Reaching Out from 

Grand Lake Community Chapel 

Wednesday, April 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 that there isn’t a coating  of ice on the roads and sidewalks, and let us be glad that the forecast isn’t calling for ice or snow or gale-force  winds! Only rain…  

What a difference a week makes, eh? Last Wednesday found most of us hunkered down at home, with an ice  storm having made travel uncomfortable at best, hazardous at worst. Today, we look out our office window  and see slowly diminishing piles of snow, and just a hint of green emerging from the newly uncovered grass.  Last Wednesday also found us 17 days away from the end of the Lenten season; today we’re only 10 days  away, and on the cusp of Holy Week. Starting with our observation of Palm/Passion Sunday, we will begin our  journey to the cross alongside Jesus. We will share in the Passover with him at the Maundy Thursday service  at Westminster Presbyterian Church; sit at the foot of the cross during the Good Friday vigil from noon until  3:00 p.m. as he suffers; and we will contemplate all these things during the Great Vigil of Easter on Holy  Saturday. It’s a full week, to be sure, but the most important week of the year for we who believe. And it’s  not a week to be consumed with worries over what we’ll be wearing to Easter Sunday worship services or  what we’ll be serving for dinner on Easter Sunday. Our spiritual energy should be expended on making  absolutely certain that we’re fully prepared to receive the inestimable gift of salvation when Christ rises on  Easter, when we will shout with believers around the world “Christ is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed!” Alleluia,  Amen! 

With our love in Christ, 

Karen and Greg 

So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out,  “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,  even the King of Israel!” John 12:13

A Palm Sunday Devotion for your Family 

ABOUT THIS DEVOTION: Your family will plan a party for Jesus. 

Before you start, gather these supplies: Bible; paper; and markers, crayons, or   colored pencils

Instructions:  

Everyone think about the BEST party you’ve ever been to. Now, go around the room and share what  party you’re thinking of and what made it the BEST.  

After you’re done sharing, you and your family will plan a party for Jesus. It’s up to you if you want to  make this a real party or an imaginary one.  

Together, talk about how your family would throw a welcome party for Jesus. Get creative! Write or  draw what your party for Jesus would include. Who would you invite? What food would you prepare?  Would you have music? Dancing? What kind of decorations would you have? 

Read Luke 19:36-40 to your family. Talk about it!  

∙ What do you think of how people praised and welcomed Jesus when he entered  Jerusalem on Palm Sunday?  

∙ How is our party plan like or unlike how the people of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus?  ∙ Why do you think it’s important for our family to praise Jesus? 

Pray! 

Have someone in your family start the prayer, and then go around the room and let everyone add  their own word.  

Dear Jesus, thank you for being here with us every day. I want to praise you because  ___________. In your name, amen. 

© Group Publishing, Inc. 

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  On this cold, blustery, icy day, let us rejoice that we have warm places to stay, and let us be glad that this icy weather won’t be around for very long.  And let us rejoice and be glad that there are men and women who are working hard to clear the roads and keep the power flowing to our homes.  Let us hold salt truck drivers, utility workers, law enforcement personnel, and first responders in our prayers for their safety as they work to keep us safe and warm.

It’s almost impossible to think that this is our last email of March!  In only two days it will be April, and the last two weeks of Lent will be ahead of us; what are we going to do with these last days of spiritual introspection and preparation?  For many of us, we’d like to declare that we’re fully prepared for the events of Holy Week and the glories of Easter; we’ve done all the hard work of setting ourselves right with God, so all we must do now is wait.  Wouldn’t that be nice?  The truth is that for most of us, there’s still more to be done; maybe the hardest work of Lent is still ahead of us.  There’s no doubt that by observing a Holy Lent thus far we’re better prepared for what is to come than we might otherwise be.  But in our humanness, we may have avoided some of the big challenges in our faith walks, hoping that what we’ve done in our Lenten journeys will be enough without having to tackle the “big uglies” that lurk in the deepest recesses of our souls.  Sadly, it’s the “big uglies” that can keep us from reveling in a rich relationship with the Divine: “uglies” like jealousy, self-centeredness, living with a sense of lack instead of sense of abundance, not fully trusting in God for all things.  These last days of Lent present us with an opportunity to deal with the “big uglies,” hopefully once and for all, so that we are truly ready for the new life in Christ that we will celebrate on Easter Sunday.

Pray for Ukraine, pray for Russia, pray for peace.  Remember that God is good, all the time; and all the time, God is good!

With our love in Christ,

Karen and Greg

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

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

Reaching Out from 

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 23, 2022 

Greetings in Christ! 

