Newsletter - Full Gospel Mission

FULL GOSPEL MISSION

887 W. Spruce Ave., Ravenna, OH  44266

Rev. Barbara A. Davis, Pastor

January 20,2103 Pastor’s Pen:  How well do you obey the Lord? How well do you keep such commandments? Considered in the light of such criteria, how much do you love the Lord? Following His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples beside the Sea of Tiberias and asked Peter, "do you love Me more than these?" Three times Christ posed the question and three times Peter, becoming "grieved" with the repetition, answered, "Yes, Lord." Then Christ gave Peter what would become a test of his love: "Feed My sheep." (John 21:15-17.) If Peter really loved the Lord, he would obey by feeding the Good Shepherd's sheep. Peter went on to prove his love by doing exactly that.

But Christ was, by extension, telling us to do the same thing. That's why it's in the Bible. He's saying that one way we can show our love for God is by "feeding His sheep," by telling others about God and by having a servant's heart toward others. "But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" (1 John 3:17.) The rhetorical question's answer is clear – it doesn't. And this "love test" from 1 John 4:20-21 is related to that last one: "If someone says, ‘I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" And later, "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments." (1 John 5:2.) How much do you love God?  Unfortunately, 2 Timothy 3 reminds us that "in the last days" (and we are surely there) people will be "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." Danger! Hard question ahead! Do we value our pleasures more than our relationship with God? DON’T FORGET THE FELLOWSHIP ON FEBRUARY 16th, PASTOR BARB DAVIS WILL BE THE GUEST SPEAKER, COME JOIN US AT AGLOW!!!!

PRAYER LIST: Tony---illness      Lois Mooney          Devria St.Aubin---health            Hazen Ministries            ALL MILITARY---Zack &Shawn               Center of Hope   Jenny B. and Dennis—recovery     Libby--health        RC & Esther—health       Gene & Debbie--Grandchild         Dale and Sheila         Don & Sue Duncan              Angela bosses granddaughter—illness     SOULS       Bud Jordan--hospital

 Rev. Donnie, Mack Turner—health   Sister Rachael & Church     Calvary Crusade     FGCC/Radio& Ministers       Sister Helen Ballew              Arthur Wilson—health  Will & Amber—& family        Barb K—job             Betty’s Nephew and Family   Rev. Charles & Sue Herron         Zach and Ella  Lost love one     Anne C--Cancer    Grieving families—    Newtown, CN—families   Flu—victims   Pastor Barb D.

Sister Sally devotion word to take with you this week: JOY

Joy orients from God and from living in close connection with God, not from our

immediate situations or emotional states. God wants us to know his joy now. Not

tomorrow, not when we are healed, not when sorrow has passed, not when we've

become successful not when our children or spouses change, not when we've lost

ten pounds, not when we paid off our debt, received a promotion or bought a

bigger home, but now--- your strength!

Lasting joy does not reside in God's blessings, God's favor, God's gifts or

God's people, but in God himself. Take time this day to seek The Lord and draw

upon him to find your Joy -- your strength.  Reflect and pray: what's the difference between Joy and feeling Happy? To what or to whom do you tend to look to as the first source of your joy? What are you waiting to overcome or obtain before experiencing God's joy?

JOKE OF THE WEEK: A church congregation that decided to have four worship services each Sunday. There was one for those new to the faith. Another for those who liked traditional worship. One for those who'd lost their faith and would like to get it back. And another for those who had bad experiences with churches and were complaining about it. The church came up with a different name for each of the four services: "Finders," "Keepers," "Losers," "Weepers."

Bible Trivia Question  ( 1 )  God is described as physically writing three times in  the Bible on what did he write ?

Question (2)   In which book of the Bible do we read the story of Sampson and Delilah?

Question (3) Which Book records the first example of book censorship in the Bible?

Question (4) What was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire?

Question (5) What prominent individual was first cremated in the Bible?