The Importance of Unity

Psalm 133 "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore."

For me, this is one of the most meaningful and picturesque passages of scripture in the Bible. When I was in my early twenties, I was asked to memorize a Psalm, pressed for time and beginning to panic I picked one of the shortest ones I could find and because I quoted it over and over and over again, it sank in. I mean I really got it. Psalm 133 became part of my understanding of God. Let me share with you the 5 lessons that this Psalm has taught me.

#1 Unity is of paramount importance. Brothers in unity are one of the most powerful illustrations and examples of God at work ever. We sensed it at our recent retreat and I sense it often among the brothers at Grace Harbor. Maybe only one thing more powerful than brothers in unity..... sisters in unity. Look at the destructive force disunity can be, and then it is easy to see how marvelous unity can be.

#2 There is a God-glorifying abundance that needs to be invoked from time to time. When Mary Magdalene broke the expensive jar of oil on Jesus feet and washed his feet with her hair, it was not inappropriate, because of the sincerity and Christ-glorifying moment. Similarly, when so much oil was poured on Aaron's head that it ran all the way down his beard and even on to his collar it illustrated the importance of the preciousness of the worship. Excess is seldom in order, but from time to time we need to know when to sacrifice our best to show the supremacy of who He is to us.

#3 The priesthood, or pastorate or any ministry leader should always be humble enough to be used by Christ for illustration. Oh how many times I have needed to just be gracious in those moments and to get out of the way and let Jesus be exalted through me in spite of myself. I know Aaron knew what that meant. Every leader should learn this crucial lesson of the attitude of servitude.

#4 Sometimes things happen where they don't seem like they should and that truly glorifies God. Mount Hermon is lush and Mount Zion is not. See the comparison? Aaron doesn't deserve that oil, neither do I, neither do you, but it is like something really wet pouring out on something really dry. Miraculous. A beautiful simile followed by a beautiful metaphor.

#5 God has a way of making the simplest things the most profound. This Psalm in effect, saved my bacon when I was put on the spot to deliver something from memory. Almost completely extemporaneously God gave me these lessons early in my life which are part of the cavalcade of gems and jewels that the Spirit has revealed to my spirit to shape who I am.

I hope these pictures touch your heart and help you to hunger for the depth of the meaning of God's Word. No doubt just sharing this with you reminds me of how amazing God is in how He can make His Word come alive and teach us both mysteries and truths. Every passage of the Word is rich with nutritious ingredients that our hearts are starving for every day. Read, meditate, study, search, pray and listen to God's Spirit unfold the truth to you. It doesn't have to be the same as what I've learned. This Psalm has grown in practicality and application for me over the years.

Grow with me, Pastor Fred

“God Remembers”

Psalm 132:1 "O Lord, remember David, and all the hardships he endured."

First of all, let me remind you that even though God forgives and remembers our sin no more, He does remember everything that we endure that glorifies Him. This thought blesses me today. The tough times and efforts of our lives that were done in service to Him and all the sacrifices made and losses endured, if done with sincere heart they glorify His Name. We do not do anything that isn't noticed by God, not just our sins either, our service is recognized and God does remember all that we've done towards accomplishing His will in our lives.

This Psalm is dedicated to celebrating the arrival of the Arc of the Covenant in Jerusalem. David went through a lot in his life and the anonymous writer of this Psalm begins with a request of God to remember David and all the hardships that he faced in his life. From giants to shame, from victory to defeat. From one end of his life to the other, David was a man after God's own heart and God remembered that and glorified Himself because of what David endured. All is not for nothing. Everything done for Him is of value and God remembers.

We all endure things. We are patient and tolerant at least to a degree and we survive many pitfalls, poor choices attacks of the enemy and so on. But, we also serve Him, love Him, praise Him and do many things for the purpose of His glory. God is aware of this and remembers what we do. We should think of this not for the purpose of exalting ourselves, but instead, so we don't forget to keep doing what we should be doing.

I know I grow weary of "the high road" as I have come to call it. That way of doing things that focuses on what is right and best and always consider what Jesus would do and how. The value of doing things for Him, His way is that He remembers and He glorifies Himself when we do it for Him, sometimes just because it is the right thing to do. I am grateful today to be reminded that He remembers. Have you ever had someone remember something you did that blessed them that you had completely forgotten about? Or, someone tells you of something that happened years ago and you had no idea that it was such a blessing to them? When this happens I always want to say 'Praise the Lord', because that's why I try to do what I do. For Him. It blesses me a lot today to consider that God remembers, because we so often forget. We seem to too often forget the good and always remember the bad. He remembers the good and forgets the bad. I'm so glad He is not like us. Let us not forget to appreciate Him for that. We should also remember to apply to others what is good for us.

With His Love and Mine, Pastor Fred

Be Still My Soul

Psalm 131:2a "But I have stilled and quieted my soul."

The verse preceding this one in Psalm131 talks about not being proud with haughty eyes, and thinking more of ourselves than we ought to or should. I have said the words that are the title of this devotional to myself many times. Be still my soul. Sometimes it works; sometimes I have to try harder. Our souls can be restless more often than we'd like to admit. We are restless with worries and anxieties, restless with plots and schemes and drama, restless with a lack of faith, restless with anger, and un-forgiveness and restless with control and a lack of self control. We need to be able to still and quiet our souls. How do we do this?

I have found three ways that work best and most often for me. There are probably more ways but these are the ones that come to mind that I can share with you and I hope they help you to find some peace and solace within you today.

#1 Talking to God... I was going to say praying, but we say that so often that it seems to go in one ear and out the other. Think of praying more as talking to God. Let it all out with Him. (Do take as long to listen once you've vented) Really let Him know what you are thinking and feeling, even about the drama, worries, anger and lack of self control. He can hear it and is listening and will respond. When I talk to Him and listen to Him, I get more and more quiet and still.

#2 Meditating on His Word... I was going to say Bible Study but we say that so often that it seems to go in one ear and out the other. Think about the content of His Word and run it through your mind over and over again. This actually serves as a mental cleansing process. Picture His Truth as a washrag that you could put in one ear and pull out the other, now pull it back and forth a few times. This cleansing motion can bring great relief to our bad ideas and self-centered feelings. Ever notice that a really hot shower (or cold one if needed) helps to make us relax and be still and quiet. I like to run that hot water across the back of my neck for a couple of minutes. Good for the circulation and it also gives me a couple of quiet and still minutes to sort out my thinking which is probably just as valuable.

#3 Serving the Lord... I was going to say Helping Others, but we say that so often that it seems to go in one ear and out the other. (Save the in one ear and out the other process for the spiritual washrag illustration ok?) It is true though; that if you lose yourself in something you can do for the Lord (usually for others in some way) it surely stills and quiets the soul. On Monday mornings I go to Panera Bakery before 7am and pick up the bread donation every week. I am ready to let someone else do it, but you know what? I enjoy it, because it quiets and stills me to just do something labor intensive to clear my mind and put me in perspective early in the week. After I pick it up I take it to the church and sort some sweets out for the staff and then bag up the rest for staff and school families. As I bag it up I talk to early arrivers and offer them bagels, bread and goodies as they leave. Then the Food Ministry takes the rest and distributes it to those in need later in the morning. I used to set up the chairs in the Worship Center. I used to police the church grounds for trash. I used to pick up the toys that are left out on the playground. Someone else does this most of the time now. Even if someone else takes on the Panera Bread Ministry, I will need to do something else similar because it is good for me. It quiets and stills my soul. What do you do that does that for you?

