PRAYER LIST
Don Baker will see a cardiologist soon in Dallas. He had a
procedure to remove the skin cancer Thursday. Has to wear a pressure patch for
48 hours.
Frank Roden is continuing follow up treatments.
Debbie Brown continues to improve after her sugery.
Kevin Embry continues recovering from his back surgery at
home.
Lisa Courtney is improving from the aftereffects of
Covid. She has a hole in her right lung.
Steven Wilkerson, Lexy’s great grandfather is on a liver
transplant list.
Gary Yowell had to have a toe removed due to his infection
Tohnie Hynds (friend of Carla) is now under Hospice care.
Anna Lois Farris – needs to have heart surgery but is still
considering.
Bobbye King (Kerry’s mother) is having severe memory loss. She is undergoing a series of tests.
Randy Counts has injured his back.
Sympathy Robert
Embry passed away Wednesday. Services are Monday at 9:00 AM at Cedar Cemetery. Visitation is Sunday from 2:00 – 3:00 at
Fisher Funeral Home in Denison.
Remember in Daily Prayer:
Cancer: Frank Roden, Betty Clark, Ruth Stone (Greg’s bosses’ wife), Debbie Brown (Jan’s
cousin)
Macular Degeneration:
AC Quinn, Beryl Miller
Others: Florene Griffin (back & hip),
Beverly Roberts (MS), Dannie Baker (severe allergies), Steve Dupuis (heart,
AC’s son in law), Jennifer
Campbell (Frank’s daughter - MS), Lovoe Harber (Charlie’s sister), Anna Lois Farris
(heart), Skylar Carr, Christina Morris (AC’s granddaughter).
Serving Our Country:
Cody Blomstedt
(Korea), Kirklynn Hance, Tyler Davies, Jesse Thetford
Police & First Responders, Medical Staff &
Doctors:
Travis
Counts, Dalton Griffin, Chelsie Serrano, Kim Counts
Pantry Item:
Assorted Soup
5th Sunday Luncheon Next Week – Aug 29th
Men Serving Next Week August
29, 2021
Prayers:
Morning: Charlie Counts – Walter McMillen
Evening: Kerry King – AC
Quinn
Do Not Lose Heart
By Josh Blackmer
It is within the realm of possibilities for Christians to get discouraged. Godly people throughout the Bible have struggled with living in a corrupt world. As we seek to live in accordance with a standard that elevates our living and raises our spiritual focus heavenward, there will be conflict. In that conflict, the fervor of our resolve is tested. Conflicts come through others, physical ailments, and random acts of chance. It is not “if” you will ever be discouraged, but “when.” What can we do to prepare ourselves so that we do not go down even to despair?
We need to start with an active prayer life. Christ equated fervent prayer with not losing heart (Luke 18:1). Most often, the first sign of losing heart is being haphazard in our prayer life. We fall out of habits, or we allow other circumstances to distract. In contrast, a strong Christian life is characterized by fervent prayer. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Eph. 6:18). “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2).
Another deterrent to losing heart is being active in doing good. “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Gal. 6:8-9). If we can keep our focus outward on the work at hand, it keeps our minds moving forward. We are preparing for a spiritual reward. It is to that end that we should be striving. Even Christ “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).
Finally, we need to recognize that the things of this life are temporary. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16-18). In doing this, we keep a perspective that buffers our hearts and minds from being overwhelmed. This “light affliction,” Paul says, is nothing to compare with the “eternal weight of glory” that is provided for us.
How do we buffer ourselves from losing heart? Keep an active prayer life, continue in doing good to all men, and maintain the proper perspective on life. These are a few among many things that help hedge against losing heart.