When I went away to college, I truly began to be open to what God was doing in my life. Being raised in a church with my father as my pastor, I knew the right answers, but there came a point when those answers moved from my head to my heart, and I began listening to where God was leading my path. I just knew that God could and would do amazing things because I was listening to Him. But I’m going to be honest – that’s not what happened.

Over the years I learned to diminish my dreams because what if they didn’t come true? If you’re like me, you might have stopped saying, “What if….”  But God puts a path in front of us, and our goal is to not be distracted by everything that wants to divert our attention or change our course.

Proverbs 4:25-27 says, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

Here’s what you need to know about learning to say “What if…”:

It’s okay to start our “What if…” small. “What if…” questions can feel overwhelming. So don’t start by asking a big “What If..”; Try a smaller one. And it’s okay to dream about something big. Start dreaming those dreams and making those small decisions. Buy the book. Take the class. Talk with your spouse, parent, sibling, or best friend.

We can look for ways to make our lives bigger. To trust God more. We don’t have to downsize who we are. Because God has bigger things in store for us.

Timothy’s Property Board has scheduled a work day to clear the clear the ditch near Highway 7 at the Wyatt Campus for Saturday, August 26, from 8-11am.  Many hands make less work! Please contact Louie Wilbers (816.988.6059) to offer your assistance. It is very much appreciated! Thank you!

Free concert…..Ice Cream Social to follow

Buell Stewart (left) is a regular at the fitness center at Vesper Hall.
He and 3 other musicians enjoy providing favorite traditional Southern Gospel music to groups in the area.  The quartet has a wonderful blend of voice and instruments with years of experience behind their presentation.

COME AND ENJOY!  INVITE A FRIEND!

 Serious discussions with Harvest Baptist Church are progressing for the sale of the RD Mize Campus. Within a few days, they will receive the appraisal of their current facility at 901 NW 19^th Street (across the street from Blue Springs High School), at which time they plan to continue discussions with a potential buyer for their property.  Leadership at both Timothy and Harvest Baptist are committed to an efficient purchase process with minimal, if any, assistance from a commercial realtor, beyond the use of an attorney to prepare and review the contract. At the same time, Timothy’s leadership and Real Estate Task Force interviewed four commercial realtors, knowing that process may be necessary if the sale to HBC outside the realm of a commercial realtor does not materialize. Task Force Chair Bill Ekey will present a report to the Executive Board at its meeting on Monday, August 7, seeking approval to work with one of the real estate companies outside the parameters of negotiating with HBC. All the real estate companies understand that negotiations with HBC are separate from their possible association with Timothy. The congregation will be updated as additional details transpire. Please keep this process in your prayers.

Timothy’s LWML thanks the congregation for its tremendous support of the impromptu sale of many nice decorations and LWML clothing last Sunday in the RD Mize lobby. Over $400 was collected as free-will donations for those items, which will support the LWML MO District and International mission grants. Thank you!

This Sunday, worshipers will find additional items from Timothy’s various storage areas on the “Free—Help Yourself” table in the RD Mize lobby.

Timothy’s Stewardship Team has scheduled the second educational session, as, part of the year-long series of relevant financial topics for Timothy members and their guests, for Sunday, August 13th, 11:15am, in the Music Room at Wyatt. A light lunch will be served, and childcare will be available if requested. Please register your attendance for lunch and childcare planning purposes by Monday, August 7th on the Timothy app, Timothy website (www.timothylutheran.com Click on Events) or calling the church office (816.228.5300). 

The topics for this session are “Charitable Remainder Trusts” (another option for making charitable donations) and “The Role of the Executor.” Guest speaker Bunk Farrington from the law firm Humphrey, Farrington, & McClain in Independence will share an informal, hour-long overview of these topics, allowing plenty of time for questions and discussion. As a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Councils (ACTEC), Bunk will gear his presentation to adults of all ages and at all stages of the trust and estate planning process, either for themselves or for loved ones.

Following the presentation by Bunk Farrington, Timothy Stewardship Team member Mel Falk will share a repeat session on Tax-Advantaged Giving, which he presented on May 21st, for anyone who missed the first session.