I hope these ideas help you to find some quiet and stillness in your soul. If you are restless, you might want to try doing something about it. It’s really up to you. If you make an effort the Lord will take care of the rest.

In His Service, Pastor Fred

Fear NOT!

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." II Timothy 1:7

This time of year usually brings out all kinds of festive decorations for October, including pumpkins, scarecrows, black cats, and yes we see other types of decorations that are very disturbing in terms of death, mutilation and disgusting themes. People pay money to go to amusement parks to be scared; others decorate their front lawns with scary apparitions and fearful scenarios for those who pass by when trick or treating. I personally do NOT enjoy the feeling of fear. It is not entertaining, amusing or fun for me. God created us with a variety of emotions, and God also knows that we have the ability to be afraid. It is not a sin to become afraid, but it is not necessary for Christians to remain afraid or live in fear. This is not what God desires for His children. As a parent, when my children came to me in the night when they were afraid… did I ignore them? Or encourage them to stay afraid? Did I punish them for being fearful? Did I leave them alone to “get over it”? Did I try to make them more afraid by playing tricks on them when they were scared?, BY NO MEANS! I did everything I could to comfort them, ease their fear, show them that they were safe and LOVE them into a calm and peaceful place. Our heavenly Father is exactly the same when His children are fearful. He wants us to be comforted, and to not remain in fear. The Bible has a lot to say about overcoming fear, specifically why we should not fear. Throughout the Bible, God commanded His people to "fear not" by assuring them of His presence and help on their behalf. In times of fearful circumstance, we must remember to trust in the constant presence and love of God, and STAND on His Word and His promises. Here are just a few of my favorites:

"After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I Am your shield, your very great reward'"
(Genesis 15:1)

“ When you go to war against your enemy and see horses and chariots and soldiers far outnumbering you, do not recoil in fear of them; God, your God, who brought you up out of Egypt is with you. When the battle is about to begin, let the priest come forward and speak to the troops. He'll say, "Attention, Israel. In a few minutes you're going to do battle with your enemies. Don't waver in resolve. Don't fear. Don't hesitate. Don't panic. God, your God, is right there with you, fighting with you against your enemies, fighting to win." (Deuteronomy 20:1-4).

Fear not, for I Am with you; be not dismayed, for I Am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.Isaiah 41:13 For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I Am the one who helps you.” (Isaiah 41:10, 13)

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (Psalms 23:4).

“Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.” (Proverbs 3:25,26)

One of the main causes of fear is our lack of control over events in our life. Please realize that NOTHING that happens to you is a surprise to God. God wants us to know and be assured that as long as He is with us, we need not be afraid. Your peace must not depend on circumstances because those change as often as the direction of the wind. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:35-39, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Are you convinced? Is your security in Christ a settled matter? Do you KNOW that there is NOTHING natural OR supernatural that can separate you from the Love and protection of Abba Father? If so, then do not fear. If not, then spend some time and talk with God about this, ask Him to show you His Power and Presence in those times that can bring fear to your doorstep. We need not fear any danger from anything natural or supernatural, small or great. It is the love of God that overshadows us and gives us victory in and over all these things. The Lord knew that we, as humans, would find ourselves overcome by fear from time to time, but it is important to remember that when those times happen that we need to not run or hide, but stand firm in the truth of God’s Word.

Do you know how a lion captures its prey in the wild? It is a very fast animal, but not as fast as a gazelle or a zebra. The lion will ROAR in the direction of the animal it seeks to overcome, and the animal is parallelized with fear and stops running, just long enough for the lion to overtake it. I believe this is why Paul warned us in I Peter 5:8 that our adversary, the devil, is just like a lion in this respect: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” If the devil can paralyze your spiritual walk with his tactics of intimidation and fear, he can overtake you and assault your peace of mind and your ability to move forward in Victory. Satan is the father of lies and will do whatever he can to keep us from walking in the powerful life of Christ. One of the weapons he uses against us is fear. When we are driven by a spirit of fear, we act out the antithesis of power, love and a sound mind. We become weak, unable to freely love, and our minds are overwhelmed and not operating in rational ways. We hide, we cower, we fail to move out, and we are frozen in the fear, which is what the devil wants us to be: immobilized. My beloved brothers and sisters, this is NOT how God intended us to live our lives. The fruits of the Spirit (Who resides in every believer) are LOVE, JOY, PEACE, and none of these give room for fear. Since God’s Spirit is in us, God says we do not have to be afraid. The Spirit that He has given us is not cowardly or timid, is not lacking in love, and is not confused and unstable. It is a Spirit of power, love and a sound mind. No matter what we are going through, or how weak our human spirit feels- we have power already on the inside of us. When we feel like we can not put up with another person or when we don’t like anyone- much less love them, we have love on the inside of us. When we feel life is too much, that there are too many decisions to be made and we feel like we are losing our minds, we must remember we have a sound mind right on the inside of us! That is something to get excited about!!!

Fear NOT!

Shalom, Sister, Lahoma

The Record of Sins

Psalm 130:3 "If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?"

Please allow me to answer the rhetorical question presented in this Psalm..... uhhhh NOBODY!! If indeed, God kept a record of our sins or did not forgive completely, nobody could stand before Him. There are two very interesting points that we should consider as we are eternally grateful for His grace and mercy that forgives us. One, there then is a record of all unforgiven sin. What an overwhelming thought that is. In this high tech age we are coming to understand that what we do, especially in the cyber world, is part of a permanent record. I shudder to think how many volumes the unforgiven sins of mankind could fill. Can you imagine the grace it takes to forgive all the repented sin?

O Lord, thank you for taking our sins on yourself and for removing them as far as the east is from the west and for burying them in the deepest sea to be remembered no more. Even though this is true, the consequences of our sins are still due and payable. Sometimes God somehow shows us grace and mercy in this regard also, but for the most part all of us will need to account in this lifetime for what we have said and done. Add to that our thought life. Oh my, O Lord, thank you again for your grace and mercy.

Aren't you grateful that God is not keeping score on believers? Aren't you aghast at the reality that He is keeping score on unbelievers? This is why we must share the gospel and try to bring people to the saving grace of Christ, because someday the ledgers of our life must be rectified and only His blood can cancel out the debts that will be owed. This very thought touches my deepest inner core. Life is so precious and time is so short, there are people choosing to go to hell every day, and for eternity too (not just for a scare the hell out of you visit either). This is a eternal life and eternal condemnation decision that is made by each and every human being.

No wonder Jesus suffered so much. No wonder He agonized so much. No wonder the Holy Spirit is grieved and the Father's heart must be broken. O Lord, forgive us for not sharing and for missing the divine appointments we have been given to share the good-news. What does God want us to do? He wants us to be part of His redemptive plan. Our primary purpose is to fulfill His will, to not only share His love, but His salvation with everyone we possibly can.

Someday I will get to go home to be with Jesus. What a blessing that will be. Until then, I want to live this life in such a way that not only honors Him, but also shines like a light. A light of witness. A witness that tells of His love and plan to redeem every soul. Since I can stand, because of His mercy and am still standing because of His grace I should stand up and testify whenever there is opportunity. He does not keep a record of sins for those of us who know Him. But, for those who don't He does. Let us share with them that there is hope and that judgment can be avoided. I hope that you will consider seriously the potential eternal consequences of your choices. I know I will.

