Grace & Glory February Newsletter 2009

grace&glory M I N I S T R I E S

February 2009

I N T E R N ATI O N A L

Dear Friends & Co-Laborers, I would like to take the time to reflect on a certain passage of scripture as it reveals an important truth for our lives today: Luke 5:1”NOW IT occurred that while the people pressed upon Jesus to hear the message of God, He was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret (Sea of Galilee). 2And He saw two boats drawn up by the lake, but the fishermen had gone down from them and were washing their nets. 3And getting into one of the boats, [the one] that belonged to Simon (Peter), He requested him to draw away a little from the shore. Then He sat down and continued to teach the crowd [of people] from the boat. 4When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon (Peter), Put out into the deep [water], and lower your nets for a haul.5And Simon (Peter) answered, Master, we toiled all night [[a]exhaustingly] and caught nothing [in our nets]. But [b]on the ground of Your word, I will lower the nets [again].6And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish; and as their nets were [[c]at the point of] breaking.7They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and take hold with them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.” We see here that Jesus had a need: He needed to reach the throngs of people with the message of the Gospel. He could have stayed where He was at on the dry ground, but only a handful of people would have heard Him speak. He needed a “vehicle” that would enable Him to project His message to the entire crowd. Peter’s boat was that “vehicle”. However, Peter had to release it to Jesus. You see, Peter’s boat represented his livelihood because he was a fisherman; a fisherman must have a boat to produce his daily sustenance. When Jesus asked to borrow Peter’s boat, He was requesting Him to surrender His livelihood and trust Him completely. As we read, Peter willingly gave up His livelihood in order for the Gospel to go forth and, as a result, the multitude of people heard the Words of Jesus! In addition, we read that Jesus asked Peter to do the ridiculous by going out further to sea and to let down his nets in a place that had produced nothing just hours before. Once again, Peter obeyed in faith and saw the hand of God move on His behalf! Where there were no fish, there was now such an abundant overflow that he could literally not contain!

Friends, today Jesus is asking for our boat; He is asking if you will allow Him to use you- to use your livelihood, your resources, your “vehicle”! He needs you hands, your prayers, your finances to spread the Gospel to the multitudes of people waiting to be set free by the Truth. We have a choice to yield our “boat” to Him; it’s a choice we must make willingly because

When we release His ministry, He releases our breakthough... He will never force us into obedience. Peter thought He was just letting Jesus use his boat; but in reality, Jesus was setting Peter up for a miracle. His miracle took place on a day when the “fish economy” wasn’t looking so good! The favor and the abundance of God will surpass the worldly circumstances and system of economics. He is calling us to surrender our tools for His kingdom so that He can unlock a flood of blessing into our lives! In the next few months we will be traveling to many nations to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ! On our itinerary are the countries of Brazil, Canada, Portugal, Honduras and many stateside locations as well. We ask you on behalf of the Gospel to surrender your “vehicle” to release the Word of God to the lost. Your “vehicle” may be finances; it may be intercession; it may be to join us on a trip. Let me encourage you not to stay close to shore, but to launch into the deep and see how God will use your “vehicle” and multiply your seed back to you! When we release His Ministry, He releases our breakthrough! We love you and keep you in our prayers! God bless you,

Doug & Janet Rowland | www.graceandglory.net

Grace & Glory Ministries Int’l | 2804 Coastal Range Way | Lutz, FL 33559 | (813) 909-9184 | www.graceandglory.net

Crusade Itinerary - USA April 2-4, 2009 // Deltona, FL Revival Meetings 7:00 PM nightly Embassy Church 777 Deltona Blvd Deltona, FL

Crusade Itinerary - International February 2009:

Sao Paulo/ Rio/ Belo Brazil

Times & Locations TBA

March 2009: Brazil // Dates & Time TBA

April 2009:

Canada // Dates & Time TBA

May/June 2009: Juticalpa, Honduras Proclaiming Your City For Christ Mass Crusade Times & Locations TBA

2804 Coastal Range Way Lutz, FL 33559 MINISTRIES

INTERNATIONAL

grace&glory log on to graceandglory.net to download an application

grace&glory MI NI ST RI E S

I NT E R N ATI O N A L