Hello Grace Church Family and Friends,
It’s Friday! Thank the Lord for His wonderful works in our lives! Our recent Wednesday 7:00PM Grace Church FBLive study has focused on Asaph’s 73rd Psalm! Asaph was one of King David’s Choirmasters. Psalm 73 is not Asaph’s salvation experience! It does, however, represent a time of crisis concerning his faith! In short, Asaph took his eyes off of the Lord and began to envy the wicked around him. Asaph did not desire their wicked lifestyles, but he did desire their prosperity! Taking our eyes off of the Lord is never a good thing spiritually speaking. It’s crucial that we as Christians keep our eyes focused on our Lord Jesus lest we, like Asaph, lose our way and begin a slow spiritual drift away from the Lord. This happens! We all know professing Christians who are no longer walking with the Lord. They have no positive influence for Jesus; they have zero impact for the Gospel. Thank the Lord that Asaph repented and made a complete turnaround in his faith! The songwriter said it was beauty out of ashes! Here are his final words from Psalm 73:28 (KJV) But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Thy works. If there were ever a day when these words are true, it is today, right now! Brothers and sisters, some around us are floundering in the wake of today’s confusion. This is not new. The ancients also struggled in tough times. Yet, when it counted, they stood up for the Lord and the Gospel. Take heart; take your stand for JESUS! Keep your eyes on HIM; HE will see you through.
Over the past week we have had some covid cases reported to us. These have been primarily among our teens and a couple of our adults. Around ten to fifteen cases have been reported to Pastor Chuck. Some in this number do not attend Grace Church. Pastor Chuck, Pastor Jamin and I met earlier this week and discussed this. A few of the cases tested positive but are asymptomatic. Obviously, those young people and adults will not be attending services this weekend. Thank you for praying for our teens and adults! None of these have required hospitalization, for that we are thankful! If you have questions about the covid cases, please contact Pastor Chuck @ 252-717-6466.
This Sunday we will have as guests our missionaries to the UK, Clay and Danielle Gibbons along with their children. They serve in a church ministry in West London. You may not realize this, but some have never met active missionaries serving in a foreign country. Sunday will be your opportunity. Clay will share with us in our 11:00AM Worship Service. He will also be speaking on our Grace Church FBLive Service online. The Gibbons have been in the UK for almost four years. They have a beautiful family. Thank you for supporting these fine missionaries!
Let this portion of God’s Word sink deep into your heart: Psalm 73:25-26 (KJV) Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.
Love you all,
Pastor Mike <><