It wasn't a surprise we saw fresh snow on campus here at CVBC last Sunday!  We're thankful that we were able to be here and stream the service.  We did, however, have difficulty with our Livestream - and we weren't alone.  But have no fear - if you couldn't join us, we were still here!  And below is the recorded sermon.  That's right.  God's in the details...

Genesis 29 reveals alot about mankind, even thousands of years ago!  We find 'messy situations' that are going on in this chapter once again, but God is still in control.  We have messy situations that happen in our world now, and they will happen in the future.  Make no mistake.  God is still in control.

Pastor Luke recaps chapter 28 a bit by reminding us of the purpose that Jacob went 400 miles to Paddam-aram - he was to go and take a wife.  But another reason, perhaps even more significant, was that he actually had to leave, to escape his brother Esau's anger, and not be killed.

When we looked at chapter 28, we knew that Jacob was chosen by God to continue the Abrahamic Covenant.  After what he did to his brother Esau, we have to wonder why!   Then God reveals Himself to Jacob in his dream while on his way - about the ladder to heaven.  

Pastor Luke broke chapter 29 down into three parts:

1.  Jacob finds the well, and Rachel (v. 1-14)

2.  The deceiver is deceived (v. 15-30)

3.  Glimmer of God's Faithfulness (v. 31-35)

An interesting take by Pastor Luke - when we see in verse 25 that the very thing that Jacob did to his brother, was now happening to him!  Why?

To find out what happens, you'll have to tune in!  This is a great watch/listen - and so applicable to us today.  The entire service recorded Livestream, or just recorded sermon, you can tune in on our Youtube channel, our Vimeo channel, or go listen to the sermon on our channel on Spotify.  CVBC will get the Gospel out there somehow!

We're so lucky at CVBC to hear the Gospel preached every single Sunday - in one way, or another!

Youtube for entire recorded Livestream https://youtu.be/tIYnLL3ShlY

Vimeo Channel https://vimeo.com/804901047

Spotify Podcast:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/0c5qaWQnpMB9gZRn4cJlsI?si=9e552facc2044d0b

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

SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2023

ORDER OF WORSHIP:

Call To Worship - Joel 2:1516

Responsive song - God is for us

Song of Assurance - Come Thou Fount

ANNOUNCEMENTS / OFFERTORY

PASTORAL PRAYER

RESPONSIVE SCRIPTURE READING:  Psalm 107:1-32

Responsive song - I will glory in my Redeemer

SERMON -  Pastor Luke Wartgow  Genesis 30/31

Song - He will hold me Fast

The Lord's Prayer - read together

ELDER UPDATE

BENEDICTION

Until we meet, have a blessed week!

Daylight "Savings" Time, that is...

Exactly at 2:00am on Sunday, March 12th.

Yes, folks, a blessing in disguise.  We get sunshine for an hour later, but lose an hour sleep.  It wasn't hard to find an image to post here - I thought looking at something "springy" like green grass would be a dream come true after this winter!  You can bet there weren't many images of people "springing" out of bed after losing sleep!

We will be here Sunday am - oh, and the coffee (and lots of it) will be on!

... Julie

It might not be warm outside lately, but the water at CVBC is warm - so come celebrate your relationship by publicly claiming Jesus as your Savior!

Coming up March 19, come and join the family - and complete this important step in your faith journey!

You can sign up at the Connect Desk or email to admin@carsonvalleybiblechurch.com

1 Peter 3:21-22  "and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him."

Our church family has really grasped this scripture in our Community Groups lately - the love of Christ is super evident!

**Unfortunately, the snow is also evident!  Some groups are choosing to postpone - so make sure you check with your small group leader as far as meeting together this week!**

If you're not plugged into one, we hope you are able to do so.  Jesus taught us having regular fellowship with other believers is so beneficial. There is a group for all schedules, even bi-weekly.  Try one out - you won't be disappointed!

  These groups are weekly or bi-weekly 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!

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

Tuesdays

* UPDATE*  This Tuesday, 3.7.23 will be the final week for this study.  Learn more at 5pm Tuesday with "Blessed Hope" 

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!

This week, you can see what we are singing by reading the Liturgy column above.  We're choosing to feature

"I will glory in my Redeemer"

Written and published in 2000 by Steve and Vikki Cook of Soverign Grace music centers on the Gospel.  Not too many details on the origin of the song, it has been popular with us here since our leaders Glenn and Dave began leading us in worship well over a year now.  The truths behind the lyrics speak for themselves!

