Pastor Paul's Paragraphs

      Isaiah 26:3: "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." NKJV

      It was September of 1992. Joyce and I had just finished our visit to Yuba City. We had enjoyed our time with the family at Grace and were seeking the Lord's direction for our lives. Was God directing us to move from Terre Haute, Indiana, to a far away place in Northern California? As we headed back to Indiana, one of the men in the church cornered me and shared Isaiah 26:3. His statement to me after quoting God's Word was to "make sure you have God's peace in the midst of any decision you make." We traveled from Yuba City to the Sacramento airport, boarded our flight home to Indiana, and spent several days talking, praying, and seeking the Lord. We would soon put our home up for sale, load up our moving truck, and head west for California. God had granted to us His peace as we remained focused on Him and trusted in Him. In recent months, Isaiah 26:3 has again come full circle in my life. Many of you are aware that I have personally experienced some fairly significant days with discouragement and doubt. There have been times in the past weeks where there has been an enormous struggle, loss of hope, and a battle that has raged within my own heart. Some have told me that I have put on a pretty good front. Others have commented that I appear very down and blue. It is amazing how quickly and easily our focus can change from that of outward service to inner turmoil.

     Suddenly life is no longer about God and His desires for our lives. Rather, life becomes a me focus. The Holy Trinity is no longer Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is now an unholy trinity of me, myself and I. As this downward spiral continues, it begins to manifest itself with emotional, spiritual, and phy-sical symptoms. The channels of blessing seem blocked. Rather than showers of bless-ing, we experience the storms of life. Instead of Christ and the Solid Rock, we concentrate on circumstances and how painful they really can be.

      May I encourage you with a few thoughts that once again come from Isaiah 26:3? Peace in the Hebrew language brings with it a sense of tranquility, wholeness, quiet, and contentment. It is God that brings this peace; the Scrip-tures tell us that He (Christ) is our peace. The peace here is a result of some action or activity. Our mind is focused on God and by faith we entrust ourselves into His care. I cannot always control my circumstances. I can, however, be in control of my response to those circum-stances. The peace of God is available to all those who keep their minds focused on God, His promises, and His unfailing love for each of us. Read Isaiah 26:3 one more time. Notice what God does in response to what we do. "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." We all face times in our lives where the pressures can seem to overwhelm us. As we concentrate on the Word of God and God's promises to us, entrusting our lives into His loving hands, God grants to us not just peace but "perfect peace." God is changing me from the inside out.

     John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

      Pastor Paul

Patriotic Service

Sunday Morning, July 1

• Patriotic Reading "Lest We Forget Our Flag"
• Patriotic Power Point "If I Die Before You Wake"
• Communion & Baptismal Service

Our Church Family Getting Connected

Grace Family BBQ
Sunday, July 8 at 10:00 AM
(No Sunday School)

Join us for a time of praise and worship as we begin our morning service at 10 AM. Music specials provided by Esther Stratton and also by Sue Gaub (Pastor Paul’s sister). We will have a prayer of dedication for our Deacons and enjoy a message from God’s Word by Pastor Paul.

Plan to meet in the gym following the service for a BBQ lunch. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided. A-M please bring a dessert to share. N-Z please bring a salad to share.

There will be no evening service. Why not invite someone to your home for a time of games and fellowship and get connected!

The Family Spotlight

TV

How much TV does your family watch? If the studies are right, too much TV could lead to big problems.

Focus on the Family - by Rhonda Handlon

Television viewing has grown steadily since the first sets were introduced in the late ’20s. American kids aged 2-18 now spend an average of 5:29 hours using media each day, with the lion’s share of that attributed to TV. Studies show extensive viewing may be to blame for aggressive or violent behavior, poor academic performance, precocious sexuality, obesity and substance abuse.

How do you respond to these studies? Most parents fall somewhere between tossing out the TV and hiring it as a full-time babysitter. Yet few are comfortable with their family viewing habits. Thanks to a long-running public debate, we have a wealth of good advice to draw from. Here’s some of the best:

1. Schedule viewing. Together, plan a weekly program schedule. This gives parents a chance to offer good choices instead of always saying no to poor ones, and to set time limits in a positive way.
2. Set physical limits on TV viewing. Consider removing the set from your child’s room. Turn it off during meals. Don’t use the set for background noise (turn on some Bach or your local Christian music station instead).
3. Watch TV together. Talk about any troubling issues as they arise, or take notes and discuss afterward. Highlight positive behaviors. Point out unacceptable words and behaviors, and talk about the better way. Be sure to check out new programs that may venture into uncharted territory.
4. Talk back to the TV. When a character says or does something you don’t agree with, say so out loud. This is especially helpful when troublesome commercials pop up during otherwise family-friendly shows. Saying, "That’s not true!" reinforces your values to your children and helps them to challenge what they see and hear.
5. Plan weekly family nights. Turn off the TV and take out board games, go on a nature hike, play Frisbee, read books together, go out for ice cream.
6. Use your VCR liberally. Preview new programs, edit out risqué or violent commercials, and choose optimum viewing times instead of being at the mercy of the broadcaster’s schedule.
7. Be a good example. Ever had to grab for the remote when your child walked in? Take an honest look at your own viewing habits. What you do speaks so much louder than what you say.

Missionary News July 2007

VAUGHANS HOME FROM AFRICA

    In 1987, while Ken served as principal/teacher and Julie ministered as his adminis-trative assistant/bookkeeper/nurse at Grace Christian Academy, God's Spirit moved in their hearts to answer His call to foreign missionary service.

    They took three additional missionaries, their children Andy, Laura and Aimee, to Cote d' Voire, West Africa, where they ministered at Ivory Coast Academy until forcibly evacuated due to a military coup.in God's path for them, they followed Him to Dakar, Senegal, West Africa, where they have taught and nurtured missionary kids as well as international students in Dakar Academy.

    Julie is currently staying with her parents in Yuba City, Doris and Lee Alloway, and Ken is expected to arrive in Yuba City mid-July. They will be housesitting for the Ettles through the summer and fall.At this writing, they are waiting on the Lord to supply them with a vehicle to use while in the States.Be sure to ask them about their children and grandchildren when you see them!

    Welcome home, Ken and Julie!

Fireworks Booth

Grace Christian Academy & Preschool

June 29 - July 4

Raley’s Center Parking Lot
(Near Toys R Us on Bridge Street)

• Easy and fun way to raise funds for GCA.
• Volunteers are needed to staff the booth for two-hour shifts during the hours of operation. Contact the school office at 674-7210 for more information.
• Tell your family & friends to get their fireworks from the friendliest booth in town!

Church Work Day

Saturday, July 28

A work list will be posted on the bulletin board by July 15. We need volunteers! Please consider lending your support to help with the maintenance of the church.

JEWS FOR JESUS Presents:

The Liberated Wailing Wall

Sunday, July 29 at 6:00PM

Calendar of Events

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