 We are always going to have some “why” questions about God’s decisions concerning our lives. God is in no way opposed to these questions, but we need to realize there will normally be a stipulation.
When God does answer some of our perplexing why questions, He already knows you are usually not going to be completely satisfied with His answers. Perhaps a question we should contemplate is, “What will I do with the answer(s) God gives? What will the answer do to my daily walk or my work of faith?” Few satisfying answers will come if we are just trying to prove a point or use God as a hammer in someone else’s life. The hard truth is, we can question ourselves into apostasy. There is a time in our journey with God, when we will have to simply and without question accept His answer(s). That is called, walking by faith. Pastor Holmes
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 “Once more a remnant of Israel will take root downward and bear fruit upward.” II Kings 19:30
Since The Woods at Montara transitioned from a traditional church setting to a house church, I have been asked several times, “Do you want to grow as a church?” Because a living room will only hold so many people, and it seems to limit our potential. But that’s a superficial perspective! The easy answer is, “Of course! All churches want to grow!” And we do. But there’s more than one way to grow a church. Along with numerous theologians, I believe that the “remnant” referred to in II Kings speaks of today’s true believers in Jesus, and I believe that our responsibility as believers is to “take root downward and bear fruit upward.” There may only be five people attending church at Montara or there may be 25. But what I care about more than numbers is that the people entrusted to us are growing in grace and in their understanding of Christ. When someone begins to attend Sunday School regularly, participate eagerly, and worship joyously, this is growth. When another begins to release her anxiety and relax in our presence, truly seeking God’s guidance for her life, this is growth. When we are privileged to deliver a warm coat to a small child or give a ride home from work to a young man who lacks transportation, this is growth. We (and they) are taking root downward. (That young man, a self-identified pagan, finally allowed Bill to pray for him last week.) When one has sunk his or her roots deep into the Word and come to understand Christ on a deeper level, they will be ready to “bear fruit upward,” the fruit of holiness (Galatians 5:22-23). That’s the next step… Blessings, Nell Ritchey  The Serenity Prayer is not mentioned in the Bible; however, many underlying principles can easily be found in Scripture. Scripture is clear that we are to be both active and passive in the face of trials and tribulations. Active in changing what needs to be changed while being passive in the sense of allowing the Holy Spirt to guide and direct us according to the Father’s will and plan.
Luc Bovines (Professor of Philosophy at the University of N. Carolina at Chapel Hill) says that “Hope lies between active change and passive acceptance.” I consider this to be fulfilled for believers as the Shalom of Christ. In John 14:27 Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Following His resurrection, Jesus meets with His disciples and repeats to them, “Peace be with you”(John 20:19,21,26). This concept of peace has a fullness of meaning that goes beyond the general usage of the word in today’s world. Reflection on the Hebrew term shalom can help us understand this fullness. Shalom most commonly refers to a person being uninjured and safe, whole and sound. It is also a key word for salvation in the Bible. In the New Testament it is revealed as the reconciliation of all things to GOD through the work of Christ (Colossians 1:19-20). The Shalom of Christ is experienced as a form of well-being flowing from GOD to ourselves and others. This state of well-being results from seeking the kingdom of GOD as a priority in our lives (Matthew 6:33). As we choose to seek GOD’s kingdom the Holy Spirit will lead us deeper into that kingdom. The courage and wisdom involved in this process lends itself to the serenity we seek. Shalom, Pastor Bill.  Let’s Go To The Other Side Mark 4:35-41 John 16:5-7 (NASB) The One Thing: Change in the hands of a changeless God is safe and productive and will yield good fruit, especially to those who respond with a positive outlook and an optimistic attitude.
ANSWERS:
 This is What Love Looks Like
Philippians 2:5-8 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Jesus could have come to earth and had it all. He was in fact God, the creator of everything. He could have used his authority to force people to respect Him. He could have used His power to let everyone know exactly who He was. He could have forced people to tend to his every want and need. But He didn't. Instead, Jesus chose Humility, Sacrifice, and Kindness. An incredible example of this is when Jesus was on the cross and chooses to have a conversation with the criminal hanging next to Him. Let’s think about where Jesus is right now and what he has gone through up to this point. He has been whipped, beaten, mocked, betrayed, spat on, and now he nailed to a cross slowly suffocating. Jesus is excruciating pain. If there was ever a moment where we could have forgiven Jesus for thinking about himself, this was it. And yet he uses his final breaths to communicate with the man dying beside him. To not only talk with him but to bring comfort to him and invite him into paradise. (Luke 23:32-43) Jesus, even in this painful, broken place, chose to show love to someone who didn't deserve it. Ask yourself, “Am I willing to have the same attitude as Christ today?” If you are, it means choosing the road most people don’t take. Choosing humility, sacrifice, and kindness over power selfishness and control. And finally choosing others over yourself. Sometimes that means showing love to people who don’t deserve it. In His life and death, Jesus consistently chose us over Himself. That's what love looks like. Pastor Blake  You don’t have to be a Christian to see that our world is in trouble. I believe that everyone recognizes that on some level and that’s why there are so many different and conflicting religions and philosophies. People of all political persuasions, religious beliefs and ethical systems are trying to identify what exactly is causing that trouble and trying to fix it in the way that they believe is best. For Christians, the answer is remarkably simple: the world is in trouble because of sin.
