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Gospel 4 U

™

In This Issue

Magazine

Volume 5 issue 5 November 2014

Gospel 4 U Magazine is an evangelism tool that is designed to reach the hearts of our readers who have no knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

On the Cover

Executive Publisher Gospel 4 U Publishing Joanna Birchett www.gospel4unetwork.com Info@gospel4unetwork.com

Bishop John Francis Ruach Church in UK Page 5

Editor Journalists Joanna Birchett Dennean Handfield

ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS

SCAN ME

Pastor Larry Birchett, Jr.

God is our Keeper Page 11

Rev. Evelyn Barnes Where Husbands & Wives find their

Rebecca Rush

Love Through It Page 14

Page 12

The Beauty of His Timing Page 16

Cynthia Johnson

Evang. Jennifer

All the way from the UK

Marlowe

Page 17

Wanting What God Gave: LOVE Page 20

Gospel 4 U Magazine • 412 E. North Street • Carlisle, PA •

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E D I TO R’ S D ES K GOSPEL 4 U MAGAZINE We are dedicated to uplift, empower and motivate you through the power of media technology. God has done it again! The Gospel 4 U Magazine is proud to present an exclusive interview with Bishop John Francis from London England. This issue is geared towards teaching us how to LOVE, it’s a word that we use loosely but if we begin to show LOVE one to another, the enemy would have no room for his growth. Gospel 4 U would like to thank all our readers that keep us going, we definitely could not do this without your love, prayers and support. We are blessed with some dynamic authors and journalists that take the time to encourage and motivate you with their articles every issue, thank you guys for being a blessing. Well, Enjoy and be blessed as you dissect every article in this issue. You will be blessed!

Joanna Birchett is the CEO and founder of the Gospel 4 U Magazine, to order a copy visit the web at www.gospel4unetwork.com We are also excited to hear from you so please give us your feedback at magazine@gospel4unetwork.com

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Exclusive with Bishop John Francis Gospel 4 U Magazine had the pleasure of speaking with the dynamic, Anointed and Powerful Man of God Bishop John Francis and the interview was awesome! Bishop John Francis is overseer and founder of Ruach Ministry in the UK.. Get ready to be blessed by the Man of God, Enjoy! Gospel 4 U: Praise the Lord Bishop Francis and thank you for giving Gospel 4 U the opportunity to feature you in our Magazine. Bishop tell us how long have you been in ministry? Bishop John Francis: I started ministry from the age of sixteen and literally as an evangelist and at the age of twenty I became a pastor at my father’s church, so this year will be literally thirty years plus in ministry. G4U: I see that you are a husband, a father, a pastor, a teacher, a worshipper, an administrator, author of many books, but who do you say that John Francis is?. Bishop Francis: John Francis is someone who loves God, is very passionate about God. I’m a worshipper, a father of my children. I love my family, love my wife and love God. G4U: You are British by birth but have strong Jamaican roots. Tell us about this. Bishop Francis: (Laughing) My dad was born in Clarendon in Jamaica as was my mother. They came to England from Clarendon after the war when the British members of the colony were brought over to the UK help with certain jobs like transportation, British Rail and others. Like most westerners, he came to work and then go back home, but instead they ended up staying here. They started to stop ministry there. So I’m Jamaican born. I’ve been to Jamaica a few times. I’ve had conferences there. I just came from there this year. I love Jamaica. It’s my roots. G4U: Well Bishop I can relate because Jamaica is my heart, that is where I am from too. Recently, I read an article by you where you stated, “I’ve always been radical. I was never accepted and took the flak for it. Now people see for themselves.” Could you explain what you meant by that. Bishop Francis: In the UK, in terms of how church used to be, most people came from the West Indians, so a lot of the churches where I was accustomed to were very West Indian in their presentations. It was very strange, because in those days, most services with musicians were guitar and bass. They would play a little bit of reggae, but the church didn’t like the reggae sound, so everything had to be sort of Jim Reeves country and western type way of singing and stuff.. So there’s always been a bit of a conflict and I came from a background where I used to go to the states. I didn’t quite embrace the culture because I wasn’t West Indian neither was I British. I wasn’t born in Britain, so from a church perspective, I embraced more of the American style of worship and then I brought that to the U.K. It was not accepted the way I used to sing. Because in those days there was a big conflict about the way people expressed themselves. Young people who started up a choir and started a gospel choir. It got pretty big and ended up going on television, signed up with a record company. And the whole Bishop John Francis and His lovely wife Pastor Penny Francis

