As my youngest daughter (who is 4 years old) prays, she inevitably expresses thanks to God for the blessings that He provides. However, when she states it, there is a truth that she adds which many of us adults forget. She prays, “Thank you for the blessings that we always have.” It is true isn’t it? God “daily bears our burdens” (Psa. 68:19), and “A faithful man will be richly blessed” (Pro. 28:20). Even the unrighteous are blessed through God’s faithfulness in creation (Mat. 5:45; Acts 14:17). The physical blessings that every man enjoys come from God: “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). God wants us to be happy and satisfied so that we can see and access the greater blessings (that have always been in His mind) in the spiritual realm. To “always have” those blessings we must choose to be in Christ’s church and keep ourselves in the love of God (Mat. 16:18; Jude 21). To be “in Christ” one must have the faith that leads them to repent and confess Christ and be baptized “into” Him (John 3:36; Luke 13:3; Acts 8:37; Gal. 3:27). God had a plan before the world began for mankind to receive the ultimate blessings of mercy, grace, redemption, and eternal life in His Kingdom through obedience to His only begotten Son (2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 1:2). Think about it: Christ was “slain from the creation of the world” so we could always have blessings (Rev. 13:8). God chose that the faithful in Christ would always have blessings “before the creation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). At the end of time, the Lord and King will allow the righteous to always have blessings in the “kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (Mat. 25:34). Let us be thankful for the “blessings we always have!” Derrick Coble, Nesbit church of Christ, Nesbit, MS
Out of love for one another…….
We are currently allowing mask use to be optional during the Sunday morning Bible Study and worship assembly and Wednesday evening Bible study. We recommend that those who are unvaccinated or have personal health concerns to continue to wear a mask. We thank you for your consideration of and care for others. Masks are available if you need one.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)
Scripture of the Week
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” ~~ 2 Peter 1:3-4
Something to Smile About
A Rude Awakening
On a Sunday morning, after the worship service, a woman who prided herself on her youthful appearance, spotted a familiar face in the crowd in the fellowship hall. After thinking a while where she might have known that lady, she decided that they might have been students together in high school. She approached the lady and said, “Excuse me, but did you go to Cherry Hill High?”
“Yes, I did,” replied the lady. “My name is Gloria.”
“Gloria! Yes, I remember you! You were in my class!”
Puzzled, Gloria gave the matter some thought for several moments. “What subject did you teach?”
Think About It
Living with Dragons
One day, in England, a “gentleman of the road” (we’d call him a hobo) stopped by a restaurant named “St. George and the Dragon.” He knocked at the back door and asked if he might have some leftovers to eat. A very stern lady looked the fellow in the eye and said: “I’ll not give you one crumb. You’re a fit fellow. Get yourself a job, you bum!” And then to punctuate her point, she slammed the door in the fellow’s face. The shabbily dressed fellow stood looking at the establishment’s sign for a moment and then knocked, again.
The door opened and the same stern lady asked in a hateful voice: “Well, what is it you want, now?
“I was just wondering,” he said, “could I please talk to St. George, this time?”
Unfortunately, we all face “Dragons.” Sometimes we work for them. Sometimes they are relatives. But let’s face it, sometimes we are the dragons! (Not you, right?). So I look for a dragon slayer I can count on. It’s called love.
What makes the dragon in you appear? Petty problems, real or imagined slights, jealousy, insults, someone cheats you? Do you really like yourself when the dragon appears? I know I don’t like it when it is me.
So let’s try this formula from the Bible:
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10).
“… show perfect courtesy toward all people” (Titus 3:2).
Larry Fitzgerald, Woodlawn church of Christ, Abilene, TX
Highland Lakes church of Christ 