His Grace

Photo by Donna Wood

Ford Noseworthy 1934-2023

The passing of Ford Noseworthy has deeply saddened our hearts. Our loss is Heaven's gain, as he is now with Jesus. Sending our love and prayers to his family, church family & friends.

Acts 3:19: "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."

This scripture tells us that God is so faithful and He is loving to us, that when we go to Him and repent of our sins, that He will blot them out, wiped clean and remembered no more. This is why so many Christians who give their lives and place their faith in Jesus Christ say that their first and most evident emotion is the sense of having a huge burden lifted off themselves.

God has made Himself known to people in so many different ways. In the Bible, we see God

In His Presence!

Are you in His Presense? Do you feel God around you?

make an appearance to Moses in a burning bush which was not consumed by the fire. Exodus 3:1-5 says, "Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, 'I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.'

So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said 'Moses, Moses!' And he said, 'Here I am.' Then He said, 'Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand

is holy ground.'" This is one of many ways of the manifested presence of God. Some people will experience the presence of God in many different ways. Some may see Him in visions. Acts 2:17 says, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams." Or some may hear God's voice. The way you hear God's voice is by living in the Spirit; you won't hear His voice if you are living in the flesh. Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God." It happens in that moment of stillness, not the busyness; we have to tune our spiritual ears to hear the voice of God. The Lord will always speak to

us in that "STILL, small voice." But unfortunately, often His voice is drowned out amid all the turmoil and noise that is our daily lives; it's very important to remember this. Some may also experience His presence through His peace and joy that are beyond words. You may also experience Him through a song or hymn or even through scripture. You can feel the presence of God in so many different ways.

Several years ago, this man had one of his best friends pass away from cancer. He still goes regularly to his family business and takes care of the orchids in the reception area. A few weeks ago, he was there watering the orchids, and the receptionist asked him if he had enjoyed his vacation to Florida. He knew that going down this road of conversation would be very difficult for

Owner/Publisher: Rob Wood

In His Presence!

him, but he also knew that God would want him to be very honest. So he said to her, "We didn't go on vacation." "Oh...why not?" she asked. "We had a family tragedy," he said. "I'm so sorry to hear that," she said. So then he told her what happened. "My grandson...We aren't sure what happened, but we believe that he committed suicide."

The next Sunday, he was teaching the young couple's class in Sunday school. A new couple joined the class. He knew the man, as he had attended a Sunday school class that he had taught many years ago. He introduced his wife and said they had just recently gotten married. They began the lesson by talking about a scripture verse, and then he felt God leading him to share the conversation about his grandson. When he shared the story with the group, the young bride of the new couple burst into tears. She finally composed herself and asked if she could

speak. She shared with the group that she had attempted to kill herself three days ago. The other couples came to her, showing their concern and that they cared. They prayed for her and encouraged her. It was a very powerful moment. He said they could all feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in the room.

God knew this young woman's pain. He knew she needed healing and support from others. God led me to a moment of honesty and vulnerability with the class, and that opened the door for her to feel safe to share her own pain. Now she has been brought out of isolation and has a community of friends who can love and encourage her. This story is an example on how God works in our lives. His presence is always with us, He never leaves or forsakes us. Although our feelings can tell us that, we really shouldn't let our emotions rule us when it comes to us trusting

in God. Romans 1:17 says, "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'" Without faith it's just impossible to please God as Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Therefore we really shouldn't have to feel God to know that He is there, although I do know how you feel at times when you find yourself feeling down with discouragement, because it seems like God has abandoned us.

Many different occasions can bring us down, such as a devastating diagnosis, or a betrayal by a friend or family member or even an unanswered prayer can really make us think that God is not with us, that He is far away from us at that particular moment in our lives.

Then there are times when we are so busy with every day life, trying to do everything all at once. When this happens, we can't hear Him, and because we are in such a hurry, we actually start pushing Him out of our lives. When we realize this, we start to feel guilty that we are not doing enough through the day with Him, or praying enough to Him. But relax, because God promised us many times in the Bible that He will never leave or forsake us.

Hebrews 13:5 says, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'"

Jesus never promised us an easy life, but we can be assured of His presence with us. We are to pick up our cross and follow Him.

