2A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2018
Faith in God is a foundational principle of the Bible. It’s the key
to experiencing the promises we fi nd in God’s Word. For example,
Jesus clearly tells us in John 10:10 that He died so we can overcome
the enemy who comes “only in order to steal and kill and destroy,”
because in Him we can “have and enjoy life, and have it in abun-
dance [to the full, till it overfl ows]” (AMP).
Being a Christian is not about a “brand” of religion; it’s all about
having abundant life through a personal, intimate relationship with
God. That’s a life we can enjoy!
But we can’t have this life unless we know what the Bible says
and receive it by faith.
Romans 12:3 (NKJV) says that “God has dealt to each one a mea-
sure of faith.” Every person has faith; the question is what are you
putting your faith in?
Is your faith in yourself, your friends, or the government? Who,
or what, do you really trust to make your life work out the way it
should?
When a person puts their faith in Christ for salvation, they trust
that Jesus has done everything that needs to be done for them to be
forgiven of their sin and make them right with God. Ephesians 2:8-
9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that
not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone
should boast.”
The same way we’re saved – believing and trusting in what Christ
has done – is the same way we’re supposed to live: by faith!
So how do we live by faith, or release our faith, to experience the
promises of God?
I remember when I was going to church every week but I didn’t
have any idea about the blessings God had for me as a believer in
Christ. I wasn’t benefi tting from any of them because I didn’t know
what they were, and I didn’t have a clue that I could release my faith
to have them.
But when I began to seriously study God’s Word, I discovered
what was available to me through Christ and how to release my
faith to receive what He wants to give me. That’s when God began
to do amazing things in my life: healing my soul from the horrible
abuse in my past; restoring my hope that I could have a great life,
not a second-rate plan because I was “damaged goods”; and taking
me from miserable and full of self-pity to having real joy and peace
in my soul.
Here’s the key to effectively releasing your faith: You MUST
base your faith on God’s Word. That’s why it’s so important to dili-
gently study the Bible. It’s absolutely full of all
the blessings Jesus bought and paid for with His
blood. We need to devour the Bible and remind
ourselves every day of how much God has done
for us.
For example, Jeremiah 29:11 says God has
“plans for peace and well-being and not for di-
saster, to give you a future and a hope” (AMP).
God loves you and He has a good plan for you…
but it’s not just going to happen on its own. You
have to release your faith to have it.
Faith is a powerful force in your spirit, and
when you use it, that’s when things happen. You
have to do something, say something, pray something – take some
kind of action based on what you believe God has put in your heart.
Many years ago, when I felt like God wanted me to begin teach-
ing a Bible study, I didn’t have any idea how to do it. But I had a
deep desire to help people and teach them God’s Word.
My initial reaction was, “Who is going to come? Nobody knows
me…nobody cares what I have to say. And I don’t know how to
teach!” The Lord spoke to my heart and said, “I do.” So my fi rst
step was to say, “Okay, I’ll do it.” My next step was to invite some
people…and oddly enough, they said yes!
Those were steps of faith for me. I could have been so afraid of
failure, my weaknesses and inability, that I wouldn’t even try. I had
to “step out and fi nd out” if this was really God’s direction for me.
That fi rst Bible study consisted of 12 people; that group grew to
25, and as I continued, it eventually led us to start the ministry we
have today.
I want to encourage you not to settle for a passive existence ruled
by fear of failure, change, rejection or anything else. Instead, be
determined to have everything God has for you.
Pray about the desires in your heart, or ask God to show you what
He has planned for you. When you have an idea, pray for specifi c
wisdom to take a step…to take action based on your faith in God.
If you really want to have the life God has for you, you will have
to take a chance – you’ll have to step out and fi nd out. Choose to
put your faith in God because that’s when amazing things will begin
to happen for you!
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For more on this topic, order Joyce’s two-teaching CD set What
Is Faith and How Does It Work? You can also contact us to receive
our free magazine, Enjoying Everyday Life, by calling (800) 727-
9673 or visiting www.joycemeyer.org.
Joyce Meyer is a New York Times bestselling author and founder
of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. She has authored more than 100
books, including BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND and LIVING A
LIFE YOU LOVE (Hachette). She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life
radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations world-
wide. For more information, visit www.joycemeyer.org.
Please note: The views and opinions expressed throughout this
publication and/or website are those of the respective authors and
do not necessarily refl ect those of Joyce Meyer Ministries.
IN MEMORIAM
Ruth Presley 1925-2018
Ruth was born on Oct. 26,
1925 in Trent, Oregon, to Bertha
Ferguson Bricker and William
Henry Bricker. As a young girl
Ruth picked walnuts, fi lberts,
hops, green beans, and apples.
