Showing posts with label 2026. Show all posts

Sunday, April 19, 2026

Amazing Grace Baptist Bulletin April 19th, 2026

Amazing Grace Baptist Bulletin

_{🐴 Melvin the Lone Donkey: Counting
Blessings}

Donkey was having one of those days. He’d stepped in a puddle, sneezed hay all over himself, and then discovered that someone (probably Melvina) had eaten the last apple he’d been saving.

_{He plopped down
beside the fence with a dramatic sigh that could’ve rattled the hymnbooks.}

_{Old Farmer Grady
walked by and chuckled. “Melvin, you look like you lost every blessing you ever
had.”}

_{Melvin flicked an ear
and gave a grumpy hee‑haw.}

_{“Well now,” the
farmer said, leaning on the fence, “let’s count what you still got. You’ve got
strong legs, a warm barn, a full belly, and a whole church full of kids who
think you’re the best thing since Vacation Bible School.”}

_{Melvin blinked. That
was… actually true.}

_{“And,” Farmer Grady
added, “you’ve got Melvina, who may eat your apples, but she sure keeps life
interesting.”}

_{Melvin let out a
softer hee‑haw, the kind that meant, Alright, I guess that’s fair.}

_{He stood up, shook
off the dust, and trotted toward the barn — suddenly remembering he also had a
fresh pile of carrots waiting.}

_{As he munched
happily, Melvin decided something important: Counting blessings works better
than counting problems — especially when the blessings taste like carrots.}

_{Amazing Grace Baptist 2026©SN}

_{--------------------------------------------}
_{April Bible Verses}

_1._{“Behold, I make
all things new.” — Revelation 21:5 A reminder that every spring
morning and every changed heart begins with God’s renewing touch.}

_2._{“The earth is the
Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.” — Psalm 24:1 A verse of gratitude
for creation’s beauty and the blessings that surround us daily.}

_3._{“They that sow in
tears shall reap in joy.” — Psalm 126:5 Encouragement for those who
have endured long winters of the soul — joy is coming.}

_4._{“Every good gift
and every perfect gift is from above.” — James 1:17 A verse to
remind us that blessings, big and small, come from the Father of lights.}

_5._{“The Lord shall
guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought.” — Isaiah 58:11
A promise of divine guidance and refreshment even in dry seasons.}

_6._{“Let everything
that hath breath praise the Lord.” — Psalm 150:6 A joyful call to
worship — fitting for springtime choirs and hearts full of gratitude.}
_{______________________________________________________________}

Each One Matters – A Quilt Prayer

Lord, You are the Maker of our hearts. Each part of each heart you form with a purpose and plan— each life, each gift, each hurt, each tear matters just like the sparrow,

each story stitched by his grace.
Teach us to cherish every part and each one You join with us together. Let Your love be the thread that binds us with love, your mercy the pattern that makes a beautiful quilt.

When one is torn, help us mend with kindness; when one is faded, cover with compassion. May our church be a quilt of comfort and truth, conforming us by your leading, Knowing that each heart matters to you. So each one should matter to us.
In Jesus Name Amen

_________________________________________________________

🌸 Beautiful Heart‑Felt Quotes for April

Spring • Renewal • Resurrection Hope

1. “April teaches the heart to hope again, for the God who brings flowers from the cold earth can bring joy from weary places.”
2. “Every soft April breeze whispers the same promise: God is not finished with you.”
3. “Spring rain may fall heavy, but it carries the seeds of tomorrow’s beauty.”
4. “The empty tomb is the reason every April morning feels like a new beginning.”
5. “Where winter once lingered, grace now blooms.”
6. “April sunlight reminds us that God warms even the corners of life we thought would stay cold forever.”
7. “Hope grows quietly, like April flowers—small at first, then suddenly everywhere.”
8. “The God who renews the earth in April can renew the heart in a single prayer.”
9. “Every blossom is a reminder that God still brings beauty from broken ground.”
10. “April is God’s gentle way of saying, ‘See? I make all things new.’”

_____________________________________________________

An April Story From the Past (Early 1900s)

“The April Lantern on Willow Street”

In April of 1912, the town of Brookfield was buzzing with the usual spring chores — mending fences, sweeping porches, and preparing gardens. But on Willow Street lived an elderly schoolteacher named Miss Eleanor Hart, known for her quiet ways and her little wooden lantern that hung by her front door.

That April had been unusually gloomy. Clouds lingered for days, and many in town felt the heaviness of the long winter. Children whispered that even the birds seemed tired. But every evening, just as the sun dipped behind the hills, Miss Hart lit her lantern and set it glowing on her porch rail.

One chilly April night, young Thomas Avery — a boy who struggled in school and often felt unnoticed — walked past her house after running an errand. Miss Hart stepped outside and said gently, “Thomas, do you know why I light this lantern every night?”