Luke 9:23 says, "Then He said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.'"

It doesn't matter if life is good or if we are struggling, or if we are too busy to notice that He is near, because He is near, as God is Omnipresent, He is everywhere at the same time. Here are some ways that you can focus on God and sense His presence again, through all your struggles or your very busy life styles:

1. Confess to Him

Sometimes you may not be able feel God's presence because there might be something blocking the communication between God and you. God hasn't left you, but you can't feel His presence, which could be affected by unconfessed sin in your life. King David said that when he kept silent about his sin, his bones wasted away. Psalm 32:3-5 says, "When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of

summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, ' And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah." If you're feeling God isn't close to you, maybe because you haven't talked to Him in awhile or maybe you have been avoiding Him for whatever reason, just stop and confess your sins to Him now. Tell Him what it is you have done; tell Him what is on your heart and mind today. Ask Him to forgive you and ask Him to give you an ear to hear His voice again. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

When your relationship with Him has been restored, then you will notice that the communication with Him will begin again. So tell Him you're sorry; repent of your sins and become clean through the

In His Presence!

forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

2. Read Scripture

When you start reading God's inspired Word, you will start to sense His power and His presence. The Bible says that God's Word is living and active and sharper than any two edge sword. Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." That scripture will either make you aware or it will pierce your heart when you start to feel conviction, inspiration or determination. A pierced heart is much better than a heart of stone any time. If you feel like your heart is becoming cold, it could be because you're not reading His Word enough or at all. I encourage you to read God's Word everyday, then and only then, will you begin to understand God and

you will notice your heart becoming more loving every day. Only God can change your heart. Ezekiel 11:19 says, "Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh."

3. Sing a Hymn - Sing a song of praise to God. Have you ever wondered why when you're at church singing hymns you feel so close to God? Well maybe it's because that's the place you go and worship God. When we start to praise God, and it doesn't matter where you are, whether you're at church, home, car, or just outside, you will feel God's presence around you. That is because now you are no longer focused on yourself, but focused on God. Try thinking on a little less of you and a whole lot more of Jesus. Worshipping is not only singing, but singing songs of praise to God will free your mind to focus on Him and His presence.

Psalm 96: 1-2 says, "A Song of Praise to God Coming in Judgment

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day." When we praise and worship the Lord we are opening our hearts to Him.

4. Say Jesus' name

There are times when you will hear people use the Lord's name in vain, using His name as a curse word and it will make you cringe when you hear it used in such an awful way. But scripture says that there is power in the name of Jesus because there is no other way to be saved but by the name of Jesus Christ. John 14:6 says, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Salvation is only found in Jesus, no one else. Acts 4:12 says, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which

we must be saved." Start saying His name out LOUD. He is the only answer to all that you seek for; He is the only source that will calm your soul during storms that come into your life, as the only one whose presence you are longing for and the peace and joy that only comes from God's presence.

5. Say a Prayer

There are many days when I need Him; sometimes we may not know exactly what to say to Him. We can start by just saying His name, by speaking through the heart and just saying "Jesus, help me, Jesus." Listen for Him. Praying is our communication with God. He hears us; we can talk to Him just as if He is sitting there right beside us, and really it's because He is sitting right there with us. Never give up on your prayers, just because He doesn't answer right away. The reason for that could be it's not time yet; it could be because the answer is no and if you wait, I

have something better for you. So keep praying non-stop to Him. Philippians 4:67 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplications, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

6. Just Relax & Breathe - Sometimes there is too much happening all around us. There is too much traffic, confusion, too many thoughts running through our minds. There is too much

anxiety and stress. We need to relax and take a deep breath; we need to start inhaling His peace. Lay all your burdens at His feet and He will take them away and give you rest. Matthew 11:2830 says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

So just know God is always with us, He never leaves us, so find out what you need to do now, and continue to worship and praise Him.

WOOD Ministries

Publisher/Sales/Graphic Designer/Writer: Rob Wood wood.ministries.2020@gmail.com

Editor/Writer: Donna Wood Writer: Lynne Wood

When God Isn't There

When God seems far away

Book by: David Bowden

Written by: Lynne Wood

When God Isn't

There is an interesting book written by David Bowden. David is a spoken word poet, author and preacher. He lives in Oklahoma City with his wife and son.

