Weekly Update 07-11-2026

July 11, 2026

Hello Grace Vineyard Family and Friends,

It’s a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Oceanside, and time for another weekly update.  We’ve already had a great day, starting with our monthly Men’s breakfast and Lady’s walk this morning.  I hope you are all able to take lots of moments and enjoy this incredible place where we live.  Have you taken a walk on the beach recently?  Felt that breeze on skin?  Enjoyed the beauty and power of the ocean?  It all shouts the glory of God and the wonders of His love toward us.

I’m getting ready to bring you the 3rd and final message in “The God Who Dwells” series before I head off to our month-long ministry trip in Zambia.  Tomorrow I’m calling the message, “What’s in your hand?”

In week 1, we talked about God’s love for dwelling with His people, and how He’s always making a place where we can meet together.  1st in the garden with Adam and Eve, then in the Tabernacle with Moses and the children of Israel on their way to the Promise Land, then with the Temple once they were established in the Promise Land, then with Jesus “tabernacling” amongst us at His first coming, then with a “Living” Temple made up of people in whom He dwells by HIs Spirit, and finally at Jesus’ 2nd coming when Heaven and earth come together as one, and the dwelling of God is with people completely, thoroughly, without limitations as described in the last pages of the Bible.  That first week, the theme was “He’s Building A Temple that is Filling the Earth.”  That was referring to the Living Temple.  Last week was our 2nd talk and we explored both our experience of His Dwelling and our calling to join with Him in building this living temple that fills the earth.   This week I felt led to ask (and hopefully answer!) the question, “What’s in your hand?”  If God has called us each to partner with Him in building this Living Temple like we talked about last week, what has He equipped us with for that job? Probably the most famous time God asked this question was when He asked it of Moses, and God took Moses’ very ordinary shepherd staff and did powerful things, miracles really, with that staff once Moses said ‘yes’ to God’s call.  Another story is when Elisha asks a widow, “what’s in your house?” and she tells Him just a little oil in a jar (read it in 2 Kings 4).  She’s in a desperate situation: her husband has died, and creditors are coming to take her two sons as inedntured servants to pay off the debt. God multiplies that oil into every vessel the widow has in her house, she sells the oil, and her debts are all paid.  Or what about the disciples finding 5 loaves and 2 small fish that Jesus mulitples to feed 5000 men plus women and children?!  I think the point is, God transforms and multiplies what we surrender to Him.  And it’s not just physical things in our hands that God uses for His glorious purposes; He gives us Spiritual gifts in our hands, and He gives us spiritual inheritances that are also transformed in multiplied as we surrender to Him.   That’s the theme I want to explore with you this Sunday morning.  I hope you can join us tomorrow in person at 9:30 am, but if you can’t be there, here’s the info you need to join us online: join us online on Zoom with this link Zoom Meeting ID  153 112 432, Passcode 684814 and you can also find our livestream on Facebook Live at facebook.com/gracevcf.

If you’d like to hear last week’s sermon, you can catch right here on our Gracetalks.org podcast or our Youtube channel:

Join Us for Sanctuary – Sunday night at 6PM

Join us Sunday evening for a night of food and worship at Sanctuary. “Sanctuary” is a community of Grace Vineyard that gathers around the table for a meal and conversation. Followed by worship through music and a message. We start at 6p.m. Sunday night. Hope to see you

Women’s Face to Face, July 24

Ladies, it’s time for another Face to Face, our women’s small group meeting.  We’ll meet at Michelle Ertel’s home (1480 Pioneer Circle, Oceanside Gate Code #1904) pm Friday, July 24th, at 6:30pm for snacks and hang out.  Worship with Amy will begin at 7pm.  Kim will be sharing on the topic of Growing in our Friendships/Relationships.  You are invited to bring a snack to share.  Please carpool as parking is limited.  For more information, please text Kim Ohst 760-519-4558.

Ladies One Day Conference Saturday, September 26th 9am-5pm

For the Ladies: You’re invited to join us at the Vineyard Yorba Linda’s Standing Firm one day conference.  Anita Ruis, David Ruis’s wife, will be the speaker.  We’ll meet at the church to carpool at 7:30am and leave at 7:45.  Cost is $40 and includes breakfast and lunch.  Here’s the link to register:https://vineyardyorbalinda.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3598139  Kim told me she’s going, so you know it’s going to be good!   I’ve heard nothing but great things about Anita Ruis. She and her husband David are the national directors of the Vineyard Canada, and they have a very rich history in the body of Christ.  I hope you all will take advantage of this great opportunity.

Mission to Zambia starts July 19

On Sunday, July 19, I am flying to Zambia for a minstry trip that lasts until we begin our flight back home on August 17th.  This is quite an involved missions trip, and I would love you to know all the details so you can be praying for our teams.  When you have a few extra minutes, check out the details at gracevcf.org/zambia2026.  Let me emphasize the prayer part again! During the first phase of the trip, 4 of us will be going into rural areas of the country, ministering in Vineyard churches (we added a 4th since the last time I told you about this – a young man named Amon Lumbiya, who has served with me on previous trips, is now going to join Paul Dabdoub, Siseho Minyoi, and me,  for the “road trip” portion of this adventure).  It’s hard for Westerners to understand sometimes, but in these areas away from the more modern cities, there is a lot of dark spiritual activity, a lot of anscestor worship, witch doctors, etc.  We really need your prayer covering.  I think of the Apostle Paul’s words to the believers in Rome: “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. “ (Romans 1:11-12)  Please be praying that the Lord will use us to bring great encouragement and equipping for ministry to these sisters and brothers in Africa.  And please be praying that God will conotinue to move on people’s hearts to donate to help with  the cost of the trip (gracevcf.org/donate-zambia in case somebody is looking for the donate link).  We are so thankful for the generosity many have shown, but there’s still more need, so keep those prayers going.  God is our great provider.  Thank you!

With that I’ll you get back to your Saturday evening.

With blessings and love to each of you,

Ron Ohst

Tithes and Offerings Online

THANKS for taking ownership in the life and ministry of Grace Vineyard!  And thanks to all of you who are stepping into a lifestyle of generosity with your tithes and offerings.  It really does take all of us doing our part with the income God has entrusted to us for His church. If you’d like to give your tithe or offering online, click the donate button below.  If you’re giving to a specific fund (like benevolence or missions), just be sure to say that when you are given an option to add a note with your donation.