Family News and Notes
Today, David will preach on "The Qualifications of Elders." Be thinking about who you might propose who fits the Biblical picture.
BUILDING FUND. If you are able and wish to contribute to our Building Fund, then today will be your chance.
NEXT SUNDAY EVENING ... Men's Business Meeting. All the men of the congregation are encouraged to attend.
The Annual Adults-Only (College Age to 150) Holiday Dinner Party at the McCains is scheduled for this coming Friday, December 9th. The sign-up sheet is on the foyer table. David & Janice will provide the meat, bread, and drinks. Everyone else should bring a salad, vegetable or dessert. If you plan to come please sign the sheet and list the food item you plan to bring so we can have good variety. Remember the crazy gift swap after the dinner and be creative in your approach to some "white elephant" gifts for more fun. Appetizers and visiting at 6:30 p.m., dinner served at 7:00 p.m. Dress is festive casual. Don't miss this fun evening!
John David Wright will give us a slide presentation on Wednesday evening, December 14, regarding the work at Queretara, Qro, Mexico. We are supporting Miguel Bocanegra there, who is the Director of the Preaching School.
PANTRY ITEMS If you are willing and able to help to restock our Pantry, won't you please check the list on the round table in the foyer for needed items? Your help in restocking our Pantry is appreciated very much.
HOLIDAY BASKETS Ladies ... please remember the Ladies Bible Class will be filling Holiday Baskets on Tuesday morning, December 6. Bring your baked goods and candy, etc. on that date. If you have questions contact Amy Jones. Thanks.
Christmas Party at the home of Jody and Stephanie Sparks, beginning at 6:00 PM, Saturday, December 17th. See Jody or Stephanie for more details.
Betty Ferrell continues her recovery at home following her recent double knee surgery. She gets better each day.
Patsy Duncan is scheduled for foot surgery on December 7th to correct a problem with her toes. She will not be able to get around for many days after that and will be dependent upon Grady to assist her.
Grady Duncan had a medical procedure at TRMC last Thursday to determine whether he has any problems.
R. C. Grissom, although still in TRMC, continues to improve and plans are that he will be able to go home Monday.
Dorothy Kyle goes to Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler on Monday for a procedure to repair a problem with her heart.
Wayne Pickrel has been experiencing problems with his stomach. He also begins Phase 2 of his chemo treatments on December 8 for a period of 9 weeks.
Wade Miller revisits his eye doctor Friday. He is optimistic about a good diagnosis and says he is looking forward to getting new glasses and being able to see good again.
Edith Shiflet will return to her doctor on December 6 where she will have an injection in her neck in an attempt to alleviate some of her neck pain.
THANK YOU "I want to express our thanks for all the love and concern shown to us during my confinement. For all the visits, cards, calls, the food, and all the prayers. It is a joy to be a part of such a loving, caring, family. I hope to be back with you soon.
THANK YOU "I just want to say thanks to David and all the others who had a part in the cutting and hauling of the wood you brought to me on November 19th. I really do appreciate it, and want you to know that I have really had a nice warm house all this week. Thanks again
**********************************************************
PRAYER LIST
Betty Abbey, Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Louis Bell, Winell Blackard,
Annah Brown, Billye Campbell, Perry Cooper, Patsy Duncan, Betty Ferrell,
Dorothy Kyle, Hollis Lee, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide, Courtney Marshall, Wade Miller,
Elna O'Neal, Wayne Pickrel, Marie Plemmons, Dorothy Sargent, Alva Mae Sheets,
Edith Shiflet, Rebecca Tippitt
ALSO: Melba Boyd, Austin Cody, Dudley Farrell, R. C. Grissom, Ruby Jeffery, Wayne Lineberger, Lonita Thompson
**********************************************************
MATURING IN CHRIST
God expects Christians to mature spiritually (II Pet. 3:18). Are you maturing? Are you more dedicated to the cause of Christ today than a year ago? Is your knowledge of the Scriptures increasing with each passing year? Are you kinder, gentler, more loving, and more caring as the years unfold? Are you more Christ-like in thought, speech, dress, and actions than when you first became a new creature in Christ?
Occasional reality checks can be profitable for all of us, if we'll be honest with ourselves. They can also be frightening! What if, when we look in the mirror, we don't like what we see? What do we do when we stand against the door-jamb of the Scriptures to measure ourselves, only to find we've stopped growing or even started to shrink? Is there any hope if we discover that our spiritual growth is stunted?
