Amazing Grace Baptist Bulletin January 18th 2026

Offline Use No Resale

❄️ The Snowflake That Spoke of God’s Care — A True Winter Story

In the quiet mountain town of Estes Park, Colorado, winters arrive like a hymn—soft, solemn, and full of wonder. One January morning, Mrs. Eleanor Hayes, a retired schoolteacher known for her gentle spirit, stepped outside to check on the birds she fed each day. The night had been bitterly cold, and the world lay under a fresh quilt of snow.

As she opened the feeder, a single snowflake drifted down and landed on the sleeve of her coat. It was perfect—six‑pointed, delicate, shining like a tiny crystal crown. She paused, marveling at its beauty. In that moment, she remembered the verse she had read earlier that morning:

“He giveth snow like wool: He scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.” — Psalm 147:16 (KJV)

Eleanor had been praying for weeks about her grandson, who was struggling with discouragement and drifting from church. She felt helpless, unsure how to reach him. But as she stared at that snowflake—unique, intricate, and crafted by the hand of God—she felt a quiet assurance settle over her heart.

“If God can design something this small with such care,” she whispered, “He can reach a young man’s heart.”

Later that afternoon, her phone rang. It was her grandson. His voice trembled as he said, “Grandma… I think I need to come back to church. I miss God. I miss peace.”

Tears filled her eyes. She looked out the window at the falling snow and said, “Honey, God’s been waiting for you.”

That Sunday, he walked into church beside her, and the congregation rejoiced. Eleanor kept the memory of that snowflake as a reminder that God works in quiet, beautiful ways—often in the very moments we feel most helpless.

Amazing Grace Baptist 2026©

🙏 A Prayer of Blessing on Our Church

Heavenly Father, Bless our church family with unity, warmth, and steadfast love. Let Your Word be our anchor, Your Spirit our guide, and Your presence our joy. Strengthen every ministry, every servant, every child, and every elder. May our worship be pure, our fellowship sincere, and our mission fruitful. Cover us with Your peace in every season, and let Your light shine brightly through us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

💗 Words of Help and Love for the Sick & Troubled

To those who are hurting, weary, or walking through deep valleys—your church loves you, and God has not forgotten you. Winter may feel long, but the Lord walks beside you with unfailing compassion. His promise still stands:

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee… I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee.” — Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)

You are held. You are prayed for. You are precious to God.

🙏 Prayer for the Sick and Troubled

Merciful Father, Stretch forth Your healing hand to those who are sick, suffering, or burdened with sorrow. Bring comfort to troubled minds, strength to weak bodies, and peace to anxious hearts. Let Your presence be a warm fire in their winter season. Surround them with love, restore their hope, and remind them that You are near to the brokenhearted. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

🌊 Short Sermon Outline — “Jesus in the Boat”

Text: Mark 4:35–41 (KJV)

I. The Storm Came Suddenly

• “There arose a great storm of wind…” (v. 37)
• Storms don’t ask permission.
• Even obedient disciples face violent, unexpected seasons.
• Following Jesus does not prevent storms — but it guarantees His presence.

II. Jesus Was Already in the Boat

• “He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow.” (v. 38)
• He was not distant, absent, or unaware.
• His presence is not proven by what we feel, but by what He promised.
• The storm did not wake Him — but the cry of His children did.

III. Fear Makes Us Forget Who Is With Us

• “Master, carest thou not that we perish?”
• Fear exaggerates the storm and minimizes the Savior.
• The disciples saw waves, but Jesus saw an opportunity for faith.
• Panic asks, “Where is God?”
• Faith whispers, “He is here.”

IV. Jesus Speaks Peace Into Chaos

• “Peace, be still.” (v. 39)
• The wind obeyed instantly.
• The sea became calm immediately.
• The storm outside bowed to the authority of the One inside the boat.

V. The Storm Revealed Their Faith

• “How is it that ye have no faith?” (v. 40)
• Storms expose what sermons cannot.
• They show us where we trust God — and where we don’t.
• Jesus uses storms to grow us, not to crush us.