In His Service, Pastor Fred

Devotional - I think it's my week

Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Ray Beeman:

Grace Harbor Saints: you probably know that Max Lucado is one of my favorite Christian authors, and the following is lifted from one of his great books. Yes, we definitely need to collect as the body of Christ, in the physical church of Grace Harbor, but Max also recommends here that we use our home as a place of worship as well, to all. Here's Max:

Long before the church had pulpits and baptisteries, she had kitchens and dinner tables. "The believers met together in the Temple every day. They ate together in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts" (Acts 2:46 NCV). "Every day in the Temple and in people’s homes they continued teaching the people and telling the Good News - that Jesus is the Christ" (Acts 5:42 NCV).

Even a casual reading of the New Testament unveils the house as the primary tool of the church. "To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer … and to the church in your house" (Philem. vv. 1–2). "Greet Priscilla and Aquila … the church that is in their house" (Rom. 16:3, 5). "Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house" (Col. 4:15).

It’s no wonder that the elders were to be "given to hospitality" (1 Tim. 3:2 KJV). The primary gathering place of the church was the home. Consider the genius of God’s plan. The first generation of Christians was a tinderbox of contrasting cultures and backgrounds. At least fifteen different nationalities heard Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost. Jews stood next to Gentiles. Men worshipped with women. Slaves and masters alike sought after Christ.
Can people of such varied backgrounds and cultures get along with each other?

We wonder the same thing today. Can Hispanics live in peace with Anglos? Can Democrats find common ground with Republicans? Can a Christian family carry on a civil friendship with the Muslim couple down the street? Can divergent people get along?

The early church did - without the aid of sanctuaries, church buildings, clergy, or seminaries. They did so through the clearest of messages (the Cross) and the simplest of tools (the home). Not everyone can serve in a foreign land, lead a relief effort, or volunteer at the downtown soup kitchen. But who can’t be hospitable? Do you have a front door? A table? Chairs? Bread and meat for sandwiches? Congratulations! You just qualified to serve in the most ancient of ministries: hospitality. You can join the ranks of people such as

Abraham. He fed, not just angels, but the Lord of angels (Gen. 18).

Rahab, the harlot. She received and protected the spies. Thanks to her kindness, her kindred survived, and her name is remembered (Josh. 6:22–23; Matt. 1:5).

Martha and Mary. They opened their home for Jesus. He, in turn, opened the grave of Lazarus for them (John 11:1–45; Luke 10:38–42).

Zacchaeus. He welcomed Jesus to his table. And Jesus left salvation as a thank-you gift (Luke 19:1–10).

And what about the greatest example of all - the "certain man" of Matthew 26:18? On the day before his death, Jesus told his followers, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, "The Teacher says: The chosen time is near. I will have the Passover with my followers at your house" (NCV).

How would you have liked to be the one who opened his home for Jesus? You can be. "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matt. 25:40 NIV). As you welcome strangers to your table, you are welcoming God himself.

Something holy happens around a dinner table that will never happen in a sanctuary. In a church auditorium you see the backs of heads. Around the table you see the expressions on faces. In the auditorium one person speaks; around the table everyone has a voice. Church services are on the clock. Around the table there is time to talk.

Hospitality opens the door to uncommon community. It’s no accident that hospitality and hospital come from the same Latin word, for they both lead to the same result: healing. When you open your door to someone, you are sending this message: "You matter to me and to God." You may think you are saying, "Come over for a visit." But what your guest hears is, "I’m worth the effort."

"Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another."(1 Peter 4:9–10 NLT)

Heavenly Father, you have given me so much - every breath I take is a gift from your hand. Even so, I confess that sometimes my own hand remains tightly closed when I encounter the needs of others. Please open both my hand and my heart that I might learn to delight in taking advantage of the daily opportunities for hospitality that you present to me. Help me remember, Lord, that when I show your love in tangible ways to “the least of these,” I am ministering directly to you. As you help me open my heart and hand, O Lord, I ask that you also prompt me to open my door to those who need a taste of your love and bounty. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

So, bless you as you bless others in the warmth and Spirit, in your home, Ray Bee

I’m not done yet, Thank you.

Psalm 129:1-2 They have greatly oppressed me from my youth-- let Israel say-- they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.

I love these words. From the earliest days of Israel, they have been persecuted. Perhaps, accumulatively, more than any other 'people group' ever. God's people living in a broken world have never gone very long without being hated. When representing God in any capacity, it doesn't take too long for the world to turn on you, whether you are Israelites or believers or the church or even as an individual follower of God. If you want to be consistently well-liked or popular or criticism-free or have an easy path, don't pick following God as your primary purpose. Christians beware, all the hatred that has ever been felt towards Jews is now shared by us.

I remember from my youth how not too long after I became a believer I began to feel the 'separation' from others. At first it was just casual, but the more fervent and dedicated I became, the bigger the rift grew. Soon it was not just avoidance, it started with teasing and eventually over the years the derogatory comments and ridicule turned into persecution. If you are not experiencing any rejection as a Christian, try sharing your faith more or stating your moral standards, or letting those around you know what the Bible says about controversial subjects.

As I venture into my sixties, one of the blessings of aging is a sense of resolve that emanates from the core of my being, directly connected to my core beliefs. Without risking becoming an 'old fart' too soon, I find myself standing my ground with increasing strength and fortitude. I may have been pushed around, mocked, avoided, categorized, minimized and ignored, but 'they' have not gained the victory over me. This old world may be going to hell in a hand basket, but I'm not and neither are as many people as I can tell about the good news either.

As the title of this devotional says.....'I'm not done yet, thank you'. And I'm not. I still have life and fight and will and vision and dreams and hopes and with God's help whatever purposes I will submit to Him accomplishing through me. I'm always ready to go another round, or another mile. Come on everybody let's get up and fight. Fight for what is right and while we are doing it, with love and mercy and grace, have a blessed time too. Makes no difference how old you are. I have sung this battle song many times throughout my life and I am humming the chorus all the time again.

It is too easy to cave in and call it a day. Too simple to just give up and fall in line with the status quo. The same deep convictions that provoked me to evangelism as a new believer and to civil rights as a young man and to youth ministry and the pastorate still resonate in my soul. We have a cause and that cause is the sharing of Christ as Savior with a needy, needy world. But, we must be tougher and more determined to speak up, stand up and get up every day to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Do you agree? Are you with me? Grace Harbor Church has a vision and mission and 'they' have not gained the victory over us. Not yet, NO.... not ever. He is victorious. He is the victor. We are victorious with Him as we fulfill His will. The next time I take one in the head or heart or wherever, I am going to say....'bring it on'... I'm not done yet, thank you. Are you? I sure hope not. Let us all resolve to recommit ourselves to total commitment and to victory in Him. I read the end of the Book again recently and we do win you know. So let us keep the faith and the fire burning.

