New Year's Resolutions

New Year's Resolutions, although they have became a joke for many people, can be of real value. Resolutions can take the form of a goal or vision for the future or a way to establish guidelines for daily life. Here are seven rules for daily living which were practiced by the late F. B. Meyer:

1. Make a daily definite consecration of yourself audibly to God.
2. Tell God that you are willing to be made willing about everything.
3. Reckon on Christ to do His part perfectly.
4. Confess sin instantly.
5. Hand over to Christ every temptation and every care.
6. Keep in touch with Christ. Read the Bible and quality inspirational books, pray and seek places and people where He is.
7. Expect the Holy Spirit to work in, with and through you.

How wonderful it is to know that God is the Lord of time and that He will be until the stream of time is swallowed up in the ocean of eternity!

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Family Meal and Movie

You are invited to share a special New Year's Eve fellowship with the church family. Thursday night at 6:00 PM we will gather to enjoy a meal together. You are asked to bring a pot of soup, chili or a finger food or dessert to share. Following the meal, we will watch a family Christmas movie together. You won't want to miss this special time! There are not any plans to bring the New Year in at church, so you will be home in plenty of time to see the New Year in with your family!

Trivia Answers...

1. Hosea (Hosea 1:2).

2. The serpent in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:3) and Balaam's donkey (Numbers 22:28).

3. Goliath of Gath (1 Samuel 17).

4. Water turned to blood (Ex 7:17).

5. In heaven (Phil 2:6-11, 1 Cor 15:49).

6. Five (Matt 14:19-21).

7. God with us (Matt 1:23).

8. Jesus (Luke 2:41-46).

9. Three (Acts 9:8-9).

10. Peter (Matt 16:23).

11. A rainbow (Gen 9:11-17).

12. Put some blood on the top and sides of the doorframes of their houses (Ex 12:22).

13. They had to be without defect (Lev 22:19).

14. Aaron (see Lev 16).

Some Bible Trivia...

Are you up for some Bible Trivia???

1. Which Old Testament prophet married a prostitute because God told him to?

2. Which two animals talked with human speech?

3. What was the name of the champion that came out of the camp of the Philistines, to fight the men of Israel?

4. What was the first plague placed on Egypt by God?

5. Where was the Lord Jesus before He was conceived in Mary?

6. How many loaves did Jesus use in his feeding of the 5,000?

7. What does the name Emmanuel mean?

8. What was the name of the missing twelve year old boy, who was found in the Temple?

9. How many days was Saul blind while in Damascus?

10. To whom did Jesus say, "Get thee behind me, Satan"?

11. What did Noah see in the sky?

12. After the Israelites had slaughtered the Passover lambs, according to Moses' instructions, what were they to do with the lambs' blood?

13. Besides the laws for the use of certain animals as sacrifices, what general rule applied to all animals offered to God by the high priest?

(Bonus) 14. Who was the first high priest of the Old Testament Hebrews?

Answers posted tomorrow!!

Great opportunity for groups or families! Found at Chrysalis

The Mission of the Savior

As we close out another year and have cherished Christmas memories in our hearts, here is a reminder that Jesus came with a mission.

3 Reasons Christ Came:

1. Christ came to do the will of God by qualifying Himself to be our substitute. Through Him, we have been sanctified once and for all.

2. Christ came to save His people from their sins. "For all have sinned...", and each one needed a Savior. Jesus came to save from sin.

3. Christ came to gather all God has called to believe. It is God's will for all to come to repentance and call on His name.

Isaiah 61:1-4

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,

Because the LORD has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn,

To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

True Joy...

Christmas Week

What a glorious week this is as we celebrate and move quickly to Christmas Day. This is just a short reminder that there will be no church services this week.

A few prayer requests for you to keep close to your heart are:

Several of our families which are traveling for the holidays. Please pray for safe travels for them.

Janet W.'s mom is struggling with illness and is going into possible renal (kidney) failure.

Felton and Mary Lou's daughter Lori is again facing a battle with cancer. Please pray for Lori and the family.

May your week be blessed and may your heart be filled with Christmas joy and thanks to God for His Gift to us - Jesus.

Christmas Funny For the Day

One Starry Night...

Prayer Request

A prayer request went through the prayer chain tonight for Edward H. He is suffering with a kidney stone. The doctors are hoping it will take care of itself and will give him a few days before doing any treatment.

Update:
Jason Mc. is hope recovering from surgery and doing well.

Thank you for your continued love and prayers for one another.

Youth Christmas Party

The youth will have a Christmas party on December 19 (Saturday) at 7:00 PM at Carol A.'s home. Desserts and tea will be provided and parents are encouraged to bring a finger food for the youth.

All youth grades 6-12 are invited to come enjoy a great time of Christmas fun, food and fellowship. Youth should bring a gift ($5.00 limit) to exchange.

Parents are welcome and should contact Danell to provide attendance and food details.

