Spirit of Unity

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. – Ephesians 4:3-6

Last night the church met together at our annual congregational meeting.  I am thankful for all the people that were present at that meeting.  As the pastor, it was encouraging to see such commitment and participation in the life of the church.  It was not an easy meeting because of the difficult decisions that were made due to our financial constraints.  As the church walked together through these tough decisions, I felt an overwhelming sense of unity and peace in the body of Christ.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul urges the church to make every effort to stay united in the Spirit.  Paul knows that God can do great things through a church that lives in unity.  Although, difficult decisions were made, I am certain that because of the unity within our church, God will continue to move us forward in ministry in powerful and wonderful ways.

Prayer:  Lord, we pray for our church as we move into the future.  We pray that you will bless the church’s ministries so that we can be a part of bringing your Kingdom to earth just as it is in heaven.  Amen.

Faith Tip:  As a church let us hold on to the spirit of unity that we experienced last night and as one let us be faithful in following God’s call.   

Written by Pastor Aaron Anderson   

Nobody Knows My Sorrows

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. – Isaiah 53:3

Often in the midst of suffering and sorrow we can feel isolated, because certainly we are the only ones who can truly feel our physical and emotional pains.  This isolation can cause us to believe that we are the only ones who are suffering and we believe that no one can understand what we are going through.  It reminds me of the words of that old spiritual song, “Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen, nobody knows my sorrows.”  This feeling of isolation in the midst of trouble can bring us to an even deeper level of sorrow.

The good news is that we are not alone in our suffering.  The scriptures tell us that Jesus was a man of sorrows and suffering.  This doesn’t mean that he had only an intellectual knowledge about suffering, but it tells us that Jesus was familiar with suffering.  He knows exactly what you are dealing with. He knows how it feels, because he has experienced it.  No matter what you are going through, whether your suffering is physical, emotional, spiritual, or financial you are not alone. Jesus has been there before and he knows exactly how you feel and he is there to help you through your times of troubles.

Prayer:  Thank you Lord for being with me in the midst of my suffering.  Help me to remember that you know what I am going through and feeling.  Let me rest in you as you help me through my times of trouble.  Amen.

Faith Tip:  Are you going through some trouble today?  Do you know someone who is going through a tough time?  If so remember or help someone else remember that Jesus has been there and he is right with you now to comfort you and help you.

Written by Pastor Aaron Anderson  

The Variety in God's Creation

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.  – Genesis 1:11

I have been helping my daughter, Alyssa, with her leaf project for her sixth grade science class.  This project entails gathering leaves from twenty different trees and identifying the type of tree by its leaf.  This can be difficult at times to differentiate, for example, a black oak from a pin oak or a red maple from a sugar maple.  Helping Alyssa with this project has made me aware of how many different varieties of trees there are in God’s creation.

When God created the trees he could have created one type of tree, but he didn’t.  In Genesis it says that God created various kinds of trees, each one different with different bark, trunks, branches and leaves.  This difference is what makes our world so beautiful and we see that beauty especially this time of year as the leaves change to vibrant colors of orange, yellow and red.

Like the trees God created each one of us different, with different personalities, experiences, looks, abilities, languages, etc…  God could have made us all the same, but he didn’t.  And our differences make the world a beautiful place to live.

Prayer:  Thank you Lord for the beauty of your creation.  Thank you for the infinite variety that makes this world an interesting and beautiful place to live.  Help me to embrace these differences and see the beauty in every part of your creation and in every person.  Amen.

Faith Tip:  Take a walk today or sometime soon and see how many different types of trees you see as you enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.

Written by Pastor Aaron Anderson

The Power of Relationship

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”

So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. – Exodus 17:8-13

This past weekend, I spent some quality time with God’s people. It was a pilgrimage. Together we journeyed in discovering more about God. What did we discover? God’s great love for us expressed through each other. We found out that we needed one another not only through the weekend, but perhaps more after the weekend.