He shook his head.

She smiled. “Because someone might be walking in the dark, and a little light can help them find their way. Even one small flame matters.”

Thomas never forgot those words.

A week later, a fierce April storm swept through Brookfield. The wind knocked out the town’s power lines, leaving the streets in darkness. Families lit candles and gathered close, but the storm rattled nerves and shook windows.

Then, through the rain, one warm glow appeared — Miss Hart’s lantern, shining steadily on Willow Street.

Neighbors opened their curtains and saw it. One by one, other lanterns and lamps began to appear in windows up and down the street, until the whole road shimmered with soft, golden light.

The next morning, as the storm clouds lifted, people said the same thing: “It was Miss Hart’s lantern that reminded us — even a small light can change the night.”

And from that April on, whenever someone in Brookfield felt discouraged, they would say, “Hang your lantern. Someone needs your light.”

🐴 Melvin’s Mini‑Blessing Moment

Later that same week, Melvin tried counting his blessings again… but he got stuck at “four” because he couldn’t remember if “snacks” counted as one blessing or twelve.

So he shrugged, flicked his tail, and decided, “If God keeps giving them, I’ll keep counting them — even if I lose track.”

And honestly, that’s not a bad way to live.

_{Amazing Grace Baptist 2026©SN Hinckley}

Major KJV Verses on Chastening
Proverbs 3:11–12
Theme: God’s correction is a sign of His love.
Quoted line: “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD…”
Hebrews 12:5–11
Theme: The New Testament commentary on Proverbs 3.
Quoted line: “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth…”
Explains that chastening produces holiness and righteousness.
Revelation 3:19
Theme: Christ disciplines those He loves.
Quoted line: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten…”
Job 5:17
Theme: Chastening is a blessing because it comes from God.
Quoted line: “Happy is the man whom God correcteth…”
Psalm 94:12
Theme: God’s instruction through discipline brings blessing.
Quoted line: “Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest…”
Psalm 118:18
Theme: God’s chastening is corrective, not destructive.
Quoted line: “The LORD hath chastened me sore…”
Deuteronomy 8:5
Theme: God disciplines Israel as a father disciplines a son.
Quoted line: “As a man chasteneth his son…”
2 Samuel 7:14
Theme: God’s fatherly discipline toward the king.
Quoted line: “I will chasten him with the rod of men…”
Proverbs 13:24
Theme: Parental discipline reflects love.
Quoted line: “He that spareth his rod hateth his son…”
Proverbs 22:15
Theme: Discipline drives out folly.
Quoted line: “The rod of correction shall drive it far from him…”
Proverbs 23:13–14
Theme: Correction preserves life.
Quoted line: “Withhold not correction from the child…”
Proverbs 29:15
Theme: Discipline produces wisdom.
Quoted line: “The rod and reproof give wisdom…”
_____________________________________________________________________

🌞 Prayer: For Our Country & Our Leaders
Almighty God, As the seasons turn from the gentle stirrings of spring toward the bright fullness of summer, we pause to thank You for Your faithfulness over our land. You are the One who renews the earth, who brings life from the soil, and who teaches us through every sunrise that Your mercies are new each morning.
Lord, bless our country. Bless the fields that are being planted, the families who are rebuilding, the communities seeking peace, and the hearts longing for hope. Let the warmth of the coming season remind us of the warmth of Your grace — steady, strong, and ever‑present.
We pray for our leaders. Grant wisdom to those who guide our nation. Give them clarity to see what is right, courage to choose what is just, and humility to walk in truth. Strengthen their families, guard their steps, and surround them with counselors who value righteousness, compassion, and integrity.
We pray for unity in our land. Where there is division, sow peace. Where there is fear, plant courage. Where there is anger, cultivate understanding. Where there is weariness, breathe renewal. Teach us to see one another not as enemies, but as neighbors created in Your image.
We pray for protection. Watch over our military, our first responders, our law enforcement, and all who serve. Shield them from harm, steady their minds, and comfort their families with Your peace.
We pray for the Church across this nation. May Your people shine with the light of Christ as days grow longer. Let our words be seasoned with grace, our actions rooted in love, and our lives marked by faithfulness. Make us instruments of healing, hope, and truth in every community.
Lord, bless America. Bless her rivers and her roads, her cities and her small towns, her families and her future. Let this new season be a time of turning — turning hearts toward You, turning homes toward peace, turning leaders toward wisdom, and turning our nation toward righteousness.
As spring becomes summer, let our country move from renewal to strength, from planting to harvest, from promise to purpose. And may Your hand rest upon us all.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
_______________________________________
_{Amazing Grace Baptist 2026©SN Hinckley}

