The rainbow represents a covenant between God and people. It reminds us of God's protection. An incredible truth is that God is all-powerful, He loves us, and wants us to be in relationship with Him. “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth… This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth” (Genesis 9:8-16, ESV)

July begins the second half of the year. At Christmas and New Years, we consider Jesus birth and new beginnings. We will take a month half-way through the year to take time out to Praise the Lord.

The Bible commands it. As the Psalmist says, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6). Praise facilitates access to God. Obviously, it’s the blood of Jesus that paves the way for our forgiveness from sin and relationship with God (Hebrews 10:19). That being said, our perpetual praise provides a clear and unhindered passage. Therefore, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4). Praise is where God lives. The Bible says God is “Enthroned upon the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3). Praise promotes productivity. According to the Bible, the Earth yields its produce in the presence of praise (Psalm 17:5-6). Praise chases away despair. There’s no better way to beat the blues than to change our focus from self to God. Such a shift produces “the oil of gladness instead of mourning” (Isaiah 61:3). God is worthy of it. “The Lord is great and worthy of our praise” (NCV). While it’s obviously good to praise and encourage those around us, God alone deserves our heartfelt worship and supreme allegiance. Adapted from Todd Gaddis, found at https://research.lifeway.com/2017/09/01/seven-reasons-praise-lord/

You can praise God in words, actions, songs, poetry, art, meditation and many other ways. "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

STEPS TO PEACE “I guarantee that you can know peace with God, peace of soul, peace of mind, and joy such as you have never experienced.” – BILLY GRAHAM STEP 1: GOD’S PURPOSE: PEACE AND LIFE God loves you and wants you to experience peace and eternal life. The Bible says: “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” -Romans 5:1 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” -John 3:16 What keeps us from having the life God planned for us? STEP 2: THE PROBLEM: OUR SEPARATION FROM GOD God created us in His image. He gave us a will and the freedom of choice; we choose to disobey Him and go our own way. This separates us from God. The Bible says: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” -Romans 3:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 6:23 People have tried to bridge this gap between themselves and God. The Bible says: “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” -Proverbs 14:12 “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” -Isaiah 59:2 No bridge reaches God … except one. STEP 3: GOD’S BRIDGE: THE CROSS Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between us and God. The Bible says: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” -1 Timothy 2:5 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” -1 Peter 3:18 God has provided the only way back to Him. You must make a choice. STEP 4: OUR RESPONSE: RECEIVE CHRIST We must trust and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. The Bible says: “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” -John 1:12 “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” -Romans 10:9 Which side are you on? The side with Christ or without Him? from: https://stepstopeace.org/ See also: http://www.ashfordchurch.org/files/1328/File/stepstopeaceUBC.pdf

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Join other June celebrations by having a booth or a group come out. Feel free to use the Praise Month Logo. - Invite friends over to have a time of Praise during the month of June. - Fly the Praise Month flag at your place of business - Wear/make a Praise Month T-Shirt - Make stickers and give them out to kids for Praise Month - Post about Praise Month on your Social Media