For questions or additional information, feel free to contact any of the Stewardship Team members (Dave Domsch, Joe Sauter, Mel Falk, Gary Flandermeyer, Doug Spilker, and Doug Hick).

Show us your faithful love, Lord, and give us your salvation. Psalm 85:7

Looking in the mirror is hard. It’s hard when my jeans are tight or my face is broken out, and it’s hard when my sinful nature is shining brightly through the wrinkles. It’s hard when I see the expectations I place on the people I love and when I realize how far short my love falls from the love our Father gives us so freely.

When we read Psalm 85 in full, the author begs God for forgiveness, for another chance. He’s remembering all the times God has forgiven His people completely, and he’s believing that God will do it once again.

God promises that He will, and our God is faithful. He will forgive us every time, and no matter what, He will love us with unfailing love. God never shakes His head at us and shouts in exasperation, “How many times have I told you?” and He never, ever says, “I’m done.” Thank You, God, for Your faithful love. Teach us to love faithfully, too.

This is the last weekend to donate to the CSL School Supplies Drive.
The following supplies will be collected through July 23 by dropping off in bins at both campuses:.

Calculator TI 30x IIS Solar
Glue Sticks
Large Backpack                Kleenex
Blue or Black Pens                                        Notebook Paper—Wide Lined
Classic Markers                                             Pencil Bag with Zipper
Colored Pencils                                              Pencils
Composition Notebooks                                 Post-it Notes
Crayola Crayons – Box of 24                          Red Pens
Dry Erase Markers                                         Sharpies
Earbuds                                                         Spiral Notebooks – Single Subject, Wide Line
Folders with Prongs                                       2 ½ -3 inch Zipper Notebook Binders

The 2023 service projects were certainly well-supported! The kids, their families, and all the volunteers were again amazing with generosity!

Camp Barnabas, a summer camp in SW Missouri for individuals with special needs, will receive a total of $2,183,36!! The kids really got pumped up with the “competition” of whether the boys or girls could donate the most money. Congrats to the females this year who came out on top!

The second service project benefited Ronald McDonald House Charities in the form of essentials such as pantry items, cleaning supplies, and paper products. A  total of 11 large, heavy boxes were filled by the end of the week. The picture above shows only a portion of the total products collected. Thanks to everyone for your support!

Do you like gospel music? Want to hear a quartet share their talents with us? Then take advantage of an hour of traditional Southern Gospel music on Sunday, August 20th, at 3:30pm in the RD Mize sanctuary! The quartet, recommended by Pastor Lieb, is comprised of mostly retired gentlemen, two of whom also play bass and lead guitar. They will gladly accept requests to fit in with their prepared musical selections. The event is free, but a love offering for them will be available. AND THEN . . . everyone is welcome to gather in the Family Life Center for an ice cream social!

This is a great opportunity to join Jesus on His mission with friends and neighbors. Take time to relax and appreciate some unhurried time surrounded by friends and music. Be open to how the Holy Spirit will open ways to transform lives through Christ.

TLS is excited to bring back a volunteer opportunity to you! The second year of the Book Buddies Literacy Program will begin soon. This is a program that connects volunteers as a literacy partner to TLS students for the upcoming school year. If you love to help children succeed and have an hour to share each week, this is the perfect opportunity for you! This program was well-received by students and teachers last year.

Literacy training sessions will be provided, so a background in education is not required. Volunteers will receive all materials and instructions about reading materials as well as literacy games to play with the students.

Please reach out to Mary Beth Self (marybeths@timothylutheran.com) or call the school office (816.228.5300 Ext. 8017) if you are interested in more information about this great opportunity or ready to sign up!

My granddaughter reached a rite of passage this week. She found some scissors, and soon a chunk of hair lay on the floor, much to her momma’s horror. But after a trip to the hair salon, the smile returned as she ran to me and exclaimed, “Grandma, I have BANGS!” She was not just good – she was clearly very good.

In the first few pages of the Bible, God crafts and creates man and woman – carefully and tenderly – and then He stands back, admires His handiwork, and deems them very good. Not just good. Very good. The only thing is most of us don’t agree with Him.