Victorious in Him, Pastor Fred

Our Hope is in Christ

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:15

When we lose of a loved one to death, it is a very difficult mix of emotions for many of us: Sorrow, grief, lonliness, anger at times, questions to God about why He didn’t stop it from happening….. all of this is part of the human experience that brings tears to our eyes as we sit in a funeral or by a graveside and say our farewells to those who have left us behind to grieve. In reality, for believers, we are not saying “goodbye” but rather, “see you later”, for our HOPE in Christ is that we have eternal life through belief in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. It is in these painful moments that our Faith MUST hold onto us and comfort us and ASSURE us that what we believe is sure and true. We can over time come to a point where we realize that it is within these tears that we find peace that passes understanding to face tomorrow without that loved one in our lives, but it still doesn’t make the initial period following the death of our loved ones easy to walk through. Remember David said, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me…” Psalm 23:4 David knew grief, he knew loss, and he learned to walk THROUGH these kinds of dark valleys, and surrender his fears to the One Who stayed with him and led him through to the other side of loss.

Some deaths are harder to understand than others, say for example when a small child dies unexpectedly, or a parent receives that call in the night that there has been a terrible car accident and their high school son or daughter will not be returning home from Prom…. Other times, when there has been a long illness, or we know of someone who has lived a long rich life, we see it as a release or a promotion of sorts that they are free to run through the hillsides of heaven and celebrate their life in the arms of their beloved Heavenly Father. Such is the case of a dear friend of Grace Harbor Church: Mrs. Estelle Mathis, who recently went home to be with the Lord. I remember Estelle from my childhood growing up at Tustin First Baptist. She and her husband Bill were always in the midst of every church activity and event. Estelle had such a precious spirit throughout her 89 years here on earth, and a beautiful smile that always showed the love of Jesus, she would simply shine for God without even saying a word. I know that I will see Estelle in heaven someday, rejoicing and dancing with Jesus. Estelle, thank you for showing us such a beautiful example of a Proverbs 31 woman, gentle, strong, always about the Father’s business, a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and servant of God, always about the Father’s business for the kingdom work at our church.

Our scripture passage today is a tender one for it speaks of something PRECIOUS to our Heavenly Father. Why does God consider the death of His people precious when we dread it and make every effort to avoid it and postpone it? God deems the death of his saints precious because their happiness is very dear to Him. When they die, they enter at once into eternal rest. The death of God’s people must be precious to Him because He has so long sympathized with them in all their trials, pains, and sorrows. Whatever has touched them has touched the apple of his eye, but when He sees all these trials terminate, to be renewed no more--their physical pains and trials cease--all their wants supplied forever, and the state of want passed forever away; when He sees all this, can you not understand that He rejoices in it with great joy?

In a very important sense, when God receives his children home, He receives the reward of all His labors in their behalf. We are apt to speak only of our reward, when we allude to the joys of saints in heaven; why should we not also think and speak of God's? Has not He deserved a reward for all his cares and sacrifices and labors? And is it not fit that He should receive it? Didn’t God pay the HIGHEST price to be reconciled with His children for eternity because of the shed blood of HIS only Son? God has experienced watching His loved One die, and He can sympathize with our suffering as we grieve, but understand that at the time of death, is it not also reasonable that He should rejoice in his own reward, and furthermore, that we should also rejoice with Him?

Today, take comfort in knowing that our times are in His hands, and when our time comes to be called home, whether it is unexpected or due to an old body that just wears out, remember that He will welcome His beloved children personally into His kingdom, and will hold them and wipe away all pain and suffering and tears, and will send the Holy Spirit’s Comfort to those left behind to know that it is well with our souls to trust our God to be GOD in such circumstances when words fall so short of comforting our hearts when death comes. Paul told us to “comfort one another with these words” found in the book of I Thessalonians 4:16-18 regarding that last day when we will be reunited with those who have died before us: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." Be comforted in knowing that your FAITH produces HOPE for an eternity with Him, and with our beloved brothers and sisters who have died in Christ.

Here is one of my favorite hymns to close our time today, but it speaks of our HOPE, that it holds strong, even in times when we face death for ourselves or our loved ones.

Shalom, sister Lahoma

My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less
By Edward Mote, William Bradbury


My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' Name.

CHORUS:

On Christ the so lid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Peace Be Upon Israel

Psalm 128:6b "Peace be upon Israel."

Peace being upon Israel should be very important to us. Why? Because it represents peace in general. Think about it, has there ever been much peace in Israel? Not really. Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace. It is spoken as a blessing. To speak peace to someone, be it nation, people or person is to bless them. Many times recently in our worship and in the messages we have been dealing with the concept of peace. Mostly from the perspective of all of us wanting to experience peace or know peace. We all have an inner longing for peace. For good reasons.

Conflict is a given. By our very nature we are at war with ourselves (the conflict within, between our sin nature and our new nature), we are also conflicted with one another and with the world (again, because of our sinful nature and the fact or living in a fallen world) This makes us each and all prime candidates for peacemaking. The path to peace is reconciliation. We must be reconciled with God, subsequently with ourselves and with each other. This peace comes from atonement. The only means whereby peace can be made with God is by sacrifice. That sacrifice must be perfect. Peace only comes from accepting the blood atonement of Jesus Christ for sin. God sent Jesus to make a way to peace.

Oh how Israel needs Jesus. He is the only way to peace. He is also the only way to peace for the entire Muslim world. We must not waiver on our firm commitment to keep pointing to Jesus as the answer to all the world's conflicts. He is the only one who can bring lasting peace in any conflict. Especially between Jew and Muslim. Peace, in its simplest form begins with me. There is a song that hardly gets sung anymore , but is so true. It goes like this.....

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me
With every breath I take, let this be my solemn plea
To take each moment and live each moment, in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

Consider this. Could it be that the only eternal peace possible is made with the only eternal God, who has provided us with one way to peace. Reconciliation through salvation, through the atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross. Hmmmmm. I don't mean to sound too simplistic here, but seems to me that we ought to offer Jesus to everyone. Oh, I know that the Jews and Muslims alike will be inclined to reject and resist, but, remember it is the Spirit who convicts and woos. Our efforts to witness have been so thwarted and ignored, but we should not lose heart. We must redouble our efforts to share the gospel.

Jesus is the answer and He is the only way and if there is to be peace in Israel, it will come from Him, because of Him and for His glory. The good news is spread one soul at a time and we must be the agents of peacemaking and reconciliation. Join me in a recommitment to share the Prince of Peace.

In His Service, Pastor Fred

God Must Be the Foundation

Psalm 127:1 "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain."

When God builds something, then you really have something. He really knows how to establish a strong foundation and to how to build something that will last. All of life's work-- the building of a home, preparing a career, raising a family and of course the founding of a ministry must be done through Him and by Him. It is destined to be fruitless and vain, unless the Lord is for it, behind it, in it and sustaining it. This is a principle that God himself has ordained.

Solomon is the writer of Psalm 127 and with the mention of something being done in vain, it should be no surprise. Solomon is the writer of almost all of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and The Song of Solomon. All of these works chronicle the efforts of man in conjunction with the plan of God. When we do things within the Purpose of God, they just seem to go better. So many of our self-willed pursuits are done for misguided reasons or for shallow purposes and God wants us to include Him from the foundation up in everything. If we did so, we might not pursue some things at all.

When I let the Lord lead, and Him build, and Him design, plan and enact, the results are always so much better. That is true in my family and in my career, in every project I undertake and each thing I do. For myself I try to utilize three simple tools that help me keep my life in His will. The more I use them the more they work.

#1 Plan Check..... Best done before you break ground, make commitments and get started.

