"

2011-03-29T11:35:00.001-04:00

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent
In Exodus 16:1-18, 35, the Israelites, free at last from the Egyptians, quickly begin to slip into despair. Lacking food, they complain to Moses. In response, God sends them the manna (bread) from heaven, which will sustain them throughout the 40 years that they will spend wandering in the desert before entering the Promised Land.
Free at last from the Egyptians, the Israelites quickly begin to slip into despair. Lacking food, they complain to Moses. In response, God sends them the manna (bread) from heaven, which will sustain them throughout the 40 years that they will spend wandering in the desert before entering the Promised Land.
The manna, of course, represents the true bread from heaven, the Body of Christ in the Eucharist. And just as the Promised Land represents heaven, the Israelites' time in the desert represents our struggles here on earth, where we are sustained by the Body of Christ.
Exodus 16:1-18, 35
And they set forward from Elim, and all the multitude of the children of Israel came into the desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai: the fifteenth day of the second month, after they came out of the land of Egypt.
And all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. And the children of Israel said to them: Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat over the flesh pots, and ate bread to the full. Why have you brought us into this desert, that you might destroy all the multitude with famine?
And the Lord said to Moses: Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you: let the people go forth, and gather what is sufficient for every day: that I may prove them whether they will walk in my law, or not. But the sixth day let them provide for to bring in: and let it be double to that they were wont to gather every day.
And Moses and Aaron said to the children of Israel: In the evening you shall know that the Lord hath brought you forth out of the land of Egypt: And in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord: for he hath heard your murmuring against the Lord: but as for us, what are we, that you mutter against us? And Moses said: In the evening the Lord will give you flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full: for he hath heard your murmurings, with which you have murmured against him, for what are we? your murmuring is not against us, but against the Lord.
Moses also said to Aaron: Say to the whole congregation of the children of Israel: Come before the Lord: for he hath heard your murmuring. And when Aaron spoke to all the assembly of the children of Israel, they looked towards the wilderness: and behold the glory of the Lord appeared in a cloud.
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: I have heard the murmuring of the children of Israel: say to them: In the evening you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread: and you shall know that I am the Lord your God.
So it came to pass in the evening, that quails coming up, covered the camp: and in the morning, a dew lay round about the camp. And when it had covered the face of the earth, it appeared in the wilderness small, and as it were beaten with a pestle, like unto the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another: Manhu! which signifieth: What is this! for they knew not what it was. And Moses said to them: This is the bread, which the Lord hath given you to eat.
This is the word, that the Lord hath commanded: Let every one gather of it as much as is enough to eat: a gomor for every man, according to the number of your souls that dwell in a tent, so shall you take of it.
And the children of Israel did so: and they gathered, one more, another less. And they measured by the measure of a gomor: neither had he more that had gathered more: nor did he find less that had provided less: but every one had gathered, according to what they were able to eat.
And the children of Israel ate manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land: with this meat were they fed, until they reached the borders of the land of Chanaan.

2011-03-28T11:34:00.000-04:00

Monday of the Second Week of Lent
As Pharaoh's chariots and charioteers pursue the Israelites, Moses turns to the Lord for help in Exodus 14:10-31. The Lord orders him to stretch his hand out over the Red Sea, and the waters part. The Israelites pass through safely, but, when the Egyptians pursue them, Moses stretches his hand out again, and the waters return, drowning the Egyptians.
Exodus 14:10-31
And when Pharao drew near, the children of Israel, lifting up their eyes, saw the Egyptians behind them: and they feared exceedingly, and cried to the Lord. And they said to Moses: Perhaps there were no graves in Egypt, therefore thou hast brought us to die in the wilderness: why wouldst thou do this, to lead us out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we spoke to thee in Egypt, saying: Depart from us that we may serve the Egyptians? for it was much better to serve them, than to die in the wilderness. And Moses said to the people: Fear not: stand and see the great wonders of the Lord, which he will do this day: for the Egyptians, whom you see now, you shall see no more for ever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.
And the Lord said to Moses: Why criest thou to me? Speak to the children of Israel to go forward. But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch forth thy hand over the sea, and divide it: that the children of Israel may go through the midst of the sea on dry ground. And I will harden the heart of the Egyptians to pursue you: and I will be glorified in Pharao, and in all his host, and in his chariots, and in his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall be glorified in Pharao, and in his chariots and in his horsemen.
And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, removing, went behind them: and together with him the pillar of the cloud, leaving the forepart, Stood behind, between the Egyptians' camp and the camp of Israel: and it was a dark cloud, and enlightening the night, so that they could not come at one another all the night.
And when Moses had stretched forth his hand over the sea, the Lord took it away by a strong and burning wind blowing all the night, and turned it into dry ground: and the water was divided. And the children of Israel went in through the midst of the sea dried up: for the water was as a wall on their right hand and on their left.And the Egyptians pursuing went in after them, and all Pharao's horses, his chariots and horsemen through the midst of the sea, And now the morning watch was come, and behold the Lord looking upon the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, slew their host. And overthrew the wheels of the chariots, and they were carried into the deep. And the Egyptians said: Let us flee from Israel: for the Lord fighteth for them against us.
And the Lord said to Moses: Stretch forth they hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and horsemen. And when Moses had stretched forth his hand towards the sea, it returned at the first break of day to the former place: and as the Egyptians were fleeing away, the waters came upon them, and the Lord shut them up in the middle of the waves. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots and the horsemen of all the army of Pharao, who had come into the sea after them, neither did there so much as one of them remain. But the children of Israel marched through the midst of the sea upon dry land, and the waters were to them as a wall on the right hand and on the left:
And the Lord delivered Israel on that day out of the hands of the Egyptians. And they saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore, and the mighty hand that the Lord had used against them: and the people feared the Lord, and they believed the Lord, and Moses his servant.

2011-03-28T11:33:00.000-04:00

Saturday of the First Week of Lent
Expelled from Egypt after the Passover, the Israelites head toward the Red Sea in Exodus 12:37-49 and 13:11-16. The Lord orders Moses and Aaron to tell the Israelites that they must celebrate the Passover every year. Moreover, once they have come into the Promised Land, they must offer every firstborn son and animal to the Lord. While the animals will be sacrificed, the firstborn sons are redeemed through the sacrifice of an animal.
Expelled from Egypt after the Passover, the Israelites head toward the Red Sea. The Lord orders Moses and Aaron to tell the Israelites that they must celebrate the Passover every year. Moreover, once they have come into the Promised Land, they must offer every firstborn son and animal to the Lord. While the animals will be sacrificed, the firstborn sons are redeemed through the sacrifice of an animal.
After Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph took Him to Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice at the temple to redeem Him, as their firstborn. They kept the tradition that God ordered the Israelites to follow.
Exodus 12:37-49; 13:11-16
And the children of Israel set forward from Ramesse to Socoth, being about six hundred thousand men on foot, beside children. And a mixed multitude without number went up also with them, sheep and herds and beasts of divers kinds, exceeding many. And they baked the meal, which a little before they had brought out of Egypt, in dough: and they made earth cakes unleavened: for it could not be leavened, the Egyptians pressing them to depart, and not suffering them to make any stay: neither did they think of preparing any meat.
And the abode of the children of Israel that they made in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. Which being expired, the same day all the army of the Lord went forth out of the land of Egypt. This is the observable night of the Lord, when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt: this night all the children of Israel must observe in their generations.
And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: This is the service of the Phase: No foreigner shall eat of it. But every bought servant shall be circumcised, and so shall eat. The stranger and the hireling shall not eat thereof. In one house shall it be eaten, neither shall you carry forth of the flesh thereof out of the house, neither shall you break a bone thereof. All the assembly of the children of Israel shall keep it. And if any stranger be willing to dwell among you, and to keep the Phase of the Lord, all his males shall first be circumcised, and then shall he celebrate it according to the manner: and he shall be as he that is born in the land: but if any man be uncircumcised, he shall not eat thereof. The same law shall be to him that is born in the land, and to the proselyte that sojourneth with you.
And when the Lord shall have brought thee into the land of the Chanaanite, as he swore to thee and thy fathers, and shall give it thee: Thou shalt set apart all that openeth the womb for the Lord, and all that is first brought forth of thy cattle: whatsoever thou shalt have of the male sex, thou shalt consecrate to the Lord. The firstborn of an ass thou shalt change for a sheep: and if thou do not redeem it, thou shalt kill it. And every firstborn of men thou shalt redeem with a price.
And when thy son shall ask thee to morrow, saying: What is this? thou shalt answer him: With a strong hand did the Lord bring us forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. For when Pharao was hardened, and would not let us go, the Lord slew every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of man to the firstborn of beasts: therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all that openeth the womb of the male sex, and all the firstborn of my sons I redeem. And it shall be as a sign in thy hand, and as a thing hung between thy eyes, for a remembrance: because the Lord hath brought us forth out of Egypt by a strong hand.

