September 2015
LifeChronicles | Who Cares?
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PINK & PEARLS
LUNCHEON
Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon Word of Life Christian Church 460 West Atherton Rd. Flint, MI 48507 Saturday, October 3, 2015 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Dynamic Speakers On Board SHOP.CRY.LAUGH.LEARN.NETWORK September 2015
Tickets $30.00 Kim Jones 248-953-3402 For More Information visit: www.Valedashope.org LifeChronicles | Who Cares?
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Where Are You God- Do You Care? Words of Life from Pastor G
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Ashley Sanders Studies Abroad
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Footprints In The Sand
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God, do you really care? Pastor G’s Growth Garden
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Don’t be decieved about God’s care.
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Join The Cause
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Christian Education
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You Are Not Alone, God Cares
16 Word of Life Christian Church George Wilkinson, Pastor 460 W. Atherton Rd. Flint, MI 48507 (810) 232-5944 www.thewordisalive.org
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Words of Life from Pastor G
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e at sometime in the recent past of our trials or in the trouble that our future will bring will ponder this thought, “God, Do You Really Care?” Do you care about the dysfunction in my family, are you concerned about the financial distress that permeates my life or the constant pain that I am in daily; God, do you really care? I am aching and you seem so distant. Our community is in turmoil and our nation is disturbingly deteriorating, God, do you care? What God wants you to know is that other saints were confronted with this same thought, Job had issue with God, “…Though I cry, ‘I’ve been wronged!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.” Job 19:6-7. Habakkuk had issue with God in this regard, “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not
hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Habakkuk 1:2. And there are so many more, what all learned is that God was there standing firmly in love with them in these difficult moments. Consider the following scripture verse as it relates to this perplexing matter. You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8 (NLT) God cares about you, this scripture articulates His care and concern for us. He keeps track of our sorrows, our tossing and turning. Somehow He collects every tear we shed, places them in a bottle, and records them in His book. Our earthly
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parents collect our baby teeth, or our primary school crafts, or our high school accolades. GOD collects our tears. Stunning!
unkind; He is too wise to be mistaken. When you cannot trace His hand, you can always trust His heart.”
You and I are not insignificant to God! Think about it….if God cares about every lily in the field, then for sure, He cares about you. He is with you in your pain. Tough times do not mean that God has abandoned you, or does not care about you. Tough times are God’s training ground for you and me. They are times that offer us an opportunity to really trust God’s heart and fellowship in His suffering.
In the upcoming weeks we will search the scriptures to see the abounding and astounding compassion, comfort, and care that God has for his creation. He so loved the world that He gave us His best! I look forward to God richly blessing us as we search, seek, and knock on His door of of amazing grace, love, and care.
While searching and studying on this topic I came across this great quote relating to how God cares about us from Charles Spurgeon. May it resonate in your heart the next time this question surfaces in your mind. “God is too good to be
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ASHLEY SANDERS
Meet Ashley Sanders a member of Word of Life and a student at the University of MichiganFlint. She is a motivational speaker and recently studied abroad in Africa in the nation of Ghana. Read and learn about this emerging Young-lifer.
