Articles
Yes, You Can
Yes, You Can
By Don Truex
One question asked with frequency is, What can I do as a member of this local congregation?" That is truly a fine inquiry and manifests a spirit that is much needed today. To be happy in the work of the Lord is to cultivate a real sense of belonging. To legitimately feel that you are a vital part of the work. To be active in the work of the Lord is to have concern for that work and a genuine love for those who share in that same work with you. There is much that you can do today to share the good message of salvation that has graced your life. You can:
- Concentrate, one on one, in leading a soul to Christ.
- Entertain a group of members in your home in order to cultivate better friendship and relationships. Take a personal interest in and responsibility for the peace, harmony and growth of the church.
- Invite a friend or family member to Bible study and Worship. Countless people are sincerely searching for truth and would cherish and accept your interest in them.
- Take an active interest in the visitors to our assemblies. Greet them with warmth and friendliness Talk to them, sit with them, encourage them. Never allow them to merely be lost in a sea of humanity, and thus leave feeling that their presence is not important and valued.
- Through a card, visit, or call, encourage those members who are absent from our assemblies. Absenteeism is a symptom of a deeper need which must be addressed immediately.
- Write a note of appreciation to someone who has truly influenced your spiritual life.
- Forgive someone who has set himself to be your enemy. Ask God to help you rise above anger, revenge and ill will. Pray for that enemy and do him good. Always conduct yourself as a Christian in both word and action.
- Do something thoughtful for a sick or home bound person. What better way can one illustrate love for those less fortunate than ourselves?
- Make a special effort to show hospitality to someone who has lost a loved one or is struggling with some grave personal challenge.
- Pray each day for the Kingdom of God (His people) on earth.
You see, there is much you can do in using this day to the glory of God and the betterment of His Son's kingdom.
In My Sight
By Myrtle Webb Williams
In my mind’s eye, I see a waving field of beautiful flowers;
But they don't compare with the beauty of My home in heaven.
I reached down and picked up a bright white, glittering diamond, a gold nugget,
Beside a faultless pearl; rich in creamy texture, all this without cost:
Free because I found it all there for my possession.
What worth are these compared to my home prepared for me by my Lord,
Where we need no light; God's brilliance fulfills our sight
To light up our happiness triumphantly.
Oh, God, my trapped spirit swells against the borders of my flesh and bones.
Bring down your ladder that I might climb up there to You in prayer.
With the help of Your Holy Spirit, pour out my soul’s desire to You, my Father,
Through your Son, my High Priest and only mediator;
Knowing that you love me and hear me comes by faith
And not by my limitation of eyesight.
Bursts of beauty, as the first ray of light,
Announces the dawning of the rising sun, fills my sightless eyes.
A glimpse of heaven, my future home to house my endless spirit,
Dispels the gloom and darkness of my earthly eyes.
Joy and happiness tells my spirit to rise quietly as a released vapor escapes,
To be home with my Creator,
Who gives sight and light to my useless eyes!
(Sister Myrtle Williams wrote this at the age of 87. She was a resident of Marathon in Key West, Florida and was blind. She and one other man constituted the church in Marathon. When Albert and Adalene Norman [my maternal Grandparents] spent their winters there, the church doubled in size -- from two members to four. Sister Williams attached the following dedication to the other person who made up the church in Marathon: “To James Nelson, who loves the One Church which is the Body of Christ -- Eph. 1:22-23, 4:4” - prb)
A Moments Wisdom
- Some people are humble and proud of it.
- To belittle is to be little.
- Practice makes perfect, so be careful what you practice.
- Don’t pray for a lighter load; pray for a stronger back.
- People rowing the boat seldom have time to rock it.
- When you are in deep water, trust the One who walked on it.
- Wrinkles are the tracks smiles leave behind.
- Be a fountain, not a drain.
- Beauty, unaccompanied by virtue, is a flower without perfume.
- A bad workman blames his tools and materials.
- He who boasts of his knowledge advertises his ignorance.
- A book that is shut is a block.
- To a quick question, give a slow answer.
- Look before you leap, for snakes among sweet flowers often creep.
- Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.
- We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.
- Be sincere; be brief; be seated. (Franklin Roosevelt on public speaking)
- Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.
- When you have given nothing, ask for nothing.
- The most called-upon prerequisite of a friend is an accessible ear.
Upcoming Sermons
1/21/24 AM - Opening a Door for the Gospel; PM - Dealing With Confrontation
1/28/24 AM - 2023 Report on the Work of the Lord at Trilacoochee; PM - The Community of Christians
2/4/24 AM - “I Will Sing Praises Unto the Lord”; PM - Themed Singing Service: “All Nature Sings”
2/11/23 AM - What is the World?; PM - Weights and the World
2/18/24 AM - Everyone Wants to Go to Heaven; PM - “I’m Bored”
2/25/24 AM - What Does It Mean to Be Spiritually Strong?; PM - Unwittingly Entertaining Angels