When her parents moved to
the Thurston area, Ruth attend-
ed and graduated from the Mt.
Vernon Grade School in 1939.
She then attended Thurston
High School for 3 years until
her parents moved to Cottage Grove and she graduated from
Cottage Grove High School with the class of 1943. She mar-
ried John Presley in 1947 after he returned from the European
Theater of War. They then purchased a farm west of Cottage
Grove. They had 3 sons: James,
William and Richard. John died in 1991 and Ruth then
moved to Cottage Grove after selling
the farm. Ruth is survived by sons James (Jim) and his
wife, Julie of Eugene; William (Bill) of Eugene; and Richard
(Rick) and his wife, Sondra, of Cottage Grove; by her brother,
Glen Bricker of Cottage Grove; and several grandchildren and
great-grandchildren. Ruth was a member of the Cottage Grove
Church of Christ, 6th & Gibbs. A funeral will be held at 10:00
am on Friday, April 20, at Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel in
Cottage Grove.
DEATH NOTICES
Joel Pynch of Brownsville, Oregon, passed away April
1, 2018.
Modern-day obituaries
available online at
cgsentinel.com
Loretta Kay Russell
1957-2018
We print birth
announcements
Kathryn “Kathe” Weeldreyer McIntire
March 17, 1947 – April 18, 2018
Kathryn “Kathe” McIntire died peacefully at home on April 18, at the
age of 71, surrounded by her family. As a strong believer in Jesus Christ,
her faith sustained her throughout her life. She will be remembered for
her grace and joyous attitude as she courageously faced her lengthy battle
with cancer knowing she would soon be in the arms of her Savior. She
was born on St Patrick’s Day in Cottage Grove to Glenn and Lois Weel-
dreyer. Growing up, her parents owned Glenn’s Tire and Honda and she
enjoyed participating in the motorcycle Play Days her father organized on
their property. She graduated from Cottage Grove High School in 1965
and earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Oregon State University
in Home Economics Education in 1969. At OSU she met and fell in love
with her soul mate and fellow Beaver, Harry McIntire. They married on
March 23, 1969, at the Cottage Grove First Baptist Church. They raised their two children Ryan
and Katey on the family’s tree farm. Kathe loved the hundreds of middle and high school students
she taught cooking and sewing skills to. Many still have the sewing projects they completed in her
class. Students often visited her after school for counsel and support. She retired from teaching
in 2004, after 20 years in the classroom. She had the gift of hospitality, which made her a much
sought out innkeeper as the owner of the Apple Inn Bed & Breakfast for 20 years. She and Harry
loved meeting new people and welcoming their many new and returning guests. Kathe was an
amazing cook, which made her a valued member of the “Squat and Gobble” dinner club for many
years. Throughout her life Kathe loved people and was a good storyteller. She enjoyed hosting
family gatherings in her beautiful seasonally decorated home. She especially loved spending time
with her children and grandchildren in the kitchen and garden.
After retiring, Kathe and Harry enjoyed traveling with their family on new adventures. They
made two cross-country RV trips together. They visited several countries and especially enjoyed
their trip to Israel. She loved her hometown and frequently volunteered for local nonprofi t organi-
zations. For all of her life Kathe enjoyed sharing her faith with others by leading Bible studies and
participating in church activities. She was a member of Suburban Christian Church in Corvallis.
Kathe is survived by her loving husband of 49 years, Harry, her son Ryan McIntire (Emily)
of Eagle Point, her daughter Katey Tryon (Randy) of Corvallis, seven grandchildren, two great
grandchildren, a brother Tom Weeldreyer (Carol) of Cottage Grove, and two nieces.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, May 5 at 3:30 pm at Riverside Community
Church of God in Cottage Grove. Memorial contributions can be made to Suburban Christian
Church missions. Arrangements in the care of Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel, Cottage Grove,
Oregon.
Loretta Kay Russell, 60 of Cottage Grove, Oregon passed
away April 19, 2018. She was born September 30, 1957,
in Niagara Falls, NY to Charles and Catherine (Contri)
Russell. Loretta was a children’s Librarian at the Cottage
Grove Library. She enjoyed reading, visiting the ocean
and being with Cubby her dog. Loretta is survived by
her daughter Caitlin Clark, Long Beach, CA daughter
Kimberlee Knight, LaGrande, OR, brothers; Charles, Tim
and Chris Russell, 2 grandchildren Ryker and Sawyer. A
Memorial will be held in June with details being publicly
announced when fi nalized. Arrangements by Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel,
123 S. 7th St., Cottage Grove, OR 97424.
Spring Fling • Bohemia Park
May 31 – June 3, 2018
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