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From Pastor Roger ...
Do you wonder sometimes where God is when you're in pain?
A professional's guide to preserving dahlias for flower arrangements includes these steps:
- Cut the dahlias no further out than 24 hours before you receive them (and often much closer), so you always know you are receiving a fresh product.
- Fill a small pail or vase with two to three inches of very hot (but not boiling) water. 170 degrees Fahrenheit is what you're aiming for—the point at which the water has little tiny bubbles at the bottom of the saucepan, or the temperature that comes out of an instant hot tap on a kitchen sink. Place the stems in the hot water for about an hour (yes, it sounds crazy) and let it cool naturally. You can do this even if the flowers are wilted by the time you get them home. Try to keep the blooms away from the steam if you can. You'll notice that the stems turn a bit darker as the water goes up the stem. After about an hour, take them out and cut them at any length you choose.
- Some florists recommending pricking pinholes in the stem to release air bubbles for longer lasting blooms.
If you have children, you're familiar with "That's not fair!" Life on this earth isn't fair, or just, and certainly not perfect. And sometimes, when you're in the most pain or you can't see any light at the end of a very dark, oppressive tunnel, that's when God is closest.
Zechariah 13:9 (NLT) reads: "I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'These are my people,' and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'"
You may be bruised, cut or bleeding. You may be in very hot water. Someone may be pricking you with needles and barbs. But be assured: "These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." 1 Peter 1:7 NLT
What's happening:
| THIS WEEK | ||||||
| TODAY 10/18 | WEDNES. 10/19 | THURSDAY 10/20 | FRIDAY 10/21 | SABBATH 10/22 | ||
| 4pm Discovery/ Adventurers Clubs 6pm Youth Night | 7pm Bible Study class | 6pm Shabbat Service | 9, 11am Worship with Pastor Jeff Richards | |||
| 7pm Finance Committee | 7pm CAA Board | 10am Sabbath School | ||||
| NEXT WEEK | ||||||
| SUNDAY 10/23 | MONDAY 10/24 | TUESDAY 10/25 | WEDNES. 10/26 | THURSDAY 10/27 | FRIDAY 10/28 | SABBATH 10/29 |
| | 7pm Pathfinders | 6pm Youth Night | 7pm Bible Study Class | 9,11am Worship with Pastor Jeff Richards | ||
| | 7pm Bible Study Class | 7pm Church Board | 10am Sabbath School | |||
