I honestly entered this week holding my breath and saying a prayer. The pages of my Mom's Agenda (calendar) had lots of scribbles, highlighted notes, asterisks, appointments, and reminders. Nearing the end of this week, I look back and see that I got through most of the "to-do's list" although nothing really went as planned. In fact, there was a lot of reshuffling of tasks, errands, assignments, in order to accommodate the things that seemed more urgent at the time or to allow for things that I had not considered.

I just hope that whatever was done this week was done with joy - albeit harried, clumsy, and comical at times. Yes, there were late nights and long days, but whenever it was time to rest, I thank God for the deep and peaceful sleep and that he woke me up every morning.

Maybe your week was similar to mine, let this verse encourage you:

"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalm 27:14 (NKJV)

Keep trusting in the Lord. Pray for one another. Ask the Lord to guide your steps each day.

AnnMarguerite Jones

“Trust and obey,

for there’s no there way

To be happy in Jesus

But to trust and obey” - J.H Sammis SASB #690

I read the following quote on social media this week:

“Why do babies laugh when their fathers launch them into the air?

Because they know the same hands that launched them are there to catch them.

That is trust.”

I don’t actually know if that is true or not since, although I undoubtedly experienced it as an infant, I have no recollection of any emotion at the time. However there were subsequent times I did do some (for me) potentially scary things knowing that my father would not let me fall — like riding on his shoulders. Getting up and down always felt a little traumatic, but I did enjoy the experience.

However, once we learn to trust a whole world of new possibilities and exciting experiences opens up for us. I have friends who have willingly jumped out of perfectly good airplanes on more than one occasion, trusting a few yards of fabric to keep body and soul together! I have been privileged to make presentations on the subject of evangelism from time to time and I like to include the question, “What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?” And then I follow up quoting Paul writing to the Philippians,

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13 KJV

Or if you prefer a quote from Apollo 13, “Failure is not an option!”

And of course, trust is something that becomes easier as it is exercised. Believing and acting on God’s promises and seeing the outcomes helps to strengthen faith. I’ve now lived long enough for this not to be much of a problem since the picture in the rear-view mirror proves that God can be trusted absolutely.

But — Obedience! — now there’s a totally different kettle of fish!

I don’t know if it’s been scientifically studied, but any parent will tell you that the first one-syllable word a child utters is “NO!” From our earliest days, our sense of will asserts itself and if left to flourish by its own inclination it leads to rebellion at best, chaos, and anarchy at worst. Most of parenting is directed at guiding and shaping the will of the child in light of the collective experience of society. How many parents have uttered the words, “…but it’s for your own good” when having to discipline a defiant child who prefers his own way of how things should work? Neglecting to provide such guidance is not only not in the best interest of the child, but can be construed as abusive and evil.

Obedience can be seen on a spectrum. At one end there is malicious compliance which follows the guidance in seeming obedience but does so in a way that will backfire on the one asking for obedience. In the middle is resignation, which reserves the right to take back control if things don’t appear to be working out. And on the other end is submission which believes that the one asking for obedience truly knows better than we do and can be trusted to have our welfare in mind in all situations.

I am always awed and humbled by the words of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Read it again yourself in Matthew 26:39 and Luke 22:42. For me, it’s the question that comes right before the “nevertheless”. Jesus is asking the Father if there’s any alternative, is there a “Plan B”? If there is, he’d really, really prefer that because he’s worried that as a human he might fail at “Plan A”. And then that marvelous word which stands as the hinge of history, the point at which Jesus shows that as humans we too can be totally in God’s will, “nevertheless”!

Paul is equally awed in writing to the church at Philippi when he says:

“And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:8-11 [NIV emphasis mine]

“Plan A” was not only scary, it was ugly. Given a choice of the way to die, any observant Jew would choose any method except being hung from a piece of wood — that was considered the ultimate curse.

“Nevertheless”!

Jesus gives us the ultimate example of trusting and obeying. I think it is safe to say that because of his obedience, our obedience will never take on the same dimensions as his. And because of that obedience, we can trust in this promise:

“…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV

Let us purpose that our obedience will be submission to God’s superior will knowing that it will be part of God’s ultimate plan for the good of His creation.

“When we cannot see our way

Let us trust and still obey;

He who bids us forward go

Cannot fail the way to show.”

Thomas Kelly SASB #689

Praying blessings on you and yours,

Jim Black

SUNDAY:

• 9:00 AM - Jr Praise Team Practice - Chapel
• 10:00 AM - Sunday School - Classroom
• 10:00 AM - Corps Cadets - Library
• 10:15 AM - Prayer Meeting - Prayer Room
• 11:00 AM - In-Person Worship Service - Streaming on Concord Corps Family FB Page
• Note: Because we are in full prep mode for Encore, sectional practices have increased to an hour each. Please be sure to provide lunches for the kids remaining.
• 12:15 PM - Singing Company Practice - Chapel
• 1:15 PM - Lunch Break - Fireside Room
• 1:30 PM - Jr Band Practice - Chapel
• Note: The Virtual Baby Shower plans have changed. If you would like to drop off a gift for the family, Major Ann will deliver them on March 13th. There is still time to bring something in.