thing put me on television and got me connected with a lot of gospel artists like Shirley Caesar who came on my television show. The Hawkins came on the show, the Winans – big names.

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Bishop John Francis So I was known for gospel music and with that came a lot of criticism because we were singing on secular television. People thought we were compromising, but we weren’t. We were singing gospel but they thought that because we were singing outside of the church, it was a bit radical and unheard of in those days. G4U: (Laughing) We go through some of that here even in America Bishop. Wow! I see that you are a seasoned preacher, a father of the gospel. What advice would you give to a younger pastor in an upcoming church who is going through some setbacks, whether its physical, mental, mental or emotional. Bishop Francis: It’s always difficult to answer that question because any response would have to be specific to the situation. However, I think life is a journey, life is informative and when the call of God is in your life – if God calls you, if he genuinely calls you – where there is vision there’s going to be provision. There’s going to be direction. I think one of the greatest things I’ve learned personally, as people see me in this country as kind of a pioneer. I did a lot of things that other people didn’t do. A lot of time when you’re not in the know and God calls you, you do more depending on God because if you depend on God for directions, you’ll do the right thing as opposed to copying someone else or depending on someone else. God alone deserves the Glory and when He does anything He wants to make sure he gets the glory for it. So what I’m telling people now (before this conversation I was speaking to a young minister) to learn from our mistakes. I believe that the mistakes we make will mean that the next generation doesn’t have to make them. It’s good that preachers find themselves around young people who know where they want to go. We can tell who and what you’re going to be by the people you surround yourself with. So one of the counsels I give to young pastors is find someone you admire, someone who is going somewhere where you want to go and make sure you connect yourself with them and, not only connect yourself, but surround yourself with positivity and be in a place where you are accountable. One of the big problems is that they see stuff that other people do and they want to do it, but they don’t know the process someone has to go through. I was speaking to a young guy who was having an event and every time he had an event he would come to me and all he wanted from me was a stamp of approval. I told him that I did not want to be in his life for that. I asked him to sit down with me and tell me his plans so I could tell him what not to do and what to do. That way he wouldn’t find himself in a lot of difficulty. So I think that accountability is what I am speaking about to this next generation of leaders. Accountability comes with the word submission and submission is one thing you don’t want to do. You want to run to someone else because you don’t like what you’re being told. If you’re going to be mentored or counseled, you’re going to have to submit. Sub means under and you’re under a mission. So you find someone who is going where you are going, sees what you see, and come under their mission before your mission can take place. G4U: You spoke about vision. What’s the difference between purpose and vision? Bishop John Francis: Purpose is the reason why you were created. The Greek word for purpose is “proficis.” Pro means before, ficis means place. God puts the place inside of you before you get to the place. He puts what you’re going to become in you before you become. That is the whole major thing that God puts in our lives: purpose. Now vision is what you see. It’s what God gives you. It’s giving you insight of where you’re going, what is to come. The purpose is the reason why you’ve been born; why you’re here; why you’re going through what you’re going through. G4U: In regards to you right now in your ministry, what season are you in now?

