The Love of the Father

"When my children were small, they would make art projects for me at school or camp. Often these creations featured stuff like dry macaroni, glitter, construction paper, clay, and pipe cleaners. From a purely aesthetic point of view, sometimes they were kind of goofy-looking. But because these gifts came from my child’s heart, I loved them. I praised my son or daughter, and I hung the artwork on my wall at the office for all to see.

I was thinking of this recently as I reflected on God’s love for me—an earthly father’s love magnified a million times. He sees our hearts and loves who we are, and He praises us for what we do for Him. Sometimes our best efforts might look to Him like old pasta poorly glued on paper, but like any Father anywhere, He cherishes them.

I like to think God hangs my rudimentary “art projects” on His wall in heaven. This breaks my heart and fills me with joy, all at the same time.

Father’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate our earthly fathers—but also the ultimate Father, who teaches us, every day, what love truly is."

by Richard Stearns, CEO of World Vision
www.theholeinourgospel.com/blog

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Note from Natalie

Hey Everyone!

I am really looking forward to our upcoming Bible study which starts a week from this Tuesday, on June 15th. We will be meeting from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the church in the CLC-2nd floor-room 206. (The CLC is the building adjacent to the Venue and the fellowship hall.)

The study is called "Living Your Life as a Beautiful Offering," by Angela Thomas; it is based on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. The church has already ordered the workbooks, and they will be available for you the first night at a price of $11. Please bring cash or a check made out to FBCT.

Childcare is available and arrangements have been made for all of you who let me know in advance that you needed that service. If you didn't sign up for childcare and still need it, please let me know ASAP.
Can't wait to see all of you and find out what God has in store for each of us through this study!
See you soon...

Natalie Johnson

More from Samaritan's Purse

1 MILLION REASONS FOR HOPE

A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE HIV/AIDS MINISTRY

Samaritan's Purse has reached a milestone in HIV/AIDS ministry. More than 1 million people worldwide have been reached through our Biblically-based education programs, which include basic facts about the disease, marital faithfulness, home care programs, reducing discrimination, and overcoming the fear of testing.

Martin is one of those million. His neighbors suspected he had HIV/AIDS after a severe case of tuberculosis and frequent bouts of malaria left his body frail and weak. Ignorance and fear caused them to shun Martin, leaving him isolated and alone.

Samaritan's Purse workers in Uganda found Martin hiding behind a mango tree when they came to his village to teach people about HIV/AIDS. "I sat away from the people, because they never wanted me to be near them," he said.

One of the workers talked to Martin about the disease and presented the Good News of Jesus Christ. "They talked to me at length about HIV and shared the love of Jesus," Martin said. "I received Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. It was a turning point in my life. Hope and peace were restored."

Please pray that millions more will come to know the grace and the truth of Jesus Christ—the only true source of hope in this world—as we equip local Christians with the knowledge and resources to reach out to families and communities vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.

What part of the Gospel is optional?

Love Your Neighbor Benefit

You know how I love to pass on random things I find...  Tuesday night in Nashville is a concert to help the victims of the flood waters.  Of course, Nashville is too far away for us to go for a concert, but you can watch it online to see Brandon Heath, Toby Mac, Jason Ingram, Britt Nicole, and Mike Donehy (Tenth Avenue North) at this link for Fellowship Bible Church.

National Day of Prayer

"[If] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

-2 Chronicles 7:14

Remember to keep our country and its leaders in your prayers and boldly enter the presence of God through prayer for the United States of America.

What is fruit?

(I read this post by Ron Duncan today on the I Am Not Ashamed blog.  Very thought provoking!)   

When you hear Christians talking about producing “fruit”, what are they talking about?

Do these things come to mind when you think of “fruit”?

1.Number of people saved/baptized
2.Increase in number of people attending church
3.Increase in number of people in small groups or Sunday school
4.Lots of church activities/opportunities
5.Number of people involved in ministries
6.Tithes and offering increased
7.Plans for building additions/building new buildings
8.New ministries started
9.Mission trips
10.Personal growth plans
11.Add yours here . . .