Gathering together in God’s name is a call. We were never meant to travel life alone. Yes, we have the Holy Spirit inside of us and I praise God for that, but there is another element needed in those God puts in our life. Sometimes the relationship is life-long and sometime just for a season, but they are both crucial for our spiritual makeup.

The power of God’s love and grace is dynamic when people that follow Jesus gather together. It must be experienced for it can never be fully described in words. I encourage you to make plans to get together with some friends and family who know what this means, and be ready to show others who don’t know the great bond they are missing.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the relationships you have brought into my life, especially my relationship with you. I pray that I demonstrate the power of your love to those I come in contact with today. Amen

Faith Tip: Consider the people God has placed in your life. How do they uphold you? What part do you play in supporting another?

Written by Kathy Bruins

Limited Knowledge

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. – Psalm 139:6

The other day I was telling my daughter Joy how she was born with a hole in her heart.  I told her it was a God shaped hole.  Her eyes grew big and she said, “Really?”  I told her “No, not really?”  But as I thought about it I wondered, “How do I know?”  I can’t see inside her heart and if I could, I don’t know the shape of God.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Since the time that Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge humans have over-estimated the knowledge they actually have.  We tend to think that we know more than we actually do.  We uphold ideas as concrete truths when in actuality they are no more than a hypothesis or a guess.  When you really think about it, our knowledge is very limited, especially compared to the knowledge of God.  That is why we must always lean not on our own understanding, but trust in the Lord with all our heart.

Prayer:  Thank you Lord for the knowledge that you have given to me.  Forgive me when I think too highly of my limited knowledge and follow my own understanding instead of trusting completely in you.  Amen.

Faith Tip:  Is there a decision in your life that you are trying to make?  If so look at what you know and what you don’t know and then seek God’s will and direction to make the right decision.   

Written By Pastor Aaron Anderson

A Little Glimpse of Heaven

The wolf will live with the lamb,
   the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
   and a little child will lead them.  - Isaiah 11:6

Last night the Critter Barn came to Grace (see the picture).  The Intersection was turned into a barn as there were goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits and a lot of straw.  However, the exciting part of the entire evening was the number of people that came to see the animals.  The community turned out it great numbers and their where many children laughing and smiling as they held the rabbits and petted the goats.

In Isaiah, the Lord, gives us a small picture of heaven.  It is a picture where little children peacefully coexist with the animals.  Last night, as we saw many different ethnicities gathered together, many different ages, and little children interacting with the animals, I believe we truly saw a little glimpse of heaven here on earth.

Prayer:  Thank you Lord for the wonderful evening we had at Grace as the community gathered together to have a fun and enjoyable time with the animals.  Thank you for the promise of heaven and the small glimpses you give to us to renew our hope.  Amen.

Faith Tip:  Today watch for those little glimpses of heaven that God might give to you.

Written by Pastor Aaron Anderson

Marching In Step With Jesus

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; - Colossians 1:17-18a

Last night my family attended a marching band festival to watch my daughter march for West Ottawa’s band. (This is a picture of the band.)  It was enjoyable to see the various schools’ march.  It is amazing how all those students can play such powerful and beautiful music while at the same time marching around the field in perfect precision.  This is all because every band has at least one or two drum majors that stand at the front of the band and provide direction.  Without these leaders the band members would be marching to their own beat and playing whatever tempo they felt like.  It would go from something beautiful to something chaotic.

The church is like a marching band, we are held together by the head who is Jesus Christ.  He is the one who stands at the front and provides direction.  In order to carry out ministry with power and precision the church must continually keeps its focus on Christ.  When the focus is not on Christ then there is no leadership and everyone in the church begins to march to their own beat and do what they want to do, and this leads to chaos in the church.  Christ is the head and he holds all things together.

Prayer:  Thank you Lord for being the leader of my life.  Help me to keep my focus on you so that I can make beautiful music with my life.  Forgive me when I take my eyes off you.  Amen.

