YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART WITH ALL YOUR SOUL & WITH ALL YOUR MIND Matthew 22:37

Rusk Crumbs November 2019

November Greeters November 3 A.M. Allen & Laura Overweg, Brian & Kristi Curtis family P.M. Paul & Donna Schipper, Roger & Sandy Headley November 10 A.M. Duane & Jan Harsevoort, Harold & Barb Headley P.M. Ed & Winn Holstege, Scott & Heidi Mesbergen family November 17 A.M. Jon & Laura Holstege family, Brian & Sheri Hunderman family P.M. Randy & Diane Klunder, John & Diane Hunderman November 24 A.M. John & Bev Kuyers, Cal & Gret Kuyers P.M. Vern & Linda Meyers, Keith & Nichole Nienhuis family, Jan Vander Zwaag November 28 Kevin & Dollie Knott, Harv & Jackie Koetje

November Song Leaders November 3 Congregational Favorites November 10 Josh Schreiber November 17 Congregational Favorites November 24 Josh DeWitt November Nursery Schedule November 3 A.M. Heidi Mesbergen, Glenda Neymeiyer, Blakelee Hunderman P.M. Carmen Schreiber, Ellie Schippers November 10 A.M. Sarah Steenwyk, Jessica DeWitt, Westen Headley P.M. Michelle Wittingen, Desiree Kuyers November 17 A.M. Ruth Kuyers, Diane Meyers, Easton Wittingen P.M. Ruth DeGroot, Kyah VanKoevering November 24 A.M. Diane Hunderman, Jackie Koetje, Pearl Warolin P.M. Sheri Hunderman, Liz Curtis Jessica Headley, Whitney Meyers, Madison VanEerden November Ushers A.M. Jacob Nienhuis (Center) Lucas Nienhuis Jaden Nienhuis P.M. Keith Nienhuis November Spanish Church Visitation November 3 Harv & Jackie Koetje November 10 Kevin & Dollie Knott November 17 Ike & Jeannie & Amie Spriensma November 24 Bruce & Loie Volkers

November Birthdays November Anniversaries 1 – Vern Meyers 6 – Jerry & Mandi Alkema 2 – Mary Holstege, Jay Kuntz 7 – Bernie & Carolyn Jager 3 – Andy Katt 10 – Harv & Jackie Koetje, Al & Sue Steenwyk 5 – Ruth DeGroot, Kathi Vugteveen, Rosie Ver Wys 19 – Brent & Candace Nienhuis 7 – Cadence DeGroot 27 – Kevin & Dollie Knott 11 – Josh Schreiber 12 – Carla Hill 14 – Hilda Holstege, Diane Hunderman 18 – Bob Quick 19 – Phil Meyers 20 – Jerry Alkema, Judie Holstege 23 – Kyah VanKoevering 24 – Riley Headley 25 – Dwight Vugteveen 29 – Kristi Curtis, Ben Neymeiyer 30 – Burandyt Holstege

2019 Prayer Challenge

Here’s a reminder to be praying for these things as a unified church body:

→ That we all would return to a daily reading of God’s Word and listen to Him speak to us

→ That God would continue to use Scott Geurink in the Spanish community and lead our Classis in future plans for ministry

→ That the CRC would experience a revival and submit to the authority of the Bible

That healing would occur for those with physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health concerns Let us all continue to pray for these things.

“You do not have because you do not ask God.” James 4:2b Family in Focus

Mark & Ruth Kuyers How can we be praying for you? Mark and I would like prayers that we can be godly examples for our 4 daughters and that they each will be shining lights for Jesus wherever they are.

What was a great vacation experience—where was it and what happened? In 2017 we went to a wedding in Minnesota. It was the first time the girls had ever been out of the state or had stayed in a hotel. They thought it was so cool! Plus we had plenty of bonding time during the drive there and back.

What’s a favorite hymn? Is there a reason it’s your favorite? “It Is Well With My Soul” because it's a wonderful reminder that we can be grateful in all things because He has given us grace and nothing is beyond His control.

What do you like most about Rusk or being a member of Rusk? We love how close our congregation is. We support each other and help one another grow in our faith.

