Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is not just a day for those married, in a relationship or single. It is a day of love for all those in your life that make it special; friends, family, co-workers etc. But more than that is a day to reflect on the awesomeness of God’s love for us! This is the love we receive daily no matter the circumstance. All He wants is for us to never give up on Him, never lose faith in Him, always hope in His good doing and stand in every situation with Him. He also asks that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Relish in His everlasting love and feel His grace given all for you! Everything good, happy, positive, bright is all from God. He will walk with you through any stage of life and hold you close. The greatest thing is Love!

 *John 3:16, “For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life”

 *1 Corinthians 13:7, “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

 

Let's Have a Great 2013

Happy New Year from Redeemer and we pray that this new year will be a blessing to you all as we move and bless many more throughout this year...

I was reading one of my devotions and this verse was used with a simple message about how we are new each and every day and we ought to do something about it.   

2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

With that - I'm sure glad the Mayans were mistaken - aren't you?  I can't begin to describe how much sleep I lost on December 20th as I anticipated waking up to hurricanes, blizzards, nuclear warfare from a crazy nation, and even the tragic end to One Direction's illustrious career...if you don't have a grandchild or student that talks about them obsessively, count yourself lucky...

Actually I didn't lose one wink of sleep, because I was way too confident that Jesus wouldn't let His birthday be cancelled because of some sort of galactic alignment, and I was more than convinced that if my Savior desired that I stick around for at least one more trip around the sun, I would definitely be here.

How about you? Does the New Year bring hope and anticipation of seeing and doing the mighty works of God?  Or do you look on 2013 with apprehension and much trepidation?  While on vacation last week I saw a shirt in Nashville that said "10 years ago we had Steve Jobs, Bob Hope, and Johnny Cash and now we have NO jobs, no hope, and no cash."

If you feel like that t-shirt...fear not, my friends, for I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which will be for all readers! For unto you this day I will present three small steps to ensure you have your best year yet.  If you prayerfully and purposely put these into practice, the next 12 months will be a journey you hardly thought possible, because impossibility is God's specialty!!!!!

Step One: Be Still

    "Be still, and know that I am God!

    I will be honored by every nation.

    I will be honored throughout the world" (Psalm 46:10).

When was the last time you were "still"? School, work, stress, drama, sports, iPods, iPads, Facebook and Facetime make it *virtually* impossible to heed this timeless command from God.  

But if you want a great 2013, it will start with quieting your soul and centering your attention on the fact that God is God and you are not. The word for "still" here literally means to drop your arms - in other words - take your weak human hands off His heavenly work in your life! You literally do not even have control over your next heartbeat, so why not take some time each day this year to slow your pulse, unplug and let the Lord fulfill His purposes in your life?  His main purpose in our lives is to bring honor to His name, so come triumphs or trials - know that Jesus is working in ways that we cannot even understand!

Step Two: Be Satisfied

    Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you    have. For God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never abandon you" (Hebrews 13:5).

Is there any quicker way to ruin your year than wallowing in a disposition of discontentment? I don't think so! And when you think about the floodgates of blessings that have been down-poured on America, and more specifically on DeWitt, why would we ever be tempted to feel like a "have not"?  What we do have is the promise of God's loving and fulfilling presence, which cannot be compared to all the combined riches on this planet! Rich or poor, single or involved, healthy or bedridden - God's eternal and unchanging Word remains:

    

     I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down relax My hold on you! Assuredly not! (Hebrews 13:5, Amplified).

Step Three: Be Strong and Fearless

    Be strong! Be fearless! Don't be afraid and don't be scared by your enemies, because the LORD your God is the one who marches with you. He won't let you down, and he won't abandon you (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Can you picture 2013 as a year of conquest and triumph? 365 days of marching into the enemy's territory with Jesus as the Captain of our salvation. Yes, there will be the adversaries of peer pressure, doubt and apprehensive expectations - but what are they compared to the God who spoke the universe into existence with just a word and flung the stars into place?

So when you hear the footsteps of our enemy coming near and shaking the foundations of your confidence, focus on the banner of the God who shattered the grave and marches by your side into every battle you could possibly face!

