As Thanksgiving rolls around each year this question surfaces; to Whom are we addressing our appreciation? For the believer the answer is simple. We say "thank you" to the God of the Bible. Only He has the power to bless, intervene, protect, provide, save, heal, forgive and deliver as we have experienced so many times. What a warm sense of acceptance as we realize He has chosen to draw us to Himself although He is totally self sufficient and needs nothing. Somehow He wants to interact with His creation. That would be US with all our foibles and failures, doubts and fears.  Truly amazing grace.

On the other hand, what a fearful position to be in on Thanksgiving Day having rejected God. Gazing on the limitless reaches of interstellar space filled with countless galaxies, stars and planets, feeling oneself responsible to wrest an existence from such vastness...what an empty and vapid soul such a person must be!

A thousand times better that we look at life through the Psalmist's lens; "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want". True peace! Complete security!

May we each go through this Thanksgiving and Christmas season deeply aware of the gracious God of creation and his benevolence toward us!

Lovingly,

Richard Orrell, Lead Pastor

Shout THANKS to the Lord

Psalm 100:4  (NLT)

4 "Enter His gates with Thanksgiving, go into His courts with praise.   Give thanks to Him and praise His name!"

This Thursday we gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving.      The Scriptures tell us often to "give thanks to Him" , for He deserves all the praise.

If we have anything in this life, it is due to God's care for us and His Divine provision.

Begin a list of things to be thankful for today.

· A wonderful church family.

· A Loving Spouse and children

· Good health and provision for our families

· Salvation and healing through His sacrifice

· Having been born in America, Land of the Free

Today as we enter into Worship, let's forget about ourselves, our worries, and just let ourselves become totally immersed in Worship of Him.   HE is worthy of all praise!

Happy Thanksgiving from Twila and me,

Pastor Phil      

^{John 15:5} I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. KJV

This wonderful truth was powerfully illustrated to me recently as my son and I trimmed brush that had grown up in a fence line. As daylight faded I cut a thick vine laced into and around the fencing. Due to the lateness of the hour I declined pulling it from its tenacious grip on the fence and left it in place. A day or two later I found the time to return and finish the job on that stubborn vine. It was still there clinging with rigidity to the fence exactly as it had when connected to the main vine running along the ground. The sad truth of its condition was evident to the most casual glance. It was dead. Incapable of producing leaves or fruit. The leaves it already possessed were quickly withering and fading. The berries had lost their color and had begun to shrivel. It was good for nothing except to add to our growing pile of useless brush that would soon be burned.

Many a Christian has allowed circumstances to interfere with his or her relationship with THE VINE…Jesus Christ. Disappointment with church programs, people or leadership has caused daily Bible reading and prayer to be cut off. The sweet fellowship with Christ the believer formerly enjoyed is cut off as surely as the lopping shears severed that vine from its parent.

The position can be retained. The office may continue to be filled. But anyone seeking shade or fruit will quickly know the truth. This branch is no longer connected to the Vine. Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance simply cannot come from us. They are the fruit of the Spirit. They source from Jesus Christ. Failure to maintain our connection with Him results in failure to bear the fruit of His Spirit.

Stay close to our Source. Without Him, we really can do nothing.

Lovingly,

Pastor Rich Orrell

God's got our future!

Matthew 19: 26 (NLT)

²⁶ Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”  What is troubling you today?                

Insurmountable debt, Cancer, family problems, worry about what will happen tomorrow?     God knows what you're facing friend and He has it under control.  For with Him all things are possible!

Listen to what the scripture says about our fears.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

^6 ""Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all He has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. "   What an awesome promise!

Take time daily to read God's Word and rest in His promises  that no matter what we may face today, He planned each of our days before we were ever born.

He's got your today, tomorrow and eternity in His hand, He has a divine plan for you!  Don't fear, just trust Him!

God's got this!  We have nothing to fear!

       Love ya,  Pastor Phil      

It was bitterly cold that morning as I ground the starter on my high-mileage old clunker. Fortunately, I had left myself a bit of extra time due to the frigid pool of Polar air settling in for one of winter’s nasty little surprises. As my battery reached the end of its cranking capacities a friend noticed I was having problems and stopped to help. He had an extra fully charged battery with him and a good set of jumper cables.

“Surely there’s enough power here to get the old fliver going.” I said optimistically as the connections were made.

Soon, both batteries were totally depleted and my car still refused to start.

I gave up and accepted the ride to work graciously offered by my friend.

That evening, once again with the help of my friend from church, I found that the motor had internal problems that made it physically impossible for it to start and run. No amount of cranking could repair the problem inside. Cranking wasn’t the problem

Our lives are sometimes like that old car. There are internal problems that must be repaired before we can ever run on our own. Most often, the repair begins with a trip to the altar and a prayer of repentance. Many of life’s worst difficulties can be fixed by asking God to forgive us and restore us.

Tired of trying yet another “jump start” for a life that won’t run? Come meet God at the altar. Let Him reach inside and repair all that internal damage.

“Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me!” Now that is still the right way to come to Him.

See You at church!

Pastor Rich Orrell