It's funny how so many people think of fruit as the things we do or accomplish instead of what the Bible calls fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. (Gal. 5:22)

Why is this? God’s word is clear about where fruit comes from—“I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”—John 15:5

We would much rather be in charge of producing the fruit, wouldn’t we? I mean, this way we get to determine what we do and where we go. You know, God just tell me what your plan is for my life and I will handle it from there. We get to maintain control instead of having to trust God. The problem here is, that is not how God works.

God is more interested in real “fruit”—the fruit from Gal. 5:22. Why? Because He is interested in changing us! Not just doing some stuff! He created everything just by speaking! Don’t you think He can accomplish things without us to help out?

Changing us means complete surrender to God. You know giving up credit, giving praise only to God, allowing God to receive credit for whatever happens. This is one of those statements that have been so overused to the point that it does not hold much credibility anymore. You must think more of God than you or maybe all of God and none of you.

Jesus said “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”—Matthew 10:37-39

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”—I Corinthians 10:31

“For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to cut you off. See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.”—Isaiah 48:9-11

Maybe we are a little too self-centered instead of God-centered. What if God got all the glory for building His church? (He is the one that does it anyway!) I have prayed with lost people who got saved, but I have never saved anyone. I have shared and taught believers Truth and encouraged them to follow God, but I have never sanctified anyone.

God produces the fruit in us. God empowers and accomplishes the good works through us. God does it all! God does it for Himself!


*Don't forget the social planned for April 30 at Jason & Michelle's house!  Get your babysitter now!!

Prayer & Pampers for Becky!

Continue to pray for Becky as she goes through her last few weeks of pregnancy and for a safe delivery when Hudson decides to make his debut into the world!

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord,

children a reward from him."

Psalm 127:3

Happy Easter! Now what?

"And from everyone who has been given much, much shall be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more."

Luke 12:48

As we all come down from the sugar high of Easter, what are some ways we can live Easter all year?  In the Bible study I am currently in (Anointed Transformed Redeemed), Priscilla Shirer wrote about the benefits and responsibilities of being one of God's children.  She writes, "God's desire to bless His children with abundance and blessing is seen from the very beginning of the Old Testament and into the church age.  However, his blessing was most often tied to a requirement on the part of those He loved."  The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a free gift to us, but a heart in line with God should be compelled to take on the responsiblities that go along with the benefits.  I hope you'll listen to the following song and look for ways this week to be Jesus to the world (or in our world of Trussville) by being "his voice calling, his hands healing, his feet walking to a broken world."  By just simply loving others whether it's the clerk at the grocery store who needs a friendly face or the person who cuts you off in traffic because they must be in a bigger hurry than you are.  Or in my case, the daughter who is pushing all of your buttons!  Jesus needs our help to do His good work.  Will you be His love?

Announcements

• Prayer & Pampers shower for Becky Rogers and Baby Hudson TONIGHT at Elaine's house - 6:30
• MetroChangers - Saturdays in April
• Let's get social!  Class dinner (adults only) at Jason & Michelle's on Friday, April 30.  Details about food will come soon.  Get your babysitters now!!!
• Class members, for prayer requests see the class facebook page.

FYI - Operation Christmas Child Update

I received the following email from Samaritan's Purse about the Operation Christmas Child project in the Birmingham area.

"31,314 shoe box gifts were collected this past year in your area alone. That’s 31,314 opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus with Children around the world! Your group was a big part of the 31,314 gospel opportunities that were collected and contributed to 5.1 million shoeboxes collected in the United States. You may also be encouraged to know that through the gifts collected in all 13 OCC sending countries, a total of more than 8.1 million hurting children will receive a gift, have the opportunity to hear the Gospel, and connect with a local church for on-going follow up and discipleship."

I hope this will inspire everyone to participate next year!  I would be thrilled to see 100% participation!