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! OK, so it’s gloomy outside, rainy, snowy,  windy, icy, slushy, and cold; and we’re supposed to rejoice and be glad?? Of course we are! As much as the  early spring weather affects our activities and our plans, we can still rejoice in a new day in which to serve  others, to learn, to grow, and to continue making ourselves ready for Holy Week just 17 days from today! We  can be glad that the weather outside, frightful though it may be, cannot dampen the love of God, the grace of  our Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit! We can rejoice and be glad that we are not living  in a war zone, as are our Ukrainian brothers and sisters, and we can rejoice and be glad that there are myriad  ways that we can help ease their suffering from the safety and comfort of our homes. 

It seems that more than the weather is gloomy these days; simply turn on the radio or TV to catch the daily  news, and there will be an endless litany of bad news. Inflation, gas prices, political division, and war in  Europe dominate the news cycle, and we’re all beginning to feel the pinch at the grocery store and at the gas  pump. Pundits and self-styled experts tell us how to change our lives to adjust to the new realities, just as  we’re emerging from the constraints of the pandemic, and more often than not their advice is contradictory.  So what are we to do? We are to pray; pray for peace, pray for wisdom, pray that love prevails. And we are to  trust; trust that God’s got this, that he will guide us to a better place, a better way of being, and that he will  show us how to fix the mess – if we’re willing to listen. That’s the last “to do;” listen. Listen for the still, small  voice of God that will tell us what to do, how to do it, and when to do it to begin the process of healing the  world. 

With our love in Christ, 

Karen and Greg 

Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, take into your heart all my  words which I will speak to you and listen closely. Ezekiel 3:10

Daily Talk Time: A Family Activity for Lent by Group Publishing Inc.

Wherever you go, you can show Jesus’ love. Tell about three places you’re planning to go this week. Who can  you show Jesus’ love to in each place?  ——————————————————————————– Jesus gives us hope for the future! What’s one thing you hope will happen to your family soon?  ——————————————————————————– Jesus’ friends weren’t feeling so brave after Jesus was arrested. Tell about a time you were brave. ——————————————————————————– People cheered for Jesus when he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey! If you could pick one person to cheer you  on constantly, who would you pick? Why that person? What would you want them to say? ——————————————————————————– God’s people were waiting and waiting for Jesus, the Messiah, to come. What’s something you’d wait in line all  day to do?  ——————————————————————————– Jesus spent a lot of time with his disciples. Who’s someone you wish you could spend more time with? ——————————————————————————– The week leading up to Easter was filled with good times and bad times for Jesus. Tell about one good thing  from the last week and one not-so-good-thing from the last week. ——————————————————————————– Jesus brings joy to the world! Tell about a time you felt joyful. When was it? What do you think caused you to feel joy? ———————————————————————————

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

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 16, 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 near spring-like temperatures, and let us rejoice that the weather forecast for the next several days points the way inexorably to the arrival of spring on March 20th.  Which coincidentally will be Mr. Rogers Day!!

The gentle, kind message of Mr. Rogers, a Presbyterian minister, is sorely needed in our world today.  His signature song, “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” that opened every show of “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood,” expresses a simple, but powerful, sentiment; we are all neighbors, regardless of how far distant we are from somebody else.  This means that Ukraine is our neighbor, Russia is our neighbor, and all the nations of the world are our neighbors.  We don’t always agree with our neighbors, we don’t always like them very much, and sometimes we’d really rather they mind their own business; that’s equally true whether our neighbor is right next door, or on the other side of the world.  Our neighbors in Ukraine need our help, our neighbors in Russia need our collective arm around their shoulders pointing out that they’re not being very good neighbors right now, and our neighbors in other parts of our own country need our support – not our ridicule.  Each of us can contribute to ending the vitriol by adopting a more Mr. Rogers-like approach to those around us; we can turn down the volume a bit when sharing our opinions, and we can be more intentional when we listen.  Much of what Lent offers us is the opportunity to reassess our worldview; and if we remember that we’re all neighbors, if we hear again (or hear for the first time) the words of Mr. Rogers’ immortal song, perhaps we can move this huge neighborhood that is the planet Earth in a positive direction. And if you have any doubt about who your neighbor is, we refer you to Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)…. 

“So, let’s make the most of this beautiful day.  Since we’re together we might as well say: Would you be mine?  Could you be mind?  Won’t you be my neighbor?  Won’t you please?  Won’t you please?  Please won’t you be my neighbor?”

With our love in Christ,

Karen and Greg

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37

From the Desk of
TOBY THE CHURCH DOG
March 2022

Hello my friends!

