“This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
Sometimes it can be helpful to adjust the way we live in relationship with Jesus. It takes time and practice to really get the most out of our faith.
-Micah Darden
Pastor of Young Adults and High School
This post first appeared on Judy Grubaugh’s blog, A Place for My Heart, in May of 2020,
“Who dares despise the day of small things,…”
Friday morning I was sitting on our back patio doing some reading when my mind began to wander, and I found myself intrigued by the vine clinging tightly to the fence surrounding the yard. As I looked at it, my mind took a trip down memory lane to a number of years ago when I purchased that plant. It couldn't have been more than eight or ten inches tall, but I thought it was pretty so I bought it and planted it near the fence in the back yard. At the time, I had no idea what it was or how it would grow. But soon it began to climb the fence and today it covers most of the fence, adding a serene beauty to the yard.
As I sat there mesmerized for a few moments thinking about what that tiny little plant has become, it brought to mind something God said many years ago in regard to small things becoming big things. It was back in the days when God's people had returned to their war-torn city of Jerusalem after being held in captivity in another country. As they began rebuilding the temple of God, it was obvious that it didn't begin to compare with the previous temple—the one that had been destroyed by the enemy. In fact, some of the people thought the new temple was so small and insignificant that it would amount to nothing. But God said its glory would be even greater than that of the former temple. In other words, it would have a greater far-reaching effect because his peace would be there. He then cautioned against making light of small things by asking the question: "Who dares despise the day of small things,...?" Zechariah 4:10
While all of this was swimming through my head, it brought to mind a conversation with a friend a few days before. We had been talking about ministry and how different it is during this pandemic. No longer are we able to meet in large groups, doing the big things in ministry that we're used to doing. In fact, being stuck in our homes, we may be tempted to do nothing. But that morning on my patio God assured me that the little things we do for the glory of God may have an even greater impact than the bigger things we've grown accustomed to doing. Such a little thing may be as small as sending a note in the mail, an encouraging word in a text, a small gift dropped on someone's front porch, a phone call, or even a prayer uttered in the middle of the night when you can't sleep. It may even be a song that has blessed you. Only God knows the far-reaching effect of such a little thing in someone's life.
You may be surprised. God may grow that little thing to be a big thing, just like that little plant in my yard. What little thing will you do today?
-Judy Grubaugh
Women’s Ministry Speaker at Friends Community Church
Check out FCC’s Women’s Bible Study messages every Tuesday for more from Judy and other speakers. Click here to listen to past messages.
Routines are easy to come by. Sometimes they happen without us even noticing it. For example, do you do sock, shoe, sock, shoe? Or sock, sock, shoe, shoe? What about your pants, do you put your right leg in first or your left? For cereal, do you pour cereal first then milk or milk first then cereal? Many times we’ve been doing something the same way since we were a kid because that’s the way we saw our parents or others do it. It takes a very intentional effort to change a set routine.
What better routine could there be to develop than getting into God’s word?! And what better routine is there to display for our kids or grandkids to emulate? The 4th and 5th graders at FCC have a monthly challenge that they participate in called the “21 Day Bible Challenge.” They are encouraged to read their bible and journal their thoughts 21 days out of the month. This is the challenge I want to lay at your feet. For 21 days out of the rest of the month of May, could you read a portion of scripture? Try to shake up the routine you and your family have gotten into!
Here are some tips of how this can look for different ages and for those that already have a routine of daily bible reading:
Adults: Try reading a chapter each of the 21 days. If you already have a routine of personal daily bible reading, try reading and discussing a portion of scripture with your significant other. Maybe add journaling your observations on the passage to your routine for this month. If you have grandkids, consider video conferencing them routinely this month and reading them one verse and then explaining what it means, how it has looked lived out in your life, and asking them how it can look lived out in theirs.
Youth: Try reading a chapter each of the 21 days. See if you can read through one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) in the month of May. Set a reminder on your phone to go off at a certain part of the day to help you get into the routine. Maybe do this challenge with a friend that can text you and keep you accountable. You can even text each other questions you might have on what you read.
Older Elementary: There is a worksheet on the Children’s Ministry page of the FCC website that gives you all the info you need for this challenge. You can access it by clicking here: 21 Day Bible Reading Challenge. It gives you a suggested reading plan, space to write the verse that stood out to you each of the 21 days, and space to write your prayers. It also gives you helpful tips to keep in mind while you read.
