HAPPY FATHER'S DAY 2017 - This Little Child's Dad

My son, Ben gave me this poem with his picture when he was 3 or 4 years old.  He made it especially for me in Bible Class for Father's Day.  I have it hanging in my office to remind me of the privilege of being a father and the responsibility I have to him and to my daughter, Bridget Maxell every day.  I don't know who wrote it, but I'm thankful for the author's reminder of the challenge of being a successful dad.

THIS LITTLE CHILD’S DAD

I may never be as clever as my neighbor down the street.

I may never be as wealthy as some men I’ll meet.

I may never have the fame that other men have had,

But, you know, I’ve just got to be successful as this little child’s dad.

There are certain dreams that I cherish, that I’d like to see come true,

And there are things that I’d like to accomplish before my working day are through.

But the task my heart is set on, is no more passing fad,

I’ve just got to be successful as this little child’s dad.

I may never come to glory and I may never gather gold,

And men may count me as a failure when my business life is told.

But if he who follows after shall be Godly, then I’ll be glad,

Because I’ll know I’ve been successful as this little child’s dad.

It’s the one job that I dream of, it’s the task I think of most,

For if I fail this little child, I’ve nothing else to boast,

For all the gold and wealth I’d gather, my fortune would be sad,

If I failed to be successful as this little child’s dad.

Thanks - Summer Series - Christ's love is Supreme

June 2017 – Thank you to every member of the Watterson Trail church of Christ who came out for our 100% Attendance Day last Sunday (4^th).  We had a very good crowd of family and friends (125) gathered together to honor God and show Him our love and gratitude in study, fellowship, and worship.  It’s mighty tough to make 100% when some members are sick or caring for the sick.  Some are traveling for work or for other reasons.  Some have to work (police officers, security, nurses, doctors, fire department, etc.). And of course, a few others, well, just do not understand what a pleasure and privilege it is to meet together with God Himself in our midst.  Jesus Himself said, “For where two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I among them” (Matthew 18:20 ESV).  We’ll keep on keeping on, honoring God, showing our devotion to Christ Jesus and our love for all.  God is so good to us and provides for our every need every day.  We are thankful.

UP NEXT:  Our Tuesday Summer Series “Seeing Jesus in the Midst of the Storms of Life” is going strong.  Brother Brent Donoho from the Martinsburg congregation in Indiana did an outstanding job with his lesson this week, helping us to see Jesus in the midst of the storm of doubt.  Next Tuesday (13^th) at 7:00 p.m. Brother Dale Phillips from Westport Road will be with us to teach us to see Jesus in the midst of the storm of disappointment.  Remember, we will not meet on Wednesday evening during June, July, and August.  Come and grow your faith ever stronger every Tuesday in the summer.

Recently one of our Christian brothers read from Romans 8:35-39 and while listening to him read, I understood.  Nothing…nothing we see or experience in this world shall be able to move us from the love of Christ.  Though we are in trouble, Christ loves us.  Maybe we’re stressed, yet Christ loves us.  We may be persecuted, and still Christ’s love sustains us.  We may be lonely, hungry, tired, or doubtful and still Christ’s love surrounds us.  Circumstances may seem hopeless, and yet the love of Christ remains.  Wow!  What a great love!

(35)  "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"

(38-39)  "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Happy Mother's Day 2017 - Mary certainly loved her Son...

May 2017 – Happy Mother’s Day! 

Our lesson on Sunday morning (14^th) will focus on the Jesus’ mother’s love for her Son and the lessons we can learn from their relationship.  Jesus’ mother presented Him to God (Luke 2:22).  She carried Him to worship (2:42).  She trusted Him and gave Him freedom to be Himself (2:44).  She worried about Him and didn’t always understand Him (2:48-50).  She gave Him responsibility and held Him responsible (2:48).  She treasured His life (2:51).  She provided for His growth in every way and so He grew in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man (2:52).  She expected great things from Him (John 2:5).  And Jesus exceeded every expectation.  What about us?  As parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, and family and friends, do we live our lives before the boys and girls who will be following our words and examples in a way that will lead them to grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men?  Yes?  Terrific!  Let’s keep on keeping on.  No?  Let’s make a real change today and get on the right track.

On Sunday afternoon at 1:30 our lesson is entitled "Living Life the Way Jesus Lived Life."  Jesus never gave in!  He never gave in to TIME.  He never gave in to HINDRANCES.  He never gave in to DOUBT.  Are you living your life the way He lived His.  Can we?  Of course we can.  Will we?  Now that's up to us.

Coming up at Watterson Trail! 

