Greetings!
 

Do you ever find yourself saying you can't do something before even trying? Or that you are too busy or don't know how? Whenever you do that, you slam the door shut to the possibility of doing it before you get started!

Has it ever occured to you that not doing what God wants for you to do may be a form of idolatry, just because your refusal to serve Him is bowing down to self instead of submitting to Him?

You serve God in many different ways. Your service may be that of a godly parent, or one who shares the Good News to a coworker, or one who listens to a hurting friend.  There is no restriction on what you can do in service to Him.  If you lack courage, He can fix it. If you don't have the appropriate skills, He can fix that, too.

The best thing you can do to serve God is to lay down your excuses. It 's a matter of faith that He will empower you to do His bidding. Leave it to Him to do the training and equipping. All you need to do is say yes!

The Church Staff

FEBRUARY IS STEWARDSHIP MONTH

 What is stewardship?  One definition from the Merriam-Webster dictionary (m-w.com) is "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care."

The messages during the next three Sundays at the Good News Hour will revolve around this topic: stewardship.  Let's all pray that we will all be led by the Holy Spirit to better understand God's purpose and how to appropriate the resources He gives to us every day.

Review the pamphlet you received last year during the Family Finance Seminar conducted by Pastor John.  It is entitled "Christian Principles of Resource Management and Investment." 

GOD IS ABLE TO PROSPER YOU

This is a promise. "I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.  With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity...bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.(PROVERBS 8:17,18,20 NIV)

Why does God want to prosper His people? To do good works, to give freely and to glorify God.

"God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 CORINTHIANS 9:8 NIV)

"He will make you rich in every way so that you can always freely give. And your giving through us will cause many to give thanks to God. (2 CORINTHIANS 9:11 NCV)

Let's act on God's promise of prosperity by obeying His instructions. "Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be happy. (PROVERBS 16:20 NLT)

How are we to become open to God's blessing of prosperity?

a.  Our relationship to God, not money, must be our first priority.(MATTHEW 6:33, PSALM 34:10)

b.  We must rely on God as our Provider. (PSALM 37:3; PHILIPPIANS 4:19)

c.  We must invest in God's work and bless the needy. (2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-8; PROVERBS 28:27)

(This article is derived from page 1 of the pamphlet "Christian Principles of Resource Management and Investment," Gospel Life Community, March 13, 2011)

Pastor Hansel requests all Lion's Den School graduates to please share your stories of answers to prayers, healings, signs and wonders that have occured in your individual ministries, etc.

Your stories will be compiled in a book that Pastor Hansel is preparing.  Kindly let him have these either by giving him a hard copy or by email to thelionsden.glc@gmail.com. Please relay this information to other Lion's Den graduates who may not have access to email.

Many of you prefer to leave Tuesday, February 14, open for your Valentine's Day celebrations.  Our monthly fund-raising dinner for February will be held on the third Tuesday, February 21, at the Asian Buffet restaurant in West Covina.  We are expecting another big turnout.  Please invite your family members, friends and neighbors, bible study group members and others to join us for our fund raiser.  Proceeds will again go to our Worship Ministry Fund which includes the ongoing improvements to our sound system.

Please call Johnny Chua (909-228-2162) to make your reservations.

Considering Your Investments
  

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Phil 2:4).

It's rewarding to get a good return on an investment. In business we invest money, time, and people resources into promoting a product and service in hopes of a return. We make financial investments in hopes we can gain a return on our money invested. The apostle Paul understood another kind of investment. It was an investment in the spiritual lives of people.

He invested his life in a man named Epaphras, who was a man deeply impacted by Paul's investment in him. Paul makes reference to Epaphras when writing to the Colossians: "You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit" (Col 1:7-8). It can be rewarding to invest in other people's lives.

One day I received this note from a friend into whom I had made an investment: "You have had a tremendous influence on my life. For that, I will be forever grateful and love you as well." Sometimes we don't realize the difference we can make in another life. For us, it can seem a natural way of operating. We may not even think we are doing anything unusual. Until one day, you receive a note like this one.

In the marketplace we can often get very focused on the projects we are called to promote and gain a return on. However, we each need to be making an investment in other people as well.

Are you investing in lives that may be in your sphere of influence through your workplace call? The returns on this investment are considerable. 
 

(Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.)

This is a reminder.  You received an email from Ruby Dijamco similar to this announcement a few days ago. Currently we have four groups who take turns serving lunch on Sundays.  Please know to which group you belong.  There is a list posted in the Fellowship Hall.

To minimize confusion, Group 1 serves on the first Sunday of the month, Group 2 on the second Sunday, and so on.  However, there are four months this year that has five Sundays: April, July, September and December. Since Group 4 did not serve their turn in December, 2011 and January, 2012 Ruby suggests for them to take the 5th Sundays in April and September, in addition to their regular turn on the 4th
Sunday of those months.

However, all groups will combine their resources to serve lunch on the fifth Sundays of July and December, 2012.

Please cut this out and tape to your refrigerator door to remind you!

PROMOTION

(1) "Life Line":  A Book by Pastor John Tulio, a compilation of three years' worth of Life Line articles he wrote for Gospel Life Community. 326 pages.

(2) "Tipping Points of Grace: Old-Time Dogma Re-Examined."  2010 Lecture Series Outline, by John G. Tulio.

(3) "Keys to the Kingdom: Discovering the Doorway to Divine Destiny." Group Bible Study Leader's Guide, by John G. Tulio

Donation: $15 per book  

Greeting Cards with beautiful Philippine Scenery, for all occasions.  Write your own greeting inside.  12 cards to a pack.

Donation: $10 per pack or $90 for 10 packs.