What does Genesis 26 have to do with the world today?

It is, after all, the story of Isaac, or better yet, "Isaac's Greatest Hits" version 1, as Pastor Luke tells it!

We listened to three themes in this chapter:

1.  Promise

Deep into Genesis now, we continue to see the Promises of God coming.  Only this time, Isaac does not go to Egypt during this particular famine.  He goes to Gerar.  But yes, he does do one of the things he saw in the generation before him - he tells the people of the land that his wife, Rebekah is his sister.  A selfish act as he thought they would kill him for his wife.  A familiar story indeed (yep - his father, Abraham).  Isaac fails to protect his wife, and his marriage.  

But it's a little different this time.  He could've chosen to go to Egypt.  God tells him in verse 2 not to go there.  So there's that.  Isaac could've chosen to go to the 'greener pastures' of Egypt, but he didn't.  He went the direction he was told to go, to the lands that God will give as the inheritance - the Covenant.  Maybe he finally realized he couldn't have the Kingdom, without the King?

2.  Provision

After we're told Isaac lies to Ambimelech about Rebekah, what happens?  He builds an altar.  He receives so many things he simply doesn't deserve, despite himself.  Talk about provision - he ends up being very wealthy in that land. 

3.  Presence

Ambimelech comes back, asks Isaac why he lied about his wife, then makes a covenant with him because (verse 29) "you are now blessed of the Lord."  They make a feast and eat!  It's almost as if this king knew by watching that God's presence was there with Isaac, and wanted to make sure Isaac was 'on his side'.  

As typical as it is with Pastor Luke being able to explain how the Old Testament text applies to our own lives today, you just need to hear this for yourself!

Watch it all explained here - on our CVBC Vimeo Channel link: https://vimeo.com/793865773

Hello again church family!

Welcome back to our weekly Liturgy!  We hope you continue to find it useful to see the way plan to worship our King in advance!

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2023

ORDER OF WORSHIP:

Call To Worship - Psalm 118:24-26

Responsive song - This is the Day

Song of Assurance - Blessed Assurance

ANNOUNCEMENTS / OFFERTORY

PASTORAL PRAYER

RESPONSIVE SCRIPTURE READING:  Psalm 105:1-22

Responsive song - How Great Thou Art

SERMON -  Pastor Luke Wartgow - "Lies and Deception" - Genesis 27

Song - Yet Not I, but Through Christ in Me

Baptist Catechism- read together

BENEDICTION

Until we meet, have a blessed week!

Hello Church Family!

We have a need we'd like to put out to our wonderful people here at CVBC - we are seeking people who would like to help clean our church on a weekly to semi-weekly basis.

Even though we don't have to purify the Tabernacle, we do like clean things!  So if you have some extra time and can help, join us Sunday after church for a quick meeting in the Study.  We'll have a short list of things needing to be handled and the approximate time to complete those things, from 30 minutes to 2 hours a week.

Thanks to our entire church family for all the ways you serve.  It's a joy to see people stepping up and helping out - truly a joy!

Here's the schedule for all of our weekly CVBC Bible studies...

Tuesdays

Ken Douglas' Co-Ed Tuesday nights 5pm bible study begins with the new "Blessed Hope" This is a big group, so get in on the info!

Fridays

Men's Friday 9am bible study from "Only Two Religions", a new study about Creation by Peter Jones. 

Ladies Friday 9am bible studies (every other Friday - next one this Friday, Feb 3rd) from the Dr. Steve Lawson series, "Rejoice in the Lord" - a look at Paul's book of Phillipians.  If you haven't studied this incredible author's work, you will learn so much in this in depth study!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact admin@carsonvalleybiblechurch.com.  Have a great week!

February is the month for Love, right?

How about the kind of love that meets regularly to talk about what's being taught at church, have some food and fellowship together!

 Our CVBC church family community groups are meeting!  These are weekly or bi-weekly groups that meet to discuss the previous sermons being taught at CVBC.  Held at CVBC member's homes, or at the church due to weather lately!

Here is the schedule...

Wednesdays

This Community Group meets at 6:00pm in the Foothill and Waterloo Road area.  This group meets every other week, as of Wednesday, February 15, 2023. 

Thursdays

Both of these groups meet in the Minden area at 6:00pm.  One meets every week, the other meets every other week.

These groups are special and always open for new attendees!  For more information, address, etc., please reach out to us here at the church - we'll direct you to your new best place to be during the week!  admin@carsonvalleybiblechurch.com.  

Hope to see you there!

We're thankful that this week, our regular worship team will have a break - but we're even more thankful that Ben Eddis will be here to lead us in our song worship!  We also heard we'll be scheduling another "Jam Night" very soon - for those that want to come and sing and play together.  We had alot of fun last time - so come and join us!  No strings attached, unless you want to bring some and jam with us!

If you remember, Ben sang this song with us before - so we're choosing to feature the modern hymn - that he shared with Pastor Luke last year;

It's been, well, a brutal winter here in Carson valley, hasn't it?  I've heard that from just about anyone (well, maybe not that word describing it, but close!).  Last week was the annual Eagles and Ag event here in the Carson valley, where this photo originates from (https://www.recordcourier.com/news/2023/jan/28/eagles-and-ag-event-kicks-off-21-years-with-reception/).  An annual festival that celebrates our national bird and other raptors, which come to the valley every year during calving season - for obvious reasons!

We knew winter was coming again last fall, as the days grew shorter, the leaves turned color, then fell.  It grew cold quickly last year, in October even.  And it has been cold since! This winter has been tough on vegetation throughout our region as well.  The ice from the cold has damaged many trees and plants with it's heaviness.  We've experienced a myriad of Sundays where our parking areas here have been hard to access, even cancelling one service in January!  Who knew?!

I'm certain that God knew what kind of winter this would be in 2023.  

Getting pretty cold in October could have been an indicator.  The precipitation factor beginning in November could also have been a clue.  The ranchers here did not have a chance to plan, however.  They most likely would have planned a little differently, planning for the hefiers to calve a bit later, even just a month.  Hmm, how could they plan that...

So how did God plan for us this winter?  Would He have known about the water shortages, even the increase of population and need for more water, etc. etc.?  Did He know some livestock and animals would not survive?  Did He consider the highways and crashes, the frozen pipes, power outages?  After studying the book of Genesis, I would say yes, of course He knew!  I also know He has a plan for all that!

Do you think Jesus might have been talking about this same thing in Matthew 6:26?  ^"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"  He continues immediately by saying "And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."  Who was He talking to?

He was up on the mountain, to give the 'sermon on the mount'.  He was talking to thousands of people - to his disciples - and to the Pharisees.  He was talking to everyone - including you and me.

He knew the plan - He knew us.  He was one of us.  He must have had worries - He knew the end of His own story here.  He knew the value of it all.

Now, the ranchers must think about the snowpack, and the possibility of it melting too quickly.  Certainly, they have a plan.  They've had to move the herds before, due to flooding.  They've moved the bulls away from the heifers before, to plan on when the girls would calve.  They are planning on the hay and feed for later this year right now.  Afterall, they have experience in ranching.

And our Father in heaven has experience - and a plan.  And if we just let go, and let Him take care of it, we can rest knowing He's got this.  Until the end of the age...

Till He comes again,

Julie

Image Copyright: ©Steve Noble, All Rights Reserved

"Only Trust Him" Alan Jackson:  https://youtu.be/l-hKYiuOr7w