Time of Dedication

Yesterday was Dedication Sunday for our new sanctuary and offices. We celebrated a beautiful Sunday service with guest speaker District Superintendent, Bro. Terry & Athena Raburn. I love to hear Bro. Terry share. He is truly a gifted and humorous communicator.

We were honored to have our very own North Port City Commissioners come out to support us on our special day. They all sat front and center in specially reserved seating. I have to say during our praise & worship I felt a bit intimidated because they were in my view from where I sit on stage and play piano but Bro. Terry broke the ice with a joke and seemed to make our guest feel comfortable. And of course we recognized them and thanked them for coming to our building dedication.

Bro. Terry shared that the Assemblies of God is a Pentecostal denomination. I'm not sure if our Commissioners have ever attended a Pentecostal church service before. After the service was over I greeted our special guests. One told me he enjoyed the service and will come back and check us out again. I believe the Holy Spirit ministered to him as his eyes looked a bit watery. He said he was from a Presbyterian background.

The presence of the Lord was real inspite of my intimidations or reservations. He showed up and ministered to our guests.

My husband shared with the Commissioners how we as a church congregation prayed for them and realized that their jobs were not easy. I believe that statement touched them. Our dedication service was special and something to be remembered.

God Bless You!

Dear Ladies:

My Pastor's wife friend, Kristy Dykes who serves with her husband Milton in Jacksonville, Florida was diagnosed with brain cancer in November of last year.

Her blog is a link to this blog for Section 13. Their entry for today, Wednesday, April 16th is titled, "God Bless You" it is so precious! It shows video of Kristy and her husband sharing with us.

Their love for the Lord and each other is evident. I want to encourage you read it daily and pray for them. They are believing for God to intervene in her behalf.

They will encourage you in as they walk with the Lord in the good times as well in the bad.

Be Blessed!

LaDonna

Post-Times of Refreshing

It's hard to believe Times of Refreshing has come and gone so quickly! It seems we were just planning for this event and now it's over. Kellie Williams, our guest speaker, a cute little petite blond-haired woman with pizazz (and a little bling) not only spoke but the girl preached! Kellie spoke about "Living with Passion on Purpose." The thing that stuck out most to me about what she said was spurring one another to act. We are to urge and encourage one another in the Lord. Kellie said when she and her family moved back to Florida from Michigan her husband was finishing his education and neither were bringing in a paycheck. They had some money in savings to live off. In not having any income for a little while the money kept going out and not being replenished. They bought a fixer-upper home and were working in the yard one day when her husband said that their next project was to do yard work and paint the home of a family at church and they were going to pay for it too. Kellie said she about had a fit because they hardly had enough money themselves. But they did it anyway. God did provide for them but it was hard for her to do that. Later on she felt good about helping the family. The daughter has an illness and is in constant pain that doctors cannot do anything to relieve. It's kind of like the movie Pay It Forward. We are to spur one another to bless others and not only bless others but to be looking for opportunities to bless others.
Also, the story stuck out to me because the current economy is not that great. My daughters, after 4 MONTHS of graduating college are STILL looking for jobs--no, not just a job--ANY job. Boy could my girls and I relate to that story she shared. But we are still plugging along, trusting God, and blessing others in the ways we can (time, energy, and talents).

Overall, the day was great. I am very pleased with every detail of the conference. Thank you for coming!

Don't Miss Out on Your Blessing!!

Times of Refreshing is quickly approaching!

If you have not yet signed up I urge you to do so immediately!

We have been working and praying hard to present to all the women within Section 13 AG churches a one-day retreat where you can come and experience God and be renewed by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 3:19) Our guest speaker, Kellie Williams, comes to us from First Assembly Ministries in Fort Myers. She will be sharing with you about how she daily lives with passion on purpose. To get a sneak peak of what Kellie is all about check out her website here.

If you have NOT YET registered but DO want to COME, send me an email at LaDonna at GulfCoastAG dot Com. (Typed this way to deject spammers.)

Cost is $15 in advance (deadline extended to Monday, April 7) and $20 at the door. Please refer to the poster (above) for more information.

I hope to hear from all of you and see you all at

Times of Refreshing!

"So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord. . . "

Acts 3:19