December has arrived and with it the cold temperatures, 27 degrees up in the country and beautiful clear blue Arkansas skies. This morning, Thursday, December 1st, the frost on the grass looked like snow. A chubby Blue Jay was sitting in the bare crape myrtle in my back yard in the cold breeze. Every season offers both blessings and challenges. December reminds us that the year is coming to a close and a new year is on the horizon. December says, “Merry Christmas.” We think of family, friends, food, fellowship, and how blessed we are to live in America, the home of the brave and the land of the free. We will be shopping for special gifts to give to those we love and an extra gift or two for people we may not even know, orphans, widows, widowers, the lonely, the poor, the neglected, and the stranger. Some of us will be dropping hints about something special we might like to receive. I’ve hinted to Cindi a time or two about how much I really need a pair of cowboy boots. I’m thinking that we might need to stop by a western wear store just to look around. No problem. Jesus said it. Luke wrote it (Acts 20:35). Paul quoted it. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

This Sunday, December 4th will be a very special time for the church at Enola and all who might join us for worship and fellowship. We will meet for Bible study at 10:00 a.m. like always then unite for worship together at 11:00. Immediately following the worship hour we will meet over in the fellowship building for a luncheon together. Every member will be bringing their best potluck dishes to share and enjoy. Every guest will be cordially welcomed to stay and enjoy the luncheon with us. As soon as we get everything cleaned up we will meet back in the auditorium for an afternoon service. We will then break for the day to spend time with family, friends, and neighbors. This will be my first such luncheon since becoming a member of the Enola congregation. I get excited just writing about it. God is so good to us. We are so very blessed. May we honor Him and show our gratitude to Him today and every day.

This Sunday morning our lesson is entitled “Am I willing?” Sometimes God is willing and sometimes God is not willing. Sometimes we are willing and sometimes we are not willing. When we pray, we should always pray with the knowledge, desire, and the words, “Not my will, but Your will be done, O Lord.” We will look at TRUST. Peter was willing, then wasn’t. We will look at OBEDIENCE. Jesus own brothers were not willing, then were. We will also look at SACRIFICE. The Pharisees were willing to a point, but were not willing to finish to the end. I hope you will be here for this lesson that will challenge your thinking and your life.

On Sunday evening we will continue in our series entitled, “Growth – What Does It Take.” We can grow. Growth takes proper food, reasonable exercise, and time. We can grow warmer through fellowship. We studied about fellowship last Sunday. We can also grow deeper through discipleship. What does it mean to be a disciple? How can we grow deeper this way. We’ll answer these questions from the Bible.

The new Bible study quarter begins on Sunday and Wednesday with some teachers continuing and a few new teachers. If you are not involved in one of our Bible studies, this will be a great time to start. I hope you will. I certainly do benefit from our time together studying God’s word.