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open-anim Did you hear about the farmer who grew discontent with his farm so he decided to sell it?

A few days later his real estate agent phoned wanting approval for an advertisement she intended to place in the local newspaper. She read it to the farmer. It described a lovely farm in an ideal location – quiet and peaceful, contoured with rolling hills, nourished by a fresh lake and blessed with well-bred livestock.

The farmer said, "Read that to me again." After hearing it a second time he said, "I've changed my mind. I'm not selling. I've been looking for a place like that all my life."

Paul would have applauded that farmer. He learned the same lesson – "I have learned in whatever state I am to be content."

Before you change your job title, examine your perspective toward life. Success is not defined by position or pay scale. Proverbs 15:16 says it is "...better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure turmoil."

Wise up! It's better to be married to a happy person with a thin wallet than to a miserable person with a thick one.

Pursue the virtue of contentment. In 1 Timothy 6:6, the Bible tells us "Godliness with contentment is great gain." When choosing or changing job or ministry, be careful. Consult God! Never consult your greed!

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 9.30. Live for God, on purpose, knowing that He supplies all that you need according to His riches in glory!

Fearful or Faithful

Sunday morning church services have often been referred to as a “gathering of the faithful.” This may be true, for its easy to be faithful – filled with faith – when you are in the company of others who are worshipping the Lord and hearing the preaching of God’s Word.

But, it’s not simply on Sunday morning that we need to be faith-filled people! It needs to be a “24-7” experience!

The apostles walked with Jesus, ministered with Jesus, and saw Jesus perform miracle after miracle. Yet, in Matthew 8, we see these men, who had previously been professional sea-going fishermen, caught in a raging storm. These experienced sailors became filled with fear. And, on top of that – Jesus was in the boat with them! They cry out to Jesus, saying, “Lord, save us! We're going to drown!” What is Jesus‘ reply to these “men of faith”? He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”

It’s easy for us to read and shake our heads at the fearfulness of these men. But, the truth of the matter is, we do this same thing all too often. Jesus has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Yet, when we are faced with a moment of crisis, our faithfulness quickly turns to fearfulness.

Why does this happen? Why are we so quickly filled with fear? And, perhaps more importantly, what can we do to stop being fearful and living more by faith?

We will be sharing answers to those very questions this Sunday here at WFA! You won’t want to miss this week’s message, “Fearful or Faithful.”

leader The Healthy Pastoral Leader

In his research of leaders, both historical and contemporary, author Robert Clinton found that few leaders actually finish the race well. His two books, The Making of a Leader (NavPress) and The Mentor Handbook (Barnabas), explain that finishing well could be defined as a life that until its end is increasingly more in love with Christ, more committed to His service and more devoted to godly leadership.

What causes a leader to continue to grow, to stay on track and to finish well in life and ministry?

Five Habits of effectiveness. Effective leaders learn to become intentional about their character growth and formation. In this development of a leader we can make three general observations:

• God develops a leader over a lifetime;

• God uses people, circumstances and ministry assignments to shape the life of a leader; and

• Leadership plateau is often indicative of a growth issue within a leader's life.

To help us become more intentional about our health as leaders, let's explore five insights from leaders who have finished well.

1. Healthy leaders are lifelong learners. Leaders pursue three types of training: personal training, (personal growth, projects, personal research); informal training (workshops, seminars, conferences); and formal training (continuing education, degree programs).

2. Healthy leaders are committed to serve and develop others. Be alert to potential leaders in your sphere of influence (2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:2).

3. Healthy leaders have a dynamic view of life and ministry. There are three key elements to a personal mission statement – biblical purpose, values and vision.

4. Healthy leaders experience repeated times of renewal. Effective, godly leaders develop intimacy with God, which in turn overflows into all areas of their ministry. The essential ingredient of leadership is the powerful presence of God in a leader's life and ministry. Leaders incorporate the spiritual disciplines into their walk.

5. Healthy leaders have a life perspective. God brings along many destiny experiences to shape a leader's ministry. Leaders manifest a growing awareness of their sense of destiny.

count Count to Eight

by Max Lucado

“We have here only five loaves and two fish.” (Matthew 14:17)

How do you suppose Jesus felt about the basket inventory? Any chance he might have wanted them to include the rest of the possibilities? Involve all the options? Do you think he was hoping someone might count to eight?

“Well, let’s see. We have five loaves, two fish...and Jesus!” Jesus Christ. The same Jesus who told us: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Luke 11:19) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. (John 15:7 NIV) What ever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24)

Standing next to the disciples was the solution to their problems...but they didn’t go to him. They stopped their count at seven and worried.

