Greetings Everyone
This summer our theme in worship is “Spiritual Truths in the Code of the West.” This coming Sunday’s theme is “When you make a promise, keep it.”
By the time you read this page, Dr. Mary Neal will have spoken to our church and greater community. For some of you who have read Dr. Neal’s books, To Heaven and Back and Seven Lessons from Heaven, you will know that Terri and I have some personal experience with Mary and her family. Both Mary and her husband Bill are physicians. Both have keen minds and caring spirits. Both see the world through scientific eyes. Both have a wonderful sense of adventure. Both have gone through incredible heart ache, suffering the depths of grief. Some of that heartache and grief is addressed in Mary’s first book. We walked with them during those difficult times.
What impresses me about Mary is where she is today. The heartache of the loss of their oldest son, Willie, is still very fresh and the physical pain of her life-changing accident is still with her. What is also with her is the full assurance that God’s Promises are true. As children of God we are not necessarily protected from the sufferings of this world – our faith is not a magic amulet that we wear to ward off problems – our faith is the assurance that God who loves us will never leave us nor forsake us.
In 1985, Our Daily Bread devotional, gave a brief list of 12 promises of God. Here it is.
“A promise from God is a statement we can depend on with absolute confidence. Here are 12 promises for the Christian to claim.
1. God’s presence—“I will never leave thee” (Heb. 13:5)
2. God’s protection—“I am thy shield” (Gen. 15:1)
3. God’s power—“I will strengthen thee” (Isa. 41:10)
4. God’s provision—“I will help thee” (Isa. 41:10)
5. God’s leading—“And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them” (John 10:4)
6. God’s purposes—“I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil” (Jer. 20:11)
7. God’s rest—“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28)
8. God’s cleansing—“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)
9. God’s goodness—“No good thing will He withhold from them that work uprightly” (Psalm 84:11)
10. God’s faithfulness—“The Lord will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake” (1 Sam. 12:22)
11. God’s guidance—“The meek will He guide” (Psalm 25:9)
12. God’s wise plan—“All things work together for good to them that love God” (Rom. 8:28).”
As children of God, as disciples of Jesus Christ, we too should make sure that we are people who keep a promise when we make a promise.
Happy Trails to you as you too do the work of the Lord.
Pastor Paul
News & Events
Tuesday, August 8th:
7:00 a.m. Men’s Bible Study and Breakfast
Wednesday, August 9th:
10:00 a.m. “Because You Asked…” Bible Study. Have Questions?
Bring them to Wednesday’s Bible Study to discuss with Pastor Paul.
Your questions determine the topic
Check out the Events Calendar for more upcoming events.
“Because You Asked…”
Ever want to have a Bible study on a particular topic? Want to hear what God’s Word says about a particular issue? Here is your chance. Over this summer, Pastor Paul will be leading a Bible Study, Wednesdays at 10 AM, in the Chapel to address your topics. Why? “Because you asked!”
“Because You Asked…”
Ever want to have a Bible study on a particular topic? Want to hear what God’s Word says about a particular issue? Here is your chance. Over this summer, Pastor Paul will be leading a Bible Study, Wednesdays at 10 AM, in the Chapel to address your topics. Why? “Because you asked!”
Back To School BBQ
It’s that time again for another church picnic and BBQ before the kids go back to school. The Fellowship Committee has reserved the Pavilion at Smith Field (1600 Hospital Way), directly behind the hospital in Whitefish.
Time: 11:30am, after church service on Sunday, August 20th. We will have plenty to eat and drink as well as a kid verus adult kickball game.
So, wear cool clothes to church and bring a lawn chair to the picnic!
See you There!
Fellowship Committee
Food Bank Cereal Drive
We will be holding a cereal box drive for the North Valley Food bank this summer. Please bring a box of cereal to Sunday worship services or drop your donated cereal off in the church office Tues-Fri, 9-1 p.m.
Thank you for your donations!
Nursery Attendants Needed
We are looking for a handful of volunteers willing to be on call as a Nursery Attendant for Sunday Worship services. Please contact Nichole or Lisa, in the church office, if you would like to be put on the list.
Presbyterian Women Fall Retreat
When: August 18th-20th
Where: Glacier Camp on Flathead Lake
The theme this year is “Your Missional Life” and will be led by Rev. Jason Dorsey and his wife ,Jenny. Jason is pastor of Redeemer,a Presbyterian church in Redmond,WA. The syllabus for the presentation states:
“You can’t know who you are and what you stand for unless you know the story you are in. The Bible’s story of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration is the big story you are in. It tells who you are and what you are for, to be a participant in God’s restoration of all things. This restoration includes inviting others into God’s story. You will apply this to your life through creating a Disciple Making Plan.”
All women are invited to attend and you can visit with Susan Tate about further details or carpool information. Some are planning to spend overnight but many of us are only attending the Saturday session. Please join us and meet other women from around the state. The deadline for registration is the first week in August. Thanks and hope to see you there.
