May 14, 2017

Pastor Notes:

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me” 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (NIV).

It was not what he was hoping to hear, “My grace is sufficient for you.” He wanted the fix-it grace, the grace that makes it go away, the grace that makes weakness, pain, and suffering disappear. “Why others and not me?” The healing, delivering, restoring power of Christ had worked through Paul countless times, “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even hand-kerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them” Acts 19:11-12 (NIV).

If you had to choose between deliverance from pain and strength to cope with pain, which would you prefer? If you have physical limitations or handicaps would you want restoration or grace to bear it? If as a parent (since it is Mothers’ Day) you are both at the end of your wit and your rope what would you ask for, sufficient grace or fix-it grace? Dumb questions.

Paul did ask for fix-it grace, because there is nothing wrong with asking for healing, deliverance, restoration, and permanent change. Our Heavenly Father has given us the green light to ask

away (Matthew 7:7-11, James 1:2-6). Paul didn’t just ask once, but twice, and again. Then he got a clear word, a definite answer from God, “Your thorn in the flesh will stay, your weakness will not be taken away, your pain, struggle, and frustration will not just dissipate, but you will receive sufficient grace, for today, and tomorrow, and every day after that.”

It can knock you for a loop, when God grants you sufficient grace when you asked for fix-it grace, when God hears your request but responds to it differently. We see little purpose in pain, suffering, sickness, limitations, handicaps, frustrations, trials that last, and … It is easy to get confused when the God of love for whom nothing is impossible doesn’t fix it and instead hands us the cup filled with sufficient grace. It is tough drinking water while others are sipping champagne.

Many criticized God and Christ and walked away at this intersection of receiving sufficient grace while asking for fix-it grace. But Paul didn’t, after hearing, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,” he adjusted himself to Christ’s answer, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV). We’d much prefer for God to adjust himself and acquiesce to our requests than the other way around.

Sufficient grace is never cheap grace; it is not lesser than fix-it grace. When God gives us the cup of sufficient grace it is because that is exactly what we need. Paul recognized that this sufficient grace kept him humble, it kept him much closer to Christ, it made him depend on power far greater than his own, and he realized that Christ shines through women and men who embrace and live out of his sufficient grace.

To God be all glory. Love you, Pastor Hans

SALVATION

Nick,

Susan Watts brother Greg,

Phillip, Luke, Skip,

Farney,

John Boykin, Peter,

Mariah Ellis

CARD & FLOWER MINISTRY If you know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized, please let us know by

calling: Sandra Perry 484-2022 or e-mail BATTprayer@yahoo.com

Or Claudette Siebert 852-0105

HEALTH

Steve Ebel,

Stephany Melendez,

Harley Wolfenbarger,

Ron Hunt (critically ill)

PRAY FOR:

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COMMUNION FOR

THE SHUT-INS

If you know of any one who

would like to have

communion but are confined

to their home, please call

Richard Mays @ 852-9073.

Military And Those Serving

Michael Berger, Austin Downing, Mike Sharland, Justin Mebus,

John Michael Chavez, Joseph Kopp, Dylan Werner,

Mike Thomasson, Thomas Hoffman,

Chris Kelly, Joel Thelen, Clayton Brown,

Jonathan Grinols, Austin Kroeker

We are in need of people to step into the

leadership of the following areas of ministry:

Kitchen Ministry

Amazing Grays

If you are interested please let Pastor Hans know or

simply put your name and area of interest on one

of the Welcome Cards, located on the back of the

seat in front of you.

CentriKids Camp Parents Meeting

May 11th @ 7 P.M.

Location: Fellowship Hall

For more information see Joy Miller

“VBS” Vacation Bible School In House Training May 26th at 7 P.M. in the Fellowship Hall

Happy Mother’s Day Isaiah 40:30 NIV

but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,

Weekly Events

Sunday School/Small Groups - 9:00 A.M.

Sunday Worship Service - 10:30 A.M.

1st Tuesday – Food Ministry

@ 9:00 A.M.— 11:00 A.M.

3rd Tuesday - Food Ministry

@ 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. Wednesday – Woman’s Bible Study

@ 9:00 A.M Wednesday - Dominos-Chicken Foot

@ 10:30 A.M.. Wednesday - Bible Study/Small Group

For all ages @7:00 P.M. Thursdays - Crafts, Hobbies & Fellowship

@ 1:00 P.M-4:00 P.M. Saturday - Bible Study/Small group

@ 5:45 P.M. Saturday - Worship Service—7:00 P.M.

Read the Bible for Life 2017

May 15th- May 21st

DAY 1 - John 10

(Proverbs 15) DAY 2 - John 11

(Proverbs 16)

DAY 3 - John 12

(Proverbs 17)

DAY 4 - John 13

(Proverbs 18)

DAY 5 - John 14

(Proverbs 19)

DAY 6 - (Proverbs 20) DAY 7 - (Proverbs 21)

Giving &

Attendance

May 7, 2017

Offering:

$2,704.00

Annie Armstrong:

$1,193.83

Attendance:

90

Lake Don Pedro Baptist Church

4175 Abeto Street

La Grange California 95329

209-852-2029

ldpbaptistchurch@gmail.com

www.ldpbaptistchurch.com

Welcome all of you who are guests with us today. Our desire

is for you to relax and be blessed by worship, God’s Word,

and fellowship. We, the members have committed

ourselves to underwrite the church financially. We do

not expect you to contribute to the offering, but you are free

to participate. We would like to get to know you and for

you to know us better.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and

peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow

with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

H O P E