When you break it down, there are two types of sin: Personal Sin and Original Sin. Personal Sin is any sinful act that any individual does. This is what draws so much of our focus because we can easily point to it and say “That! That right there is what’s wrong with the world. If everyone would stop doing that, everything would be great!” However, when we start looking at original sin, we see that the problem goes so much deeper than just the sinful acts we commit. Sin entered into the world in Genesis 3. The Serpent deceived Eve, Adam stood by and went along with it, and everything went downhill from there. Our fellowship with God was given up, and death entered the world. When we live without Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are still under the penalty of Original Sin. Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death...” When our sin is left unchecked, it leads us further and further into it. Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion says that “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” If we apply this to our understanding of sin, we realize that every act we commit against God pushes us further away from him. However, Romans 6:23 continues with “…but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Every sinful act a person commits pushes them farther from God, but never far enough that He can’t reach us. God cares about the state of our hearts as much as he cares about what we do with our actions. Let God change your heart, and pull you closer to Himself. Blessings, Pastor Jared  Prayers of War: A Pondering by Holly Woodbridge
I have been watching my sisters and brothers in Christ in war-torn Ukraine by Facebook. My heart breaks anew each day as they share the horrors and death they experience. My heart is amazed as I watch their courage and care for one another while the sound of missile strikes fills the air. My heart is challenged as they show up at church singing praise all the while facing what I have never had to face. One of the Nazarene Ukrainian pastors that I follow, shared a post of Ukrainians, many in bomb shelters, reading Psalm 31. I have read this Psalm many times, but it came alive in a way I have never experienced. David was a warrior and he often wrote prayers of war. The Ukrainians are in the middle of a war. Watch and listen as they read Psalm 31. I have pasted the link below, or you may read it for yourself as you connect the reality of this war with the words of David. Watch “Ukrainian Church Prays Psalm 31” on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/683930091?ref=em-share I am thankful for the Psalms that give words to my heart’s cry. I need words to help me pray these days. Too often I just don’t know what to say. Here is another prayer I came across that helped me put words to my heart’s cry, written by J. D. Walt of Seed Bed. Would you join me in crying out to the Father? “We come before you today to declare Peace, in the name Jesus, over the war taking place in Eastern Europe. We boldly ask you to establish and strengthen the bond of Peace across the Body of Christ in Russia and Ukraine, draw near to all the followers of Jesus scattered across these nations and bind them together in supernatural love that moves with the power of the Gospel. Let your Kingdom break forth in demonstrations of Peace in ways that confound the ways of sin, darkness, death and evil. We pray for you to intervene in the hearts and minds of the leaders of Russia, to turn from their invasion and to seek Peace. We pray you would strengthen the invading soldiers with the resolve of human decency and compassion and a miraculous empowerment to lay down their arms in the face of such egregious destruction and loss of innocent life. We pray for the leaders of Ukraine, to protect and preserve them from harm and to fill them with such a spirit of travail and prayer that it touches Heaven and changes the course of life on earth for their country. We pray for the leaders of governments around the world, for wisdom and courage for the facing of this hour. We rebuke the spirit of fear that would cower in the face of evil rather than confront it. We cry out for an awakening of the church around the world, to realize both our responsibility and our power to intervene and exercise our Kingdom authority for such a time as this. We pray you would leave in the wake of this manmade disaster and all its ruins the seeds of a great awakening and the raising up of a generation who would rebuild the ruins and who would be called the repairer of broken walls, and the restorer of streets to dwell in. Finally, and most urgently, we pray for the children who are crying and afraid, many of whom may be lost and alone, wondering if they will ever see their fathers again, longing for the safety of their homes, anxious about their next meal, afraid for their very survival. Holy Spirit send wave on wave of compassion in the midst of trauma, light in darkness, and the peace only love can bring in the midst of utter madness. We ask these things, declaring the things that are not yet as though they were already, believing in your power to do beyond all we can ask or even imagine, and trusting in the strong name of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen."  Garden Spaces with Baked in Graces
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ (Genesis 3:8-9) Before the fall the first humans spent time with God in a garden. What a beautiful picture we see in this passage. God, as the Creator of His paradise walking regularly for pleasure with Adam and Eve. I can almost picture them stopping, waiting and listening, maybe excitement rising, stilling themselves, getting ready to walk with God. God still calls to me regularly: Where are you? Not because the omniscient (all knowing) omnipresent (present everywhere at the same time) God has lost me, but because it is His desire for me to walk with Him. By the way, if you didn’t recognize it, that’s what we call good news. As I approach this scripture, the word that pops out at me is…garden. The Hebrew word for garden is gannah, which literally means a covered or hidden place. Gardens in biblical settings were usually small, walled enclosures; tranquil spaces in which you could tuck yourself out of sight and find a moment of rest and connection. In each different place that I have lived, I have had a special place where I spend my quiet time, this is my metaphorical garden; my place of encounter. Location and time of day can be completely different for everyone. In some places I have lived, it has been a literal garden. Other times it has been at a beach, a lake, or a forest area. In Topeka, it has been on my deck looking out over my backyard. I love how in one of my favorite Christian films the main character turns a plain closet into a spiritual war room. In the latter part of the film, the house that holds this prayer room is being sold. The prospective buyers walk through the house, stops outside the closet and asks, “who has been praying in this room?” The realtor asks the prospective buyer how they could tell that it was a prayer closet. The man answers, “it’s baked in.” Would that our times of spiritual intimacy with God be so significant that it is baked into our lives. I encourage you to create a garden space as a place to meet with him. As we soon enter in just a few weeks into holy week and as we pore over the scriptures of Jesus as he journeys towards Golgotha Hill, may his sacrificial presence be so ever close to you in these coming days. And may the words of this old hymn become an experiential reality for you. I come to the garden alone While the dew is still on the roses And the voice I hear, falling on my ear The Son of God discloses And 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 Pastor Donny  GRASSHOPPER SYNDROME
