April 2013

T � � W � � � � ’ M � � � � � � � F � � � F � � � � � � � � C � � � � �

� � U � � � � � � � F � � � � � � � � C � � � � �

L � � � � � � V � � � � ! E � � � � � � � � � _Éäx “B” All You Can BE!

Is growing in faith an inside-out process or an outside-in one? Or both?

Think about the flower gardens being planted this spring. How do they grow to be their very best? It’s the outside environment—the sun, soil, and water—that has the greatest influence on flowers becoming their brightest and most beautiful. Can your outside environment affect the growth of your faith too?

Yes! In fact, how we live on the outside has a great deal of influence on our inside growth. And one thing is sure, God did not intend for us to grow alone. He desires for us to live in close fellowship with other Christians, like flowers in a garden, because it’s there where we befriend others who believe in Jesus, find a place to belong, share what we believe, and together become all God designed us to be—at our brightest and most beautiful.

The outside life we live is where we are part of the garden—and part of God’s planting for the display of his glory. So how do we grow more from the outside in? There are four basic principles, the “4 B’s,” of outside-in living, that will help you to be all you can be:

Befriend. There are different types of flowers planted all

around you. Be intentional about being part of God’s garden—make friends, be a friend, share faith and fun with friends.

Belong. Well-designed flower gardens have borders and are

planted with flowers that have similar needs for sun, soil, and water. Find, join, or create groups where you feel a sense of belonging and share common interests. Don’t try to bloom on your own; stay in close connection with your friends in faith.

Believe. Food, water, and light are necessary for flowers to

grow. Study, worship, share, and pray regularly together with other Christians.

TH E WO R D

“In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.”

— Isaiah 61:3

Think About It

Who are the people—the “flowers”—in your life that God has planted in the garden around you?

___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________

April 2013 | Page 2

New Every Morning “Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:23

Just like the mercies of God, morning glories bloom anew each day, making it a favorite faith-inspiring flower that is easily grown in gardens or containers. Follow these simple steps this spring, and you will be rewarded with vibrant blooms every morning through the first frost of fall.

1. Lightly file the morning glory seeds, and soak them in water for 24 hours before planting.

2. Sow seeds indoors in pots six weeks before the last frost in cold climates or outdoors in the garden when the temperature is above 60 degrees.

3. Cover seeds with ¼ inch of soil; as seedlings grow, thin to 6 inches apart.

4. Grow morning glories in full sun, and provide a trellis, fence, or other support for climbing vines.

5. Water when dry, and do not over fertilize.

6. Enjoy! Bu:erflies and hummingbirds will love the big blooms and fragrance of your

morning glories, too!

The Original Morning Glory Muffin

These cinnamon-scented muffins, filled with delicious fruit, nuts, carrots, and coconut, are an irresistible morning treat! Created by chef Pam McKinstry in 1978 for her Morning Glory Café on the island of Nantucket, this recipe has been chosen by Gourmet magazine as one of its top 25 from the past 50 years. Yum!

Morning Glory Muffins (makes 16 muffins) 1¼ cups sugar 1 large apple (peeled and grated) 2¼ cups flour 1 cup crushed pineapple (drained) 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 2 cups grated carrots 2 teaspoons baking soda ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts ½ teaspoon salt 3 large eggs ½ cup shredded, 1 cup vegetable oil sweetened coconut 1 teaspoon vanilla ¾ cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix sugar, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in coconut, raisins, apple, pineapple, carrots, and nuts. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs with oil and vanilla. Add to the dry ingredients, and mix well. Fill greased muffin tins, and bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out dry. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing muffins and placing on rack to complete cooling.

These muffins taste even be:er the day aHer baking—

4 Friends and 4 Flowers

Try this fun way to apply the 4 B’s of growing in faith with your friends this month:

Pick a different flower to represent

each of the 4 B’s: Befriend,

Belong, Believe, Become, and make a bouquet with one or more of each kind.