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Sunday, March 29, 2026

Amazing Grace Bulletin March 29th 2026

🌿 The Day the Schoolhouse Lantern Kept Burning

A true early‑1900s story from rural Minnesota
That March, a late blizzard swept across the prairie. Snow piled against doors, and the wind howled like a living thing. Most families kept their children home, but Miss Jensen still walked the mile from her boarding house to the schoolhouse, lantern in hand, pushing through drifts nearly to her knees.
When she arrived, she found two children waiting on the steps—siblings named Henry and Lottie, whose father worked long hours at the grain mill. They had walked nearly a mile themselves, bundled in coats patched with flour sacks.
Miss Jensen opened the door, lit the stove, and warmed their hands by the fire. With only three people present, she could have sent them home. Instead, she said, “If you came all this way, then we will learn—and we will keep the light burning.”
She read scripture aloud before lessons, as she often did, choosing Psalm 46:1 that morning:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
The storm raged outside, but inside the schoolhouse, the lantern glowed, the stove crackled, and the three of them worked through arithmetic, penmanship, and a short reading from McGuffey’s Reader.
By afternoon, the wind had calmed. Henry and Lottie’s father arrived with a team of horses to bring them home. When he saw the lantern still burning in the window, he wiped his eyes and said, “Ma’am, you kept more than a school open today. You kept hope alive.”
For years afterward, townsfolk would point to that little schoolhouse and say:
“As long as the lantern burns, we keep marching on.”
Susan Nikitenko 2026©

🌿 Continuing in God’s Work

Ten More Heart‑Warming Quotes

“When you keep serving, God keeps strengthening.”

“A willing heart in God’s hands becomes a vessel of quiet miracles.”

“Every act of faith plants a seed Heaven will one day bloom.”

“God’s work moves forward through ordinary people with extraordinary trust.”

“When you give God your day, He gives your day purpose.”

“The hands that serve in love shine brighter than any spotlight.”

“God renews the weary worker long before the harvest appears.”

“To continue in God’s work is to walk in the rhythm of His grace.”

“He uses faithful footsteps to build eternal paths.”

“Those who serve with joy carry the fragrance of Christ wherever they go.

🌿 Prayer for Endurance and Continuing in the Work of God

Father in Heaven,
In the quiet places of our hearts, we come to You for strength. You know the weight we carry, the battles we face, and the moments when our steps feel slow and heavy. Yet You are the God who renews the weary and breathes courage into those who keep pressing on.

Give us endurance for the path before us. Steady our minds when discouragement whispers. Strengthen our hands when the work feels long. Remind us that every act of faith, every prayer lifted, every kindness offered, and every burden carried in Your name is seen by You and treasured in Heaven.

Help us continue—not in our own strength, but in Yours. Let Your Word be our guide, Your Spirit our helper, and Your promises our anchor. When we grow tired, lift us. When we feel alone, surround us. When we are tempted to give up, remind us that You walk beside us, step by step.

Make our hearts steadfast, our faith unshaken, and our service filled with love. And as we march on in the work You’ve given us, let our lives shine with the quiet testimony that God is faithful, and His people can endure.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Susan Nikitenko 2026©

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🌿 The Morning the Bell Rang Anyway

A brief true story from rural Georgia, 1903

In 1903, the tiny farming town of Pine Grove, Georgia, gathered each Sunday at a little wooden church shaded by pecan trees. The church bell usually rang at 9:00 sharp, pulled by Mr. Amos Carter, an elderly deacon whose name appears in early county church records.
One March morning, a heavy fog settled over the fields. The roads were soft with mud, and most families assumed services would be canceled. But at 8:45, a faint, steady sound drifted through the mist—the church bell was ringing.
A few neighbors stepped outside, surprised. Through the fog they saw Amos Carter, nearly seventy years old, walking slowly toward the church with his cane in one hand and the bell rope in the other. He had come early, determined to ring the bell even if no one else arrived.
When asked later why he walked so far in such weather, he simply said, “If the Lord gives me breath, the bell will keep calling His people.”
By the time the fog lifted, a small group had gathered—just a handful of families—but they worshiped with a quiet joy that stayed in the town’s memory for years. The church ledger for that day contains a single handwritten note:
“Attendance small. Faith strong.”
And long after Amos Carter passed, Pine Grove families would smile whenever the fog rolled in and say:
“Ring the bell anyway—just like old Amos did.”.