In the book he talks about when God is farther than you think, but closer than you dare imagine. When David was in college, he felt very alone; it was as if God was nowhere to be found. When he went to church or picked up a Bible to read, there was nothing. After quite awhile, it slowly seemed to pass and he just concentrated on finishing school. I would imagine, like David, people at different times in their life have felt the same way, wondering why God felt so far away.

David never forgot his time in school when God felt like He wasn't there. So after college, he became quite interested again in God's presence and absence. He started to study to find out all he

could from the Bible about God's absence.

We find that God, who seems far away from us, can move when He wants to, but chooses to come close to us in the person of Jesus. If God feels absent or distant from you, perhaps He is using His absence to get you to chase after Him, to pursue Him more.

When we are away from someone we love, we are constantly thinking about them; that's what God wants from us.

God wants us to be always thinking about Him and drawing closer to Him. The more we come to love God, the more we long to be present with Him. This is part of one of

David's poems that I think is very true. If God had never been absent, we would have never known Christ on His Cross. So though our separation feels like the highest cost Not knowing Jesus' sacrifice would be the only real loss.

Prophecy said He will be called Immanuel means "God with us." He was Jesus but also Immanuel. God is not absent, He's not just near us or passing by, God became flesh; God is with us in the person of Jesus Christ.

This book will encourage people who feel God has abandoned them and will wake people up who take God's presence for granted. It will also help you have a better understanding of why God seems to disappear and how He can easily be found.

John 1:1-2

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God."

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

Inside the Heart

What Journey are You On?

Formany years, I never gave a whole lot of thought to Lent, other than to wonder what to give up for forty days, which was usually coffee, or chocolate... a bit of a sacrifice I suppose, but nothing that I couldn't handle. However, this year was different; it felt like just giving up a food or beverage that I enjoyed seemed meaningless, somehow. I asked myself if it deepened my relationship with my heavenly Father in any way, or did it cause me to make more of an effort to spend time with the Lord in prayer. And my answer was that sacrificing coffee or a piece of chocolate did not really do either. In fact, if I were totally honest, it pains me to think that it did not make me contemplate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ any differently that I ever did. The more I thought about it, I realized that Lent is so much more than how I had been observing it, and it made me feel uneasy.

So, this year I decided to take the 40-day Lenten journey to the wilderness of my own pitfalls and shortcomings. I needed to look upon the model that Jesus provided for

us, and how, through the Spirit, He was victorious in the very place we so

comforts, we can be open to the fact that our earthly possessions don't last

often fail in ... temptation. It's not easy to look upon our own lives and face truths about the things that we don't like about ourselves.

Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days alone, focusing on His Father, being led by the Holy Spirit, being fed and ministered to by the heavenly angels. We too, need to remove ourselves from anything that isn't critical during this season, spend a little more time alone and pay attention to how the distractions of this world can pull us away from God. When we deprive ourselves of 'worldly'

forever, and once they're gone, it's just us and God.

With no distractions, this wilderness time can help us see how the tempter prays on us and manipulates our desires for comfort, power and favor. It will show us how our hunger can lead us away from our relationship with God, but it can also prepare us for either 'fight or flight' when we are tempted to sin. The Holy Spirit and Scripture can be our beacon of light when we find ourselves struggling.

Use Lent as an opportunity to come clean with yourself and God. I am using this

season to draw nearer to Him in prayer, worship, song, and through His word. I believe that focusing on the time that Jesus fasted and prayed in the desert will help me put my life into proper perspective, remind me what a sinner I am, but at the same time, make me realize that Jesus loved me so much that He was willing to die for me. Because of His sacrifice, I'm spending more time in reflection, humbling myself, confessing my own sins and wickedness, and feeling grateful for all that He has done for me.

Not only that, God has important work for all of us believers to do. If we're not honest with the things hiding in our wilderness, we cannot do what God has set out for us to accomplish. We need to live in truth, because to God, our lives are like an open book. He knows all and sees all. It's so important to confess and let God change our hearts.