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Bishop John Francis Bishop Francis: This year I’ll be fifty years old. Fifty is my jubilee. It’s a season where you’re really supposed to relax and enjoy the seasons of your labor. But it’s also a season where you’re imparting to the next generation to carry the torch. So I’m very much thinking about what we call apostolic succession, where you’re looking at the next group of people who are going to be sent to the next generation that is to come. That is the next set of people to whom God is going to be entrusting in there and this at end time. So I’m now trying my best to locate groups of people who I feel I need to pour into, need to guide, so that they will have the experience. Because one of the problems with a lot of leaders is that so many churches suffer because most times when someone is going to take over their ministry, it’s when they are half dead or when they’re weak. They need to see what’s happening in ministry from the early stage, not the point where you haven’t got the strength to even show them. You haven’t even got the strength to give them an understanding. One of the things we’re doing is saying, “Let me bring you into the office now and see what we’re dealing with on a daily basis, so when you come in here you’re not stressed ant thinking that you’re going to fall apart.” SO that the can know, “My leader had to deal with this and if he survived I can survive.” One of the reasons that we have a lot of leaders who are falling apart is because they’ve not been mentored into the position So when the get into the position, guess what, they can’t handle it because they’ve not been groomed for the position. So If I can do that for next generation: Identify greatness, groom them, instruct them and prepare them for when they take over. Because anointing is supposed to increase. Whatever they do is going to be more intensified, more greater than myself. I’m expecting the next generation to be greater than I am. G4U: Is it important to move in God’s timing? Bishop Francis: Timing is so important. It is another part of learning and mentoring. You’ve got to understand that God moves according to times and seasons and not to try to do something based on your fleas wanting to see success or wanting to be competitive with the church or another person. First of all we’ve got to be happy in who we are and what God calls us to do. And then once we’re happy in what god has called us to then the next thing is to do, is to not only be happy, but be clear on what God has called us to do and not be intimidated or compare ourselves to someone else’s calling. G4U: Tell me Bishop, many churches these days don’t believe in the Holy Spirit or the evidence of speaking in tongues. What is your take on that? How can a leader lead without the evidence? Is that possible without speaking in tongues? Bishop Francis: You know, there are many theological belief on this particular subject. I grew up in classical Pentecostal where we were taught to go on the altar and tarry for the Holy Ghost. We came every day calling on the name of Jesus in revival and that is just what we would do. One of the things that they clearly looked for was the evidence of speaking in tongues. I do believe that the Bible speaks about the Apostles at the first when Jesus called them, he gave them power and authority and then they were sent and they did miracles and stuff and we don’t have any record of them speaking in tongues, but at that moment in Acts Chapter 2 when the promise of God was come. I believe the Holy Ghost is a comforter, he’s a guide who will guide you to all truth, and bring all things back to your remembrance. So I believe that one of the things that we recognize in scripture in Acts 2 that was evident to us by scripture, when Jesus said “

