Has anyone read that old book by Norman Vincent Peale? It has been awhile for me and I can’t say I agree with everything he says but I will agree with the basic concept because I believe it is biblical. Notice the words to one of my very favorite verses…”you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” (Philippians 4:8 MSG)

Not long ago I preached on “Accentuating the Positive” but don’t be surprised if you hear a similar message in the near future. It is so easy to let our minds become the devil’s playground and let them wander into the negative. Whatever positive things someone says there are always many more negative things that someone else can articulate. Trust me, we hear and deal with the negative on a daily basis. I truly believe our lives and our church would be so much more blessed if we looked for the good in people and in the things around us.

Abraham Lincoln said, "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." I know a lot of people who have chosen to not be happy. I thank God each day for those of you who have chosen to hold on to the positive, to the best things in life. It is obvious from your encouraging words and smile that the Holy Spirit has set you free indeed.

Someone else said, “You are what you think. You feel what you want.” We have the power to be positive if we so choose. Not to mention that we have the Holy Spirit living in us to help us every single day. May we live each day in the joy of the Lord and may we “see things from His perspective” (Colossians 3:2b MSG).

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click here.  Visit our website at www.fbcws.org for more information.

Questions or comments? E-mail us at kara@fbcws.org or call 817-246-2171.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ice Skating at The Parks

July 26. We have 25 free passes to the Ice at The Parks.  The first 25 people to sign up will get to go for free.  After that, it's only $9 per person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Sitting Certification Class

Friday, July 25 ,

from 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m.

Ages 11+

Cost is $50

Contact Karen Graham at

817-777-2182 to enroll.

Happening Now

Camp was a blast!  We took 28 students and had several different decisions – one salvation, one for short term missions, and several students deciding to be missionaries on their campus.  That last one is what I want to focus on.

Too many times, I think we all (students and adults alike) get discouraged about sharing Christ in our daily environment.  This usually isn’t a conscious feeling, but more a tool of the enemy.  We might have a fleeting thought that we’re alone and it’ll be hard to witness for Christ at work/school.  Or maybe it occurs to us that we’re not prepared to share Him.  These, and many others, are legitimate concerns about witnessing.  But Satan takes these thoughts and begins to trick us into neglecting our witness, and we are unaware of it. 

But here’s what God does:  He surrounds us with people who want to share Him too. At camp, the students were in a room with 5000+ other students, many of whom had the same desire to see Christ’s presence amidst their campuses.  It is encouraging when you realize you’re not alone.  You are a part of a bigger picture.  And then He reminds us that He is the one who does the work of changing people’s lives… we are only called to share.  Yes, there can (and in some cases really should) be a systematic way of training people to share Christ with non-believers.  But even then, God is doing the real work.

So, are you ready to be a “Campus” Missionary? (whatever your campus is)

This past Sunday night was significant for me.   It had been a Sunday like many before and like many to come.  What got my attention were the words we were singing.  The songs were songs we sang many times.  They were simple songs centering on the name of Jesus.   The name being wonderful and how we are to bless, sing,  preach, praise, and share its wonder.  We sang of the name, JESUS, being the sweetest name we know and how it lifts us up when we fall.   We sang of the greatest thing is to know Jesus and finished by joining our voices in a great hymn “My Jesus, I love thee”.    For me it was as if my Lord knew my need and gave me one of those “mercy drops” to calm me and remind me that the “nitty-gritty” of life does not need to burden one down.  “Just focus on worshiping Jesus” was my blessing for the day!   I must encourage you to join me and focus on Jesus!

Please pray for me as I attend the National Worship Leaders Conference in Austin that I will keep the focus on Jesus!  God bless!

Up coming Children’s Activities

July 27, at 3:30 p.m. Swimming

August 3, at 3:00 p.m. Putt-Putt

 

Student Evangelism Conference

August 1-2

$30

More information to come

 

 

Quarterly Business Meeting and Fellowship

Sunday, August 3, after the Morning Worship Service

Important information from the New Building Committee will be presented at this meeting.

Coming Soon