Musings with the Pastor.  A big “God Bless You” and congratulation goes out to President, Raymond Smith and all the dear members of the FMBC Choir.  What a wonderful time we had on Sunday, December 11, celebrating with the choir on FMBC Choir Annual Day.  We praise the Lord for the excellent work the choir does on a continuing basis.  They are indeed the personification of Psalm 145, a hymn to the Lord, the Great King, for His mighty acts and benevolent virtues, which are the glory of His Kingly rule.  Observe.  “I will extol thee, my God, O King;  And I will bless thy name forever and ever.  Every day will I bless thee:  And I will praise thy name for ever and ever.  Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.”  (verses 1-3)

 Thanks choir members for devotion to the Master.  (Food for Thought)  Have you noticed that on Valentine’s Day, there is no one or nothing that competes with Cupid for the focus on that day?  The same with the fourth of July.  The focus is on independence and the birth of this nation.  Labor Day, ditto.  No one or nothing competes with the acknowledgement of labor.  Why then is Christmas, the day that we celebrate His advent onto this people planet, linked to Santa Claus and crass commercialism and Easter Sunday, Resurrection Sunday, sharing the day with the Easter bunny?  It is not hard to see the hand of “that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan.”  His task is to deceive nations, but let me remind you, he is a defeated foe.  Keep your focus on Jesus, trite but true “HE is the reason for the season!”

 Be blessed in this holiday season.

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

COMMITMENT (capitalized for emphasis).  (N) a committing or being committed.  Commit, the root of the term here, implies the delivery of a person or thing into the charge or keeping of another.  As the people of God, we have determined that commitment must be demonstrated rather than simply verbalized.  As we enter into a new year, this is an excellent time for us to examine our commitment to Christ and to His Kingdom.

 Question.  Does Christ have the pre-eminence in your life?  (Remember, commitment must be demonstrated).  In the year 2017, I asking all members to commit to several Kingdom initiatives.

 Number One:  CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.  “That ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God”  (Colossians 1:9b-10).  Dear ones, we are asking YOU to commit to attending Sunday School, Teachers Meeting, and Bible Study.

 Number Two:  MISSION EVANGELISM.  “And ye shall be witnesses unto Me” (Acts 1:8).  Evangelize:  share your faith with the lost and souls are saved.  Develop a passion for lost souls.  Evangelism is the only way to make full proof of your ministry (2 Timothy 4:5).  May I remind you that the Mission is Evangelism.  Ladies, you are invited to attend the meetings of the Senior Mission and the Women In Action, and young people; the Starlight Mission, and become equipped for Evangelism.

 Number Three:  THE MINISTRY OF HELPS.  The Brotherhood, the Support Group and the Ushers.  If you are not actively involved in some facet of Kingdom work, let 2017 be the year of total commitment.  Remember, “it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2).

 See you at our weekly meetings.

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

Musings with the Pastor.  As we continue in this season of thanksgiving, it is this Pastor’s prayer that you indeed did take an introspective review of your “thanksgiving quotient.”  Even a cursory look into the Psalms reveals the imperative to “give thanks unto the Lord.”  Please take note:

 Psalm 105:1      “O give thanks unto the Lord; call  upon His name: make                                               known His deeds among His people.

 Psalm 106:1      “Praise ye the Lord, O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is                                            good:  For His mercy endureth forever.”

 Psalm 107:1      “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good:  For His                                                    mercy endureth forever.

 It is obvious that this is one who lives His life with thanksgiving and gratefulness.  It is this Pastor’s desire that every member of FMBC will exemplify the “Lifestyle of the Thankful and Grateful”

 Thankful:          Grateful acknowledgement of something received by or done                                    for.

 Grateful:           Thankful appreciation for benefits or favors received.

 May I remind you that:  “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights.”  (James 1:17)

 Be blessed as you continue in Him.

 Pastor J. Amos Jones