EMMETT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
January 2023
Discover Christ's Transforming Love
126 S. Hayes Ave. Emmett, Idaho 83617
Lance Zagaris, Pastor
Pam Hodges, Worship Director
A Word From the Pastor
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. ~Colossians 1:9-14
Dearly Beloved,
Our men's small group recently studied theses verses and we also discussed them in our board meeting. It is a wonderful way to insert our name, or names, of church members and ask God to impact their lives.
One of our workbook questions was: "what godly qualities does Paul pray the believers will receive?"
- to know God's will for their lives (9)
- to grow in spiritual wisdom and understanding (9)
- to live lives that please and honor God (10)
- to be a kind servant to others (10)
- to know God more and more, not just intellectually but experientially and relationally (10)
- to be filled with God's strength (11)
- to experience great endurance (11) - The Christian life is filled with trials, temptations, challenges and heartaches
- to experience patience (11) - The Christian life is filled with difficult people and delays and waiting on God, self and others.
- to experience the joy of the LORD (11)
- to experience gratitude to the hope He's given us in Christ, the great rescue and transformation we have in Christ, and the freedom we have in His redemption (12-14).
The aha moment for me was thinking: Paul prays for believers as if they really need it and as if God really hears and moves to act on their behalf. Paul prays as if their spiritual growth and maturity depended on it! That's how we should be praying for one another by name! That's how I will be praying for you!
Happy New Year!
Shepherding you with Christ's love,
Lance
12 New-Year Reminders To Read Before 2023
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
As we stand at the end of one year and the beginning of a new one, we’ve decided today’s devotion will be a little different. Take some time to soak in these truth-filled reminders, one for each month, as you look back on 2022 and step into 2023. And, friend, trust that God is already there, working out all things for the good of those who love Him! (Romans 8:28) Happy New Year!
Take a deep breath and remember God is good at being God. Let God be God, and instead of seeking control, seek to trust Him.
- You are created by love and for love. Instead of wasting time and energy “proving” you’re worthy of love, focus on loving others.
- Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Instead of dwelling on the hard parts of this year, choose to leave the past in the past. And stay expectant — God is doing something new in 2023!
- Strive to sit at tables Jesus would have sat at. Jesus sat and ate with sinners, (Mark 2:15) but He didn’t “walk in step with the wicked” (Psalm 1:1, NIV). If those gathered around you are gossiping and pushing others down, walk away.
- Like Sarah in Genesis 18, you may be doubting that God will give you a miracle. But God can transform your doubt and make a way.
Be who you needed when you were younger. There’s probably a college student who needs to hear your testimony, a young mom who needs to hear she’s doing a good job, or a middle-school girl who needs to hear love isn’t how her dad treated her mom. Someone needs your story, your presence and your discipleship.
Rest is a holy rhythm, not a prize to be earned. True rest comes from stepping away from the craziness of life and being still while knowing God is in control. Cultivate patterns of rest in your life.
- Heartbreak is hard, but our God is strong. Even when you watch a door close, get ghosted or go through a breakup, your story isn’t finished. Psalm 34:18 says “the LORD is near to the brokenhearted” (ESV). So when you're crying, confused, heartbroken and rejected … trust your Savior is near.
- How you care for and exercise your body should always be a celebration of what your body, designed by God, can do. Even something as good as working out can become a bad thing if you don’t make it a God thing.
- When you find a friend who makes you laugh, loves you well and calls you out, keep her! Cheer her on; be her biggest advocate. Find friends who brag about you behind your back, and be their “hype woman” in return.
- A true leader is formed not by a position but by love. Love big instead of trying to become big, and use leadership opportunities (big and small) to be a light.
- Life isn’t always what you expect, and you might be walking through something very hard — but right now, in some area of your life, you’re in the middle of a blessing. Don’t miss out on your current blessing because you’re too busy counting down the days until the next one. No matter what else happens, if you've placed your faith in Jesus, every day you are lovingly “being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV).
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
Multi-Church Choir & Orchestra Performance
Pictured are Margaret Castle, Wayne Rexford, Suzi Morgan and Pam Goff (Not Pictured: Bill Butticci).
You can view it by clicking on the picture or visit https://www.youtube.com/!EmmettNaz
BROKEN THINHGS CAN BECOME BLESSED THINGS IF YOU LET CHRIST DO THE MENDING.