2011-03-27T11:34:00.000-04:00

Sunday of the Second Week of Lent
As the Israelites approach the Red Sea in Exodus 13:17-14:9, Pharaoh begins to regret letting them go. He sends his chariots and charioteers in pursuit—a decision that will end badly. Meanwhile, the Lord is traveling with the Israelites, appearing as a column of cloud by day and of fire by night.
Exodus 13:17-14:9
And when Pharao had sent out the people, the Lord led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines which is near: thinking lest perhaps they would repent, if they should see wars arise against them, and would return into Egypt. But he led them about by the way of the desert, which is by the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took Joseph's bones with him: because he had adjured the children of Israel, saying: God shall visit you, carry out my bones from hence with you.
And marching from Socoth they encamped in Etham in the utmost coasts of the wilderness.
And the Lord went before them to shew the way by day in a pillar of a cloud, and by night in a pillar of fire: that he might be the guide of their journey at both times. There never failed the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, before the people.
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the children of Israel: Let them turn and encamp over against Phihahiroth which is between Magdal and the sea over against Beelsephon: you shall encamp before it upon the sea. And Pharao will say of the children of Israel: They are straitened in the land, the desert hath shut them in. And I shall harden his heart, and he will pursue you: and I shall be glorified in Pharao, and in all his army: and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.
And they did so. And it was told the king of the Egyptians that the people was fled: and the heart of Pharao and of his servants was changed with regard to the people, and they said: What meant we to do, that we let Israel go from serving us? So he made ready his chariot, and took all his people with him. And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots that were in Egypt: and the captains of the whole army. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharao king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel: but they were gone forth in a mighty hand. And when the Egyptians followed the steps of them who were gone before, they found them encamped at the sea side: all Pharao's horse and chariots, and the whole army were in Phihahiroth before Beelsephon

2011-03-25T11:33:00.000-04:00

Friday of the First Week of Lent
In Exodus 12:21-36, the Israelites have followed the Lord's command and celebrated the first Passover. The blood of the lamb has been applied to their door frames, and, seeing this, the Lord passes over their houses. Each firstborn of the Egyptians, however, is slain by the Lord. In despair, Pharaoh orders the Israelites to leave Egypt, and all of the Egyptians urge them on.
The Israelites have followed the Lord's command and celebrated the first Passover. The blood of the lamb has been applied to their door frames, and, seeing this, the Lord passes over their houses.
Each firstborn of the Egyptians, however, is slain by the Lord. In despair, Pharaoh orders the Israelites to leave Egypt, and all of the Egyptians urge them on.
The blood of the lamb foreshadows the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God, shed for us on Good Friday, which ends our bondage to sin.
Exodus 12:21-36
And Moses called all the ancients of the children of Israel, and said to them: Go take a lamb by your families, and sacrifice the Phase. And dip a bunch of hyssop in the blood that is at the door, and sprinkle the transom of the door therewith, and both the door cheeks: let none of you go out of the door of his house till morning. For the Lord will pass through striking the Egyptians: and when he shall see the blood on the transom, and on both the posts, he will pass over the door of the house, and not suffer the destroyer to come into your houses and to hurt you.
Thou shalt keep this thing as a law for thee and thy children for ever. And when you have entered into the land which the Lord will give you as he hath promised, you shall observe these ceremonies. And when your children shall say to you: What is the meaning of this service? You shall say to them: It is the victim of the passage of the Lord, when he passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, striking the Egyptians, and saving our houses.
And the people bowing themselves, adored. And the children of Israel going forth did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron.
And it came to pass at midnight, the Lord slew every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharao, who sat on his throne, unto the firstborn of the captive woman that was in the prison, and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharao arose in the night, and all his servants, and all Egypt: for there was not a house wherein there lay not one dead.
And Pharao calling Moses and Aaron, in the night, said: Arise and go forth from among my people, you and the children of Israel: go, sacrifice to the Lord as you say. Your sheep and herds take along with you, as you demanded, and departing, bless me.
And the Egyptians pressed the people to go forth out of the land speedily, saying: We shall all die. The people therefore took dough before it was leavened: and tying it in their cloaks, put it on their shoulders. And the children of Israel did as Moses had commanded: and they asked of the Egyptians vessels of silver and gold, and very much raiment. And the Lord gave favour to the people in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them: and they stripped the Egyptians.

2011-03-24T12:38:00.000-04:00

Thursday of the First Week of Lent
In Exodus 12:1-20, Pharaoh's stubbornness has come to this: God is going to kill the firstborn of every household of Egypt. The Israelites, however, will be protected from harm, because they will have slaughtered a lamb and marked their doors with his blood. Seeing it, God will pass over their houses. This is the origin of the Passover.
Exodus 12:1-20
"And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall be to you the beginning of months: it shall be the first in the months of the year. Speak ye to the whole assembly of the children of Israel, and say to them:
"On the tenth day of this month let every man take a lamb by their families and houses. But if the number be less than may suffice to eat the lamb, he shall take unto him his neighbour that joineth to his house, according to the number of souls which may be enough to eat the lamb. And it shall be a lamb without blemish, a male, of one year: according to which rite also you shall take a kid. And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month: and the whole multitude of the children of Israel shall sacrifice it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood thereof, and put it upon both the side posts, and on the upper door posts of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh that night roasted at the fire, and unleavened bread with wild lettuce. You shall not eat thereof any thing raw, nor boiled in water, but only roasted at the fire: you shall eat the head with the feet and entrails thereof. Neither shall there remain any thing of it until morning. If there be any thing left, you shall burn it with fire.
"And thus you shall eat it: you shall gird your reins, and you shall have shoes on your feet, holding staves in your hands, and you shall eat in haste: for it is the Phase (that is the Passage) of the Lord.
"And I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and will kill every firstborn in the land of Egypt both man and beast: and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. And the blood shall be unto you for a sign in the houses where you shall be: and I shall see the blood, and shall pass over you: and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I shall strike the land of Egypt.
"And this day shall be for a memorial to you: and you shall keep it a feast to the Lord in your generations with an everlasting observance. Seven days shall you eat unleavened bread: in the first day there shall be no leaven in your houses: whosoever shall eat any thing leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall perish out of Israel. The first day shall be holy and solemn, and the seventh day shall be kept with the like solemnity: you shall do no work in them, except those things that belong to eating.
"And you shall observe the feast of the unleavened bread: for in this same day I will bring forth your army out of the land of Egypt, and you shall keep this day in your generations by a perpetual observance. The first month, the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the same month in the evening. Seven days there shall not be found any leaven in your houses: he that shall eat leavened bread, his soul shall perish out of the assembly of Israel, whether he be a stranger or born in the land. You shall not eat any thing leavened: in all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread."

2011-03-23T10:45:00.000-04:00

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
In Exodus 10:21-11:10, Pharoah continues to refuse to let the Israelites go, so, for three days, God engulfs Egypt in darkness. The only light in the land is found with the Israelites themselves—a sign, because from Israel would come Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
Since Pharoah continued to refuse to let the Israelites go, for three days, the God engulfed Egypt in darkness. The only light in the land was found with the Israelites themselves—a sign, because from Israel would come Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
Exodus 10:21-11:10
"And the Lord said to Moses: Stretch out thy hand towards heaven: and may there be darkness upon the land of Egypt, so thick that it may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand towards heaven: and there came horrible darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. No man saw his brother, nor moved himself out of the place where he was: but wheresoever the children of Israel dwelt there was light.
"And Pharao called Moses and Aaron, and said to them: Go sacrifice to the Lord: let your sheep only, and herds remain; let your children go with you. Moses said: Thou shalt give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, to the Lord our God. All the flocks shall go with us: there shall not a hoof remain of them: for they are necessary for the service of the Lord our God: especially as we know not what must be offered, till we come to the very place.
"And the Lord hardened Pharao's heart, and he would not let them go. And Pharao said to Moses: Get thee from me, and beware thou see not my face any more: in what day soever thou shalt come in my sight, thou shalt die. Moses answered: So shall it be as thou hast spoken, I will not see thy face any more.
"And the Lord said to Moses: Yet one plague more will I bring upon Pharao and Egypt, and after that he shall let you go and thrust you out. Therefore thou shalt tell all the people that every man ask of his friend, and every woman of her neighbour, vessels of silver, and of gold. And the Lord will give favour to his people in the sight of the Egyptians. And Moses was a very great man in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharao's servants, and of all the people.
"And he said: Thus said the Lord: At midnight I will enter into Egypt. And every firstborn in the land of the Egyptians shall die, from the firstborn of Pharao who sitteth on his throne, even to the first born of the handmaid that is at the mill, and all the firstborn of beasts. And there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as neither hath been before, nor shall be hereafter. But with all the children of Israel there shall not a dog make the least noise, from man even to beast: that you may know how wonderful a difference the Lord maketh between the Egyptians and Israel. And all these thy servants shall come down to me, and shall worship me, saying: Go forth thou, and all the people that is under thee: after that we will go out. And he went out from Pharao exceeding angry.
But the Lord said to Moses: Pharao will not hear you, that many signs may be done in the land of Egypt. And Moses and Aaron did all the wonders that are written, before Pharao. And the Lord hardened Pharao's heart, neither did he let the children of Israel go out of his land."