As I read my Bible, I hear the words of God directly speaking to me. Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find,

knock, and it shall be opened unto you." John 8:31-32 also tells us, "So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed

Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth

will make you free."

A Christian's journey doesn't end with Lent; the journey to discovering spiritual truth continues,

but we need to abide in the study of Scripture and meditate on it. His truth really does free us... seek His truth; seek life.

WOOD Ministries

Written

by: Donna Wood Painting by: Donna Wood

"These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God."

(1 Corinthians 2:10)

Romans 21:4,5

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

Jonathan Roumie

'No Coincidence'; Jonathan Roumie said revival could signal a Cultural Embrace of God

Known for his role of Jesus on the hit series "The Chosen,"

Jonathan Roumie is changing his first century tunic for his hippie style flower patterns in the new hit movie, "Jesus Revolution,"

The movie, showing the Jesus Movement that quickly moved through Southern California in the early 1970s, is now debuting in many theatres across Canada and the world. In this movie, Jonathan Roumie plays hippie evangelist Lonnie Frisbee, whose radical relationship with the Calvary Chapel founder Chuck Smith sparked a enormous revival.

Jonathan said, "There's so much packed into one film. It's pretty extraordinary that they were able to condense it and tell it in such a way that I think it's gonna be a really powerful film."

Lonnie Frisbee's story, one of childhood abuse, drug use, and his struggle with sexual

immorality, imitates the experiences of so many people in today's society. The hippie evangelist,

spiritual experience that came to him on an LSD trip in the California desert, where the hippie

phenomenal thing and God equipped him with some phenomenally powerful and intense gifts of the Holy Spirit."

who died of AIDS on March 12, 1993, turned to many different things to deaden the deep pain within himself that he was feeling, even after coming to Jesus.

Even with all that going on in Lonnie's life, it didn't stop Jesus from using him to leave an enduring mark on innumerable people's lives.

During his research of the movie, Jonathan, who is a Catholic, learned about Lonnie Frisbee's unconventional salvation story: A

evangelist saw a vision of himself spreading the Gospel with thousands of people from his own hippie generation.

Jonathan said, "He came out of this vision pretty sobered and started immediately just preaching the Gospel. He had always had a connection to his faith from the time he was a kid, I think from some of his maternal authority figures in his life. But when he had this vision, he kind of got the call, got the commission from God to go do this

The story of Greg Laurie, the founding pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, is central to "Jesus Revolution." It was Lonnie Frisbee who played a vital role early in Laurie's faith journey; he even baptized the well-known evangelist in Pirate's Cove fifty years ago.

Greg Laurie wrote in a blog about the movie saying, "Lonnie led a multitude to Christ and was one of those characters whose whole was more than the sum of his parts. From a distance, he seemed unimpressive. But up close, he had a powerful charisma that was larger than life."

But unfortunately, past traumas had led Lonnie Frisbee down a path that often led him from the conviction and calling

the Lord had placed on his life. Some of the distractions often came about by sexual promiscuity, recurring drug habits and theatrics rather than authentic discipleship, and it caused Chuck Smith to distance himself from Lonnie Frisbee. It was a split that Greg Laurie said was unfortunate, but necessary. Greg Laurie said, "Chuck stayed put and nurtured his flock while Lonnie went to a fellowship in Florida. It was unfortunate because, as long as Lonnie was around Chuck Smith and his systematic teaching of Scripture, he seemed to thrive. But without Chuck's influence, Lonnie was drawn in by people with skewed theology."

Jonathan Roumie

Lonnie Frisbee would spend so much of his life chasing after those "glory days" of the Jesus Movement, as Greg Laurie said, but he had a horrible diagnosis that would stop him. Just before his death, Lonnie Frisbee, who was a complicated but also truly anointed man who expressed so much regret for the choices that he had made, repented and came back to God just before he passed away from the AIDS virus.

Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie and Lonnie Frisbee, characters in the "Jesus Revolution," feel somewhat familiar in the way that we are just as divided, discouraged and hopeless now as they were then, half a century ago.

Jonathan Roumie believes that the timing of this movie is nothing short of divine. God's hands are all over this movie, especially as so many people have been talking about the spiritual awakening at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, and other university campuses.