I’m not one of those “lay-abouts;” I leap out of bed when my dad’s alarm goes off in the morning and keep him company as he goes downstairs.  Mom seems never to hear his alarm; I’m concerned that she may have a hearing problem. Dad is so good to me!  He opens the door for me to go outside, AND lets me back in!  He even fills my food and water dishes so they are waiting for me when I come inside after I’ve done what I had to do—if you know what I mean… Then I cuddle with Dad in his chair; and possibly, now and then, try to dip my tongue into his coffee mug.  It rarely works though… Then I go back upstairs and settle in next to Mom until she wakes; sometimes I can get in a pretty good nap!

Do any of you like to take naps? I love cozying in for a little power nap, especially on a chilly winter’s day! All I need is a spot to stretch out, or snuggle in, depending on the temperature.  I’m happiest when a blanket or pillow are left lying about and I’m snug as a bug in a rug!  I’m even happier when it is dark outside and I hear my parents calling, “Toby, it’s bedtime!” That means it’s time for me to wake from my diligent guarding of my house and family, and to bound up the stairs to the bed that I allow my parents to share with me.  Pretty smart, too; don’t you think? 

.

I’m told that I’m quite cheerful in the morning, beginning the day with a positive energy and hopefulness.  I always greet my loved ones with kisses and cuddles, and a wagging tail (and body). If my family seems willing, I even offer my tummy for some belly rubs! Then, I give out some more cuddles and kisses, and race for one of my favorite toys to share. Nothing like a little play time to get one’s day going in the proper frame of mind!

You know, we have every reason to begin and end our days with joy in our hearts, because that is where Christ lives! We are told that He makes His home there through faith.  How wonderful it is to live in His love every day!

Wishing you warmth, great fun, and lots of joy!

With love from your Church Dog,

TOBY

That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love.  Ephesians 3:17

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

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 9, 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 having made it through the first week of Lent, and let us be glad that we have 30 more days to lean into our chosen discipline(s) for the season!  The good news is that you don’t have to have finished firming up your relationship with the Divine by now, there’s time to keep making progress towards a deeper connection with the Triune God!

We sincerely hope that you’re taking advantage of the 40 days of Lent (not counting Sundays) to re-center yourselves around your faith life; it’s a rare thing in the 21st Century to have the gift of time, without distractions, to ponder important things.  And few things are more important than faith in these trying times.  The war between Ukraine and Russia appears to be intensifying, energy prices are spiraling ever-upward, as is the cost of just about everything we buy on a regular basis, and the political squabbling at every level of the government shows no sign of relenting.  Yet, we who believe know full well that these things are temporary disruptions, for we know the great and eternal truth is that we are loved by Almighty God, and that he wants only good things for us; and that at the end of the day, all will be well. It may not be what we would have chosen were we in charge, but we know with unshakable certainty that it will be good!

By the way, don’t forget to “Spring Forward” on Saturday night – you wouldn’t want to be an hour late for worship!!

With our love in Christ,

Karen and Greg

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care on him; for he cares for you.  1 Peter 5:6-7 

-Set your clocks forward on Saturday night!

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

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice that today is Ash Wednesday, a very special day in our journey towards the cross, and let us be glad that we are able to gather in worship to observe the beginning of a Holy Lent for all.

This evening, we will gather both at Grand Lake Community Chapel and Westminster Presbyterian Church for simple, but very meaningful services, during which we will impose ashes on the foreheads (or back of hands) of those who choose to participate in this ancient act of penitence and remembrance that begins the Lenten Season.  The 40 days that follow, not including Sundays, are intended to give us time and space to make ourselves spiritually ready for Easter; how you choose to observe this season is entirely up to you.  You can add things to your daily routine that will help sharpen your focus on the Divine, or you can remove things from your daily routine that distract you from focusing on the Divine; regardless, we urge you to focus on the Divine in a more intentional way during these 40 days.

If you are able to join us in worship this Ash Wednesday, we invite you to think of the ashes that are surrounding our Ukrainian brothers and sisters this day, as their nation is being laid waste by missiles and bombs for absolutely no reason.  As Ukrainian cities burn to ashes, let us be filled with the flames of the Holy Spirit urging us to lend assistance to the Ukrainian people in whatever way we can – including our fervent prayers for peace.

