Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Let us rejoice in the ongoing pleasant late-summer weather, and let us be glad that summer doesn’t really come to an end until September 22nd, in spite of what the catalogs coming in the mail might suggest.  We have four more weeks of long, sunny days to enjoy; so rather than beginning to pack up the patio furniture and check on the condition of the snow shovel, let’s delight in these coming weeks.  It’s really a matter of priorities.

We don’t mean to discount the importance of preparing for the inevitable changes in the seasons, nor do we intend to minimize the work involved in closing down cottages as the season dwindles away; we have a couple of seasonal “toys” that require winterization as well.  But rather than focus on what’s coming down the road, why not enjoy what we have while we can?  Why not make it a priority to enjoy some time on the water, or at the beach, or hiking a trail, instead of fretting over putting things away?  And while we’re at it, why not make it a priority to enjoy being in God’s presence every day, instead of saving your devotion until Sunday during worship?  Unlike the oft-fleeting seasons of the year, God is constantly, unavoidably, relentlessly present, longing to engage with you no matter what you’re doing.  Take advantage of this amazing opportunity to get to know your Maker better, and to get to know you better as well!  We all try to hide parts of ourselves from God (which is a pointless enterprise), but what we’re really doing is hiding our self from our self – as we engage freely with the Almighty, and examine all aspects of who we truly are, we will come to realize that God loves us even when those parts of us that we don’t much like come to the fore.  And then maybe we’ll come to love ourselves a little bit more.

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 2 Corinthians 5:9

When: Thursday, September 29^th from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: North Bay Beach House in Presque Isle, near the marina
To Register: Return registration form by September 18^thwith your check for $25 payable to the Grand Lake Chapel Guild 

 Does simply thinking about chocolate bring a smile to your face?

Try thinking about this—hanging out at a café with friends while enjoying your favorite hot beverage, nibbling on a brownie or bit of chocolate pie, laughing, talking, and relaxing together – it’s a perfect gathering!  Join us at Café Chocolat.  It’s a retreat where we’ll focus on God’s grace—with a bit of chocolate sprinkled on top.

Café Chocolat Registration Form

Name: ________________________________________________

Mailing address: ________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Phone: ________________________________________________

E-mail address: _________________________________________

Allergies or other special needs: ____________________________

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in the ongoing great weather, and let us be glad that we have several more weeks of summer to enjoy!  There’s just something about summertime Up North, isn’t there?  We often comment that we live where other people come for vacation, and it’s all too easy to take our blessings for granted.

That’s true for myriad other things beyond beautiful weather and magnificent scenery; the love of a pet, the gift of quiet time, the delight of a favorite meal or treat, and the list goes on and on.  Why is it that so many of us seem to have such a hard time being appreciative of what we have been blessed with, be it where we live, or who we live with, or how we get to spend our time?  Maybe it’s because there are so many other things that demand our attention as we go through our days, or maybe because we’ve become complacent.  The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” and this is not meant as a gentle suggestion, it’s meant as clear instruction.  To give thanks in all circumstances requires a level of intentionality that may compete with other “have to’s” in our lives, but this act, being grateful, has been proven to lift a sour mood or change the trajectory of a day filled with drudgery; so why not give being intentionally appreciative a try?  What have you got to lose?  And think of what you might gain!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, I extol You.  Psalm 118:28

You are invited to a Ladies’ Retreat!

See the women’s Ministries Page for all the information

When: Thursday, September 29^th from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: North Bay Beach House 5602 E Grand Lake Road, Presque Isle, MI, just before the Marina
To Register: Return registration form by September 18^th with your check for $25 payable to the Grand Lake Chapel Guild, Grand Lake Community Chapel 8025 E Grand Lake Rd, Presque Isle, MI 49777

Join us at Café Chocolat.  It’s a retreat where we’ll focus on God’s grace—with a bit of chocolate sprinkled on top.

Wishing you joy and peace in your day! Remember, God’s got this!

