Prayer
List
Charles
Counts conditions are improving.
We need to
keep Kathy Hill in our prayers.
Andy LeDane
is home recovering from surgery.
Helen Counts
is recovering from a fall and also has a chest infection.
Gary Counts
is recovering from 2nd knee surgery.
Eddie and
Tabitha Griffin, Florene and Jimmy Griffin, Jerry and Betty Harris,
Billie Phillips, Billie Bradford, Betty Clark, Carl Hall, Jim
Hallman, Eddie Hickerson, Gary Hickerson, Dorothy Hodges, Ron Hunter,
Bobbi King, Audrey McKin, Beryl Miller, Kylie Painter, Ryan Patti,
Della Price, and Eddie Rollins.
Serving in
the military:
Faith Balzen,
Cody Blomstedt,
Travis Counts,
Tyler
Davies,
Josh Van Deren, and
Dakota Smitherman all are in the U.S...
Chris Johnson has been deployed to Kuwait.
Let us pray
for our country and government leaders and those who are in harms
way, military and civilian personnel.
“The
effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much…
Pantry
Item: Assorted Cereal
January
Announcements: Don Harrington
Lord Supper:
Don Baker, Robert Courtney, Robert Embry
January 7:
Prayers: Morning: Don Harrington – Robert Courtney
Evening: Charles
Counts – Don Hickerson
Scriptures:
Don Harrington
>>>>>>>>>>
The
Power of One Voice
By
Gerald Cowan
There have been times, more of them than I would like to admit, when
I have not spoken up about something, even though I knew my one voice
might have made a significant difference and done some good.
Sometimes I do not know just what to say or how I should be involved.
But while I delay the opportunity passes, and I often think later, “I
could have said... I should have said... I wish I had said.” Then I
usually regret having said nothing, especially when derogatory
comments have been made about the church or some member of it. As the
wise man said, “There is a time to speak as well as a time to keep
silent” (Eccl. 3:7). But it sometimes takes more wisdom than we
possess, except in retrospect, to known whether to speak or be
silent. I am sure we err more often by speaking inappropriately than
not speaking at all. Right now I want to emphasize the importance of
speaking up, saying something when it needs to be said and while it
can still do some good. Sometimes the most important action in a
crisis situation is the voice of one person speaking the truth. God
chose Moses as the voice to speak to and against Pharaoh, the voice
who would present His words to the nation of Israel (Exodus 3 and 4).
He chose John the Baptist to be the voice of one crying in the
wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord” (Mark 1:3). On a
different but also significant level, it was the one voice of
Barnabas that put Saul/Paul in a good standing ministry for Christ
(Acts 9:26-29). Acquila and Priscilla cared enough about the truth
and the preacher of truth to take Apollos aside and instruct him more
perfectly. That, and a letter from one church to another – two
voices that elicited a chorus of other voices – formed a helpful
bridge for an important ministry (Acts 18:24-28). I can think of
times, no doubt you can too, when, discouraged by some failure,
inadequacy, or enemy I was minded to turn aside, give up, or quit.
But I was persuaded by one or a few who gave me the encouragement
needed, at the time it was needed, to keep on track and stay in the
fight for what was right. I can remember times when I was on the
wrong track and might have stayed there until complete failure and
destruction but some observant and caring person took me to task
about it, and put me on the path to correction and restoration (Gal.
6:1-2 comes to mind here). Looking back I can say, “I would still
be astray and on the wrong path except for the grace of God shown to
me by the concern of a Christian brother or sister.” And I do thank
God that the person chose to speak and not to be silent. I’m sure
you’ve had similar experiences.
If there is someone in your area of influence who needs to hear your voice of encouragement, support, exhortation, admonition, advice, correction, or concern – please let your voice be heard. Even if it is only one voice, your voice, let it be heard.
If there is someone in your area of influence who needs to hear your voice of encouragement, support, exhortation, admonition, advice, correction, or concern – please let your voice be heard. Even if it is only one voice, your voice, let it be heard.