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A pencil maker told the pencil 5 important lessons just before putting it in the box:

1-Everything you do will always leave a mark.
2-You can always correct the mistakes you make.
3-What is important is what is inside of you.
4-In life, you will undergo painful sharpening which will make you better.
5-Be the best pencil. Let yourself be held and guided by the hand that holds you.

How Pencils Are Made

The pencil making process begins with a block of cedar. The block is then cut into long thin, narrow strips of wood, cut longer than the normal length of a pencil.  The wood is then treated with wax and stain to obtain uniform color and improve the machining and sharpening.  Grooves are then cut into the treated wood.  Pencil leads are placed into the grooves.  Another strip of wood is placed on top and bonded together with special glue. The wood “sandwiches” are then clamped together tightly while the glue dries. When the glue has dried, the wood is trimmed to make sure the pencils are the proper length.  Next, the wood is cut into pencil shapes, painted, and finished.

God in his love has taken many steps to mold us into who he wants us to be.  Like the block of wood, we start out very different from what we will be.  There is cutting away of our sinful habits and shaping of our character that must take place as we are being prepared to be instruments in the Master’s hand.  Like the pencil, we need to be treated to remove all the blemishes and imperfections left by our past.  He then bonds us, with his special glue-love, to with our brothers and sisters so that we become one.  Ephesians 4:4-5

In life, we may break and things may not be looking good on the outside, but God knows us on the inside. We may find ourselves having troubles with our finances, health, or relationships.  We may have to undergo many painful sharpening, but remember this; He is trimming away the unnecessary things in your life to get to what he will use to continue writing the story of His life in you.

 Linda Decker

Your life is God’s novel. Let him write it. ~Isaac Bashevis Singer (emphasis added)

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

I watched the story of a woman named Judy, who was married to a man with an explosive personality. They had a daughter and Judy didn’t want her to grow up thinking that marriage was a bad thing. She finally found the courage to leave.

One morning, Judy’s husband entered the store where she worked, yelling and causing a scene in front of customers. He was carrying a soda bottle filled with gasoline and as he approached her, he poured it on her head and clothing. She ran outside the store to get away from him He lit a book of matches and tossed it at her.

Barely able to speak, she kept repeating the same words to the paramedics as they worked to save her life. In the midst of horrible pain, she kept repeating, “He cannot take my JOY!”

I have heard believers say that the enemy has stolen their joy. I tell you that no one and nothing can steal from you that which the Lord has given you! But, so often, we give it up. We find ourselves convincing ourselves that we haven’t the strength to go on.

The Bible tells us that Jesus has given us everything we need to live a victorious life. Living a victorious life is based on who we are, not on our circumstances. If you are a child of God, your life is hidden in Jesus and nothing can take you from his care.

If you are tired of trying to do things on your own. If you are tired of running into the wall everytime you try to start over, give your life to Jesus. He offers you eternity instead of a wall. He will fill your heart with joy and give you a peace that knows no boundaries.

‎”To be in Christ is the source of the Christian’s life; to be like Christ is the sum of His excellence; to be with Christ is the fullness of His joy” – Charles Hodge

You can have the same joy as the woman in this story! Jesus asks only 3 things from you:

• First, you can be sure that God loves you unconditionally and desires to have a personal relationship with you.
• Second, you need to admit that you are a sinner, we all are. This is what separates all of us from Him.
• Third, stop trying to please God through your own efforts. Salvation through Jesus Christ is a gift that none of us can earn or deserves.

If you can do these few things and want to know Jesus in a whole different way, please pray the following prayer.

“Father, I know that my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life and turn toward you. Please forgive me. Help me not to continue sinning. I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ came to live and die for my sins. He resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to live, rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

If you prayed this prayer, please call our church office. We would like to pray with you.

Linda Decker

“You are the light that shines for the world to see. You are like a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden. People don’t hide a lamp under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand. Then the light shines for everyone in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

There is a story of a twelve-year-old girl named Valya Vaschenko who lived under communist rule in the Soviet Union. She was mandated by law to take the oath to become a member of the Communist children’s group known as “The Pioneers.” Valya was a Christian and when she refused to do as she was asked, the director of her school and several other young girls were prepared to force her to take the oath and become a member. As they read the oath and were about to put the scarf on her, she suddenly started praying to God out loud and began to sing a hymn, “We will stand firm for the gospel faith, for Christ, following His example, forward all, forward after Him.” Children like Valya, were heavily punished for praying and witnessing in their school. She chose to stand up for Jesus despite the consequences.

