"What's God Up To In Your Life?"

Pastor Terry White: "Good morning! It's a good day to be in God's house."

Announcements
Ladies Bible Study & Pot Luck, May 2, 10:00 a.m. till Noon.
Wed. May 3, Youth Group: Who Are You In Christ, at the River Church
May 7: Last Sunday School till Fall
May 9: New Life Gospel Singers, Edgewood Vista
May 14: Confirmation Sunday and Mother's Day Breakfast. Men: there will be preparations Saturday evening at 7:00 if you would like to help honor the mom's in your life.
May 12-13: Church Rummage Sale at Grand Lake/Twig Town Hall
Vacation Bible School is on the horizon, June 12-15. Volunteers welcome. We'll be happy to fin a place to plug you in.

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Today's service is designed to be a time of sharing what God is doing in our lives lately. The operative word being "lately."

One Day At A Time
I'm only human, I'm just a woman
Help me to believe in what I could be and all that I am
Show me the stairway that I have to climb
Lord for my sake teach me to take one day at a time
One day at a time, sweet Jesus, that's all I'm asking from you
Give me the strength to do everyday what I have to do
Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus, and tomorrow may never be mine
So for my sake teach me to take one day at a time

* * * *

Terry shared a few words from John 9 which is the story about the man born blind, a powerful story made moreso by the honest testimony of the young man.

We then sang Holy, Holy, Holy together and prepared our hearts to share and hear from one another.

Gail Carlson began with her story of how she came here and how she was not the kind of person who sings in front of people, but she sensed God nudging her, and has pushed her out of her comfort zone. God said it's not for her glory, but for His glory.

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Jeff Larson shared his gratefulness for God's peace at this time in his life, despite many things going on.

Roseanne shared how when her husband Bud passed and she met Pearl the Lord showed her that going to church every Sunday isn't what it's about. Rather, it's more than that, and God showed her what it means to live it more.

Terry told us about A Severe Mercy and the story it contains in which a young man's heart is broken and correspondence with C.S. Lewis leads him to a deeper understanding of the love of Christ.

Janet shared how she was raised in a home with a God-fearing mother, but did not know what it means to have a relationship with the Lord. She shared the challenges she faced when her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident when she was in her early 40s. None of us is perfect, but God is ever at work removing things from our hearts that shouldn't be there. She closed by encouraging us to read John 15.

Terry said it's not always easy to have honest conversations about our faith so we have to practice this.

We closed by singing Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. Sometimes the simplest things are the most profound things.

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After the service we stayed for our Annual Meeting to address church business, which included election of new council members. Today we elected the following:
Christian Education: Dawn Walsh
Fellowship: Paula Saxin
Missions: Kelly Smith
Treasurer: Melissa Ringger

Church Updates were provided by Harry Eliason (Missions), Paula Saxin (Fellowship), Susan Jessico (Christian Ed.), Pam Johnson on behalf of Cheryl Borndal (Worship), Jeff Larsen (Facilities), and Chuck, who gave an update on additional facilities initiatives and financial matters on behalf of LeeAnn Vanderscheuren.

Thank you to everyone who has served in whatever capacity you have been able to share your time and gifts.

"Oh Yeah, Don't Forget

Pastor Terry White welcomed us and found reasons to rejoice, despite the sudden snow in the aftermath of yesterday's fabulous sunshine Saturday.

Announcements
--Next Sunday is 5th Sunday, and Pastor While would like to give us opportunity to share what God is doing in your lives.
--This Wednesday is the last Wednesday evening Supper, Kids Club and Youth gathering till Fall.
--Bake Sale and Rummage Sale, Saturday May 13. Can use volunteers to help coordinate donations, pricing, etc.

After a lively time of worship, an offering was taken as the worship team performed a song about the alabaster jar that was given to Jesus as an offering of devotion.

Cheryl Borndal led us in a time of praise and intercession for the needs in our church family.