God made us not only good, but very good. The more we come to grasp the love Jesus has for us, the more we see ourselves the way He sees us. I love what it says in Exodus 34 – how when Moses spent time with God, his face became radiant. “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.”

We also become radiant when we spend time with Jesus. God made us and then called us good. But not just good – very good. Come and agree with Him. Live radiantly!

Vacation Bible School | July 10-14, 2023
Time & Location | 8:45am – 12pm | RD Mize Campus

It’s not too late to register your Pre-K through 5th graders for the 2023 Stellar VBS. Go to Timothy’s website (www.timothylutheran.com) and click on Children & Youth tab, the VBS “Stellar” 2023.

Be sure to stop by VBS next week to take in the Stellar transformation of the RD Mize Campus!

VBS Adopt-A-Student
Adopt-A-Student helps Timothy provide Vacation Bible School free to all students!

Each year we seek loving people to help financially support Children’s Ministry through our VBS Adopt-A-Student program. ? Your financial gift goes a long way to help Timothy provide a free Vacation Bible School experience to all kids in our community. In the RD Mize and Wyatt lobbies you will find Adopt-A-Student envelopes for your convenience, or you can go online through the Timothy website or app. Your gift is greatly appreciated.
Give on-line by CLICKING HERE. Choose “VBS Adopt -a-student” ..

Middle School Swim Talks!
VBS week is not just for the littles.  We also will host swim talks for our middle schoolers on Tuesday, July 11th (@ Pastor Rod and Miriam’s) and Thursday, July 13th (@ Brad & Diane Mayfield’s)  from 5:30pm-7pm.  6th-8th graders are welcome to come swim, eat some BBQ/Pizza, and have a chance to spend some time with Jesus. Bring a snack or dessert to share.  Drinks and main meal will be covered.  Contact Pastor Ryan or grab a flyer for addresses!

VBS Party for ALL
Come celebrate the end of a STELLAR week at VBS with us after worship at our Wyatt Campus on Sunday, July 16th.  Our VBS kids will sing at worship, and then we will have an epic FOAM party, music, yard games, Sweet & Savory Delights food truck, and some crazy fun from about 11:30am-1:30pm. ONE AND ALL ARE INVITED!!!!

The Blue Springs Community Services League is once again helping families in our community.
Collecting school supplies is a great way to serve students in need in our community, as many families depend on us to help them prepare their students return to school. Your support will help ensure students have a successful start this year. The following supplies will be collected through July 23 by dropping off in bins at both campuses:.

Calculator TI 30x IIS Solar                             Glue Sticks
Large Backpack                                             Kleenex
Blue or Black Pens                                        Notebook Paper—Wide Lined
Classic Markers                                             Pencil Bag with Zipper
Colored Pencils                                              Pencils
Composition Notebooks                                 Post-it Notes
Crayola Crayons – Box of 24                          Red Pens
Dry Erase Markers                                         Sharpies
Earbuds                                                         Spiral Notebooks – Single Subject, Wide Line
Folders with Prongs                                       2 ½ -3 inch Zipper Notebook Binders

It’s time to mark your calendars and plan to attend the 2023 Hillcrest House Party Gala & Auction on Saturday, August 26^th, from 6-10pm at the Overland Park Convention Center . It promises to be bigger and better than ever! A great line-up of entertainment and speakers (KC Wolf Dan Meers among them). Next to the opening of its newest transitional housing facility in Eastern Jackson County (Independence Hall), Hillcrest promises this event will be worth celebrating. More details can be accessed at https://hillcrestkc.org/special-events/gala/

Reserve your spot at our Timothy table NOW for just $75 per ticket if purchased through Timothy. To reserve your spot or to ask questions, please contact Sandy Gregory, Care Coordinator, (816.228.5300 Ext. 8042).

Timothy’s Care Coordinator, Sandy Gregory, shares the following story with the congregation. Enjoy!

“I love the innocence of children and their ability to make us laugh even when we feel sad. After I had to have my old dog, Ruger, put to sleep, I called my youngest son, Cameron, to ask if I could bury Ruger on his property. He agreed, and as we started digging the hole, my five-year-old grandson, Axl, asked a lot of questions. “Do his ears still work?” “When I come to your house, will he be there?” His last question caused me to giggle: “Will he get married?” I was surprised by this question but simply replied, “No, I don’t think dogs get married.” As we continued digging into the hard ground, Cameron asked Axl to tell me what he knows about Jesus. Axl proudly said, “Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He was married and in 3 days, he rose again!”