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Bishop John Francis Go and you will be receiving the Holy Ghost. One of the most important things we keep hearing when the Holy Ghost fell is the speaking of tongues, which for me is one of the major initial evidence, and when I say ”one of ” because in classical church we spent a lot of time talking about the gift of the Spirit speaking of tongues, but we forget that there is also the fruit of the Spirit. To know you really have the Holy Ghost, you need to possess all of these things that the Bible speaks about. So for me, the devil can speak in tongues. I’m not just going to be looking for tongues. I’m looking for all the other things that are supposed to come. The Bible speaks of the “fruit,” meaning what fruit. So when people say to me, “The Holy Ghost. What are you looking for?” Yes. Tongues is one, but for me, I want to see the fruit. G4U: You’ve been traveling a lot. Have you faced any negative experiences while traveling? Bishop Francis: If you’re called to God; if you have a vision, then, if you’re not doing anything, then no one will attack you because you are nonexistent. The moment you become a visual person, you become a person in the public domain. You’ll always be criticized. Some will like you; some won’t like you. The won’t like you because of the way you look. They won’t like you because of the way you praise. They won’t like you because you shout too loud. Maybe your style of preaching should be quieter. I’ve had people even talk about when I get up to preach, I’m swaying. They can be offended by me sweating. It’s just how my body responds to the atmosphere I’m in. I’ve realized I’ve got to get used to this. In fact, success bears a lot of criticism, Whenever you become successful and known, it then sometimes aggravates other people. Sometimes it reveals their weakness. Or it reveals things that they should be doing, but not doing. So instead of addressing it, they will attack the very thing that they are really called to do. This has happened many times. At first, it used to get ahold of me in a negative way, but I’m very much about God in my heart. I don’t read letters from anybody that have no name or no response because I think that’s a cop–out. If you’re going to say something negative to me and then I would look at criticism in the sense that I need to look at it as a constructive criticism, maybe there are areas I need to improve on. But if somebody says something to me and it’s anonymous, I tell my office I don’t even want to see it, because they are not bold enough to give their name and information, that means you really don’t exist. You’re being destructive. If you’re trying to be constructive, then you’ll give your name other information, then I can have a dialog with you. If there is something in my life that I need to improve, then I will improve. I’ve learned something from you, but when you just give me a negative criticism and you can’t put your name, and you don ‘t want to talk – you just leave it out there – that’s not constructive, that’s destructive. Because the whole reason for us looking at people and assessing them, maybe criticizing them, if they want criticizing, then it should be with the purpose of improvement. G4U: So Bishop Francis, with your international ministry that has kept you traveling all these years, how would advise someone in balancing their family with extensive travel? Bishop Francis: Well, there are things I’m very conscious of. I was in ministry before I got marries. My wife knew exactly what she was dealing with and I made it very clear that she needed to understand that I’m in ministry. We had planned that in the early days of our life, I would stay home because of our young children, and, if I did travel, it would be done in such a way that they would not miss out or feel neglected in any way. So that was our balance. And it was good, because I was home a lot and our church was being built.

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Bishop John Francis A lot of preachers will go out all over the place preaching and they really have nothing at home. The anointing on their lives. It really doesn’t make sense. You wander outside; you’re great outside and when I come to your church, I can’t see the power of God that you preach, so powerful that it’s manifested in your local church. My mindset was on building my church and building my home and also doing the best. I’m going to be very honest. When it comes to the kind of balance I should have, that’s my weakness. I have to explain why it’s a weakness. It’s because I was brought up as an average child. My dad was a bishop and, for me, holidays and vacations were convocation. That’s how we looked at holidays. It was going away for convocation, and that was seen as our holiday, you took the time off of school and everything, because convocations were all around the holiday period, and that’s the way I was brought up. And I think it was only one time that we went away for a holiday and it was kind of short–lived because something happened at church and we had to fly back to deal with it. But we’ve had holidays and because it’s my weakness and I’m . Now my wife is different, She was used to going camping doing different things. Now what I was taught was that she’s the one I have to give her the responsibility to make sure my diary is clear, to book the holidays and the vacations because, if left up to me, I would put it next to a conference. And my kids are so funny. They’re like, “Dad…” Well one time we on a holiday and someone wanted me to preach and I said it’s my actual family holiday . So they said, “This is what we’ll do: We’ll have you come and preach and then we will bring you to another side of the country where you can have your holiday, paid for for your child.” My daughter said, “ A holiday with no church, no church.” So I had to turn around ant tell the preacher, “ I’m sorry but I can’t go.” So we ended up going to another company and we had no church. We had quality family time. G4U: Are there any final words you would like to say to our readers? Bishop Francis: I believe that the season we’re in is the season I call generational entitlement. 2014: Fourteen is the number of generations, the number of deliverances. Double the number 7. Seven is the number of perfection, so it’s an incredible season. When I talk about generations, our problem is we think very much on the basis of ourselves. My ambition is what can I achieve, what is going to be new in my life. God doesn’t think that way. He thinks that when I’ going to do something in John’s life, it’s for the next generation. What the devil doesn’t realize is that whatever God puts in one person, it is so that he can multiply and produce after his own kind. So I believe God is getting ready to do some things which I call generationally. And I think the years that others have gone before us and has done so much. I believe that this is the season for the generation that understands who they are to reap the benefits of the prophesies that have come through the bloodline. Le me give you an example of why I’m saying what I’m saying. The children of Israel, on the fourteenth day, were commanded to have what we call is the Passover because they were getting ready to get out of Egypt. Fourteen in that presentation means the slavery days are over. The bondage days are over and it’s an exit, a coming out of something you’ve been in for a long time. Also, God told Moses to tell the women to knock on the doors of all the Egyptians and ask them for their gold and their silver and their raiments and put them on the next generation. And I was thinking about why would God do that? And what God put in my heart was that all those years the children of Israel were building cities for the Egyptians and they never got paid for it. But God said, “Whilst you’re leaving, I’m going to pay you back. You will not leave here empty.” I believe that God is going to make sure that when we come out of our season of captivity and season of bondage, we will not leave out of it empty. And whatever we’re coming out with, it’s not for us. It’s so the next generation will have the benefit of it, because God thinks generationally. G4U: Well Bishop Francis thank you for taking your time to share with us today, on behalf of Gospel 4 U Magazine and our readers, Thank you!

