“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

It’s hard to believe that almost a month ago our elders (Mike Pawlik and Robert Vaughn) stood before us and talked about a FRESH NEW START as we began a new page in our history as the Fulshear Church of Christ.

Our average attendance on Sunday morning jumped up last month (6 week average of 116). Last week was an exception (holiday weekend) with an attendance of 95 for our Sunday morning worship  (previous 5 week average was 121) with 37 of our regular attendees not present. The end of January and most of February was definitely an exciting month for members and visitors coming to Fulshear to worship the Lord.

Last week was also our first SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION for 2019. The REGULAR contribution combined with the SPECIAL contribution was almost $23,000 for the total. What an amazing display of faith for our future plans. Your support for this Fresh New Start was expressed and very exciting.

The FIRST rendering of our brand new facility was presented which was the culmination of years of prayer, planning, vision, and hard work. A Fresh New Start with the anticipation of a brand new facility for our Fulshear Family was definitely momentum building.

Last week also brought us NEW FAMILY MEMBERS and BAPTISMS. Jason and Jill Martignoni were baptized into Christ for forgiveness of their sins last Sunday afternoon. They are a wonderful couple with open hearts and a sincere faith. And on Wednesday night close to midnight Steven Miedke was baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of his sins. He too has an amazing love for the Lord.

We are excited to welcome our new family members with open arms into our Fulshear Family.  This Fresh New Start has been a massive blessing to our wonderful family. We praise God for the providing this major increase and look forward with eager anticipation of what He will do in the future. Our cup is truly running over!

We shouldn’t be surprised by all of these beautiful blessings with this Fresh New Start because we serve a God who can do the impossible.  Loving These Good Times And This Fresh New Start!!   Always Remember  —  A HEALTHY BODY GROWS (Ephesians 4:15-16).

Immeasurably more. Those two words are packed with incredible POWER and POTENTIAL.   Notice how the apostle Paul

describes the POWER and POTENTIAL of our God to do Immeasurably More. He said God “...is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20).

 First, understand that God is able to DO whatever He wants.  Do You remember in Matthew 3:9, when John the Immerser said to the Pharisees, “that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones?  This is not just a cute saying but rather a massive truth about the POWER of God who actually created a beautiful world and even life itself. Certainly our creator has enough power to transcend a human mind that He created.  This amazing God has the POWER to destroy both body and soul because He is able to not only give life but also take it away (Matthew 10:28).  This amazing Creator is able to protect and keep that which belongs to Him (John 10:29).  Our Magnificent God is also able to provide for us a glorious inheritance (Acts 20:32).  God is able to sufficiently give us the grace needed and supply us with the ability to do the work He has in store for us in Fulshear (1 Corinthians 9:8).  Thank God that He more importantly able to SAVE our souls (James 1:21).

 Second, consider that God has the POWER to go above and beyond. Paul uses words like EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY, or Immeasurably MORE which promote the idea that God is not bound by natural parameters or boundaries. We would say that God is LIMITLESS in what He can do!  Would there be a point during the creation of the world where you would say, “God, have you thought this through because you can’t do this or that idea or thing is above your measure of doing? NO!!  Because God can by His POWER do more!! 

 Finally, notice that Paul tells the church in Ephesus that God is actually working in and through them to accomplish His will. What were the Christians at Ephesus capable of doing?  Immeasurably More!  Why? Because God was working in them and there are no limitations with God and there is no need to limit a LIMITLESS GOD. The effects of their works touch our lives even today in 2019 in the great state of Texas!!  How amazing is that? They never dreamed in their wildest imaginations of a place called Fulshear, Texas and that their work would touch us.

 What is the takeaway for us?  God is able to do Immeasurably More (an amount not measured by human standards) to work in us (beyond our human limitations) an amazing work that will cause the city of Fulshear to stop, take notice, and glorify our Great God.  Don’t limit God’s ability to go beyond our wildest dreams. Dream BIG for God to shake this place and turn it upside down. Let’s get to work doing this amazing thing for Him because He has already placed the POTENTIAL in every one of us to do IMMEASURABLY MORE!  

