Self Control

Galatians 5:22,23 lists areas where the Holy Spirit wants to help us grow in our lives. The final one listed is "self-control." God wants to help us to be self-controlled.

There are many areas in which we are all tempted. Each of us want to do what we FEEL like doing, but those are often not the good decisions.

Some people want to eat and eat and EAT because it tastes good. But it's better if each one controls himself.

Some people get mad about little things...but it's important to control oneself, even if a person is angry.

When a driver loses control of his car, people may get hurt! When a person loses control of his tongue, he may say things that hurt others.

When a person doesn't control what he watches on t.v. or the music he listens too, he may allow things into his heart and mind that can hurt him too.

God wants to help each of us to grow in this area of self control. God will help you if you will listen to him, and ask for His help.

Sometimes it's tough, but the Holy Spirit wants to grow this area of "self-control" in you and me.

Here's a few verses you can look at as a family. In what areas does God want to help you be self-controlled?

Ephesians 5:18
Proverbs 15:1
Psalm 101:3
Psalm 19:14

1 Peter 5:8 "Be self-controlled and alert." With God's help, you can!

-----Dont' forget! Snow Blast registrations are due NOW! Don't miss out on what many of our kids say is the GREATEST EVENT we do! (Even more than VBS!)

Polar Plunge!

Congratulations to all our kids! In 2009 we had 101 different children give money to our missions program - "Boys & Girls Missionary Challenge." These kids combined to raise these funds by doing fundraisers, praying, and sacrificially giving to help others know the love of God.

BGMC is a program that provides supplies to missionaries all over the world. These may be supplies for orphanages, missions outreaches, well-digging programs, AIDS education in Africa and more. Some of the BGMC funds are designated to help groups like Convoy of Hope that help in emergency relief areas like Haiti right now.

Many people don't know this -- but on the average -- for each dollar given to BGMC, somewhere in the world, a person accepts Christ as Savior and Lord. Realizing that each dollar given may mean a soul has been saved is just thrilling.

Think again. Our kids gave over $12,000 to the BGMC program. By God's grace may that come out to over 12,000 more people coming to know Jesus! Pray with me that it will be so!

Enjoy the pictures and video!

The Hall of Faith

God wants each of us to grow in faith! Faith is belief and complete trust in God. And when you become a person full of faith, it naturally results in one being faithful!

Hebrews 11 records the testimonies of many men and women in the Bible who were full of faith, and they were also faithful! (True faith always results in faithfulness.)

Some conquered GREAT problems by keeping their faith in God. Others WENT THROUGH great problems, but kept trusting God. They stayed faithful, because they kept their faith in God strong.

This week, read about all the different characters in the "Hall of Faith" found in Hebrews 11. Someday, God may just add your name to the list! Keep the faith!

Merry Christmas!

We hope you are having a wonderful holyday celebration! We were not able to have our Christmas Eve service last Friday due to the bad weather, but did include a number of segments in our Sunday morning services that would have been presented in the Christmas Eve service.

When I was a young boy, I memorized and recited the Christmas passage from Matthew chapter 2 at our Christmas service. You may want to read this during this Christmas season.

Also, enjoy this recording of the presentation called "Christmas in the Park" which was given in our Sunday service.

Merry Christmas!

Patience!

Christmas is ALMOST here! But, some of you have been waiting a long time for it, haven't you? It's hard to be patient, but God wants us to learn to be patient.

Galatians 5:22,23 says that the Holy Spirit wants to grow patience in us.

We need to be patient with other. We need to be patient with God too! God is always working, and if He doesn't do exactly what you want exactly when you want it, decide to be patient!

Many people waited for the coming of Jesus - the Messiah -- at that first Christmas. When Jesus was born, the wiseman had to travel a long ways. They had to be patient on that long trip! You can read about that in Matthew chapter 2.

Jesus did come at that first Christmas. He also promises to come back again. Are you waiting? Look at James 5:7-11.

Know this: If you will be patient, good things will come! Merry Christmas!

GoFish Christmas!

This past summer we had GoFish here at our church for a great concert ending our VBS time.

Most people wouldn't know this...but my wife Karen has a sister. Her sister is married to Gaylon. Gaylon is the first cousin of one of the GoFish guys--Jamie. They all grew up out in South Dakota.

Check out this Christmas video on YouTube by the GoFish guys. It shows them out on the farm and also in concerts. This Christmas video has over a million hits. It talks about keeping CHRIST as the main focus of Christmas. It also includes some of Brad Stein's monologue. Brad is a Christian comedian -- though he's not beeing too funny on this one.

Merry CHRISTmas!

Peace On Earth

The angels announced in Luke 2 "Peace on earth, good will to men." Because Jesus was born, people could now have peace with each other, peace with God, and peace in their own hearts.

Read Isaiah 9:6 and you will find a name for Jesus that talks about peace.

Some people are afraid. Others are confused. Some concentrate on wrong selfish thoughts. All of those things stop people from having peace. But, Jesus came to earth to bring peace to everyone.

Here are a couple more verses that help us understand more about Jesus bringing peace:

2 Timothy 1:7
John 14:26,27
Philippians 4:6,7

May God grow the fruit of peace in your heart and in your family!