#2 Objective Analysis.... Always good to try to see everything from His perspective.

#3 Ego Barometer.... Very necessary to make sure that I don't take over mid-project.

I'm not perfect at this but it does keep me out of trouble and moving forward as best is possible. After all, if God is not at the center of it, whatever it is, it is more likely maybe even most likely to fail.

Within His Grace, Pastor Fred

Living Life

Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Char Adams:

Our daily devotionals are intended to add uplifting thoughts to brighten one's day, and for me, without exception, they do just that. Recently, I came across an eloquent writing entitled "An inspirational journey through life", as depicted on a framed artwork of a tree by artist Bonnie Mohr, titled "Living Life." I was moved by the simplicity of the thoughts expressed therein and figured maybe this would appeal to someone else also. At first, as I started to read it, I thought, "oh no, is this yet another answer to life from a wordly perspective only?" Yet, by Line 7, I was convinced for sure that it was worth sharing because the author was doing nothing more than imploring us to live our lives from these GODly perspectives - "Go to church", "Take time for prayer", "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh", "Do not worry", "Forgive".

With that said, I'll now share the entire piece. Just as you read along, I am sure that several Scriptures will come to mind from "many" (many) places in God's Word where you'll find the very thoughts set out as GOD's plan for how we should live our lives.

"Living Life"
Life is not a race - but indeed a journey.
Be honest. Word hard. Be choosy.
Say "thank you", "I Love You', and "great job" to someone each day.
Go to church, take time for prayer.
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh.
Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper.
Love your life and what you've been given; it is not accidental.
Search for your purpose and do it as best you can.
Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become
that which you aspire to be.
Laugh often.
Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them.
Some of the best things really are free.
Do not worry - less wrinkles are more becoming.
Forgive - it frees the soul.
Take time for yourself - plan for longevity.
Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know.
Live for today. Enjoy the moment.

Although I'm not the catalog shopper that I used to be, I still receive just about every catalog that's printed. I am glad for that because every so often, I come across a jewel like this one. I plan to make an early Christmas present of it to the Family Room in our home to compliment the other framed tree artwork gracing our walls.

In your reading or devotional time, I'd suggest it would be worth the effort to find matching Scriptures for the "life living" thoughts expressed in "Living Life". I hope this added a smile to your day.

Have a blessed weekend, and remember to especially pray for the men of Grace Harbor Church & School for their refreshing time away on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning for the Men's Retreat in Big Bear.

In Him, Charlotte Adams

Dreams, Laughter, Singing and Joy

Psalm 126:1-6 "When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

I needed this Psalm today, so I am sharing the whole thing with you. Wow, this really gives me hope. I so earnestly desire to have a time of dreams, laughter, singing and joy again. Not only for me, but for all of us. As I read this I knew it applied to me like I know it applies to you because we were all captives to the eternal consequences sin until Christ set us free with His salvation. Therefore I can remember and am reminded what it was like to dream dreams, when I was first set free. I can remember and am reminded of the wonderful laughter, the heartfelt singing and the overwhelming joy that came from my salvation. I needed to be reminded today.

Too easily I forget how parched I was and what a blessing those streams in the Negev’s of my life were. Too quickly I forget the songs and laughter and joy that fueled my on-fire faith. How shortsighted of me to not recall the great things God has done, is doing and will do. How little faith to not ask for fortune to be restored. How little faith to not remember that more sowing will lead to more reaping.

We have been set free and are captives no longer. Read the words of this victorious Psalm that put in perspective the plan of God, that will prevail, and reminds us of times of flourishing, victory and hope. Let the singing and rejoicing begin as we plant and He reaps and we rejoice. A harvest is happening, don't miss it and be prepared to celebrate. Let us all be encouraged by this truth.

Praise the Lord!! Pastor Fred

Do Good, O Lord

Psalm 125:4 "Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart."

Now you and I know that no one is good. The Bible makes that clear. We are all too familiar with the fact that we, are saved by grace, live in a fallen world and struggle with our old sin nature. But, God is good. He is perfectly good. His goodness is part of His character and there is nothing but good in Him. Note what the Psalmist says after he requests God to do good ‘to those who are good.’ He adds, 'to those who are upright in heart'. Thanks be to God that He judges the heart. On that basis then, I ask God to do good to you, if you have an upright heart.

All of us fall short, but you know if your heart is right. I can always tell if my heart is right because when it is, my conscience is definitely plugged in. Therefore when I falter, I know right away that I am out of line. Whether in word or deed, when I am right with God, that subtle reminder of conviction that I cannot escape is there. This is a good thing. Otherwise I could miss the good that God is doing to me and the blessings that go with it.

My heartfelt desire for each of you is that God would do good to you, that He would bless your hearts. Right now I am thinking of many of you and how I hope that today, whether at work, or at home or at school or just out and about, God is doing good to you. We have so much to be grateful for and glad about. He has done so much good for us already and He wants to do more. We should focus on the upright part. Not that we think His blessings are a direct derivative of some kind of score that He is keeping to reward us with His goodness, He will do good to whom He chooses. We should be upright because that is right. The Psalmist is asking that God do good to those who are upright. Understandably.

I pray that the goodness of God overwhelms all of you who read this today. As soon as you read these words I hope you sense His goodness is poured out on you. Receive it, enjoy it, celebrate it and talk about it. We need His blessings and want His goodness. Make sure to be grateful for what He has already done and let’s expect even more of His goodness to be poured out on us soon. I am touched by His goodness and His love today. I hope you are too.

In Him, Pastor Fred

Responding to our Enemies

"Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming you'? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the Lord's anointed.' See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you." I Samuel 24:8-12

Our Wednesday night women's Bible studies have followed David from the sheepfolds of Judea to the battle fields of Israel. We have watched David tend his father's sheep and unexpectedly be anointed king when he was just a young lad. We witnessed David's passionate faith in his Almighty God when he killed a 9 foot giant, and we have seen him developing into a man after God's own heart. We have sadly also seen the hatred and jealous anger of a king who felt threatened by David's successes and we watched David flee from those he believed were his supporters. It has been a blessing and a challenge to look into the life of David up to this point.

The past couple of weeks we watched God put David into the Refiners Fire, removing his sources of "support" and bringing David to a point where he had to rely on God and God alone as his source of life and peace of mind, we find the sweet singer of Psalms fleeing for his very
life and living in a dark wet cave. God has been teaching David the difficult lesson that only God is worthy to be leaned upon. In I Samuel 24, David is hiding with his men in a cave. While there, he is presented with an opportunity that many men would have died for: the opportunity to exact revenge upon his greatest enemy, Saul. David has the perfect opportunity to kill Saul, claim the throne and elevate himself all the way to the very top. But, David does not do what most people would have done in that situation. Instead of reacting with hatred, revenge and murder; David displays, love, grace, compassion and forgiveness. Here, it is easy to see why the Lord called David, "A man after Mine Own heart." Isn't this what our Loving Heavenly Father does for each of us? We have sinned and fallen SO short of the glory of God, and yet He reaches out to us across eternity, sacrifices His Only Son so that we can find forgiveness, mercy and grace in time of need. If you pause and consider David's choice in the cave to not kill Saul, we can see God's Heart of mercy at work as well! Notice what he says in verse 12: "May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you". David wasn't letting Saul off the hook for his wrongdoings against him, he was merely stating that GOD would deal with Saul, but not by David's hand that day. How easy it would have been for David to justify that he was being used by the Lord to right the wrongs, but in his heart of hearts he KNEW God's heart well enough to know it was not right to raise his human hand against the Lord's anointed. A powerful truth to consider for all of us today, my beloved brothers and sisters.