Do you remember the heart necklace that is made up of two separate pieces that fit together and worn by those in love?  Maybe you gave one or received one that represents a commitment that binds two hearts so they beat as one. ‘

God created His own necklace that adorns His graceful neck and is shared with those who obediently respond to His Son.

Grace and Mercy are two sides that make up a complete HEART for the HEART NECKLACE that is made possible by Jesus Christ our Savior.   God says, “I LOVE YOU!” with this beautiful necklace.

Grace is receiving what we do not deserve. Mercy is not receiving what we deserve. These compliment one another to give us the greatest love ever known, SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST!!  

[4] But God, who is rich in MERCY, because of His GREAT LOVE with which He loved us, [5] even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by GRACE you have been saved), [6] and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of ayourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, lest anyone should boast. [10] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  - Ephesians 2:4-10

Change can be great for some and difficult for others.  Change should never come at the expense of ignoring scripture and never be embraced when it does.  Change can be exciting when it is cast alongside of vision, provides clear direction, reflects a desired outcome, and is in keeping with the wonderful will of God.

 Thinking back to name changes in the scriptures, they appear to be connected to a personality, characteristic trait, or obvious conclusion based on proper reasoning and facts.  God changed Abram to Abraham because God had BIG plans and He wanted the new name to reflect His plans (Genesis 17:5). Jesus decided to give James and John a name change to “Boanerges” because it appears the name was descriptive of their personalities, “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17).  It was Jacob who renamed his son Ben-Oni (son of my trouble) to Benjamin (son of my right hand) for personal reasons as found in Genesis 35:18. The apostles called a Christian servant named Joseph by a new name descriptive of his character, Barnabas, “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36).  Saul (a Hebrew name) of Tarsus is also called Paul (a Latin name) (Acts 13:9). I assume Saul is called Paul in Gentile circles because he was specifically called by God to minister to the Gentiles (Romans 15:16). There are many more name changes in the scriptures but one of the more prominent ones is when Jesus changes the name of Simon (Hebrew) to Cephas (Aramaic)/Peter (Greek) as found in John 1:42.  

 We recently experienced a name change.  Understand it is only a location name change.  We will always keep the designation Church of Christ!  We are connected to that name (Church of Christ) by blood (Acts 4:12, 20:28).  A name that we are honored to be called. However, changing our location name from Westpark to Fulshear is a positive change with the excitement of building our future home in the city of Fulshear for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this place.  A name we proudly embrace and accept! Fulshear Church of Christ, now that’s nice!

I find it interesting at times I will search high and low to find scriptures that justify my condemning comments,
actions, attitude, or ways toward others. I will say things like, "Well, Jesus cleansed the temple didn’t He?" or "He
told them like it was!" and then I sit back and feel good about myself. I will even pat my own back or some brother
or sister will pat my back and say "tell ‘em brother!"

I must remember that I am not Jesus! I was called to be a blessing to others. The words of Peter ring in my ears,
"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be
courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary {BLESSING, KNOWING THAT YOU
WERE CALLED TO THIS, THAT YOU MAY INHERIT A BLESSING.} For "He who would love life And see good days, Let
him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let
him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their
prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil." 1 Peter 3:8-12.

I woefully forget that Jesus knew what was in a person's heart (an ability that I do not possess) and how to
handle the situation gracefully. He even spoke words like, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they
do." Luke 23:34. Even when they did awful things to Him and didn't ask Him for forgiveness, and He still offered it
with no condemnation! That’s Amazing Grace!! Something I must learn.

Jesus seemed to be aggravated mostly with the religious folks of His day and mainly because of their actions
toward the people of their day. The very people He came to save! Is it possible that is why He said, "Not everyone
who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in
heaven. Matthew 7:21. I wonder if I am that person at times?

I think I forget words like those spoken by or Lord, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:17.

I’m going to work harder to be tactful, gracious, and kind in my words, and actions. I will also do what I can to
bring them to Jesus, the Savior of the world.