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Dear Church Family, Where do you look for safety and security? As believers, we know the Lord is our ultimate protector, but we’re still often tempted to look to other things to feel secure. It might be having enough money in the bank or a strong retirement portfolio, living in a safe city or neighborhood, taking care of our bodies physically, making firm plans for the future, or a host of other things. It’s not that those things aren’t wise, but the sin comes when we look to those, rather than God, as our defense. We’re reminded, “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord,” (Proverbs 21:31 ESV). I was reminded of this today as I was reading in Psalm 4. As David faces many enemies and difficulties, he prays to God.
David draws peace and rest through reliance upon God for safety. Have you ever been wide awake late at night, restless because you can’t fix a problem? I love that David is able to lie down and sleep in the midst of his trouble. The first half of verse eight doesn’t make sense without the second half. He is able to do this because he knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that God alone is his safety. Not God plus this, or God with that; God alone. As long as David has God with Him, he can be at peace. The same is true for us. As long as we have God, no matter what is going on in our lives, we can rest in peace, because He is with us. We must look to Him, call on Him, and trust in Him. When we do, we can say, along with the psalmist: Psalm 118:5-7 (ESV) Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. 6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7 The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. –Pastor Dave ———————————————————————————————————————————————— What’s Happening at Gospel Life:Men’s Hike: Guys, don’t forget to join us tomorrow, July 25th, for a day of hiking, fellowship, and food. We’ll meet at Pastor Dave’s house at 8 am, and carpool up to Blue Lake, near Cascade. Bring water, hiking gear, snacks to share, and money for lunch afterward. We’ll have time together in the Word at the lake and hope to be back around 5 pm. The hike is around 1.7 miles with approx. 400 feet of elevation change. If you can’t meet us to carpool, you can also meet us at the trailhead around 10:30 am. Here is where we will meet to start the hike: https://maps.app.goo.gl/z8otbPBARZ6c3PJy5 Giving Update: Thank you for your continued faithful financial support of the church. Here are numbers for the second quarter of 2026: Q2-2026 (Apr-Jun) YTD-2026 (Jan-Jun) Opportunities to Serve: We are looking for help with teaching children’s church. If you have a heart for God and love for kids, please contact Heidi Bronleewe. Communion: We will celebrating the Lord’s Supper as part of our Sunday morning service on Sunday, August 9th. Through the ordinance of communion, we remember the sacrifice Jesus made to save us from our sins. Upcoming Dates: A Family Affair (August 30th), Evangelism Workshop (September 13th) Life Groups: If you’re interested in joining a life group, we have several to choose from. You can check them out here: Request Prayer: It’s important for us to be praying for each other as a church! If you ever need prayer, we would love to come alongside you. You can always turn in a prayer request on Sundays using the Connection Card, but you can also submit a prayer request online at any time: This Coming Sunday: Previous Worship Services: | ||
the LORD answered me and set me free