Younger Elementary: Have them practice their reading by letting them read the story for the day. Contact the Children’s Ministry staff for suggested age-appropriate bible translations. After reading, discuss what happened in the story. Going over the details of the story will help with their reading comprehension and help them to retain it longer. Discuss ways that you’ve seen it apply to your own life and then ask them how they might see it lived out in their own lives. Pray together afterwards.
Toddlers: Read a verse to them and explain what it means. Then pray that verse over them and ask that it would define them and their life. Try writing out that verse and your prayer in a journal. Put the date for each day so that you can have it as a keepsake and look back on all the prayers that you prayed over them when they were young.
The form is unimportant. What is important is getting into a routine of spending time with God and his word!
-Pastor Tyler Lemen
Associate Pastor of Family Ministries at Friends Community Church
Have you ever seen the TV show, Chopped, where three chefs open a surprising bundle of ingredients and then prepare a dish using those ingredients? Well it’s a ton of fun to do at home!
For my daughters’ 12th birthday, we had a Chopped-style cook off. I prepared identical baskets of ingredients for each “chef” and then it was up to them to create a tasty visual masterpiece using every item. They had access to the stove, oven, seasonings, flour, butter, sugar, eggs, and other refrigerated items to add to their creations.
In the first round, they were given a basket of ingredients and a time limit of 20 minutes to cook an appetizer and plate it. (We had an independent judge, but in while at home, I recommend that everyone taste and rate each dish on a scale of 1-10 for taste, creativity and presentation. ) Tasting and rating occurs after each round.
In the second round, they opened a new basket of ingredients and had to create a main dish in 30 minutes.
In the third round, they had yet another basket of ingredients and 30 minutes to create a dessert.
In the end, the parent can award each individual or team based on the three criteria. (And don’t be surprised if each team gets an award!) Here are a few ideas for the baskets:
Appetizer basket: vegetable, jam, peanut butter, lettuce, popped popcorn, jalapeños
Main course basket: cooked pasta, vegetable, tuna, chocolate, jam, nuts
Desert basket: fruit, marshmallows, nuts, pepper, cereal, oatmeal, pickles
The key is to be creative with your ingredients and for them to think outside of the box. For example, pasta can be used in soups, sautéed dishes, salads.
Some light prep work to do before this activity:
Try to watch an episode of Chopped to introduce your family to the “game”
Make and decorate aprons ahead of time. Make a chef’s hat out of construction paper
If playing in teams, make a sign with a team name
Set up cooking stations in the house using designated counter areas, a card table, kitchen table.
Use baskets, boxes, or bags to hold the main ingredients
Set out plates, bowls, mixing utensils, hot pads, paper towel, etc. at each station
Design your own rating scale, or if your child doesn’t fare well with competition don’t rate the dishes, just praise the creativity.
Take pictures of your creations and have fun!
-Barbara Grattan
Ministry Leader at Friends Community Church
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Photo by Lindley Webster
Click here to read the introduction to this series on the Beatitudes.
Mourn? Really? For those who have truly mourned or who are currently mourning you may be asking yourself “Why?" Why would Jesus include mourning in his list of Beatitudes? As believers we are called to mourn with those who mourn. It is not hard to find one who is brokenhearted or experiencing great loss. Being in a constant state of lament can be overwhelming, but with that said, I pray that our hearts ache for what aches God’s heart. Jesus promises comfort for those who mourn. Isaiah also speaks encouragement:
Isaiah 61:1-2 (NLT)
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me,
for the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the LORD’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
Have you felt comforted during mourning? Did you feel closer to the Lord during this time?
The world preaches we have the right to be happy, at almost any cost. There is no need to mourn, it may show weakness. But if we look around this world, full of sin, do our hearts break? Are we mourning for those who are not willing to give their lives to Christ and are driven by greed, pride, or power? As Christ-followers we are called to mourn.
Are you able to mourn for the world and the sin that so easily entices and entangles? Read Psalm 51 and pray King David’s words not only for yourself, but the world around you.
-Pastor Darcy Webster
Associate Pastor of Operations and Pastoral Care