Good News Club Update
During December the Good News Club met twice. Many of the pictures here are from our Christmas Party on Dec. 14. We sang songs, told the Christmas Story, made stockings (which we filled afterwards with gifts and treats), made nativity ornaments to hang on their tree, played bingo and enjoyed homemade cupcakes! We appreciate your prayers. If you would like to contribute snacks, let Jolene or Lance know. We average about 20-25 students lesson.
To find out more about Good News Clubs, visit Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) at https://www.cefonline.com/ministries/goodnewsclub/
(Click on pictures to enlarge)
Jolene teaches the Christmas story
Authentic story is told!
Advent Conspiracy - Give Presence
FBC collected a total of $645 for 2022 Advent Conspiracy. This money will be divided between two individuals:
1) Dominic Bunting - a former CERT student, who is raising money to go on his mission trip with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and,
2) Vincent Kayitare, a Rwandan University student, who incurred medical expenses from a broken arm.
We pray these funds will bless and encourage them as they pursue their goal toward honoring Christ.
FBC Celebrating Advent Season (click on pictures to enlarge)
Cesar Perez
The Espinosa Family
Rebecca Espinoza
Linda Hull, Nakya Buck & Anthony Allen
Nakya Buck
Bill and Cyndi Butticci
The Weers' Family
Amanda & Caleb Weers
Dave and Pam Hodges
Dave & Pam Hodges
FBC Advent Candles
Nakya Buck
Lexi Humphries
Brian & Amanda Weers
Worship Team Christmas Eve (Eve)
Jim Humphries
Worship Team Christmas Service)
Kris Waller Presentation
Brielle Weers
Brian Weers
Connie Walker - Reaching Children For God
Connie Walker, and her husband, Flane, joined First Baptist Church (FBC) in May of 2021. They came to FBC when her daughter, Amanda Weers, and family decided to make FBC their church home. Connie, having taught in Nyssa with Jolene Zagaris for years and hearing all about FBC through her, decided to move from their current church to FBC where her kids and grandkids attend.
In the short time Connie has been with FBC, she is already making an impact. Her background and love of teaching and child development led her to serve as a Sunday School teacher, a member of the Christian Education Board, and as a team member with the Good News Club.
Both of Connie’s parents were pastors in Joplin, Missouri when she was born. On a December Sunday, her father preached the morning service. After church, her mother told her dad that she needed to go to the hospital. To begin the church service that evening, her father addressed his congregation with the scripture in Isaiah, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a daughter is given.” How many people can say they were born between two sermons?
When Connie was 5 years old, her family lived in Nebraska and her dad was pastoring. At that time, she felt touched by the Lord. She felt she had done bad things and she began praying.
While Connie’s dad loved small town pastoring, he was asked to teach at Life Bible College, so they moved to California. He taught a myriad of subjects there for 40 years and was the Director of admissions. Her mother served as the registrar and as background support for her dad. Connie continued to go to church and Sunday School. Connie’s grandmother was also a godly woman and lived with her family for a while. She was influential in Connie’s childhood. Connie was inspired by hearing her grandmother saying “Thank you, Jesus” at night before going to sleep in the bedroom they shared. At the age of eight, Connie asked her dad if she could be baptized. He prayed with her so she would have a memory of her confession of faith, since she had believed since she was very young.
Connie didn’t feel pressure as a Pastor’s Kid. She believes her personality was an easier fit than some, and she had friends that supported her. She also grew up in the 60s and the Jesus People movement. She remembers having the Jesus people hippies at church.
Connie explained that it is hard to do the expected. People expected her to go to Bible college. She had lots of scholarships. Ultimately, she accepted where she felt the Lord was leading and went to Bible College. There she met Flane. There are always spiritual struggles; not knowing what to do, worry that you will do the wrong thing… with life decisions, kids, grandkids.
Connie and Flane were married and had 3 of their 4 children. They moved to Emmett in 1982 to help with Flane’s family and had their youngest daughter.
Connie feels that coming to know the Lord at a young age was a factor in her passion for teaching and ministering to children. She taught at a Christian pre-school and then taught at the Emmett Alternative School. The grant provided for a nursery and childcare for the children of the teen mothers. Connie served as the nursery staff, and also taught the teen students parenting and child development. When the grant ran out for this effort, Connie went to work at Head Start. This was a great program for 4 –5-year-old children. A teacher (who was a Christian) encouraged Connie to pursue a master’s degree in Oregon. Connie did and ended up teaching kindergarten and first grade in Nyssa, where she met Jolene.
