Stress Free Living

It’s the time of year again that we’ve launched into the Christmas season full steam ahead. For children, thoughts are on candy, presents, and being out of school for a few weeks. For some parents and adults, it can be a time that adds more stress to an already busy and full life. How will you manage all the extra parties? How will you pay for the gifts?

Is it possible that part of our problem around the holidays is that we are trying to cram a year’s worth of love, celebrating, remembering, etc., into a mere month? God has called us not just to celebrate the life of Jesus, be generous, or spend time with family and friends for one month in December. Rather, he wants us to celebrate Jesus and be kind, the other eleven months of the year, as well.

It is possible to have a stress free Christmas season if we will remember what our highest priority should be. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. A stress free Christmas will require us to come to HIM each day.

My purpose in writing this is to encourage you to schedule God time at the start of every day. It will be well worth the investment of your time. Something else that can keep us on track this time of year is to have a thankful heart. Let’s stay focused on what we do have rather than on what we don’t. Also, try to reach out to a friend or family member and let them know how much you value them.

Have a God-filled, stress free holiday season!

Building for Generations

When we stop to consider all that has happened in the short existence of ECBC, we just have to take a moment and give thanks to Jesus! I am also thankful for the family of ECBC for the way you have brought this vision to pass. A few Sundays ago I had the privilege of announcing "Building for Generations". This is the next step that the Holy Spirit has directed ECBC to take to make room for more of our community in our church. Since 2007, 1681 people have given their hearts to the Lord in our services! This is something to celebrate. That number has left me nearly speechless. Yet, there is more to do, more people to reach, and more to accomplish for the Lord.

God is positioning ECBC for legacy. We are not a single generational church. If Jesus does not come back in our lifetime, I want your kids and my kids to take off from where we left off. How do we pass off vision to this next generation? WE MODEL IT! We become what we want them to be. ECBC is in position to shape Orlando and to impact families.

Building for Generations is not about buildings but about reaching more people. Our rock solid commitment to reach people will never change. No church ever succeeds unless a lot of people want it to. This vision will not happen by accident, but by all of us coming together around a single purpose. Can you see it now? I am not talking about the new campus but can you see the lives, being changed by the love of God?

Heb 6:10 (AMP) "God is not unrighteous to forget or overlook your labor and the love which you have shown for His name's sake in ministering to the needs of the saints, as you do".

Independence Day

We, as Americans, are getting ready to celebrate our nation’s birthday soon. What a great land we live in! It is great because it was founded by Godly men and upon Godly principles. This July 4th at ECBC, we are going to have a huge celebration called Enduring Freedom. We will take a look back and celebrate the heritage of our country. But, just looking back will not keep our nation on the path God has for her. I believe for America to continue to be strong, the local church must arise and make an impact.

Have you ever thought about what it takes for a church to impact society? It really just comes down to practical ministry or meeting the needs of people where they are and help in areas where they lack. The heart of ECBC is to make a profound difference in people’s lives, which will ultimately cause them to be drawn to God. Did you know the Bible says in Romans 2:4”…it is the goodness of God that leadeth thee to repentance.” When the church works to reach out and meet the needs of people in a tangible way, it establishes a platform to share the good news.

For the last several years, God has directed and allowed our church to meet the needs of families in our community through Operation Backpack. For $15/backpack we can show God’s love to families in a real and tangible way. By investing into these young ones, hope can be restored in the fact that someone cares for them.

I want to inspire, stir, and motivate you to get involved this year in Operation Backpack in every way possible. We need your help in purchasing backpacks, volunteering the day of the event, and in prayer. Plan on getting involved this year and let God use you to touch someone’s life and make an impact on our community!

Judge Him faithful!

At East Coast Believers Church we have declared 2010 to be the year of the American Harvest! Did you know that the American Harvest includes anyone that you know or care about who has not made a decision to serve the Lord? I spent six weeks ministering on this subject leading up to Easter Sunday. I am happy to report that 51 people gave their hearts to Christ on Easter in our services. God is faithful! Also, we've had many reports flooding in of family and loved ones of ECBC members getting saved in the first quarter of this year.

Hebrews 11:11 says, "By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised." Did you notice that Sarah judged God faithful who had promised? Our part in standing for our family or for any promise of God is to judge Him faithful. Many Christians make the mistake of thinking that God is too busy taking care of the "big things" to be interested in dealing with the things that interest us. If it is important to you, it is important to God! We need to be like Sarah and judge Him faithful.

My encouragement to you today is to not become weary in what God has placed in your heart concerning those who you care about and love. He will move heaven and earth on your behalf if you will give Him the opportunity to. We give Him access to move in our situations by judging Him faithful. So no matter what problems you are facing right now, you can rest in His love for you. There is no problem that is too insignificant for Him to handle. He is not just God Almighty, He's your heavenly Father who loves you!

Yours to Count On,

Pastor Norm and Dina

Easter Changes Everything

I read a quote recently by the well respected Christian Author Philip Yancey about Easter. He said, "In many respects I find an un-resurrected Jesus easier to accept. Easter makes him dangerous. Because of Easter, I have to listen to his extravagant claims and can no longer pick and choose from his saying. Moreover, Easter means he must be loose out there somewhere."

