Vol. 16 Issue 1

Waiting on the … Promises of GOD

A promise is a promise. God’s Word contains some 3000+ promises covering every subject and condition common to man. Not inclusive of those “precious personal” promises that have been etched in our hearts during those private moments we spend with the Lord. The problem we face as Christians is not in acknowledging with assurance their existence in the Bible, but possessing the character to wait patiently on God for them to come to pass. While we acknowledge all the promises of God to be rooted in eternalness, our human inclination stresses over the elements of “when” and “how” as we consider how we can make them be realized now. We know that God is immutable and in His infinite power He both can and will bring every promise to pass. Yet, we struggle feeling the need and compulsion to help Him along with His in-tended purpose and plan. As I recently sat hearing my pastor speak to the subject of Patience vs. Waiting during which time my young grand-daughter who was taking her children’s church notes drew a series of pictures that graph-ically drove home this dilem-ma. She meticulously drew a series of chairs and placed a lone man seated in first chair. In each subsequent chair the man sunk lower in the chair until he ultimately slid off the chair onto the floor. He’d lost his patience to wait. In her final chair she decided to illus-trate what would happen the moment he mustered up the strength to put patience to work as a child of God and wait on God. Immediately, the man was upright and sitting erect in the chair. I considered the simplicity of her illustra-tions and realized that’s exactly what happens when we fail in our fruitfulness of patience and sink in the doldrums because we cannot wait. My pastor uttered words that touched my heart — Patience is rooted in eternalness; and waiting is not a passive action but the act of exercising our faith

Celebrating … CHRIST

 With the Holiday Season upon us, the Nation of NFCOG wish you and your family all the blessings of Christ our Lord. While focused on family and friends, don’t fail to celebrate Christ, whose miraculous birth and sacrificial death enables us to both know and experience love, peace, and great joy!

Editor’s Corner

Living in the “NOW”

The changing of the seasons often comes with mixed emotions. Recalling the warmth of Summer’s sun and fragrances abundant in its warm breezes soon becomes a distant memory as we meticulously recount the palate portrayed by Fall’s canvas of beauty and spend countless moments wishing they could remain with us forever. Sometimes we struggle to embrace the early morning chill and the crispness of the air that accompanies the new approaching season that now challenges us to recognize the beauty we are about to behold. If we spend our time merely lamenting the bygone seasons, we will miss the unparalleled beauty of the “fresh fallen snow” that awaits us. Each breath we will take is filled with fresh air. Air that is clean and fills our lungs with important health benefits. Air that is good for our digestion. It improves our blood pressure and heart rate. It makes us happier and it strengthens our immune system. It even gives us more energy and sharper minds.1 If we embrace this new season and expose ourselves to its wholesomeness by living in the now, we will become healthier and much stronger. Just as seasons change in the year, so do they in our spiritual walk with Christ. What we perceive as the harshness of winter, our coldest season with its short days and long nights, will soon be acknowledged as a season of beauty and cleansing that alone pre-pared us for the Spring. 1goodrelaxation.com/2012/01/health-benefits-of-fresh air

Member Spotlight …   

 Shoneen  N. Brown, Member:  New St. Mark, Norfolk, VA

Join us as we welcome Shoneen Brown, our resident chef, who has joined our team of editorial professionals. Shoneen’s collaborative efforts with Tracy McClain bring to our Health & Wellness features insightful meal suggestions and tasty recipes, complete with preparation and useful storage information, that will enable our readers to make healthy choices supporting a healthy diet aimed to improve their quality of life. While sever-al of her recipes have been previously featured in NFCOGnews, we are delight-ed she is now a member of our team. She holds an A.A.S. in Culinary Arts from Johnson University, and a B.A A. in Tourism Hospitality & Hospitality Management (Norfolk State University); and is currently pursuing her M.A. in Human Services-Life Coaching at Regent University. Shoneen is the daughter of Pastor & Elder Terry (Sarah) Brown, Sr. and is faithfully engaged in the work of her church, NFCOG’s Uth4Christ, and serves on the NFCOG Praise Team.  NFCOG readers are in for a treat!

Shrimp Grits & Soul Food

Quotable Quotes…God’s Word Said It First

“You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of.”  Jim Rohn To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1 “Everything has seasons, and we have to be able to recognize when something’s time has passed and be able to move into the next sea-son. Everything that is alive requires pruning as well, which is a great metaphor for endings.” Henry Cloud “Time will pass and seasons will come and go.” Roy Bean For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.  Psalm 30:5 “I believe in process. I believe in four seasons. I believe that winter’s tough, but spring’s com-ing. I believe that there’s a growing season. And I think that you realize that in life, you grow. You get better.” Steve Southerland Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.  Psalm 27:14 “There are seasons in life. Don’t ever let any-one try to deny you the joy of one season be-cause they believe you should stay in another season… Listen to yourself. Trust your instincts. Keep your perspective.” Jane Clayson And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the Lord will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. Exodus 12:25

Vol. 15 Issue 2

A Prayer for my Ears, Heart, and Will. . .

