We send our love to you and yours!
This morning I hold up two Dear Friends to you! Two people who have helped build my faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. I call Wanell Pate on the left and Rick Stambaugh on the right, FAITH BUILDERS! AMEN! Sharon and I met Wanell years ago at the Open Door Church of God in Los Lunas, NM. She has inspired us since! Always sending us greeting cards! Yes! She gives us that old fashion true down to earth Godly love by writing us notes! Never missing a birthday or anniversary……always pumping the life of Jesus into us and the ministry of FGGAM! Wanell is on the Board of Directors of FGGAM. Wanell is an AWESOME Sunday School teacher, I loved being in her classroom when I could! One of the main things that Wanell has taught me is to be obedient to God. The downfall we are witnessing in our world, is because people are not being obedient to God. Luke 6:46 teaches us…..Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Wanell is going through Chemo treatments for breast cancer, even with that, her faith just shines to all. The words I write can not do justice to the love we have for Wanell and her hubby Bob. What an AWESOME testimony to us! Wanell is one of my main advisors here at FGGAM, always calling her for advice and prayer. I say again that Wanell has stressed to me to be OBEDIENT to GOD! Wanell’s FAITH IS STRONGER than ever! AMEN!
The man on the right, Rick Stambaugh, who writes for us here at FGGAM, he is in the newsroom even when he is in much pain, Rick is a Vietnam War Vet. He served in the U.S. Navy and the helicopter he was in was shot down and that resulted in severe injuries to Rick that still hinder him to this day. I met Rick about 3 years ago, he was managing a local convenience store and he fell in love with Buffy and Reno our ministry dogs. After awhile Rick started asking me about this man called Jesus. He and his lovely wife Sandy eventually returned to Church and have become FAITH BUILDERS! They both suffer from health issues. Rick has cancer, has had many chemo treatments over the years, surgeries, and so many medical procedures I have lost count! This past week I took him to the hospital to have sinus surgery. He was in much pain, but he said, “God has got this!” Rick always tells me, “Don’t worry about me Pastor, God has this.” Rick and Sandy have built up the faith of me and Sharon. Mark 11: 22-24 teaches us,,,,And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Rick and Sandy’s FAITH IS STRONGER than ever! AMEN! I will always remember the love that Buffy and Reno have for Rick, and the love Rick has for them! A very special bond, Rick came to see Buffy before she passed away.
My prayer today is that Wanell and Rick have BUILT UP YOUR FAITH!
Please keep Wanell and Rick and their families in your prayers! Let us continue to pray healing over Wanell and Rick, and also Sandy.
Let us all be FAITH BUILDERS! AMEN!
So many of our friends have read the post on the passing of Nancy Sweigard, It is a blessing to have so many friends! My Mom, Ruth Moede would get visits from Nancy, as she sold Avon! My brother Daryl worked with Nancy’s hubby Ralph at the Hy-Vee Grocery store in Windom, Minnesota. Nancy’s funeral will be on Friday, March 20th at 2pm at the Methodist Church in Windom, Minnesota. Visitation will be prior to the service. Please click on the headline below for our tribute:
The Passing of a Wonderful Women of God, Nancy Sweigard
One Smart Donkey
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a
well. The animal cried piteously for hours as
the farmer tried to figure out what to do.
Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the
well needed to be covered up anyway;
it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over
and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began
to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the
donkey realized what was happening and cried
horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement he
quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally
looked down the well. He was astonished at what
he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his
back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
he would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel
dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it
off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey
stepped up over the edge of the well and
happily trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds
of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well
is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of
our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out
of the deepest wells just by not stopping,
never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
Free your heart from hatred – – Forgive.
Free your mind from worries – – Most never happen.
Live simply and appreciate what you have.
Give more.
Expect less.
We thank Larry Don Brookreson of the Buffalo Gap, Texas Round-Up News for sending this in, It was submitted to the Round-Up News by Robert Politte of Blackwell, Texas
God’s Cake
Sometimes we wonder,
‘What did I do to deserve this?’ or
‘Why did God have to do this to me?’
Here is a wonderful explanation!
A daughter is telling her Mother how everything
is going wrong: she’s failing algebra, her boyfriend
broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.
Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and
asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the
daughter says, ‘Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.’
‘Here, have some cooking oil,’ her Mother offers.
‘Yuck’ says her daughter.
‘How about a couple raw eggs?’ ‘Gross, Mom!’
‘Would you like some flour then?
Or maybe baking soda?’
‘Mom, those are all yucky!’
To which the mother replies:
‘Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves.
But when they are put together in the
right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! ‘
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why
He would let us go through such bad and difficult
times. But God knows that when He puts these things
all in His order, they always work for good! We just
have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all
make something wonderful
God is crazy about you.
He sends you flowers every spring and
a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He’ll listen.
He can live anywhere in the universe,
and He chose your heart.
If you like this, send this on
to the people you really care about.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are
here we might as well dance!
“Do not regret growing older.
It is a privilege denied to many.”
FGGAM thanks Pastor Denzell Teague of Albuquerque for sending this in!
Please click on the headline below for this very important prayer need in New Mexico, it is a post by FGGAM Board member Jose Vasquez, New Mexico Watchman.
Is NM State Senator Sanchez a Democrat First, Catholic Second?
May God Bless you and yours forever and ever! Dewey, Sharon, Family and FGGAM Team
Please keep us in your prayers! We will be on the road much the next several days! Many miles ahead for the old Chevy!
PS! I will be Preaching in Reserve, NM this Sunday, Lord Willing, please pray the message is of God and not Me! Amen!