VI. The Final Question: Who Is This Man?

• “What manner of man is this…?” (v. 41)
• The storm became a classroom.
• The disciples learned that the One who rides in their boat rules over their storm.
• When you know who Jesus is, you stop fearing what storms can do.

🌟 Closing Thought

The miracle is not only that Jesus calmed the storm — The miracle is that He got in the boat before the storm ever began.

_____________________________________________________________

🌊 Was Jesus Truly in the Boat During the Storm?

Yes. The Bible plainly says Jesus was physically present in the boat with His disciples when the storm struck the Sea of Galilee.

📖 The Key Passage (KJV)

Mark 4:37–38 “And there arose a great storm of wind… And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow…”

This is not symbolic or poetic — it is historical narrative. Jesus was literally there, asleep, while the storm raged.

🌬 Why This Matters

Jesus didn’t calm the storm from a distance. He didn’t shout from the shore. He didn’t send angels instead.

He got into the boat with them.

That means:

• He was present in their fear

• He was near when they panicked

• He was close enough to hear their cry

• He was the peace in the middle of their chaos

And when they woke Him, He rose and said:

“Peace, be still.” (Mark 4:39 KJV)

The storm obeyed because the Creator was already in the boat.

🌟 The Devotional Truth

The miracle is not only that Jesus calmed the storm — the miracle is that He was with them before the storm ever began.

Just as He is with you, with your church, and with every believer who feels overwhelmed.

❄️ Just a Thought God Repeated

Some truths in Scripture are spoken once. Others are whispered again and again. But a few—those that reach deepest into the human heart—God repeats with unmistakable clarity.

“Let My People Go.” Those words echoed through Egypt not once, but many times. God repeated them because freedom mattered. Deliverance mattered. His people mattered.

Centuries later, Jesus repeated something too—this time not to a nation, but to one man whose heart needed restoring.

“Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me?” He asked it three times. Not because He didn’t know the answer, but because Peter needed to hear the question. He needed to face his failure. He needed to rediscover his calling. He needed to know that grace still had room for him.

God repeats what heals us. He repeats what frees us. He repeats what restores us.

“Let My People Go.” “Do you love Me?”

Two repeated messages—one to break chains, the other to mend a heart. Both reveal a God who refuses to give up on His people.

And maybe today, He is repeating something to you. A call. A reminder. A gentle nudge. A truth you’ve heard before but needed to hear again.

Because the God who repeated Himself in Scripture still speaks with patience, mercy, and love.

Amazing Grace Baptist 2026©

____________________________________________________________________________

💗 Seven Trusted Quotes From the Heart

1. “When God holds your heart, no storm can steal your peace.”

2. “The Lord writes hope into our days long before we see the sunrise.”

3. “A prayer whispered in weakness reaches a God who answers in strength.”

4. “Even when life feels heavy, grace arrives light as a snowflake.”

5. “God’s love does not waver with the seasons; it stays warm through every winter.”

6. “Healing begins the moment a hurting soul remembers it is not alone.”

7. “Faith grows quietly—one step, one tear, one answered prayer at a time.”

Amazing Grace Baptist 2026©

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible-centered non-profit ministries and must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At "treasurebox18@yahoo.com." All my poems with stories are both real and fictional, designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You. Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family, and country.

Amazing Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Dec 28th 2025

A Winter’s Prayer

Lord of Light and Winter Peace,

As the cold settles over the earth and snow quiets the world around us, still our hearts in Your presence.

Teach us to see Your beauty in every frosted branch, Your faithfulness in every sunrise that breaks through the long nights.

In this season of rest, renew our strength.

In this season of stillness, deepen our trust.

In this season of waiting, anchor our hope in Christ alone.

Warm our fellowship with kindness,

Brighten our worship with gratitude,

And guide our steps into the New Year with courage, compassion, and joy.

May Your Spirit cover our church family like fresh snow —

pure, gentle, and full of quiet wonder.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

---

Encouraging Quotes for the New Year

1. “God’s tomorrow is always bigger than our yesterday.”
2. “When we step into a new year with Christ, we never step alone.”
3. “Fresh starts are God’s specialty — He delights in making all things new.”
4. “Faith grows strongest when we walk into the unknown holding God’s hand.”
5. “A new year is not a reset of time, but a renewal of trust.”
6. “Where God leads, hope follows.”
7. “Every sunrise of the new year whispers the same truth: God is faithful.”

