Pandamania - Vacation Bible School!

Wow! What an exciting event occurred in our church! Several of our church members have been involved with putting on a Vacation Bible School for the children in our home town of Worland. Over 70 kids were taking part in worship, bible stories, crafts, snacks, games...all in the name of Jesus Christ! The wonderful thing about it, several kids accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior! And, on the last night, several parents of the kids came to see for themselves what was being taught about Jesus Christ!

I was amazed how our church was decorated with bamboo, leaves, etc. There was even a large whale in one of the classroom that was used in the telling of the story of Jonah. A lot of time and effort was put into VBS, and it showed!

A big thanks to Gail Carver and Wendy Compton for their leadership in this huge effort. They truly did an amazing job with this project. There were about 35 people in all that were involved, and the Lord truly blessed it! I know my wife, Sandra, really enjoyed being in charge of snacks. My son, Caleb, enjoyed working with his group of kids. I could tell all the other workers were just as excited about serving the Lord.

Super job everyone! I'm sure that the Lord is super pleased with your efforts of spreading the gospel message. With the involvement of the parents, I am praying that the families that were invited will return to First Baptist and will be fed by the Holy Spirit. We truly want to see lives changed in Jesus Christ.

I just loved the theme of VBS this year....God is WILD about you! Isn't that truly incredible? There is a special place in my heart for Vacation Bible School. I was saved at one! Amen!

Summer is here?

I know that it's not quite summer according to the calendar, which actually starts June, 21, 2011. It is beginning to look and feel like summer here in Worland, Wyoming. It never ceases to amaze me how weather changes so rapidly here. Over Memorial Day weekend, it was raining like crazy and even started to snow. Today, the temperature is in the 90's. Amazing!

School is out, and it's good to see some changes around the community of Worland. I'm seeing kids from First Baptist Church working summer jobs around town. Projects and contruction are being done to our church. Baseball and softball lights have been turned on allowing the games to be played in the evenings. Lot's of people are out and about walking and biking the trails. I love the changes in the seasons.

Here's what the Garza's are doing this summer (Lord willing). Sandra is helping the summer school program here in Worland in the office, classroom, and giving the swimming lessons to the kids. Caleb is working for the Washakie County School District #1 with grounds and maintenance. He is also wrapping up Shrine Bowl week for football and taking a college summer class. Jacob is working for his uncle Marc at the gym this summer, taking driver's ed. classes, and umpiring baseball games. Josh is playing baseball and being a kid. Me? I'm teaching summer school and leading worship at First Baptist. Busy summer.

Yes, I see that it may be a busy summer, but we hope to get some breaks from time to time. I hope to get some fishing in and of course, some camping done. Maybe I can catch up on some summer projects too?

Anyway, from the Garza's to you. We pray that you will have a safe and wonderful summer, enjoy family and friends. Don't forget to worship with us! We will see you this summer at Worland First Baptist Church!

Jesus Was and Is, and Is to Come!

Many of us, as Americans, remember the fallen soldiers that have served our country on Memorial Day, and we are so thankful and blessed. Many of us remember loved ones that we cherished while they were with us in our lifetime, many that we hope to see in heaven some day. Still others get together for fun social gatherings on this occasion, even marking the beginning of summer vacation.

One that we should always remember is Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for us. He paid the penalty for our sins on that old rugged cross. Even more, He died and rose again! Remember, according to Acts 5:42, "the good news that Jesus is the Christ."

In my devotions today, the stress is on the word IS. Jesus IS the Christ! Of course we want to remember that Christ saved us, but we also need to remember that He IS working today in us, through us, and around us! He is alive and well!

In the Bible, in the New Testament, in the Book of Acts 5:42, the apostles were not holding back their faith, knowing that Jesus Christ was working! They risked their lives, "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ."

We may not be risking our lives, but are we doing enough for Him? Let's continue to serve Him and see what He continues to do in our lives and the lives of others.

Another thing to remember is Jesus was and is, and is to come! Jesus is coming soon! He's the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last! Jesus is not through with us yet!

End of the School Year!

Wow! I am amazed on how quickly this year went by! It just seems like the school year just got started. For you parents out there, you may be thinking the same thing.

In my family there are lots of "firsts" that are about to happen. My oldest son will be graduating this week in the Class of 2011. Congratulations graduating seniors! My middle son will be completing his freshman year, looking forward to being a sophomore and driving!!!! My youngest son will no longer be in elementary school, becoming a middle-schooler, leaving that chapter in his life behind!

I've got a lot to pray about with my own family. How about you? Let's pray for our kids as they wrap up their school year. Let's pray for those that are working summer jobs or playing sports. Overall, let's continue to pray for their safety as they start their summer out of school. I know that it's always a big adjustment for families too. Pray for our families.

Before you know it, it will be time to send them off to school again!

The Lord's Direction

Proverbs 16:9 – "A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps."

Have you ever looked back on your life and think about the choices that you have made in your life? Were they good choices? Were they bad choices? Think about it....we should be praying for God's will in the choices that we make, because God is ultimately in control. Life can be a mystery of what God wants for us, at the same time, it is amazing when He does reveal to you what He wants you to do.

