Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church

October 3, 2014

Pastor Barksdale Online

"Greeting One Another In The Love Of Christ"

In This Issue

Weekly Message

News Update

FWMBC WEBSITE

www.fwmbc.org

FWMBC Members and Friends,

If all goes well, Gladys may be allowed to come home next week. She will still have a long recovery period, but we are working on having everything that she will need for her rehabilitation. Thank you so very much for your prayers.

Please remember all others in your prayers as well.

Weekly Message

NO NEED TO BE ASHAMED

I thank Christ our Lord who has strengthened me.......even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. And yet I was shown mercy...and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant. (1Timothy 1:12-14)

Later Paul wrote: "I am not ashamed." (2 Timothy 1:12)

Lately I have revisited the doctrine of "grace." It is another one of God's great gifts to us. A common definition of grace is "unmerited favor." Certainly we don't deserve God's grace; we have done nothing to earn it. As John Newton wrote in one of our greatest hymns, grace is just amazing.

As we are able to determine from reading Paul's testimony above, he was given grace that was more than abundant. And that grace was so thorough and pervasive that it also eliminated any shame that Paul had as a result of his past.

I believe that we can glean from Paul's testimony. No matter what we have done in life, God's grace is sufficient for forgiveness; to wipe our slates clean; and move us to a place where we need not be ashamed.

Many people carry a lot of guilt for years based on something that they have done in their past. Learn to put the past behind you and move on. God's grace really is abundant and sufficient enough to give you a new start. Let us have the attitude of Paul as he states: I AM NOT ASHAMED!

News Update:

October 5, 2014..... 8am and 11am PASTOR

October 12, 2014..... 8am Pastor 11am Rev. Bryant

October 18, 2014 .... Bad Girls & Boys of the Bible 10am

October 19, 2014 ...... 8am Rev. Davis 11am Rev. Criswell

October 25, 2014 ..... The Male Chorus at St. Matthew Baptist Church

Navasota, Texas

October 26, 2014 ....... 8am Min. Criswell

11am Women in Red....Rev. David Everson

Galveston, Texas