November 28, 2021

209 South Brown Street

Tom Bean, Tx 75489

Phone: (903) 546-6620

Email: tombeancoc@gmail.com

Website: tombeancoc.com

PRAYER LIST

Don Baker – is recovering from heart surgery at home.  He is doing better and will then start rehab in Sherman on December 7th.

Tonya Embry had surgery to remove it a kidney stone.  Her mother also has the same problem. Doctors are trying to get her bp under control.

Charlie & Helen’s friend, Sue, has been diagnosed with cancer

Kerry’s surgery scheduled for December 7th.

Brenda Williams (AC’s daughter) is wearing a heart monitor trying to determine the condition of her heart.  She has been having some trouble.

 

Remember in Daily Prayer:

Cancer: Frank Roden, Betty Clark, Ruth Stone (Greg’s boss’ wife), Debbie Brown (Jan’s cousin).

Macular Degeneration: AC Quinn, Beryl Miller

Others: Greg Counts, Florene Griffin (back & hip), Gary Yowell, Beverly Roberts (MS), Dannie Baker (severe allergies), Steve Dupuis (heart, AC’s son in law), Jennifer Campbell (Frank’s daughter - MS), Anna Lois Farris (heart), Lisa Courtney (hole in her lung), Steven Wilkerson (Lexy’s great grandfather) is on Liver Transplant list, Carol Moore, Billy & Lavona Clinton, Daniel White (Jan’s nephew – seizures).

 

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:  Canned vegetables

 

Men Serving Next Month December

Announcements & Scripture Reading – Kerry King

Lord’s Supper – Greg Counts & Jerry Harris

 

Men Serving Next Week Dec 5, 2021

 

Prayers:

Morning:                                   Jerry Harris – Walter McMillen

Evening:                                   Kerry King – AC Quinn


Finding Joy

In a world bent on the pursuit of pleasure rather than truth, children of God must learn to distinguish between legitimate pleasure and sinful indulgence. We would not be tempted to sin if there were no pleasure in it (cf. Hb. 11:25). But the pleasures of sin come as a high cost.

If we would avoid making worldly pleasure our purpose in life, we must learn to find joy in serving the Lord. Do our lives testify to the presence of joy in Christian service? If not, then, this might explain our ineffectiveness in reaching out to others. The gospel is good news! Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I will say rejoice!” (Ph. 4:4). The fruit of the Spirit includes joy (Gal. 5:22).

Where do we find joy? Joy is a by-product of our relationship with Jesus. All spiritual blessings are “in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). Christian joy is a spiritual blessing. Therefore, one must be “in Christ” to experience true joy. As long as we are on the outside looking in, we will find joy an elusive dream.

Joy is the result of following God’s plan. It is characteristic of a life that reaches out beyond our own personal interests and seeks the well-being of others (Ph. 2:3-4). Jesus reminds us that “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Joy is enhanced by the common love we have for one another in Christ. It is anchored in our hope of heaven – a place of eternal joy in the presence of God.

At the end of his laborious struggle to find meaning in life, Solomon came to understand that the whole duty of man is to “fear God and keep His commandments” (Eccl. 12:13). This is the key to joy: realizing that our purpose in life is to please our Maker.

Seek God first. Learn to tell the difference between sinful and legitimate pleasure. Get busy serving God and following after His commands. These are the things that make life a joy.

— Glen Elliott —