We enjoyed another exceptional Lord’s Day this past Sunday up in the country at Enola.  We had a great attendance (144) for our assembly together.  We are truly blessed people, people of God living every day growing closer to God and closer together, growing in gladness.  When the gospel is preached we are blessed.  Our faith is strengthened.  We become more fruitful as Christians both inside the church and also in the world.  When the gospel is preached we become better equipped to handle the trials and temptations of life.  Of course, when the gospel is preached we must listen gracefully, carefully, attentively, and completely.  I hope you now have a better understanding of the special benefits everyone receives when the gospel is preached.

     We hosted the Area-Wide Youth Devotional last Sunday afternoon.  What a joy it was to see so many teens gathered together to sing, hear the good news, and enjoy a meal together.  Our building was packed.  Brandon did an outstanding job with his lesson about the clichés “Ignorance is bliss” and “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.”  These two statements are totally wrong.  Sin will take you further than you wanted to go.  Sin will keep you longer than you wanted to stay.  Sin will cost you more than you wanted to spend.  When you are ready to let sin go, sin is not ready to let you go.  Ignorance will hurt you, even kill you.  When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ we will not be able to claim ignorance as an excuse for living a life opposed to God’s will.  Romans 1 teaches us that men are without excuse before God because His invisible attributes are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made.  The Holy Spirit of God wrote concerning the Bible in 1 John 2:1; “My little children, I write things to you that you may not sin…”  Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 concerning the inspired Scripture that is able to make every person wise to salvation and is able to make one fully equipped for every good work.  Thank you to every member of the Enola church of Christ for your generosity.  We had plenty of Bar BQ, drinks, chips, and desserts for everyone.  God will certainly continue His blessings upon us as we offer the sacrifices of our time, talents, and treasures in His name.

     Sunday is Mother’s Day.  Don’t forget to call your mother.  Of course there are many among us who would love to talk to their mother and hear her voice but cannot.  Death has visited their family and taken their mother from them.  Death may take those we love from us, but death cannot take the memories we cherish.  Our hope rests in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that we will one day enjoy a grand reunion with our mothers, fathers, children, and loved ones who have gone on before us.  When Jesus returns, heaven will be our home.  Our lessons this Sunday for both the morning and evening service will be about the relationship Jesus had with His mother.  Jesus’ mother loved Him.  She showed that love in many ways.  We’ll take a look at just how she loved Him.  On Sunday evening at 5:00 we will take a look at how Jesus showed His love for His mother.  I hope you will be gathered with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ for these two lessons.