VERSE 1
I will glory in my Redeemer
Whose priceless blood has ransomed me
Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails
And hung Him on that judgment tree
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who crushed the power of sin and death
My only Savior before the holy Judge
The Lamb who is my righteousness
The Lamb who is my righteousness

VERSE 2
I will glory in my Redeemer
My life He bought, my love He owns
I have no longings for another
I’m satisfied in Him alone
I will glory in my Redeemer
His faithfulness my standing place
Though foes are mighty and rush upon me
My feet are firm, held by His grace
My feet are firm, held by His grace

VERSE 3
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who carries me on eagles’ wings
He crowns my life with lovingkindness
His triumph song I’ll ever sing
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who waits for me at gates of gold
And when He calls me, it will be paradise
His face forever to behold
His face forever to behold

This week, we went through Genesis 29.  What a mess!  

Actually, there's a lot of 'messes' in the book of Genesis.  All throughout the Old Testament.  And the New Testament.  Even Revelations.

How about the death of Jesus in the New Testament?

This has been a subject of conversations throughout my life, talking with people who say they couldn't possibly believe in a God who would 'allow' these sort of things to happen, saying what kind of god would make people suffer?  Have you had these kinds of conversations?  Could you?  I have one statement I use for that - and have yet to get an answer!

In Genesis chapter 28, God chooses Jacob over his older brother Esau.  Pretty awkward.

You see, Jacob is the one who deceives Esau, (teen wolf status?) for the coveted birthright from their father Isaac, right before Isaac dies (chapter 28).  Doesn't seem right that God would choose Jacob - the guy surely doesn't deserve a blessing like that from Isaac, who had a very successful life!   Well, not right in our earthly minds...  

Jacob was chosen to continue the Abrahamic Covenant.  I'm not sure why, it might be one of those questions to be asked on the side of heaven.  Nonetheless, this is what God does.  And His Plan is never thwarted.

Jacob fell in love with Rachel at first sight.  He was willing to do anything he could to gain her as his wife.  Rachel's father, Laban agrees with Jacob that he will work for her father for 7 years.  At the end of the 7 years, Laban sets up a big feast.  

Laban then gives a wife to Jacob.  After the feast, Jacob goes in to his new wife, and shockingly - wakes up the next morning to find out it's Rachel's older sister, Leah!

Oh, the tides have turned for Jacob.  Laban makes him work for him for another seven years, to have the younger daughter that he loved.  I have to wonder what was going through his mind as he labored, basically for free, for 7 more years.  Did he parlay any thoughts about what he had done to his own brother Esau?

The chapter continues, and tells us Jacob did not love Leah (the older sister).  But God remembers her.  Verse 31 even says she is 'hated'.  He shows compassion for her.  He opens her womb and she ends up having 4 sons by Jacob, attempting time after time to earn Jacob's love.  It's almost "Days of our Lives",  Old Testament style, isn't it?

Even in all this mess, God's Plan becomes clear - He disciplines those whom He loves.  He exposes our sin to us, in order to grow us spiritually.  He 'allowed' Jacob to feel exactly what his brother felt.  Deception.  Betrayal.  Sin.

You can bet He never leaves us how He finds us, friends.  He has a Plan.  For you.

Still, these things are hard to understand for us, as people.  Even the prophet Isaiah (frequently quoted by Jesus Himself) says in 55:8-12, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.  For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it produce and sprout, and providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it."

Some of us walking this earth may never be able to understand this - hence these conversations mentioned earlier.  I think some cannot accept that there is something greater than us, an omniscient, all knowing being.  Generally, some of these people have a hard time learning new things at all, because their way is better.  They might not see the benefit of faith.  They might not want to.  They prefer to blame God for all the bad things in the world.  My comments to that is simply "Where does good and bad come from in the first place?" And I go on to explain God cannot do bad things, it's against his pure nature.  But, if there are no bad things that happen, who would need God then?

We see this Plan unfold at the end of Genesis 29, where Leah has her last boy and names him Judah.  14 generations pass.  King David is born.  14 more generations pass to the exile to Babylon.  14 more generations pass.  Jesus of Nazareth is born.

His Plan can never be thwarted.  He uses this messy situation to continue the Davidic geneology, that produces the Messiah.  

Who would have guessed in all that mess?  I wonder if Leah did...

Till He comes again,

Julie

"My God is still the SAME" Sanctus Real:  https://youtu.be/ggPEQ_COpBA

photo credit:  www.dreamstime.com