Finally, if you want to have an incredible year, commit yourself to the causes of Christ each and every day of 2013. Each moment that passes brings us closer to Christ's return, so we cannot afford to miss one opportunity to tell our friends about the forgiveness and salvation offered through Jesus' death and resurrection.

Here’s what I think, the New Year is upon us, so will you:  

• Truly be still and know that He is God?
• Be satisfied with His presence alone?
• Be strong and fearless in the face of our enemies?

And will you make 2013 the Year of His Cause?

If so, watch out - this may be the most amazing year you've ever experienced!

God Rocks and We Roll,

Ron

 

Being Thankful . . .

November marks when Thanksgiving falls upon us, and as such it seems that a good number of people are posting each day online what they are thankful for.  I thought I would take the opportunity to jump on that bandwagon for this blog post.  In no particular order, here are a few things that I am thankful for.

Middle School/Junior High Students:  I am thankful for this group of kids.  I am thankful they allow someone as goofy as me to be able to spend time with them on a weekly basis playing fun games and more importantly going thru God’s word together.  I am thankful they continue to open my eyes to new teachings and show me why this age group should not be shrugged off by adults.  Middle school can be one of the more difficult periods of life; kids are trying to figure out who they are, what their place is in the world, they get tons of media dumped on them every day, they want to be kids yet some are being thrown into roles beyond their years…it’s just tough.  I feel blessed that I get to try and help them thru this four-year stretch of life.  I’m thankful that some of them think I’m “cool  enough” to still talk to me once they have graduated from our age group, makes a guy feel loved.

Technology:  I am thankful that as I write this my daughter is in the midst of a one week trip to Japan, and thanks to modern technology I can get updates as to how they are doing and where they are.  I don’t typically over-worry about such things, but it would be tough to not know anything about what is going on while they are so far away.  I’m thankful she gets the opportunity to travel the world at such a young age, something most will never experience.

Family:  My family rocks!  I am thankful that I have a wife that puts up with my stubborn and perhaps borderline immature ways.  I love the fact that my family has a great sense of humor and knows how to have good honest fun.  I am thankful that my kids are all awesome people who love God and are not afraid to let that be known.  I am thankful that God has entrusted me to take care of a family even when I feel inadequate for the task at times, and no matter how many times I mess up, through His grace and mercy I am forgiven.

Church:  I am thankful I belong to a church that has such a heart for serving others that it shows in so many ways.  I am thankful for the body of people that have been placed in my life that have become close friends and people I consider family, and the impact they have had on my life.  I am thankful that we are free to praise and worship our Lord and Savior and do not have to try and hide while doing so.

There are so many other things I am thankful for that I cannot write about all of them.  Things like sports, especially dodgeball. There’s nothing like a good clean face-shot, even if it does mean I’m out of the game. Mt. Dew, my favorite drink in the history of forever.  I could go on and on. 

I pray that all will take a moment during this holiday season to reflect on the blessings in their life and all the things they are truly thankful for.  God has blessed many of us with much more than we could ever need, and for that we should all be thankful.  I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season, and takes some time to be thankful for all the blessings in their life.  God Bless!

Justin Bowman

Reflections of a Busy July

Hello Redeemer Family...

Ron here, 

I just wanted to take a few minutes and share some of my post "camp" thoughts and such.  

I would start by telling you how blessed I feel to have been able to be a part of two camps put on by the West Michigan Conference and supported by numerous peeps of Redeemer.  In the two weeks (week 1 at Christian Athletic Camp and week 2 at ACT at Wesley Woods) that I was serving at camp we were able to reach out to over 410 youth.  That's a huge Praise God thing in itself, but when you get the opportunity to pray with kids and help them through many of their problems, it truly becomes something I thank God for the opportunity.  

At CAC, we did a whole "Throwback Jesus" series.  When we talk "throwback", think retro!!!  Not like we're throwing Him back.  We talked about who He is and what He means to us.  At ACT, we discovered through superheroes how we too can become superheroes for Jesus because as Matthew 19:26 says; "with man it's impossible, but with God it is possible."  

