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Helping Hands - Saturday - August 7th
Sign up to volunteer: https://www.gracelifefamily.org/hhvolunteer
Shopping List: https://www.gracelifefamily.org/hhshoppinglist

THE MOST CRITICAL STEP IN SEPERATION (from the world)

We often state that we, as Christians, “are in the world, but not of the world.” We draw this principle from a number of passages – John 15:19; John 17:14-16; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:22-24; 1 Thess. 4:1. This is true…we are in the world to be a Gospel-presence (salt & light), but we are not to embrace the culture of the world.

“The most significant moment of the nationwide revival that occurred in Nehemiah’s day, was the signing of a covenant. Beginning with the leaders, the whole nation signed a document of repentance and a commitment to follow the Lord.”

All those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God. (Nehemiah 10:28)

“These repentant followers didn’t merely separate from something; they also separated themselves to something and Someone. They turned from the world and its ideas and turned to God and His prescribed laws.”

Bill Elliff has written a wonderful devotion on the separation of Christians from the world. You can read it HERE.

— Pastor Sean

Ephesians 3:20

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us"

As I was preparing for the songs this week, singing "You are waymaker, miracle worker, promise keeper," the Holy Spirit convicted me because I was singing words that I believed, but far too often, I try to fix things on my own. Have you ever prayed about something and then turned around, preceding to work it out in your strength. I heard it said that if we are still carrying a burden after prayer, we did more complaining to God than praying. Songs help us give words to burdens that we can lay at the foot of God's Throne. However, we frequently pick them up once again. This week when we sing, I pray that we can wholeheartedly lay our worries and cares down and let God handle everything. Trusting in His goodness and timing. Here are the songs we will be singing this Sunday.

Unstoppable God
Way Maker
King of My Heart

—Pastor Justin

Our Annual Helping Hands event is coming up on August 7! Helping Hands is offered to the community to help supplement needs for the school year and home supplies. If you would like to donate items you can find the shopping list for this year here. If you would like to volunteer please fill out the following form!

Happy Thursday Church Family!

I just wanted to write and thank everyone who played a part in serving in VBS this year! From praying, to working behind the scenes, to leading, teaching and helping in a class this week, THANK YOU for serving God this year through VBS. Including our teen helpers there have been over 100 volunteers faithfully serving this week for our GraceLife VBS! We have just over 200 kids who registered for VBS this week. After not being able to host VBS in 2020 it is great to have so many boys and girls here at the church having fun together and learning about God at the same time! Please join me in praying for the last night of VBS to go smoothly. Our elementary boys and girls have heard the Gospel shared this week. Please pray that those who are ready to become Christians will take that step and come to talk with someone about that! Thank you again church family! It has been a great week of boys and girls “digging in” to God’s Word!!

— Pastor Dave

Join us for our annual GraceLife Kids Lake Day at Claytor Lake State Park! We invite all GraceLife Kids (Babies through 5th Grade) and their families to join us on July 28th beginning at 11 am. The cost is $5 per person or $15 max for families to cover the parking and swimming. Register your family to join us, it will be a blast!

Being a parent is stressful and we unintentionally let that stress flow into our interactions with our children. We get so set on needing to finish that, move this, or meet a deadline that we forget to slow down to soak in the little moments. Our interactions with our children should be filled with joy, not just viewed as another task. The Gospel offers freedom, rest, and joy for all parents stuck in this lull. Check out this article that highlights the benefits of being children of the living God. — Pastor Jonathan

If you have a student in middle or high school take notice to these dates! We don't want your student to miss out on any upcoming summer events with their friends! Click on this picture and save to your phone or visit gracelifefamily.org/events for all upcoming GL events!

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