But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. – 1 John 3:17-18

As the new year begins, GFIC Jesus prepares for another year of reaching out to the community, both locally as well as internationally. The team leaders get together monthly and share the many great ideas they hear from the congregation. We encourage everyone who has an idea to bring it forward, so we can determine if we can make it happen.

Would you like to share some of your ideas? What would you do to reach out and help someone? Please come join our congregation and share your ideas and your love for our beloved Lord and Savior! Everyone is welcome!

GFIC Jesus has many gifted and talented people in our congregation. We have singers, greeters, cooks, and security, just to name a few! We are reaching out to children and adults who are gifted in playing any type of musical instrument, or have any other gift they would like to share.

AS GFIC Jesus continues to grow, we would like to include you in our ministry. Do you have a gift or a talent you’d like to share? If so, give us a call, or join us for any of our regular worship sessions or special events. Don’t be shy! Step out and let your light shine! We would love to have you.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing! – Psalm 100:1-2

The Bible tells us God loves for his children to come before Him with thanksgiving and praise. God loves to hear us lift our voices to glorify Him! This Christmas season, the GFIC Jesus Choir will be performing “A Night to Remember.” Join us on December 11th at 7:30 pm, as we celebrate our beloved Lord and Savior.

On this special evening, we will open our house of worship and welcome everyone to join our congregation for this wonderful night of praise and celebration. Be sure to mark your calendar and join us!

Everyone is welcome!

GFIC Jesus Holiday Agreement

Not so long ago I spoke to you about the importance of love for one another, and more specifically, how God created us out of love, and OUR actions towards one another should emulate HIS love for each and every one of us.

Well, the season is upon us, and that means it’s just the beginning of all the holiday parties and family gatherings to come…

Unfortunately, most people find that what should be a time of joy and relaxation, turns into a long month of frustration and stress. And it’s no wonder, with all the extra activities and commitments interrupting our everyday lives and routines—when the word “miraculous” only comes to mind when we think about surviving the next couple weeks of December, the traffic, the lines, the rude clerk, that infuriating shopping cart and its broken wheel, the family feud of “who gets to host what party, where,” etc., etc., etc.

Grace Fellowship In Christ Jesus invites you to join us in this year’s holiday challenge!

This year we are going to be intentionally and purposefully practicing Dr. Kent M. Keith’s Paradoxical Commandments. Let’s see what kind of difference being an example of Christ will make – in both our own life, and the lives of others. I truly believe that it’s going to work so well, you’ll bring it along with you right into New Year!

The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

So what do you say… up for the challenge?

I knew you would be! Print a couple copies of this—hang it on your bathroom mirror and look at it when you get ready in the morning. Keep another copy in your purse or wallet. Have a spare by the bed or in the car… The important part is to read it often enough that you’re confident in how to react when He gives you the opportunity to be His vessel. As followers of Christ, it is up to us to share this message—not through words, but by becoming a living testimony of the loving God we serve.

Remember, we’re in this together so if you need some extra support (and I’m not talking about Aunt Edith’s eggnog…) just send me an email at [email protected] or give us a call 214.498.3692

Everyone is welcome,

Pastor Tony Hoult

The GFIC Jesus choir comes together as one voice for the Lord. Our choir has practiced on numerous occasions for the congregation and most importantly for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As they sing together, the sounds their voices create join in harmony to share the beauty they each have in the Lord.

The GFIC Jesus Choir will be performing its Christmas concert in December, so stay tuned for the dates and details and plan to join us for a joyful celebration!

You can experience the beautiful music by joining our regular church choir in early 2016. The love you feel in the choir will amaze you. Everyone is welcome!

Fall is in the air and that means we are gearing up for our Fall Festival. So get ready to come out and join the fun and festivities!

The event will be October 20th from 6pm to 9pm, on the church parking lot at 411 S Westmoreland Rd, Oak Cliff. We will have a bounce house, popcorn machine, hot dogs, cotton candy, cake walk…just to name a few of the activities. We are also inviting the Fire Department.

This is a great event, so don’t miss out on the fun and fellowship!

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;
there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.
There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. – Revelations 21:4

Depression. I have dealt with it on many levels—I’ve experienced it personally throughout my life, I’ve watched it encroach upon the lives of family members, friends, and many members of my congregation.

With September being Suicide Awareness month I believe it is important that we as a church start tackling this big and tough topic and start taking a closer look at something most everyone has struggled with: hopelessness.

Hopelessness is one of the single, most powerful clinical predictors of suicide. You see, most people who commit suicide don’t really want to die, they just want to stop hurting. Hopelessness can leave even the strongest person feeling as if there is no way out, that there is far too much damage to ever be repaired, that death is truly their only means of escape.

I want to challenge my congregation: let’s stand together and fight against hopelessness. We can revive the Spirit of hope within ourselves and our community by uniting as messengers of the Lord and spreading His promises of a better tomorrow.