Faith Tip:  Where is Christ leading in your life?  What is he calling you to do?  How you respond is the difference between beauty and chaos in your life and in the church. 

Written by Pastor Aaron Anderson

Oh, To Be Seen

From heaven the LORD looks down
   and sees all mankind;
from his dwelling place he watches
   all who live on earth— Psalm 33:13-14

When I was a young boy, my little brother and I would watch a TV show called “Romper Room.”  At the end of each show the hostess would look through her “magic mirror” and name all the children that she could see out in “televisionland.”  My brother and I would always sit close to the TV hoping that one day she might see us.  She would always see children with names like Bob, Mary, Susie, Tommy, but no matter how close we sat to the TV she could never see little boys with names like Aaron and Arnie.

I think it is human nature to want to be seen.  Deep down we want to be noticed to assure us that there is someone who cares. Scripture tells us that the Lord looks down from heaven and he sees us.  We can take comfort in knowing that not only does God see us, but he watches over us because he cares about us. We don’t have to worry about not being seen, because God, our Creator, loves us and watches over all that we do.  He notices us!

Prayer:  Thank you Lord that you watch over me both day and night.  I am so glad that you notice me.  Help me to see you better.  Amen.

Faith Tip:  Take a little time today to think about God looking down from heaven and watching you.  Take comfort in know that you are noticed!

Written by Pastor Aaron Anderson

Discover God

But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29

Today is Columbus Day.  It is a national holiday to celebrate the discovery of America.  Over 500 years ago Christopher Columbus set sail across a vast ocean not knowing what was on the other side.  He did not know what he might find, the problems he might encounter or even if he would ever return home.  Despite the unknowns, Columbus set off on an adventure that led him to the discovery of a vast new land that we now call home.

The Christian faith is a lot like Columbus’ exploration.  Through life we seek to find more and more about God.  As we grow deeper in our knowledge of who God is, we find that there is even more to be discovered.  We will never be able to fully understand God, but it is an exciting adventure to seek and discover new things about God each and every day.   

Prayer:  Thank you Lord that you are greater than I will ever know, but you are not unknown.  Thank you that when I seek you, I always discover new things about who you are.  Help me to continue to grow in my knowledge of you.  Amen.

Faith Tip:  Try to discover one new thing about God today in prayer, Bible reading, study or just seeing how God is at work in the world.

Written By Pastor Aaron Anderson

Lift Rather Than Carry

Praise our God, all peoples, 
let the sound of his praise be heard; 
he has preserved our lives 
and kept our feet from slipping. 
For you, God, tested us; 
you refined us like silver. 
You brought us into prison 
and laid burdens on our backs. 
You let people ride over our heads; 
we went through fire and water, 
but you brought us to a place of abundance. – Psalm 66:8-12

I have recently heard about the struggles of numerous people in my life and my love and prayers go out to them. I continually think of them and lift them up to God. It’s difficult to see people go through these difficult times in their lives, but I know God is in it. If I didn’t have God to trust with these people, it would be depressing. But I know that God’s power is real and working all the time. I feel confident that whatever is the outcome in these dear ones’ lives that it will be “big picture” good for God turns all the ashes into beauty for His name’s sake.

Consider the struggles you have gone through or perhaps someone you know. At the time, I’m sure it was difficult to praise God, but as you look back can you see how He was involved? Difficulties shape us. We are made stronger and more into the image of Jesus as we journey through challenges and learn from them. How good to know that no matter what we are going through that God brings us to a place of abundance. It may not be in this life, but it is definite in eternal life.

Prayer: God, I thank you for the work you have done in my life. There have been ups and downs and you were there through it all. I praise you for your goodness in my life. Amen

Faith Tip: If you are going through struggles now or before, think about what you have been learning from God and how you are changing. Give God praise for the great work done in you.