2011-03-22T10:45:00.000-04:00

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
In Exodus 6:29-7:25, as God predicted, Pharoah refuses to listen to the request of Moses and Aaron to allow the Israelites to go out into the desert to worship God. Therefore, God begins to send plagues upon the land of Egypt, through the actions of Moses and Aaron. The first plague involves turning all the water in Egypt into blood, depriving the Egyptians both of drinking water and of fish.
As God predicted, Pharoah would not listen to the request of Moses and Aaron to allow the Israelites to go out into the desert to worship God. Therefore, God begins to send plagues upon the land of Egypt, through the actions of Moses and Aaron. The first plague involves turning all the water in Egypt into blood, depriving the Egyptians both of drinking water and of fish.
The changing of the water into blood reminds of the greater miracles performed by Christ: the changing of the water into wine at the wedding of Cana, and the changing of wine into his blood at the Last Supper. Just as in Egypt, Christ’s miracles strike at sin and help to free the people of God from their slavery.
Exodus 6:29-7:25
"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: I am the Lord: speak thou to Pharao king of Egypt all that I say to thee. And Moses said before the Lord: Lo I am of uncircumcised lips, how will Pharao hear me?
"And the Lord said to Moses: Behold I have appointed thee the God of Pharao: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak to him all that I command thee; and he shall speak to Pharao, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. But I shall harden his heart, and shall multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and he will not hear you: and I will lay my hand upon Egypt, and will bring forth my army and my people the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, by very great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, who have stretched forth my hand upon Egypt, and have brought forth the children of Israel out of the midst of them.
"And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord had commanded: so did they. And Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three, when they spoke to Pharao.
"And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: When Pharao shall say to you, Shew signs: thou shalt say to Aaron: Take thy rod, and cast it down before Pharao, and it shall be turned into a serpent. So Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharao, and did as the Lord had commanded. And Aaron took the rod before Pharao, and his servants, and it was turned into a serpent.
"And Pharao called the wise men and the magicians: and they also by Egyptian enchantments and certain secrets did in like manner. And they every one cast down their rods, and they were turned into serpents: but Aaron's rod devoured their rods. And Pharao's heart was hardened, and he did not hearken to them, as the Lord had commanded.
"And the Lord said to Moses: Pharao's heart is hardened, he will not let the people go. Go to him in the morning, behold he will go out to the waters: and thou shalt stand to meet him on the bank of the river: and thou shalt take in thy hand the rod that was turned into a serpent. And thou shalt say to him: The Lord God of the Hebrews sent me to thee saying: Let my people go to sacrifice to me in the desert: and hitherto thou wouldst not hear. Thus therefore saith the Lord: In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold I will strike with the rods that is in my hand, the water of the river, and it shall be turned into blood. And the fishes that are in the river shall die, and the waters shall be corrupted, and the Egyptians shall be afflicted when they drink the water of the river.
"The Lord also said to Moses: Say to Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch forth thy hand upon the waters of Egypt, and upon their rivers, and streams and pools, and all the ponds of waters, that they may be turned into blood: and let blood be in all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and of stone.
"And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord had commanded: and lifting up the rod he struck the water of the river before Pharao and his servants: and it was turned into blood. And the fishes that were in the river died: and the river corrupted, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river, and there was blood in all the land of Egypt.
"And the magicians of the Egyptians with their enchantments did in like manner: and Pharao's heart was hardened, neither did he hear them, as the Lord had commanded. And he turned himself away and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to it this time also. And all the Egyptians dug round about the river for water to drink: for they could not drink of the water of the river. And seven days were fully ended, after that the Lord struck the river."

2011-03-21T10:44:00.000-04:00

Monday of the First Week of Lent
In Exodus 6:2-13, God discusses in greater detail the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to bring them into the Promised Land. The Israelites, however, will not listen to the good news that God has revealed to Moses, because they have been worn down by their slavery. Still, God vows to bring the Israelites to the Promised Land despite themselves.
Today's reading gives us another account of God revealing His plan to Moses. Here, God discusses in greater detail the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to bring them into the Promised Land. The Israelites, however, will not listen to the good news that God has revealed to Moses, because they have been worn down by their slavery. Still, God vows to bring the Israelites to the Promised Land despite themselves.
The parallels with Christ's free gift of salvation to mankind, in slavery to sin, are clear. We have been granted entrance to the Promised Land of Heaven; all we have to do is decide that we will make the journey.
Exodus 6:2-13
"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: I am the Lord, that appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, by the name of God Almighty; and my name ADONAI I did not shew them. And I made a covenant with them, to give them the land of Chanaan, the land of their pilgrimage wherein they were strangers. I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, wherewith the Egyptians have oppressed them: and I have remembered my covenant.
"Therefore say to the children of Israel: I am the Lord who will bring you out from the work prison of the Egyptians, and will deliver you from bondage: and redeem you with a high arm, and great judgments. And I will take you to myself for my people, I will be your God: and you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brought you out from the work prison of the Egyptians. And brought you into the land, concerning which I lifted up my hand to give it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and I will give it you to possess, I am the Lord.
"And Moses told all this to the children of Israel: but they did not hearken to him, for anguish of spirit, and most painful work.
"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying Go in, and speak to Pharao king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. Moses answered before the Lord Behold the children of Israel do no hearken to me; and how will Pharao hear me, especially as I am of uncircumcised lips? And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and he gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharao the king of Egypt, that they should bring forth the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt."

2011-03-20T10:43:00.000-04:00

Sunday of the First Week of Lent
In Exodus 5:1-6:1, Moses, obeying God's command, asks Pharoah to allow the Israelites to sacrifice to God in the desert. Pharoah refuses his request and, instead, makes life even harder for the Israelites. Slavery to sin, like the Israelite's slavery in Egypt, only becomes harder with time. True freedom comes by following Christ out of our bondage to sin.
Obeying God's command, Moses asks Pharoah to allow the Israelites to sacrifice to God in the desert. Pharoah refuses his request and, instead, makes life even harder for the Israelites. Slavery to sin, like the Israelite's slavery in Egypt, only becomes harder with time. True freedom comes by following Christ out of our bondage to sin.
Exodus 5:1-6:1
"After these things Moses and Aaron went in, and said to Pharao: Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Let my people go that they may sacrifice to me in the desert. But he answered: Who is the Lord, that I should hear his voice, and let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. And they said: The God of the Hebrews hath called us, to go three days' journey into the wilderness and to sacrifice to the Lord our God: lest a pestilence or the sword fall upon us.
"The king of Egypt said to them: Why do you Moses and Aaron draw off the people from their works? Get you gone to your burdens. And Pharao said: The people of the land is numerous: you see that the multitude is increased: how much more if you give them rest from their works?
"Therefore he commanded the same day the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters of the people, saying: You shall give straw no more to the people to make brick, as before: but let them go and gather straw. And you shall lay upon them the task of bricks, which they did before, neither shall you diminish any thing thereof: for they are idle, and therefore they cry, saying: Let us go and sacrifice to our God. Let them be oppressed, with works, and let them fulfill them: that they may not regard lying words.
"And the overseers of the works and the taskmasters went out and said to the people: Thus saith Pharao, I allow you no straw: Go, and gather it where you can find it: neither shall any thing of your work be diminished. And the people was scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather straw. And the overseers of the works pressed them, saying: Fulfill your work every day as before you were wont to do when straw was given you.
"And they that were over the works of the children of Israel were scourged by Pharao's taskmasters, saying: Why have you not made up the task of bricks both yesterday and to day as before?
"And the officers of the children of Israel came, and cried out to Pharao, saying: Why dealest thou so with thy servants? Straw is not given us, and bricks are required of us as before: behold we thy servants are beaten with whips, and thy people is unjustly dealt withal. And he said: You are idle, and therefore you say: Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord. Go therefore, and work: straw shall not be given you, and you shall deliver the accustomed number of bricks.
"And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in evil case, because it was said to them: There shall not a whit be diminished of the bricks for every day. And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood over against them as they came out from Pharao: And they said to them: The Lord see and judge, because you have made our savour to stink before Pharao and his servants, and you have given him a sword to kill us.
"And Moses returned to the Lord, and said: Lord, why hast thou afflicted this people? wherefore hast thou sent me? For since the time that I went in to Pharao to speak in thy name, he hath afflicted thy people: and thou hast not delivered them.
"And the Lord said to Moses: Now thou shalt see what I will do to Pharao: for by a mighty hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he cast them out of his land."

2011-03-19T14:40:00.000-04:00

2011-03-18T15:45:00.001-04:00

2011-03-17T15:36:00.000-04:00

2011-03-16T08:44:00.001-04:00

2011-03-15T08:43:00.000-04:00

2011-03-14T08:40:00.000-04:00

Lent Sunday

2011-03-13T19:28:00.001-04:00

Sunday of the First Week of Lent

In Exodus 5:1-6:1, Moses, obeying God's command, asks Pharoah to allow the Israelites to sacrifice to God in the desert. Pharoah refuses his request and, instead, makes life even harder for the Israelites. Slavery to sin, like the Israelite's slavery in Egypt, only becomes harder with time. True freedom comes by following Christ out of our bondage to sin.
Obeying God's command, Moses asks Pharoah to allow the Israelites to sacrifice to God in the desert. Pharoah refuses his request and, instead, makes life even harder for the Israelites. Slavery to sin, like the Israelite's slavery in Egypt, only becomes harder with time. True freedom comes by following Christ out of our bondage to sin.
Exodus 5:1-6:1
"After these things Moses and Aaron went in, and said to Pharao: Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Let my people go that they may sacrifice to me in the desert. But he answered: Who is the Lord, that I should hear his voice, and let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. And they said: The God of the Hebrews hath called us, to go three days' journey into the wilderness and to sacrifice to the Lord our God: lest a pestilence or the sword fall upon us.
"The king of Egypt said to them: Why do you Moses and Aaron draw off the people from their works? Get you gone to your burdens. And Pharao said: The people of the land is numerous: you see that the multitude is increased: how much more if you give them rest from their works?
"Therefore he commanded the same day the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters of the people, saying: You shall give straw no more to the people to make brick, as before: but let them go and gather straw. And you shall lay upon them the task of bricks, which they did before, neither shall you diminish any thing thereof: for they are idle, and therefore they cry, saying: Let us go and sacrifice to our God. Let them be oppressed, with works, and let them fulfill them: that they may not regard lying words.
"And the overseers of the works and the taskmasters went out and said to the people: Thus saith Pharao, I allow you no straw: Go, and gather it where you can find it: neither shall any thing of your work be diminished. And the people was scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather straw. And the overseers of the works pressed them, saying: Fulfill your work every day as before you were wont to do when straw was given you.
"And they that were over the works of the children of Israel were scourged by Pharao's taskmasters, saying: Why have you not made up the task of bricks both yesterday and to day as before?
"And the officers of the children of Israel came, and cried out to Pharao, saying: Why dealest thou so with thy servants? Straw is not given us, and bricks are required of us as before: behold we thy servants are beaten with whips, and thy people is unjustly dealt withal. And he said: You are idle, and therefore you say: Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord. Go therefore, and work: straw shall not be given you, and you shall deliver the accustomed number of bricks.
"And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in evil case, because it was said to them: There shall not a whit be diminished of the bricks for every day. And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood over against them as they came out from Pharao: And they said to them: The Lord see and judge, because you have made our savour to stink before Pharao and his servants, and you have given him a sword to kill us.
"And Moses returned to the Lord, and said: Lord, why hast thou afflicted this people? wherefore hast thou sent me? For since the time that I went in to Pharao to speak in thy name, he hath afflicted thy people: and thou hast not delivered them.
"And the Lord said to Moses: Now thou shalt see what I will do to Pharao: for by a mighty hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he cast them out of his land."