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in the picture-perfect day that we have been blessed with, and let us be glad for mild temperatures and crystal-clear skies!  Today is one of those days that it just feels great to be alive, and today is one of those days that invite us to consider the perfection of God’s plan for our lives.

Sometimes the weather isn’t what we might want it to be, sometimes our gardens don’t produce the way we’d like them to, and sometimes we go through experiences that are painful.  At those times, we have to remember that a dedicated life of faith isn’t a guarantee against challenges, rather it is a guarantee of a safe passage to the other side of life’s difficulties, where we will find God’s right and perfect outcomes at God’s right and perfect time.  What we find isn’t always what we wanted, or when we wanted it, but our faith informs us that God wants only good for us; and God’s ways are not our ways, and God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. In all though times our Lord offers to strengthen and carry us through.  So on a glorious day like this one, let us enjoy a perfect summer’s day, and let us consider that when the skies are gray and the winds are high, soon and very soon we will be blessed with perfection.  And let us remember that when life gets a bit bumpy, or downright hard, someday we will be blessed with God’s loving care and an eternity in Paradise with our Lord.  What a blessing!!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

For “everyone who calls on the name
of the Lord will be saved.”  Romans 10:13

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in another day to enjoy the blessings of Creation and of liberty, and let us be glad for the myriad opportunities to explore, experience, and enjoy life to its fullest wherever we are!  Welcome to the month of August, and let us embrace the joys of another month of summer Up North!

All of us have our favorite summer pastimes, be it fishing or boating or bicycling or camping, or any one of a thousand different things; but let us invite you to consider trying something completely new and different this week.  One of the greatest gifts we enjoy is the God-given freedom to choose how we’re going to spend our time each day (even if we’re working for part of the day), and sometimes we might find ourselves in a “rut,” doing the same things every day.  While there is great comfort in the predictable, in the routines of life, there is also delight to be found in the new and different.  So try taking a different route to an appointment, ride a bicycle if possible instead of taking the car, or order something new for lunch; the point is that God has placed an incredible smorgasbord of experiences in front of us to choose from!  Choose your daily devotion from a different resource to see how others approach their faith, take a prayer break along a woodland trail instead of on a beachfront bench, or vice-versa.  Experience the goodness of God in a new place, a new way, with a new mindset, and see what incredible things might come your way!  And always remember that God is good, all the time; and all the time, God is good!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.  Isaiah 43:19

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in life-giving rain falling that is so badly needed, and let us be glad that the forecast is for a dry and sunny weekend!  Our lawns and gardens are smiling right now!

The perfect timing of the gentle rain this morning brings to mind the perfect timing of all of God’s provisions for our needs.  Have you ever given serious thought to how many times the exact thing you need has shown up at the exact time you needed it; often when you had absolutely no idea of how you were going to deal with a particular situation?  You weren’t sure how to pay an unexpected bill, or you didn’t know how to adjust your calendar to accommodate a special event, or you were concerned for a loved one’s welfare, and a check came in the mail from a long-forgotten source, or a surprise cancellation cleared your schedule, or the phone rang just when you were on the verge of panic?  We’ve experienced countless such moments, and they have never failed to put a smile on our faces, even if that smile was at times accompanied by tears of joy – or of relief.  But such moments have often caused us to hang our heads in shame, because we had not trusted in the ultimate source of all things.  It may be rather redundant to say, but God wants only good for us.  God wants us to put our complete faith in him to provide what we need, when we need it; and he always comes through.  Sometimes we miss out on his provision, because we were expecting something that looked or sounded or felt different, but if we do miss out, that’s on us, not on God; because God is good, all the time; and all the time, God is good.

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  

Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in real summer-like temperatures, and let us be glad that air conditioning is available for those who are uncomfortable in the heat!  Not to mention how nice the lake water feels when it’s warm outside!  We’ve been on such a roller coaster with the weather lately, and it’s kinda’ nice that it feels like summer (at least for a few days).