How would you like a grasshopper protein shake? It is one of the latest innovations companies are looking to, aimed at athletes and sports nutrition that will improve their performance. The grasshopper shake is packed with important ingredients — like amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and magnesium. Quite frankly, I have eaten grasshoppers before, so thank you, but I’ll pass. Unlike the Grasshopper shake, the power and promise of God has remained the same from the beginning of time. The victory is ours but do we have the power and vision to claim the victory, or do we see ourselves as grasshoppers against a giant of a task. In the book of Numbers, chapter 13, we find these words: The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight. Twelve leaders went out and saw the land, only two had vision while ten could not see past the obstacles. The ten became vulnerable to exaggeration leading to paralyzation and emotional devastation. They cried, complained, imagined the worst and then gave up. God pledges deliverance, “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life... I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, …Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:5-9) But we ask How, why am I missing it? Here are “Four C’s” for insight: 1 CONSCIENCE: Our conscience loses sight of the vision because of fear, lies, or a seared and calloused conscience. We saw giants: we are like grasshoppers in our own sight, oh they might step on us, smack us between two bricks, they probably had a can of bug spray in one hand and a fly swatter in the other. We know what is right but choose to ignore it, reason it, or avoid it. The Holy Spirit that should be our conscience has been locked in a box out of fear to use it, be questioned or made fun of. 2 CONTROL: We want to be in control but if someone else can tell me what to do, I’m not in control. May I offer up to you a way to have total 100% control; GIVE IT AWAY, if you give control of your life and your situations to Christ, that will be the one thing you can do that says I am in total control, and I choose, I decide to do this; I give all to him to control. The difficult part becomes keeping ME out of His control of ME. My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) God wants us to respond with Faith and in that faith through Prayer to reach the true power. 3 CONVICTIONS: What are your convictions; job, family, career or Christ. Are they only Preferences and not convictions? The children of Israel had a preference and not a conviction to leave Egypt, because at every adversity, their direction re-focused on “we were better off back in Egypt”. Christ demonstrated conviction versus preference in the garden when he asked 3 times, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will”. Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you …………. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:6-7) 4 CHRIST: As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (1 Peter1:3-4) Christ has demonstrated the power over death through his love for us. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior. (Jude24) God is our Savior, wise, glory, majesty, dominion, and power. NOW and FOREVER. Joshua and Caleb focused on the Lord and His power, not on their own abilities. Other opinions did not matter, only what God promised. They focused on the goal. Stop looking at the obstacles, excuses and problems. Look instead at Gods almighty power and the power of the Holy Spirit through you to give you a clear vision to assure victory. Not Grasshoppers and Giants. Yours In Christ, Rev. Jerry Schmid  Hooked (part 2 of 2) James 1:13-18 (NIV) March 20, 2022 Main Point: When tempted, replace the lie with God’s truth.
 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him, He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:5-8
I came to Wanamaker in 2002 as an associate pastor. My husband was having some medical issues that affected his thinking process. So when I came on staff here at Wanamaker unfortunately no one here ever got to know the real Arnie Ruecker that used to be. Arnie suffered from dementia with paranoia and delusion disorder caused by his severe heart condition. In the last 5 years of his life, he also had Parkinson's disease. It was a really rough 10 years and especially the last five. Arnie was a man that had a great big heart and would do anything for anybody. He served the Lord with his whole heart and He loved his family dearly. When this horrible disease took over he became a person that I didn’t even know. The first five years were hard because I didn’t understand what was happening. After I educated myself on the disease of dementia and how it affected people I better understood how to cope with the outbursts that only came every so often. But as the disease progressed so did the paranoia and delusions. I began to go to counseling so I had a place to vent. I had tried to go to support groups only to be told that I was living in a dangerous situation and needed to move out. I knew I could never do that. My wedding vows were too special to me and I had made a vow to God for better or worse, in sickness and in health… So I sought out a Christian counselor that I could go to. One that wasn’t affiliated with my church and didn’t know me as a pastor but as a wife who had a husband that was suffering from a horrible disease called dementia. I also was surrounded by a loving staff that walked beside me every step of this long, long journey. There were days I didn’t think I could go on and then there were days that seemed very normal and I would question if this was real or not. But then the delusions and paranoia would hit and I knew it was definitely real! The biggest problem was the fact that the paranoid delusions prevented him from wanting to seek help for his condition. And my hands were tied because of all the HIPPA laws that are in place. I lived in the Psalms, and daily and sometimes many times during the day, I would claim those promises as my own. I had to totally trust that my Jesus would fulfill those promises. That He would be my Rock and my Redeemer. That He would deliver me from all my fears. That He was definitely a shelter in the time of storms. I prayed many times Psalm 39:1, “ Lord help me to watch my ways and keep my tongue from sinning, please put a muzzle over my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.” It was amazing how God would hear and answer my prayers. My counselor helped me to see that I need to hate the disease and love the person. To know that this person wasn’t Arnie but his illness. She helped me to make it my motto to “Keep the treasures and throw away the trash.” It has been amazing how God has never wasted the experience I went through with Arnie’s illness. I can’t tell you how many women and men have set across from me that are going or have gone on this journey with their spouse or a member of their family. I know some of you are there right now and are wondering how to cope with all of the things that come from this disease. I don’t have any magic cure or any mighty words of wisdom except to say, God is your refuge and your strength. Be in the Word and live in the Psalms. Call on Him and don’t try to manage all this by yourself. Seek out someone to talk to, to be a sounding board for all the frustrations that come. (I’m always available!) And always remember to keep the treasures of the good lucid times and throw away the trash! It’s been 6 years now since Arnie went to be with Jesus and I am amazed sometimes how He has erased all the bad memories and have replaced them memorial ones. God is so GOOD!!! Pastor Fran  "Why does God allow us to go through trials and tribulations?"