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G O D - O U R KEEP ER Psalms 3:1-4(NIV) – 1) Lord how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2) Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” 3) But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head. 4) I call out to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain. The above passage is a psalm of David when he was fleeing from his son Absalom. David was feeling what so many of us feel at certain times in our lives that everything that we do and touch is falling apart and that there’s trouble on every side. And it doesn’t take much living to understand that in life this is sometimes the case. But just like David knew that God would not allow anything to harm him we need to know the same. The fact is that God is a keeper. He’s been keeping you this whole time beloved and His mind and keeping abilities has not diminished beloved. The trick of the enemy is to make you think that God has abandoned you, but He hasn’t. Just like David said in verse 3, our God is a shield around us and the blessing about this verse is that it gives us a revelation of the keeping power of our God. What am I referring too? I’m referring to the description of the shielding power that God is utilizing to protect us. God’s shield is not just able to stop the fiery darts that we will undoubtedly have to endure from the front. His shield is divine in nature; it wraps all around us and in essence encases us beloved. Therefore we are protected from attacks on every side. I don’t know about you but to know this attribute about God encourages my heart and it should yours too. The traditional shield such as the Roman shield is designed to protect your front to include at the most your flank if you’re skilled enough to place the shield on your side. However our Lord is a shield around us, our glory, the One that lifts our head! If we call out to Him, He will answer us from His holy mountain. Our trust and hope should be totally in the Lord our God, because in Him alone is our help. This is the simple truth. Where we mess up at is by placing our trust in our abilities instead of His. The question that I want to ask you is, how has that worked out for you beloved? No need to answer because I know the answer, it hasn’t. So why not try God and do it His way?

Consider 1 Peter 1:3-5 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" We have a living hope in the finished work of Jesus Christ that He performed over two millennia ago and our inheritance is imperishable and will never fade away. Walk in this living hope, which is what faith consists of beloved, because there’s a reservation that has been made for you in Heaven that is being protected by the power of Almighty God Himself. And His keeping power will ensure that this reservation will not be missed. The life of a Christian is not meant to be one of anxiety and uncertainty, so stop living this sort of life. If you fear you’re not exercising your faith and without faith it’s impossible to please the Lord. So take this moment to give fear his eviction notice and ask God to help your faith. You have faith because if you didn’t you wouldn’t have been able to read to the bottom of this article. Ask God to help your faith because as He just told you, He’s been the one keeping you this whole time, He has you shielded on every side at all times, and through the resurrection of Jesus Christ you have a living hope that is being divinely kept and protected by the power of God just for you. God bless. CPT Larry E. Birchett, Jr., M.S. Senior Pastor, Harvest House Restoration Center Author of books Reverence for the Storm and Processed for His Purpose – Purposed for His Process

