Being Happy!

                                                           

In our world of materialism it can be difficult to be happy.  The answer could be that it is not what truly makes us happy, but more that we think we have to have to make us happy.

Is it the next purchase? Is it the newest IPhone or video game that can make me happy?  Maybe it takes something bigger to make you think you are happy!  Could it be a new car, buying a new house or a deluxe vacation that would provoke happiness!

Happiness is being alive in Jesus, and knowing we have trusted Him for our salvation!  Happiness is being blessed with family and friends.  You have heard me say at least a hundred times… “All we really have on this earth is God and each other and we had better take care of each other!”

Happiness comes from how we approach circumstances and look at life.  “Stinking thinking” can ruin a great day!

Imagine having a group of friends over at your house. There is a mess to clean up, yes, but it means I have been surrounded by friends.  A huge heating bill can mean you were warm in the winter.  Even taxes can be a blessing; it means I have a job.

Be happy! We have the Lord and each other and you are loved,

Pastor Ralph

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Student Ministry

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Church, for investing in our students!  My life and ministry, and the young people that served on Wednesday night during the service, are fruit of that investment.

Parents and grandparents, can I encourage you to please get your child or teen involved in the student ministries here at Trinity Baptist Church?  There are no perfect    programs or perfect people, but the opportunities they will receive of leading, learning, and loving, will follow them for the rest of their lives.  Giving students a choice is over-rated; love and lead your students during these pivotal years.

I am so proud to be the student pastor at Trinity Baptist Church.  Jessica and I are entering our 9th year in student ministry and are more determined than ever to disciple young men and women in God’s Word.

In His Service,

Pastor Nathan & Jessica

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Back to School

NOOOO!! Say it is not so!  This is way too early!  We are not ready for school and for college!

It seems as if summer just got started and we are already talking about going back to school.   

I really am old school; I think school should start the first Tuesday after Labor Day.

The life lesson is very simple; here comes the calendar, ready or not!

We have to get ready on Sunday evening so we can jump up and go to work and school on Monday.  We make plans for Christmas and Thanksgiving.  They are all on our calendar.  Ready or not, we have appointments to keep.  We can dread April 15, but tax day shows up.  Don’t forget birthdays.  Yes, they keep coming, even if you are “39” or “49” and holding!

The truth is that back to school is just a step towards our ultimate joy, seeing Jesus.  It is a tiny reminder on our calendar of life.  We have an appointment to keep.

If you have children or grandchildren you have heard about what the children need to start school.  It is clothes, shoes, backpacks, school supplies and more.

Church family, they also need our extra love, our calm assurances over the new school year and our prayers!  Don’t forget prayers and compassion for the teachers.

Celebrate back to school with your Trinity Family as we pray the new school year off to a great start!

You are loved,

Pastor Ralph

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They Continued in Prayer

Every day we live, we understand more and more the need for prayer.  This growing awareness helps us to know that we must pray even more now than in the past.

C.H. Spurgeon was saved at the age of 16; he surrendered to preach when he was 19 years of age. Only 8 years later, over 6,000 people were coming to hear him preach in the “Tabernacle”.  Mr. Spurgeon said that he waited on God, He got alone with God, and he studied the Word and then prayed.

The first church was born in prayer.  When the government of Jerusalem said not to preach in Jesus’ name, His followers met together and prayed!

When King Herod had killed James then put the Apostle Peter in prison, they prayed.   Acts 1:14 states that they continued in prayer, “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren.”

Whatever the problem, no matter the situation, the church prayed; then they continued in prayer!

Psalm 55:17, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and   He shall hear my voice.'”

Luke 18:1,”…that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

The answer for our families, our church and our problems will not be found in the efforts of men.  We need the supernatural presence and power of God.  This comes only by prayer.

James 5:16,”…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

We must be united in our mission, connected in our vision and welded together in fervent prayer.

“God, please save our lost family members!  God please touch our church with the fire of revival!  God please grant me faith to claim the promises of your world!”

We must continue in prayer!

You are loved,

Pastor Ralph

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PAYING FORWARD

You can be a blessing with your life’s estate.  You can pay it forward for the cause of Christ and our church.

Many of us have experienced the surprise and blessing when we drove up to the drive-through window to pay for our purchase and the bill was already paid! Someone in line in front of you or me paid for our coffee or burger.  That person in the front was giving a gift to the person to follow.

In the life of a church we can witness the same blessing on a much larger scale.  It is called estate planning.  You can plan to use your estate to bless the church, and to be honored and remembered after you are already in Heaven.

God has given to us many “things” to be stewards over in our lifetime.  We own cars, trucks, RVs, boats, real estate, stocks, bonds, and many times the house we live in.  We can add to that our personal items, our cash, checking accounts, certificates of deposits and savings accounts.   We are blessed people!

Attention to our stewardship now gives us the opportunity to plan how our material things will be used after we are enjoying our new home!

Our church financial team can assist you with these future preparations.  In this way you are voting to keep the church preaching and teaching the Word of God for years to come by including Trinity in your estate planning.

We can be faithful in our planning for those who are coming after us.  I Corinthians 4:2, Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

II Corinthians 9:8, And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Thank you for being faithful and thank you for caring and sharing.

You are loved,

Pastor Ralph

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