Romans 8:29 --- “As in all things, God’s ultimate purpose for us is to grow more and more into the image of His Son” This is the goal of the Christian, and everything in life, including the trials and tribulations, is designed to enable us to reach that goal. It is part of the process of sanctification, being set apart for God’s purposes and fitted to live for His glory. The way trials accomplish this is explained in --- 1 Peter 1:6-7: "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." The true believer’s faith will be made sure by the trials we experience so that we can rest in the knowledge that it is real and will last forever. Trials develop godly character, and that enables us to --- "rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” Romans 5:3-5. Jesus Christ set the perfect example. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). These verses reveal aspects of His divine purpose for both Jesus Christ’s trials and tribulations and ours. Persevering proves our faith. --- "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13 Pastor Dick  I don’t know about you but Sunday mornings communion juice didn’t taste quite right. As it went down, I made what I call an “outloud face” and then the Holy Spirit checked me. He checked me all day about it. I felt this voice say, “Remember the vinegar they gave to Him instead of water as He suffered on the cross? Remember what communion is all about Delinda, it's about His discomfort in taking on your sin. How do you think the blood tasted? He did it all for you. What do you think His wounded body felt like? Certainly not comfortable. Would you go through any of that for someone else who you knew was a sinner?”
Being a Pastor’s kid had it’s perks and one of my favorites was my sister and I got to drink the rest of the communion grape juice. I LOVED the taste of it, it was the only time we got Welches Grape Juice, it was one of my favorite tastes and quite a treat for us. I always had a different perspective on it growing up, it was sweet, like the sweet, sweet love of Jesus. But Sunday, it took on a new meaning for me. Communion shouldn’t taste good. Communion should leave a bitter, nasty taste in your mouth. It’s a remembrance that Christ took on flesh, was crucified and punished for not His, but MYsin! For the rest of the day on Sunday, I treasured that thimble full of bitter grape juice. When I thought of it, it made my heart sink and God has brought that to mind over and over the last couple days. It just made me think a different way that day. I hope the grape juice is “off” again the next time. I will have a different perspective and I might not even make an “out loud” face. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28 Pastor Delinda  "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Mark 11:25
Typically, when life doesn't go the way we want, it is tempting to blame other people. Perhaps you've blamed your parents, kids, spouse, siblings, or other family members. If we feel as if we've been held back, it is easy to blame those closest to us and hold them responsible. Sometimes we attach blame to our teachers, boss, coworkers, or employees. When people offend us, hurt us, or say something critical that wounds our pride, we find it easy to play the blame game. But Jesus reminds us over and over again that there is a direct connection between how we handle the offenses of others and how we handle God's grace. If we are unwilling to forgive others—let alone quit blaming them for our decisions and actions—then we are not able to embrace the grace of God. To be clear—it is not that God withholds grace from us based on our unwillingness to forgive. It would not be grace if that were the case. Rather, when we experience the fullness of God's grace in our lives, two things happen: 1) We are transformed from the inside out. 2) We are positioned to extend grace to others. Grace transforms and is contagious. With God's help, stop blaming others and start forgiving them just as God has forgiven you. -Pastor Michael  Most people have at least one scar on their body and most have at least one scar on their heart.
It has been said, “scars are an evidence of healing.” They most surely are. Every scar had a story. In fact, it is difficult to look at a scar and not remember the story. Seldom, if ever, can we forget the memories attached to our scars. Scars can have one of two outcomes in our life. We can choose to remember the pain, anguish and hurt or we can remember the lesson of the scar. To only remember the pain, anguish and hurt the scar represents, makes you a victim. To look for and discover the reason for the scar is wisdom. Allow your scars to be teachers! - Pastor Holmes  Hooked (part 1 of 2) James 1:13-18 (NIV) March 13, 2022 When has giving into ____________________ ever made your life better? In temptation, no one is a _______________. We are all ____________________. Every temptation has a ________________. Resisting temptation begins by learning to _____________ for the __________________. ANSWERS:
 I have never seen a human arm walking down the road detached from its body. Or a leg, or any other body part. It just doesn’t work. To detach from the body brings death. Yet I know many people who claim Christ but remain detached from His body, the church. Usually that is because they got hurt by a church member or sometimes even a pastor. My heart weeps for these precious people. God loves them so much! And I’m not saying they aren’t saved; only God knows that. What I am saying is that it is very difficult to live for Christ without the fellowship of other believers. “(We) are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” I Cor. 12:27. Romans 12:15 calls us to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” It’s hard to do that when we are disconnected.
I’m pretty realistic by nature, and although I grieve the fact that hurts occur within the church, I know absolutely that it does happen, and further, it will continue to happen. Because the church is made up of human beings, and human beings are imperfect, and imperfect people hurt each other. Most of the time we don’t do it on purpose, and sometimes we hurt or offend without even realizing it. So, may I humbly suggest a couple of things we can do to minister to those who are outside the church because they have been hurt? First, if you have offended someone, even inadvertently, apologize! I hate to admit it, but I blew it again recently and ended up apologizing to several people. A sincere apology is a necessary step to reconciliation. Second, if someone you know is a believer disconnected from the body, gently remind them that Christians (even pastors) are still imperfect human beings. You might encourage them to approach their offender (Matt. 18:15). Or find a different church. But please, reconnect to the body. And third, just love on that hurt person. Maybe you can be the one to love them back. I once ministered to a person who had been deeply offended as a child. The offense was real, and it was pretty awful. She hated Christianity, and spoke God’s name with venom. However, she was homeless, she had children, and she had nowhere to go but the rescue mission, so she had to put up with us. And we just loved on her. We loved on her repeatedly, as she came and went time and again. But each time she returned, we found her heart to be a little bit softer toward Jesus. The last time I saw her, I heard her saying this to another guest, “They really mean what they say here. You can trust them; they are for real!” Praise God! I believe one more lamb is making her long way home. Blessings! Nell Ritchey  In September 1983, I was not Christian and was not seeking GOD in any way. Although a number of people had been praying for my salvation, the god I was worshipping and serving had led me to a point where I was ready to kill myself – literally. I was looking for something with which to hang myself when GOD intervened and offered me an alternative.
