Bulletin / Prayer List 3-11-18

Prayer List
We need to keep Kathy Hill in our prayers.
Florene Griffin is in Woodlawn Nursing Home room 423. It is behind TMC.
Dale Counts is recovering from surgery. He will begin cancer treatment after he recovers from surgery.
We need to keep Ben Harrington in our prayers.
Gary Hickerson is home from the hospital.

James Griffin, Jimmy Griffin, Jerry and Betty Harris, Billie Phillips, Billie Bradford, Betty Clark, Eddie Hickerson, Gary Hickerson, Dorothy Hodges, Bobbi King, Audrey McKin, Beryl Miller, Della Price, Eddie Rolens, and Brian Scott.

Serving in the military; 
Faith Balzen, 
Cody Blomstedt, 
Travis Counts, 
Tyler Davies, 
Josh Van Deren, and 
Chris Johnson. 
Josh Van Deren is scheduled to be deployed to Africa in July. All are in the U.S. at this time.

A friend of Don and Jan Hickerson, Roger Neal has passed away.

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…

The Men’s Business Meeting is today after evening worship services. All men are invited and encourage to attend.

Don’t Forget Our Spring Meeting will be April 1st to April 4th. Services will begin at 7:30pm each night. Plan now to attend and invite others.

Pantry Item: Paper Towels

March 18 Prayers: Morning: Robert Courtney – Don Harrington
Evening: Charles Counts – Greg Counts
Scripture Reading: Robert Courtney
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Who Holds Your Hand?
By Susie Boyd
Our hands are made to do a lot of things and we use them every day for our basic survival. One hand fits the other hand perfectly. Holding hands give feelings of comfort or safety. It also lets someone know that they are not alone. It can signify love for someone and it fulfills the basic human need for “touch”.
One day a little girl was crossing the river with her mother. The mother said to her, “Hold my hand please.” The child replied, “No mom you hold my hand. Curiously the mom asked; “What is the difference?’ The little girl looked up and said, ”If I hold your hand and something happens chances are I will let you go. If you hold my hand, I know for sure, that you will never let go.” The little girl knew for sure her mom would not let go. That is immeasurable faith and comfort in her mom.
The hymn, “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” was written by Thomas Andrew Dorsey in 1932 following a tragedy in his life. It was in August that Thomas Dorsey was scheduled to be in St. Louis where he was a featured soloist at a revival. He was hesitant about going due to the fact that his wife was in her last month of her pregnancy. But she was doing well and she encouraged him to go. So he left for St. Louis. At the end of his performance, a message was given to him that his wife had just died. When he returned home he learned that his wife had in fact died while giving birth to a baby boy. Thomas struggled between grief and joy. Sadly it became all grief as his son also died.
A few weeks went by and Thomas became angry at God for the tragedy he had endured. A close friend and professor of Thomas’s guided him to Malone’s Cottage and left him alone.
During this time alone, Dorsey penned the song, “Precious Lord.” The song consisted of three verses and they capture the grief he had experienced. The first stanza speaks of the stormy time he had passed through; the second stanza symbolizes the long road he had traveled and the third indicated hope. Each stanza concluded with the plea, “Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.” What a comforting thought! Even in times of hardship and despair, Thomas turned to God. Just as the little girl crossing the river is sure her mom will not let her hand go, we can be sure, even in our most helpless times that God will not let go of our hands.
We are all faced with struggles and hardship. Let us look to God for our strength. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10-NKJ

(From the Messenger, Tip[ton Children’s Home)