To God's Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
Today in history marks the day that Mitsu Fachida trusted in Jesus as LORD and Saviour, and surrendered His life to the Master. I have told this story of grace before, this is the man that led the attack on pearl harbour and then experienced devastation when his nation lost world war 2, and his religion failed him...THEN HE EXPERIENCED GOD'S LOVE and after this conversion Mitsu lived on mission for Jesus to share the reality of forgiveness, freedom, and full devotion to His Saviour! Let us celebrate every day the richness of God's love and grace towards us, and then commit again to live on mission for Him!
Don't let your earthly view devastate you, let the Grace of God be your delight and live in JOY!
C.J. Mahaney in his great little book, Living A Cross Centred Life, states, "For when you're deeply aware of your sin, and of what an affront it is to God's holiness, and of how impossible it is for Him to respond to this sin with anything other than furious wrath--you can only be overwhelmed with how amazing grace is."
AMEN...HIS GRACE IS GREATER! May you experience that today as you seek to live for Him.
Today I am supposed to be in Indianapolis for a conference and meetings with TGC. Instead, I am watching online and texting my pastor friends, loving the preaching but missing the fellowship. It feels like this year has stolen so much from us...AND YET, God is still on the throne, and He is at work in His people for His glory! What is He teaching you? Share that with someone else, and pray with them and encourage them. I think for the Canadian church this has been our greatest attack, and sadly much defeat is happening all around us...let us be those clinging to Jesus, empowered by the Spirit, joyful in our unity, and passionate in His mission!
WE ARE ON THE WINNING SIDE!
KEEP GROWING IN YOUR FAITH:
Remember that Authentic Christianity is relational, and we are to grow to know Him better. Review your notes from Sunday's message, and take the time to commit to practice those KEYSTONE habits....
Preach The Gospel To Yourself Every Day!
Pursue Word Saturation
Pray...PRAY!
Practice Community...daily reach out and love one another...be an encourager!
Person of Jesus is KEY FOCUS!...NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF HIM.
If you do these things, you will grow and not only be a blessing to church family members, you will live as an AMBASSADOR in the world for Jesus, pointing others to the richness of His love and the reality of His Gospel.
KEEP GROWING YOUR FAITH!
Never lose sight of His grace, and rest in it with JOY!
In one of the messages from the Pajama conference I am at, we heard of the rampant discouragement in churches and pastors across the USA...and the need for us to keep our Christianity relational! Oh that we would find that through this trial we would be proven faithful, loving and builders of the bride. Oh that we would use His love for us as a motive to be an imitator of Him, and live a life of love (Ephesians 5:1-2).
Stop
Look up Ephesians 5:1-2 and read it...underline it...seek to experience His love and live it!
I am so thankful for the family He has blessed me with at CBC. Thank you for so much for the encouragement that comes my way every day, and the blessing you have been and are being to so many. FINISH strong, and we will grow through this time in intimacy with God and love for one another. THANK YOU!
Sunday Is Coming:
What Now?
1 Corinthians 15:58
The resurrection is not the end, it is the pathway to intimacy and mission.
The life that Jesus has called us to live is not easy, in fact, we will be tempted to give up and coast, or cling to legalism and judge others rather than rejoice in grace and love.
We need encouragement!
We need to stay relational!
How can we do this?
Live in the power and reality of the Gospel and resurrection of Jesus and live in His grace and what it produces.
Sunday, we will seek to be encouraged to NEVER GIVE UP! No matter the cost, to be Gospel people on mission for Him in a world that is not our home.
NEVER GIVE UP!
STAY INFORMED AND PRAYING
INVITE 1, ENCOURAGE 3
Be A Faithful Ambassador & Share His Gospel
Please pray we could gather again soon in our building, not just in the other ways we are seeking to do this.
30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World – April 13-May 12 2021
Each year CBC partners with those around the world to pray for the Muslim world during the month they celebrate Ramadan. This is a time of year that many Muslims are seeking a deeper understanding of spiritual truths and there are many examples of Muslims finding Christ as they seek God’s revelation during this time.
Each day for 30 days a people group within the Muslim world is featured, helping you learn about their culture and their situation, and then specific prayer points are provided to guide your intercession on their behalf. This year there multiple days that feature Muslim people groups that are now represented in cities across North American. They could even be one of your neighbours.
We have again provided the prayer guide in PDF format that you can download to your digital device from the church website.
We also have a number of printed guides available at the church. If you would like one and cannot get to the church to get one in time, please contact the church office and we will do our best to get you a copy.
Other Helpful Information
please check out our online bulletin that is updated every week: Keep Informed
cloverdalebaptistchurch.ca/
Other:
Please help our search committee as they look for the man of God that will help us exalt His name in song and deepen our love for Him as we celebrate His greatness together. We long for God's man for the ministry, and would like this to be sooner than later (our timing), so please pray, and help us to pursue this patiently and in God's POWER! If you know of anyone...please share with them this amazing opportunity and have them apply!
Kids ministry is seeking to serve you, and help in discipling our children and families even though we are not gathering physically. Please take advantage of this, and continue to make church a priority that your children can see and taste!
Make sure you are taking advantage of opportunities to gather like Connection Cafe, Sunday School, Growth Groups, and don't stop meeting where we can. I love the idea of going to a park with 10 others, listening to God's Word preached and sung, and glorifying Him publicly. Try not to bother to many people, but to show them the beauty of Jesus love in a gracious, truth filled way...and do what you can while you can!
Thanks all for staying informed, and for being a family who has a positive impact for God's glory and the good of His church in the world He has sovereignly placed us.
It is a joy to serve the RESURRECTED KING, by serving you...I LONG TO STAND FIRM with you, and ALWAYS GIVE OURSELVES FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD!
To shine through this time of suffering, unified, focused, and victorious in CHRIST!
Thank you for your love, your encouragement, and your partnership in the Gospel
Pastor Rob
1 Corinthians 15:58
HIS GRACE IS GREATER