I was not open to the idea of going to church, so He guided me into a group that encouraged me to live a clean and sober life style and to seek GOD in a way I could accept. They helped break down my barriers to a spiritual lifestyle, and this included my introduction to the Serenity Prayer – the short version: GOD, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference. Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr is universally attributed as the author of the Serenity Prayer.[i] It was believed to be published for the first time in the early 1930s in newspaper articles and then, in a somewhat altered form, in a book of worship in 1940. The best known version was published in 1951 with the addition of the word “grace,” and reads in part: God, give me grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, Courage to change the things which should be changed, and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. Too often this petition for calmness and peace is rattled off in a very rote way. Like many others I’ve used it repeatedly over the years, and I have also studied and meditated on it. It asks for strength and courage in the face of things that cannot be changed – certainly applicable today. It is also appropriate for today as we determine to follow through with matters that can be affected for positive change. But please remember, it is GOD who directs us. Proverbs 20:24 reinforces this for us, “A man's steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?” GOD’s righteousness and providence control His children’s paths, steps, and directions. As believers, we must be willing to accept His direction and influence before serenity can be experienced. Shalom, Pastor Bill (part 1)  Forgiveness
I noticed something about Judas the other day. I’ve always found it interesting that he is the one disciple who is remembered as the betrayer, when in fact all the other disciples betrayed Jesus as well. They abandoned Jesus when he needed them the most. Peter even actively denied that he even knew Jesus multiple times. So why aren’t they remembered the same way that Judas is remembered? I think it is because he is remembered more for what he didn’t do rather than what he did do. Judas did not give Jesus the opportunity to forgive him. Judas was so filled with guilt, shame, and grief he took his own life. He allowed his emotions from his mistakes to drive him away from Jesus. Contrast that with Peter. Peter could have easily avoided Jesus after he was raised from the dead. Instead, he decided to go to Him. He allowed Jesus to forgive him. Jesus went on to tell Peter that he would build the church on him. Forgiveness is a gift. Like all gifts we must choose to receive them. Peter chose to receive the gift, Judas did not. Is there any sin in your life that you feel like Jesus cannot forgive? If someone who betrayed the Savior of the world can be forgiven, don’t you think you can too? Whose example will you follow? Will you be like Judas and forget what Jesus is all about? Or will you be like Peter and let God work in and through you? “I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. Isaiah 43:25 Pastor Blake  I am always amazed at God's role as our Father. God as our father had always resonated with me, but even more so since I've been a father myself. As a father, my hardest job is in disciplining my daughters when necessary.
Exodus 34:6-7 says “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” God is unfailingly loving to His children, but He will also hold us accountable for our sinful behavior. And just like a child, it is up to us to determine how we will respond to our Father's loving discipline. And above it all, we have to remember that this is the same God that promised to never leave us or forsake us. God is our Father, and the most loving one we could ever ask for. Pastor Jared  Hope can be a slippery thing: A pondering by Holly Woodbridge
I hope we will have good weather tomorrow. I hope I have enough to pay my bills. I hope things will work out for the better. I hope this isn’t cancer. Hope is a slippery thing, at least when our hope is misplaced. I have struggled a bit lately holding on to hope. People disappoint, circumstances discourage. The hard happens. I sometimes get distracted by the mess of life. People I thought were real are not. Foundations I thought were secure get shaky. And then out of the blue, the sun comes shining through. I had a conversation with a dear friend this week. Her circumstances have opened up bright possibilities for her. I can see God working so clearly in her life, opening doors and filling her bucket with joy. And I am reminded of the hope we possess. My vision clears as I see Jesus again. My circumstances may not have changed, but I got to clearly see my God at work and I was reminded of the reality of HIM. See, we think of hope as that thing just out of reach, but the hope we read about in scripture is what we have, while we wait for what we don’t yet have. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:22 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. Psalm 130:5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:5 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114 Our hope is not misplaced. Our hope is HIM. Our hope is in His word. And although there may be some waiting involved as He works out His plan for our life, we do not have to wait for Him. He is our hope and He is with us, within us in the waiting. And He will keep you from slipping as you hold tight to His hand. My friend is overflowing with hope and it has splashed all over me. So, get out your bucket. Hold it out there. He will fill you up. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13  Tuesday we began a four part series about the miraculous God story told by Heath and Katie Franke. This is the fourth in the series.
So the accident occurred Thursday afternoon. Noah was released from ICU to a regular room on Friday afternoon. And he was being released from the hospital and being sent home Sunday, just after noon. We didn’t spend days in the ICU. We didn’t spend days/weeks in the hospital. Noah didn’t have speech or physical therapy. No, he had a God who decided to use Noah, use this story to show He is a God of miracles! We have been told by medical professionals and friends in the medical field, this should have changed Noah. He should have had this, this and this, wrong! And I admit I do not understand all of the medical. But I do understand this. On May 27th, God showed up. Something that could have taken our son's life, was instead used for a God story. On May 27th the church showed up. So many from our church came and prayed outside that building. Willing to be there and just pray. So many shared on social media, called, texted friends to pray. On May 27th, people from literally all over the world heard about Noah. People all over the world went to God in prayer. People all over the world have been given a story to share God’s love with others. To share how God is moving and alive in our world today. At one point, I had a parent talk to me about how their child had been questioning God and faith. They were looking at the world and didn’t see Him. That was until this accident and Noah’s amazing recovery. Their child said, "How could any question God when you look at Noah and what he has done?" Their child was now searching for their own relationship with the Lord. The parents said, I am so sorry you have had to go through this but it's changing our kids’ lives. My reply was simple. Then it was all worth it. Would I wish for my sons to go through something like this again? Of course not. But knowing that all of what we went through was bringing someone else to the Lord, it meant it was all worth it. And for that reason, I would go through it again, if it meant reaching others and showing them God’s love. You see, the Lord is moving. The Lord still does miracles. The church is alive and moving. You just have to be willing to be used. Over 80 people were willing to be a vessel that day. People on social media and all over the world, they were willing to be the church and pray. And each day we have that same choice. Not every day, do big accidents happen. But every day, there are lost souls searching. We need to be willing to let God move in ways that only He can.  