Use the bouquet to remind you to plan 4 faith-growing activities with 4 friends this month that fit each “B” category. And don’t forget to share the flowers with the friends in your

April 2013 | page 3

Media Morsels

Book Review

CD Review

This page is designed to inform and educate you and is not an endorsement. Our prayer is that you will make informed decisions on what you see, listen to.

Where I Find You

Artist: Kari Jobe

Release Date: January 2012

Kari Jobe, worship leader at Gateway Church in Southlake, TX, may be best known for leading her church’s worship team in “Revelation Song.” Millions have worshiped along with a YouTube video of her church singing this powerful song.

But Jobe has a solo singing career as well, and it is no less focused on worship. In this, her second album, Jobe’s sweet and clear voice will bring comfort and point you to the true source of peace.

“Steady My Heart” has had a lot of radio play and serves as a good

reminder that God will serve as our stability when life is hard. “Find

You on My Knees” is a less-known song that will encourage you to

go right to God in those Tmes, and to find him through prayer.

Idol Lies: Facing the Truth about Our Deepest Desires

Author: Dee Brestin

Publisher: Worthy Publishing

When you open this book, be ready to find yourself staring back from its pages. Dee Brestin has written a book that all women can relate to—whether we want to believe it or not. She identifies various forms of idolatry in our hearts and some of the objects to which they attach themselves.

Brestin calls us to stop lying to ourselves, admit to our idolatry, and “open our hearts to God and let him replace our idols with himself.” Her tone and purpose are not cruel or condemning, but reflect her desire to help us find freedom.

The book includes a Bible study and discussion guide in the back, so it makes an ideal resource for small groups.

April 2013 | Page 4

May 4th@ 9am

An invitation from the Director of Children’s

Ministry: LISA SOFFEY

While the men are meeting at Gia’s on

Saturday, May 4th, Moms and

children are invited to an informal

gathering at Faith Fellowship.

Besides muffins , juice and coffee

there will be activities that kids and

moms can enjoy together.

Have a picture taken with your

MOM and make a frame to keep it

in.

We invite MOMS & Children of all

ages. Bring your little ones; bring

your teens!

Please sign up at the Children’s

Welcome Center by May 3rd.

Lisa Soffey is planning a

memorable Tme!

M M uffins with om

April 2013 | Page 5

1. Get everyone together and take a

family portrait.

2. Bake one of her favorite chocolate

recipes and give her a devoTonal with

the delicious treat.

3. Put together a picnic and eat

together at her favorite park.

4. Give her a homemade card.

5. Give her a “Spa Day” at your house

or at a spa or salon.

6. Ask her to share stories and pictures

from your (or her) childhood.

7. Make her breakfast in bed.

8. Go to church with the whole family.

9. Give her a bouquet of her favorite

flowers.

10. Give her a giH card and tell her to

go on a shopping spree for the

aHernoon.

11. Come up with a list of family

tradiTons that she brought from her

family or started in your family.

12. Offer to spend the day doing her

favorite hobby with her, whether it’s

running, biking, gardening,

scrapbooking, or quilTng.

13. A:ach a note on the fridge to say, “I

love you.”

14. Watch her favorite movie with

her— even if it’s a chick flick!

15. Bring a tablecloth and use an LED

candle to make a candlelight dinner at

her favorite casual restaurant.

16. Cook her favorite meal for dinner

and do the dishes.

17. Give her a coupon book for different

household chores that she can save and

use later in the year.

18. Give her a day off from household

chores.

19. Place a thank you card on her mirror

for her to see in the morning.

20. Give her a box of chocolates with a

small thank-you note under each piece.

21. Every hour, on the hour, tell her

why she is a blessing to you.

22. Offer to take the kids so she can

have a quiet day at home.

23. Create a “Blessings Book” that tells

of all the reasons you are thankful for

her.