As we consider the verses of our passage today, we often find ourselves in the same place in which David found himself. Someone will wrong us or do something against us. We will be offended and hurt by their actions. Then, somewhere down the road, the opportunity will present itself for us to "get even." What we do at that moment defines us! What we do when that opportunity for revenge presents itself reveals the true nature of our heart! Do YOU have God's heart within you? if so, then your choice will be to offer grace and forgiveness, and choose to not demand justice by your own hand when you are wronged. Romans 12:19 reminds us: " Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord." You must not take matters into your own hands, but instead allow God to be the One in charge of vengeance. I realize that I am saying is not an easy thing to do. If you read the chapters that precede I Samuel 24, you will learn that it was not an easy choice for David either, but he is there recorded in the pages of your Bible as an example to learn from. It is possible to extend mercy when you let go of your "right to get even" and let GOD be in control when your enemies rise up against you. No good thing comes from revenge, only emptiness and pain for all involved. God is glorified when you respond with His love and in His ways. Remember the story of the servant who was forgiven and then went out and demanded that those who owed him money pay back every penny?

Matt 18:23-35: (Jesus speaking) "Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants. When he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But because he couldn't pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and kneeled before him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!' The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. "But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you!' He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?' His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds."

The Master was not pleased in the parable with the unforgiving servant, and God will not be pleased if we as His children do the same when we have been forgiven such a great debt when our sins were washed away by His Son's redeeming blood. Learn from David, learn from the words of Jesus, and remember that God requires that we forgive from our HEARTS.

Shalom, sister Lahoma

God is on our side

Psalm 124:1a "If God had not been on our side---"

God is on our side. Isn't that a relief to know? What if He had not been? David, in Psalm 124 shares what would have happened if God had not been on their side. Thank God He was then and is today. Of course we will be careful not to take this to the extreme hoping to affect the outcome of the NFL season. God is on the side of His people. His people are on every team, so let's not have God taking sides in football. Let's do share what David thought would have happened if God was not for them.

1. They would have been swallowed alive
2. The flood would have engulfed them
3. The torrent would have swept over them
4. The raging waters would have swept them away
5. They would have been torn by the teeth of their enemy
6. They would have been snared like birds

Instead, they escaped, the snare has been broken, God has helped them and they are Praising His Name. Aren't we glad God is on our side, was then and still is now? No matter what army or flood or pestilence or adversity comes into our lives, we can escape and God will see us through. He will protect and provide and will help us. This is His promise and His plan and we just need to keep calling on His Name. God is on our side.

So whatever besets you today, whatever beast would swallow you alive, whatever calamity would drown you, whatever tide threatens to bury you, whatever disaster could sweep you away, whatever might bite you or tear you apart, even if you could get trapped, God will deliver you. He will safely move you forward. Just think of all the things in our lives that we feared would happen that never happened. Sure, stuff happens. But, what would have happened if God had not been on our side? Praise the Lord for His provision, protection and favor. What a blessing to have God on our side. Just think what could or would have happened. Don't dwell on it, just Praise His Name.

So grateful, Pastor Fred

Why should we study the Word of God as if our life depends on it?

Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, John Adams:

Why should we study the Word of God as if our life depends on it?

Because it does. Many Christian surveys and polls have revealed that the great majority of professing Christians today in the United States spend very little, or no time, studying their Bibles. As a result, most are shockingly ignorant regarding even the most basic elements of the Gospel and the key doctrines of their faith.

The Bible predicted that times would come when people would have "...a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof", and we wonder why the Church in America seems so impotent to impact our culture.

Grace Harbor Church and School is committed to encouraging all of its members to start reversing this disturbing trend by becoming actively and regularly involved in some form of systematic Bible study.

Why? Because without God's Word, we are literally dead, powerless, and without hope.

Jesus said He was "...the Way, the Truth, and the Life" and that no one could come to the Father except through Him. In fact, Jesus himself is "the Word", as clearly stated in...

John 1:1-2 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

As the Lord's brother James urged believers, "don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the Heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created" James 1:16-18.

When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus refused to be baited into any displays of His miraculous divine powers, but instead He rebuked Satan and drove him off SIMPLY BY SPEAKING THE WORD.

As Christ told His doubting disciples, "The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are Life" John 6:63.

Pastor Rick Warren, in his best selling book, "The Purpose Driven Life" perhaps said it best when he wrote, "The Bible is far more than a doctrinal guide book. God's Word generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, overcomes adversity, defeats temptations, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses our minds, brings [good] things into being, and guarantees our future forever! We cannot live without the Word of God. Never take it for granted. You should consider it as essential to your life as food."

If we would only devote 15 minutes a day to reading God's Word, we would read through the entire Bible in one year. In just 30 minutes a day, we could complete it in just six months. We think of nothing to devoting hours to recreational activities, watching television and movies, pursuing hobbies, or just doing nothing.

I would urge us all to reevaluate our priorities and make a firm commitment to spend consistent. focused, and life-giving time each day to the Word of God and see just how God might revive and empower His people and His Church.

God Bless each one of you.

John Adams

Have Mercy on Our Heart

Psalm 123:3 "Have mercy on us O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt."

I need to share about something very near and dear to my heart, Grace Harbor Church and School. As I am moving towards the completion of my eighth year as Pastor I seem to be growing more and more sentimental. Perhaps that comes with aging, more likely with experience and maturity. I was much more sentimental as a younger man and I seem to be returning to that tender frame of mind. Earlier in my life I was seemingly more sensitive to meanness and vulgarity, to insensitivity and divisiveness. Once again I find myself extremely aware of any attack on God's work, through His Church.

This feeling is not just about Grace Harbor, I have felt it about all the other ministries I have been part of also. What God is doing through His work in any ministry should never be defamed, ridiculed or held in contempt. Sure, Pastors and church people fall short and fail and mess up too, but the Church, that is the Body of Christ that meets at 12881 Newport Ave. in Tustin and all the other addresses I have worked at before should be respected, appreciated and valued because it is His work. Never speak rudely of a church or be disrespectful of it.

I served for over three years as the Pastor of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Long Beach. Not an easy ministry, by any means, but a precious place with precious people and a rich history of serving God. When Dawn and I would be at the church late at night we both sensed this overwhelming sadness and brokenness of the hearts of the saints who had so faithfully served before us over the years and it motivated us to love His Church. Recently, I saw that the church was closed now, twenty years after we came there. I wept sitting in my car in front of the office door where I entered that place to serve Him day after day. Much good work for Him was done there and lives were touched, souls came to the saving knowledge of Jesus there and many were helped and blessed. I prayed that it would be restored to His work.

I know that the building is not what is truly most important. It is just a facility. But, it represents His work, His people and His heart. I feel the same way about Grace Harbor. Whoever can say whatever about me, or any other church, or people who are part of Grace Harbor or people in other churches, but His work is to be held in esteem. The very gates of hell won't prevail against it, you know. Sure the buildings will all be gone someday and the addresses too, but that which the Lord established and built and used and glorified Himself with will always remain.