Follow us through

2011-03-12T19:26:00.000-05:00

40 Days of Lent

Saturday After Ash Wednesday

In Exodus 3:1-20, Moses first encounters God in the burning bush, and God announces His plans to have Moses lead the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land. We begin to see the parallels between slavery in Egypt and our slavery to sin, and between Heaven and the "land that floweth with milk and honey."
In this reading from the Book of Exodus, Moses first encounters God in the burning bush, and God announces His plans to have Moses lead the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land. We begin to see the parallels between slavery in Egypt and our slavery to sin, and between Heaven and the "land that floweth with milk and honey."
God also reveals His Name to Moses: "I AM WHO AM." This is very important, because in the Gospel of John (8:51-59), Jesus echoes those words, telling the Jews that "before Abraham was made, I AM." This becomes part of the basis for the charge of blasphemy against Christ, which would lead to his crucifixion. Traditionally, this passage was read on the fifth Sunday of Lent, which was known as Passion Sunday.
Exodus 3:1-20
"Now Moses fed the sheep of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Madian: and he drove the flock to the inner parts of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, Horeb. And the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he saw that the bush was on fire and was not burnt. And Moses said: I will go and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
"And when the Lord saw that he went forward to see, he called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said: Moses, Moses. And he answered: Here I am. And he said: Come not nigh hither, put off the shoes from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. And he said: I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Moses hid his face: for he durst not look at God.
"And the Lord said to him: I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry because of the rigour of them that are over the works: And knowing their sorrow, I am come down to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land into a good and spacious land, into a land that floweth with milk and honey, to the places of the Chanaanite, and Hethite, and Amorrhite, and Pherezite, and Hevite, and Jebusite. For the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have seen their affliction, wherewith they are oppressed by the Egyptians. But come, and I will send thee to Pharao, that thou mayst bring forth my people, the children of Israel out of Egypt.
"And Moses said to God: Who am I that I should go to Pharao, and should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said to him: I will be with thee: and this thou shalt have for a sign, that I have sent thee: When thou shalt have brought my people out of Egypt, thou shalt offer sacrifice to God upon this mountain.
"Moses said to God: Lo, I shall go to the children of Israel, and say to them: The God of your fathers hath sent me to you. If they should say to me: What is his name? what shall I say to them?
"God said to Moses: I AM WHO AM. He said: Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: HE WHO IS, hath sent me to you. And God said again to Moses: Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me to you: This is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
"Go, gather together the ancients of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared to me, saying: Visiting I have visited you: and I have seen all that hath befallen you in Egypt. And I have said the word to bring you forth out of the affliction of Egypt, into the land of the Chanaanite, the Hethite, and the Amorrhite, and Pherezite, and Hevite, and Jebusite, to a land that floweth with milk and honey.
"And they shall hear thy voice: and thou shalt go in, thou and the ancients of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and thou shalt say to him: The Lord God of the Hebrews hath called us: we will go three days' journey into the wilderness, to sacrifice unto the Lord our God.
"But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, but by a mighty hand. For I will stretch forth my hand and will strike Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst of them: after these he will let you go."

Follow us through Lent Season

2011-03-11T12:32:00.004-05:00

Friday After Ash Wednesday

In Exodus 2:1-22, we witness the birth of Moses, his rescue from Pharoah’s order to kill all newborn male Israelites, and his killing of an Egyptian. To escape Pharaoh’s wrath, he flees to the land of Midian, setting into motion the events that will lead to the exodus of Israel from Egypt.
Pharaoh has ordered that all of the male Israelite children be killed at birth, but Moses is saved and brought up by Pharaoh’s daughter as his own. After he kills an Egyptian who was beating a fellow Israelite, Moses flees to the land of Midian, where he will first encounter God in the burning bush, setting into motion the events that will lead to the exodus of Israel from Egypt.
Exodus 2:1-22

After this there went a man of the house of Levi; and took a wife of his own kindred. And she conceived, and bore a son; and seeing him a goodly child hid him three months. And when she could hide him no longer, she took a basket made of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and pitch: and put the little babe therein, and laid him in the sedges by the river's brink, his sister standing afar off, and taking notice what would be done.

And behold the daughter of Pharao came down to wash herself in the river: and her maids walked by the river's brink. And when she saw the basket in the sedges, she sent one of her maids for it: and when it was brought, she opened it and seeing within it an infant crying, having compassion on it she said: This is one of the babes of the Hebrews. And the child's sister said to her Shall I go and call to thee a Hebrew woman, to nurse the babe? She answered: Go. The maid went and called her mother.

And Pharao's daughter said to her. Take this child and nurse him for me: I will give thee thy wages. The woman took, and nursed the child: and when he was grown up, she delivered him to Pharao's daughter. And she adopted him for a son, and called him Moses, saying: Because I took him out of the water.

In those days after Moses was grown up, he went out to his brethren: and saw their affliction, and an Egyptian striking one of the Hebrews his brethren. And when he had looked about this way and that way, and saw no one there, he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. And going out the next day, he saw two Hebrews quarreling: and he said to him that did the wrong: Why strikest thou thy neighbour? But he answered: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge over us: wilt thou kill me, as thou didst yesterday kill the Egyptian? Moses feared, and said: How is this come to be known?

And Pharao heard of this word and sought to kill Moses: but he fled from his sight, and abode in the land of Madian, and he sat down by a well. And the priest of Madian had seven daughters, who came to draw water: and when the troughs were filled, desired to water their father's flocks. And the shepherds came and drove them away: and Moses arose, and defending the maids, watered their sheep.

And when they returned to Raguel their father, he said to them: Why are ye come sooner than usual? They answered: A man of Egypt delivered us from the hands of the shepherds: and he drew water also with us, and gave the sheep to drink. But he said: Where is he? why have you let the man go? call him that he may eat bread.

And Moses swore that he would dwell with him. And he took Sephora his daughter to wife: And she bore him a son, whom he called Gersam, saying: I have been a stranger in a foreign country. And she bore another, whom he called Eliezer, saying: For the God of my father, my helper hath delivered me out of the hand of Pharao.

Lent Season

2011-03-10T16:08:00.001-05:00

Thursday After Ash Wednesday
Starting today, and running through the third week of Lent, our readings are drawn from the Book of Exodus. In Exodus 1:1-22, we read about the oppression endured by the nation of Israel, the Old Testament model of the New Testament Church, at the hands of Pharoah. The slavery of the Israelites represents our slavery to sin.
Starting today, and running through the third week of Lent, the reading is drawn from the Book of Exodus. Here, we read about the oppression endured by the nation of Israel, the Old Testament model of the New Testament Church, at the hands of Pharoah. The slavery of the Israelites represents our slavery to sin.
Exodus 1:1-22
"These are the names of the children of Israel, that went into Egypt with Jacob: they went in, every man with his household: Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda, Issachar, Zabulon, and Benjamin, Dan, and Nephtali, Gad and Aser. And all the souls that came out of Jacob's thigh, were seventy: but Joseph was in Egypt.
"After he was dead, and all his brethren, and all that generation, the children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes, and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land.
"In the mean time there arose a new king over Egypt, that knew not Joseph: And he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of Israel are numerous and stronger than we. Come, let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply: and if any war shall rise against us, join with our enemies, and having overcome us, depart out of the land.
"Therefore he set over them masters of the works, to afflict them with burdens, and they built for Pharao cities of tabernacles, Phithom and Ramesses. But the more they oppressed them, the more they were multiplied, and increased: And the Egyptians hated the children of Israel, and afflicted them and mocked them: And they made their life bitter with hard works in clay, and brick, and with all manner of service, wherewith they were overcharged in the works of the earth.
"And the king of Egypt spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews: of whom one was called Sephora, the other Phua, commanding them: When you shall do the office of midwives to the Hebrew women, and the time of delivery is come: if it be a man child, kill it: if a woman, keep it alive. But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded, but saved the men children.
"And the king called for them and said: What is that you meant to do, that you would save the men children? They answered: The Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women: for they themselves are skillful in the office of a midwife; and they are delivered before we come to them. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied and grew exceedingly strong. And because the midwives feared God, he built them houses.
"Pharao therefore charged all his people, saying: Whatsoever shall be born of the male sex, ye shall cast into the river: whatsoever of the female, ye shall save alive."

