Saturday, July 11, 2020

Dear Trinity Baptist Church Family, There is a doxology – a statement of praise – that concludes the book of Jude. Jude 24-25 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, 25 to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. Note first that Jesus can keep us from stumbling. Do you feel like you are not growing, not progressing in your Christian walk? Do you think you cannot keep from some sins? Jesus is able to keep us from stumbling. With His help, we have no excuse to be stagnant in our Christian growth.

Then, note His agenda: Jesus will present us faultless before God. And He does it with joy, not grudging or with struggling. Jesus delights to present me – flawed as I am – to God. What an amazing thought!

So what choices are you making today? Are they choices of peace and kindness? Are they choices of holiness and goodness? Are you walking with/like Jesus? Are you excited about that day when you will be presented to God clothed in the righteousness of Jesus?

Darryl Mayes is the preacher this Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. In adult/teen Sunday School at 8:45 a.m., the series Thirsting for Authenticity will be continued. Then on Sunday evening, Pastor Shaeffer will be in his series from Luke. After the evening service, the teens should head for the church basement for Reflections led by Pastor Charlie (PC).

We are one week from God’s Great Zoo! This 5-lesson event will begin during the Sunday School hour on July 19th and continue Sunday through Wednesday – July 19th-22nd at 6:30 p.m. This VBS is for all those who have turned 3 to those entering 8th grade. The focus of the week is upon God’s creative week. The theology that will be taught is foundational to our faith and world view. I urge you to include your children in this week. Because of COVID issues, we are not putting a sign out front of the church nor promoting aggressively outside of the TBC family.

Continue to pray for Dennis Groll. He is weak and last I knew still in the hospital. Reports from missionaries in South America (Price, Peace, West, Smith) tell of many restrictions in ministry because of COVID. The Troesters in Mozambique, Africa have not been able to have church as of yet. Pray for these ministries. Missionary Bob Oetman is back in South Korea. His family hopes to join him at the end of the month, but is waiting on a passport for Matthew. COVID has greatly slowed the precess. Pray that Brenda will have wisdom concerning possible changes in their airline tickets.

Pray for God to be the focus of our church. Pray for our church to move forward in ministry opportunities despite current frustrations. Pray for God’s protection and for health for our Congregation. Pray for peace.

Embracing Truth, Pastor