With all the new laws and regulations, it is becoming difficult to live out our faith in the United States. We are prohibited from speaking about Christ in our work places and in many public venues. As Christians, we are ridiculed and belittled. The message of Christ has become offensive to the secular world. Jesus said, “If the people of this world hate you, just remember that they hated me first. If you belonged to the world, its people would love you. But you don’t belong to the world. I have chosen you to leave the world behind, and that is why its people hate you.” John 15:18-19

I recently watched the football game between the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets. The game had everyone on the edge of their seats down to the last seconds. When the game was over the Broncos had prevailed over the Jets. During the after-game celebration, in a great demonstration of their faith, members of both teams fell on one knee, formed a circle, and together prayed a prayer of thanksgiving. What a testimony to our Lord Jesus Christ!

With all the opposition, that we as a church, face every day, we must no longer be silent, but instead with boldness, resolve to shine the light of life in our dark world.

Linda Decker

“How do we communicate the Gospel in an age when people hear with their eyes and think with their feelings?” Ravi Zacharias

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8

There was a young woman who was blind. She had a boyfriend who loved her very much. He wanted to marry his girlfriend. She refused to marry him because she was blind. She told him if she could only see the world, she would marry him.

One day she received some terrific news. Someone had donated a pair of eyes for her. She was immediately scheduled for an eye transplant. She would be able to see.

The surgery was a success. The bandages were removed from her eyes and she could see everything including her boyfriend! When she looked at him, she saw that he was blind. He said to her, now that you can see we can be married. She refused to marry him because he was blind.

Sometime later, the young man sent a note to his beloved. The note said, “Take care of my eyes dear.”

God’s love for this world is so great that He sent his only son to die a terrible death, so that He could take away the sin that kept us blind to His goodness and love. The Bible says that Jesus came unto His own only to be rejected.

Have you ever loved someone only to be rejected by them? It may have been a parent, a spouse, or even a friend. There is one person who has given His all just for you. He will never turn you away. He knows your name. He knows your pain.

Why not come to Jesus? He is waiting for you.

Linda Decker

I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; Psalm 121:1-3

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18

I read the story of a woman named June, who commuted to and from work on the train. It was on the train that she had her alone time. She really enjoyed this time of the day.

One morning the train was exceptionally crowded. There was only one empty seat next to a middle-aged man. When she sat down, she noticed that he did not look up at her. He just sat staring out the window in deep in thought.

Something inside kept prompting her to talk to his man. She tried to ignore the feeling, but it would not go away. About ten minutes into her commute, she found an excuse to ask him something. He looked up at her. He had tried to dry his tears but it was obvious that he was in deep pain. Her question started a conversation that lasted through the end of her commute.

At the end of the line, he thanked her for being an angel and taking time to talk to him.

A few weeks later June found a sealed envelope on her desk. It was addressed to Angel. The receptionist said a man brought it in. He didn’t know June’s name, only that she was his angel. From the description he gave the receptionist, she knew it was June.

When the woman read the note, her eyes welled up with tears. It was hard for her to contain herself. It was from the gentleman she had met on the train. In the letter, he thanked her for taking time to speak to him and saving his life that morning. He had been experiencing some very painful personal problems and had decided to take his life that day. He had cried out saying that if God were real and cared for him, He wo

uld send someone to talk to him and prevent him from taking his life. The man ended his letter saying that June was that someone; an angel sent by God.

Let us be a reflection of Christ. Let the world see Jesus. Let us be ready at all times to be a blessing to others. After all, we might be someone’s answer to prayer.

Linda Decker

God has called us to bring Christ to man, not man to Christ.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

There was a group called ‘The Fisherman’s Fellowship’. They were surrounded by streams and lakes full of hungry fish. They met regularly to discuss the call to fish, and the thrill of catching fish. They got excited about fishing!!

Someone suggested that they needed a philosophy of fishing, so they carefully defined and redefined fishing, and the purpose of fishing. They developed fishing strategies and tactics. Then they realized that they had been going at it backwards. They had approached fishing from the point of view of the fisherman, and not from the point of view of the fish. How do fish view the world? How does the fisherman appear to the fish? What do fish eat, and when? These are all good things to know. So they began research studies, and attended conferences on fishing. Some travelled to far away places to study different kinds of fish, with different habits. Some got PhD’s in fishology. But no one had yet gone fishing.

So a committee was formed to send out fishermen. As prospective fishing places outnumbered fishermen, the committee needed to determine priorities.

A priority list of fishing places was posted on bulletin boards in all of the fellowship halls. But still, no one was fishing. A survey was launched, to find out why… Most did not answer the survey, but from those that did, it was discovered that some felt called to study fish, a few to furnish fishing equipment, and several to go around encouraging the fisherman.

What with meetings, conferences, and seminars, they just simply didn’t have time to fish.