Ash Wednesday

2011-03-09T15:11:00.000-05:00

In Genesis 3:19 we hear God tell us "for dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt return," but nowadays, when someone dies, they are rushed from deathbed to funeral home to be embalmed and to be worked over by a make-up artist so that that "dusty reality" is hidden from us. Their deaths are spoken of as almost an embarrassment; "he passed," they say, or "he is no longer with us." These comforting but sterile luxuries weren't an option in the past when plagues felled so many people that there weren't enough survivors to bury them, when bodies had to be stored all winter until the ground was soft enough to dig, when most of the children a woman bore died before they were able to grow up. In our culture, with our medicines and "funeral sciences," we are afraid to look at death, and we are a poorer people because of it. No matter how long science can prolong life, no matter how much embalming fluid is pumped into a corpse, nature will have her way. This is Truth. And when nature has her way, we can either rest in the knowledge that the ultimate Victor is Christ, Our Lord, Who walked out of His tomb 2,000 years ago and offers resurrection to us, or we can believe that decay is all that is left. This is the meaning of Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday is the day for being reminded of and contemplating our mortality, of which Ecclesiasticus 1 reminds us:
What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh...
When a new Pope processes to St. Peter's Basilica to offer his first Mass as Pope, the procession stops three times and, at each stop, a piece of flax mounted on a reed is burned. As the flames die, the Pope hears the words, "Pater sancte, sic transit gloria mundi" ("Holy Father, thus passes the glory of the world"), to remind him not only that he is a mere man, but as a man, a mere mortal whose end is like the end of all other men. The things of this world are transient, and Christians must always keep one eye on the world to come.

Recalling this Truth is one of the principles behind the use of ashes on the forehead today: to remind us that we are mortal, subject to the rot and decay our Western culture now desperately tries to euphemize away, and that we are radically dependent on -- solely dependent on -- Jesus Christ to overcome this fate.

They are like a yearly contemplation of the tombstone inscribed with:
Remember friends as you pass by,
as you are now so once was I.
As I am now so you must be.
Prepare for death and follow me.
While death should, of course, be avoided as the evil it is, we should accept the reality of it with the attitude behind the words attributed to the great Sioux warrior, Crazy Horse: "It is a good day to die" ("Hoka hey"). Death should not be feared in itself; what should be approached with trepidation is the judgment that follows -- not because God is a malicious Father who wants to inflict pain, but because He is as just as He is merciful. We need to repent, accept the reality of death, and not only consider our judgment, but be ready for it.

Starting Something

2011-03-08T23:07:00.002-05:00

NEW
As you all know tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the Lent Season begins, follow us in the 40 day of lent. Starting tomorrow there will be a section on Ash Wednesday, and follow with us through the 40 days of lent. As I was researching this topic I became to interested in what I was researching I knew I had to share with others. Well hope to see you all here tomorrow. May God Bless you all.

Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T08:12:00.003-05:00

From all of us at the Gift of Grace Worship Center
We would like to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.

And May God Bless each and everyone of you and your families.

2010-11-02T14:05:00.001-04:00

Bulletin

2010-11-01T21:58:00.001-04:00

Please join us for our Graceful Women's Ministry Brunch.

Bulletin October

2010-11-01T21:35:00.002-04:00

Good Evening
Here is the bulletin for those who missed our service on Sunday, follow the steps in downloading this. You must have Microsoft Word to down load.

giftofgracebulletin2_2.doc

Just a reminder that Graceful Women's Brunch tickets are are sale for the November 13, 2010 Brunch. Cost of tickets are $7.00. Get a $1.00 off bring an unwrapped toy for our Holiday Angel Tree.

Keep checking our our blog and web page for upcoming events.

You're Invited

2010-10-25T08:18:00.004-04:00

Groovin in Fall at the Gift of Grace Fall Festival.
Hope to see you there.

click the picture, follow the steps and it will take you to the invitation

Graceful Women's Brunch Fund Raiser. Buy your Tickets today.

Have a blessed day.

Sunday Bulletin

2010-10-24T21:03:00.002-04:00

Good evening Gift of Grace Family, Welcome back to our blog. Sorry for not updating this in a while. But we are not back on track and will have daily devotions and upcoming to our church. You can also visit us at our web page. What you didn't know that we had a web page well here is the address to that http://giftofgraceworship.sefoursquare.org check it out see what you have been missing.

I have placed a link to our Sunday bulletin for those who could not join us today. I will also add some of out upcoming events to this in the next couple of days.
Click on the link and it will take you to our bulletin. May God Bless you and your famly.

Click here:
giftofgracebulletin2.doc

Today's Positive Thoughts

2010-07-08T09:43:00.001-04:00

“Though we stumble, we will never fall, for the LORD holds us by the hand. ”
— Psalm 37:24 NLT

“The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. ”
— Psalm 37:23 NLT

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ”
— Romans 12:2 NIV

GIFTS

2010-06-07T12:47:00.002-04:00

Of all gifts you have offered to GOD, Your happiness gift; He treasures the most.

Sunday's Bulletin

2010-06-06T20:41:00.002-04:00

Here is this weeks Bulletin for those who couldn't join us.
Have a great week. Remember to click on the link and follow the instructions for download.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zyij4k35iu1

2010-05-03T14:28:00.004-04:00

Lets keep National Day of Prayer
Check out this website and there is a petition if you are interested in saving the National Day of Prayer.

Click on he link and enjoy the website.

National Day of Prayer

Have a great Monday

Prayer for the Day

2010-05-02T22:28:00.000-04:00

Dear Father God, I am so blessed to have You in my life. Thank You for loving me and giving me eternal life. Lord, I am also very grateful to have a wonderful, godly husband who is loving and kind. You have blessed us with a good family. We are thankful for loving children and grandchildren. We have also been blessed with many wonderful friendships over the years that have grown stronger today in the love of God. How blessed we are with kind, caring, friends that have demonstrated their love over and over again. Lord, help Bud and I to be the same kind of friends. Our family and friends are our true treasures in this life. Keep them all under Your hand of protection and bless them each. Bless the many people we have not met, but that pray for us and support this ministry. We are thankful for each of them and look forward to meeting them one day, if not in this life, in the life to come. I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

Last Sunday's Bulletin

2010-04-27T12:30:00.002-04:00

Hello its Tuesday and I thought I would share last weeks bulletin with you.
Click on the link and follow the instructions and it will down load.

http://www.mediafire.com/?2nxzg2zunki

We will be posting some of the pictures from the Mother's Day Gala which was held on April 24, 2010. Thanks to all that helped and attended this function. We had a great time. Stayed tuned for the phots of this.

Have a blessed day.

2010-04-23T11:14:00.001-04:00

Please see attached link for the last weeks bulletin

http://www.mediafire.com/?hdztmx2mhto

Earth Day

2010-04-22T09:23:00.000-04:00

Presidential Proclamation -- Earth Day

2010-04-15T10:27:00.004-04:00

A friend sent me this I thought I would share with you all

God Who are

2010-04-12T09:30:00.002-04:00

YOU session nine. Hope you enjoy.

Please click on the link to download this and remember you must have adobe to down load this. If you do not you can go to adobe.com and download a free version. Have a great Monday.

http://www.mediafire.com/?homnk2jdmfo

Sunday's Bulletin

2010-04-11T21:27:00.001-04:00

For those who missed the service on Sunday. Please see the link to download the bulletin. Have a great evening

Remember to click on the link and follow instructions for downloading
http://www.mediafire.com/?jemlm5wzgd3

Bulletin

2010-04-05T12:49:00.003-04:00

For those who missed our service on Sunday. Please see attached bulletin.

Please click on the link and follow download instructions

http://www.mediafire.com/?hdztmx2mhto

Also attention all Women of Gift of Grace. You are invited to the next Women's Ministry Meeting:

Please see the link for the more information

http://www.mediafire.com/?ymzzzkmm5mi

Have a blessed Day.

Mission Trip

2010-04-04T23:24:00.000-04:00

Please see the hand out of Pastor Jim's upcoming mission Trip

Please click on the link. You must have adobe to download this file.

http://www.mediafire.com/?w4zijydozmm

Have a great Day

Happy Good Friday

2010-04-02T08:59:00.001-04:00

2010-04-01T10:08:00.001-04:00

Part 7

2010-03-22T09:35:00.002-04:00

Of GOD Who are you

Please click on the link and following instructions. Just a quick reminder you have to have adobe to download, the file. If you need adobe go to adobe.com and down load it. Its free. And thanks to jennifer at the Well for providing this wonderful training, it has been fun following along with her each monday. Stop by her page you can find it at www.titus2atthewell.com I enjoy this site, and go there often each day.

http://www.mediafire.com/?tozydinmzgg

Sunday's Bulletin

2010-03-21T21:41:00.001-04:00

Please see attached link for this weeks bulletin.

giftofgracebulletin1.doc

Check the calendar part, as we have several things going on in the Month of March and into April. calendar will be updated later this week with new and exciting events and work shops coming available to you. Please check out our new site at http://giftofgraceworship.sefoursquare.org.

Today's Positive Thoughts

2010-03-17T13:23:00.001-04:00

“God’s word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path. ”
— Psalm 119:105 NIV
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ”
— Romans 8:28 NIV
“What is impossible with men is possible with God. ”
— Luke 18:27 NIV

Part 6

2010-03-15T12:24:00.001-04:00

Of God Who are you.

Reminder you must have adobe to open this. If you don't have it you can download it at adobe.com. Its free

Click the link to open
http://www.mediafire.com/?j2m2jozmbm3

Sunday's Message Church News Letter

2010-03-09T10:18:00.002-05:00

Here is the bulletin from Sunday for those weho could not attend our services. Click on the link to download. have a great day.

http://www.mediafire.com/?t42mgenm4
yy

I thought I would add the monthly church news letter to this post also. Just click on the link and follow the instructions.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ujmyldynm12

Part 5

2010-03-08T10:07:00.000-05:00

of God Who are YOU.