---

 

“The Snowplow and the Streetlight”

Years ago in a small Midwestern town, a pastor walked outside early on New Year’s morning. Snow had fallen heavily overnight, covering everything in a thick white blanket. The streets were silent, untouched, and still.

But as he stood there, he noticed something beautiful.

A single streetlight glowed warmly at the end of the road, and beneath it, a snowplow had carved a clean, straight path through the deep snow. The rest of the neighborhood remained buried, but that one illuminated path was clear, open, and ready for travel.

Later that morning, the pastor shared this with his congregation:

“The New Year is like that untouched snow — unknown, untraveled, and sometimes overwhelming. But God is like the streetlight, shining ahead. And His Word is the plow that clears the way. We don’t need to see the whole road. We only need to walk the path He has already prepared.”

That simple picture stayed with the church for years.

Every winter, whenever the snow fell, people remembered:

God always makes a way forward — even when the year ahead feels deep and uncertain.

---

 Short Bible Lesson: “Snow and the God Who Makes Us New”

Theme: Snow teaches us about God’s cleansing, renewing, and transforming work.

1. Snow Reminds Us of God’s Cleansing Power

Snow covers the dullness of winter with pure white beauty.

Scripture uses this image to describe forgiveness:

• “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” — Isaiah 1:18

God doesn’t just dust us off — He makes us new.

2. Snow Falls Quietly, Like God’s Gentle Work in Us

Snow rarely arrives with noise. It settles softly, quietly transforming the world.

God often works the same way:

• “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

Transformation doesn’t always come with fireworks.

Sometimes it comes in quiet obedience, small steps, and whispered prayers.

3. Snow Reflects Light — We Are Called to Do the Same

Fresh snow glows brightly because it reflects nearly all the light that touches it.

Jesus calls us to reflect His light:

• “Let your light shine before others…” — Matthew 5:16

A snowy field doesn’t create light — it reflects it.

So do we.

4. Snowfall Is Seasonal — So Are Our Lives

Winter doesn’t last forever.

Neither do the hard seasons we walk through.

• “For everything there is a season…” — Ecclesiastes 3:1

God is faithful in every season — planting, pruning, waiting, and renewing.

---

 Amazing Grace Baptist Church Bulletin ©2025

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At "treasurebox18@yahoo.com" All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You.Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family and country.

God Gave Us The Seasons

God Gave Us The Seasons

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At "treasurebox18@yahoo.com" All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You.Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family and country.

I Can Always Depend On You

 Psalms 71:3
Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At "treasurebox18@yahoo.com" All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You.Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family and country.

Fixing Problems

 

Fixing Problems

 

By: Susan Y Nikitenko 

January 6th, 2012

After church on Thursday night our truck would not start.   My husband thought it was the battery so our Son in law pulled out the jumper cables to charge the battery.  The effort was of no avail.  They then slugged through a snowdrift to get to the store across the street.  They bought tools to remove it.  Even though they worked hard they still could not remove it. They were using the wrong tools. 

My daughter and I waited in the car, it was very cold outside.  Our Son in law then drove us to K-mart to buy new tools and a new battery .  Then we went back to the church.  Where they worked a long time, but they still couldn't fix the problem.

It takes us about 25 minutes to drive home from our church.  We went home to get more tools, tools they thought would work.  My daughter and I stayed home.  They went back and worked and did not get back until midnight.  The problem still was not fixed.

They weren't using the right tools and they were working on the wrong problem.  The problem they were working on didn't exist.   The truck didn't need a new battery.  It needs a new starter.

Sometimes people go to fixing something and they're using the wrong tools. 

Anger isn't the right tool to use when you're trying to fix a problem in a relationship for example.

Gossip isn't the right tool to use when you're praying for someone in a group setting.

Tricking isn't the right tool because it creates mistrust and confusion.  Confusion is of the devil. 

We need to be sure we are using the right tools- you know, the "righteous tools". When dealing with the problems of life we need to use tools like prayer and hiding Gods Word in our heart, tools like love and a soft answer, tools like wisdom and encouragement, tools like faith and consideration. These are the right tools.