Now, Jake was a newcomer to the Fisherman’s Fellowship. After one stirring meeting of the Fellowship, Jake went fishing. He tried a few things, got the hang of it, and caught a choice fish. At the next meeting, he told his story, and he was honoured for his catch, and then scheduled to speak at all the Fellowship chapters and tell how he did it.

Now, because of all the speaking invitations and his election to the board of directors of the Fisherman’s Fellowship, Jake no longer has time to go fishing.

But soon he began to feel restless and empty. He longed to feel the tug on the line once again. So he cut the speaking, he resigned from the board, and he said to a friend, “Let’s go fishing.” They did, just the two of them, and they caught fish.

The members of the Fisherman’s Fellowship were many, the fish were plentiful, but the fishers were few.

We can get so busy studying, planning attending conferences, preparing, organizing and spending time with other believers that we forget what Jesus called all of us to be…FISHERS OF MEN.

Linda Decker

God has called us to bring Christ to man, not man to Christ.

He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Isaiah 53:3

Johnny Allen (Jimi) Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942, in Seattle, Washington.

His mother, Lucille, was only 17 years old when Jimi Hendrix was born. She had a stormy relationship with his father and eventually left the family after the couple had two more children. Jimi Hendrix would only see his mother sporadically. Then when he was only 10, his mother passed away. He had a difficult childhood, sometimes living in the care of relatives and even acquaintances.

Jimi loved going to church. He deeply loved the music, worship and the preaching. At age 12, a pastor publicly ridiculed the young boy due to his poor attire and asked him to leave the church. Jimi Hendrix vowed then never to set foot inside a Christian church. Ever.

During his short career, he sang songs of pain, songs of loss and confusion, perhaps reminders of his childhood and the church he had loved. Caught up in the chaos of the 1960s, Jimi Hendrix died on September 18th, 1970, from drug-related complications. He was only 27 years old at the time of his passing. We don’t know if he ever knew Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, but what we do know is that he lived with the scars of rejection and disillusion sketched in his heart. Scars that fame, wealth and drugs could not erase.

If you have lived life seeking to cover the secret pain of rejection and lack of love that has taken roots in your heart, there is a healing waiting for you. Nothing but the love of Jesus can heal your heart and heal you. He became man so that He could identify with you in your pain. You see, he also faced rejection from those he loved most.

Come and lay your pain at the foot of the cross. Reach out and take hold of your healing. He is waiting for you.

Linda Decker

Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you have one foot on the brakes. In order to be free, we must learn how to let go. Release the hurt. Release the fear. Refuse to entertain your old pain. The energy it takes to hand onto the past is holding you back from a new life. Mary Manin Morrissey

Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers, making the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. We should bring out the best in others, not put them down, and not cut them out. Colossians 4:5-6

I read the testimony of a young woman named Lisa. She grew up in a home with alcoholic parents. As a little girl, one of her playmates was a neighbor who attended church on Sundays. One week, Lisa invited herself to church with her friend. At the age of 9, she heard about Jesus for the first time. Then when Lisa was about 10, she tasted wine for the first time. She thought it must taste good because her mom drank it all the time.

When Lisa was a teenager, Lisa and her friend would sneak out of the window and drive themselves over the nearby border into Mexico. They would drink and party then make their way home in the early morning. They could always count on her friend’s dad knocking at the door around 7:00 a.m. so they could go to church. Everyone at church knew that both were hung over, but no one treated them any different from anyone else. The church members treated them with love, kindness, and lots of prayer. In her moments of sobriety, she would ask God what He wanted from her. It seemed that everywhere she turned there was a reminder of Him.

At 24, Lisa was an alcoholic and had begun to try drugs. Lisa had hit rock bottom. She was homeless. Lisa moved in with her father who had never really been part of her life. She managed to keep sober for a year, and then started drinking again. She was working as a waitress when a friend invited her to an AA Meeting. After about a year, she began to seek God. That God she heard about as a little girl; that God that let those people love her even though she was so lost.

Lisa sought God with all her heart. She shared, “I had asked Jesus to be my Savior in the past. Now I was asking from my heart. I had no idea what the future would hold, but was certain He was real and that His hand was on my life.”

I have heard this testimony many times. I have heard testimonys of many who had sought answers in a church and were turned away or ignored because of how they looked. As His church, He has called us to love the wounded and the hurting. We are called to share the Love of Christ with all. Jesus didn’t ask us to clean up before he would love us; should we?

Let’s love others the way He loves us…unconditionally.

Linda Decker

“A person who demonstrates WITH THEIR LIFE the love of God is a person who is experiencing IN THEIR LIFE the love of God.” ~ John Randall