Tuesday we began a four part series about the miraculous God story told by Heath and Katie Franke. This is the third in the series. Make sure you follow their story the rest of the week. As we got settled into the ICU room I couldn’t help but just watch Noah and pray. Thanking God for the staff, the surgeon, the entire medical team. Roughly every 30 minutes the nurse attempted to wake him up and ask him who he is, where he is, etc. It was hard to listen, his speech was very mumbled. There was no understanding him. You couldn’t make out any words he was saying. This went on all night. Early in the morning they took him for a CT scan and the surgeon was really pleased with how things looked. She encouraged me to keep hanging in there, and she would see me in a couple of days. Later that morning Pastor Blake came to see Noah and as he walked in Noah said, “Hey Pastor Blake”. The nurse and I couldn’t believe it! We both looked at each other, looked at Noah and back at each other. It was amazing! I know Pastor Blake prayed but I really couldn’t tell you what else went on. I was so overcome with Joy. He just spoke and we understood it! How amazing was that! A while later Pastor Dick came to see Noah. This time Heath and Jonathan were allowed to also be in the room. He lifted his hand, waved and said, “Hi Pastor Guilfoil.” I couldn’t believe it. And this time more people heard. They couldn’t believe it. Pastor prayed and as he did, you could feel the Holy Spirit come over all of us and fill that room. I just stood there with tears. It was such an amazing moment that I will never forget. God was in that room. God was there with Noah. The rest of the day was crazy. Staff from all kinds of different therapies came in to see Noah and test him. And he passed all of them. No one had any concerns at all! So, he was transferred to a regular room. You guys. Less than 24 hours ago, we were told he wouldn’t make it to Children’s Mercy. We were told to be prepared and hang on, this was going to be a long hard road. We were told to stay strong. Less than 24 hours and he was moving to a regular room! After we got to a regular room, there were some things Noah had to do that were on the checklist to be considered to go home. Some of them were very difficult, some of them very easy. Through all of them, Noah remained positive and strong. We would talk some as he was awake. He didn’t remember much of anything in the past 48 hours which was okay. But he did remember one thing. He told me how right after the accident happened, he knows his eyes were still closed, maybe blacked out for a moment. But he prayed. He said he asked God to please give him whatever hurt Caleb or the others had. He could take it. Just let everyone else be okay. Please, give it to him. And you know what? I firmly believe God did. The other driver was not hurt at all. And Caleb ended up going to his last day of school. No goose egg. No black eye. Nothing but a sore wrist, that actually went away after 48 hours. The truck hit Caleb’s side of the vehicle. Caleb should have been the one in that bed. I believe God heard Noah and answered yes to that prayer. He did end up getting an infection a few weeks later on a Friday, and again, within 72 hours, it was gone. We sat in the ER on Monday as they decided whether to have surgery again and clean things up a bit or do stitches. It was decided to do stitches because the infection was gone, no signs of it at all! God is moving. God is still performing miracles and they are all around us every day. Tune in again tomorrow for the rest of the story...Tuesday we began a four part series about the miraculous God story told by Heath and Katie Franke. This is the third in the series. Make sure you follow their story the rest of the week. As we got settled into the ICU room I couldn’t help but just watch Noah and pray. Thanking God for the staff, the surgeon, the entire medical team. Roughly every 30 minutes the nurse attempted to wake him up and ask him who he is, where he is, etc. It was hard to listen, his speech was very mumbled. There was no understanding him. You couldn’t make out any words he was saying. This went on all night. Early in the morning they took him for a CT scan and the surgeon was really pleased with how things looked. She encouraged me to keep hanging in there, and she would see me in a couple of days. Later that morning Pastor Blake came to see Noah and as he walked in Noah said, “hey Pastor Blake”. The nurse and I couldn’t believe it! We both looked at each other, looked at Noah and back at each other. It was amazing! I know Pastor Blake prayed but I really couldn’t tell you what else went on. I was so overcome with Joy. He just spoke and we understood it! How amazing was that! A while later Pastor Dick came to see Noah. This time Heath and Jonathan were allowed to also be in the room. He lifted his hand, waved and said, “Hi Pastor Guilfoil.” I couldn’t believe it. And this time more people heard. They couldn’t believe it. Pastor prayed and as he did, you could feel the Holy Spirit come over all of us and fill that room. I just stood there with tears. It was such an amazing moment that I will never forget. God was in that room. God was there with Noah. The rest of the day was crazy. Staff from all kinds of different therapies came in to see Noah and test him. And he passed all of them. No one had any concerns at all! So, he was transferred to a regular room. You guys. Less than 24 hours ago, we were told he wouldn’t make it to Children’s Mercy. We were told to be prepared and hang on, this was going to be a long hard road. We were told to stay strong. Less than 24 hours and he was moving to a regular room! After we got to a regular room, there were some things Noah had to do that were on the checklist to be considered to go home. Some of them were very difficult, some of them very easy. Through all of them, Noah remained positive and strong. We would talk some as he was awake. He didn’t remember much of anything in the past 48 hours which was okay. But he did remember one thing. He told me how right after the accident happened, he knows his eyes were still closed, maybe blacked out for a moment. But he prayed. He said he asked God to please give him whatever hurt Caleb or the others had. He could take it. Just let everyone else be okay. Please, give it to him. And you know what? I firmly believe God did. The other driver was not hurt at all. And Caleb ended up going to his last day of school. No goose egg. No black eye. Nothing but a sore wrist, that actually went away after 48 hours. The truck hit Caleb’s side of the vehicle. Caleb should have been the one in that bed. I believe God heard Noah and answered yes to that prayer. He did end up getting an infection a few weeks later on a Friday, and again, within 72 hours, it was gone. We sat in the ER on Monday as they decided whether to have surgery again and clean things up a bit or do stitches. It was decided to do stitches because the infection was gone, no signs of it at all! God is moving. God is still performing miracles and they are all around us every day. Tune in again tomorrow for the rest of the story...Tuesday we began a four part series about the miraculous God story told by Heath and Katie Franke. This is the third in the series. Make sure you follow their story the rest of the week. As we got settled into the ICU room I couldn’t help but just watch Noah and pray. Thanking God for the staff, the surgeon, the entire medical team. Roughly every 30 minutes the nurse attempted to wake him up and ask him who he is, where he is, etc. It was hard to listen, his speech was very mumbled. There was no understanding him. You couldn’t make out any words he was saying. This went on all night. Early in the morning they took him for a CT scan and the surgeon was really pleased with how things looked. She encouraged me to keep hanging in there, and she would see me in a couple of days. Later that morning Pastor Blake came to see Noah and as he walked in Noah said, “hey Pastor Blake”. The nurse and I couldn’t believe it! We both looked at each