On Sunday, May 9, recognition will be given to a very special group of individuals, MOTHERS.
My mother will celebrate her 95th birthday in October. Come August 25th of this year, I will have known this lady for 70 years. That's plenty of time to make a true evaluation of the influence a person has had in one's life. I give my Mom top marks.
In God's plan He determined that children needed a father and mother and these two individuals should impact the lives of their children. The Bible is full of stories of women of God who contributed to making this world a better place in which to live and who helped influence people towards God.
After the passing of Israel through the midst of the Red Sea, it was Miriam who led the people in their rejoicing over the victory. Ruth put God first and as a result was allowed a special place in the lineage of King David.
Deborah was one of the judges of Israel. Queen Esther took her life in her own hands to plead before the king for her doomed people. A widow's obedience to God's request sustained the prophet Elijah as recorded in I Kings 17. One of my favorite stories is how God used a young captive maid to tell the wife of Naaman about the man of God who would cure Naaman of his leprosy.
In the New Testament the record is given of a woman's grateful love and how it caused her to break an alabaster box and pour precious ointment on Jesus' head. A woman's thankfulness caused her to wash the feet of Jesus with her tears and wipe His feet with her hair.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a beautiful example of obedience to God's plan for her life. Mary Magdalene, bringing spice to anoint Him, was the first to be greeted by the risen Lord and to receive the message, "Go, tell."
The list could go on as Scripture clearly defines the value of a godly woman. However, let me conclude by saying may God help mothers to take a stand and influence their children towards God and the principles given in His Word, especially in this uncertain hour of the world's history, when the very foundation of the Christian home is being attacked. The day will come when they will "rise up and call you blessed."
Pastor Kuns
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It was mid-day in the Orient. A caravan was hurrying on under the blasting heart. Not far ahead was one of the oldest cities in the world. The exuberant young man in the lead was hurrying to perform his task. Saul of Tarsus, with papers of authority, was on the Damascus road, determined in his efforts to persecute Christians.
Then something happened. Saul met Christ. Saul was introduced to, and then followed, the Great Leader. Soon, he would become Paul, himself one of the most outstanding leaders for Christ.
Today Christ needs leaders to do in His name the same type of things that Paul did in the name of Christ. God has a definite plan for every life. All are to be good followers, faithful servants and some are to be leaders. All are to ask: "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" And Christ, the Master Leader, will give direction.
Christ said that if anyone would be great, he must serve. All of those who give direction in any place of Christian work must be servants. A Christian leader should be thought of as a servant and should think of himself as a servant.
God's plan of the ages is based upon human leadership under divine commission and guidance. In the book of Exodus, a deliverer for the children of Israel was needed. Joshua was ready to take Moses' place when it was time for Moses to depart. Isaiah, in his vision, saw God high and lifted up and responded to the divine call.
Mordecai said to Esther, "who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this." (Esther 4:14) God needed a herald to go before Christ to prepare the way and John the Baptist appeared. No one in the Scripture said it more forcefully when Paul declared, "We are God's fellow-workers." (I Corinthians 3:9)
The need today is for leaders full of faith, who believe in their task, who are willing to confront the difficulties and disappointments, who are willing to begin over and over again, and to spend and be spent. Losing life in order to find it is the high cost and unsought reward of leadership. Not saving, hiding, preserving, but losing, abandoning, giving up. The secret of Christian leadership is that at its very heart lies self-sacrifice.
The need today is for leaders...will you be one of them?
Pastor Paul
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I love teaching children. That might come across as an obvious statement, considering my position here at Grace. But really, I love teaching children. Specifically, I love to teach them the great stories of the Bible. As adults, sometimes we become immune to the awe and wonder of these accounts in Scripture of God doing absolutely amazing things. It has always been a dream of mine that one day God would allow us to actually see those events - a "heavenly theatre", if you will.
Consider the building of the ark; David defeating Goliath; Daniel in the lions' den; Elijah calling down fire from Heaven; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace; Jesus walking on water, raising the dead, feeding thousands with a few loaves and fishes (come to think of it - everything Jesus did!) - all of these dramatic moments in God's Word contain a single thread: they are all demonstrations of the Lord's power and control in the midst of all circumstances.
Friends, the God who demonstrated this awesome ability in the Old and New Testaments is still alive today. He is still in control and He still wields incredible power. Tracy and I have seen first-hand the sovereignty of God in the midst of circumstances we did not understand. It was just one year ago when we were preparing to say goodbye to a church ministry where we believed we would be forever. God had closed the door of ministry and we were without a clue what we were going to do next.
Of course, our church folks know the outcome of THAT story! In His great providence, He directed our family to Yuba City to serve with the dear people of Grace Baptist Church. In the midst of our uncertainty and concern for the future, God remained faithful, just as He promised and just as he demonstrated time and time again throughout the pages of Scripture.
The God of the great Bible stories is my God. The God who told Noah to build an ark brought my family to Yuba City. The Son of God seen in the midst of the fiery furnace is the one I talked to this morning in my devotional time. The One who calmed the raging sea brings hope and comfort in my time of need. Now is the time when the Lord is writing OUR great story. He is faithful. May we look to Him and may we look forward to the day when we can share that story with our children. He is a great and loving Heavenly Father worthy of our confidence in whatever circumstances we face.
Pastor Greg
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MEMORIAL DAY
Sunday, May 30
12:30 PM
Sam Brannen Park
(Gray Avenue, Yuba City)
PICNIC DETAILS
Please Bring:
Meat to BBQ
Two dishes to share. Choice of salad, beans, chips or dessert
Table Service & Beverage for your family
Lawn Chairs
Organized Games:
Volleyball
Water Balloon Toss
Raw Egg Toss
Horseshoes
There will be no evening service on May 30.
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Freedom Rings
"Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."
John 8:32
Saturday, May 15, 2004
8:45 AM - 4:00 PM
Grace Baptist Church
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Another Step Forward
Men's Retreat
May 21-23
Brochures are available in the church foyer.
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Click on the highlighted dates - the events are shown on the right.
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From the Pastor's Pen...
May 2004