Dear Covenant Church Family:
Today was another great day at Covenant Church, with 37 members and friends in attendance. Please note that Covenant will celebrate Valentine’s Day next Sunday at 5 PM with a fish fry. All the food and drinks will be provided, the only thing we need is for you to attend!
We had a few prayer requests raised today. Frank Dolwick asked for continued prayers for Francis Bush, who is back in rehab at Oak Hammock; Francis will remain there for the immediate future. Frank also had a second request for Monica, the 56-year-old daughter of Frank’s best friend, Bill, growing up in Kentucky. Frank asked for prayers for their family. Larry Noegel asked for prayers for the family of his friend Bob Henley, who died recently.
We also had two praise requests. Helen Ann Noegel shared that Carolyn Vlacos is doing well in Georgia where she now lives with her daughter, and she plans to be here next Sunday for our Valentine’s Day celebration. Ron Marks also had a praise for the Disney cruise he and Cindy were able to take last week with their daughter and two granddaughters; it was a fun and happy trip for all of us.
Pastor Don’s sermon today focused on whether we need to focus on pleasing God or man. His scripture was:
Galatians 1:10 – For am I now seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Pastor Don began by stating that you can never please all the people all of the time. Trying to please people will box you in, so we need to please God. We try our best to keep the peace with people, so we are quiet when we need to speak up. The reality is that we have an audience of one, and that is God.
He then shared the following scripture:
John 5:44 – How can you believe, when you accept glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?
Pastor Don then concluded with the following scripture:
Matthew 25:23 – His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’.
If you would like to listen to this sermon, all recorded sermons can be accessed at https://gainesvillecovenantchurch.org/ and then choose Sermons on the home page, and then choose today’s message.
I wish you all a most blessed week! Hoping to see you at Covenant next Sunday at 5 PM for the fish fry!
Ron