We, the Church that is the Body of Christ that meets at 12881 Newport and is now called Grace Harbor, has been ridiculed and held in contempt like all churches by a few, but because of the Lord's mercy, we have endured. We will continue to endure with His grace and blessing as long as we seek to humbly lift Him up in this place. Naysayers and the 'oh so spiritual self-proclaimed judgmental pundits' can say what they will, but He will prevail. God loves the Church. God loves Immanuel Baptist in Long Beach and Grace Harbor too. Christ died for the Church. God established the Church. The Church, His Body and His work will endure. So, as long as He says so, we will serve, no matter what anybody else says. Please be careful what you say about any Church.

In His Service at Grace Harbor, Pastor Fred

Glad for Church

Psalm 122:1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, "let us go to the House of the Lord."

As a child I don't think our family went to church more than a couple of times a year and my first recollection of anything about church was when I was having emergency surgery at age five and a Pastor from Brown St. Baptist Church was comforting my mother before they asked me to count backwards from ten. Shortly thereafter we moved to sunny California for sickly Freddy's health and didn't connect with church until I went with a friend at age thirteen. I loved church from the very beginning. Everything about it. Couldn't get enough of it.

I loved the building and all the symbolism and the music and the praying and all the ingredients of the recipe that went into every batch of church. Every time the Pastor spoke I hung on the words, listening intently. I loved Sunday School and as corny as Mr. Kennedy was, and as strict as Mrs. Perlich was I loved to hear them talk about Jesus. When I went to youth group, I was in heaven. What a blessing. All these great, decent people who cared about me. I can't think of a single thing that I didn't love about church. It was totally true for me that .....'I rejoiced with those who said to me, "let us go to the House of the Lord".' No place I would rather be.

I felt safe, I was learning about something that was changing my life, I was with friends and people that loved God. For the life of me I don't understand why folks avoid church so much, or complain so much or can't sit still for awhile to listen to the most important information in the world. Today it seems that unless we are entertaining people in every possible way or addressing each individual's specific, immediate need or serving favorite foods or giving away prizes that it is like pulling teeth to hold a crowd's attention for very long. We are very distracted and very hard to please.

From the first time I set foot in church until now I have always gotten excited about Sundays or any time we could go to church. My heart would jump just at the idea of church happening, and it didn't matter what kind either. If the missionary was speaking, or old-time music was being played or an exciting youth event. If it was happening at church, sign me up and let's go. Maybe because I wasn't forced to go as a kid. Maybe because I really needed Jesus and understood that church was a big part of getting close to Him. Maybe just because I appreciated that people cared and I knew they had my best interest in mind. Maybe because I understood young what it was really all about.

I never made church about the politics or the drama or the likes and dislikes of people. I was just glad to be there. Even if I didn't particularly like it, I always made the best of it. Let me suggest just three things that might help you enjoy church a lot more. If this doesn't help, keep trying different churches or change something about you until you really connect.

#1 Come for the right reason... Church is about God for God by God.

#2 Come with the right attitude.... You get out of church what you put into church.

#3 Come expecting to meet God... Connect to everything with your Spirit and watch what God will do.

Over the years I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of church. You name it. Problematic people, disastrous programming, unprepared leaders, boring sermons, weird music, sound system glitches, bad coffee, tension, trouble and general apathy. BUT, I have never gone to church and not gotten something out of it. Why? Because God and God's people are there. When God gets together with His people, wonderful things happen. You just have to plug in spiritually to make sure you see it and experience it.

Maybe we should adjust our expectations. Maybe we should get over ourselves. Maybe we should show some grace. Maybe we should grow up a little. Maybe we should pray some more. Maybe we should try harder. Whatever we do we should do it only for the right reason and only with the right attitude and at least expecting to meet God. Rejoice before you get there, rejoice when you walk in and keep rejoicing until you leave.

Hope I see you in Church soon, Pastor Fred

Help is Already Here

Psalm 121:1-2 "I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

Psalms 120-134 are as a group called the Pilgrim Psalms. So called because they are written as the writers are on the move, journeying to the feasts and to the temple. They were originally sung to inspire everyone as they walked long distances. In Psalm 121 you can almost see in verses 1-2 (maybe written by Hezekiah) his commitment unfolding as he keeps his eyes on his destination though questioning if he has the strength or commitment to get there. We all have these questions on our journeys. Will things ever work out? Will people change? Is there a brighter future? How did we get where we are? Can I trust the Lord to get me there? Are we there yet? All pertinent questions.

Let's slow down the words and get our questions answered. First three words 'I lift up' have hope in them already. Up has got to be the right direction, it has got to be the right person and lift is the action that can help anybody with whatever their burden of doubt might be. Second three words 'to the hills'. The hills were in front of them, the direction they were headed and needed to go. We can't focus on the past, besides nature is always a good place to look to for inspiration.

Next is an honest question. We should ask this type of question more often. Heartfelt types of questions are.... God, are you there? Lord, what does this mean? Father, what should I do? Then, of course, Jesus, will you help me? God wants to hear our pleas and honest questions. As soon as Hezekiah addresses God as a man, looking in the right way, the right direction with honesty, his answer comes. Follow the steps, you will get answers too.

The title of this devotional is "Help is Already Here". Indeed it is. We should always state the obvious answer out loud to confirm it just like Hezekiah. 'My help comes from the Lord', he says. Of course it does. He already knew that. Just like we do. We must go through the steps of faith to experience it. Perhaps as simple as stop, look and listen. Our help is the best kind of help too. The Maker of heaven and earth, the Lord is our help. He who is all-powerful and all-loving and all-knowing. Nice combination of traits huh? I know God can help me. I know He is there. I look up to the hills and I can see Him. Help is not just on the way, it is already here. Just ask. Be encouraged today.

I am in Him, Pastor Fred

Why Stand with Israel Today?

Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Lahoma Ballester:

"If MY PEOPLE, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14

On the first Sunday of every October, hundreds of millions of people around the world join together to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. In just a few years, this event has quickly become the largest Israel - focused prayer event in history. But why set aside this day each year to pray for Jerusalem? Though we should pray every day for Israel, we seek on this day to unite believers around the world in raising a cry to Heaven on behalf of this troubled, but strategic land and its people. We believe in God's promises for His beloved nation and fervently pray to hasten the day when He brings fulfillment to His word. The goal of those who are organizing this global Day of Prayer for Peace is that this Sunday, October 3rd, we will have at least 175 participating nations and 300 million believers praying for the peace of Jerusalem. Grace Harbor Church will pause in their service on Sunday and have a special time of prayer for Israel. I hope that all of you, wherever you fellowship, are able to participate in some way.

We are living in a sobering moment in history that calls us, as believers in Jesus Christ, to take a stand with Israel. We are not to be passive in the face of prophecy; we are called to pray with passion, to intercede, and to minister according to the words of the Savior who said it is not our task to speculate when the end will be. It is our responsibility to do Kingdom business until He comes (Luke 19:13). This is not about politics; this is about the Word of God… Scripture declares there will come a time when all the nations of the world will turn against Israel. It is so highly conceivable this could happen in our time that it is critical to understand the importance of praying for Israel for such a time as this.

