Author: Laurin

I’m first and foremost a follower of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, striving to learn more and grow closer to Him. I am also a former public middle school English, Reading, Social Studies teacher now spending my days trying to figure out where God needs me to go next! I'm privileged to help edit the work of the awesome writers over at The Relevant Christian Magazine (trcmagazine.org) and to help author-friends with beta-reading and editing their work. I’m honored that I get to lead a Bible study and play librarian at my little church in southwestern Colorado. I love to serve God, meditate on His Word, read great books, take photos, be crafty, jot down random thoughts, and crochet poorly.

Walking Confidently in the Middle of Trials

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Good Sunday Morning, once again! To listen to the message Pastor Steve has prepared for today, please click play on the audio player below. I’ve included links to the Scriptures he references in his message, as well as a poem he shares.

Call to Worship - Psalm 96
1 Sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
    The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
    he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
    let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
    he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Scripture References
1 Peter 1:1-9
Job 7:17-19
1 Peter 1:14-15
1 Peter 2:1-3
Joshua 1:9
1 Kings 17:13
Hebrews 3:14
Job 4:8
Galatians 6:7
Romans 2:6
John 10:28
John 14:27
Philippians 4:19

My Cup Runneth Over

by Margaret E. Barber

There is always something over, 
When we trust our gracious Lord; 
Every cup He fills o’erfloweth, 
His great rivers all are broad. 
Nothing narrow, nothing stinted, 
Ever issues from His store; 
To His own He gives full measure, 
Running over, evermore.
There is always something over, 
When we, from the Father’s hand, 
Take our portion with thanksgiving, 
Praising for the path He planned. 
Satisfaction, full and deepening, 
Fills the soul, and lights the eye, 
When the heart has trust in Jesus 
All its need to satisfy.
There is always something over, 
When we tell of all His love; 
Unplumbed depths still lie beneath us, 
Unscaled heights rise far above; 
Human lips can never utter 
All His wondrous tenderness, 
We can only praise and wonder, 
And His name forever bless.

Praying you have a blessed Sabbath day and a blessed week! Hoping to see everyone in fellowship again soon.

The Crown of Rejoicing

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Happy Memorial Day Sunday! Pastor Steve has prepared a message about the Crown of Rejoicing for us today. Please click the play button on the audio player below. I’ve also included links to the Scripture he refers to for your convenience.

Call to Worship

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we
once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is
in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All
this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the
ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in
Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the
message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though
God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be
reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in
him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:19

Luke 15:7

Philippians 2:3

Praying you have a blessed week filled with the joy of the Lord!

The Crown of Glory

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Good morning! This morning, Pastor Steve is bringing us a message about The Crown of Glory. To listen, simply press the play button on the audio player. I’ve also once again included a list of Scripture references linked to the passages on the Bible Gateway website for your convenience.

Call to Worship
1 John 4:1-6
4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they
are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 
2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges
that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 
3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the 
spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is 
already in the world.
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one 
who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 
5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, 
and the world listens to them. 
6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not 
from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and 
the spirit of falsehood.

1 Peter 5:1-4

Romans 8:18

1 John 3:2

Hebrews 12:1

Proverbs 3:35

2 Corinthians 3:18

Jeremiah 29:13

1 Corinthians 13:12

Praying your Sabbath day is blessed!

A Salute to Godly Mothers

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Happy Mother’s Day! Pastor Steve has put together a message for this Sabbath day, and you can listen to it by clicking on the audio player below. Also, Scripture references are included below the audio player for your convenience.

Call to Worship - Proverbs 2:1-9
Moral Benefits of Wisdom
2 My son, if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.
9 Then you will understand what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.

Ecclesiastes 10:10

Proverbs 31

Psalm 111:10

Proverbs 31:28

Proverbs 22:6

Proverbs 31:26-30

Exodus 20:12

John 19:26-27

Isaiah 66:13

Proverbs 23:22-25

Wishing all mothers a blessed Mother’s Day! Praying your hearts are filled with the hope, joy, and peace of the Lord, and that we can join together in fellowship soon.

The Crown of Righteousness

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Good morning! Pastor Steve’s message for this first Sunday in May is below. Please click on the play button on the audio player below to hear about the Crown of Righteousness. Scripture references are included to help you study the Word along with Pastor Steve.

Call to Worship – Psalm 103:11-19

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
    he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
    they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
    and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
    and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
    and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules over all.

2 Timothy 4:6-8

James 1:17

2 Timothy 1:8

2 Timothy 2:3-4

Hebrews 12:1

Romans 8:37

Romans 4:6

Romans 6:13, 19

Galatians 5:5

Special note: Pastor Steve will be opening up the church this Thursday, May 7th, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, in honor of the National Day of Prayer. Observing all of the requirements of this pandemic, if anyone would like to come to pray either individually or with Pastor Steve, you are welcome!

Have a blessed Sabbath day!

A Rewarding Opportunity

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Happy Sunday to all. Here’s Pastor Steve’s latest message. Just click the play button on the audio player below. Scripture references are also included for you.

Call to Worship

Psalm 31:19-24 (NKJV)

19 Oh, how great is Your goodness,
Which You have laid up for those who fear You,
Which You have prepared for those who trust in You
In the presence of the sons of men!
20 You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence
From the plots of man;
You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion
From the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be the Lord,
For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city!
22 For I said in my haste,
“I am cut off from before Your eyes”;
Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications
When I cried out to You.