Yes, there is hope! When Paul penned First Corinthians, he wrote to Christians whose spiritual growth was stunted. He said, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ" (I Cor. 3:1). The very fact that Paul offered this criticism, as well as solutions to the problems of spiritual immaturity, is indicative that spiritual immaturity can be corrected.
If your spiritual reality check uncovers an area of weakness, the first step in outgrowing it is to admit your problem. Half the battle is now won! The Scriptures then provide the solution in the form of guidelines for spiritual growth.
First, for spiritual growth to take place, there must be an adequate intake of spiritual nourishment. First the milk of God's Word (I Pet. 2:1-2), then the meat of God's divine oracles must be consumed (Heb. 5:12-14), in order for spiritual growth and maturity to occur.
Secondly, for the maturation process to go unhindered, there must be freedom from the disease of sin. Unchecked sin will kill Christian growth (Heb. 10:26). To grow spiritually, Christians must make a concentrated effort to weed willful sin out of our lives (Rms. 6:1-2). Liberal amounts of the "balm of Gilead" must be applied to help heal our sin-sick souls. Repentance, confession, and prayer should be our daily heart-felt practice (James. 5:16, I Jn. 1:9).
Thirdly, Christian maturity demands exercise. The reason many Christians are stunted spiritually is because they have never exercised their faith. Paul wrote, "...exercise thyself unto godliness: for bodily exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come" (I Tim. 4:7-8). Without spiritual exercise, accomplished through practical deeds of Christian compassion and outreach, you'll never grow to reach your full spiritual potential.
Finally, Christian growth requires a proper spiritual environment. Avoiding people, places, and things which hinder spiritual growth, is an absolute necessity (I Cor. 15:33, II Thess. 5:22). Regular fellowship and worship provides the excellent climate needed for optimum spiritual growth (Acts 2:42-47, Heb. 10:23-25).
Surely, one of God's greatest desires for faithful Christians, and perhaps our greatest need is sustained personal spiritual growth. From time to time we need to test ourselves to see if we are experiencing growth in the faith (II Cor. 13:5-9). May God help us to grow spiritually! David McCain
*********************************************
REAL GLORY
Johnny Ramsey
In the opening stanza of the grandest life ever spent upon earth we learn that the name of the Master means salvation (Matthew 1:21). He truly came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Paul wrote cogently of our desperate need and heaven's gracious gift in I Timothy 1:15 and II Corinthians 9:15: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.
Many prophecies of the Old Testament foretold the coming of the One who had always been (Micah 5:1-3). Yes, the very One on whom Jehovah would place the iniquities of us all (Isaiah 53). The last book of the Old Testament promised that one in the spirit and power of Elijah would prepare the way for the Messiah and then suddenly the Lord would come (Malachi 3; Isaiah 40). In Luke 1:17 we learn that John the Baptist was the very man likened unto Elijah. His clarion call upon seeing Jesus Christ contained marvelous words: "Behold, the Lamb of God who taketh away the sings of the world."
In Leviticus 16, the scapegoat in a metaphor carried the sins of the people on the Day of Atonement into the wilderness, but our blessed Lord actually "gave Himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world" (Galatians 1:4). When we compare John 1:1; 1:14 and 17:5, we can see the pre-earthly existence of our Savior set forth. Yes, in the beginning, the Word was with God and was God. That Word became flesh and tabernacled upon men. John 1:14 goes on to declare: "And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
*********************************************
DO YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY?
Johnny Ramsey
Solomon tells us that a merry heart produces joy and happiness. Constantly feeling sorrow for themselves they do not take time and effort to reach out to others. They become absolutely good for nothing in their selfish outlook. Serving those less fortunate never enters their minds and certain isolation from the world will eventually make such folk lonely and useless. No one enjoys their company because bitterness has overwhelmed them.
Christ left the beauty and bliss of heaven to come to earth to give us abundant living (John 10:10) as well as the hope of heaven. This glory that awaits the faithful followers of Jesus should be a permanent smile on our face and in our hearts!
The third stanza of an old gospel song tells the grand old story that invigorates our journey here below:
Walking in footsteps of gentle forbearance, footsteps of faithfulness mercy and love
Looking to Him for the grace freely promised Happy, how happy, our journey above!
Psalm 144:15 powerfully expresses the reality of the life of a dedicated Christian:
Happy are the people whose God is Jehovah
*********************************************
