide classes for 18 months old to just completed 12th grade. You would be amazed at the “driving teens” that come to our Bible School. The youth class is usually the largest class, so that tells me they are "hungry" for God's Word.

Over the years, Vacation Bible School has been a service that we provide for the community and our children also, however, I think our workers wind up and get as much out of it as the children do.  It is a time where we all pull together and work together regardless of age or gender.

We are just a small country church.  During V.B.S. every year, we collect Mission Money for the local Children's Home on the mountain.  We have a contest....Females against the Males.  This year, the Males won.....but in the end, the girls at the Children's home won.  Our V.B.S. kids brought in over $500 to be sent to them.

Although the week of V.B.S. is very tiring and stressful......the rewards greatly out-weigh it all.  I would LOVE to hear your V.B.S. success stories and ideas.

HAPPY LATE FATHER'S DAY!!!