Family News and Notes
Johnny Ramsey will preach this morning. His topic will be "The Work of Elders."
David McCain will preach this evening on a continuation of Acts 6 and get started on Acts 7.
DON'T FORGET ... our mid-week service this week will be on for Tuesday nite instead of Wednesday nite. Everyone will assemble in the auditorium. We'll have an old fashioned prayer meeting style service. Any men who will lead songs or prayers, or read scriptures, please see David today for your assignment.
ATTENTION TEACHERS AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN TEACHING OUR CLASSES: Please plan to attend a meeting at 5:00 PM this evening in the Multi-purpose Room. We would like to have input regarding our current education program and future planning. Your attendance will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks to all the young people who helped with the firewood project for the widows and elderly. If anyone else needs some firewood please contact David McCain.
Copies of the Minutes from the Men's Business Meeting and Financial Statement for the month ending October 31 are available on the table in the foyer. If you are interested please take a copy of each.
The Ladies Bible Class will be filling Holiday Baskets for some of our members on December 6th. We need large sizes of lotion, bath powder, shaving cream, or money. There is a list on the rectangular table in the foyer. Please give your donations to Janice McCain, Veleta McFerrin or Amy Jones.
REMINDER.. December is renewal month for the Gospel Journal. If you wish to renew your subscription or wish to place a NEW subscription, please tell Bob Hedges, David or Rhodney, soon. The Club rate is $14 for each subscription.
This is a couple of weeks early but The McCain's 3rd Annual Holiday Extravaganza Dinner Party & Crazy Gift Swap is scheduled for Friday nite, December 9, 2005. One nite only. Adults only (College Age to Geezer). Sign up sheet is in the foyer. you don't want to miss this party! The McCains will provide appetizers, meat, bread and drinks. Everyone else brings salads, veggies and desserts. More information later.
If you haven't signed up on the WISH LIST for Boles Home (on the table in the foyer) please check the items remaining and see if you can help. At the end of the month our young people will wrap and prepare the gifts for delivery.
Betty Ferrell was scheduled to return home last Friday and will take her rehab here in Mount Pleasant. She is feeling much better and is getting around with her walker. She has several weeks of rehab.
Doyle and Brenda Riley have both been sick at home this past week, but hope to be in services today.
R. C. Grissom is back at home following his stay in East Texas Medical Center. He is still on a feeding tube and has lost lots of weight and some muscle, all due to his stomach problems.
Marie Plemmons is back at home following a hospital stay at Titus Regional Medical Center.
Joyce Lee was moved to the 5th floor of Titus Regional Medical Center. She has been diagnosed with depression. Her phone is 903-577-6520 ask for Patient No. 6. Visiting times for Joyce are 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm and from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm if you wish to visit her. She would appreciate cards.
Wade Miller is feeling much better following his recent eye injury. He says he is regaining some vision and is scheduled to return to his eye specialist this week.
Amanda Dennie (David and Janice's daughter) has had pneumonia this past week and Janice has been down at Mabank to assist her.
Billy Campbell was able to come to services last Sunday and also on Wednesday nite. She seems to be better and says she feels good. It was really good to see her at worship services again. We need to continue to remember her during her recovery period.
Wayne Pickrel has been confined at home for a while due to a change in his blood count. He is susceptible to catching colds or other communicable diseases from folks he comes in contact with.
OPEN LETTER TO CONGREGATION:
"For the past few weeks, my family and I have been tested by my diagnosis with lung cancer. We have been stressed out, scared and uncertain about many things, and in need of leaning on others for support. This has shown us we need not only our extended earthly family, but also our Heavenly family on earth and unwavering faith in God. We have been overwhelmingly blessed with both. Our name is continually before the throne of God, your many cards, words of comfort and encouragement, monetary gifts, and extended love to us more in every way ... provides everything we need. Our love for each of you has deepened greatly. We have always known you were very special saints but did not really appreciate fully just how special you are. It is truly a blessing to have each of you as our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We still have some difficult times ahead but know with God's help and your help that all will be well. Please accept our deep-felt gratitude and love for you as we, together, press forward for the goal that is set before us.
