Today is a "high day" in our secular government, here in the United States of America.  Besides being the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, it is also the public inauguration of President Barack H. Obama as he embarks on his second term of office.

  

It is said that politics and religion are two subject matters that probably should not be discussed when groups of people get together in a social context.  Why? Because it brings about a lot of emotion and sometimes turmoil when various parties in the discussion try to force their ideas upon the others who wouldn't give in on their own preconceived notions either.

  

Suffice it to say that one of our duties as Christians is to pray for all government leaders so that they, too, will know and acknowledge that God is in control. The bible tells us that those in authority are placed there by God (Romans 13:1), and so their placement in positions of power must be a part of the over-all scheme of things according to God's own purpose.  We may or may not understand this, but let's trust in God's goodness implicitly!

  

"God bless you and keep you, God smile on you and gift you, God look you full in the face and make you prosper."  NUMBERS 6:24-26 (MSG)

  

Members of the leadership board met at The Office on Saturday afternoon to discuss church business and future plans.  There was a good exchange of ideas.  Vision casting was one of the dominant ideas that was discussed because of its importance in getting everyone involved in church activities as well as in activities outside of the church so that each one will have a powerful impact in the community.

  

Our financial needs and resources, the various ministries affected by what we budget, and other matters related to Gospel Life's fiscal situation and responsibilities were also given an appropriate amount of attention at the meeting.

  

Possible community outreach projects were discussed as well.

  

All these will be brought to the Core Group at its next meeting.

  

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Another eye-opener of a sermon was presented by Pastor John Tulio at the Good News Hour on Saturday evening. We were reminded that the gospel account of the birth and ministry of Jesus Christ on earth was not accidental.

  

Jesus calls his followers to a life of service and sacrifice, not comfort.  When He came down to earth He left His comfort zone and became a servant.

  

Our involvement with the church and its ministries is not about fairness but about service, so that when we do serve it is something that springs out of our hearts rather than feeling like it is something imposed on us.

  

Each one receives at least one gift from the Holy Spirit, to be used to serve others.  If we are not using our gift to serve others, we are wasting that gift.

  

Following Jesus will cost us 1) the surrender of all we have, 2) our selfish ambitions, 3) our relationships and 4) our priorities.  The example of the rich young ruler who asked Jesus what he must do to be saved brought out the fact that it wasn't talking against comfort but rather against a conflict of interest, because it is impossible to serve Him with a conflict of ineterest or else we walk away from intimacy and fellowship with Jesus Christ.

  

The way of Jesus is the way of the cross. Our choice is to either pick it up or reject it. When Jesus told his disciples that a man must take up his cross daily to follow Him (Luke 9:23) He was teaching His disciples to let go of their sefishness and self-centeredness.  What good is it for one to gain the world and allow himself to be destroyed? (Luke 9:24-25)

  

Pastor John further pointed out that when we follow Jesus there is a change in our life's paradigm, that we turn back from the world's culture through a transformation of our minds.  Our most important mission in life becomes our desire to share God's grace with others.  We are to realize that the cost of following Jesus is surpassed by a life of intimacy with Him.

  

More than witnessing, the important thing that happens to us when we follow Jesus is our transformation.  Let's follow Jesus, no matter the cost!

  

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We had a fun-filled monthly fellowship dinner on Saturday evening at the Mandarin Bay Seafood Restaurant in Rowland Heights.

  

We were somewhat fewer in number than the last two months' dinners, but not by much.  Everyone enjoyed the appetizer, ten main entree dishes, topped off by a delicious dessert.

  

There were animated conversations around the dinner tables and everyone stayed till just about the restaurant's closing time.  Some of the attendees were there for the first time and some others haven't been to these dinners for a while.  It was another one of our monthly fellowship dinners that was enjoyed by all who were there.

  

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Do you minister to your children?

 Enlarging Your Territory

 

..."Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory!...." - 1 Chronicles 4:10

He is mentioned only once in a brief description in the Old Testament, yet what he says and what his life bespeaks could fill volumes. He was a man whom God saw as worthy of a request that had significant consequences for him and his family. His name was Jabez. Here is how the Scripture describes him:

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).

When you think of territory, you probably think of land or some area in which you have dominion. Jesus often spoke about giving responsibility based on what we do with the little things first. Jabez must have been a very responsible person. God describes him as honorable. Jabez must have understood what it really means to be blessed by God. He was a man who knew what it meant to press into God and ask for God's favor with passion. God saw the heart of this man and gave him his request. His borders were enlarged! He lived a life free from pain. Imagine that!

The only reason God will enlarge a person's territory is that He knows that person will use it responsibly. He will steward what is given in light of God's Kingdom. God truly wants to increase our territory to have greater influence in the world around us. That territory can mean personal influence and/or physical territories.

It is rare to have a life without pain. Pain is often necessary to mold us and shape us. This is the only exception I have seen in Scripture. Jabez must have been quite a man with incredible integrity and purity of heart.

Are you this kind of person? Can God enlarge your territory and entrust you to use it for His purposes? Ask God today to enlarge your territory. Ask Him to make you the kind of man or woman who is worthy of such trust.


 

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

 

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 We'd like to hear more from our congregants.  We know you can write an article or two for our Newsletter.

  

You may have a story to tell, an experience or testimony worth writing about.  I'm sure your groups go places, do certain activities, or plan to do something.  Why don't you tell us about them?  We'd be glad to publish them in our Newsletter.

  

Don't let us do all the writing.  We'd run out of ideas before too long! Help us fill our Newsletter pages with things that can be of interest to others in our church.  Or even to your friends and others who are not yet coming to our church, or going to other churches for that matter.  Share your Newsletter by forwarding to someone you know will be interested to receive it from you!

  

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