Our July 2020 Newsletter is here!

Click here to download it!

By Kristi Bothur - This Side of Heaven … With a nod to Dr. Seuss :)

Twas late in ‘19 when the virus began

Bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land.

People were sick, hospitals full,

Doctors overwhelmed, no one in school.

[...]

Dear Saints from St. Paul (and all who, having eyes to see, can see! – thanks for visiting this site!  God bless you through it!)

Please take time to watch this video message from Pastor Chris Dodge (he preached for my installation here at St. Paul back last September).  This is a most appropriate word for the congregation and the Church at-large.  There are many voices out there and some are “wolves in sheep’s clothing”.  We need wisdom and discernment but we also need repentance – to read ourselves into the message and ask where and how we need to change.  There is abundant grace available from our heavenly Father but we are kidding ourselves if we forget that He is also the Holy and Righteous Judge.  His justice is patiently awaiting our repentance and change of mind and behavior but He has “suffered long” with an apathetic and mediocre version of “Christianity” among many who would like to claim they are following Jesus, but they are not.  It may very well be time for judgment to begin with the household of God (I Pet. 4:17). 

I strongly encourage you to take this message to heart, pass it on to others with the same plea.  Welcome in this “year of the Lord’s favor” because there is a coming “day of vengeance of our God”(Is. 61:2).  Now, as we accept His call to square up with His Word as it address our language, behavior, lifestyle, choices, giving, attitudes and motive, we are allowing ourselves to be “disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world” (I Cor. 11:32).

Thank you!  Repentance is followed by times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19-20).  Jesus is calling!  “Oh, come to the altar, the Father’s arms are open wide!  Forgiveness was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ!” 

Peace and love in Jesus + Pastor Paul

Link: https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

How are you doing?  This virus thing is lingering and the news of it can be (wants to be!) all-consuming! That fear thing will consume you!  It will knot you up.  It can freeze you into inactivity.  It can depress you with isolation.  But how are you doing with Jesus?  He wants to be all-consuming.  He will consume/devour your fear.  He wants to release and liberate you.  He wants you to know joy inexpressible and full of glory!  Consider I John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”  God’s love for you is perfect and He want you secure in the comfort of that perfection of love – His Son, our Savior, Jesus!  Spend some extra time with the “good news” of the Gospel!  Turn off the bad news that cultivate fear and ingest and digest the Truth and truths of God’s Word (through reading the Bible and/or through all those media/technology access venues!)!  Peace and love – not fear and anxiety – in Jesus + Pastor Paul