I often look at what the Lord is having me do right now, and I also look in my past of how God has taken my past experiences to use for Him today. For example...I used to be a music major...He is having me lead praise and worship at church and at the Wyoming Boys' School. I taught for 12 years in the public school.....now God is allowing me to teach the boys at the Wyoming Boys' School and also allowing us to minister to them by the Holy Spirit.

The point is...I'm not boasting on what God is doing with me, but what I'm trying to say is, just like the verse above, we may plan on what we want to do.....we make decisions, but GOD directs are steps. It is amazing how God can use our past experiences for His glory! We just need to pray and watch what the Lord does.

I also think of the story of Joseph, after he had been thrown into a pit by his brothers, after being sold into slavery, God finally put him into a position of great power in Egypt. Joseph had gone through all kinds of tough experiences, some that he had no choice in at all....but again, ultimately God is and was in control. The Lord directed His steps, and ultimately his people were blessed. Furthermore, look at the attitude that Joseph took, when his brothers that sold him into slavery were afraid for their lives when they found out that Joseph was still alive and an authority in the Pharaoh's courts...Quoting Joseph, Genesis 5:20 says, "But as for you, you meant evil against me; [but] God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as [it is] this day, to save many people alive." You see, God can make any situation into one that is good and glorifies Himself.

So what do we need to do? We need to continue to pray for God's will in our choices and decision making, and know that the Lord directs our steps. Here is an example of what I'm praying for right now:

My oldest son, Caleb, has just finished up registering for his fall college classes. He has made some decisions on what direction that he would like to take, planning his way. I pray that with all of the experiences that God has given him, including the ones that he has planned for college, that the Lord will direct his steps. I pray that God's will be done in his life for the Lord's glory. I am sure that God has plans for Caleb.

Let's continue to pray that the Lord would direct our steps, seeking Him each day, relying on His sovereignty. Let's continue to pray that the Lord will direct the steps of our children in the way that will be pleasing to Him. One thing that we don't have to worry about is the fact that God's will, will be done regardless. I don't know about you, but I want God in control of my life and the steps that I take.

God's Word is Truth!

1 Thessalonians 2:12-13- "that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe."

I'm sure you have read different accounts of newspaper articles. Each one seems to have it's own twist of the story, even embellishment. Why? Most likely, to make sure that the newspaper sells to it's readers.

Even today, I taught in my U.S. History class about the Great American Newspaper War that was happening during the 1898 Spanish- American War. The type of newspaper war that was raging was between Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst over the selling of newspapers, REALLY embellishing and stretching the truth about the Spanish-American War. This type of journalism was called "Yellow Journalism". Of course, the American people ate it up, many fanned on with smoldering anger favoring U.S. Military intervention in against Spain in Cuba. Why? because "truth" was not being completely kept. A lot of people didn't know what to believe. As a matter of fact, many historians believe that the newspapers actually caused the war to be worse then it would have been without the articles.

I thank God that His word is truth! It is not embellished. It is not twisted with lies. The word of God comes directly from Him and is of Him. As the verse in 1 Thessalonians above says, the word of God was "not welcomed as word of men.." The verse goes on to say that "it is in truth, the word of God".

I am also thankful for the last portion of the verse, knowing that the word of God works in us who believe! This is why it is so important that we read God's word each day. It is important that we learn more and more about His truths. His truth surely does set us free! The more that we learn about the truth of God, our faith will grow deeper and deeper in Him. The Holy Spirit will truly bless our lives.

Just think...when we accept Him, obey Him, and follow the truth of Him, we walk worthy of God who calls us into His own kingdom and glory!

Wow! How awesome that is!

Pray for Our College Bound Kids!

Over the many years, I have watched many of our friends and family sending their kids off to college. In Wyoming, the reality is.....when you send your kids off to college....you send them OFF to college. Even a community college can be several miles away!

Well...I guess it is our turn. Sandra and I are preparing to send our oldest son off to college in the fall, and it's not an easy ordeal. The writing for scholarships is crazy...The waiting for acceptance letters can be stressful....all of the roadtrips to visit different colleges. Whew! And....is their enough money to cover ALL of the expenses???

All of the stress has one good thing about it....it drives us as parents to our knees to pray and cling to the Lord. I have to remember that it is now Caleb's turn to be really tested in his faith. I pray that he will remember what we have taught him and what he has learned in his Christian walk. The verse, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6, keeps running through my head. The main thing that we are praying about is that Caleb will stick to his faith no matter what.

Let's all join together in prayer for our students that are getting ready to head off to college. Lord, please remind our students that they are to be in the world but not of the world. Strengthen them even in these early preparations before high school graduation to prepare them for their future. We pray that You will provide all their financial needs on and off campus. We pray that You will keep them safe. Most of all, Lord, we pray that you will bless them by the Holy Spirit to rely totally on you in everything that they do. In Jesus' Name- Amen.