This prayer and worship celebration, which followed a routine chapel service in February, was led by college students, which kind of resembled the awakening that occurred on the same campus in February 1970.

The Asbury revival moved off campus that has had thousands of visitors from all over the United States, and it looks like

other awakenings are beginning to break out in other places around the country. Jonathan said, "The popularity of 'The Chosen,' its success in theaters in the release last month, the release of this film on the heels of this week-plus-long prayer service, thousands of people showing up at Asbury University, I don't think anything is coincidental or done by chance or happenstance."

Jonathan also said, "I think God has a purpose in everything that He does. I think this is a moment where the culture is being reactivated to welcome Him back into the culture on a massive scale, potentially a global scale."

Holy, Holy, Holy

Isaiah 6:3

Is the Lord ALmighty the whole earth is full of His Glory

A harmful Law!

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

said, 'No Law' will pass that would 'Harm Christianity'

InJerusalem, Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to many concerned people from evangelical Christians in the United States and in Israel relating to a bill that was introduced by two ultra Orthodox members of Israel's Knesset that it would make it a criminal offense to try to convert anyone to another religion.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a tweet in English and in Hebrew, "We will not advance any law against the Christian community." The Prime Minister said this to reduce the fears that the bill put forward by two members of the coalition government would become law.

The law says, "Anyone who persuades a person, directly, digitally, by direct mail, or online, to convert his religion, his sentence is one year imprisonment, and if the person was a minor, his sentence is two years imprisonment."

The Knesset members

Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Asher from the United Torah Judaism Party (UTI) had submitted the legislation in January. They said, "The Mission bill was introduced as in every beginning of the Knesset and not promoted at this stage, so dealing with it now is not relevant."

There have been similar bills put forward for more than 20 years.

David Benjamin, the Israeli legal expert, said the extent of this effort seems very broad. "Wide as you can possibly get. In fact, Christ, I mean any, you know, just anything you say which might be in favor of a certain religion, right? Could be construed, I suppose, as being an attempt to solicit someone. Right? Where do you draw the line? While the proposed law would apply to all religions, it specifically singled out Christians, stating: "In recent times, the attempts of missionary bodies, mainly Christian ones,

to persuade people to convert have increased. Sometimes these attempts do not involve the promise of money or material favors, and therefore existing law, but their many negative consequences, including mental damage, require the intervention of the legislator." David Benjamin also said, "Remember the whole issue of proselytization in Israel? There's always been a sensitive one, right? The Jewish state was set up to protect the Jewish people. Many Jewish people have been lost over the centuries, obviously to genocide. But also by assimilation, forced conversion, et cetera. So it's a very sensitive point."

David Benjamin continued to say this effort will likely violate Israel's Declaration of Independence. He said, "I think that the fundamental premise of the law is problematic in itself. I don't think it'll be unacceptable to outlaw. A person trying

to persuade another person to adopt any idea, whether it be a religion or any kind of idea. You know, the free flow of ideas, freedom of thought, freedom of conscience, freedom of expression or fundamental pillars of any democracy."

The former U.S. Ambassador at large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback warns that this could hurt Israel. He said, "When you start to limit your religious freedom, in your nation, that's against the U.N. Charter of Human Rights that Israel and almost all of the rest of the world signed onto, too. You're entitled to practice your faith or change your faith and I think this is dangerous for Israel, really, since they've been such a beacon of an open society in that region."

But Prime Minister Netanyahu, a close friend of evangelical Christians for decades, would not support such a proposal.

Air Strike on Syria

The US has struck Iranian Targets in Syria, after a Drone Attack killed a US Contractor

The Pentagon has announced that the U.S. Military has launched a retaliatory airstrike against targets in eastern Syria after an American Contractor was killed and 6 other people were injured including 5 U.S. service members. The attack was carried out by unmanned aerial drones on a facility in the northeast part of the country.

Lloyd Austin, U.S. Defense Secretary said Central Command Forces conducted "precision airstrikes" on targets in eastern Syria who are connected with the Iranian Revolutionary

Guard Corps. The Pentagon said the U.S. intelligence source had concluded that the drone that killed the contractor was made in Iran. Lloyd Austin said, "The airstrikes were conducted in response to today's attack as well as a series of recent attacks

against Coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps."