What about you? Are you counting to seven, or to eight? Here are eight worry stoppers to expand your tally:

1. Pray, first. “Cast all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns on Him...(I Peter 5:7)

2. Easy now. Slow down. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him (Ps. 37:7).

3. Act on it. The moment a concern surfaces, deal with it. Don’t dwell on it. Head off worries before they get the best of you. Be a doer, not a stewer.

4. Compile a worry list. Over a period of days record your anxious thoughts. Then review them. How many of them turned into a reality?

5. Evaluate your worry categories. Detect recurring areas of preoccupation that may become obsessions. Pray specifically about them.

6. Focus on today. God meets daily needs daily. He will give you what you need when it is needed.

7. Unleash a worry army. Share your feelings with a few loved ones. Ask them to pray with and for you.

8. Let God be enough. “Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:32-33).

Eight steps...

Pray, first.
Easy, now.
Act on it.
Compile a worry list.
Evaluate your worry categories.
Focus on today.
Unleash a worry army.
Let God be enough.

P-E-A-C-E-F-U-L

from Max Lucado’s book, “Fearless,” Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2009, www.maxlucado.com

better It Will Be Better Higher Up

The American evangelist Dwight L. Moody told the story about a Christian woman who was always bright, cheerful and optimistic, even though she was confined to her room because of her illness. She lived in an attic apartment on the fifth floor of an old, rundown building. A friend decided to visit her one day and brought along another woman – a person of great wealth. Since there was no elevator, the two ladies began the long climb upward. When they reached the second floor, the well-to-do woman commented, "What a dark and filthy place!" Her friend replied, "It's better higher up."

When they arrived at the third landing, the remark was made: "Things look even worse here." Again the reply: "It's better higher up." Finally they reached the attic level, where they found the bedridden saint of God. A smile on her face radiated the joy that filled her heart.

Although the room was clean and flowers were on the windowsill, the wealthy visitor could not contain herself about the stark surroundings and blurted out: "It must be very difficult for you to be here like this!" Without a moment's hesitation the shut-in responded, "It will be better higher up." She was not looking at temporal things. With the eyes of faith fixed on the eternal, she had found the secret of true satisfaction and contentment. She had been transformed because of what she knew was yet to come.

thats-god That’s God!

Have you ever been down and out and nobody seems to be around for you to talk to...THAT'S GOD...he wants you to talk to him.

Have you ever been just sitting there and all of a sudden you feel like doing something nice for someone you care for...THAT'S GOD...he talks to you through the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever been thinking about somebody that you haven't seen in a long time and then next thing you know you see them or receive a phone call from them...THAT'S GOD...there is no such thing as "coincidence."

Have you ever received something wonderful that you didn't even ask for, like money in the mail, a debt that had mysteriously been cleared, or a coupon to a department store where you had just seen something you wanted, but couldn't afford...THAT'S GOD...he knows the desires of your heart...

Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it is going to get better, but now you look back on it...THAT'S GOD... he passes us through tribulation to see a brighter day...

The Wonderful
English Language

We’ll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes;
but the plural of ox became oxen not oxes.
One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,
yet the plural of moose should never be meese.

You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice;
yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.
If the plural of man is always called men,
why shouldn’t the plural of pan be called pen?

If I spoke of my foot and show you my feet,
and I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?
If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
why shouldn’t the plural of booth be called beeth?

Then one may be that, and three would be those,
yet hat in the plural would never be hose,
and the plural of cat is cats, not cose.

We speak of a brother and also of brethren,
but though we say mother, we never say methren.
Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him,
but imagine the feminine, she, shis and shim.

spoon The Last Impression

One day during her cooking class, the teacher, Mrs. Jones, was extolling her secrets for preparing perfect sauces.

When she ordered the students to the stoves to prepare their assignments, she said, "Don't forget to use wooden spoons."

As one student stirred her sauce, she contemplated the physics behind the mystery of the wooden spoon and decided it must have something to do with heat conduction. She approached Mrs. Jones to test her theory. "Why wooden spoons?" she asked.

"Because," Mrs. Jones replied, "if I have to sit here listening to all your metal spoons banging against metal pots, I'd go nuts."

There will be no metal pots and pans to hear this Sunday at WFA, but you will hear the sound of our dynamic Praise Team as they lead us in worship. And, you will hear the preaching of the Word of God, which will strengthen you in your life. And you will hear the encouraging words of welcome and fellowship from all the others who will be glad to see you joining with them for church! Hope to see you Sunday!