Remember to click on the link and follow the steps. Hope you are enjoying these as much as I am.

http://www.mediafire.com/?d0yxjzqzzdn

PS you must hve Adobe to down load this also

Attention

2010-03-06T10:29:00.001-05:00

All Gift of Grace women. Our next Women's meeting is scheduled for March 16, 2010 at 7:00pm. Please see attached invitation. Come and join us for a great time.

Click on the link and follow the instructions.

http://www.mediafire.com/?jtjmrnkjnnu

Word filled Wednesday

2010-03-03T20:42:00.000-05:00

Jesus is the WAY,

the TRUTH,
& the LIFE!

Today is the day of salvation!

Part 4

2010-03-01T21:01:00.001-05:00

Of God Who are you. Please see the attachment of our weekly Monday Bilbe Class lesson. I don't know about you but I am having a great time with this. I check the web site out and see some of the other followers comments and find them amazing. Well here is the attachement:

http://www.mediafire.com/?wwmzgei2dtz

Remember you must have Adobe to down load this, if you don't go to adobe.com and download it for free.

God Who are

2010-02-22T13:17:00.002-05:00

Part 3. Okay here is this week Part of God Who Are you.
I have been really enjoying this, and learning what others think that also have been following this.
Click on the link to download part 3. Remember you must have Adobe in order to down load this file.

Enjoy

http://www.mediafire.com/?kmnzwmwtgt2

Your Invited

2010-02-21T19:50:00.001-05:00

Please come join us for a great fund raiser party.

Word Filled Wednesday

2010-02-17T17:33:00.002-05:00

Well here it is again Wednesday. And here is our word filled Wednesday:

Comes from the Book of:
I Corinthians 13:13
3And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

God

2010-02-15T10:04:00.006-05:00

Who are you Part 2

If you have read last Monday's post you know that I am following this blog called At the well. I have been doing the Bible Study that she has every Monday. Last Monday I shared with you part 1, today its part 2. Who is God to you? I have also included the study guide that Jennifer B. Jerkin / www.byhisgraceministy.com has on her site to follow along with this bible study.

Please see the attachment that you can down load , Enjoy

Click on the link to download and follow the instructions.

God Who are You -Session 2.pdf -- Acrobat.com.htm

Here is Jennifer's discussion question: (you can answer 1 or both, that's up to you)

1. What does it mean to you to know that you are precious in God's sight?
2. Can you think of a time in your life when you've experienced, firsthand, the LORD's faithfulness? Share your thoughts.

Have fun and enjoy.

Hello and Welcome All

2010-02-14T22:49:00.003-05:00

Well here it is Sunday and soon it will be Monday. I thought I would attached the bulletin for those who could not make to our service to day. Don't forget tomorrow is week two of Who is GOD? Look for the attachment tomorrow. If you would like to share some of your response from week one you may send those to rochelle@giftofgraceworship.com. It would be interesting what some of your response were. I will share what I thought later in the week.

Please see this weeks bulletin:

Word Filled Wednesday

2010-02-10T11:04:00.003-05:00

Starting today and every Wednesday it will be word filled Wednesday at the Gift of Grace Blog. I will use the versus that we are given at church on Sunday.

So here is to days

Matthew 21:21
21Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.

Good Morning

2010-02-08T09:38:00.009-05:00

I have been following this blog called "Putting GOD First Place" And they have started this Bible study session called "God Who are and What can you do for me".
So I thought why not, let's follow along with them, what can it hurt. Okay here we go.

Today's discussion question: Who is God to you?I have also included the sudy guide that Jennifer B. Jerkin / www.byhisgraceministy.com has on her site to follow along with this bible study.

Enjoy
Here is the link just click on the the white picture and it will tke you to the download. You must have Adobe to down load this.

Bible Versus of the Week

2010-02-07T22:53:00.002-05:00

Here is the Bible versus of the week

Matthew 21:21

I have also attached the bulletin from Sunday. Click on the picture and it will take you to the download of it. Please not you must have adobe reader inorder to download this. Enjoy the bulletin.

Good Tuesday Evening

2010-02-02T21:33:00.002-05:00

to you and your family, and welcome to GOG blog.
Scripture of the week is Psalms 9:17.
Wednesday fasting day and Bible study. Hope to see you all there.

Attention

2010-01-30T11:27:00.004-05:00

All Gift of Grace Women our first Ladies Ministry Meeting February 16. 2010.

Please see attached invite.

GOG

2010-01-25T12:12:00.001-05:00

Wishes to Thank all those who helped in cleaning of the GOG new worship center. Thanks guys you were the best. Also thanks for a great 5th Anniversary Program. It was a success. We will post pictures later in the week.

Bible Class

2010-01-12T13:30:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon, Just want to let everyone know that tonights Bible Class is Cancelled. Classes will resume next Tuesday. Thanks and have a blessed day.

Bulletin

2010-01-10T17:03:00.004-05:00

Here is Sunday's Bulletin.

Click on the picture and it will tak you to the download button.
In the next couple of weeks oour website will be changing. Stayed tuned for an updated website. Enjoy the bulletin. You must have Adobe reader to download this. If you don't go to www.adobe.com and download it. It's free.

Happy New Year

2010-01-07T12:55:00.005-05:00

To our of our Friends and Family at the Gift of Grace.

Please find attached last Sunday's Bulletin.

Download img-608133708-0001.pdf for free on uploading.com

You must have adobe to open this file.

Have a Blessed Day.

Last Weeks Bulletin

2009-12-15T09:29:00.000-05:00

Hello Gift of Grace Family!
I hope you’re having a great week. Last Sunday our message was “The Coming of Christ”. If you were not able to be with us in worship, it’s not too late to make your commitment to grow closer to God and each other through Gift of Grace. From here on out, you will have the opportunity to unite with Gift of Grace (join the church) at the close of Worship? Just listen for Pastor Sam to offer the invitation and come down front during prayer time.

This Sunday during worship we will celebrate in a service of “Jesus is the Greatest Gift of All” As you prepare for worship this weekend, why do you think that Jesus is the Greatest Gift of all. Let’s all come together and pray. See you Sunday!

Please click Here to get last Sunday’s Bulletin.
http://www.mediafire.com/?mmtyjmhyrmw

2009-11-23T13:02:00.002-05:00

Here is Last Sunday Message, for those who could not join us.

Hello Gift of Grace Family!
I hope you’re having a great week. Last Sunday our message was “The Power of Thanksgiving” “BOW” If you were not able to be with us in worship, it’s not too late to make your commitment to grow closer to God and each other through Gift of Grace. From here on out, you will have the opportunity to unite with Gift of Grace (join the church) at the close of Worship? Just listen for Pastor Sam to offer the invitation and come down front during prayer time.

Please click Here to get last Sunday’s Bulletin.
giftofgracebulletin4.doc

Tuesday Bible

2009-11-16T22:04:00.002-05:00

Class is at 6:30pm on Tuesday. Also after bible class we will be having a meeting for the next GOG Out Reach Christmas Concert. Please come join us for a great Bible Class and see what you are missing.

Here is something your missed

2009-11-03T21:42:00.002-05:00

tonights Bible class and what a class you missed. Well here is something we learned tonight. Peace as from the Bible version. "Do you know what the Bible has to say on that"? So I leave with that question for tonight. I will post tomorrow what we learned from tonights class and what scriptures we learned it from. Again as a reminder we have Bible class every Tuesday night at the Church from 7:15 - 8:15pm come join us and learn more about Jesus.

Todays Message was

2009-11-01T20:44:00.002-05:00

The New Covenant. After church today, I wanted to know more about this, so it was off to the internet to search and too see what I could find, and to learn more, so I google it and this is what one site had to share on this information.

Question: "What is the New Covenant?"

Answer: The new covenant is spoken about first in the book of Jeremiah. The old covenant that God had established with His people required obedience to the Old Testament Mosaic law. Because the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), the law required that people perform rituals and sacrifices in order to please God and remain in His grace. The prophet Jeremiah predicted that there would be a time when God would make a new covenant with the nation of Israel.

"'The day will come,' says the Lord, 'when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. . . . But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,' says the Lord. 'I will put my law in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people'" (Jeremiah 31:31, 33). Jesus Christ came to fulfill the law of Moses (Matthew 5:17) and create a new covenant between God and His people. The old covenant was written in stone, but the new covenant is written on our hearts, made possible only by faith in Christ, who shed His own blood to atone for the sins of the world. Luke 22:20 says, "After supper, [Jesus] took another cup of wine and said, 'This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you – an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.'"

Now that we are under the new covenant, we are not under the penalty of the law. We are now given the opportunity to receive salvation as a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9). Through the life-giving Holy Spirit who lives in all believers (Romans 8:9-11), we can now share in the inheritance of Christ and enjoy a permanent, unbroken relationship with God. Hebrews 9:15 declares, “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.”

I will post some notes that I took on the sermon today, and will share them with you later in the week. May god bless you and your family.

What is Fasting

2009-10-29T14:21:00.002-04:00

Last night Bible Class was about that.

Please see what I found what this means, I will later share he notes from last nights Bible Class.

Prayer and Fasting - A Definition
Prayer and fasting is defined as voluntarily going without food in order to focus on prayer and fellowship with God. Prayer and fasting often go hand in hand, but this is not always the case. You can pray without fasting, and fast without prayer. It is when these two activities are combined and dedicated to God's glory that they reach their full effectiveness. Having a dedicated time of prayer and fasting is not a way of manipulating God into doing what you desire. Rather, it is simply forcing yourself to focus and rely on God for the strength, provision, and wisdom you need.