other, looked at Noah and back at each other. It was amazing! I know Pastor Blake prayed but I really couldn’t tell you what else went on. I was so overcome with Joy. He just spoke and we understood it! How amazing was that! A while later Pastor Dick came to see Noah. This time Heath and Jonathan were allowed to also be in the room. He lifted his hand, waved and said, “Hi Pastor Guilfoil.” I couldn’t believe it. And this time more people heard. They couldn’t believe it. Pastor prayed and as he did, you could feel the Holy Spirit come over all of us and fill that room. I just stood there with tears. It was such an amazing moment that I will never forget. God was in that room. God was there with Noah. The rest of the day was crazy. Staff from all kinds of different therapies came in to see Noah and test him. And he passed all of them. No one had any concerns at all! So, he was transferred to a regular room. You guys. Less than 24 hours ago, we were told he wouldn’t make it to Children’s Mercy. We were told to be prepared and hang on, this was going to be a long hard road. We were told to stay strong. Less than 24 hours and he was moving to a regular room! After we got to a regular room, there were some things Noah had to do that were on the checklist to be considered to go home. Some of them were very difficult, some of them very easy. Through all of them, Noah remained positive and strong. We would talk some as he was awake. He didn’t remember much of anything in the past 48 hours which was okay. But he did remember one thing. He told me how right after the accident happened, he knows his eyes were still closed, maybe blacked out for a moment. But he prayed. He said he asked God to please give him whatever hurt Caleb or the others had. He could take it. Just let everyone else be okay. Please, give it to him. And you know what? I firmly believe God did. The other driver was not hurt at all. And Caleb ended up going to his last day of school. No goose egg. No black eye. Nothing but a sore wrist, that actually went away after 48 hours. The truck hit Caleb’s side of the vehicle. Caleb should have been the one in that bed. I believe God heard Noah and answered yes to that prayer. He did end up getting an infection a few weeks later on a Friday, and again, within 72 hours, it was gone. We sat in the ER on Monday as they decided whether to have surgery again and clean things up a bit or do stitches. It was decided to do stitches because the infection was gone, no signs of it at all! God is moving. God is still performing miracles and they are all around us every day. Tune in again tomorrow for the rest of the story...  Yesterday we began a four part series about the miraculous God story told by Heath and Katie Franke. This is the second in the series. Make sure you follow their story the rest of the week.
1 John 5:14 - This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. NASB Romans 12:5 - So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. NASB Matthew 18:20 - For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst. NASB When we learned that Noah was going to need surgery due to a massive brain bleed, I remember calling my small group who I knew would pray and ask others to do so. Due to COVID only one person had been allowed in with Noah. Heath was inside and I had been outside. At some point during all of this I had been updating our small group. I remember calling Jenni to update. I couldn’t type, my hands were shaking too much. And I remember asking her to pray. I called my parents to tell them and asked them to pray. Thankfully, the hospital said I should come in. Security took me past everything and right to Noah and Heath. Noah had a blank stare on his face. I remember thinking, oh I’m glad he isn’t repeating anymore and calm. I now know that this was not a good sign. The nursing staff was rushing all around. They were moving Noah to the OR and quickly. The neurosurgeon was on the way and they needed to get ready. The nurse talked to us on the way, assuring us he was in good hands and this needed done right away. We got to an open area by the OR. They did not put him in a room as there was no time. Other Physicians and staff were coming in for their scheduled surgeries and being told everything was on hold. Theirs were cancelled because this was emergent. They were hooking Noah up to machines and starting IVs. I remember he still had a blank look on his face. The anesthesiologist tried asking him simple questions however he didn’t get an answer. They asked us to sign some forms giving permissions, etc. It was during this time things were moving fast but also in slow motion. Like you see on the movies where you are standing still and everyone around you is rushing at warp speed. The staff that had their surgeries cancelled looked at us with sorrow. It felt like we were losing him or had lost him. Their faces told the untold story. The neurosurgeon arrived and prepared us for what was ahead. He has a massive brain bleed. We needed to be ready for this. It was going to be a long road for him. If he makes it through surgery, we are looking at his speech and cognitive thinking. The bleed was on top of this part of his brain. So, “hang in there mom and dad. You can do this but you need to be ready. None of this is going to be easy.” We walked out to the surgery waiting area and I said, we need to call Jonathan. He needs to know what is going on. So I called him. I tried with all of my strength to hold it together for him. I explained what was happening and asked if he could talk to his boss and come up to the hospital. I could tell he was crying and said he would. (Glory Days will always hold a special place in my heart. They closed their phones down and were just there for Jonathan for about 30-45 minutes. They did what they could for him and even brought him to us so he wouldn’t have to drive) I know Heath called his dad and I called my mom. I remember texting our small group to keep praying. I’m not sure when or how but Pastor Michael and Pastor Delinda were able to come in and sit with us. I found great comfort in having them there. They didn’t need to say anything, just having them near was a source of strength and comfort. When the surgery was over the neurosurgeon met with us. She said he had a midline shift, fractures and bad bleed. They were able to use plates to put things back together, because it was like a puzzle once they opened him. She felt like the surgery went well but again, told us to be prepared for a long recovery. We were going to be at the hospital for a while, in the ICU for a few days most likely. She wanted us to be prepared in that this was going to be a long and hard recovery. If he recovered well then MAYBE he could start school in August, maybe. Because of where the bleed was, we really need to focus on his speech and thinking. Those were our two main areas of focus. In the morning they would do another CT and she would see us then. Hang tight and be strong, you got this. As they prepped him to go to the ICU, it was decided I would stay at the hospital. It was decided that Heath and Jonathan were to go home and be with Caleb. It was at this time we learned the church was outside praying. We heard some were and were grateful our small group dropped what they were doing to do that. However, it wasn’t just our small group. Roughly 80 people had come to pray. 80 people put the church in action. As Heath and Jonathan were leaving, they were moved by the amount of people who had stopped their day and came to pray, for us. We cannot explain the source of comfort this provided us. That is a moment in which they will never forget. Scripture calls us to pray individually and collectively. If you are not a part of small group at church, I encourage you to do so. Make a practice of gathering to pray according to His will. We cannot explain the source of comfort this provided us. Tune in again tomorrow for more of the story... If you have walked with God for any length of time, you probably have stories of how God is working in your lives. The following is one such story told by Heath and Katie Franke. It will be broken down into four parts so make sure you follow their story the rest of the week.