Connie did her master’s thesis on brain development and learned that the prime time to teach is when children are young. As such, she feels strongly about uploading the gospel as young as possible. Connie stated that, “You could do anything as a vocation, but there is an underlying spiritual vocation that you may not be aware of.” During her years of teaching and life experiences, Connie did not feel she was ministering, but when looking back over a span of time, she sees where she had more and more access to children. Now, with the Good News Club, she said, “That is what the Lord was preparing me for”.
Connie quoted D.L. Moody: “If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for the Lord.”
Connie has a passion for leading children to the Lord and has suggestions to support that through these methods:
1. Parents & grandparents should be trained on how to lead their children and grandchildren (ages 4-14) to Christ.
2. Churches need to focus bulk of the budget on children & youth to get the best return from ministry.
3. Leaders need to provide a “defense of the faith training” to children and young people, so they can counter the godless culture.
When asked what struggles Connie’s faith has helped her overcome, she explained that everyone goes through hard times…. children’s health issues, employment issues with Flane’s jobs, etc. and she says she is not a patient person. You can’t see at the time why things happen. However, you can look back and see where things have worked together for good. It is especially hard when someone is injured, suffering, dying… it is hard to understand. But if we understood everything we wouldn’t have compassion. We shouldn’t minimize what we don’t understand – just accept it.
Connie has several favorite Bible verses, but one that has often been encouraging is Matthew 25:23: His Lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” Connie said she is learning to be content if she can be faithful over a few things.
I appreciate Connie and her willingness to share her story. While she did not feel her story was significant, as I followed her description of her career and passion for children, it is apparent the Lord has walked her through the life path necessary for her to make a difference in the lives of children… and as she stated “prepared her” for what he intended for her. I look forward to seeing how the Lord continues to use her in the children’s ministry here at FBC and in our community. Thank you, Connie!
~by Kathy Osborn, FBC Secretary/Treasurer
Promise Yourself
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievement of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words but great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side
so long as you are true to the best that is in you.
Christian D. Larson
More Work Projects Completed!
Thank You Cindy Smith & Roma Careaga!!!
Freezer Cleaned out!
Library Organized!
SAVE THE DATE - VALENTINE'S DINNER
When: February 18 @ 6pm
Where: FBC Fellowship Hall
What: Valentine Dinner Catered by Tom's Cabin Restaurant
Watch for more information coming soon in your church bulletin!
Grilled Teriyaki Tofu Bowl
Recipe by France C
Prep Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 20 mins Total Time: 40 mins Servings: 4
Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package extra firm tofu, drained and pressed
⅔ cup teriyaki sauce, divided
1 large red bell pepper
2 small zucchini
½ fresh pineapple, peeled and cored
1 large onion
¼ cup olive oil
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 cups hot cooked rice
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Directions
Slice tofu into 4 thick slices. Marinate in 1/3 cup of teriyaki sauce while you prepare the vegetables.
Cut bell pepper into 4 wedges; remove core and seeds. Cut ends off zucchini, then cut each zucchini in half lengthwise. Slice pineapple into 4 wedges. Cut onion into quarters. Place vegetables and pineapple onto a large platter. Brush with olive oil and season vegetables with salt and pepper.
Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil grate.
Grill onions for 4 minutes, turning halfway through. Add bell pepper, zucchini, and pineapple to the grill and continue grilling, turning occasionally, until done to your liking, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to a platter as each item finishes cooking, and cut into bite-sized pieces when cool enough to handle.
Remove tofu from the marinade. Lightly oil the grate and grill 2 to 3 minutes per side.
Divide hot rice between 4 bowls. Top with grilled vegetables, pineapple, and tofu. Drizzle with remaining 1/3 cup teriyaki sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.
Cook's Notes:
To press tofu, set tofu on a plate on several layers of paper towel or a dish towel. Top with more paper towel and another plate; weigh the top plate down with a heavy object. Let drain for 20 to 30 minutes.
If using a grill topper, you can pre-cut everything into smaller pieces before grilling.
Chuckles
"Lord, bless Mommy and Daddy, and God, GIVE ME A NEW BICYCLE!!!"
Mom: "Gods not deaf, son."
Boy: "I know, Mom, but grandma's in the next room, and she's hard of hearing!"