Musings from Your Editor Loving Him with All We’ve Got by Jessica DeWitt

Have you ever had a time God was trying to get your attention? Like, by repeating Himself over and over again until you finally took notice? For me, it began with my son’s memorization of his Bible verse for school. Each day we practiced it together until he was finally able to proclaim with no hesitation, “[Jesus said,] ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ Matthew twenty- two, verse thirty-seven.” He was ready to recite it to the teacher and so be done with it, but I wasn’t. Over the next few weeks, those words seemed to follow me everywhere! It didn’t take me long to realize that God was deliberately putting that verse in my path. And I’ve come to recognize that whenever a certain idea or Bible verse is repeated, I had better pay attention because He is trying to teach me something. I admit I hadn’t really focused on the words when it was part of Caleb’s homework; the verse is so familiar that I mindlessly repeated it when he practiced it. The verse seems like such a simple statement, so basic. We already know we are to love Him with our heart, soul, and mind; that idea is a well-worn one for those of us who have long known the Lord. But when God kept pointing me to it, I slowed down and began to wrestle with it, wondering how He was trying to use that familiar verse to speak to my heart in a new way. First, I tried to break down the verse in parts, but before long, I hit a wall. So I prayed that God would give me some clarity; if He was drawing me to the verse, why did I feel stuck in deciphering it? The following day He showed me what was wrong in my approach: I was making things too complicated. The whole point of Matthew 22:37 is Jesus taking the complicated pharisaical system of numerous, stringent rules and honing in on the heart of the matter, on what’s truly important in following God. What was (and still is) the greatest commandment, the main requirement God has for us? Jesus makes it simple: it’s all about Him. That is, God is to be the foundation and ultimate priority of our entire lives - all aspects of it, heart, soul, and mind included. It sounds straightforward enough, doesn’t it? Jesus is to have precedence in our lives. But how do we implement that? What does that actually look like?

Abiding It seems pretty obvious that if God comes first in our lives, then we need to spend time with Him, abiding in Him. We often hear how relationships require time and effort to grow, our relationship with Jesus is no different. It means regularly dwelling with Him in prayer, listening to Him by reading His Word and meditating on it, quieting ourselves before Him in order to hear His Spirit speak to our hearts. Building the relationship with Him should be our greatest purpose; He should be the love of our lives. These aren’t likely new or different concepts to most of us in the church; we’ve heard it all before in our devotional readings or from over the pulpit. But are we doing it? Are we showing up each day before Him, the Word open before us, hearts and minds receptive to what He has to tell us? Are we taking time to listen for His response when praying, or are we just presenting him with a laundry list of requests for health and provision and safety? The real question then becomes: How can we expect this relationship to thrive if the time we spend with Him is a brief few minutes here or there, distracted, barely squeezed into our overly-packed schedule? I can’t speak for you, but I know I need this reminder. I am pulled in so many directions by all that needs doing. There is always too much to be done in this busy life, and I so often feel like there’s simply not enough of me to keep up. Yet the Lord has continued to impress upon me the importance of spending those blessedly precious quiet minutes with Him. I find myself too much like Martha, racing about trying to get things done, when He is calling me to be more like Mary, choosing the better thing of sitting at His feet. It is what He desires of us: to dwell with Him, draw near to Him, be renewed and refreshed by Him. Let us not forget, Matthew 22:37 is Jesus stating the greatest commandment. We try to make it a negotiable suggestion, but it isn’t. He commands us to love Him. And we aren’t loving Him if we aren’t drawing near to Him by taking the time to speak to Him, listen to Him, walk with Him. Ultimately, this verse is Jesus calling us to obediently make Him preeminent in our life and abide with him, today and every day.

Applying If we are making abiding with our Lord a key part of our life, is that enough? I would argue it’s not. While abiding is vital and foundational in obeying Jesus’ command to love Him, I think it is just as vital to also be applying that love for Him to everything else in our lives. If we are loving God with everything we have, then that same love we have for Him should touch every single thing we do. And that means obeying the laws and guidelines He’s laid out for us in His Word. Simply put, we should in every circumstance seek to love Him by our words and actions. How does this work? Some life choices we make are more evident than others. These more external, observable choices include: • tithing of our firstfruits • serving, encouraging, and caring for others • avoiding work (and making others work) on the Sabbath, the day He calls us to keep holy • being careful with the media we watch, the magazines we glance through, and the websites we visit • speaking only truthful, wholesome words

But we mustn't stop there, for outward displays of godly living mean very little if they don’t match the internal decisions we make. These matters of the heart and mind are powerful, shaping our perspectives and attitudes. So then, loving Him by following His commands means we are also to be: • forgiving of others, no matter how greatly we were wronged or how many times we must practice the act of forgiveness • diligent in curbing our frustration and anger, working instead to foster patience and gentleness • remembering that He is the Author of our circumstances and humble ourselves, submitting to His will for us • viewing others - young and old, healthy and sick, rich and the poorest of the poor - as God’s creations deserving of our respect • trusting Him to answer our prayers, guide us, and provide for us according to His plan for our lives • repenting when we make mistakes and sin, knowing His grace is always offered to us

The ideas I’ve mentioned above are only a few thoughts on ways we should watch how we live; there are many other ways to apply His truth to our lives. And, of course, the only complete source on how to pursue God’s best for us and live righteously is His Word. If we are ever unsure of how to shape our lives to honor Him, He has lovingly provided us with the Bible as His ultimate manual for this life, full of His wisdom and guidance. I’m so grateful that the Lord impressed this verse upon me this month. It’s been good to be reminded that His position in our lives is to be paramount, our heart, mind, and soul’s affection for Him unrivaled; I’ve needed it. I so often falter in this, getting distracted by all the other things going on. But the truth of the matter is, we can’t expect to grow spiritually if we don’t live that out. As His dearly beloved children made for Him and called by Him, Jesus must be our ultimate priority - no distractions, no negotiations, no justifications. Fellow Christians, we must love God with all our heart, mind, and soul, because our holy God and Savior requires it, and because we need it to be so (whether we realize it or not). Let’s re-focus on Matthew 22:37, remembering not only what it says but what it means. Let’s be intentional about obeying Jesus’ command all the while knowing that we can be confident of this: He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Amen, and amen!