Easter is by far the most important event on the Christian calendar. For Christians, our entire belief system rests on the fact that we have a living savior-- that Jesus actually died on the cross and after three days He rose again. You can’t have a living faith with a dead savior. Paul made this claim in I Cor. 15:14, "And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty."

Without the resurrection, our preaching is useless and all who have put their faith in Christ is lost. It could be said that if the resurrection is not true, what difference does it make if David slew Goliath; Daniel spent a night in the lion’s den or if Jesus walked on water or fed the multitudes. But, we know that Jesus not only arose from the grave that day but He is still alive today! We are walking in the benefits of His resurrection every day.

Our faith is not based on a set of morals or creeds but is based entirely on the resurrection of Jesus Christ! The fact is no one can ever take away that experience of resurrection in your life. There was a day when you accepted Jesus as your resurrection and at that moment He became alive to you and in you. You received resurrection life the day you became born again.

Many people know the story of Easter but have not experienced the life-changing power behind the story. I cannot think of a better time to invite someone to hear the story and experience the same power that raised Christ from the dead. My encouragement to you this year as we approach the Easter season is to ask God, "How can you use me to introduce someone to the real Easter story?" This is the year of the American Harvest and we are the generation of harvesters!

Love one another

Valentine’s Day is just a few days from now. This year Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday and we're going to have great services at ECBC. For many the month of February is a time to focus on love and the important people in our life. For the Christian we should make walking in the love of God a high priority. Love is the real secret of our success. That is why Satan works so hard to get us out of love. He is constantly sending situations our way to tempt us to stop yielding to the love of God which has been deposited in our hearts.

As I write this, I know there are people thinking, “I have tried that love stuff before” and immediately the face of a person comes to mind that seems impossible for you to walk in love toward. One of the greatest challenges for Christians is to love the “unlovable”. Did you know there are things that you can do to grow in your love walk? For the love of God to prevail in your life, you must grow. I am going to list out 5 things you can do to help yourself grow in love this month. If you do them, you will see results.

1) Read I Corinthians 13:4-8 everyday. Where you see the word love or charity ,insert your name in that verse. This is a declaration of faith over your life. Resist the temptation to judge other people who are not walking in love because the message of love is designed to judge yourself.

2) Practice saying and thinking the best of every person.

3) This is your year to master anger. Ephesians 4:26-27. Have you noticed that someone can do 100 nice things for you and if they do one bad thing, the flesh tends to focus on the negative. The bible says that if we can master the emotions of anger we can have victory in our love walk.

4) Pray in the Spirit. If we will take time daily to pray in the Spirit, then we can build up our Spirits so we are responding out of our hearts where the Love of God is deposited rather than from our flesh.

5) Remember that Faith works by Love. Sometimes it’s so easy to focus on the bad rather than the good. What are you looking for in your relationships? If you look for the good you will find it.

I encourage you to do something good for the people in your life today. Especially for those that are close to you. If necessary, act in faith and watch the blessings of God begin to pour into your relationships and family.

Remember, this is the year of the American Harvest and that includes your family!

Yours to Count on,

Pastor Norm Dubois

New Years message from Pastor

Isa 48:6 “ ….I have made you hear new things from this time, even hidden things, and you did not know them. “ NKJV

It is another New Year for us at East Coast Believers Church. Many are excited to leave behind 2009 and look forward to the new beginnings that come with a New Year. This will be a great year for the believer who will dare to seek God’s plan for their life, believe His Word, and speak it over their life. This will be a magnificent year for this individual!

Is 48:6, says “God will make us to hear new things, even hidden things.” The reason the world makes such a big deal out of a New Year and even New Year’s resolutions is because a New Year represents a fresh start. It’s an opportunity for a new beginning. Let me encourage you at the beginning of 2010 to ask God what He has in store for you. You will be impressed with His plans for your life! They are bigger and grander than anything you can imagine.

The first message the Lord instructed me to share with our church family this year was simple. I asked one simple question, “Did you include other people in your New Year’s resolutions this year?” The bible promises the individual that reaches out beyond their comfort zone to help others that God will go ahead and behind them to bless and protect them. Ask God, “How do you want to use me in 2010?” What an opportunity to have a fresh start in your relationships, finances, marriage, health, and even your job.

As I close this letter know that God has a great plan for you in 2010. One of my favorite scriptures is Ephesians 3:20. The Message Bible says it this way, "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!" Get ready for anything this year if you are willing to touch others and dream big! At ECBC, I expect our best year yet as a church family.

Please mark your calendars for our special services with Ted Shuttlesworth, Jan 24-27. The theme for these meetings is “God’s power on display.” This is the first extended meeting we’ve had for some time. I believe God is going to “show off” for his people. Plan on being there and bring someone who needs a miracle. You can be certain that these will be life changing meetings for you and will speak right into the foundation of our church. We agree with you that 2010 will be a magnificent year!

Yours to count on,

Pastor Norm Dubois