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W HERE HU S BAND S & W I V E S F I N D T H E I R C O MP LE T I ON 5 Into

Your hand I commit my spirit; You have ransomed me, O LORD, God of truth. Psalm 31:5 whose hands they find the depths of their humanity. Before proceeding in the discussion, it The words we is essential to lay hold of the uniqueness of find in Psalm 31:5(a) are very Christ, who was at once one hundred percent human, as was Stephen and the familiar as they psalmist, and one hundred percent God, were among the existing in tri-unity with God the Father last sayings of and God the Holy Spirit. Yet, even with Christ while unparalleled exceptionality, Jesus Christ in hanging on the His humanity, consistently demonstrated cross (Luke the resolve to surrender His will to that of 23:46), reflected the Father; thereby showing all mankind in a similar expression by Stephen when the imperative need to find satisfaction and being stoned to death for his faith (Acts completion in the will and way of God. 7:59), and they were repeated here by the The thought of finding our psalmist during a time of trouble. The completion in Christ Jesus becomes expression offers a profound and important to married couples as too many extraordinary word of faith, uttered when wrestle with the temptation to look for each of the three were being pursued by personal value, security, and significance in those who despised them, defamed by and from our spouse, sometimes even those who didn’t understand them, and getting married for the misguided purpose unjustly persecuted by those who ignored of finding wholeness. The difficulty is that their integrity and innocence. when we try to find our completion in our The reality is that most often during marriage partner, the misplaced our pain and suffering, there is no time or dependence creates false expectations that inclination to deliberate or fabricate a are too high and most often remain unmet. correct response; rather, at such times our All too often the frustrations from the statements are most likely uncut and dashed dreams lead to inevitable unfiltered. It is then that truth is on disappointments and dissatisfaction in the display, and all can see the fiber of our marriage. The problem is exacerbated faith and Godly character. Here, and when the party who has the unsatisfied elsewhere, the Word of God clearly shows needs responds to the stress of the moment that during their times of trouble and with resentment, bitterness and anger, persecution Christ, Stephen and the thereby creating a rift in the relationship. psalmist exhibit unwavering faith and If left unattended, the marital breach can uncompromised confidence in the Most compromise the unity and sanctity of the High God as they declared: “into thy marriage, thus constructing immeasurable hands I commend my spirit.” In so damage that can lead to a relationship speaking, they communicate their utter calamity. confidence in the One True God who will It would be inappropriate to dismiss keep them safe, who can be trusted and in the fact that both marriage partners have

Reverend Evelyn Barnes

natural and deep urges and longings for the love and respect that should be found in abundance in a good marriage relationship. However, the reality is that our fundamental and personal needs cannot be met by our spouse unless they are first met in an obedient and loving relationship with Christ. To transfer an inappropriate degree of dependency to the hands of our spouse, places him or her above Christ and thereby becomes a recipe for disaster. No one can love us as completely as can our Lord, and no one can convince us of our value until we’ve first found it as sons and daughters of the Most High God. It is only when we are convinced of God’s love for us, and we find security and significance in His provisions and promises, that we discover long term satisfaction and peace in our earthly relationships. In other words we, like the psalmist, must be able to say from our hearts: “(Jesus) into thy hands I commend my soul.” In so doing, we declare that our peace, worth, future, safety, satisfaction, etc. are all in the hands of God Almighty. The journey for the Godly husband and wife, who pursue a healthy and holy marriage, begins with seeking Christ for wholeness and satisfaction. Daily Bible study and on-going prayers are fundamental in our efforts to maintain healthy and thriving relationships with God and our spouse. Equally as important is the daily need to surrender the human tendency to look to our spouse for that which only God can provide. Having committed our souls to Christ, let’s recommit to our role as God’s treasured vessels of love that were especially designed and equipped for service to our marriage partner.