How to Dive Into Your Walk with God By Billy Graham Evangelistic Association God’s love for you is deep, wide and more intense than you can imagine. But it can be a struggle to love Him back the way we should—with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Read on for some practical ways to dive deeper into your relationship with God through prayer, reading the Bible and relationships with others.

Prayer Pray without ceasing. —1 Thessalonians 5:17, NKJV How should you pray in order to draw closer to God? Here are some practical ideas. Pray often. Sometimes we fall into a habit of praying only when we want something from God. Most of us have whispered a desperate, last-minute prayer: “Help me, God!” But the Bible says we should “pray without ceasing.” That means going to God throughout the day to thank Him, praise Him and make requests for ourselves and others. Pray in a quiet place where you can focus on God. Jesus said, “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6). Don’t focus on fancy words and long prayers. Jesus also said, “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases,” thinking God will hear you better if you talk more, “for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:7-8). Use the Lord’s Prayer as a guide. The words known as the Lord’s Prayer are found in Matthew chap- ter 6. If you can recite it by heart without even thinking about it, take time to look at the words with a fresh perspective to see how Jesus is telling you to pray. Remember the word ACTS. Some people find it helpful to use the letters A-C-T-S to remember how to pray.  A stands for adoration. Tell God you adore and praise Him. Spend time worshiping Him.  C stands for confession. Confess your sins to God and ask Him to forgive you.  T stands for thanksgiving. Thank God for His Son, Jesus, and the blessings in your life.  S stands for supplication. Ask God to supply your needs and the needs of others.

Scripture Man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. —Deuteronomy 8:3b, NKJV Do you ever wish God would speak to you? Give you some direction? Maybe there are a lot of things you’d rather do than read the Bible, yet that’s one of the best things to do for one-on-one time with God. The books of the Bible are His words to you. It’s full of wisdom, life lessons, truth and encour- agement. If you commit to reading the Bible daily, you just might find that you look forward to it. Here are 8 tips and ideas to get started. Think of the Bible as food for the soul. A daily dose can bring peace and balance to your life, and help you think and act in ways pleasing to God. Get into a routine. Set aside at least 10 minutes a day to read the Bible. It might mean getting up a little earlier or finding a quiet spot away from everyday distractions. Maybe you read it with a cup of coffee, during your lunch break or before bed. Set a time and stick to it. Don’t worry if understanding the Bible seems hard at first. Before you begin reading, pray and ask God to help you understand what you’re about to read. Ask Him to show you what He wants you to learn. Study Bibles are also helpful in giving you context. Keep these 3 questions in mind as you read. What does this passage mean? What is God saying to me in this passage? And how can I apply this to my own life? Ask a friend to read along with you. Maybe you can go through a reading plan together or meet each week to talk about what you’ve read. Text or email Bible verses to each other, or use a Bible app to “friend” each other and share notes. The Bible can be overwhelming. Where should you begin? See if your church has a printable Bible reading plan or search for one online. You can also aim to read a chapter a day (try one Proverb a day for each day of July). Joining a Bible study group is another good option. Read by topic. The book of James is all about Christian living. The Psalms, a book of worship, can en- rich your devotion to God, and Proverbs is full of wisdom to strengthen your relationship with oth- ers. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day. Renew your commitment and pick it back up the next day.

Relationships Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. —1 Peter 4:8, ESV We’ve all had moments where we put tasks over people. Maybe you’ve found yourself engulfed in deadlines at work, barely coming up for air to chat with coworkers. Or perhaps you spent so much time prepping food during the dinner party that your guests had to entertain themselves. Whether with your spouse, children, friends or even complete strangers—we’re each involved in some type of relationship. And the Bible says we should take them all seriously—whether we want to or not. The secret to strengthening relationships that have weakened over time or never really gained ground is to love. But not just half-hearted, shallow love. We are to love others earnestly, meaning with purpose and ambition. Here are three ways to be intentional with your relationships: Show your love. Saying “I love you” is meaningful, but can resonate deeper with action behind it. Make a greater effort to pay attention to those around you and do something to communicate your love in a way that’s special to them. Even small gestures and quality time can leave a lasting impres- sion. Forget about yourself. God’s love for you is the greatest example of how to love and care for others. There is no struggle we’ve had that Christ did not experience, yet He unselfishly gave His time to meet the needs of others. In your relationships, strive for this deeper connection that leaves people changed for the better. Listen carefully. What’s important to them? How can you join them in prayer? Do you have a solution to something they need? Extend grace. Can you think of a few individuals you’re not on good terms with? Difficult people aren’t excluded from our relationship building. Broken relationships are perhaps the most important to mend and improve. Love is not easily angered (1 Corinthians 13:5) and if you find yourself holding a grudge or avoiding someone because of the past, it may be time to extend grace. Forget who started what and reach out with genuine forgiveness and an open heart.

https://billygraham.org/story/how-to-dive-into-your-walk-with-god/