In Christian Love,
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PRAYER LIST:
Betty Abbey, Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Louis Bell, Winell Blackard,
Annah Brown, Billye Campbell, Perry Cooper, Betty Ferrell, Hollis Lee,
Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide, Courtney Marshall, Wade Miller, Wayne Pickrel,
Marie Plemmons, Dorothy Sargent, Alva Mae Sheets, Edith Shiflet,
Rebecca Tippitt
ALSO: Melba Boyd, Austin Cody, Amanda Dennie, Dudley Farrell, R. C. Grissom, Ruby Jeffery, Wayne Lineberger, Lonita Thompson
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Thanksgiving Will Reveal Your Heart
For what are you truly thankful? Answer the question honestly and you'll get a good hard look at the real condition of your spiritual heart. Deep within the recesses of your mind lies the personality who is the real you, but sometimes we keep that person well hidden, don't we? However, if you'll ask that "hidden man (or woman) of your heart" to tell you what he/she is really thankful for; in the answer you'll find the real you!
Is the focus of your thankfulness God-centered, other-centered, or self-centered? Do you see what I mean? The answer to that question will reveal the real person within. The revelation may be startling, or even frightening, but it will help us to see ourselves as God sees us.
Luke records a parable Jesus told, that well illustrates my point. "And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Lk. 18:9-14).
Are you self-righteously thankful, like the praying Pharisee? Do you rejoice and give thanks because you perceive yourself as being better than others? Are you grateful when your nemesis encounters misfortune? Do you rejoice when your enemy stumbles? Do you delight in finding faults, mistakes, and sins in those whom you dislike? Job revealed his righteous heart when he indicated he would not be happy about the demise of his enemies. He said, "If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul" (Job 31:29-30).
As you gather round the turkey this coming Thursday, what will be the focus of your Thanksgiving gathering? Will you give thanks for the roof over your head, without thought for how you might use your home to provide hospitality to others? Will you give God thanks for physical blessings, without consideration for how you might share that bounty with those who are less fortunate? Would you be thankful for a raise because of the additional "things" you could purchase, or because you could give more to help support the preaching of the Gospel throughout the world? Will you give God thanks for the Gospel, but neglect your responsibility to share that "good news" with your lost family members and friends?
Are you really thankful for the freedom of our country that allows us to assemble for worship without fear of outside interference, if you neglect those assemblies (Hebrews 10:23-31)? Will you bow your head to give God thanks for the blood of Christ, which was offered to save your soul, but then treat the church which was purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28) in a casual, uncommitted, or uninvolved way? When you thank God for your spouse and/or your children, does it cause you to seriously consider whether or not you cherish and nurture those special precious gifts in a way that pleases God?
Yes, the things for which we are truly thankful will reveal much about the character of our hearts, and will help us to see ourselves as we really are.
D. McCain
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Gratitude
Johnny Ramsey
We should be thankful for the providential care God bestows upon us. We should be grateful for our relationship with Deity. Our hearts should overflow with appreciation for the church of the Lord. We should praise God for the Bible given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We should never fail to lovingly glorify our Maker for the wonderful privilege of prayer. We surely will be thankful for our beloved brethren in Christ. The hope of heaven is another rich benefit for genuine Christians. We should even be mature enough to count the blessings of adversity that make us nobler vessels in the service of the Savior. Proper worship can draw us nearer to the Lord and help us to overwhelm the sorrows of the world as we strive to be less worldly and more godly in the world beset with turmoil, greed and shallow endeavor. Yes, indeed, we should be more thankful. Complaining must be pushed aside as we spend more time in Bible study and the active pursuit of holiness. Such emphasis will be a blessing t our soul.
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