SABBATH MESSAGE. Jonah was running away from God’s will. He actually paid money to get away from God. Then the storm came. There is only one way to deal with storms of this type. You have to turn round. Praying and fasting will not help you here. Nor will an increase in your offering. Obedience is the only antidote.
God is too merciful and too loving to allow His children to drift into open rebellion without disciplining them. The Psalmist David wrote, (Psalm 119:67) “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.” (Psalm 119:71) “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.”
Tomorrow morning is Part 3 of my “Peace in the Storm” series. Please, read Jonah 1 and Acts 27.
WOMEN’S MINISTRY. WIDOWS OUTREACH. Here is a report from Lupina about a new outreach program. Thank you, ladies, for this initiative. “It is a shame but most connections with the church are broken upon becoming a widow. A desire to organize a group to fellowship with and to help widows make this painful, lonely journey began with conversations between Lupina Haney, Marlene Keaton, Barbara Smith and Sondra Chilson. On Thursday we got together for a delightful lunch and a chance to discuss some of our feelings and concerns.
A survey of needs found that those attending wanted to develop friendships and plan fun daytime social activities. Some had a need for help with home maintenance and others seminars on grief or financial counseling. There were 18 (5 were members of other churches) who came to share, feast and fellowship. We plan to meet the 4thThursday in every month.”
VICTORY GARDEN. Our church garden is in full bloom. On the very last day of school lots of vegetables were planted to be shared with the others. The main champion of this outdoor class, Connie Jones, calls it the Victory Garden. Along with the berry bushes and vegetables there are also flowers. These flowers are often shared with the shut-ins and used for the hospital visits. Our OAKS students learn about cotton plants. Connie and Jessica Turner help them learn how cotton from the plant is being transformed into their jeans and shirts :-). Peanut plants are another miracle of God’s creative power. This garden is a wonderful outdoor classroom for our kids. Nathanael, Jessica’s son, is building up his muscles by harvesting zucchinis :-). When I have no time for my Taco Bell lunch I get my daily vegetable intake straight from our Victory Garden :-)!
PRAYERS NEEDED. Our dear Ed Young is still having a rough time after major heart surgery. The doctors will try a blood transfusion today to help him gain strength and fight nausea. He is not quite ready for hospital visitations. Please, pray for Ed and Pat.
Peggy Bell had neck surgery on Wednesday. The surgery went well and Peggy is very thankful for your prayerful support. She is on her way home as I type this message.
ABOUNDING GRACE. Stewardship can seem daunting. After all, being managers of our families, possessions, the earth, and builders of a kingdom isn’t small stuff. But remember, God promises us that He’ll never require something of us that we cannot accomplish. Furthermore, whatever God may require of us, He provides the ability to achieve.
“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed”(2 Corinthians 9:8 NASB).
At our Finance committee last night, I noticed that we need serious catching up on our local church budget giving for the month of July. OAKS and many other important ministries fully depend on our support of the local budget. I pray that on our last Sabbath of the month, tomorrow, we’ll bring the offerings that will make us meet the monthly goal.
Thank you for your loving and faithful support of God’s church ministry in our community.
JULY NEWSLETTER. Our July newsletter is on the church website. The website address is http://www.ooltewahchurch.org/ To access the newsletter you can click on this link http://www.ooltewahchurch.org/site/1/docs/JULY%20Oo.pdf
See you tomorrow morning,
Peter.
Ooltewah Seventh-day Adventist Church 