Written by Kathy Bruins

It'll Last an Eternity

Trust in the LORD forever, 
   for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal. – Isaiah 26:4

Quality is something we look for when shopping for important items such as houses, cars and clothes. We want these things to last a long time so that we don’t have to repeat the cycle of purchasing new again. Investing our time and money into such finds is an important task. We want to hear and trust those words, “It’ll last a lifetime.”

God gives us the best offer over all other things. We can trust the Lord not only in this lifetime, but eternally. God will never wear out, disappear or break. He is a constant that will be with us and uphold us forever. God is a sound investment for us.

We don’t need to fear anything that life throws at us for God is all over it. So when we are tossed a ball of chaos in life, we can use our super slugger bat of Jesus Christ to hit a home run.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you that you hang on to me even in the times I feel I am on a high wire. Your safety net of love, pole of grace, and bicycle of mercy helps me to get across the wire. I pray that I not go walking in those high places without you by my side. Amen

Faith Tip: Is there something in your life that makes you feel you are walking a tight rope? Look to Jesus to get across safely.

Written by Kathy Bruins

Bless, Not Waste

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. – John 6:10-13

As a country, we are truly blessed. Most people have enough food, clothing and shelter to sustain them each day. We are given just enough. Sometimes we are given more than enough. What happens to those blessings that are beyond what we need to survive? Being so blessed, we are also a country known for great wasting habits. I believe we don’t realize the fullness of our wastefulness. If we did, I think we would be appalled.

God blesses us to be a blessing. Could we put some time and energy into figuring how we could bless others with what we’ve been given so graciously? Recycling is a blessing to others for it helps the earth we all live on. How about cleaning up roads and bodies of water? What do we clean them up from? Waste. God is the giver of great gifts. Let us honor him with showing respect and true appreciation for his gifts.

Prayer: Lord, when I think of all the things you have blessed me with, I stand in awe of you. Your love is apparent as you provide for me and lavish me with your love. May I not waste your love and share it with others. Amen

Faith Tip: Take some time to focus on all you’ve been given. How can you bless another with your blessings?

Written by Kathy Bruins

Plan to Follow

Do not boast about tomorrow, 
   for you do not know what a day may bring. – Proverbs 27:1

I don’t know about you, but my days can get packed with a lot of things to do. It is usually all good things and I look forward to them. Some of the things I look forward to doing are going with a friend to ArtPrize, having my sister over for dinner, and going on retreat in a week. I believe these things will happen and I plan my life around them, but the truth is I have no idea what God has planned for me these days. God’s plan may look totally different than mine and I need to be open to that. What God places in my path will be for the kingdom and I am to follow in obedience. I am a servant of God. Whose plans I follow will show who I am serving.

I think the best we can do is to keep in communication with God to know what is on his heart. Through prayer and reading the Bible, we know God’s heart more and will be able to respond easier to the call on our lives. Keeping our spiritual eyes open and on watch for what God is doing will help us not to miss what he is doing. We cannot boast about what a day holds for God creates each day. Whether there are good times or struggles, God is always working to grow us into the image of Jesus. To God be the glory.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for each day. The thought and detail you put into the day is amazing. I pray that I can keep my eyes watching for you and what you are doing and follow along in obedience. Amen

Faith Tip: Look at your calendar for tomorrow. Pray into that day and listen carefully to what God may be saying to you in regards to your schedule.

Written by Kathy Bruins

Yea! It's a New Day!

What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole. – 1 Peter 1:3 MSG

Gathering together as God’s people to worship is an encouragement to all believers. We are not only encouraged to live in obedience to God, but also reminded of his victory over death.

Somehow after we walk out the door of the church, the excitement seems to wane. Let’s keep the excitement going by intentionally worshiping God each day. By the time we gather again to worship, we will be pumped up to give God our all. God loves a cheerful giver.

Prayer: Lord, you are amazing. Thank you for the great love you have poured on me. I pray that I can keep the excitement going this week for who you are in worshiping you each day. Amen

Faith Tip: Praise God today for all he is to you. Each morning, give God more glory.

Written by Kathy Bruins