I will tell you coming back to church this past week was a little weird.  I've been talking to many staff from both camps on Facebook these past couple weeks and it's amazing how much we all miss it and are so happy with the impact we've made on students.  Not to mention how much fun we had serving Jesus in camper mode.\

I am so happy to belong to a church family that so strongly supports camp opportunities.  When we needed help with scholarships for campers you were there, when we were looking for help with Workcamp you were there. When it comes to helping kids in our congregation you all shine the best.  I can't even begin to tell you thank you enough for helping to insure that God's work is done outside the walls of our church.  Truly Blessed is all that comes to mind when I think of all the people here that serve at a camp; from the kids in CREW and Next to the ones that attend all of the services we offer.  

God showed up Big; as He always does and it wouldn't have been possible without the prayers and support of this congregation.  Looking forward to the many opportunities that we will have in the future to be God's people outside the walls of Redeemer!!!  

Only 5 weeks and the kids will be back in school and more programming will kick off...Let's keep the Holy Ghost party going, I need it to continue after an awesome God filled summer!!!! 

Love, Learn, Live the Word of God

Coming This Fall….

A Redeemer Church-wide Experience

Welcome to 40 Days in the Word. No other habit can do more to transform your life than to study and act upon God’s Word. God’s Word is not meant to inform you…but to transform you. Knowledge from the Bible is useless if we fail to put God’s Word into practice. Jesus says that both knowing and applying the Word creates the foundation for our lives: Matthew 7:24, NIV; “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock”. In essence, we must become living translations of God’s Word.

By the end of this 40 day church-wide experience, our goal is to help you…

     ·        Love the Word of God like never before

·        Learn the Word of God like never before

      ·        Live the Word of God like never before

Check out the Redeemer Church website for more information on how you can join a small group and be a part of this amazing journey.

Kelvin FizzellDirector of Small Groups

National Day of Prayer - May 3rd

National Day of Prayer May 3, 2012

The 61^st annual observance of the National Day of Prayer will be held on May 3, 2012. Our nation continues to face moral decline, economic uncertainty, military strife in the Middle East, and non-stop assaults on our religious freedoms. It has never been more important than today that we humbly approach God in prayer on behalf of our country.

Since Congress established the 1^st National Day of prayer 61 years ago, millions of Americans have joined in prayer to lift up our nation and its leaders to Almighty God. Once again on May 3rd, we will continue the example given to us by our Founding Fathers and by presidents since then who have encouraged the American people to call out to God in times of turmoil and unrest.

Abraham Lincoln called upon all citizens to take part in a day of fasting and prayer: “…it is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history: that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord…”

Please join us Thursday May 3, 2012 at Redeemer church for any of the three 30 minute prayer services we will offer at 7:00am, 12 noon, or 7:00pm. It is an opportunity for us to continue seeking God’s guidance and protection during these days of turmoil in our country.*

May God bless America!

Kelvin FizzellDirector of Small GroupsRedeemer Church

*Excerpts from Shirley Dobson Chairman, National Day of Prayer

“Live With Hope in a Stressed Out World”

Psalm 23 is perhaps the best loved single text in the Old Testament.  Untold millions have found comfort in its words and picturesque language - particularly in time of sorrow.  The images are peaceful, pastoral and timeless; the words evoke a mood of meditation, security and even triumph – because this Psalm portrays God as the Good Shepherd who cares for and looks after His flock.

Tradition gives Psalm 23 to David because of his vocation as a shepherd and because of the intense personal relationship with God evidenced here.   If anyone was qualified to describe God in this manner, David was. We know from the Bible that David had been a shepherd before he became a king. So David had a pretty good idea of what a shepherd is like. How often David must have gazed up at the heavens on those star-filled nights while he was out watching over his father’s sheep and pondered the very nature of God! There in the depths of his heart he must have pondered how much God was just like a shepherd. His years of shepherding had taught him a few things, and as he contemplated the shepherd’s work, he found a fitting description of what God does for his people.  It is a Psalm of confidence and hope – describing God’s protection and provision.

For the next six weeks, we are going to be discovering how to “Live With Hope in a Stressed Out World” – using Psalm 23 as our backdrop.  I believe that many people in our culture today are paralyzed by fear, worry, and aimlessness – and are looking for security, direction, and hope.  Psalm 23 speaks to all of these issues in our life.  And best of all, it points us to the Shepherd – who provides, protects, guides and directs our life.

Come join us during this season of Lent…as we prepare our lives for the celebration of Easter.

Rod