One report said that 4 people died as a result of the U.S. airstrike, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the death toll at 11.

None of the reports have been confirmed by The Associated Press and the U.S. has has not announced any deaths so far.

According to the Israeli newspaper Maariv, satellite intelligence photographs from an attack in Syria on March 12th shows the strike had hit entrances to the underground tunnels where materials needed to make surface to surface missiles were stored. The attack took place near the city of Tartus, which was connected to Israel, reportedly killed 2 soldiers of the pro Iran militias and 3 soldiers of the Syrian military.

Peyton Hillis Former NFL player Peyton Hillis praises God saying, "Yahweh has really blessed me."

Former NFL running back

Peyton Hillis pointed to God as he escaped death after rescuing his children from drowning.

Peyton who is 36 years old was rushed to hospital in early January as he was in critical condition after he rescued his children as they were drowning in the ocean. It involved two children and two adults.

Peyton said that the people's prayers for him, his children and his family has "made all the difference," as he described the whole ordeal as a "very traumatic" time for his family. Peyton said, "I also want to thank my brave sister, mother, sister in law, my kids and my girlfriend who has saved my life in more ways than one. Thank you to the amazing staff at the hospital, Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. Y'all were truly amazing and took such great care of me. You made all the difference on my recovery."

Peyton also said, "But I did want to come on here and show my appreciation for everyone who helped save my life and for all of your prayers and love and support. I left the hospital with no worries and concerns and should make a 100% recovery. I'm a very lucky and blessed man. Yahweh has really blessed me and I am very thankful."

Photos of the drowning were obtained as the rescue went down.

Photos showed Peyton lying on a backboard on the beach as lifeguards and paramedics are all around him after he rescued his two children in the water.

Two ambulances and a helicopter had arrived at the beach quickly. The news of Peyton's condition had spread; families and friends along with Shiloh Christian School in Springdale, Arkansas, all came together to pray for the former running back.

Peyton had volunteered there as a assistant coach for the youth football team. His son Orry also played on the team. Head Coach Bryant Davies of the kids football program said, "One of the great things about being a body of believers is relationship and community, and it's about not only here to pray for people, but it's

also here, it's also to be here to support them through times like this."

Jordan Wright, another coach at Shiloh Christian School, praised Peyton for his selflessness. Jordan Wright said, "That's sacrificial living, that's selflessness. It's going out and risking it to save your kids. I mean, that's amazing."

Kelsey Eursery's son, who plays with Peyton's son Orry on the youth team said, "It's not a surprise to hear that Peyton went in the water after his child and that he got him to safety and that he was fine, and that he risked his life." She also said, "We just as a Shiloh family and community, we want him healed. We want him back at full capacity. We know that when one of us hurts all of us hurt."

We ask everyone to continue to pray for Peyton as he continues to heal after he had successfully rescued his children from drowning in the ocean, just a few weeks ago.

Ford’s Raisin Tea Buns

• ¾ c Butter • 4 c Flour • 3 heaping tsp Baking Powder

• ¼ c Sugar • ½ tsp Salt • 1 c Raisins

• 1 Egg, beaten • 1 c evaporated Milk

• 1 c crushed Pineapple, undrained • 2 tsp Vanilla

• In large bowl, rub butter into flour, b. powder, sugar, salt and raisin mixture

• In medium bowl, mix egg, milk, pineapple, and vanilla together

• Make a well in center of dry mixture; add egg mixture

• Mix only enough to form a ball of dough

• Press out to 1“ thickness on waxed paper

• Place in sprayed 9” x 13” pan and press out into edges

• Bake for 20-25 min at 375 deg.

Ecclesiastes 9:7

"Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do."

Jesse and Marla brought many of the team to Jesus Jesse Barfield

a Gold Glove, had over 100 RBIs, and Jesse finished in the top 10 American League MVP voting. Not only did Jesse win a second Gold Glove in 1987, but he was also in the top 10 in MVP voting in 1985. Blue Jay fans also remember that Jesse had a rocket of an arm throwing from his outfield position. If you’re a baseball fan like me, you will like the next statistics… Jesse collected 162 assists from the outfield in his career with an incredible 22 assists in the 1985 season. Most outfielders don't even have half the assists in their entire careers as Jesse had in one season.