Sometimes we think we're fixing a problem and it's just made things worse.  We end up breaking something,

that would have never been broken. 

Sometimes we think we have everything figured out, but all along we were trying to fix the wrong thing.

What we were working on never needed fixing at all.

Sometimes we just need a new start.  Just like our truck, it needs a new starter. 

When we go to fixing problems, we need to know for sure the problem is real.

When we go to fixing problems, we need to know it's the right problem.

When we go to fixing problems, we need to be using the right tools.

When we go to fixing problems we better know God wants us to do the fixing.

Hopefully we have the right person repairing our truck, or we may have bigger problems.  

The same way in life.

Jesus is the best  fixer upper I know.

Sometimes the best tool, is leaving things in God's hands. 

  His grace goes a long way.

Poetry and Writings On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At "treasurebox18@yahoo.com" All Rights Reserved

Autumn's Song Is The Harvest Song

Autumn's Song Is The Harvest Song

The garden leaves fall to the ground:
My face looks up while they fall down.
Without making one single sound;
Like flowers they lay all around.

Leaves whisking here and whipping there;
While Autumn winds sing Autumn's  song.
God's creatures they must sing along;
While they're gathering all day long.

The Summer  flowers are faded now;
The gardens need much love and care.
Winter knocks at the door of fall;
"Gather the Harvest!  Gather it All!"

Autumn's song is the harvest song;
Can you hear the warning winds?
Calling now for you to repent:
Before the Autumn season ends.

Jesus is coming to gather;
He calls to the wandering ones.
The winds of harvest are changing
The will of the Father be done.

O come reap the harvest of hope;
A bountiful harvest of love.
Jesus our Saviors is coming;
To take us to our home above.

"Gather the harvest Lord, gather it all;"
The trumpet of heaven leads this call.
The leaves are falling, heavens  calling;
"Gather the harvest , gather it all."

We've worked, we've sown and we've grown;
The garden is ready to glean.
And now winter cries out,  Prepare!
Jesus is very, very near.
Jesus is very, very near.
Winter cries out,  Prepare!


By Susan y Nikitenko
September 12th, 2011

 I Thessalonians  4:17
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.



 Matthew 24:36


But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.


 Mark 13:32

But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Revelation 22:12 

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Poetry On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At "treasurebox18@yahoo.com" All Rights Reserved

Saved in A Snowstorm

glitter-graphics.com

Saved In A Snowstorm

 

Flurry, scurry, everywhere

the falling snow, does blow.

A flock of geese a swaying

fall to the earth below.

Doubting man, says to his wife

“Don’t ask me to believe.”

“Why would God, come down to us,

a sinful world receive?”

Hurting wife, she goes to church;

her heart down in despair.

Crying out to God above

“Show him, Lord, you care.”

Her husband hears a noise outside,

Honking geese trapped in the snow;

Cold, confused, alone,

While cold winds whip and blow.

Compassion speaking to his heart,

“Those wandering geese need saved.”

He bundled up to go outside.

He called to them and waved.

Blowing sharply, wintry winds;

He tried to call and guide.

They simply would not listen,

Though a door stood open wide.

Frustrated and greatly grieved,

He said, in words so dim,

“The only way to save the geese,

Is by becoming one of them.”

He fell upon his knees, that day,

In wintry blowing snow.

Cried out to God, “I understand”

Your love!, I see!, I know!”

God so gracious and so kind;

in compassion, heart felt love,

He came down, to dwell with man

And left His home above.

Taking on our human flesh;

He felt our human pain.

Died upon, a wooden cross;

For sinners, He was slain.

No greater love, there’s ever been;

Than that of this Great One.

In Human Flesh, Our loving God,

Sent us His only Son.

 

 

 

( version 2)

By: Susan Y Nikitenko

February 18, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Susan Nikitenko for the Glory of God,

 

For Children of All Ages

After reading a story called "Geese in a Snowstorm"

Written by an unknown Author

All My Poetry Is Free For Christian Bible Centered Ministries And Must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Information Must Also Be Included. All Other Purposes Are With Written Permission Only. All Rights Reserved