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8

God’s goodness isn’t something we are meant to simply acknowledge intellectually or believe theologically. Rather, God wants us to actively experience His goodness. “Taste and see that the Lord is good,” the psalmist encourages. It’s a call to engage our most human senses in order to recognize and enjoy our divine Creator.

As summer is upon us, look for opportunities to taste and see that which reflects God’s goodness. Savor a cold glass of homemade lemonade or bite into a juicy piece of watermelon. Enjoy watching red tomatoes grow in the garden or the summer sunset along the horizon with streaks of gold, pink, and dusty violet.

Let everything we taste and see become a reminder to turn in thanks to the Giver of all good things. Let His goodness compel us to seek refuge in Him.

Vacation Bible School | July 10-14, 2023
Time & Location | 8:45am – 12pm | RD Mize Campus

Volunteering and supporting Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a great way to give back to our community and make a difference in the lives of others. For us at Timothy, it’s Transforming Lives through Christ. It can also be a lot of fun and rewarding.
The hard truth is that we are currently at a critical time and far behind in volunteer sign ups. We truly need you to help us make a difference in the lives of those Jesus brings to Timothy! This year VBS is July 10-14.  We are grateful for all volunteers, both during the week of VBS as well as those who help with all of the preparation.

How can you help? Students will be going through stations with their group leaders: Pilot and Co-pilot.  We will have Bible Adventure time to learn the Bible stories and work on their verse for the day. The pilot and co-pilot are discussion facilitators rather than teachers leading the whole lesson.  A Cinema stop will also be on the rotation, along with games, crafts and snacks – additional opportunities to serve.  Decorations and the opening/closing music group (Cabin Fever) are also wonderful ways to serve, making the whole week an even bigger WOW for everyone.  We thank you for your willingness to help in the way(s) that you feel called.

Here are a few of the ways you can volunteer:
•    Group Leader: Pilot
•    Group Assistant: Co-Pilot
•    Bible Adventure (Storytelling)
•    Snacks
•    Games
•    Crafts
•    Substitute Group Leader, as needed
For more information and a list of opportunities CLICK HERE.

VBS Adopt-A-Student
Adopt-A-Student helps Timothy provide Vacation Bible School free to all students!

Each year we seek loving people to help financially support Children’s Ministry through our VBS Adopt-A-Student program. Did you know that many churches charge students to attend VBS? Your financial gift goes a long way to help Timothy provide a free Vacation Bible School experience to all kids in our community. In the RD Mize and Wyatt lobbies you will find Adopt-A-Student envelopes for your convenience, or you can go online through the Timothy website or app. Your gift is greatly appreciated.
Give on-line by CLICKING HERE. Choose “other” as an option and type VBS.

VBS DONATIONS BOARD & AMAZON WISHLIST
VBS is right around the corner. Help us collect all the items on the donation boards or click the link below from the Amazon Wishlist. Visit the donation board in the church lobbies or CLICK HERE to go on-line to the Amazon Wishlist.

It’s time to mark your calendars and plan to attend the 2023 Hillcrest House Party Gala & Auction on Saturday, August 26^th, from 6-10pm at the Overland Park Convention Center . It promises to be bigger and better than ever! A great line-up of entertainment and speakers (KC Wolf Dan Meers among them). Next to the opening of its newest transitional housing facility in Eastern Jackson County (Independence Hall), Hillcrest promises this event will be worth celebrating. More details can be accessed at https://hillcrestkc.org/special-events/gala/

Reserve your spot at our Timothy table NOW for just $75 per ticket if purchased through Timothy. To reserve your spot or to ask questions, please contact Sandy Gregory, Care Coordinator, (816.228.5300 Ext. 8042).

