Category: General

There will be times in your life when people will hurt you. They will get into the places where you are vulnerable. You can’t keep them out; they will squeeze through your front door wreaking havoc with your heart and in your life. It is unavoidable, but you don’t have to invite them into your basement. 

Often when we are hurt, we relive the experience over and over in our minds. We try to figure out the other’s motivation for hurting us. Sometimes we look inward to blame. What did I do? Am I not important? Why am I not liked? Sometimes we look outward. The one who hurt us is a snob and thinks him or herself better than us. Sometimes we see the attacker as jealous and wanting to inflict pain because he/she wants to bring us down to his level, or the person is selfish and does not give a thought to the feelings of others. Over and over, we play those hurts in our minds…sometimes with tears…sometimes with vengeful thoughts.

These attitudes and behaviors invite the attackers, who have already pushed past our front doors, right into our basements where they can kick around at our foundation…inflicting pain and feelings of isolation and loneliness over and over and over. This can shake us to our very core. 

Don’t let this happen. Fill your basement with the Lord. Fill your thoughts with the Lord and His grace. Ensure that your own actions are thoughtful and considerate of others. Do not punish yourself with self-degrading language and insecurities. Know that you are a child of God. Other’s actions are other’s actions. People have all kinds of motivations….some selfish…some thoughtless…some evil…some unintentional…but do not let those shake who you are…the person who God loves. The attackers are led by their hearts…and that is the person they have to live with. You be the person that you have to live with. You be the person that God intends for you to be. Educate your mind with His Word. Use your energy to do His work. Fill your basement with His strength and your heart with His Love. We can never control others…perhaps we can never even understand others…but God prepares for us a way to understand Him…the same way that we control ourselves. Strengthen yourself with the tools God has provided, so you can be whole in the face of your adversaries and ready to answer the Lord’s call when it comes. – Melissa Watson

⁷ For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7  (NIV)

Rev. Roger Bennett summarizes our Week 2 reading of Genesis, and Rev. Torrie Osgood gives us a preview of Week 3!

Rev. Roger Bennett gives us helpful hints on Bible Study and summarizes  Genesis 1-24 in Week 1 of our Bible reading. Rev. Torrie Osgood previews what we will be encountering during Week 2!

For a “deep dive’ into Genesis 1-24,  join us for Sunday School on September 19 in Roger’s class. We will have time to discuss our reading selection and ask whatever questions we may have. It promises to be an informative session.

 

With Covid craziness and quarantines and all the general confusion we have been experiencing since March 2020, maybe you are feeling a little disconnected from your church family. It is difficult to keep up with all the happenings and all of our friends these days when our schedules have been so disrupted. Here are some ways that you can “be in the loop” with your church family.

Attend church when you can. I know there are times that it truly isn’t safe for you to be out in public because of the risk of catching Covid. But when it is, come to church. The spiritual connection, the message, the music, reaches us in powerful ways that just can not be replicated in any other way. When it isn’t possible for you to be in church, catch the Desktop Worship videos that we post weekly. You can find them here on the blog and on our Facebook page and on Rev. Osgood’s Facebook page. It is the next best thing to being here in person.

Next, utilize the church’s communication sources such as our monthly newsletter, The Beacon, that goes out to 200+ people. It is full of lots of useful and interesting information. If you are not receiving a copy, let us know in the office, and we will add you to the mailing list. Also, listen to the church’s All Calls. Yes, I know they can be annoying, but if you don’t want to miss out on what is going on, it helps to listen to them. And of course this blog is also a great way for you to get information and stay connected.  I update twice weekly.

Finally, reach out to others. You can believe if you are feeling lonely or disconnected, so are others. Call someone, send them a card, go to lunch, get back involved. This pandemic has been challenging, but we are God’s children, and we are there for each other.

Blessings All.

You may have noticed that we have a new tab on our menu. You no longer have to scroll through all the posts to find your Desktop Worship video. All of our most recent worship service videos and all new ones will be posted together on their own page, DESKTOP WORSHIP, of course. 😉

All of our oldest Desktop Worship videos will still be located on the HOME tab. You will also find Bethany’s Bible Quest videos on the HOME page. Be sure to check them out!

There are seasons in our lives, and the seasons change. One of my seasons changed last May. From a season of good health to a season of pain, physical deficiency and risk. I had a stroke that severely affected my right side, but fortunately not my brain. That it did not was a blessing.

Some physical disabilities can be reversed, mitigated or compensated for, but brain disfunctions are much harder to deal with successfully. To allow a mind to remain intact in a changing season is indeed one of God’s blessings, and the change of seasons itself serves God’s purposes in giving direction in our lives.

As I rehabilitate, upon reflection, I know that God gave me a setback, a new season in my life that will change me for His purposes; and that, at the same time, He gave me an immeasurable blessing.

–Mac Harris, communications director

 

It may not feel like it, but it is almost fall. Some of the trees are beginning to turn color. The oak trees are shedding tiny little acorns. Leaves have begun falling too, and the sunshine has taken on a late summer golden hue. We are all ready for a change in season, and Terry McCotter, Renee Midyette, Juanita Arrington, and Tricia Johnston (all ladies of The Blossoms) were out at the church adding a little “fall color” to our building. What a welcome greeting our church family will receive Sunday morning when they arrive to worship. Thank you ladies!

Sunday, September 12, 2021 we begin Bible Quest. Watch the above video for an introduction to the first week’s reading. This will be followed by Bible Study on the next Sunday, September 19 in Roger Bennett’s class. Currently we have 27 people who wish to participate either on-line or in person. We hope this will be a blessing to all.

photo:  Melissa Watson

“Light-enchanted sunflower, thou Who gazest ever true and tender On the sun’s revolving splendour.” ~ Pedro Calderon de la Barca

When our church building burned to the ground in 2007, it was devastating, but we remained hopeful that we could rebuild. Through the the generosity of many individuals and many churches, plus the thoughtful planning of our leadership that purchased a good insurance policy, we were able to rebuild. Some wanted an exact replica of the old building. Others wanted a building that focused on the future. Our wonderful builders and rebuilding team got us both, and it is most obvious in our lovely steeple.

Photo Credit:  Janci Cahoon