Our BIG 100% Attendance Day in scheduled for Sunday, June 4^th (Only 3 weeks away).  I hope every member of the Watterson Trail congregation has marked this day to gather for Bible study, worship, and fellowship.  Wouldn’t it be fantastic to have 149 assembled together to honor God and encourage one another? Plans are to meet for Bible Class at 9:30 and then worship together at 10:30.  We’ll have a delicious “potluck” lunch together, meet again at 1:30 for a short devotional period, then break for the day. 

Also, our Tuesday Summer Series begins on Tuesday, June 6^th with Brother Brent Donoho from Martinsburg, Indiana coming over to share a lesson on our theme; “Seeing Jesus in the Midst of the Storms of Life.”  His lesson is entitled “Seeing Jesus in the Midst of Doubt.”  Our Tuesday Summer Series will continue every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in June, July, and August.

God is so good to us; yesterday, today, and forever.  May we live for Him every day in a way that honors Jesus Christ, His most precious gift to the world. 

I CAN & I WILL b/c GOD CAN & GOD WILL

Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?  The Lord asked this question of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 18:14 when He promised that Sarah would have a child even though such a thing seemed impossible since Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 years old (Genesis 17:17).  Of course NOTHING is impossible with God.  The entire world changes at His word.  And the Lord fulfilled His promise to Abraham and Sarah just as He promised when Isaac was born. 

Our brother the Apostle Paul wrote about God’s power in Romans 8:31 and said, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  God can do anything.  He can do the small things.  He can do the great things.  God certainly fulfills all His promises!  Always has.  Always will.

So when the Lord says in Luke 6:38; “Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” He means it.  And He always delivers on His promises.  Just trust and obey and see for yourself.  What “measure” are you using, a teaspoon, a shovel, or a dump truck?  God promises to use the “same measure back to you.”

The Lord always comes through on His promises.  We must open our hearts to trust Him and obey Him and be available for all the possibilities for our lives, our family, and the church.  We must be “opportunity conscious” and take full advantage of every possibility.  We must get ready and stay ready for God’s blessings. 

Look at 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  Are you?  When you trust and obey the Lord, He will fulfill His promise.

Look at II Corinthians 9:8: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”  God’s promises never fail.

Then Ephesians 3:20: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.”  Again, God is able. 

In the church and in the world we have: Sister “I can’t” and Brother “I won’t” along with Brother “I intend to but never do” and Sister “I will as soon as I get a round2it.”  Fortunately we also have our Sister “I will” and Brother “I can.”  I so very thankful for them.  I can and I will because God can and God will. 

Lads to Leaders Convention has Arrived - April 14-16 - We're ready too!

Hello and welcome.  It is such a privilege to be able to meet together with family and friends on the Lord’s Day and at other times for worship, study, and sweet fellowship.  Life is often filled with busy-ness and it is very easy to take for granted the rich blessings we enjoy, our freedom, our health, our family and friends; just everything that is good and rich in life.  God provides His very best.  Let us thank Him daily for His grace.

This weekend (April 14-16) several from our youth group along with their coaches and leaders will be participating in the Lads to Leaders Convention at the Louisville Marriott Downtown, 280 West Jefferson Street.  Our team is made up of eight of our very best Watterson Trail champions:  Jackson Frederick, Victoria Kalahan, Maddie Lindsey, Geramiah Mitchell, Alex Ritter, Trevor Ritter, Amber Tennill, and Ema Widner.  May God bless our team with strength, clarity, and courage as they represent Christ and His church at Watterson Trail at this year’s convention!  Come and see.  By the way, L2L Conventions are being held in cities across the nation.  Thousands of children and teens with their parents, coaches, and sponsors will gather together and focus on this year’s theme found in the book of Ruth chapter 3 verse 5 where Ruth tells her mother in law, Naomi:  “And she said to her, ‘All that you say to me I will do.”  Cindi and I will be with our group in Louisville, Kentucky only 15 miles from our home.  We are blessed.

We will be having a very special “send-off” ice cream supper for our L2L (Lads to Leaders) team immediately following our devotional period this Wednesday evening, April 12^th.  Plan on coming out for Bible Class at 7:00, a short devotional period at 7:45, then ice cream to follow.  Mmmm!

Coming in June:  Wouldn’t be great to have every member of the church of Christ at Watterson Trail present for one Sunday in the year?  Well, mark your calendar.  Make plans to be present.  Invite and remind every member of the church of Christ at Watterson Trail.  We’re having a 100% Membership Day on Sunday, June 4^th.  We’re planning this very special Sunday to celebrate how very blessed we are to have such a loving and caring family of Christian brothers and sisters.  Our goal is to have all 149 members present for worship and fellowship on this very special day. We’ll need every member to commit to this day and also to call, write, and remind others to do the same.  Wouldn’t this be simply “family-tastic!”  Let’s do it!