During the 1989 season, much to the anger of the Blue Jay fans, Jesse was traded to the New York Yankees, where he played until the 1992 season. Jesse finished his MLB career with 241 home runs. Jesse finished his baseball career in Japan, where he played one season. In Jesse's post baseball career, he was the batting coach for the Seattle Mariners, also the first base coach for the Houston Astros.

Jesse's son, Josh, played major league baseball for the Cleveland Indians and the San Diego Padres. His younger son, Jeremy, was also a major league draft choice.

Jesse's truest and biggest legacy comes from his deep faith in Jesus Christ. Jesse, together with his wife Marla, was a big influence in many of the Blue Jays’ lives as they brought them to accept Jesus

as their personal Savior. Jesse had the privilege of bringing such Jays as Tony Fernandez, Ron Shepherd and Mark Eichhorn to the Lord. Marla also played a huge part in leading many of the Blue Jays’ wives to Jesus.

Jesse Barfield with the Toronto Blue Jays 1981-1989

Jesse Barfield

Who You Are

If you let it, sadness and sorrow With little or no resistance, Will easily flow through you Like clouds passing through vastness. A gentle babbling brook, The wonders and aliveness of being, The warmth of the sun on your face Can be enamoring and captivating.

Let go of your struggle with life; Breathe deeply, relax your body; Use your energy to allow yourself To think on things true and lovely.

Embrace the power of those moments When nature calls you to feel; Be still, listen and know That the pureness of life is real.

If you could only watch your mind, And see how it wants you to be, You would never be enough; It would destroy your sanity.

Rest in the act of acceptance Of who you really are; Truly, you are a unique person, A beautiful and shining star!

(Psalm 139:14)

“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, Your works are wonderful, I know that full well .”

Are you a true believer?

Jesus returned today, would you be ready?"

Revelation

3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."

In Matthew 24, Jesus gives his disciples very specific signs to look for before His return; some have already happened, some are happening right now. The time of His return will be like the days of Noah before the flood...people eating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling ... in other words, business as usual. Jesus can return any day or any hour...we don't know the time, but we do have the signs to look for. He tells us there is great reward for those who are waiting and watching for His return. Then in two parables in chapter 25, Jesus tells us how to be ready. The most important thing right now is to know Him and to have an active relationship with Him. Christianity is not a religion; it's a relationship with Jesus Christ. Have you confessed with your mouth that Jesus Christ is the Lord

of your life? Do you believe that Jesus is the only way of Salvation? Do you believe that God raised His Son from the dead? Because if Jesus wasn't raised from the dead, then His death doesn't matter, nothing else matters. His life was meaningless if He wasn't raised from the grave. Jesus' resurrection was

is in Christ, you are a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new." Before I became a Christian, I lived a rebellious, sinful life, and I enjoyed it. But after I got saved, things began to change. I was still imperfect and I'm still imperfect today, but I started changing

father's name ... my sheep hear my voice, they hear me and they follow me...."

Do you believe that you are saved by grace and not of works? You cannot obtain salvation by being good, or doing good. Ephesians 2 says, "God, rich in mercy... for by grace you have been saved...and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast."

God's attestation that His death was payment for our sins. Romans 10:9 says, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Has your life changed since you accepted Christ into your life?

2 Corinthians 5 says, "Therefore anyone who

from the inside out and I no longer want to live the way I had before.

Do you hear God's voice? Does the Holy Spirit put you under conviction by speaking to your heart? He lets us know that He's in our hearts and that we are in a relationship with Him. John 10 says, "Jesus walked to the temple ...The works I do in my

If you haven't been saved by grace, then you're not saved. Ponder this: If good people can be saved by their own merits, then why did Jesus die on the cross? The standard of righteousness is God, not us. Our righteousness is as filthy rags, the Bible tells us. Salvation is a gift. You cannot earn your way into heaven.