A well known Pastor has put together a list of eight reasons why we as Believers should stand with Israel in prayer. I am passing this long to you so that you can understand more deeply that this is a time for us to be on our knees in prayer for God’s chosen people. Let us touch the Heart of God this Sunday united in intercession for the PEACE, the SHALOM PEACE that passes our human understanding….the precious peace of God over the Holy Land of Israel.

Shalom, Sister Lahoma

EIGHT REASONS FOR STANDING WITH ISRAEL

By Pastor Jack Hayford

1) Every believer is charged to make the Jews a priority in their value system and to render thanksgiving from their hearts for God’s work via them as a people.

Understanding the basis of the attention that we give to the Jews has to do with understanding God’s divine order and things that God said. It involves a people and a land.

 Every believer is charged to make Jews a priority in their value system because God has.

 The Lord selected a people… He began by selecting a man named Abraham. The Lord said that through the seed of Abraham (in relation with his wife, Sarah, giving birth to the promised child, Isaac) all the nations of the Earth will be blessed…every human being having access to the divine blessing of Almighty God.

 In Genesis 12:3, the Lord says in the covenant He makes with Abraham: “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

o This relates not only to a people (the Jews), but it also relates to a land (Israel).

o God will judge nations and deal with them for their decisions, just as He does individuals.

 The Lord chose them for purposes: “…who are the Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.” (Romans 9:4)

o The Adoption: God’s divine choice of the seed of Abraham as a people.

o The Glory: the manifest presence of God revealing Himself.

o The Covenants: commitments that God makes:

 The Abrahamic Covenant…God says, “I will give you a people and a land, and
through this seed the nations of the Earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 17)

 The Mosaic Covenant…the revelation of the law, given as a teaching means to lead us to Christ: redemption through the blood of the Lamb.

 The New Covenant…In Jeremiah and Ezekiel, God says in words almost parallel: “For the time will come that I will take My law and I will make a new covenant with you, and I will put My Spirit within you.”

o The Greatest Gift: the wonder of the gift of Jesus to mankind. God so loved that He gave His only begotten Son…He gave Him through the Jews, and He came as a Jew. Jesus Himself, speaking to the woman of Samaria, said, “Salvation is of the Jews.”

So Scripture speaks to us very clearly: we’re dealing with the roots of everything that has to do with the revelation of God to humankind. The proof of this is in the very existence of the Jews as a people and the fact that they’ve been recovered as a nation. Today the struggle is over Jerusalem, over Israel, and over the presence of Jews and their right to a have a land. There are few nations willing to make an abiding commitment to stand by the Jews and Israel, but the Bible says God will honor those who do.

2) Our place in God’s present order inextricably links us with the Jews as a people and thereby the land of Israel according to the Word.

When we put our faith in the Redeemer who came through the Jews, we enter into a line of those who have trusted God according to His revealed grace and redemptive purpose.

 Scripture declares that, spiritually speaking, when you receive the Lord, you become a Jew (Romans 2:28-29; Galatians 3:26-29).

 If you are a believer, you cannot be consistent with the whole of Scripture and take a position that is passive toward the Jews and Israel.

3) God has made unique declarations regarding the land of Israel which have never been rescinded:

 Leviticus 25:23 – The land is the Lord’s land, and it is His to assign and dispose of: “The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine…”

 Deuteronomy 32:43 – “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people…He will provide atonement for His land and His people.”

 2 Chronicles 7:20 – God says if the people violate Me “…I will uproot them from My land which I have given them…”

 Psalm 85:1-2 – “Lord, you have been favorable to Your land, You have brought back the captivity of Jacob. You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin.”

 Isaiah 8:8 – This land belongs to Father God and it is the land of His Messiah: “…and the stretching out of his wings will fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel.”

 Jeremiah 2:7 – The Lord tells the people why there will come the loss, the destruction of the city of Jerusalem. “I brought you into a bountiful country…but when you entered, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination.”

 Ezekiel 38:16 – God is speaking to people in the end times who rise up against Israel. God is speaking of a confrontation that will take place in His land. “You will come up against My people Israel…I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you…”

 Joel 1:6, 2:18, 3:2 – Three times in this book, the land is referred to as belonging to the Lord. “For a nation has come up against My land…” (1:6) “Then the Lord will be zealous for His land…” (2:18) “I will gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.” (3:2)

 Hosea 9:3 – This refers to the scattering of Israel: “They shall not dwell in the Lord’s land, but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and shall eat unclean things in Assyria.”

 Zechariah 9:16 – “The Lord their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people, for they shall be like the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over His land…”

When we talk about Israel, we are dealing with: 1) a piece of property that God has made pronouncements about and 2) God’s people to whom He’s given the land. It is a major issue with the Creator of all things, and it is non-negotiable. Things that God has said, uniquely, about Israel have never been rescinded.

 Not only does the land belong to God, but also God has committed the land to Abraham and his offspring via Isaac forever. (Genesis 17:7-8)

 “With a little wrath I hid My face from you…but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed…” (Isaiah 54:8- 10)

 The loss of governance by Israel through sin and dispersion has not altered God’s announced commitment to make it theirs forever. (Read Ezekiel 37:1-28)

4) Israel’s present conflict is neither by their initiative nor perpetuated by expansionism on their part. The general attitude of the world today regards the Palestinians as the underdog, but Israel is defending the land covenanted to them in 1917 and established by the United Nations Assembly in 1948. The Palestinian goal is not to secure a homeland but to drive Israel out altogether. For the sake of mounting public opinion against Israel, surrounding, well resourced Arab nations have never offered refuge to the Palestinians. The majority of the world doesn’t know this, and nobody is bothering to tell them because sympathies are so overridden by other forces.

5) To stand with Israel is not to oppose Arab peoples as an entity or to oppose the rights of Arabs living in Israel to a peaceful, politically secure, and prosperous life.

God has no disposition against any human being, certainly not Arabs who are the offspring of Ishmael, the other son of His chosen leader Abraham. Standing for Israel doesn’t require an anti-Arab stance and doesn’t require us to be loveless toward other peoples.

6) The relentless animosities of sectors of the Arab world are not merely political causes but are driven by spiritual powers that will not be satisfied until Israel ceases to exist.

The forces opposed to Israel are not simply those of people who don’t like Jews. We are caught in the stream of spiritual forces greater than humanity, forces that cannot be overthrown politically or by the power of persuasion. These forces can only be broken by intercessory prayer where principalities and powers are cast down.

7) The same spirit driving these animosities is equally opposed to Christians as to Jews and in time will eventually bring persecution to both. Just as Scripture states there are two witnesses that will be put to death in Jerusalem at the very end of time (Revelation 11), there have been two witnesses that have stood for God throughout history – the Jews and the Christians. The hostilities and animosities are just as leveled at believers as they are at Israel, because there is a spirit in the world that is against all that is called God and everything about Him.

 God as Creator – to Whom we owe our worship.

 God as Judge – to Whom we owe our accountability.

 God as Redeemer – Who has shown Himself through His Son, Jesus.

 God as the moral Lawgiver of all humanity – to Whom we owe a responsibility in our behavior.

8) A biblical assignment and a divine promise summon our stand in faith, our intercession with expectancy, and our support with promise. We are called to stand with Israel today because we could be people of the last hour. The Lord has called us to be people with moral and biblical conviction, walking wisely and knowing His Word. He will honor those who make an abiding commitment to stand with the land He’s called uniquely His. (Psalm 122:6).