Sometimes we mistake Grace for an easy listening Gospel that aims at anesthetizing the conscience. The Gospel of Grace is confrontational and merciful as it would not be redemptive if the sin issue were ignored and its remedy undeclared, in the person and work of Christ.

Grace is the Love of God calling us to wholeness in Christ through confession and repentance of sin. Confession of sin and repentance are our responses to the Love of God. Sorrow is a significant part of repentance. Peace comes through God's provision of forgiveness and restoration!

One cannot rightly speak of Grace without an acknowledgment of sin. Sin requires grace and grace demands it place that can be accommodated only through repentance.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:1
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

May the salt of God's grace in my words and deeds advance the healing of waters drawn from tainted wells. Lord, help me to sweeten and not to embitter.

Colossians 4:6 
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

As you consider what you can do to strengthen yourself and to provide a solid life resource for your family, consider making a firm commitment to a ministry that the Lord established sometime ago, the "church." If church were merely man's idea or the product of human invention, it would be of limited benefit. But the church is not the product of man's making. It is the assembly of those redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. It is a community of those who share faith in one savior. It produces an ensemble of praise from those whose brokenness is made whole by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. It is a source of encouragement, support, challenge, and most of all LOVE. It is not religion. It is not a rigid structure of man made rules and religion. It is a body that is made up of many different people, who have come from many different places, into a community of faith where we can stand together, walk together, and grow in Christ together.

There are many denominations and movements, etc, all of those carry names which are the products of man's doing, but regardless of the name, find a church that centers itself in Jesus Christ, where man takes his hands off what God never intended them to be placed upon and where people can experience grace, and love and grow in faith and in the righteous character of Christ.

As part of Bethel, we must conceive that which God desires and delights in, and allow God to birth things that go well beyond our ideas as to "the way that church should be done." There is only one way for church to be done, or for the church to be what Christ intended it to be. That requires that it be centrally and singularly focused on Christ, bathed, saturated and filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. Its vision and mission must be conceived and brought forth in His Name and in His Spirit.

Bethel is a part of His church that Love is building.

Begin your year somewhere, and if it is within your travel distance and should the Lord direct you, join us at Bethel! God loves you! Blessings!

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

How easy we "believers" tend to forget that "We've still Got Jesus! " We used to sing, "He's All I Need." Maybe there should be a clause that states we can only sing the songs that we actually believe.

We tend to make bold declarations in song such as, "I surrender All," at least until I get out of the parking lot. I remember singing the chorus "To Be Like Jesus," did I mean that or did I mean that I want to "Be Like Jesus" as long as He is just like me?

"Have thine Own Way Lord, Have thine way, thou art the potter I am the clay, mold me and make me after Thy will while I am waiting yielded and still" or is it, "I'll have it mine own way, I'll have it mine own way, cold and self made, in haste, full bore ahead, and living for thrill?"

God help me to guard my heart so that what comes out of my mouth will be a true profession of an internal possession.

Bethel is a place of spiritual refreshment, with a wonderful church family. I have seen and experienced the love of Christ among those that have been called to serve and to worship at Bethel.

God is ushering in the new wine of His Spirit and He is calling us to be as new wineskins in this house for this hour, so that we may accommodate His indwelling.

We thank God for this loving and gracious church family. Many serve with great joy, and with ardent expectation aligned with Divine promises. Those who serve under His calling serve undeterred in view of the harvest. Thank you!

I am so glad that Jesus is the head, the heart, and the foundation of that which bears His name and carries His likeness. He protects and provides for the church that He promised to Build.

Robin and I are truly blessed to be part of "The Church that Love is Building." We have been inspired by the commitment and selfless service among those who have been called to worship and to serve at Bethel during this momentous hour.

Let's believe and serve together. Let's walk this out together. Let's allow God to take us where we have never dreamed of going, and through His Spirit may we become what we never thought possible (to His Glory), and in His Love may we demonstrate real Christlikeness to others.

Under Christ, I am calling upon all who love this sacred assembly called Bethel and who love Jesus more, to pray over it ceaselessly, to serve it selflessly, and to love unconditionally. You are called to be here during this hour of great opportunity! Great challenges are but Great Opportunities!

Ezekiel 37:14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’”

God's grace at work in our lives transforms the contradictions that we embody, into the likeness of His precious Son Jesus Christ.

Romans 7:24-25
24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.