Have you received the word of God? John 8 says that if you're not of God, you're not going to be able to hear His word. A lot of people believe that the Bible is not the authoritative source of truth. Psalm 119 says that the Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light onto our path. This

"If

is how we get to know Jesus, through His Spirit and through His Word. John 1 tells us that Jesus is the Word. If you reject the Word, you are basically rejecting Jesus. Do you love God's family, fellow believers?

John 13 says to love one another in the same way that Jesus loves us. John 14 says that if someone says he loves God, yet

Are you a true believer?

hates his brother, he is a liar. It is very difficult to make it through this life without having other Christians in your life. It helps us to fulfill our destiny with God.

If you have any doubts whatsoever whether you will go to heaven when you die, or if you would be ready to go with Jesus when He returns, don't be troubled. Pray

this sinner's prayer and rededicate your life to Him right now. Begin to pursue Him through prayer, through His word, and through Christian fellowship. Be ready for what He has prepared for you!

Lord Jesus, I open my heart to you and invite you in to be my Lord and Savior. I confess that You are

my Lord and I believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead.

Forgive me of all of my sins.

Give me the gift of eternal life.

From this day forward, I commit my life to You.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Being Thankful

Dear Lord,

Thank You for this day and all of the blessings You bestow on us. Thank You for the people You have placed in our lives who help us grow in our relationship with You. Thank you for Your peace, love, forgiveness and presence; Grant us Your grace to rise above our weaknesses and to be strong in Your word.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen

But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

Psalm 86:15

January & March

Happy Birthday!

January

Kathleen Denniston

March

Donna Wood

Late - Ford Noseworthy

Monica Hall

Don Kaminsky

Don Miller

Lynne Wood

Rob Wood

Brenda Reid

Tiffany Sierra

Corey John Dwyer

Happpy Anniversary!

Agnes & David Reid

Jeremiah 1:5

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you..."

“Based on a True Story” Jesus Revolution

in Newport Beach, California.

The movie then switches to a young boy, whose name is Greg Laurie, whose mother takes him away from the only father he had ever known, even though he was just his stepfather, out of Southern California, where they lived on the beach in a broken down trailer.

a hippie street preacher, convinces Pastor Chuck to open the church.

The hippies start to show up at the church.

Pastor Chuck, who was challenged by his daughter, talks about God's love to the "least of these." Lonnie has a strong spirit-filled sermon on the Bible.

Themovie, Jesus Revolution, is an entertaining movie; it is accurate but it's a compressed account of the Vietnam protest period of the hippy and young revolutionaries who came to Jesus as God called many Christians to welcome them into the body of Jesus Christ. The plot of the movie is driven by a love story that is between a poverty stricken young man

named Greg Laurie, with an alcoholic mother, and a beautiful young woman named Cathe who is from a wealthy Laguna Hills family in Southern California. This movie is very fearless about showing drug use, joint living and the protest rallies, where many were saved by grace.

The movie starts with a large Christian baptism by Lonnie Frisbee at Pirates's Cove Beach

Then Greg is going to military school at his mother's request, but Greg passes by a rally at a nearby public school, where Black Panthers and hippies are speaking. He then sees a beautiful girl. Then one of the hippies comes up to him and says, "What are you looking at?" The hippie notices he is looking at Cathe and calls her over. Cathe then invites Greg to a weekend hippie party.

At that same time, Pastor Chuck Smith who is nearby has a small, but dying church who is confronted by his daughter, Jeanette, to open his church up to the hippies and outcasts. When Pastor Chuck does this, all the members are shocked and very upset.

Lonnie Frisbee, who is

At this time, Cathe has burned herself out on the drug scene and tries Pastor Chuck's church and she convinces Greg to come to the Calvary Chapel.

Now Greg just thinks that this Jesus Movement is just another trend, but he eventually comes to Jesus and is baptized in Pirate Cove.

After, Greg becomes involved in the church and feels more and more that he is called to preach. He asked Cathe's father if he could marry his daughter and her father rejects Greg because he is poor. He is so devastated that he leaves Cathe.

The question is will Greg and Cathe get back together? Will revival break out beyond Newport Beach? Will Greg Laurie have his own ministry?

G O O D G D IS

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