Prayer and Fasting - What the Bible Says
The Old Testament law specifically required prayer and fasting for only one occasion, which was the Day of Atonement. This custom became known as "the day of fasting" (Jeremiah 36:6) or "the Fast" (Acts 27:9). Moses fasted during the 40 days and 40 nights he was on Mount Sinai receiving the law from God (Exodus 34:28). King Jehoshaphat called for a fast in all Israel when they were about to be attacked by the Moabites and Ammonites (2 Chronicles 20:3). In response to Jonah's preaching, the men of Nineveh fasted and put on sackcloth (Jonah 3:5). Prayer and fasting was often done in times of distress or trouble. David fasted when he learned that Saul and Jonathan had been killed (2 Samuel 1:12). Nehemiah had a time of prayer and fasting upon learning that Jerusalem was still in ruins (Nehemiah 1:4). Darius, the king of Persia, fasted all night after he was forced to put Daniel in the den of lions (Daniel 6:18).

Prayer and fasting also occurs in the New Testament. Anna "worshipped night and day, fasting and praying" at the Temple (Luke 2:37). John the Baptist taught his disciples to fast (Mark 2:18). Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before His temptation by Satan (Matthew 4:2). The church of Antioch fasted (Acts 13:2) and sent Paul and Barnabas off on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:3). Paul and Barnabas spent time in prayer and fasting for the appointment of elders in the churches (Acts 14:23).

Last Week's Bulletin

2009-10-28T13:40:00.000-04:00

Hello Gift of Grace Family!
I hope you’re having a great week. Last Sunday our message was “Walking by Faith” If you were not able to be with us in worship, it’s not too late to make your commitment to grow closer to God and each other through Gift of Grace. From here on out, you will have the opportunity to unite with Gift of Grace (join the church) at the close of Worship? Just listen for Pastor Sam to offer the invitation and come down front during prayer time.

This Sunday during worship we will celebrate in a service of “A Better Covenant” As you prepare for worship this weekend, what do you think A better Covenant means? Come up with some ideas and bring them with you on Sunday. Let’s all come together and pray. See you Sunday!

Please click Here to get last Sunday’s Bulletin.
http://www.mediafire.com/?d4wi0xe1nnm

2009-10-25T21:16:00.001-04:00

Just a few photos from our service today.

Interesting

2009-10-23T14:43:00.002-04:00

As I was searching for something on the internet, I came across a blog site that I found which searching, and came across this and I found it interesting and thought I would share it with you all.

love.
create.
share.
respond.

love God + people (matthew 22:38-40)

create + inspire others to connect with God. (made in the image of God - man can use creativity to inspire others and help others connect with God through interactive, out-of-the-box methods. because of creativity, we are made new.)

share your story + God's story. the Good news can be shared through words and actions. St. Francis said 'preach often. if necessary, use words.' whatever methods, we encourage people to be real and to share their stories with others and along the way to share God's story of love and redemption. the cool part is when people begin to see the connection between their story and God's story. may our stories inspire generosity + genuine community as we share the truth of Jesus. (matthew 10:7)

respond to the needs of others + to the call of Christ. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says 'pity a man who falls and has no one to help him up.' we want to be aware of the needs of others. remember that Jesus said 'whatever you have done to the least of these, you have done to me. and whatever you have not done to the least of these, you have not done to me.' we desire selfless, not selfish community.

2009-10-22T20:53:00.000-04:00

Hello Gift of Grace Family!
I hope you’re having a great week. Last Sunday our message was “What Can I Do While Waiting on God” If you were not able to be with us in worship, it’s not too late to make your commitment to grow closer to God and each other through Gift of Grace. From here on out, you will have the opportunity to unite with Gift of Grace (join the church) at the close of Worship? Just listen for Pastor Sam to offer the invitation and come down front during prayer time.

This Sunday during worship we will celebrate in a service of “Walking by Faith” As you prepare for worship this weekend, What do you think you can do while waiting on GOD? Let’s all come together and pray. See you Sunday!

Please click Here to get last Sunday’s Bulletin.
http://www.mediafire.com/?dmzitdduryz

Please see

2009-10-15T14:30:00.001-04:00

Attached lasts Sunday's bulletin. Take the time see what you missed last Sunday. Hope to see you this Sunday as we have another great service planned.

Hello Gift of Grace Family!
I hope you’re having a great week. Last Sunday our message was “Trust in the Lord (Part 2)” If you were not able to be with us in worship, it’s not too late to make your commitment to grow closer to God and each other through Gift of Grace. From here on out, you will have the opportunity to unite with Gift of Grace (join the church) at the close of Worship? Just listen for Pastor Sam to offer the invitation and come down front during prayer time.

This Sunday during worship we will celebrate in a service of “What Can I Do While Waiting on God” As you prepare for worship this weekend, What do you think you can do while waiting on GOD? Let’s all come together and pray. See you Sunday!

Please click Here to get last Sunday’s Bulletin.
http://www.mediafire.com/?j5nyqguy55i

Notes From

2009-10-14T13:28:00.000-04:00

Sundays service. If you didn't make it our service on Sunday you missed a great services. Here is some that Pastor Jim shared with with us.

7 Steps in Drawing Close to Jesus:

*SAMWCCF*

I know you are wondering what is this. But its very simple. Get out those pens and paper and write down these steps and follow them closing and see if you get closer to Jesus.

S = Sing to God a new song. (Psalm 40:3
A = Acknowledge God (Psalm 5:3)
M = Memorize the word and apply it (Psalm 119
W = Worship him (Psalm 22:3, Psalm 95:6
C = Celebrate (In Him) (Luke 22)
C = Church (Brings us closer) Matthew 18:20
F = Fasting and mediating in the word. (Isaiah 56 and Isaiah 58)

Hope you understand these steps in coming closer to Jesus. If you need more information you contact Pastor Sam or Pastor Jim and they would be delighted to assist you in understanding this more.

Have a blessed day and May God Bless you and your family.

Reminder

2009-10-13T13:26:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder that tonight is Bible Study. Please come an join us for an exciting bible class.

Location: 1930 Ham Brown Road, Kissimmee, Fl
Time: 7:00-8:00pm

2009-09-28T21:27:00.002-04:00

Just a few pictures to share with you from our Gospel Out Reach
I have placed the others in our photos that are located on the left side of our blog. I will also post them to our website at www.giftofgraceworship.com

Note From the Pastor

2009-09-27T21:16:00.000-04:00

I want to sincerely thank everyone who helped out "Gospel Out Reach" what a wonderful day we had. I know that we had another wonderful and great day and that's Annette's graduation. We are blessed and thankful that Annette has achieved another degree (Masters Degree). We are proud of her and the Gift of Grace loves you for all you do for God and the church. Blessing and God's favor to you. We love you From the Gift of Grace Family.

2009-09-25T10:13:00.003-04:00

Your Invited to our Gospel Out Reach on Saturday, September 26, 2009 from 2:00 - 7:00pm. Hope to see you there

Bulletin

2009-09-24T12:56:00.002-04:00

Hello Gift of Grace Family!
I hope you’re having a great week. Last Sunday our message was “The Deceptive of the Devil” If you were not able to be with us in worship, it’s not too late to make your commitment to grow closer to God and each other through Gift of Grace. From here on out, you will have the opportunity to unite with Gift of Grace (join the church) at the close of Worship? Just listen for Pastor Sam to offer the invitation and come down front during prayer time.

This Sunday during worship we will celebrate in a service of “How to Build Stronger Relation Ships” As you prepare for worship this weekend, How do you thing we can build stronger relationship means? Let’s all come together and pray. See you Sunday!

Please click Here to get last Sunday’s Bulletin.
http://www.mediafire.com/?rtye5ijtznj

Hello and

2009-09-23T09:11:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Wednesday, we are half way through the week. Thanks to all that attended our Bible Class. Pastor Jim spoke on Stumbling. Our Scripture lessons came from the following scriptures.

Proverbs 4:19-22
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.

21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;

22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to a man's whole body.

Isaiah 28:7
7 And these also stagger from wine
and reel from beer:
Priests and prophets stagger from beer
and are befuddled with wine;
they reel from beer,
they stagger when seeing visions,
they stumble when rendering decisions.

Isaiah 59:10
10 Like the blind we grope along the wall,
feeling our way like men without eyes.
At midday we stumble as if it were twilight;
among the strong, we are like the dead.

Jeremiah 46:6
6 "The swift cannot flee
nor the strong escape.
In the north by the River Euphrates
they stumble and fall.

Matthew 2:8
8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

John 11:9
9Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light.

1 Peter 2:8
8and,
"A stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall."[a] They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

Footnotes:
1 Peter 2:8 Isaiah 8:14
Isaiah 8:14
14 and he will be a sanctuary;
but for both houses of Israel he will be
a stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.
And for the people of Jerusalem he will be
a trap and a snare.

I have enclosed all the scriptures that we went over. If you would like to know Jesus and the Bible more, come and join us on Tuesday for our Bible Class. We would love to see you there.
Have a great day.

Wow what a great

2009-09-18T11:30:00.003-04:00

Book,
I have just finished the Noticer by Andy Andrews. And it was awesome. I have attached my review of this and I hope that all would read and learn from this book.

The Noticer
By Andy Andrews
Review by: Rochelle

First let me start this off with what a wonderful and rewarding book. This book has given me a lot of inspiration in ways that I can change my life and to make some things better.

This book starts out strong and keeps you going, where you can’t put it down. There were many stories in this book that I found to be rewarding and relating to some of these stories and looking at it as if I were the characters in this story, and how I could change through reading this book.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the very first story? Especially when Jones, not Mr. Jones as he refers to him self through out this book. Where the character asked him how do you know my name. And then he precedes with again asking Jones how do you know my name. And Jones responds to him by saying I am a Noticer, he said its my gift. And states he notices things about situations and people that produce perspective. And then he tells the character let’s get started. He continues to show him how to produce perspective in his life, and what steps he can take in getting what he wants for his life.

