Words from the Pastor
Have you read Psalms 46 lately? This is what it says; “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her; she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Isn’t that beautiful? Essentially, what the Psalmists (The sons of Korah) are saying here is that no matter what is going on around us, no matter how rough our situation looks, God’s got this! He is an Ever-present help in times of trouble! So, we don’t need to worry about anything. Even though it looks as if the whole world is crumbling around you (Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea), God is bigger than all of that! It doesn’t always feel that way does it? But He is. He has proven over and over and over again that He can handle any situation! And the Psalm says, “Therefore we will not fear.” It doesn’t say “Therefore you don’t have to fear,” or “Therefore it’ll be alright if you don’t fear.” Oh no, it says, “Therefore we will not fear.” Will NOT fear! That’s easier said then done isn’t it?
Usually when I am having troubles of any sort I am busy trying to figure out how to fix it and thinking about what I can do next. But see what it says there towards the end of this passage of Scripture? “He says ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” He says! God Himself says that so you and I need to be still and know and trust Him. In other words, “sit-stay” and know that I am God. When we tell that to our doggies (Remember, man’s best friend before you think I am calling you a dog!!), what are we doing? We are trying to teach them something aren’t we? And do you think that maybe that is what God is doing with us?
I believe that in each and every situation that our Heavenly Father brings us into and allows in our lives, it is there to teach us one thing, and that is to completely trust Him for the outcome. Completely rely on Him and to be still and know that He really truly is God. What sweet peace there will be in our lives if we are able to step out of the boat, take His hand and walk through the storm knowing that He is in perfect control. But, just like Peter, do I take my eyes off of Jesus and look at the waves around me and cry out to Him, “Lord save me! I am drowning!” and guess what? He does, over and over again. He is good like that.
So, let’s just trust Him. He’s got this! “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full I His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace!” That’s a promise!!
Please let me know if you need anything. You pray for me and I’ll pray for you. Naomi and I love you all. -Pastor Steve
The Christian Church is free.
Wiersbe’s Commentary on Galatians 4:22 & 23- For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.
“Legalism does not mean the setting of spiritual standards; it means worshipping these standards and thinking we are spiritual because we obey them. It also means judging other believers on the basis of these standards.” (Wiersbe)
3G Event
This Saturday, June 8th beginning at 8 AM. Breakfast will be
provided. There will be a brief message/ discussion, then we will be
shooting bow’s. NOTE: We are going to shoot bow’s only; no firearms
this time. (Only the little kids with supervision will shoot BB guns
and maybe a .22.) Please bring your bow and if you have a target,
bring that as well. Typically this event runs till about noon.
Words from the Pastor
What a wonderful week at CCMA Rodeo Bible Camp! There was so much given this week, there was time, effort and money given that is going to have eternal rewards and I know God was glorified in everything. I would like to ask you to please be in prayer for all of the young people who were in camp. We are dealing with souls here and as young people they need all of the help that they can get. And prayer does change things! Every prayer and every dime given to the effort of reaching the lost is so important and God sees everything brothers and sisters, so please don’t think that what you are doing is not being used in His Kingdom. It is and it is important for reaching the lost. and as I write this, I know there were 4 decisions to accept Christ as Lord and Savior! Hallelujah!
So often I believe we allow worry in our lives to dictate what we do and how we do it. I read this some where the other day: “You may not know what will happen if you try, but if you do not try nothing will happen!” It’s not a Bible scripture but it is a Biblical principle. Jesus says in Matthew 5:27-34, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Isn’t that great? I think we should stop worrying about what might happen. Stop being afraid of what could go wrong. Start being excited about what could go right! Can we trust God to lead us and guide us as we move forward in what He has called us to do? I do understand that the unknown can sometimes be scary, but God knows. Can we trust God to give us wisdom Brothers and Sisters? He tells us in Proverbs 3:5 & 6 this: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” So, no matter what it looks like on the outside we can trust God to work it out not matter how crazy it seems like to the world. Is God calling you to start a work or join a Bible study? Is He calling you to maybe teach a Sunday school class? Or maybe just to start attending a Sunday school class. Maybe He is prompting your heart to share the Gospel with someone at school or at work. Or scarier yet, to a family member! Trust Him to lead you with what to do or what to say. And remember, He loves you and wants what is best for you here on earth and eternally. Trust Him and He’s going to lead you! His Word promises this.
Please let me know if you need anything. You pray for me and I’ll pray for you. Naomi and I love you all. -Pastor Steve
Words from the Pastor
This week the Rodeo Bible Camp starts, on Tuesday to be exact. Kids from 12-18 years of age will come from all over Arizona to participate in camp and receive top-notch instruction from world renowned champions! These kids start early in the morning and finish late at night and are instructed in their various rodeo events (Team roping, breakaway roping, pole bending, barrel racing, beginning ropers, goat tying and horsemanship) on how to be a better contestant and win at the sport of rodeo. But even more than that, these top notch, world renowned instructors will pour Jesus into each of these students and help them become winners in life and as a child of God. And that my friends is instruction that will be eternal. I have taken part in this camp every year and each year it just gets better and better. The instructors, counselors and all of the staff just ooze the love of Jesus into these campers and they work on changing their lives from the inside out.
And isn’t that what it’s all about? Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:18-22 this, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” He said to make disciples of all nations in this verse. We could translate that word nations as cultures. We need to share Jesus with every culture, and as you know, cowboy is a culture. Agriculture is a culture that produces food for others. So, according to what Jesus tells us, we are supposed to preach Christ to them and this is why we spend so much time, effort and money on this camp! And that is also the reason that we hold an RFFD every month. We are putting action to our faith!
And how about you? Are you sharing Jesus with the people in your world? “But preacher, I’m not out in the jungles of Africa as a missionary, what are you talking about “my world?”” Your world is where ever you are at. Where you work, where you study, where you shop. It’s all those places. We are constantly rubbing shoulders with people outside of church, do they know that you serve a risen Savior? Do you know if they know Jesus? And we don’t have to preach to them. We need to show Jesus in our actions. Allow Jesus to speak through you. Just see what happens! You’ll be eternally grateful!
Please let me know if you need anything. You pray for me and I’ll pray for you. Naomi and I love you all. -Pastor Steve