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STUDIES ABROAD What was the program about that selected you to go to Africa? The University of Michigan-Flint has a Study Abroad program that gives students the chance to go study in another country. How were you selected for the program to go to Africa? You’re not necessarily selected. The program is open to anyone who’d like to participate in it. This doesn’t mean it’ll be a walk in the park either. In my case, I allowed my faith and determination to guide me through the process which resulted in me receiving the opportunity to be a part of a once and a life time experience! What were your greatest concerns about going? My two biggest fears were returning home with a possible disease such as Ebola or getting into an accident on either the ride there or back. How long was the assignment and what did you do there? The assignment lasted a month. While I was there I had to attend lectures from not only my American professor but also from a variety of Ghanaian professors. Our lectures were sometimes just for our students but other times we would share lectures with Ghanaian students. As many times as we could we would connect with the Ghanaian students who would take us out to explore and learn more about their culture, what a great experience. We had the privilege of meeting a significant amount of influential Ghanaians. On our days off our professor would allow the Ghanaian students to take us shopping in the markets, and on tours to visit historical events. What did enjoy the most and what did you like the least? I truly enjoyed being able to not only learn about another culture but actually having the chance to experience life within a setting that I wasn’t familiar with. I also enjoyed
September 2015
meeting new people and feeling a sense of belonging. I can’t quite say there was something that I didn’t particularly like but I will say the only thing that would keep me from living there is their working opportunities. As an American I have way more opportunities present than I would if I were to live there. What was the greatest lesson you learned? I learned to stop taking things for granted. For instance I will never take our pot holes in Flint for granted again! Lol. The roads there were unbearable. Our pot holes are nothing compared to theirs. I’ve learned not to take my many blessings for granted. I’ve been blessed with such a wonderful family. I’m not saying that I’ve taken them for granted, but my value of family increased while I was gone. One of the problems we have as people is the lack of value when it comes to family. We need to change this and understand how important the word family is. Africa taught me the importance of family. What did you learn about God? This whole process brought me closer to God more than I’ve ever been. When you have faith in God, then anything is possible. Throughout the entire process I was faced with a lot of problems when it came to money. There always seemed to be another payment to be made and I thought I’d never be able to pay it all. This trip tested my faith in many ways and my faith only grew stronger. During the trip I did some bible study and praying. I can honestly say this trip has helped me discover the purpose God wants me to fulfill. How will this help you in the future? I’m going to take the things I’ve learned from this trip and apply it to my future career. God gave me a gift and I plan to use my gift to bring light to the problems of the world. I believe that there’s a purpose for all of us on this earth and that purpose will be the things we’re great at the leads others to seek God. I will fulfill my purpose to bring others to God through my gift.
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- by Mary Stevenson
Footprints In the Sand
One night I dreamed a dream. As I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, One belonging to me and one to my Lord.
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After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints. This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. “Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You’d walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.” He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you Never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you.”
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MISSION Word of Life Christian Church exists to glorify God in Worship by reaching people through evangelism, uniting them through membership, developing them through leadership, and empowering them for ministry.
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CORE VALUES In order to bring life to the hopeless and uplift the downtrodden, Word of Life must Be GREAT B G R E A T
is for Biblical - The Word Is The Final Authority! is for Give - Give Glory To God And Grace To His People is for Reach - Touch People With The Relevant Message Of The Gospel is for Excellence - He Is Excellent And We Are His Examples is for Authentic - In Our Person, Practice, And Purpose is for Team - Tackle Ministry Work Through Teamwork
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ver feel like you’re in too deep and you don’t know how you’re going to make it, own to get hit with another blow? Often times these unexpected trails and setbacks can make you doubt that God is good or wants your best. But HE is good. And HE does care. In this month’s read, author Tony Evans writes a powerful book that will help us zero in on Christ to ensure that no crisis of any kind will ever shipwreck our faith.
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emember as you go through life’s trials that God loves you thoroughly and unconditionally. Many people have been duped into an ideal that says if you love God and serve Him, He pays you back with positive responses. When we do what we believe is right and things go awry, we feel cheated and as though God has abandoned us. However, that is a flawed premise. Bad things do happen to good people. The bible is clear about that. The disciples were crucified for Him, burned, and beheaded, our idea of suffering and persecution represents lost jobs, or He didn’t give me what I asked for, and other deeply painful experiences. I don’t want to minimize the misery we face, however, I do want to put them in the context of scripture. The bible is very clear about suffering but not the kind we are observe in the headlines resulting in economic calamity. It is obvious that all, especially the righteous suffer real hardship! Still we haven’t been martyred like the disciples were, or like other Christians still are around the world. They died in the faith. They weren’t disappointed because God didn’t deliver them what they wanted, when they wanted it. They “counted it all joy” when called on to suffer and to fellowship in the suffering of Jesus! Those of us who continue in the faith do so in spite of deep pain, buried parents, children, or spouses, some are on ventilators, and others suffer from dementia. We don’t serve God in a “let’s make a deal” pack. God doesn’t negotiate under terroristic threat of the loss of faith and the absence of belief in His care for us. Actually, our faith is a gift from God through which we have eternal life, which will last a lot longer than unemployment, physical infirmities and childhood disappointments! It is through all of these disappointments that we observe and feel His care. My thought for you is to not be deceived and detoured into a shipwrecked faith about God’s care for you. Remember this, “Not one sparrow … can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t worry! You are more valuable to him than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31 (TLB). There was recently some workers who were trimming trees along a certain street. In one tree they found a nest with several baby robins in it. They decided not to trim this tree until the nest was empty. Later when the nest was abandoned, the workers returned. In the nest they found a piece of paper, along with dried twigs, the robins had used to build the nest for their babies. On the paper were printed the words, “We trust in the Lord our God!”
