Posts by Graeber Road Church of Christ (Page 11)
Trials
James wrote to people who were having “trials” in their lives. The word James used could be translated “temptations.” Readers were to understand that these trials caused “the testing of faith” (James 1:2). The result, if successfully dealt with, would produce patience. Something good can come from something that seems bad. Patience, a needed virtue, is developed through facing trials. Today, just as in the time when James wrote, trials will test God’s people. Those who think living the Christian…
Philippines Mission Letter: December 2020
Click/tap for full PDF We praise the Lord for all His love, protection, goodness, mercy, and blessings in spite of all the unwanted circumstances that we went through in 2020. With God’s guidance and compassion for the lost, we were able to reach out and teach more people last year despite the threats of the pandemic. Most of those prospects that we taught were converted and now serving and worshipping the Lord with us. We appreciate so much the help…
An Important Question
The question asked in Psalm 116:12, “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?”, could only come from the lips of humans. Humans alone are endowed with the ability to be concerned about gratitude and its obligations Two thoughts might be considered in regard to that question. They are telling when we relate them to ourselves. GOD’S BENEFITS Do we acknowledge God’s “benefits” toward us? Some spend more time complaining about what they do not…
Philippines Mission Letter: November 2020
Click/tap for full PDF Dear Brethren, May the gracious and merciful Father in heaven continue to watch over you and your loved ones. Our whole province of Pangasinan is placed under modified general community quarantine for the rest of the year. In our town, those who are 15 to 65 years old are allowed to go out, provided, that the minimum public health standards such as the wearing of masks and the maintenance of social distancing protocols are observed. Public…
Philippines Mission Letter: October 2020
Click/tap for full PDF Dear Brethren, May our loving and caring Father in heaven keep you and your loved ones strong and healthy, both physically and spiritually. We are so thankful to the Lord for protecting us from the devastation of the typhoon that hit our country recently. During the typhoon, our whole province was under signal number 2 bringing moderate rains and winds. My family and I and the brethren here are doing fine. Please pray for the people…
What’s in the Mix?
Years ago, when the Betty Crocker Company first began selling their cake mixes, they offered a product which only needed water. All you had to do was add water to the mix which came in the box, and you would get a perfect, delicious cake every time. It bombed. No one bought it and the company couldn’t understand why, so they commissioned a study which brought back a surprising answer. It seemed that people weren’t buying the cake mix because…
When Small Fires Become Big Fires
A few weeks ago, I was burning the wood from two trees that had to be cut down. I’d piled the wood as far from any other tree as possible, but the fire was so hot that a branch about 30 feet above and off to the side of the fire started to smoke in several places. Even though I was spraying water on the fire the whole time and had wet down the nearest trees, the heat continued to…
Worship Option in the Annex
The elders want to inform the Graeber Road family of an additional opportunity for “in-person” worship. We realize there are members of our congregation who are unable to gather in large groups without masks for a number of reasons. Because of this situation, we will provide a “live feed” during our worship and Bible class times to the church annex located on the south side of the building. We will also provide a dedicated entrance and exit to this area…
Consider Job
Feeling sorry for yourself? Is it because of the “inconvenience” you have had to suffer during recent days? Wouldn’t honesty force most of us to say that is about all we have experienced? The question God asked Satan two times (Job 1:8, 2:3) might be worth thinking about if you are feeling sorry for yourself. Remember how it began? “Have you considered My servant Job. . . ?” Why should we consider Job? For one thing, we will see a…
Philippines Mission Letter: September 2020
Click/tap for full PDF Dear Brethren, May the Lord’s love, blessings, and care continue to abound in you and your loved ones. Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 positive cases in our province and even in our town in Calasiao, our local government decided to put the whole municipality under stricter community quarantine. We are given again a quarantine pass per household that we should present upon entering the market on our given schedules. All those who are 21…
Pardon Without Penalty?
According to Numbers 13, when the spies returned from their forty days of investigating the land God had promised them, there was a divided opinion presented to the people. It was not a difference involving facts. All twelve spies agreed that the land was good. In fact, it “flowed with milk and honey” (Num. 13:27, 14:8). The difference was in regard to faith. Ten said, “We are not able. . .” (13:31). Two said, “. . .we are well able.…
Philippines Mission Letter: August 2020
Click/tap for full PDF September 4, 2020 Dear Brethren May the Lord continue to provide your needs, keep you safe, and healthy. We thank the Lord always for His continued guidance and blessings and for the opportunity He has given us to continue planting and watering the seed of salvation into the hearts of the people referred to us by our brothers and sisters for Bible studies. Most of those that we are teaching were raised in Catholicism and there…