In reading this I have to say that I for one lack perspective in some of what I do in my daily life and while reading this I was thinking that there are ways that I need to get that perspective back into view, and I continue with reading this to see what else I could learn from the book. And then there it was a story of a gentleman who always did things the wrong way or took short cuts to get his business down and sometimes that leaded into problems. Through out my life I have met people who related to this character and always thought they were right until something happened and they need help from others who weren’t willing to help or didn’t trust that person. I am sure that I will share this book with some of those people that I have met over the years and let them see that all some people need sometimes is a little perspective in their lives.

Again this is a great book, and I will be checking to what other books this author has to offer. What a great inspirational book.

Bulletin

2009-09-16T09:45:00.000-04:00

Here is the Bulletin from last week.

Enjoy it and see you on Sunday were we have a great service planned.

Hello Gift of Grace Family!
I hope you’re having a great week. Last Sunday our message was “Power of Your Tongue” If you were not able to be with us in worship, it’s not too late to make your commitment to grow closer to God and each other through Gift of Grace. From here on out, you will have the opportunity to unite with Gift of Grace (join the church) at the close of Worship? Just listen for Pastor Sam to offer the invitation and come down front during prayer time.

This Sunday during worship we will celebrate in a service of “The Deceptive Trap of the Devil” As you prepare for worship this weekend, what do you thing the power of your tongue means? Let’s all come together and pray. See you Sunday!

Please click Here to get last Sunday’s Bulletin.
http://www.mediafire.com/?etd4ney1dwn

Hello

2009-09-15T13:35:00.003-04:00

Well here it is Tuesday already. Wow this year is flying by. Well I have received my first book that was free. I have The Noticer by Andy Andrews. and yes these books are free, all you have to do is read about make a little review of how the book was. Great way to get some free book. I have started this book and its very hard to put down. So far its a great book. I will continue to update you on this book as I get into it more.

Also just a reminder that tonight is Bible Class. Come out and support your church, see how you can learn more about Jesus. What do you have to loose. Hope to see you all there. We meet at 1930 Ham Brown Road at 7:00pm. If you have any questions or concern please call Pastor Sam.

Have a great afternoon.

Good Monday Morning

2009-09-14T09:21:00.002-04:00

To you all. I found this neat site, if you like to read, and guess what you can read for free, thats right for free. Check the link on the right had side of our blog. Click on it and it will take you to the website. I have joined and have download my first free book. If you are interested, check it out what do you have to loose.

Thanks to all that attended our worship on Sunday. I will post the bulletin later in the week. And just a reminder for our bible class on Tuesday. Hope to see more of you there.

Well have a blessed day.

Last Weeks Message

2009-09-11T08:57:00.000-04:00

Hello Gift of Grace Family!
I hope you’re having a great week. Last Sunday our message was “The Church in Thyatira”” If you were not able to be with us in worship, it’s not too late to make your commitment to grow closer to God and each other through Gift of Grace. From here on out, you will have the opportunity to unite with Gift of Grace (join the church) at the close of Worship? Just listen for Pastor Sam to offer the invitation and come down front during prayer time.

This Sunday during worship we will celebrate in a service of “Power of Your Tongue” As you prepare for worship this weekend, what do you thing the power of your tongue means? Let’s all come together and pray. See you Sunday!

Please click Here to get last Sunday’s Bulletin.
http://www.mediafire.com/?ememmdjzvn2

Stumbled acoss this

2009-09-09T23:09:00.002-04:00

Good evening I was web surfing tonight for a blog face life for our blog. Well needless to say, there is no change as of yet. But don't fear, as there will be one some day in near future. I just didn't find any thing that I like as of yet. But well I was surfing the web I came across a couple of great sites, that I will put the links to our blog. Its actually for our Gift of Grace Women Leaders.

This is what I found on a great blog and thought I would share it with you all.

Want to be more like Jesus and less like the Israelites?
Lord,
Thank you for Your Word and how it speaks to me through your Holy Spirit. Your Word is living and active, sharper then any two-edged sword, piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb. 4:12). You have proven Yourself faithful to me over and over again yet I look and act more like the Israelites then your Son. As much as Your discipline hurts I am thankful for it because I know Heb. 12:10 tells me it is for my good so that I can share in Your holiness. Lord forgive me for my unbelief. You have led me out of a bad situation. You have given me glimpses of refreshment and rest like you did for the Israelites at Kadesh Barnea. You have worked upstream for me and was already working things out even though I could not see it with my physical eyes like you did for the Israelites at Adam when they crossed over the Jordan. (Joshua 3). But so often, in fact more often the not, I find myself wallowing aground in Meribah and Massah (Ex. 17:1-7) grumbling against You because in a particular moment I don't see a way out. You have proven Yourself true to me over and over and over. You have shown me that indeed You do make all things new. Lord I beg of You to grow my faith- grow my belief. I don't want to doubt or question You just because my world does not align the way I think it should at any given moment. Give me more of You Jesus and so much less of me. My heart is deceitful above all things Lord and can not be trusted but You CAN. May I fix my eyes on You Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith, who for the joy set before You endured the cross, despising the shame, and set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2). You are able Lord to turn this crazy woman who falters around in unbelief into a mighty warrior of Your Word. Because of Your work on the cross I come boldly to Your throne and approach it with confidence to receive mercy and find grace. (Heb. 4:16).

2009-09-08T10:04:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder Bible class is tonight from 7:00 - 8:00pm. We meet at the church. Hope to see you there

Book Review

2009-09-06T22:01:00.003-04:00

Hello I have decided to start a book review on our blog. So here is the book review for Sunday, September 6, 2009

It's Not About Me: By Max Lucado

I found this book very interested and challenging. If you want a challenging and a book that will show you that its not about you or me, then this is a book you that you want to read.

I will try and have a book review every Sunday. If there is a book that you would like to put here please share it with us.

May God Bless each and everyone of you!

How Much Faith

2009-09-04T09:03:00.003-04:00

How encouraging to know that the Lord isn't always asking us to take giant leaps of FAITH! He knows where we are and understands what we can do and handle. He says even small faith can accomplish much.

Luke 17:6 says: 6He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.

Big or small in our eyes lets take the leap and then watch what the Lord can and will do!

2009-09-01T09:28:00.003-04:00

Hello and welcome
Just a reminder that tonight is our meeting to discuss the Gift of Grace Gospel Out Reach for September 26, 2009. Also to night is our Bible Class. Do you like to read, while I have a couple of good book raves to share with you all. The first on that I read and could not put it down was The Debt by Angela Hunt. Wow what a great book. The things that I have learned and found to be very educational. I also have just finished A Bible Study on Becoming a Women of Excellence by Cynthia Heald. I recommend both of these book. if you are looking for something that will keep you at the edge of your chair.

Hello and Welcome

2009-08-30T20:47:00.004-04:00

For those who missed our services this Sunday, you missed a great service. The Pastor spoke on Maintaining a Winning Attitude. Also we would like to invite you all to attend our Bible Class on Tuesdays where you will learn and get to know Jesus more, so come and spend an evening with other Gift of Grace family members for a great evening of fellowship. Hope to see you there.

Update From Sundays Bulletin

2009-08-26T10:19:00.001-04:00

Hello Gift of Grace Family!
I hope you’re having a great week. Last Sunday our message was “Lords Prayer” If you were not able to be with us in worship, it’s not too late to make your commitment to grow closer to God and each other through Gift of Grace. From here on out, you will have the opportunity to unite with Gift of Grace (join the church) at the close of Worship? Just listen for Pastor Sam to offer the invitation and come down front during prayer time.

This Sunday during worship we will celebrate in a service of “Maintaining A Winning Attitude” As you prepare for worship this weekend, see how you can Maintain a winning Attitude in your life. Let’s all come together and pray. See you Sunday!

Please click Here to get last Sunday’s Bulletin.
http://www.mediafire.com/?0w1nmjy1fnl

Last Weeks Message

2009-08-21T08:50:00.001-04:00

Hello Gift of Grace Family!
I hope you’re having a great week. Last Sunday our message was “Helping Hurting People (Christians)” If you were not able to be with us in worship, it’s not too late to make your commitment to grow closer to God and each other through Gift of Grace. From here on out, you will have the opportunity to unite with Gift of Grace (join the church) at the close of Worship? Just listen for Pastor Sam to offer the invitation and come down front during prayer time.

This Sunday during worship we will celebrate in a service of “Lords Prayer” As you prepare for worship this weekend, see how you can use the Lords Prayer in your daily prayers. Let’s all come together and pray. See you Sunday!

Please click Here to get last Sunday’s Bulletin.
http://www.mediafire.com/?zyyy2jiwzne

2009-08-18T10:29:00.002-04:00

Do you want to get to know Jesus better, well here is your chance, please join us for Bible class tonight at the Church. We meet at 7:00pm at the church, come and learn the way of Jesus with Pastor Jim. Come see what others are learning.

Youth Group

2009-08-17T09:55:00.000-04:00

On Sunday our Youth Group was asked to pray individually. Here are some of the photos of them along with our Youth Group Leader.

Gift of Grace

2009-08-16T20:28:00.003-04:00

was Rockin today. For those who missed our service, you missed a great service. I will post the bulletin later in the week, of todays service. But I thought I would share a few photos that we took to day. Also just a reminder that Bible study has m9oved to Tuesdays. Hope to see you there.

I will post more photos later in the week. God bless you all.