Wednesday, April 14, 2021

TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY
A DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT by Pastor Phil

It has struck me that I and most people I know often focus on the wrong things. I can focus, sometimes even fixate, on the things that are going wrong in the world. Politics—broken. Race relations—broken. Labor relations—broken. International cooperation and collaboration—broken. Gender relations, marriage relations, generational relations, relationships period—broken. I could go on and on and on. The world is broken.

We can’t even agree on what is broken. What one person sees as broken another person sees as progress.

We live in a broken world, so it’s easy to focus on the brokenness. And that leads to discouragement, depressions, complaining, anger, and hopelessness, which only adds to the brokenness of the world.

And then come these words.

“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’” Revelation 4:1

The book of Revelation has a lot of weirdness in its symbology, but the message is remarkably simple if we focus on the right things. However, it has struck me that we tend to focus and even fixate on the wrong things.

The book of Revelation is very honest about the brokenness of the world at that time (see the first three chapters) and what was to come. The book's message about the world is bleak, violent, cruel, and frightening and that’s where we tend to focus when we read Revelation—on all the horrible things it describes happening on earth. In the same way, we focus on the brokenness that we are experiencing around us.

However, that’s not the point or purpose of the book of Revelation. The purpose can be summed up in these three words, “Come up here.”

Again, and again and again, God, through the book of Revelation draws our attention back from the brokenness of earth to the glory of heaven.

God, is using Revelation to encourage the suffering believers who were the original readers of the book of Revelation, and to encourage every generation of believers since. God is saying, “Yes, things are a mess on earth and will worse, but that’s not the entire reality. Come up here! Things are doom and gloom on earth. It looks like Christianity is being crushed, but come up here!" God is drawing our focus back to heaven where God IS on the throne. Where justice will be done. Where worship is not just sung politely, but is shouted.

Where is your focus? Where is mine?

Focus on earth and it will be doom and gloom, and complaining, and fear and anger, which only adds to the brokenness.

Focus on heaven. Focus on God Almighty. Focus on the coming new heaven and earth. Shout “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13). When you do, when I do, my attitude changes, my demeanor changes, my responses change, my language changes. Rather than giving in or giving up, rather than complaining, blaming, or condemning, I join my crucified Savior in loving this broken world and its broken people so that they may be redeemed and resurrected by Christ and start focusing on heaven themselves.
 
Where is your focus?
 
“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said,
Come up here.”
RSVP FOR SUNDAY'S SERVICE

To RSVP for 9:30 AM ServiceCLICK HERE

To RSVP for 11:00 AM ServiceCLICK HERE

CLICK HERE for quick instructions on completing your reservation

You can also RSVP at PGCC.church.
Those who do not have internet access can call the church office to RSVP.

For Everyone's Health and Safety
Masks are required but can be taken off when seated.
Social distancing (sorry, no hugs or handshakes).
Keep 3 empty chairs between households.
Limited Seating, RSVP required.
Enter ONLY through main lobby doors on west side of church.

Watch Sunday's Service LIVE from Home
The link for the livestream will be sent in Sunday's email
and will also be on our website.

Sunday Services are also Recorded
You can watch any time by going to our YouTube channel or our website.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel by CLICKING HERE.
SOLO SISTERS
Thursday, April 22, 11 AM CLICK HERE for more information
RSVP by calling or emailing the church

YOUTH GROUP for Baby Boomers, Tuesday, April 27, 6:30 PM

MEN of the WORD, Wednesday, April 28, 10 AM

WOMEN'S VIRTUAL EVENT, "Celebrating You," Saturday, May 8, 10 AM
CLICK HERE for more information

ASPIRE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE
Friday, May 14, 7 PM or Saturday, May 15, 10 AM
Order Tickets from the church for $20 by calling 916-771-4447
For more information CLICK HERE. Watch the promotional video HERE
WE NEED YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS for our emails!!!

We need contributions of:
  • Devotional thoughts (400-700 words, Pastor Phil will edit)
  • Artwork (photos, drawings, paintings, crafts, etc.)
  • Humor
  • Recipes (for Pastor Phil to try to make while filming)

Please email your contributions to: 1730pgccoffice@gmail.com

THANKS! Our emails are a blessing because of what you contribute.
Lois Coady is Retiring

On Sunday, Lois shared with the church that she will be retiring at the end of May and moving to Georgia. Lois has served, and served well, as our Office Administrator and Minister to Women for six years. Her contributions to our church and its ministry have been innumerable. She has been an incredible blessing wo is greatly appreciated and will be greatly missed. There will be opportunity to express your appreciation when we draw nearer to her retirement date.
SHARE YOUR ART
Drawing by David Bekley

Please share your art with us by emailing it to 1730pgccoffice@gmail.com.
NEED PRAYER?

Prayer and praise requests can be sent to prayerandpraisetree@gmail.com and will be sent out to our church prayer tree.

If you would like to pray for church prayer requests, please email the church and request to be added to the Prayer Tree Team.
HOW YOU CAN GIVE TO PGCC

You can GIVE by:
  1. Mail addressed to the Church at 1730 Pleasant Grove Blvd, Roseville, CA 95747.
  2. Online through our website, www.pgcc.church, or by clicking on the blue button below.

If you need assistance setting up your Online Giving, please call Cyndi at the office, Mon-Thu, 916-771-4447. Leave a message if no one answers.
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Pleasant Grove Community Church
1730 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Roseville, CA 95747
(916) 771-4447 www.pgcc.church
Email: 1730pgccoffice@gmail.com