Pastor Paul's Paragraphs

      I wish I had documented all the exciting comments I heard as we collectively participated in the 40 Days of Prayer. As we finish up our prayer times, we enter into another exciting experience. Beginning Sunday, February 6, we will be introducing a series of messages, personal Bible study and home group emphasis entitled Seeking Him. This twelve-week series, written by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Tim Grissom, is all about experiencing the joy of personal revival.

      Jim Cymbala of The Brooklyn Tabernacle says, "If you are tired of religious fads and Band-Aid solutions, let Seeking Him draw you near to the God who abundantly supples grace on every level of our lives." Recording artist Steve Green puts it this way, "Seeking Him helps identify the obstacles to genuine revival and lovingly leads the reader out of the fog of deception, the lethargy of lost intimacy and the chains of addictions, into the joy God intends for His people."

      Woodrow Kroll of Back to the Bible says, "...personal revival comes when our head and heart meet God with holy conviction through His Word." Steve Tippit declares that "the greatest need of this generation is for men and women who have the mark of God upon their lives, people who know Jesus intimately and obey Him completely."

      Let me invite you to join us on this journey. Many have already ordered the workbook that accompanies this series and are anticipating God’s working in their lives. As Nancy DeMoss, the author of Seeking Him, shares, "What we are really looking for is an all consuming relationship with the One Who gives life its true meaning. This interactive study is designed to deepen your intimacy with God, whether you’ve been a Christian for five days or five decades."

      So what have you got to lose? Maybe a little TV time, a little extra sleep, a cancelled shopping trip, or one of those projects that you didn’t want to do anyway. Remember that this series is 12 weeks in length. It is a long commitment but commitment is what makes life so fun and full. Think about it, experiencing the joy of personal revival.

      Now to another note. Tim, Virgie, Jason & Hannah Farley are coming home this May! For those of you new to Grace, the Farleys are a missionary family from our church that is ministering in Peru. After taking some down time and time at their mission headquarters in Pennsylvania, they begin the process of reporting to their supporting churches. They will be with us on a Sunday night this summer and also be part of our January 2006 Missions Conference.

      As the Farleys come stateside, they will have some physical needs which we, as their home church, may be able to supply. These needs include housing, furniture and a vehicle. Remember that any vehicle they use will need to be capable of carrying the four of them, their luggage and equipment and also capable of traveling many miles. I would ask you to pray for this wonderful family as we anticipate the joy of seeing them in the very near future. And, as you pray, ask the Lord if he wants you to have part in meeting some of the physical needs of the Farleys.

      It is now just over four months since I began as your Senior Pastor. It is still my joy and privilege to serve the Lord alongside of you. I am reminded of I Thess. 1:2: "We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers." I am excited as we worship and serve the King of Kings. I feel energized as we reach out and minister to one another and the world that surrounds us.

      Pastor Paul

Kids Korner - Pastor Greg

      Read the following note and smile...

      "Dearest Jimmy,
No words could ever express the great unhappiness I’ve felt since breaking our engagement. Please say you’ll take me back. No one could ever take your place in my heart, so please forgive me. I love you, I love you, I love you!
Yours forever, Marie
P.S. And congratulations on winning the state lottery."

      Isn’t that just like us sometimes?! "I love you, I love you, I love you!" Why? Because of what I may GET in return! Nothing could be further from the Biblical truth on the subject of love. Consider the following verses:

      I John 4:7-11: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

      What a tremendous passage of Scripture! God’s love toward us was not based upon our love for Him or upon what He might GET from us as a result. God’s love is based upon His person and upon His choice to do so. There are so many things for us to learn from that.

      First, where would we be without the love of God? Jesus would not have come to earth, He would not have died on the cross, He would not have risen again, and, consequently, we would not have any hope at all of eternal salvation! Remember that John 3:16 verse? God’s love was the catalyst by which redemption’s plan was put into motion. Hallelujah!

      Second, genuine love is expressed in what we do, not in just how we feel. Can love be expressed emotionally? Sure it can! But if our "love" is based on feelings alone, we’re in for a BIG surprise! We don’t always FEEL like loving other people, do we? Even our adoring spouses and adorable children seem unlovable at times (rare as they may be!). But we still make the choice to love - because that’s what God did for us. He did not just FEEL love for His creation, He "SENT His Son."

      Because of Valentine’s Day, February is often considered the "love month." It’s a time for reds and pinks, flowers and chocolates, banquets and special dates. Let’s take the time to consider God’s great love for us and be challenged in our love for one another as a body of believers. After all, it was Jesus who said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35)

      Pastor Greg

40 Days of Prayer

Scripture and Daily Prayer Focus

Click on the highlighted dates - the prayer focus is shown below.

Seeking Him

Experience the Joy of Personal Revival
Begins Sunday, February 6

Are you tired of trying to be a good Christian? Are you overloaded and worn out with church activities? Do you sometimes feel like you’re just going through the motions of the Christian life? Do you often find yourself running on empty spiritually? Do you experience heaviness or shame more than joy and freedom in your Christian life?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then perhaps God is calling you to something deeper. Maybe you’re ready to experience personal revival! Our 12-week study of “Seeking Him” will help you do just that. Each Sunday, beginning February 6, Pastor Paul will be focusing on a different topic that will help deepen your walk with God.

Sweetheart Saturday

Saturday, February 12
6:00 PM Gym's Diner

$20 per couple

Sponsored by
The Master's
Men

A sign-up table will be in the foyer on
Sundays or contact Terry Sloan.

Auction 2005

Grace Christian Academy
and Preschool

Saturday, March 5

• 9:00 AM - Breakfast, Preview & Silent Auction
• 10:00 AM - Live Auction

Don’t miss this fun and fantastic fundraiser with
Principal Russell Rohleder as our auctioneer!!!

• Here’s how you can help make the day a success!

• DONATE TWO NEW, OR NEARLY NEW, ITEMS OR ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES

  You don’t necessarily have to go out and buy something - ask businesses that you patronize for a donation or think of a service you would be willing to provide. However, please don’t "clean out the garage"!

  All items must be delivered to the school by Friday, February 25 - one week before the Auction. Items received after that date may not be accepted. All donations are tax deductible.

  Donation forms are available in the GCA office and the church foyer.

• BE A VOLUNTEER

  Before the Auction: Contact area merchants for donations, pick up donations and set-up crews.

  At the Auction: Silent Auction monitor, kitchen crew and clean-up crew.

  We would like to know where you can help! Please see the Sunday bulletins for volunteer sign-up forms or contact Lori Rohleder by Sunday, February 13!

Calendar of Events

Click on the highlighted dates - the events are shown on the right.