"Miracles. God is moving. God is NOT Dead. God is very much alive and working. Let me share with you how I know all of this to be true. Have you ever had a time in your life when all you want to do and all you need to do is cry out to God? I think at some point in our lives we all go through times of despair and cry out to God. Last May I stood in the parking lot of Stormont Vail Emergency and did just this. This is our story… May 27th is a day in which our family will never forget. A day in which we saw the beginning of miracle after miracle after miracle occur. It was the 2nd to last day of school. Noah called around 3. I assumed it was to tell me about his finals and how they had gone that day. I knew he had left school already. Life360 had already told me that. I answered and Noah told me, “Mom, we’ve been in an accident. Someone hit us. Oh, AMR is here, gotta go.” My mind immediately went in a million directions. AMR already on scene? Probably more than a fender bender. Were they hurt? Noah didn’t answer when I called him back, so I called Caleb. I asked if he was okay. He said yes. I said, what kind of accident? He replied, “here I’ll let you talk to the guy outside the car.” AMR came on the phone and asked that I come to the scene. My heart sank a little. One of those calls you never want to receive as a parent. I called Heath and Jonathan to have them meet me there. It was your typical accident scene. The other driver was fine and walking around. Noah and Caleb were in the ambulance. Caleb was shaken but okay. Noah was crying hysterically and rocking back and forth. “Is Caleb okay? Is the other person, okay? Is everyone okay?” I rubbed Noah’s shin and said, “just breathe buddy. Everyone is okay. I need you to calm down and breathe. Everyone is fine.” Noah had an obvious concussion and laceration to the back of his head. There was a lot of blood on him and the seat of the ambulance. We realized that Noah was on about a 60 second repeat. Just as he would calm down, he would remember the accident and get upset all over again. AMR advised to take him to a minor care facility to get checked and we did. They could not give us the help we needed, advising he needed a scan to make sure everything was okay. It was at this time Jonathan decided to go to work. He wasn’t going to be able to go into the ER anyway and after they checked Noah out we would go home. The concussion was obvious, so we had an idea of what was going to happen. When we arrived at the hospital, only 1 person was allowed in. So, I stayed in the parking lot with Caleb and Heath went in with Noah. The 60 second repeat was still happening, so they didn’t have to wait for a room. Between that and the blood they got in right away. As he was being taken care of, I was able to be with Caleb outside. He was shaking and upset. It was at this point I noticed he was going to have a pretty good goose egg and a black eye. I held him and we just talked, prayed and talked some more. We were getting updates from Heath which was helping Caleb calm down knowing Noah was okay. My parents came up to sit with us. After a while, Caleb was doing better, and it was decided they would take him for a quick bite to eat and then back to our house until we got there. This is where time seems to get jumbled in my memory. We had been waiting for the results of the scan they did and then the plan was to go home. It was then that Heath called me. The results were back and Noah had some bleeding on his brain. They said we could follow the ambulance to Kansas City. They needed to do the surgery there. I said okay and started to think about how we were going to juggle things at home and be with Noah, would Children’s Mercy even let both of us in? Should I call the Ronald McDonald house for one of us to stay? As I was going through all of this in my mind, Heath called and said they are going to fly him there instead. My stomach dropped. I knew this meant he was not in good condition. What seemed like seconds but I’m sure it was a little longer, it was decided the surgery would happen here in Topeka. He wouldn’t make it to Kansas City. I remember crying out to God. He wouldn’t make it. How do you wrap your head around those words? Lord, I don’t know what you are doing in this situation, but I give it all to you. And I just stood there looking to Heaven and crying. Calling out to God to be here. Crying out for Him to be with Noah. Our son was inside, and the doctors were talking about him needing surgery. Should they transfer him to Children’s Mercy? Should they life flight him? Such scary words for anyone to hear. All I knew to do was cry out to God. But not in anger and not with pleading. I cried out saying God you have a plan in all of this. You have a plan for Noah whether it be to take him now or have a miracle happen. Whatever your purpose for all of this, help me and my boys be ready for it. Help us to glorify you in all of it. Help us to see your purpose and not our own desire. This isn’t easy. Releasing control of your life to God is hard. Releasing your family to God is hard. However, I encourage you to do this, this week. Whatever is going on right now, I promise God has a purpose. We may not always understand the purpose at the time, but His way is always better than our own. Try it today and tomorrow and every day. Cry out to God to lead your life and fulfill His purpose through you. More of our story tomorrow. Stay tuned!" Katie Franke |
AuthorNotes from the Staff @The Woods Archives
March 2023
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