My life will never be the same because Jesus rescued me! Isn’t that our story? Isn’t that the reality we cling too?

How do you make sure you never forget? How do you remember the goodness of God? How do you keep track of the ways God has already blessed your life so you can be sure He has a plan for you in the future?

Freddy found a way to be reminded…

We get to see changed lives here on a regular basis. They don’t all signify that change with a tattoo, but all of us are marked by God in some way.

“Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.” (2 Corinthians 5:16-17 MSG)

We’ve got one more week in our series, Bring a Bible You Can Write In. This time will be looking to God’s Word to see how He can carry us through the times of suffering. So, bring a Bible…and bring a friend!

Today we celebrate this very special lady’s birthday.

In case you don’t know, I’m the extremely handsome 3 year old in this picture.

My mommy has consistently been a model of love, encouragement, purity, grace and so much more. I’m blessed and I know it. So, today, I just want to say thank you mom. Among so many other things, thank you for teaching me about Jesus from the moment I was born.

Hope your Birthday is a great one (even though you stopped counting several years ago).

Here’s a great verse that my mom held tightly to when I hit the teen years!

“Parents shall not be put to death for their children, …Each person shall be put to death for his own sin.” (Deuteronomy 24:16 MSG)

This Saturday morning a whole gang of smiling people will be up at the Calicinto Ranch serving. The reason I know they’ll be smiling is because it just happens when you begin to give your life away. When you put others first, no matter the inconvenience or trouble, something happens inside of us…and it’s bound to show up on our face!

You don’t have to wait for the next “BIG SERVE” project. Just look for needs and then meet them. Your focus, so many times, shifts from you and your difficulties to the joy you experience from helping someone else.

“Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God—soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.” (Psalm 42:11 MSG)

We’re still in our series, Bring a Bible You Can Write In, so, bring your Bible…and bring your friends!

This past weekend, 15 more people stepped up and jumped in to a relationship with Jesus!

This picture was from my last trip to Cambodia where a number of people were baptized while we were there. I love the uncontainable joy breaking free on his face. I saw that look over and over this weekend at Community!

If you’ve been thinking about taking the plunge and following Jesus in a very powerful display of obedience, we’ll be doing them again after this weekend’s message.

Who’s ready for NEW LIFE?

“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:3-4 NIV)

We’re still in our series, Bring a Bible You Can Write In, so, bring your Bible…and bring your friends!

I mentioned this weekend that change is a part of life, and this time change is moving someone on to the next chapter of their life. Maria Shellhart, the one in the green shirt and sunglasses, offered us 15 years of loving, caring and joy-filled ministry at Community. For the past several years she has overseen our 1st-5th grade ministries.

She said, although she’ll eventually be moving from Hemet, she loves this Valley and loves this church. It’s just time for a change.

Maria’s last weekend will be this coming weekend, so be sure and let her know how much you appreciate her.

“Our prayers for you are always spilling over into thanksgivings. We can’t quit thanking God our Father and Jesus our Messiah for you!” (Colossians 1:3-4 MSG)

For all of you who have children signed up to be a part of camp this summer, Maria will be up at our Elementary age Camp this summer too!

JoAnne Wood, the one in the green shirt and sunglasses, will be expanding her role to oversee all of our children’s ministries from birth–5th grade. Let’s keep her and our whole children’s ministry volunteers in prayer during this time of transition.

Photo Credit: Krysten Winstead