Timothy’s commitment to Join Jesus on His Mission through tithing to local, regional, national, and international opportunities is always acknowledged and appreciated. Recently the following updates and thank-you letters were received:

• Barb Rebentisch in Taiwan reports that visits with Haley for over a year have led Haley to accept a Bible and a “lesson plan” in reading it:  Read Genesis and Exodus, then skip over to the New Testament to read the gospels. (Might be a plan for all of us??)  Barb and Haley plan to meet for lunch once or twice a week to discuss what she is reading.
• As a follow-up to Barb’s work, Mission Central also sent a separate letter, thanking Timothy for its support of Barb’s missionary work. Here is a small excerpt from that letter: “Thank you for your gift of May 25, 2023, in the amount of $321.19 for the direct support of your missionary teacher, Barbara Rebentisch in Taiwan. She is truly an amazing lady, and God is using her in a wonderful way because she can speak the Mandarin language. We couldn’t keep her at her calling without God-sending congregations like yours. Please remember to keep Barbara in your altar prayers.”
• St. Paul Lutheran High School in Concordia, MO, thanks Timothy for its recent tithe of $321.19 to help fuel their mission:  planting seeds within students to know God’s love and mercy, which is an awesome responsibility to share Christ as they are immersed in campus life.
• In its recent thank-you letter to Timothy for our tithe of $535.31, Hillcrest shared a success story about one of its residents, Lacy, and her two teenage sons who lived at a hotel for almost a year. To survive, Lacy picked up dental assistant jobs all over KCMO until landing a full-time position at KC Smiles. Living in a hotel with no kitchen forced her family to eat fast-food meals. At Hillcrest, she learned about creating meal plans and preparing grocery lists to help stretch her dollars. She soon was able to pay off old utility debts and learn to live within her means. It paid off because she now rents a two-bedroom home in the KC metro area. As a reminder of its mission and gratitude to congregations like Timothy, Hillcrest concluded its letter with, “Hillcrest is honored to have walked with Lacy and her sons on her journey to self-sufficiency. Your support makes this possible. Thank you!”

Thank you, Timothy, for your prayers and financial support for Timothy’s operating budget, without which these tithes are not possible. To God Be All Glory and Praise!

God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

I picture David face down, vulnerable before the Lord, as his guilt and sorrow pour out from his broken spirit. He was left with nothing but humility, he knew the type of sacrifice God required of him. God wanted his heart.

Our world today makes it tough to appear anything but stoic, perfect, and in complete control. But we know all too well that on the other side of that screen sits a nearly broken spirit. God is far bigger than anything our minds can conceive. We were created to live fully. We must put our unbelief aside and choose to believe that God wants to restore us to a life full of His provision, blessing, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and love. When we are in a place of needing restoration, we can run to the Father now and trust Him with our broken spirit and humbled heart.

All children & youth: TONIGHT 6-8pm All are invited to come hang out with us at Bump City. We are going to run wild and reconnect.  Parents, we invite you to hang out and chat while your kiddos do their thing.  Pizza and snacks will be provided.  We are asking for a $5 donation per kiddo, if possible. Pre-sign your waiver here….https://www.bump-city.com/copy-of-hours-and-calendar

Sr High: A group of senior high kiddos and adults are heading to Tulsa on our mission trip Saturday, June 10^th through Friday, June 16^th. Keep us in prayer as we serve the people in Tulsa and grow in our calling to Join Jesus on His Mission! Keep tabs with us during the week at ppm.org/18555 or on our Timothy Facebook page.

Sr High: Revolution midweek youth study is meeting throughout the summer.  Contact Pastor Ryan for the schedule.

Jr & Sr High: It’s time to chillax and float down the river together!  It’ll be a full-day outing on June 26^th from about 7:30am-8pm as we head down to the Niangua River and swim, float, and row row row our boats.  Cost will be $35.  Scholarships are available.   Adult drivers/chaperones needed also.  RSVP by June 16^th to Pastor Ryan.  Ryanh@timothylutheran.com

All children & youth:  VBS is coming at you July 10-14^th.  Kids pre-k through 5^th are welcome to sign up for a Stellar week of fun Sign up to attend here! Those 6th  grade and up are encouraged to sign up to help for this joy-filled, intense week of Jesus. Volunteer sign up! We will have middle school swim talks that week as well on Tuesday and Thursday!  And a Sr. High BBQ Wednesday night! Invite your friends and neighbors!