“Lord, give us ears to hear, a heart to receive, and the will to obey”…

Listening to these words recently uttered in a united prayer, my heart was touched by this profound request of the Lord. It is not merely admirable that we as the children of God seek to walk in obedience to His Word, it is required.  Acknowledging our insufficiencies and inability to always hear and rightly discern God’s Word makes hearing with understanding of great importance. As children of God, our sensitivity to His subtle call and a clear understanding of what He requires is crucial to our survival. As such, it is incumbent that we are “willing” to obey. Hearing with understanding is of little value if a willingness of spirit is lacking as it will prevent us from walking in unity and obedience with God. Asking for supernatural help to rise above our human weakness is in order as our overcoming help truly comes from the Lord alone.

“Lord, give us ears to hear, a heart to receive, and the will to obey”…

Editor’s Corner

CHANGE

The events of this year have certainly presented many challenges for the Body of Christ.  Amid change, both anticipated and unexpected, the believer’s faith has been put to the test.  Trusting whole-heartedly in God has proven to be the required benchmark that alone enables one to declare themselves the victor. Assurance that Christ has given us power to deal with, and overcome, every adversity is a required staple in one’s spirit.  Certainly as the Lord has reminded His people, through a multitude of messages delivered this year alone, if the believer remains focused on “what the Lord requires” his/her stewardship becomes flooded with the necessary fruit of the spirit that tempers both our actions and reactions.

Perchance we have discovered through our experiences this year, that we are lacking in our serve. How encouraging is the knowledge that His mercies are renewed everyday. We are challenged to move forward from our yesterday and walk in the light of today’s knowledge of God. As we put on His strength, we mature into vessels of honor who are capable of yielding ourselves to the Master’s will.

While change around us is beyond our control, change within lies in the hands of every believer.

Happening in the Nation     

Recalling our Day of Assembly Message

The Pharisees approached Christ asking Him a most poignant question; “Master, which is the great commandment in the law” (St. Matthew 22:36)?  The question, although meant to tempt and discredit the teaching of our Lord and Savior, and His ensuing answer presents an action task that will require and necessitate a life time of effort and accountability for the people of God. Christ responding said “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” (St. Matthew 22:37-38). Similarly, loving God completely and totally is evidenced by loving our neighbor as ourselves (St. Matthew 22:39). Further, loving God with our total being is indeed the standard by which all true relationships are established and maintained.

We are required by God not to love in word or tongue but rather “in deed and in truth” (I John 3:18). Our commitment to the biblical model of love will breed a “hotbed” for church unity and growth, resulting in souls being saved and added to the kingdom of God. Is it any wonder why Christ requires us to love one another as He loved us, as this would be a beacon of true discipleship (St. John 13:34-35)?!

We are the Nation of NFCOG established by God to walk in righteousness and true holiness.

Member Spotlight . . .

Consecrated Mother Wilma Nance

Mother Wilma P. Nance was born on June 23, 1936 in Prince George County, Maryland. She was married to Forrest Nance, Sr. and raised four sons and one daughter. She has eleven grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.

Mother Nance is a graduate of Douglas High School in Prince George’s County. She worked for the federal government at the General Service Administration. She continued her education studying two years at Atlantic Business College and two years at Rappahannock Community College.  Mother Nance’s employ also included the King George School System working with special needs children.

Having surrendered her life completely to the Lord, she is saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. Mother Nance served faithfully with Saints In Christ (King George, VA). Since the founding of FAITH TEMPLE in 2013 (Warsaw, VA), she has been a faithful member and a true role model exemplifying Godly principles marked by holy living. Her service to the church includes working on the hospitality and culinary committees, aiding the building fund, as well as, maintaining the sanctuary. She oversees serving Holy Communion both locally and nationally. Mother Nance holds the distinction of becoming the first Consecrated Mother in the National Fellowship Churches of God. Mother Nance has been a mother to many and is always willing to do for others.

Vol. 14 Issue 3

Behold “The Great I AM”  

God, the Creator is full of Mercy, Faithful, and full of Wisdom. His Providential Care has no equal. He is Alpha and Omega. He is Holy and cannot change nor fail. He is omnipresent and is a God of wrath. He requires faithfulness and obedience to His Holy Word. Read more →