TUESDAY:

• 6:00 PM - Men's Bible Study - Fireside Room
• 6:00 PM - Women's Bible Study - Zoom
• 7:00 PM - Songster Practice - Chapel
• 8:00 PM - Musicians' Devotions & Prayer - Chapel
• 8:15 PM - Senior Band Practice - Chapel

WEDNESDAY: National Day of Prayer & Fasting

• 10:00 AM - CAMEO: California, Here We Are! - Hybrid, Zoom & In-Person

FRIDAY:

• 6:30 PM - YouthForce - Clayton Skipolini's Pizza

SATURDAY:

• 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM - Divisional Youth Music Day - location to be determined (leaving the corps at 8:00 AM)

NEXT SUNDAY: March 6th

• 9:00 AM - Praise Team Rehearsal
• 10:00 AM - Sunday School - Classroom
• 10:00 AM - Corps Cadets - Library
• 10:15 AM - Prayer Meeting - Prayer Room
• 11:00 AM - In-Person Worship Service - Streaming on Concord Corps Family FB Page
• 12:15 PM - Singing Company Practice - Chapel
• 1:15 PM - Lunch Break - Fireside Room
• 2:15 PM - Jr Band Practice - Chapel
• 6:00 PM - Corps Council Meeting - Zoom

SPECIAL NOTE: The CAMEO ladies will be doing a service project called Blessing Jars in a couple of weeks. If you have any glass jars from spaghetti sauces or any other kind of mason jar type of glass container with a lid that you can spare, they would be gratefully received for this project.

SOUTHERN AFRICA TERRITORY

Territorial leaders: Commissioners Torben and Deise Eliasen

Prayer requests:

• Thanking God for His protection during this Pandemic and praising God for leaders that have just arrived in the country.
• Praising God for Women Ministries in the Territory.
• Preparations of moving CFOT (College for Officers' Training) to the new grounds.
• Financial Needs of the Territory and His provision.
• The increasing of gender-based violence cases - that it must STOP.

We call on our USA Western Territory to be in prayer for our brothers and sisters serving in Ukraine. Below is a list of officers and ministry leaders in the Ukraine Division who you can specifically be praying for in the days and weeks to come. Today we specifically pray for their safety, for their families, and for their ministry in Ukraine.

DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS

Divisional Leaders - Majors Veaceslav & Galina Drozdovschi

Divisional Secretary - Major Vera Yefimenko

Divisional Candidates Officer - Major Galina Drozdovschi

Divisional Youth Officer - Captain Daniel Lukin

Divisional Children’s Ministries - Major Irina Shvab

Divisional Prayer Co-ordinator - Captain Svetlana Bochkareva

Divisional Assistant for Projects - Captain Daria Bessmolnaya

Anti-Human Trafficking National Contact Person - Yulia Khoroshilova

DNIPRO CORPS

Corps Officers - Captains Dmitry Bessmolniy & Daria Bessmolnaya

Corps Leaders - Dmytro & Nataliya Rak

DONETSK CORPS

Coordinator - CSM Vera Volf

KHARKIV CORPS

Corps Officers - Captains Yuri Pomytkin & Irina Pomytkina

KIEV MAYAK CORPS

Corps Officers - Lieutenants Dmytri Pomytkin & Anastasiia Pomytkina

KROPYVNYTSKYI CORPS

Corps Officers - Captains Daniel Lukin & Valeria Lukina

LVIV CORPS

Corps Officers - Captains Sergiu & Galina Nica

Corps Leaders - Andrey & Vera Priadko

NOVIY CORPS

Corps Offices - Lt. Tetiana Popova

PESOCHIN CORPS

Corps Officer - Captain Svetlana Bochkareva

VINNYTSIA (CORPS PLANT)

Corps Officers - Majors Konstantin & Irina Shvab

Theme: Fashioned by Grace (Titus 2:11-12)

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "no" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." (Titus 2:11-12)

New Date: March 12, 2022

Time: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Location: Concord Corps

Cost: $10 per person and includes lunch (craft workshops may require a fee)

We are hosting our very own women's day retreat! Please feel free to invite your friend, a neighbor, and family. They don't have to attend our church or any church for that matter. The program includes an Over the Top Hat Fashion Show and a homemade Hat Contest. Prizes awarded!

Our guests include Colonel Donna Igleheart, Major Pam Brackenbury, Major Candi Frizzell, and Major Dianne Madsen.

There will also be an accessory and clothing exchange. Bring gently used and in good-condition items to swap with someone else's items. You can get 1 item for every item you bring in. Maximum of 10 items. After that, you can purchase additional items for $1 each.

RSVP with Major AnnMarguerite Jones by March 7th:

mailto:annmarguerite.jones@usw.salvationarmy.org

Theme: Zest for Life

Dates: May 13-15, 2022

Location: William Jessup University

Cost: $75 which includes housing, food, materials, and a t-shirt

There will be workshops, fun activities, inspirational worship, and fellowship. They are even putting on a Prom! So start getting your outfit together!

Registration is due April 13th.

See Major AnnMarguerite Jones or Major Willdonna Rich if you would like to attend.

Email: annmarguerite.jones@usw.salvationarmy.org
Website: https://www.salvationarmyconcordca.org
Location: 3950 Clayton Road, Concord, CA, USA
Phone: (925) 676-6180
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tsaconcord