Family News and Notes
The Men's Business Meeting is scheduled for tonight following the evening services. We will meet in the EAST SIDE of the Multi-Purpose Room. All the men of the congregation are encouraged to attend.
The 3rd Sunday Nite Devotional will be hosted by Wayne & Suzanne Charlton after services tonight in the West side of the Multi-Purpose Room. All young people, elementary thru college, are invited.
Placing membership with our congregation last Sunday:
Brian & Linda Ferrell
925 CR 4218
Mount Pleasant, Texas 75455
903-572-1394
email: brianf@bluebonnet.net
They have two daughters: Emilee & Mollee. Please add them to your Directory. Grady will be obtaining photos soon for a new insert page.
The Youth will have a get-together on Saturday evening October 29 at 6:00 PM. Come dressed "tacky." (Youth: if you don't understand what dressing "tacky" is then you need to talk with your grandparents who frequently had "Tacky Parties" years ago.) If any member would like to donate to the PANTRY DRIVE please sign the sheet on the round table in the foyer. The Youth will come by in their 'tacky' garbs to pick up your donations. You get a visit from youth, they have a fun Fall party, and our pantry gets replenished! Everybody profits, the needy are cared for, and God is glorified.
Billye Campbell is still in Room 513 at Titus Regional Medical Center. Cards and letters are welcome, but please check with Gene before visiting to make certain visits are OK.
Winnie Patton is still in ICU at Titus Regional Medical center.
Wayne Pickrel makes daily trips for his treatments and this will continue for several more weeks.
Wayne Lineberger continues his treatments for leukemia.
Dora Rockwell of the Sheppard Street congregation has requested our prayers following her recent heart surgery.
Also, please remember Hollis & Joyce Lee in your prayers.
Rhodney's "Funny Bone"
SPOILED ROTTEN: What the kids become after as little as 15 minutes with Grandma.
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PRAYER LIST:
Betty Abbey, Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Louis Bell, Winell Blackard,
Annah Brown, Billye Campbell, Perry Cooper, Patsy Duncan, Zenith Hargrove,
Hollis Lee, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide, Elna O'Neal, Winnie Patton, Wayne Pickrel, Dorothy Sargent, Alva Mae Sheets, Edith Shiflet, Rebecca Tippitt
ALSO: Melba Boyd, Austin Cody, Denise Dering, Wesley & Juanita DuBose, Dudley Farrell, Ruby Jeffery, Wayne Lineberger, Dora Rockwell, Larry Terrell,
Lonita Thompson
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The Lord Will Stand With You
0ne of the saddest passages in the New Testament must be the last chapter of Paul's second epistle to Timothy. Paul prophesied that in later times, some brethren would turn away from the Truth, seeking false teachers who would tell them fables they wanted to hear, rather than the Truth they needed to hear (4:3-4). He then predicted he was not long for this world (4:6), but confidently affirmed this did not trouble him, for he was prepared to meet the Lord in Judgment.
In the last half of the chapter, there is a personal note of sadness, as Paul wrote of Demas, who forsook him, of Alexander the coppersmith, who did him much evil, and of the fact that at Paul's first court appearance, all men had forsaken him, leaving him to stand alone before the Emperor (4:10, 14, & 16).
However, there is one bright spot in the chapter, as Paul shared the secret strength that kept him going, despite the discouragement of weak and unfaithful brethren who often let him down. He wrote, "Notwithstanding the Lord stood with and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (4:17 & 18).
If ever a man had the right to be discouraged and to want to quit the Christian race, Paul did. Whenever you are feeling sorry for yourself because of the sacrifices you've had to make to be a faithful Christian, just flip over to II Corinthians 11:22-28, and read of what Christianity cost Paul 195 lashes at the end of a whip, three times beaten with rods, stoned and left for dead, frequently imprisoned, shipwrecked, robbed, and often hungry. However, Paul didn't let the unbelief, spiritual weakness, and unfaithfulness of others cause him to be discouraged enough to want to quit. He wrote, "we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body" (II Cor. 4:8-10).
Oh, brethren, how we need to learn this secret that caused Paul to "keep on keeping on." He was converted to Jesus, not to the brethren. He understood his commitment was ultimately to Jesus, not to the brethren. And, when the brethren forsook him and let him down, as the brethren are sometimes prone to do, he knew Jesus was still with him. He knew the Lord had a work for him to do, and that the Lord would deliver him, stand by him, and preserve him, until the Lord was ready to call him home. That knowledge kept him going on, despite the discouragement of his brethren.
Fellow Christians, if you live long enough, sooner or later the brethren are going to let you down. It ought not be that way, but that is reality, because the brethren are human. Human beings, even Christian ones are weak, and will sometimes be unfaithful and let you down. If your commitment to the Lord hinges on the faithfulness of your brethren, you are in for a lifetime of disappointment. Jesus said, concerning the way of salvation, "few there be that find it" (Mt. 7:14), and thus it has always been the case that only "the faithful few" will be found doing the Lord's work.
You must not let that discourage you! Your commitment must be to Christ, who will never let you down! You must work for Him, no matter what anyone else does, because your relationship to Him does not depend on what others do, or don't do. If your work for Him goes unnoticed or unappreciated by others, so what? It matters not, for you are working for His glory, not your own. And if, sadly, everyone forsakes you, and you have to stand alone, you'll know in your heart, soul, and mind, that you are not really alone, for the Lord will stand with you, just like He stood with Paul! David McCain
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WHAT LACK I YET?
Johnny Ramsey
FAILING THE TEST
Every school teacher has had an angry student or parent question the final grade or report card. The pupil really was the one who failed as the grade book clearly showed but the blame is placed on someone else. Recently I read the following quip which is sadly true:
Those who complain about the way
the ball bounces are usually the ones
who dropped it
For us to come to the final test, called Judgment Day, unprepared and undone will be a tragic moment in view of eternity. God has graciously made provision for every student to pass with flying colors but some refuse to be grateful pupils. James 5:11 gives incentive to all of us:
"Indeed we count them blessed who
endure. You have heard of the
perseverance of Job and seen the
end intended by the Lord; that the
Lord is very compassionate and
merciful."
No one has to be lost but so many shall be due to their own failure and ingratitude. As we look for and then grasp golden moments to grow and improve we naturally will desire to reach out to others. A crisp little poem ought to help us:
My Daily Prayer
If I can do some good today,
If I can serve along life's way
If I can something helpful say,
Lord, show me how.
If I can right a human wrong,
If I can help to make one strong,
If I can cheer with smile or song,
Lord, show me how.
If I can aid one in distress,
If I can make a burden less,
If I can spread more happiness,
Lord, show me how.
Many fail in their pursuit of Christianity because obstacles always loom larger to them than golden opportunities to grow. The one talent man of Mathew 25 is a perfect example of many who do nothing for fear of what might happen if they try! We should never forget the following:
An upright man can never be a
downright failure.
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