July 14 -19, 2008
Registration Forms are available in the church foyer!
Upconing May Events Pray For Election Day 7 Points of Prayer 7 Days a Week GCA & Preschool Schedule of Events Missionary News
Return to the Content Links.
Wow, where has the first quarter of this year gone? Time sure does seem to be flying by. Our schedules fill up and our days keep us running from sun up to sun down and then some. The list of things to be remembered and to get done continues to get longer. The demands on our time have a tendency to increase as we pack our daily routine with family, work, church, studies, sports, play, vacation and more. We find ourselves with still a long list on a short day, and deadlines simply cannot be pushed back. I feel tired and stressed just writing this paragraph. I need a break, I need to stop, and I need to get a grip on this crazy world that swirls around me.
Please don't misunderstand me, I am not suggesting early retirement (although that is a wonderful option for some), I am suggesting we slow down enough to evaluate the use of our time. I am suggesting that we pause long enough to hear from and commune with God. I am thinking that the accumulation of stuff can get out of hand, that there are a few things that I just cannot do or don't really need to do, that I might just end up too tired and worn out to enjoy what I have worked so hard to acquire.
It is OK to stop or push the pause button on the HD DVD and just take a walk. Eternity will not be impacted by the fact that I did not finish the movie. Yet, someone might be impacted if I choose to take a walk with them.
Donald Whitney talks about "Making Space For God" in his article that has the same title and recently appeared in the Spirit of Revival magazine. He talks about following the example of Jesus who made it His habit to go early in the day to a solitary place. God speaks to us in those quiet moments, we have opportunity to focus our attention and worship, our faith is strengthened, we are restored, we discover God's desires for us, and we receive power for spiritual warfare. "As sleep and rest are needed each day for the body, so silence and solitude are needed each day for the soul."
Isaiah 30:15 "For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. But you would not.'"
Isaiah 40:31 "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
So, let's get started. Take time to get away, to seek the Lord in silence and solitude. The busier you are, the more you need daily space or time spent alone with God. Make a plan, and then work the plan. Failing to plan, is in reality planning to fail.
Pastor Paul
Return to the Content Links.
FREE BABYSITTING FOR GBC FAMILIES - FRIDAY, MAY 10
The Youth Group is offering FREE babysitting to any couples interested in a night out. “Hey dads, what about taking mom out on a special Mother’s Day date?” Babysitting will be available in the church nursery from 5 to 9 PM. If you are interested, please visit the bulletin board in the church foyer to sign up.
MOTHER’S DAY & BABY DEDICATION SERVICE - SUNDAY, MAY 11
Any parents interested in participating in the Baby Dedication Service should see Pastor Paul as soon as possible. Following the morning service, we will be honoring all our mothers with a special Mother’s Day gift. There will be no evening service, so you may enjoy the evening with your family.
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND PICNIC - SUNDAY, MAY 25
Join the Grace Baptist Family at Sam Brannon Park on Gray Avenue for a time of fellowship, great food and fun. Plan to meet at the park following the morning service. Watch for more information to come in your Sunday bulletin.
Return to the Content Links.
Does My Vote Really Count?
We don’t know what the 2008 election holds, but are you willing to take the chance by not casting your vote?
ONE VOTE made Texas part of the United States.
1829 Nicholas Coleman defeated Adam Beatty 2,520 to 2,519 in the election for the U.S. House of Representatives Kentucky’s 2nd Congressional District.
1868 One vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment.
ONE VOTE saved the selective service system-only twelve weeks before Pearl Harbor.
2000 The Bush vs. Gore presidential election showed Americans just how close results could be. The deciding factor in Bush winning the election was a victory in Florida by just 537 votes over Gore!
Return to the Content Links.
Return to the Content Links.
Return to the Content Links.
Picture a serene setting with beautiful manicured lawns dotted with bright flowers; gravel paths lined with towering, well groomed, shade giving trees- all inviting you to feel at peace. We spent a couple of hours at just such a place called “Gardens of Peace”. As we strolled along we were overcome with sorrow, because don’t let the name and description fool you, this is a private cemetery where only few can afford to bury their loved ones. Tim was asked to share a few words and pray at the service. He shared from John 14, where Christ is comforting His disciples before His death and reminding them that the only way to the Father is through the Son. The family ended their time there praying to Mary for intervention on their mother’s behalf. This was hard for us as we know that each of them had heard the gospel only moments before. They are so steeped in their religious beliefs that they find tradition to be more comforting than the truth.
We recently got news that the owner of the house we are renting is planning on selling it. She wants to start showing the house as soon as possible. Please pray for us as we seek the Lord’s direction for us. With the continuing decline of the U.S. dollar as well as rising prices, perhaps this is God’s way of providing a more affordable living situation for us. Please also pray that our visas will get renewed without any delay.
The Farleys
To read more about the Farley’s pick up a copy of their letter in the church foyer, next to the church office.
Return to the top of the page.
Pastor Paul's Paragraphs
May 2008