G o s p e l 4 U M a g a z i n e • 4 1 2 E . N o r t h S t r e e t • C a r l i s l e , P A •!

TO A BO O KS TO RE NE A R Y OU !!

LOV E TH ROUGH IT.. We have heard it said so many times “Praise your way through it” But I am here to tell someone today to “LOVE THROUGH IT” God is love and we see the evidence when Jesus was on the cross He Loved through it, just begin to imagine, WHY? No matter what you are going through, No matter what it look like remember “Perfect Love cast out ALL fears.” 1 Jn 4:18 God has ordained peace in our minds and that is where it all begins, sometimes you might find that you have to go through some stuff and it seems like the enemy is winning, BUT I dare you to hold your horses and allow the LOVE of God to consume you so that you don’t step out of character. We don’t have to fight the enemy because God has already Decreed and Declared that WE ARE WINNERS. We win because we are created in HIS image and we don’t have to compete with anyone because God has given us LOVE and with LOVE we are destined to win. The Bible talks about Four Different Loves 1. Eros includes passion or infatuation as well as sexual or romantic love. 2. Storge refers to the natural affection between a parent and child. 3. Phileo refers to the intimacy that good friends share. 4. Agape is sacrificial love--a commitment that motivates us to deny ourselves on behalf of another. This is the type of love the Lord had in mind when He commanded His followers to love one another. Jesus knew the limitations of His followers, which is one reason He was able to have compassion on their failings. We should show the same consideration for those who mistreat us or live sinfully. There is always a reason why people rebel against God. Trying to understand doesn’t change their guilt before Him, but it can help you love more freely. Following the Lord’s example means learning to see people as they are and caring for them anyway. Offenses will come, people will use and abuse your kindness but I urge you to LOVE through it!

Pastor Joanna Birchett

CONGRATULATIONS MR. & MRS CLARITY GOVAN

ON YOUR WEDDING DAY 09.26.14

TH E BEA UTY O F H IS TIMING By Rebecca Rush God never promised there wouldn’t be storms in life, but yet He promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Well, when my life underwent a major storm I can honestly admit that at times I felt forsaken. Even though I knew I was not alone my feelings allowed me to imagine I was by myself. After losing two children to early miscarriages I felt abandoned, and it took a while for the power of God to be manifested in my life through deliverance and healing. However, once restoration took place I was able to purposefully wait on the Lord to bless my husband and I with children. After twenty months of pain and suffering it is with great joy and excitement that I can proudly say that my son is on the way! Yes!! The God that promises to deliver us and restore us did just that in our lives! We are expecting our firstborn child in October of this year, and the journey has been so beautiful thus far! Every previous disappointment cannot be compared to the joy the Lord has given us throughout this season of our lives. We are elated, but beyond that extremely grateful to the Lord for allowing our tears of sorrow to be turned into tears of joy… “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” Psalms 126:5-6. The Word of God is true… “He hath made every thing beautiful in His time…”Ecclesiastes 3:11. May this be a reminder to you that God has already made an ugly situation in your life beautiful in His time!

Rebecca Rush Author of From Pain to Promise: Discovering Your Purposeful Wait Founder of Purposeful Wait Ministry www.purposefulwait.com purposefulwait@gmail.com or 267-540-3136 16

TRUS TING IN G O D EV EN WH EN Y O UR F A ITH IS WEA K A N D TH IN G S LO O K B LEA K!