24. Make a donaTon in her name to her

favorite charity.

25. Just spend quality Tme with her.

Reproducible Web Component • © 2012 three:13 ChrisTan GiHs • Scripture: ESV® • 1.800.541.5690 • three13chrisTangiHs.org

May 12, 2013

April 2013 | Page 6

L ast Thursday, the Northern Lights Youth

Choir came to FFC. As we had agreed to

house a few of the choir members we

went to their performance.

Before the music started the director thanked us for

our hospitality –“not only did you feed us, but you

Served us –that was quite the treat”.

My expectaTons were not where they should have

been- ‘youth choir’ brought back memories of my

Catholic upbringing when I spent years singing the “old

hymns”. I did not expect contemporary music sung

with so much enthusiasm!

As the evening moved on, even

though we were all trying to be

polite and listen to the

performance, FFC became true

to it roots… someone in the

back of the church began

clapping with the rhythm that

the choir was clapping out as

they sang. Soon we were all

clapping to the music. Hands

went up in praise to God. They

began a song starTng in Genesis

and through every book of the

bible to RevelaTon saying His

Name for each book. It was

amazing and brought everyone

in the house to their feet overwhelmed by the praise

that was being liHed up by these young people!

At the end of the evening as they ‘leH the stage’ we

thought the choir was done, but they simply made a

large circle around all the people in a:endance. They

began singing in that circle over our heads TALK ABOUT

SURROUND SOUND! If you closed you eyes you were

transported to the Throne Room where angels sing

constantly. It was so amazing the hairs on the back of

my neck were raised.

By the end of the evening, when Pastor Gil gave the

InvitaTon to Christ he was on such fire everyone –

including the choir –was crying. It was an awesome

evening!

But here is the encouragement part – as we brought

our young guests home and were gemng them se:led I

overheard the following:

“I’m gonna call my mom” ... “Hello mom, you

wouldn’t believe it, this was the best night yet! People

were clapping Mom, not for us

but WITH US, I saw hands go up

in the air and people stood to

their feet with their arms up

praising God! It was what we

have been wai�ng for! We were

all crying during the last song

because we FINALLY felt the move

of the Holy Sprit!”

This young group had been all

over New England and went as far

south as the Carolinas bringing

their love for God through their

music. It was not unTl that

arrived at our church that they

were “served” a meal, but more

importantly they felt the move of

the Holy Spirit!

I know that we have been through a discouraging Tme ,

but take heart Church… the Holy Sprit is alive and well

at FFC! And isn’t that the most important thing in any

church? To have a ‘stranger’ come into a church a feel

the power of the Spirit through the love of His people!

I’m just praising God for our Family!

By Janice O’Connell

April 2013 | Page 7

My Lord

TTTThis is what I always find

You, my Lord are gracious and kind,

You are loving and take such good care

Of my wants and needs of which You are aware,

Nothing is out of Your hand

Everything bows to Your command,

You are AAAAdonai, GGGGod Most High

It is only on You we can rely.

Thanks to you for taking good care of me

All praise be to GGGGod AAAAlmighty!

by Debbie Baxendale

DDDD o you have a story that you would love to tell? A tes�mony? Some insight

to a passage of Scripture? Be brave. Write it down and sent it to me. I know

that your sisters in Christ will be blessed!

Send me your original tes�monies, poems or perhaps a devo�onal to: Pastor Ginnie

Office@faith4square.org

April 2013 | Page 8

Ladies’ Tea & Luncheon

Saturday May 11, 2013

1:00 pm

Fifteen dollars per person

Menu: Baby spinach salad

Chicken salad with grape sections Garnished with strawberry fans

Fresh baked rolls

Assorted desserts

Tea and Coffee

Speaker: Forshia Ross

“Healing in His Wings”

Tickets are avai lable .

Please consider taking the

opportuni ty of being a hostess .

Menu will be gluten and nut free

Forshia Ross

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