"Oh Yeah, Don't Forget

II Timothy 4:9-22

We've been talking about leadership and parenting.

How many of you have a "lost drawer"? That is, a drawer full of stuff and junk, and whatever you put in there will never be found again. What's the solution? This is the way the end of II Timothy feels, a hodgepodge of elements all thrown together.

In the midst of all this there are some interesting insights. Paul cites some of the failings of some people close to him, but God knows what it is like to be abandoned. Jesus has lived amongst us. He, too, was betrayed and abandoned by friends.

The world is not perfect. In the midst of living on earth there are heartaches and letdowns, so we need to learn how to live in forgiveness.

Paul also sends Timothy some warnings about some people. Forgiveness does not mean that we automatically trust.

Terry then singled out a verse that he considered of special importance, verse 17. Paul, after stating that he had been deserted by friends he trusted, states, "But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth."

God is present in our times of need. He does not abandon us when we're down. He is present and by our side. Trust that God will do what He has promised.

Here is what the Lord wishes to do for us. Verse 18: "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Paul's confidence was not in his own strength. His confidence was in God. Likewise for us, our ability to be leaders is not about feeling competent, feeling ready. If we wait till we are ready, we will never be leaders.

Pastor Terry closed with some comments about the Kingdom of God. To better understand the Kingdom of God we should read, study, the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7.

Refuse to waste your life. Seek God's agenda for you. There will be difficulties, but God stands beside us, and that is more than enough. "Let's build God's kingdom together."

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Take A Deep Breath

The sun has come forward to greet us as the congregation filters into the sanctuary. Chuck welcomed us today and invited Paula to come forward to remind us of events surrounding Easter breakfast. There will be an Easter Egg Hunt as well.

Tuesday there will be a number of our members going to Chris Jensen to sing to residents there, 2 p.m.
June 12-15 will be VBS this year, 9:30 to noon. Volunteers welcome.

Chuck read from the Psalms to lead us into worship. "Create in me a new heart," David wrote. "Restore to me the joy of my salvation."

Chuck and Darlene then sang "Create in me a clean heart... Cast me not away from Thy Presence, O Lord... and renew a right spirit in me." Our congregational song selection came from the blue humnals this morning. Paula then called the ushers forward to take the offering before our time of sharing pur prayer needs and praises.

Take A Deep Breath

Pastor Terry White took the podium and greeted us warmly.

Our message today will be based on II Timothy 3.

Terry began by noting our embedded beliefs, which are beliefs that are so embedded we are not even aware of them. There are many things in life where we have been taught things a certain way and they seem to be "the right way" as if other ways of doing things are "wrong." He shared, to illustrate, the process of having people help him do drywall work at his home yesterday.

Embedded beliefs are sometimes useful, but sometimes toxic. Changing wrong beliefs or lifestyle patterns is not easy.

Verses 10-17 became his springboard:

10 You, however, know all about my teaching,y my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconiuma and Lystra, the persecutions I endured.c Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,g deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Sometimes the greatest lessons we learn are not learned in the classroom. They come to us during the course of life. This is especially true when it comes to matters of faith.

"Everyone who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

One of the enbedded mistaken ideas in the world today is that popularity is the measure of success. Bigger is not necessarily better. Small churches are not failed churches. Mega-church does not mean better or good.

Similarly, when things are hard does that mean something is wrong? Sometimes the correct path is the harder path. In fact, Jesus spoke clearly about the narrow way that few find. Here Paul states straight up that being a follower of Christ will result in persecution.

Paul encourages Timothy to remember the lessons he has received from the Scriptures which he has studied from his youth. All Scripture is God-breathed, and necessary to help us better correct our incorrect embedded beliefs.

What are the embedded beliefs that you hold that God would have you let go of? As you read the Scriptures this week look for those messages that may dislodge or correct our incorrect and imperfect understanding of God's message for us.

In closing Terry asked us to pray for God to illumine us in a new area of our understanding this week.

At this, we celebrated the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.