And isn’t it kinda’ nice that following our Lord and Savior isn’t a roller coaster ride?  Isn’t it comforting to know that God is the same today and tomorrow and forever?  No matter what we’re facing on any given day, no matter how badly we may think we’ve messed up, Jesus Christ loves us!  God is holding us in his loving arms, and we are able to deal with anything that comes our way!  It’s so easy to forget these unalterable facts when we’re in the midst of struggle, but we have to remember that we can do all things through him who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).  We have to remember that we are loved, that we are offered forgiveness, and that God wants only good things for us.  These eternal truths can lift us out of any despair we might be feeling, and set us back on the path to a glorious day!  God is good, all the time; and all the time, God is good!  Go out and make it a spectacularly good day!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13c

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!

Remember God’s got this!

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in comfortable temperatures (although a bit cool for some), and let us be glad that the forecast has no indication of severe weather!  This looks to be a wonderful few days to get out and enjoy Up North summertime!!

We have so much to be thankful for, in spite of bad economic news, unrest in major cities, and unsettledness overseas; there are days when we have to work extra hard to find those things to be thankful for, but trust us, they’re always there!  The song of a bird, seeing a deer grazing, a note from a dear friend or family member whom we haven’t heard from in a while, the gentle touch of our dearest love all are worthy of our thanks and praise.  Then there are those random acts of kindness that happen every day, that we don’t always record in the busyness of the day; for example, we were in a grocery store a couple of days ago, wrote a check for our purchases, and then were informed that the check reader wouldn’t accept our check – a couple in line behind us, whom we had never met before, offered to put our order on their debit card if we’d write them a check!  Their kindness made our day brighter than we could have imagined, and filled us with resolve to take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way to be kind to another.  What an amazing blessing, and what a powerful reminder of the goodness that is in each person we encounter!  God is good, all the time; and all the time, God is good!  And so are his children…

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:10

The Grand Lake Community Chapel VBS of 2022 is in the books and was a huge success!  We thank our dedicated organizers, leaders, teen leaders, staff, supporters, and families who made this time with God and fellowship with one another possible. God’s greatness will continue to be celebrated as the seeds that were planted grow!

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  

Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in the delights of Up North summer, and let us be glad for the myriad opportunities for rest, relaxation, and recreation that are arrayed before us in Presque Isle County!  Sometimes there are so many things to choose from, we don’t know which way to turn!  Summer concerts by the lake in Rogers City, ice cream socials at Grand Lake, farmer’s markets, and gatherings of family and friends; we’re blessed beyond measure with choices!

We’re also blessed beyond measure to walk through the forest, along the beach, or among the vacationers, side-by-side with our Risen Lord.  As the classic hymn “In The Garden” reminds us, “he walks with me, and he talks with me, and he tells me I am his own.  And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”  No matter where we are, no matter what we’re doing, we are in the presence of Jesus Christ; that simple fact should fill us with confidence and joy, and makes our experiences all the more incredible.  So don’t rush through your day, with your head filled with the “have-to’s” of life, never looking up to see the beauty around you – tarry with the Lord, saunter through the woods, splash in the lake as it laps on the beach.  Walk every day with Jesus, and every day will be richer and fuller than you can imagine!  

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord;
walk as children of Light Ephesians 5:8

A Message From the Desk of Toby the Church Dog

Hello dear friends!

Guess what??!?  I just turned six years old!  Mom and Dad gave me some extra cuddles and some birthday ice cream; and my sis shared birthday wishes with me over the phone.  It was a great day!  I’m told that now my age is equivalent to 42 in human years.  It seems that this would mean that I am wiser now, but I know I still have so much more to learn.  However, there are a few thoughts and ideas that have come to me recently that I’d appreciate sharing.

