The Branch
NewsLETTER
“I am the vine, you are the branches” John 15:5
A Monthly Publication of Live Oak First Baptist Church
Phone # 210-656-8200 FAX # 210-656-0848
Web Site: http://www.liveoakfbc.org
https://www.facebook.com/LiveOakFirstBaptistChurch
Volume 22
Donald Valenta, Pastor
Paul Reavis, Minister of Music & Education
Rachel Dorchester, Secretary
January 2016
Number 1
From Our Pastor
I challenge Live Oak First Baptist Church to
be God’s possibility people as we enter the
new year of 2016. The right word at the
right time holds the potential to stimulate
change. Possibility is an appropriate and
timely term whose time has come. Now is
the time for the church to become God’s
possibility people. Jesus stated that “all
things are possible to him that believeth”
(Mark 9:23). The scripture also affirms that
“with God all things are possible” (Matthew
19:26) and also that “with God nothing shall
be impossible” (Luke 1:37). God’s possibility people must have faith in God who does
the impossible.
Caleb is an example of a possibility person.
In Numbers 14:24, God affirms that his
spirit was different and that he “fully
followed the Lord”. In the example of
Caleb, we discover the nature of a
possibility person. A possibility person is
well-informed, has a definite direction, lives
expectantly and cooperates with God. We
see these attributes in Caleb as “he quieted
the people” and spoke with confidence and
faith in God about how Israel could possess
the land and overcome all obstacles as they
“fully followed the Lord” into the unknown
future.
We face similar challenges as Caleb and
Israel encountered in embracing an unknown future. Many times such things as
timidity, misplaced priorities, and false
assumptions limit our commitment to Christ
and muddle our vision of God and His will
for our lives. We need possibility people
who are well informed of God’s Word as
well as our circumstances which can give us
a definite direction and purpose in finding
God’s will. Possibility people must have
faith in God and live expecting to overcome
all obstacles. Finally, possibility people
cooperate with God as they surrender to
God’s will with faith and obedience.
Will you be God’s possibility person this
year? Your future is safe and secure when
your faith is in the living Lord Jesus Christ
and the God who does the impossible. I am
committed to follow the Lord and anticipating the impossible with God.
Your Pastor,
Brother Donald
From Our Minister of
Music & Education
Several phrases are common at this time of
the year, like, “Wow, another year has come
and gone” or “where did the year go?” or
“the year just flew by” and many others.
Most of us have those thoughts as we go
into 2016. Before we leave 2015, take a
moment and recall the good things that
happened and the things you accomplished
and be thankful. Think of God’s blessings
He gave you.
For this new year. take Ken Bean’s advice
and read the Bible through. There are several suggested ways to do this. The easiest
to find is in “Our Daily Bread.” By the time
you read this, you are behind, so catch up
and make it a part of your daily routine.
I am grateful for your prayers for Marguerite. She is nearing the end of her chemo
treatments and the bad numbers have
decreased. Your support has made this
ordeal easier for us.
Moving through this new year, look for
ways to serve our Lord. We have already
mentioned how quickly time flies, so be
thinking about Vacation Bible School in
June! Visit a neighbor and invite them to
Sunday School.
My prayer for you is that God will bless you
greatly in 2016 as you seek His will in every
thing.
Paul
5
6
8
13
16
16
Freddie Simmons
James Alexander
Rick White
Kim Cox
Mary Lynn Lewis
Grace Baker
17
22
25
30
30
31
Marie Atkinson
Harold Bunn
Joe Ector
Linda Stewart
Kendall Burnett
Terry Conner
**********************
Women's Ministry Meeting
January 21
Thursday, 6:30 pm
Fellowship Hall
Denying Self – Cultivate Vision
Jesus saw those around Him as a
field ready for harvest, needing only
the laborers to bring in the lost
people of the world. Although we
give money so that others may go,
we believe there’s something more.
How can we cultivate a vision to see
that the harvest is ready all around
us?
Join us for Bible study, dinner, and
fellowship with your sisters in
Christ. Check in the foyer for the
menu and sign up sheet to help with
food for the meal.
**********************
Men’s Prayer Breakfast
At Picosito’s on January 9th & 23rd
Saturday at 8:00 am
Lively Oaks Meeting
January 14th
at 11:30 a.m.
Papa Dante’s
For ages 50+
Join us for our lunch at Papa
Dante’s. We will carpool from the
church at 11:30 a.m.
**********************
New Address or
Phone Number?
Have you moved in the past year or
have a new phone number? If you
have not let the office know, please
contact Rachel at 656-8200 or email
rdorch@sbcglobal.net and let us
know of the changes.
**********************
Deacon of the Week
January 3
January 10
January 17
January 24
January 31
Don Stewart
Donnie Cox
Danny O’Neil
Mario Ward
Ken Bean
**********************
Invite a
Neighbor
to Bible Study
and Church