With our love in Christ,

Karen and Greg

Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life,
and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

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

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice that the storm has finally abated, and let us be glad for those hard-working men and women who are out and about clearing away the snow and trying to address the icy roads and utility lines.  Please offer up prayers of thanksgiving for these hardy souls, and prayers for their safety as they work on our behalf.  Last week, we celebrated a respite from frigid temperatures; today, not so much…

This is our last weekly update for the month of February and our last one in the Season of Epiphany.  This coming Sunday we will celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord, that day when Jesus was joined on the mountaintop by Moses and Elijah, offering a glimpse of the glories of Heaven to come.  It’s kinda’ interesting to think that as the Lord is transfigured, so our worship will be transfigured; our focus will be more contemplative as we approach Easter.  While Sundays during the Season of Lent aren’t technically days of the season, being labeled Sundays “in” Lent instead of Sundays “of” Lent; the Scriptures lead inexorably the cross, as should our personal preparations for the most important day in our Christian tradition.  Lent is a marvelous gift, a time to do our best to set aside distractions and stumbling blocks, and work towards a right relationship with God.  All of us have things in our lives that get in the way of living out our faith, and Lent gives us the opportunity to put them away for a time. Who knows, maybe by the end of the Lenten season, you’ll forget what those things were, and have no need to bring them back into your life!  We urge you to embrace the 40 days of Lent, and to set aside time each day to be still and listen for the still, small voice of God inviting you into a new and richer relationship with him.  He loves you, you know; and so do we.

With our love in Christ,

Karen and Greg

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Reaching Out from 

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, February 16, 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 a respite from the  bitter cold of winter and be glad for a day of warmth to clear away some of the snow and ice that is  stubbornly adhered to our sidewalks and driveways! Of course, in the give-and-take of midwinter weather,  the forecasted rain most likely won’t be helpful if temperatures drop overnight. Gotta’ love winter  in Northern Michigan! 

So much is happening in the world today that we’d like to cry out “stop!” We’d like to get off the merry-go-round of the news cycle, laden as it is with conflicting accounts of just about everything, and just be still for a  while to collect our thoughts. We seek respite, but aren’t entirely sure where to find it, and some of us may  well feel more than a twinge of guilt for wanting to step away from the noise. Yet Jesus Christ took time away  from the crowds to rest and pray; God commanded us to observe a day of rest for our own good. It’s OK to  step away, it’s healthy and restorative to stop; it’s empowering to pray and uplifting to listen for God’s  response. This may not be the ideal day to take a walk or take a drive into the countryside to find a peaceful  place, but it’s possible to find that peaceful place in our own homes; and once we find that peaceful place, it’s  more than OK to be still and know that God is present. Just a few minutes is all it takes to reset our lives, just  a simple prayer is all it takes to reconnect with the Divine. You’ll almost certainly find that your stress level  drops, your breathing eases, and solutions to those things that are weighing heavily on your heart will be  much easier to see. Give it a try! What have you got to lose? And just how much will you gain? 

With our love in Christ, 

Karen and Greg 

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you;  he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22

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

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, February 9, 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 moderate temperatures and clearer roads, and let us be glad that the forecast doesn’t call for anything particularly scary for the next few days!  That said, let’s not kid ourselves, shall we?  It’s Northern Michigan, it’s February, and there’s no way that we’re anywhere near done with winter!  So why not embrace the season, and enjoy the warmth of our homes, a mug of hot chocolate, and a good book or movie!

And as we embrace the season, let’s also embrace love; Monday is Valentine’s Day, originally a feast day for a martyr of the early church by the name of Valentine, which has now become an almost entirely commercial holiday best known for candy hearts, Hallmark cards, and romantic gifts.  But at its core, St. Valentine’s Day is all about love; as is our faith tradition.  It is often said that God is love, at Christmas we talk about love coming down from Heaven in the form of a baby boy, and in many of our liturgies and prayers we speak of love.  While it is great fun to exchange Valentine’s cards with your honey-bunny, and most folks are happy to dig into a heart-shaped box of chocolates with reckless abandon; underlying these acts is love.  If you’re of a certain age, you’ll remember a song by Burt Bacharach titled “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” that opened with “what the world needs now is love, sweet love.  It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of,” and went on to state that love is not just for some, but for everyone.  Isn’t that the message of the Gospels?  Isn’t that what we teach and preach and live every day?  If that’s so, why is there so much conflict and strife in the world today?  We suggest that it’s because we aren’t lavishly generous with sharing the love of Christ with all people; we tend to be a bit selective with whom we are loving and kind and gentle, and that’s not what we’re called to do.  Maybe this coming St. Valentine’s Day can nudge us towards being the loving, love-sharing people that God calls us to be, and that Jesus Christ modeled for us.  Then maybe, just maybe, come next St. Valentine’s Day, the world will be a happier place.

With our love in Christ,

Karen and Greg

Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
John 15:9

      From the Desk of

TOBY THE CHURCH DOG
      February 2022

Hello, my dear friends!