Susan Nikitenko 2026©

🐴 Melvin the Donkey and the Great Grass Mix‑Up

A lighthearted springtime laugh
Melvin the Donkey woke up one bright March morning absolutely convinced—convinced—that the grass tasted different. He took one bite, chewed thoughtfully, and squinted at the field like a food critic judging a fancy restaurant.
Sister Hattie, hanging laundry nearby, called out, “Melvin, what are you doing now?”
Melvin sniffed dramatically and brayed,
“Hee‑haw means: Someone changed the recipe!”
He marched across the yard, inspecting every patch of grass like a detective. He sniffed the clover. He examined the dandelions. He even glared suspiciously at a confused squirrel.
Finally, he plopped down with a huff.
Sister Hattie walked over, trying not to laugh. “Melvin, the grass is the same as yesterday.”
Melvin blinked slowly, then brayed again:
“Hee‑haw means: I knew that. I was just… checking.”
And with that, he strutted off—ears high, tail swishing—pretending he had solved a very important mystery.
The squirrel, however, remained unconvinced.
Susan Nikitenko 2026©

🐴 Melvin & Melvina and the Mysterious Noise

A lighthearted duo moment
Melvina the Lone Donkey was enjoying a peaceful spring morning, nibbling clover and pretending she was supervising the entire church yard. Suddenly—CLUNK!—a loud noise echoed from behind the tool shed.
Melvina froze. Her ears shot straight up like two alarm antennas.
She whispered, “Hee‑haw means: Danger is near!”
Then Melvin trotted out from behind the shed wearing… a metal bucket on his head.
Melvina blinked. “Melvin… what are you doing?”
Melvin brayed proudly, “Hee‑haw means: I invented a helmet!”
He strutted around, the bucket wobbling with every step. “Now I’m ready for anything—storms, squirrels, falling leaves—nothing can stop me!”
Melvina sighed the sigh of a donkey who has seen too much. “Melvin, you can’t even see where you’re going.”
“I don’t need to see,” Melvin declared. “I’m marching on by faith!”
He took one confident step forward and walked directly into the fence.
CLANG!
Melvina shook her head. “Hee‑haw means: Faith is good… but so are eye holes.”
Melvin peeked out from under the bucket, dazed but smiling. “Good idea. I’ll invent those next.”
And with that, the two donkeys marched on—Melvina with dignity, Melvin with a dented bucket, and the fence with a brand‑new wobble.

🌿 Marching On — KJV Verses

Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”

Philippians 3:14 – “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Hebrews 12:1 – “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

Isaiah 40:31 – “They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.”

Psalm 37:23–24 – “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD… Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down.”

Joshua 1:9 – “Be strong and of a good courage… for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

2 Thessalonians 3:13 – “Brethren, be not weary in well doing.”

Psalm 31:24 – “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”

Proverbs 4:25–26 – “Let thine eyes look right on… Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.”
🌿 Prayer for Endurance and Continuing in the Work of God

Father in Heaven,
In the quiet places of our hearts, we come to You for strength. You know the weight we carry, the battles we face, and the moments when our steps feel slow and heavy. Yet You are the God who renews the weary and breathes courage into those who keep pressing on.

Give us endurance for the path before us. Steady our minds when discouragement whispers. Strengthen our hands when the work feels long. Remind us that every act of faith, every prayer lifted, every kindness offered, and every burden carried in Your name is seen by You and treasured in Heaven.

Help us continue—not in our own strength, but in Yours. Let Your Word be our guide, Your Spirit our helper, and Your promises our anchor. When we grow tired, lift us. When we feel alone, surround us. When we are tempted to give up, remind us that You walk beside us, step by step.

Make our hearts steadfast, our faith unshaken, and our service filled with love. And as we march on in the work You’ve given us, let our lives shine with the quiet testimony that God is faithful, and His people can endure.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

🌿 Short Prayer for Endurance

Lord, give me strength for the steps ahead. When I grow tired, renew my spirit. When I feel discouraged, steady my heart. Help me continue in Your work with faith, love, and courage. Walk with me, guide me, and keep me marching on in Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

🌿 Devotion: The Stone That Stayed in Place

A Moment to Reflect

Early spring often brings soft rains that loosen the soil and shift the small stones scattered along a garden path. Yet every gardener knows there are a few stones that never seem to move—no matter the storm, no matter the season. They stay right where they are, steady and unmoved.

That simple stone becomes a quiet picture of endurance in the Christian life. While everything around it shifts, it remains where it was placed.

The Object Lesson

Hold a small stone in your hand. Notice its weight, its firmness, its quiet strength. A stone does not resist the storm by fighting it; it endures by simply remaining where it was set.

In the same way, God calls His people to remain steadfast—not by striving in their own strength, but by resting in the place He has set them.

Scripture for the Heart

1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…”

This verse is not a command to be strong on our own. It is an invitation to anchor ourselves in the One who never moves.

A Gentle Reading Suggestion

Spend a few quiet minutes with Psalm 62, especially verses 5–8. Notice how often David calls God his rock, defense, and refuge. Let the repetition settle into your spirit like a steady heartbeat.

A Closing Thought

Storms will come. Seasons will change. But the soul that rests in Christ can remain steady, unshaken, and faithful. Like the stone that stays in place, endurance grows not from our effort, but from our foundation.

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