Cynthia B. Jackson The definition of Trust -is firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something. For Believers, our trust is in the Lord Jesus Christ strength and His ability to bring us through every adversity that life brings our way. Sometime our natural eyes and they way we feel will try to deceive us and make us believe that God is not working on our behalf. With our eyes on the situation and not on what God can do, our Faith in Jesus and his ability to bring us through and out situations is diminished and weakened. It is imperative that in these times, we don’t allow our natural eyes to dictate what the Lord can and will do on our behalf. In the book of 2 Kings, the 6th chapter, the King of Syria was making war against Israel. During this time, God began to show Elisha, the prophet, where the King of Syria was going to attack the nation of Israel and Elisha would tell the King of Israel and they would go in another direction. This made the King of Syria very angry. He thought that someone in his camp was warning Israel. Verse 11 says, “will you not show me which one of us is for the King of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “none my lord O’King but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the King of Israel the words that you speak in your

bedroom”. The King of Syria sent an army against Elisha and surrounded where he was and his servant saw the army of Syria and was afraid. Verse 16 says, Elisha answered his servant and said, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them”. Then Elisha prayed a prayer for his servant. Verse 17 says, “Lord, I pray open his eyes that He may see”, then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. The servant only saw things in the natural, which caused his faith in God to be weakened. But Elisha had another perspective; He had God’s perspective. He had a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability and strength of God to deliver them from this great army. God is telling us today “Open your eyes and see that I have sent the Armies of the Lord to protect you and keep you in your time of adversity”. You don’t have to fear those things that come against you. They are not too big for God. He is awesome. He has the ability to reveal to you the plans of the enemy, show you the way out and protect you in the process. Trust in His ability, not your own. Your faith is increased when you commit to believing the promises of God and not what your natural eyes see. Declare the Word of God over your situation and release it all to Him, even what you see in the natural.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, Romans 10:17. When things look bleak, it becomes the perfect environment for God to show himself strong and see you through. Our current problems, circumstances, issues, trails, tribulations and problems are no match for our Awesome God. He loves us more than we can imagine. Let’s trust Him to care for us and not allow our problems to become larger than His ability to see us through hard times. Psalm 40:4 says, Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust. When we trust, we are blessed! Keep trusting and believing even when things look bleak; it is worth it. I declare that you will see God work it out for your good and His Purpose!

S H O P P IN G O N A B ELIEV A B LE B UD G ET

Jennifer Marlowe A Vibrant and Anointed Woman with Fashion & Flavor

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WA N TIN G WH A T G O D G A V E: LO V E Evangelist Jennifer Marlowe... We all need love. we all want love. We all are searching for love, Now or Later. We can be the strong independent woman who "got it going", or that insecure woman who thinks she is not worth having a relationship yet long for it. However, regardless of your independence or insecurity, WE all want to be the Eve of our Adam's rib. We all desire that intimate relationship of being cared for and urge to care for another. We all want to be provide for, to be met half way, or to be carry all the way. Yes I've said it! I'm not too independent for him to be the priest to take control, and no I'm not talking about financially only. As as independent woman, it would be a sense of relief for someone to take control for a while after my many years of projecting a "I take care of myself “ attitude. Understand, it is important to know that i am not giving up my independence. There are times when I just need to take a break and knowing that I can leave it in the hand of someone who loves me, reassures my expectation of a loving relationship. LOVE is a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. Your LOVE is a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart. Am I wrong for wanting what God display through HIS word. Am I wrong for not wanting to be selfish or alone, but willing to share my life with someone and create a union. Am i wrong for wanting a relationship; are WE wrong ? Throughout this article, have you notice that I have implied WE. Over the past 6 yrs. I notice that women between the ages of 38-55 have a yearning to be in a relationship and to get married. These are women that are not needy nor are they lacking financially. These women can carry their own weight and are happy with themselves. However, these same women desire an intimate friendship and meaningful relationship with someone special. And so what's wrong with that? Confidently, I can say that being independent and having so much security in themselves/ ourselves, we are making the choice to go after what will give me/us joy in life. Consequently, I've also notice how WE, those same independently secure women, are reluctant to give up what has kept "our power” . Then it hit me! I can let go of my power but not my Authority. Love does not mean that I will not lose myself. Luke 10:19 reminds me of who I am and what I can do. I’m all woman and I can have it all!

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