God's Transforming Grace

Recently we heard a series of sermons on God's Grace. Here are a few truths about Transforming Grace:

God's grace can transform our attitude.
*An attitude is an inward feeling that is expressed through our behavior.
People don't create our attitude, they reveal it.

When we apply God's grace to our lives, it will:

Change the way we think.
*Rubberbands and people only become effective until they are stretched.

Grace helps us choose to focus on others.
*We look beyond ourselves to the needs of others.
*We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.

Grace changes our quitting point.
*Often times it is easier to quit than continue. Adversity promotes endurance and patience produces character.

Chart a course for growth:
*Memorize and apply God's Word. This puts God's thoughts into our hearts to prepare us and equip us to face every situation.

Lottie Moon Offering

The 2009 theme is "Who's Missing? Whose Mission?" focusing on those still missing from God's family and our Great Commission call to reach them.

Who's Missing?

Even after 2,000 years of Christian influence, more than 1.5 billion people are still missing out on the opportunity to hear the Gospel. They are hidden behind cultural, physical, political and language barriers to a Gospel witness

Whose Mission?

The Bible says the lost are living in darkness, alienated from God and without hope in the world. But our obedience will give them hope. God calls every church and every believer to be on mission with Him to break down the barriers. Learn the ways you and your church can be on mission to help bring a lost people into God's family.

Southern Baptist missionaries can’t carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth without our support. How much will you give to reach those still missing from God’s family? Think about what you’re spending on Christmas gifts. Consider giving your biggest gift to God – through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Because you give, the lost are hearing. The 2009 national goal is $175 million. Our church’s goal is $5,000.00. There is opportunity to give throughout the month of December.

Update and Prayer Request

This is an update on Jason Mc. who had surgery earlier today. The surgery went fine and Jason will be in the hospital for several days as he recovers.

Jason's wife Holly's father will undergo surgery tomorrow to rework his pacemaker. Please pray for Wayne E. and also for Holly as this is a very stressful time for her family.

Prayer Request

Thursday morning Jason Mc. will have surgery for an intestinal obstruction. This is a different issue than the liver problems he has been having. There will have to be a surgery for that upcoming, but an obstruction has been found that must be dealt with now. Please keep Jason and his family in your prayers.

Also Rebecka, young daughter of Michelle C. will undergo a muscle biopsy after Christmas. She is being treated by the Shriners for a condition that affects her muscles that they are trying to determine and treat her. Please pray for Rebecka and her family and for wisdom for the doctors.

Children at Surrey Place

When our children went to the Surrey Place to sing to the residents there, they also spread cheer and blessings. They passed out a cute ornament with a poem reminding each one that they are special and unique.

The children passed the ornament and handmade cards out along with lots of hugs:

It seems as if the patients loved them!

The children went to several rooms to sing and share a hug:

What a special time this was for the kids and adults!

Prayer Request & Update

There has been a request for prayer for Jason Mc. He and Holly will meet with a surgeon Tuesday morning to discuss treatment for removing the mass of blood vessels attached to his liver. Please pray for Jason and Holly and for wisdom for the doctors as they begin a treatment plan.

Children Singing...

Recently our children grades 1-5 went to the Surrey Place to spread cheer and Christmas joy to the residents there.

Here is the great group of children who came:

Here are some of the audience who enjoyed hearing the children:

The children did a fanatic job singing:

We appreciate Mrs. Cindy and her leading the music:

Keep a watch on the blog for more photos this week!

Friday's Verse

When we feel weak:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phillipians 4:13

Youth Missions Class Party

The youth missions class that meets on Wednesday night will be having a Christmas celebration at the home of Buddy and Liz H Wednesday night (December 9). There will be a bonfire, pizza, gifts and lots of fun!

Youth need to be ready to leave the church at 5:30 PM Wednesday and will go to Buddy and Liz's home and will return to the church by 8:00 PM.

Pizza will be provided, you may bring drinks and/or dessert. Also, please bring a $1.00 (Dollar Tree) gift for a fun exchange!

Verse for Thursday

Why should we feel worthless, when God's Word tells us that we were bought with a price:

I Corinthians 6:20 "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."

Family Meal

Remember the Family Meal at 6:00 tonight! This will be a special time of Christmas fellowship for the church family.

After the children eat (around 6:30PM), they will go into the sanctuary to practice for their Christmas program.

Following the meal there are ministries for the entire family - children, youth and adults. Hope to see you there!

Wednesday's Verse

Why should we worry?

I Peter 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Update on Jason

We shared yesterday that Jason Mc. went to the doctor after suffering from stomach pain for a while. The doctors found a large mass in his liver and sent him for a CT scan today.

The scan showed that the mass is a body of blood vessels that has grown mostly on the outside of his liver and doctors are pretty confident that they are non cancerous. Jason will face upcoming surgery for this some time in the future, but for right now he and Holly are praising the Lord that this is not as serious as it could have been.

Please continue to keep Jason and Holly in your prayers as we are thankful for a better report than previously given.

Tuesday's Verse of the Day

Why should we be afraid?

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7