Did you know that I consider myself a watchman?  I watch for birdies, for bunnies, and for people to step on my sidewalk or into my yard.  When out for a ride with my Daddy, I watch for potential traffic issues, fellow doggies out for a walk, and especially for BIG trucks. I LOVE big trucks! When I go to the office, I am on the lookout for my friends; and I remain on alert to protect my friends too. 

You may have noticed that I sometimes stretch out with my eyes closed.  At times there may even be some deep breathing that is heard, but do not be fooled into thinking that I’m sleeping. OH NO; for I remain alert even without the benefit of my sight! I am watchful at all times– with my nose, with my ears, AND with my intuition! 

 You, my friends, are in my care; and I do not ever want to let you down!  If I sense danger, I will sound my alert.  If I see harm coming your way, I will push you out of its path. A watchman is no good if he is silent.  A watchman is no help if he is sleeping. Why watch if there is no intention to make a difference for others? And when I know you are safe, I will remind you that you are loved by kissing your nose or by simply resting by your side.

In Ezekiel 33 one reads of the expectations of a watchman.  His first duty is to be on the lookout and to sound the alarm when danger is present.  Sometimes people may not be paying attention to this warning, but the watchman must still sound the alert where peril is perceived. Secondly, the watchman must bear the burden of his lack of engagement if he is negligent and fails to warn others of the dangers he finds. He must not fail the humans who are depending on him.  If others do not listen to his warnings, then it is their own fault; but the watchman is called to share his alert. Some who read this passage in Ezekiel believe that the watchman is our Savior who always loves and cares for us.  Others believe that these words point out the duty of God’s Children to protect others from situations that will bring with them distancing from our Lord and the path upon which we are called to travel. I want to be of help to you, my friends, and so I watch… 

With love from your Church Dog,

TOBY

Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel;
so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.  Ezekiel 33:7

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

Devotional – Fight With Joy (Day 5)

Scriptures – John 15:5-8. Ephesians 6:11-17

At first glance these two scriptures seem miles apart but if you hang with me I would like to share with you how they are connected and what on earth they have to do with being grateful and thankful for all that God has done for us. 

This passage in John teaches us the importance of remaining connected to the vine (that is Jesus), so that we bear fruit. When you think about it, none of us have apples growing out of our armpits, so clearly Jesus is talking about some other kind of fruit here. It would be some time before we would get the understanding that the fruit Jesus is referring to is actually the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23). 

The passage in Ephesians tells us that we are in a spiritual war and the way we fight is by having spiritual armor. Have you ever realized the weapons we wield to fight in this war are the fruits we bear by remaining in the vine? It is like a full circle; to fight looks like remaining in Jesus and by remaining in Jesus we bear fruit and that fruit becomes the weapons we use in the fight which keeps us remaining in Jesus. 

The fruit of ‘joy’ is just one of the weapons we can cultivate if we’re going to fight in this spiritual war. In this time and space of big feelings, valid feelings, wacky feelings, lack of feelings – I believe the weapon of joy has the power to transform selfishness into thankfulness, apathy into gratitude, idolatry into recognising the goodness of God. Because joy is not a feeling, rather, joy is the ability to believe that God is who He says He is and can do what He says He can do, despite what the reality of life looks like around us. 

Throughout this week, find some space to connect with God. I encourage you to put yourself in an environment and/or do whatever activity that helps you connect with Him. Then when you’re in that place I want you to remind yourself about the nature and character of God.

Ask yourself these questions: 
1. What are the promises He’s given us in the Bible that you can make your foundation to stand upon?  

2. What has He already done in your life that you can rejoice in?  

3. When and how have you experienced the goodness of God?

We can cultivate the fruit of joy by reminding ourselves of what we believe, by standing upon what we believe, by reading and memorizing scripture that backs up our beliefs, by claiming those beliefs so that we can rejoice in the goodness of God and not the goodness of our circumstances. And with this weapon, we can stand firm in this war. Glory!

Pray with me:

God I thank you for Your Word, I thank You for Your goodness towards me. Holy Spirit would You open my eyes, my heart, my mind and my understanding to recognise when You have been good to me. God I know that apart from You I will just wither away so I surrender again today and make the choice to be connected to You, to remain in You, to follow You. I love You Lord. Would You use me, fill me and lead me into all that You have for me today. Amen.

Written by Lisa Hoffmann, Location Pastor, Citipointe Church Ipswich

https://my.bible.com/reading-plans/26133-faith-love-hope-a-reason-to-celebrate

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

Pastors will be back next week. I hope you have enjoyed and been renewed by selections from “Faith Love Hope.” If you are interested in joining our Study Group, we use the Bible App – You Version which may be downloaded onto the device of your choice. Please see the Women’s Ministry page for more information.