Once again, it’s time to celebrate. WOW! Do we serve such an awesome God. He tells us time and time again in the Bible
to celebrate, unwind, relax, and enjoy yourself. If you seriously think about
it, it’s His way of restoring our mind and bodies after completing a task and
to preparing us to get ready for another.
Friends Needing Friends is celebrating their 27th
Anniversary of this ministry. Twenty-seven years ago God called me into the
ministry of helping the widow and to create a sisterhood for widows only. To read all about how the ministry was started
– click above to “Our Founder & Mission”.
We started our celebration with a special meeting in New
Jersey with Pastor Bruce Sofia as our guest speaker. Pastor Bruce was my pastor
for over twenty-five years and encouraged me to start this widow ministry. Now get comfortable and get ready to receive
a special blessing.
Friends Needing Friends” 27th Anniversary Celebration
I’d like to
talk to you about three types of mentality – Scarce, Content and Plenty. As widows you are most likely left in one of
three positions:
1. Scarce – I don’t know how I’m going
to survive.
2. Content – I’m ok. I’m not going to live in luxury, but I’m
going to make it.
3. Plenty – I’m sitting pretty well off. In fact, I’m able to help my family and
others.
No matter
what condition you find yourself in, the attitude
with which you approach that position will determine your “joy”.
When Paul
and Silas found themselves in a prison cell facing execution; they chose to
sing hymns. What was the result? Their attitude set them free. The
chains were broken, the jailer and his household were saved, and Paul and Silas
were released.
Now whether
they were set free or not, they found freedom in the posture of their attitude.
In prison or out of prison they were set free.
Paul tells the Philippians 4:11b-13, I have learned to be content
whatever the circumstances. (12) I know what it is to be in need, and I know
what it is to have plenty. I have
learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well
fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (13) I can do all this
through Him who gives me strength.
The reality
of life is we’ve all met people who have plenty, but it’s not enough. We’ve met
people with little and it’s plenty and we’ve met people, that whatever their
situation, they have enough.
Now here’s
the promise. Let me suggest that you, all of us, cloak ourselves with this
promise: Philippians 4:19-20 – (19) and my God will supply all your needs
according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (2) Now to our God and Father
be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Examples:
1. For 40 years God fed the Israelites
in the desert with Angel food.
2. When Elijah was wondering where his
next meal was going to come from, God fed him
3. When the disciples wondered how Jesus
was going to feed 20,000 people, he told them to find a lunch. He then fed all 20,000 with one boy’s lunch.
A scarcity
mentality is rooted in fear, and demonstrates distrust in the awesome power of
an Almighty God to supply ALL or our needs according to His unlimited
resources. Don’t be afraid to ask for
help in times of fear. First go to God, then be willing to follow His lead, whether
it is manna from heaven, ravens, a boy’s lunch or a dear friend who’s been
there. Paul said he received great joy
when the brethren met his need.
You can rest
in this promise, the best of all is God is with you. David said, “I’ve been
young and now I’m old, and I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken nor their
seed begging for bread.” Psalm 37:25.
So, what do you say, let’s cloak ourselves with an attitude of plenty, for our
God is plenteous!
A good place
to start, do you know the Heavenly Father?
Here’s how:
Admit your
sins have separated you from God. (Psa 14:1-3; Rom 3:23);
Believe that
God did something about your sins through Jesus Christ. (The final Pascal
Lamb/Messiah.) (Lev. 17:10; Heb
9:19-22);
Commit
yourself to His righteous by confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior. (Isa 53:5: Col.1:22)
Do it
today! (Isa 49:8: 2Cor 6:2).
Father in Heaven, I am sorry for the
things I’ve done that are wrong; I am a sinner; forgive me. Thank You for
loving me and sending your son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for my sin. Holy
Spirit, come into my heart; Jesus be my Lord and Savior. I give You my
life. Amen.
Message by
Pastor Bruce Sofia
Founder and
Senior Pastor of
Gloucester
County Community Church
Sewell, N.J.
Pastor Sofia
has been the Pastor
For FNF since 1988.
F.N.F. - 27 Years Serving the Lord!
God has put a dream inside of
you. It's yours and no one else’s. It declares your uniqueness. It holds your
potential. Only you can birth it. Only you can live it. Not to discover it,
take responsibility for it and act upon it, is to negatively affect yourself as
well as all those who would benefit from your dream. (WFYT/June16)
"For all
the sad words of tongue and pen; the saddest are these, it might have
been." John Greenleaf Whittier Rescue your dream.
