Pastor Paul's Paragraphs

     I spoke with one of my daughters via phone today and she shared that it was snowing a little. They have just experienced their first snow and ice storm of the season. The weather is very cold, the streets and sidewalks are slick, there is a wind blowing and the need to bundle up in layers is very evident.

      Aren't you glad you live in California? If I had asked you that question a few weeks ago in the midst of all the political upheaval you may have answered differently. We are blessed to have mild weather with windows open at times here in Yuba City, while many others are enduring storm windows and furnaces running 24/7. Aren't you glad you don't live in Fairbanks, Alaska, where, as I write, it is currently 7 degrees above zero, there is a light snow, the forecasted low for tonight is 16 degrees below zero, and the high for tomorrow is 12 degrees below zero?

      We are so very blessed. There are times in each of our lives when it can be so easy to forget the many blessings that we do experience and enjoy. The Christmas story is full of blessings. Let's consider a few of the people involved.

      Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus, was blessed. Consider what the angel said to her in Luke 1:31: "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus." Then again in verses 37 and 38: "For with God nothing will be impossible. Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her." One more verse which includes the words of Elizabeth, verse 42: "Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.'"

      Joseph, the earthly step-father of Jesus, was blessed. Read Matthew 1:24: "Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife." Many theologians consider the "angel of the Lord" to be the very person of Christ. Could this be Christ announcing His own birth to Joseph?

      I think the innkeeper in Luke 2 was blessed. The shepherds were surely blessed. Luke 2:15-16 tells us: "So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come pass, which the Lord has made known to us.' And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger."

      I could go on and on but the point of all this is found in Ephesians 1:3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." We are so blessed. Let me encourage you this Christmas to focus much of your attention on our blessings which we have because of Christ. As we do with our communion services, celebrate this year "in remembrance" of Christ and His accomplished work on our behalf. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given…" Isaiah 9:6

      Pastor Paul

Ladies of Grace

Saturday, December 6, at 9:30 AM
(Meet in the Gym)

"Christmas Tea"

Join the Ladies of Grace for a special time as they celebrate the Christmas season. Enjoy great fellowship in song and Word. Wear your Christmas attire and bring an ornament to exchange in a gift bag.

Guest speaker: Connie Smith

For more information see Loretta Stone or Verlene Wilkerson.

Invite someone you know that will be spending the holidays alone.

December Events

Thursday, December 4, at 7 PM
GCA Christmas Program

Friday, December 12, at 7 PM
Preschool Program

Saturday, December 20, at 7 AM
The Master’s Men Bible study and fellowship

Sunday, December 21, at 10:30 AM
Christmas Family Gathering

Sunday, December 21, at 9:15 AM
Kids BLAST Sunday School Christmas Gathering

Wednesday, December 24 at 6 PM
Grace Baptist Church, Christmas Eve Service

December 23 - January 6
Church Office will be closed.

Sunday, December 28, All Day
Missionary Rich Davis

Youth Group Outreach

Saturday, December 6, at Noon

Plan to meet in the gym to decorate cookie trays. Teens will head out around 1:30 PM to go caroling then meet at the Sloan’s home for dinner. Teens are to bring a gift valued at $5 for a gift exchange. Donations are needed for the cookie trays. If you would like to help, visit the pull tag board in the church foyer. For more information, please see Terry Sloan.

DRIVERS ARE NEEDED!!

Missionary News

Mike & Neva Bardon write "Where Do We Go From Here?" - November 5, 2008
It is exciting to live at the end of the church age. It will be increasingly filled with distress, trial and opposition to God, His truth and His people. Christians in our country have enjoyed a measure of prosperity and lack of persecution relatively unknown in most of the rest of church history. God has been so gracious, merciful and longsuffering to the USA. Especially since the 60’s, many Christians and churches have displayed characteristics similar to those in Laodicea (becoming worldly, materialistic, and lacking fire and zeal for God and holy living). The salt has lost some of its savor and the lights have not been bright.

Kelsey & Janet Pietsch write "Exciting Time To Be Alive" - November 8, 2008
Think about it. We have never been as close as we are to the Lord’s return as we are right now. Imagine this. Perhaps today! Wouldn’t that be great? Yes, it will be for those of us who know the Lord as our personal Savior but it won’t be for those left behind. The Bible predicts that things will continue to get worse and worse until Christ returns (2 Timothy 3:1). The Seven years of Tribulation seem to be near at hand. (To read more, missionary newsletters are available in the church foyer next to the church office.)

Christmas Presentation

after tonight...life will never be the same

after tonight...love will be refined

after tonight...we will partake of the miraculous

    for...

Tonight, Heaven Touches Earth


GBC Choir Multi-Media
Christmas Presentation
December 14 6:00 PM