Grace Bible Church

My whole life I have know God. I was raised Catholic until I decided in my 30's that I wanted to go to a Christian Church and raise my children there. When we moved to Big Valley and were staying in a hotel while our house was opening up this amazing lady named Kerri introduced us to Grace Bible Church. We thought we would check it out and see if it was a church where we could get the message of God and teach our children also.

Boy was it! I loved the church and the fellowship right away. We were apart of a family that loved God and wanted to be better. We went almost every Sunday until my first Brain Surgery. During my recovery I stopped going and for whatever reason I didn't return. Laziness, Sickness, whatever the reason was that week. I missed it. I missed the message of God. I missed the people and the fellowship. I missed the Community. Still I didn't return I felt almost guilty and I shouldn't have.

My family has God in our hearts. We talk about God on a daily basis. I pray and have a very close relationship with God. I am only human and make mistakes daily but my family tries to walk and talk with God on our minds.

Going back to Church was on my heart. Heavy on my heart for months. I wanted to go back so bad but thought weird things like people might think I am there just because I am having another Brain Surgery or because something was wrong and we needed God. Those were untrue and weird things to think because none of them were true. It wasn't God who didn't want me there......He did want me there.

We decided as a family that we were going back to church this weekend. Unbeknownst to us they were having a baptism afterwards for anyone who wanted to get one. People had been planning it for weeks. Praying, getting ready, preparing.

Baptism NOUN

1. (in the Christian Church) the religious rite of sprinkling water onto a person's forehead or of immersion in water, symbolizing purification or regeneration and admission to the Christian Church

 

Church was great. I knew the moment I stepped back in and starting singing that I wouldn't stop going. I wanted to be there. I yearned to be there. Fellowship was amazing. We were welcomed back as we had never left. Our Pastors are amazing and really are putting forth such effort. The church has grown so much even in the past year. Its amazing to see Gods work be done.

 

After church many people got Baptized. They restarted their lives with God. Cleansed their sins. Every Baptism that took place was amazing. Everyone clapped. As soon as they were done my daughter asked if she could do it but was scared because everyone had already gone that was going. Plus, we hadn't been to church so she didn't know how things were prepared or what you had to do. The answer was nothing. All she had to do was give her heart to the Lord again. Be cleansed by God and be renewed. Ryan walked over to our Pastor who had already gotten out of the water and said Cassie wanted to be baptized. All our kids have been baptized before but this was heavy on Cassies heart to do it again. An amazing thing! He said "of course" and they went back in. After praying over and for her Cassie was baptized. The neat thing is even more people decided to go in after that. I was so proud of her for doing what was on her heart! Not being afraid to speak up.

 

I am proud of each and every one who got Baptized on Sunday. What a special thing in their lives. It really has brought me to think about how much we love God. How I need to be a stronger parent and raise my kids knowing God even more than we do now. How fellowship is important too.

 

Grace Bible Church is amazing. They love you for who you are. I love how Pastor Kent says that he is only human and makes mistakes too. That God covers us all. His wife is amazing also she is the most caring Godly lady that I know. I am going to start going back to Woman's Bible Study soon. I love the fact that I am able to walk out of Church and have learned something that I can put with my daily life.

 

There is a revolution  going on. Grace Bible is expanding and really feeling the Lord. With Woman's Retreats with all denominations, Bible Studies and even with baskets for every worker at the school to give them a good start to their year from the Church. Things are happening. I can feel it and I want to be apart of it. They have an an amazing Youth Group ran by an amazing Lady who the kids love. I see differences in the teens that I want my children to be able to see, hear and feel too. God is good.

 

I am not going to be afraid anymore. I wont let my sickness hold me back from Church again. The Word of God and the fellowship that we receive is too important. What ever church you go too or your relationship with God even if you don't go can always be better. It just takes one person to start it and many to continue the love of God.

 

Thank you to our Church. For accepting our family as your own family. For your prayers and for the word of God. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

How to pray when busy

I think with life being so busy it sometimes is hard to really get in touch with God. Does not mean that we aren't being a good person or that we don't want to. This is my own list on how to pray when you are busy. For ME it helps me throughout the day. With four teenagers and a life that is on the go it has really helped me. I want to share it with you.

Side note: I am a Christian but I am not anywhere near perfect. This is something that has helped me and I want to share so hopefully it helps you too! Love from Rae-Rae

1. When waking up, before your day begins you can start with a prayer. Something as simple and perfect as "This is the day the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in him".

2. One of the times I tend to pray the most is in the shower. I am alone and have that one on one time with God. To me and it might sound silly but its refreshing and like washing my attitude, thoughts or sins away. I tend to pray about getting rid of any feelings of anger, or sadness if I have any that week.

3. Car rides! I have a lot of those with teens. I am always going to pick up someone or drop someone off. This is a great time to pray. Put on K-Love it might even help to know what to pray about. This is usually the time I am praying for others. All those that I said I would pray for in their time of need. This is my time to do that. Helpful to me too because I drive a lot. For those of you who commute to and from work....its perfect. Once I was coming back from a Dr appt that was two hours away and I spent the whole time praying. I needed it and I felt much better by the time I got home.

4. When you think of someone. Use that time to pray for them. It doesn't have to be long. You can even say to God that you are thinking of them and want him to protect them or put his loving presence  in their life. Its good to pray for others.

5. Something I am just now learning is sometimes when I am stressed I turn to maybe a bowl of popcorn. I have been trying to pray at these times. Again it doesn't have to be long but having a conversation between you and God. I have noticed a lot of times I don't want that popcorn anymore and I wait for Gods answers. Its in his timing but I know he heard me.

6. Pray alone, or pray with others. I love praying with my friends. Sometimes I am the one who is more shy to start it but I jump in if they want to. I like it when a friend asks for prayer from me and others. I feel like we are more than one praying for whatever is happening. Almost like God is listening more or something. However I know that it only takes one person. I personally just like that more are doing it ...together. I pray with my husband or children. Dinner is a good time when everyone is together to give thanks for our days or even just the food that is in front of us.

7. When I am cooking or doing chores I try to pray. I give thanks for all that God has done for my family. Even the obstacles because it makes us stronger. I thank him for my family, my friends, my home, my life and all the things that has been happening to me. I especially thank him for answered prayers. It may not come in MY time but it always comes in HIS time. He can see way further than I can!

8. I don't have a certain time to do this but usually its before I go to bed. I ask God for forgiveness. Everyone makes mistakes....no one is perfect. Though sometimes people have a hard time admitting or thinking of a mistake they have made....there is always a way we can be better. God forgives us. Tell him and ask for forgiveness. Its healing.

9. I don't pray all day long but really I should. These are just some places that I find praying is good because I am so busy. Another is when you are exercising, taking a walk, riding an elevator or taking the stairs somewhere. Walking from the car to the store. God wont get upset with you for it being short. He just wants to know you are there. :)

10. I pray a lot for guidance. With a large family and kids to take care of I  pray a lot for that. I ask him to lead me and to show me what the right decision is. I am always asking God ways to make me a better person. I ask him for guidance with my kids and my marriage. How to help my kids and to guide them. How to keep a strong relationship with my husband. I think besides Thanking God...I ask for a lot of guidance.

I am not perfect....I am no where near it. I fall all the time but I get back up with Gods Hand. I hope these were helpful to you. Its been on my mind. I really wanted to share. I love to pray. There is no wrong way to pray. People across the world pray in different ways. Its just about your relationship with God.

11. Pray now....Take a second from reading this and just talk to God or say a prayer that you know. If you have never prayed....Say hi to him and tell him what you have been feeling. He is listening. God Bless you all!

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