I want to challenge my congregation: let’s stand together and fight against hopelessness. We can revive the Spirit of hope within ourselves and our community by uniting as messengers of the Lord and spreading His promises of a better tomorrow.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
– 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

If you think a friend or family member is considering suicide, you might feel uncomfortable bringing up the subject, but talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life. If you’re struggling with depression don’t let shame or pride keep you from reaching out to the people who love you. And remember, the feelings of hopelessness do not last forever, even when you cannot see hope, God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope.
For who hopes for what he sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. – Romans 8:24-25

There should be no shame or blame when we talk about depression and thoughts of suicide. Give yourself and the people in your life the gift of unconditional love, just as our Father has. I leave you with one more Scripture, and it is my prayer for you.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. – Romans 15:13

✦ A Special Note from Pastor Tony ✦

Did you know that over 30,000 people a year commit suicide in the United States alone, and there are 25 attempts at suicide for every one success? Up to 80% of people who have struggled with depression and suicidal ideation in the past were not being treated for their psychiatric condition near the time of their death by suicide. If you suffer from depression and past suicidal thoughts or attempts, it is critical that you seek out care from a mental health professional. Please contact us at 214-498-3692 for additional resources and support. If you are currently thinking about committing suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (open 24 hours a day) at 1-800-273-TALK

Everyone is welcome,

Pastor Tony Hoult

The Power of I Am

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
– Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Your mortal mind and existing perceptions can be the biggest roadblock standing between where you are and where God has preordained you to be. Last month I talked about having to “let go and let God” in order to receive the righteous plan He has for you. But giving God control doesn’t mean you just sit back and do nothing! In fact, you play a very important role in bringing His plans into fruition.

Right now you’re using your conscious mind to read these words and absorb their meaning, but beneath that mental focus, your subconscious mind is busily working behind the scenes, absorbing or rejecting information based on the perceptions you have of the world around you. When you have an experience that conflicts with an already established belief, your subconscious mind will either reject it or reframe it so it goes along with your existing view of reality.

This means that your mind will work against God’s promises of prosperity, health, and joy if they are not in alignment with your preconceived beliefs.

Your subconscious mind has immense power in controlling your life experiences: from the types of food you eat to the actions you take each day, the level of income you earn, and even how you react to stressful situations. Every time someone called you stupid, worthless, slow, lazy, or worse, your subconscious mind just stored the information away for reference. You may also have received messages about your potential in life or limitations based on your physical abilities, skin color, gender, etc. The good news is that God is more powerful than man (and mind). He has chosen you, not according to good or bad works, not according to your circumstances, not according to where you are in life right now, but according to His own purpose.

Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'”
– Exodus 3:13-14

God is I AM THAT I AM. You are created in His image and you are I AM. You help shape your destiny by the things which you attach to that I AM. When you say “I AM,” you are announcing the presence of God within you.

Start Today

• Begin proclaiming your birthrights as a child of Christ, following your “I AM” with God’s promises. This is such a crucial step in breaking through those mental roadblocks that are keeping you from living the life God intends you to have!
• Word your proclamations in the present tense. Say “I AM confident and successful” rather than “I will be confident and successful” because focusing on a future condition does not compute with your subconscious mind – it knows only this moment. Also, use positive statements (saying “I am not a failure” is processed as “I am a failure” since your subconscious cannot process negatives).
• Call up the corresponding feelings. Saying “I am wealthy” while feeling poor only sends conflicting messages to your subconscious. Whatever words you’re saying at the time, strive to feel the corresponding emotions because your subconscious will be more apt to believe it.

Battling against the flesh can be challenging sometimes, but remember what the Bible tells us in John 4:4, Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world. Amen!

Everyone is welcome,

Pastor Tony Hoult

Yes, Even You….

God’s love for us is so great, that while we were yet sinners, He went out of His way and sent His only Son to save us.

There’s not much to debate when it comes to the underlying message of God’s Word. The Greek word Agape is used in the Bible to express the love that God has for us. It is the ultimate and most self-sacrificing love that there is. Agape is what was displayed on the cross by Jesus Christ. In John 3:16 it is written that “God so loved (agapao) the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” You see, God sent Jesus, not to condemn you for your sin, but to save you—His beloved and precious child.

When Jesus came to us, He sought out all people. Good or bad, He went out to all places and never turned anyone away. When He walked this earth, He did so with everyday people. Sinners, the helpless, the harassed and the rejected all found comfort in the compassion of Christ.

Jesus came to earth and lived in a human body just like you do. He understands you. He knows the pressure, the pain and the temptations you face everyday. He hears your cries and pities and every one of your groans. Even in the midst of despair, God is with you. Even when the world isn’t loving you, Jesus is still loving you!

You don’t have to clean up your life before seeking out the Lord. He wants to meet you where you’re at. Our Father goes out of His way to pick you up, (regardless of where you’re at) and guide you to the life He intended you to have. If you’re waiting for acceptance, forgiveness and understanding – you’re waiting for something you already have. He’s already died for your sins. He loved you before, He loves you now and forever. But it’s up to you to let Him in!

Once you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are a new creation in Christ! Jesus has given those who believe in Him the Holy Spirit, who enables us to be constantly changing into His image. Who cares who accepts you or rejects you if it’s not Jesus? Stop putting your faith in people, and begin putting it into the One who loved you first. Remember what He is doing in you – cleansing you, refining you, healing you, and above all, loving you.