Grace Community Church (Pitt Meadows)
12240 Harris Road V3Y 2E9 Pitt Meadows, BC, Canada

Dear GRACE, to wrap the week, after we looked at how critical it is to wear the full armour in the power of God, to withstand a brutal and merciless enemy let's be reminded what God's might can actually do. Here's a snippet of Paul's prayer in chapter 1: having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power ...toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. (Eph.1:18-20) This great might raised Christ from the dead. No super-forklift, no SpaceX rocket booster, no star, no black hole, no power in this Universe can do that. But God can. May our eyes be opened to see that God directs such power to bless those who believe. He helps us in our struggles today, and He is standing at the end of our journey, to raise us to eternal life, like death is no thing. Praise the Lord!

Good morning, GRACE! Working through this passage slowly, hopefully we get the importance of Paul's instruction: Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Eph.6:13) This echoes verse 11. Take the whole armor then verse 10 is a reminder of who the Enemy is, and, after which again take the whole armor. This is required to withstand / resist the aforementioned Opposition, and to ...simply stay standing at the very end. Without God's protection defeat is definite. The nature of the attacking force means that our fists, our wits, our technology, are subpar. Big time. Do we want to stand? (not everyone does, apparently) Let's suit up! This is what we'll study this coming Sunday, as God allows.

Dear GRACE, since we talk about armour, defense, offense, it is reasonable to ask whom are we fighting? And who is attacking us? Unpacking verse 12 gives us an idea: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph.6:12) Principalities they are structured, organised, disciplined.... Powers they are strong. Rulers of darkness of this age they are responsible for directing humanity to horrible acts (so it doesn't help to blame the blinded and enslaved politicians and crowds who don't know God!). Spiritual hosts it is an enemy invisible to us, hard to catch or face. Scared? We should be. But we don't have to be. The aim of the passage is to convince us of the inadequacy of our strength so we'll fully trust God's POWER!

Good morning, GRACE! If you read verse 10 yesterday and asked How?, how can we be strong in the Lord, and rely on His might, then Paul continues: Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (Eph.6:11) Practically, that means following God's will in our lives, putting on the whole full, complete, no exceptions, armor that He provides. Putting only some of it equips us to an extent, but leaves parts of us unprotected... and unarmed. Which could lead to a spiritual owie. And those hurt. May God bless us to be completely secure in Him.

Dear GRACE family, CHRIST IS RISEN! May this wondeful news touch your heart and change your life today, God loves you, and His Son Jesus died for our sins yours and mine, to give us eternal life with Him, in Heaven. Don't miss the wonderful message recorded this morning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT7PRq_MEBU

Dear GRACE, as we move into chapter 6 of Ephesians, one truth stands out that we really (really!) need to make our own: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. (Eph.6:10) As a conclusion of the whole letter, Paul reminds us that we are in battle, and our victory is guaranteed but only if we rely on God's strength. Verses that follow inform us of the nature of the Enemy (we'll read them this week), and we need to know we are no match for Satan. ... Yet Satan is no match for Jesus (not even close!), so in Christ we can win. May God bless us to trust and follow Him.

Greetings Grace Church Family! This Easter our church is uniting with other CITY Churches in the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows area for the GOOD FRIDAY Service. Please use the link below to join the community service at 10am tomorrow, April 2nd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk441U52NiU

Dear GRACE, how is your week going? It is not a coincidence that the events of Jesus' arrest, torture, execution and His glorious resurrection, overlap the Jewish festival of Passover. Under slavery in Egypt, the Lord sent multiple requests, warnings, signs of His authority, to the Pharaoh who still chose not to let God's people go. The final punishment was heavy an angel of death would enter every home (including Jewish ones!), taking lives, unless Unless the family (...even an Egyptian one!) obeys God's instruction, and allows a substitution a lamb, to die in their place. Their doors would be marked with the lamb's blood. Such households were safe, the angel passed over them. This was an image of a far greater sacrifice. If we are under the protection of the blood of Christ death cannot reach us. What a cause for festive celebration! For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival! (1 Corinthians 5:7b,8a)

Hello GCC, here's the link to yesterday's worship service, in case you missed it. May God bless you!

Good morning, GRACE! Today we read Zephaniah 3:920 (the end). It is such a tightly packed passage! We could easily quote each single verse, and spend a couple of days on each Which is highly recommended for personal study and encouragement! But for now let's go with just one verse: The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love;... he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17) At the heart of the passage is the passionate heart of God, deeply, madly in love with His people, His bride, His church. In Him is exuberant joy. From Him comes tender attentive love. Makes our worship pale in comparison. Yet we always knew He deserves much more praise and love than we are capable of. Dear church, let's adore Him with all our strength and more.

Dear GRACE, let's read Zephaniah chaper 3, verses 18. I have cut off nations; their battlements are in ruins; I have laid waste their streets so that no one walks in them; their cities have been made desolate, without a man, without an inhabitant. I said, 'Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction. Then your dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you.' But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt. (Ze...phaniah 3:6-7) It may be difficult to observe in surrounding events short-term it seems that the wicked prosper, that lying is the quickest route to your goals, and pride has no immediate consequences. But we have a multitude of historic examples, plus many edifying accounts from the Bible, so study lives over the course of decades, to observe nations for centuries, and pay attention to what God is doing. And if we do may we see that He always has the last word in any matter. He has power and authority above every king/president/prime-minister. May we then fear Him (think not terror, but awe/reverence), accept correction, and be saved because He is loves us!

Good morning, GRACE! Let's read chapter 2 of Zephaniah today, a call against all the nations. But true to His loving character, even on the brink of disaster God is still inviting everyone to return to Him: Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD. (Zephaniah 2:3) The invitation is formally extended to the humble but it is difficult to give up our r...eliance on self, and trust the LORD. Frankly, it is a struggle in each of our lives: un-cling from the steering wheel, allow God to take charge. But when we do believe that God's way is better than our way, and start actively following His guidance then there is hope. This HOPE will not fail, God won't embarass those who trust Him.

Good morning, GRACE! This week we're going through the book of Zephaniah, chapter 1 today The Great Day of the LORD. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, 'The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.' Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them. (...Zephaniah 1:12-13) The Lord is calling on people who don't think Him capable of any significant action. Having no fear of His punishment could be nice. But the flip side is that they also have no hope of His help in time of trouble. He can't do much, right? Wrong. May we believe in God's incredible power AND His faithful love, so that we can rely on Him in everything.

Good morning GCC, join us LIVE as we praise and worship our God! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nydFG1AQ4c&feature=youtu.be

Dear GRACE, another hard week coming to a close, and our reading of Micah with it. Chapter 7 today, overflowing with wonderful promises of our Father! Starting with a vivid description of spiritual, economical, social desolation, the prophet is moved to make a personal committment to the Lord: But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. (Micah 7:7) Such patient trust is rewarded by God's guaranteed restoration: A ...day for the building of your walls! In that day the boundary shall be far extended. (verse 11) And it leads us to deeper understanding and fascination with the character of our LORD: Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. (verse 18) If we trust Him in difficult circumstances, He never lets us down. PS In preparation for this Sunday's message please read the book of Zephanaiah, may God bless us as we seek to hear His Word!