Monday, January 21, 2013

A Banner Day...A Banner Week...Up in the Country


     We enjoyed another banner day yesterday (Sunday, January 20th) in Enola, Arkansas.  We had a good crowd gathered together for worship (133).  Some of our family and friends were sick.  We’re praying that they will soon be well again.  Some were out of town.  We hope that their visits with family and friends went well.  Some were at work.  Sorry about having to work on the Lord’s Day, but we are glad that those who had to work made the sacrifice.  What would happen if our farmers, doctors, nurses, police officers, EMT’s, business owners, and preachers decided to take off on Sunday?  Unfortunately, a few of our Christian brothers and sisters who were “out of pocket,” yielded to temptation and chose the darkness over the light.  We will pray for them that God will grant them wisdom, strength, and a greater desire to put first things first.
     Recently God has blessed our labors in Enola with three new additions to the church of Christ.  Richard Brown, Whitney Mullins, and Sam Camer all accepted the invitation of Christ (Matthew 11:28-30) and put Him on in baptism (Galatians 3:27).  We are so very thankful for our new Christian brother and these two Christian sisters.  God is always right.  His ways are so much better than our ways.  His word will accomplish what He wills.  Paul wrote to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 3:5-7) “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?  I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.  Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”  As Christians at Enola and everywhere in the world, we must keep on planting and watering.  God always gives the increase in His time.
     On Sunday morning we are asking ourselves two questions, “What is God asking me to do or not do in my life?” and “Will I make the proper adjustments in my life to fulfill His purpose for me?”  The Rich Young Ruler asked Jesus about eternal life in Mark 10.  Jesus answered his question.  The man refused Jesus’ instructions.  God requires every one of us to adjust our lives to His plans and purposes for us.  Look at Adam and Eve.  God asked them to do something; Tend and keep the Garden of Eden.  He also asked them to not do something; Do not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  We have a responsibility to God, our families, our fellow human beings, our world, and ourselves.  Are we being responsible?  In addition to what we must do, there are things we simply must not do.  We must be careful in life.  Some things will kill us.  We can drink water, but drinking gasoline will kill us.  The internet is a wonderful blessing, however the internet can kill us if we are not very careful about where we surf.  As a husband, there are some things that I must do to maintain my marriage.  There are also some things that must never do.  Think about your life.  What is God asking you to do that you are not doing?  What is God asking you to stop doing that you are doing?
     Our Sunday evening lesson series in entitled “Jesus:  The King of Kings.”  We have studied about Jesus being the King of love and the King of power.  Jesus is also the King of Action. 
     Come up in the country and see what real living is about.  We would love to see you.  We meet for Bible study and for worship at 10:00 and 11:00 every Sunday.  We return for another time of study at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday and on Wednesday evening we meet at 7:00.

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