Testimony Tuesday

God is good and generous and He has blessed the people of Grain Valley with many beautiful testimonies. We are instituting Testimony Tuesday where we will share a testimony from someone in the congregation (or anyone who wants to share) every Tuesday!

This is Susan Mauck's testimony of spiritual protection when it was most needed.

My relationship with my mother has always been on shaky ground for many reasons, but partly because she didn't want me to have a relationship with my father. She also loves the occult and loves darkness more than light. These two things, and many others, have always made our relationship strained.

Last summer, Mother was diagnosed with kidney cancer and I knew I had to go see her. In August, Jackie, Ben and I flew to Arizona to visit. We arrived late Thursday evening and were met with a barrage of negative comments. Mom immediately announced that she had been in the hospital with heart problems for five days and the minute she heard that my father had died, her heart stopped hurting and she hadn't had a bit of pain since.

In less than an hour, she fired comment after comment and we left feeling beat up and wondered how we were going to get through another couple of days like this. Jackie said she felt spiritually attacked and had come concerned about Benjamin's spiritual safety knowing my mother's many false Gods and the darkness she subscribes too.

That night we prayed together and God woke me up early the next morning (actually He woke Ben up, but when Ben and Jackie went back to sleep, I stayed up). As I prayed and studied, the Holy Spirit gave me specific words to pray.

1. An angel with a flaming sword would continually stand over Benjamin guarding and protecting him.
2. That Jackie and I would walk into Mom's house in humility and in the grace of Jesus Christ.
3. Angels would go before us in the strength and power of Jesus Christ.

I saw a vision before I prayed the words. As the angels went in before us, all of the demons fled to the walls and to their own strongholds and they were bound. They had no power over us while we walked in humility and grace.

For the next two days, we enjoyed peace and family fellowship - no barbs, hatefulness or hurt - it was beautiful and joyful. We left Saturday night and my niece stayed through Sunday. She said everything fell apart after we left. Everyone was shouting and railing on each other. She went into her room and shut the door and for eight hours everything was out of control. Her exact words were, "It was different after you left, Aunt Susan."

It wasn't us that made the difference, it was Jesus. We are in spiritual warfare we don't see or understand, but God is gracious and mighty to save His people. We need to remember that all things are made by and through Jesus Christ and that Jesus is all powerful. When we walk in faith and ask, we will be powerfully protected physically and spiritually. God is good!

Dave Winship earns a Meritous Award

In August, Dave came upon a crash where the driver was unconscious. In examining the vehicle, he noticed a medical kit for diabetics. Guessing the drivers was unconscious from low blood sugar, he gave the driver a sucker and quite possibly saved his life.

MoDOT recently awarded him with a Meritous Award and you can see the video here.

Dave, thank you for your great service and quick thinking!

First Day of School Photo Contest Winners!

We have the winners of our photo contest. Although, they are much older than preschool now, I think we can all agree these pictures are pretty cute.

Coolest Backpack: Tristan Handy


Coolest Desk: Braden Youngblood


Watch for more photo contests and remember you have to enter to win!

Prayer List

Here is the prayer list from Wednesday's prayer service.

Paul – Bruce Scully’s nephew
Paul & Adriane Howe
Bird family
Callie Hoffman & family
Perry family
Mike & Jessica Perry, work direction
Rebecca Wheeler – ID theft, new apartment
Kevin Anderson – kidney failure
Congregational leaders
Young men & women of congregation
Connie Bates – traveling
Martin family
Jake Kidd
Debbie
Becca Young – eye surgery 9/28/09
Ron Rowald is recovering from pancreititus
Beverly – Bonnie’s cousin has blood clots
Congregational leaders
Retreat

Pastor's Corner - How would you React?

How would you react if you were told your days on earth were rapidly coming to an end? That is an age old question, one that has been used time and time again as the subject line of movies, books and plays, yet it still holds validity as an honest question. Would you change anything or would you change everything? Would you suddenly become someone you were not or would you simply tweak your response to make it more compassionate? Would you choose to enjoy the remaining days of life or would you decide to spend them regretting the days of yesteryear? Would you listen more intently to your loved ones or would you preoccupy yourself with the change that will inevitably arrive? What would you do if you knew your days were numbered?

Now for most of us, the question of when and where our departure will take place is still a mystery. We don’t really know from one hour to the next what could transpire to change the rhythmic course of life. We have a tendency to believe that all moments are created equal and that the significance of a moment is granted by the one living the life. This belief gives us a sense of immortality, a chance to direct the outcome of future moments in a way that is usually self-serving. There is a truth that abides in this belief. When our mortal lives are finished we will be responsible for the results of our moment expenditures. We will be given a review of our choices, how they impacted us, how they affected those around us and how they spoke of things we believed. They will reflect our state of preparation and to some extent they will determine how we spend eternity. A sobering thought indeed. However, there is an Intercessor that will shed mercy upon our choices if we accept His gift while we dwell on earth. He is Jesus Christ the great I AM, the Alpha and Omega. Let Him help you spend your moments and your review will be outstanding!

Back to School Photo Contest

With summer quickly fading, let's celebrate the start of a new school year with a Back to School Photo Contest. Send us your favorite school photo and a secret panel of judges will hand out awards. Awards categories include, but are not limited to: Most Enthusiasm and Sweetest Smile.

You can submit photos from any year and can send school pictures, snapshots or yearbook photos. You also do not currently have to be in school. We will accept submissions through Sunday, September 13th. Just remember, you have to enter to win!

Welcome

Grain Valley Community of Christ church has been publishing a newsletter, the Maranatha Messenger, for several years. We only have one 8.5x11 folded into the bulletin every Sunday and we need more room to share testimonies, celebrate our brothers and sisters in Christ and worship our Heavenly Father.

Look for current items including the Pastor's Corner and our congregational prayer list along with news items such as photo contests and testimonies! Write to jaclynenderle@gmail.com if you'd like to submit something to the Maranatha Messenger.