23 Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints!
For the Lord preserves the faithful,
And fully repays the proud person.
24 Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Hebrews 12:1

Psalm 37:5

Praying you all have a blessed Sabbath day and a week filled with hope.

And now, to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (Jude 24 & 25)

Overcomers

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Click on the audio player below to hear this Sunday’s message from Pastor Steve (Scripture references are listed below for your convenience.):

Psalm 62:5-12 (NIV)
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge.
9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
    the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
    together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion
    or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
    do not set your heart on them.
11 One thing God has spoken,
    two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
12     and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
    according to what they have done.”

Matthew 6:10

Revelation 1:1-3 (NKJV)

John 16:33

1 John 5:1,4

1 Peter 5:7

1 Corinthians 15:58

Ephesians 6:18

Psalm 107:8-9

Psalm 91:3-4

Revelation 2:7 (NKJV)

Praying we are together again soon. Until then, may the Lord bless and keep you!

Unexpected Gifts

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Since we are not able to gather together on this Resurrection Sunday, Pastor Steve has recorded his message for us. A list of Scripture references is also included for your convenience. Please click the play button on the audio player below to hear Pastor Steve’s Easter message.

Call to Worship: Psalm 46

Psalm 46 
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

James 1:17

Galatians 4:4

1 John 3:1

Ephesians 2:8

Hebrews 10:10

Titus 2:11-12

Happy Resurrection Day! God bless you today and every day.

In Times Like These

by Laurin, posted in Uncategorized

A special note from Pastor Steve:

Although we will not be holding service during this special Easter season,
due to the COVID-19 restrictions, it is my hope and prayer that all Christians
continue daily with hearts full of praise and worship, with thanksgiving for
the kindness, love, and sacrificial gifts that have been freely offered to mankind.
May we continue to pray and be concerned for one another. Even though we
are separated for a time, may we be bound together spiritually.
Even so Lord Jesus, come!

Pastor Steve’s message for today, Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020:

In Times Like These

Yes, that’s the title of a famous gospel hymn that says, “In times like these you need a Savior…Be very sure your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock…this Rock is Jesus. Yes, He’s the One…”

Matthew 14:24 (NKJV) says, “…the wind was contrary…”

The rude, blustery, and contentious winds of this past March did their best to blow us off course, and they continue to try the very core of our faith. As believers in the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, we know the trials of this world often result in bringing us closer and closer to a “Rock Solid” relationship with Jesus.

Better it is that we struggle through the valley of temptation, confusion, and anxiety that we may see more clearly the beauty of His love when He brings us to the other side.

It is that very love of Jesus that opens our hearts this time of the year. It is the same love that sustained Elijah when hiding by the brook; the ravens brought him bread and meat (1 Kings 17:1-6). That some love will carry believers through the trials of our lives.

In 1 Peter 1:3-9, the author reminds us that even though we may suffer grief and hardships of all kinds, it may result in praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus.

Hebrews 11:1 tells us faith is “…the evidence of things not seen.” We can’t see the outcome of these days, but we know the Almighty Creator knows perfectly well how things will play out.

God is never too early or too late in the working of the events of this world. Should it really be any wonder that the events of today may cause hearts to be renewed in worship and obedience to the Prince of Peace?

May we not allow the events of these days to overshadow our desire to focus on praising and worshiping the God that Ephesians 1:5 says has “…predestined us for adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” It was His will that the perfect, sinless Lamb of God would be the atoning sacrifice that would reconcile humanity back unto Himself.

These days should help teach us:

  • the credibility of biblical prophecy
  • the brevity of life, which should cause us to look to the care of others. As James says, your life is but “…a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14)
  • to endure, as James 1:12 tells us, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation…he will receive the crown of life…”

Let us with contrite hearts praise and obey the Son that gave His life, so that many would live.

God bless.

Confidence

by Laurin, posted in Church Information, Devotion

A message from Pastor Steve:

As we endeavor to meet the challenges of these days in America, it becomes increasingly clear that our peace and confidence are found only in one place: Jesus Christ. Our success in overcoming the trials and adversity is not dependent on the ways of the world around us, but comes by focusing on our faith, our belief, and our trust in the Son who was willing to suffer more than we ever will.

Why would He ever choose to give up so much honor and glory for those that still reject His free gift of salvation? It’s because of love. A love that is so deep, strong, and powerful that, once we have it, there isn’t anything on earth or in the universe that can take it away from us (Romans 8:35-39).

As we accept the challenges of these times, it becomes especially critical to properly dress yourself each day for the spiritual battles ahead. If you put on the “belt of truth” you won’t be persuaded by the lies of this world around us. Your “shield of faith” becomes your defense against the fiery darts of Satan, which he uses to cause doubt and disobedience in your affairs. And it is your “helmet of salvation” that will remind you, in this season, that by God’s grace, through faith in the atoning sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have nothing to fear (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Perhaps we should not be asking “why” is this happening, but “what” is it that God wants me to learn from this. “What” is in it that will cause me to grow closer to Jesus through this time?

By God’s grace and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, we can be confident and secure when we employ the Spiritual Armor of God.

be still