1. You may have noticed that I’m a bit height challenged.  Don’t get me wrong; I have fine-tuned my ability to conquer heights of all kinds with my mind, muscles, and daring, but largely I spend my time close to the ground.  This brings me very close to your feet, people.  I, myself, spend a good chunk of my day cleaning my feet; foot hygiene is a priority to me. May I lovingly suggest, my friends, that you add a few more minutes of foot-licking to your day too.  After all, happy feet – happy hearts! 
2. I have been pondering whether humans realize how disorderly life would be without their animal friends.  Do you know how much you drop!???  Just in the kitchen alone there are crumbs, cooking spatters, and big “oops” moments.  I stand ready at all times to relieve my family of the burden of their messiness—and let me tell you, it can be a challenge!  I also work to train, and re-train, loved ones when they neglect to pick-up after themselves.  For this I use several methods.  For instance, if Dad drops a note or paper napkin to the floor, I give it a good chew and then put it back where I found it.  The result?  Dad drops less paper!  If my sis sets down her gaming controller or a book, I enjoy creating a game of chase by grabbing them and running.  What fun we have; and we have good exercise too!  The result?  I have a neater Sis and house!
3. I’ve noticed that whenever I am with humans lately it seems either much quieter or much louder than I am used to hearing.  We canines are pretty good at sensing distress, concern, or pain in our people; and so it always surprises me to discover that humans don’t seem to recognize these things in each other.  When I sense pain, I sit closer, share a kiss, nudge a hand, and generally do my best to lend a loving and caring presence.  In the past I would see many humans doing this too, but not so much anymore.  Instead, I hear people speaking more loudly and listening less.  I see bodies with arms and mouths tightly clenched.  And what disturbs me the most; I witness more people walking away from each other than toward each other.  I am sensing so much hurt that sometimes this puppy hasn’t a clue where to turn first.  But, I try not to let the abundance of the need paralyze me.  I just go forth and share love with as many people as I can, hoping that this will make a difference.
   

I am very grateful for the six years you have shared with me.  Knowing you makes this puppy’s life so much better!

I love you, dear friends,

TOBY

VBS Is In Full SWING!

We are blessed daily with over 64 kids and 14 adults this year! God’s got this indeed!

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel 

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in clear skies and sunshine, and let us be glad that the forecast for the upcoming holiday weekend is pretty darned good!  We’re all getting a little tired of the weather roller coaster we’ve been on, with one day being crazy hot and windy and the next being crazy cold (and windy), but that’s life in Northern Michigan!

While the weather might be a bit up-and-down these days, it’s good to know that our Triune God is rock-solid, consistent, predictable, and unchanging.  No matter the challenges we might face, we can count on the steadfast love and guidance of our God.  When the world appears to be coming apart at the seams, the truth is that our Risen Lord is holding things together.  If we experience a great joy in our life, the Holy Spirit celebrates with us, increasing our joy.  Sometimes we forget that no earthly power can separate us from the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit; no matter how hard those earthly powers try to come between us and our faith.  As we gather to celebrate Independence Day on the Fourth of July, we invite you to take a moment to remember the principles on which the United States was founded – one of which was the unshakeable faith of those who bravely stood up to the tyranny of England, closing the Declaration with these words: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk
in the same manner as He walked. 1 John 2:6

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in the second day of summer, and let us be glad that the day dawned bright and clear!  We have been blessed with a beautiful day to enjoy, so if your schedule allows, get out and take advantage of this glorious day!

If you are able to get out and about, let us invite you to consider finding a quiet spot and “sit for a spell” listening for the still, small voice of God.  It seems to us that just about everyone could use a break from the busyness of our age, and from the relentless less-than-great news that confronts us on a daily basis.  Whether you’re a fan of the beach, the forest, or of rolling farmland stretching out in front of you, stopping for a little while to let your mind wander or to focus on a particular subject can be both inspiring and energizing.  As we learned during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic (and understanding that it’s still with us in a somewhat different form), we will get through our current unsettledness if we are able to turn everything over to God and trust in his wisdom and guidance at every turn.  That may not sound “active” enough for some, but the simple truth is that letting go of the reins for a time can be an opportunity to see the world through a different lens – a Divine lens.  Remember that God is good, all the time; and all the time, God is good.

With our love in Christ,

Karen and Greg

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  Philippians 1:6

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.