Don’t be decieved about God’s care. September 2015
In life when things get rough, it pays to remember how Jesus said that God is aware of every sparrow that fell to the ground and that we are of much more value than sparrows. This is to let us know that God cares when we are hurting and we should not be betwixt, befuddled, or bamboosled by the deception of the world about how He cares for us! As the hymn writer expressed: Does Jesus care when my heart is pained Too deeply for mirth and song; As the burdens press, and the cares distress, And the way grows weary and long? O Yes, He cares; I know he cares, His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior LifeChronicles | Whocares. Cares?Author: Frank Graeff
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Don’t Be Deceived About God’s Care!
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he CAUSE was birthed in 2013 and is an Outreach of YoungLife Ministries of Word of Life Christian Church. It will become its own 501c3 organization in the 4th Quarter of 2015. The CAUSE exists to provide support and resources to organizations dedicated to academic, athletic, and art excellence. Ever heard the saying it takes a village to raise a child? We stand firm in our belief that successful education of students requires educating both their hearts and their minds with a diverse and balanced approach. Students should be given the opportunity to discover academic and extra-curricular passions, learn and grow from a variety of resources that instill pride in self and community, and develop lifelong skills. We advocate for the arts as they allow student the ability to exercise creativity and innovation which can create opportunities for higher levels of learning and achievement and often help instill a sense of individual pride. We endorse the athletics as they provide lessons of teamwork, sportsmanship, and healthy fitness options. Sports serve to draw us in for many reasons; the competition, the fame, the camaraderie, and the coming together of community to name a few. It is with this in mind that we ask you to “Join the CAUSE�.
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Christian Education
September Sermon Series: God Do You Care That I Am Depressed? God Do You Care That I Am Discouraged? God Do You Care That I Am Delayed? God Do You Care That I Am Defeated?
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Scriptures: Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed , for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.� 1Peter 5:7 Cast all you anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Bread of Life: Week of September 14, - Harvest Time Week of September 21, - How Much Do You Labor? Week of September 28, Love Hurts! Week of October 5, Called to the World Week of October 12, Kingdom Recruiters September 2015 LifeChronicles | Who Cares?
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here are times when it seems as if life is determined to just keep spiraling out of control. The bills are not being paid, the job did not come through, the children are having problems that you cannot get a handle on, and the relationship is suffering. You stand in front of the mirror and look at your reflection and wonder how will you make it through. You must begin to look deeper into that reflection because the answer has always been there. God Cares! God shows His support and love in every aspect of your life. He is in your heart and your soul. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart’ and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 3:5. We must all realize that we are not on this journey alone; this journey of ups and downs and good times and the lowest of the low moments. God is not a one stop destination, but a lifelong passage that culminates in life after physical death with our God. Deuteronomy 31:8 says It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you: he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
desperate for help and life began to turn around. It was not because of what you were doing, but the undying love that our Lord has for us. God Cares! For those who believe and know the Glory of God, it is important that you share with believers and unbelievers what the Lord has done and continues to do for you. I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 Now let’s go back to your reflection in the mirror was causing you so much heartache and despair. Do you see it now? God Cares! He has provided you with a comforter who will never leave you nor desert you. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; John 14:16 You are not alone as you fight the battles of the world. Stand strong and persevere with confidence and the knowledge that when there is only one set of footprints in the sand, they represent God’s Care caring you when you could not go forth.
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6. As we begin to see that we are not traveling on this journey, there are truly two sets of footprints in the sand, it should further solidify that you are never alone as you travel in and out of trouble God is there and He cares. I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save...Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them--he remains faithful forever. Psalms 146:1-6. See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. I John 3:1. As children of God, it is our destiny to be conquerors and to share with the world the legacy of our Father; the love, the life, and the liberties unimagined. Remember those times when you were on the ground, September 2015
You Are Not Alone. God Cares!
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