2020 HARDING STREET GOALS – 150 – 100 – 75 – 75 – $4227.00 – We can do this!
Hello. Welcome. Sunday is the first in the New Year 2020. So far we’ve had mild temps and some beautiful days to enjoy. Some who were sick are now well and able to be here for worship. We also have many in our community who are grieving. I am so very thankful for answered prayers. Let us keep praying for those who are sick and grieving. Also, remember to give those we love a call, text, and/or a card to encourage them. Check your mailbox in the lobby. Be an encourager in 2020. We had a guest from our community visit with us on Wednesday night who is grieving over the death of his wife and asks for prayer and strength.
My grandmothers (Loie Avery and Tennie Burleson) lived into their 90’s, took very little medication, were seldom sick, especially when they were my age, and always gave me sound advice on how to remain healthy. I can still hear them say, “Son, are you getting enough rest? Now you know when you don’t get enough rest, your immune system will be weak and you’ll end up getting sick!” and “Son, did you eat breakfast? You know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day!” and “Son, did you wash your hands before and after…” and “Son, make sure you drink some hot tea and honey ever so often or you’ll get sick during these cold winter days.” I am trying to follow their instructions. Sometimes I push too hard and don’t rest when I should. Sometimes I skip meals. Not good. I do wash my hands before and after. We visit the Honey Store in Conway quite often to purchase local honey. I do drink a cup of hot tea with a teaspoon of honey just about every day. I don’t know if this helps me stay healthy or not, but I enjoy it and well, so far, so good. Another quote from my grandmothers; “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” True.
What about our spiritual health? The old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is true when it comes to our spiritual health too. God has told us in the Bible in 1 John 2:1; “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” The last part of this verse gives us the cure for sin, Jesus Christ. Sin is terrible. Only Jesus can set us free from sin. The first part of the verse gives us the way to prevent sin in our lives; reading, study, remembrance, and application of God’s word, the Bible as we live in and for Christ Jesus every day. Think. Wouldn’t it be easier on us and everyone around us and wise to apply the “ounce of prevention” every day to our thoughts, words, and decisions? We can do this in 2020. Will we? Yes. We will!
Our hearts go out to our fellow Christians in Texas. We are praying for the families of those who died as a result of the evil of our enemy, the devil and the people who fall prey to his devices. We also pray for the church as they recover from such a traumatic time. Lately I am suspicious of those I don’t know, even our guests who visit with us from time to time to worship God in spirit and in truth. I (we) must not allow the enemy (not flesh and blood but the devil – Ephesians 5:11-12) to rob us of our faith in God, our faith in each other, and our faith in others who seek the hope and salvation from sin and the effects of the evils of sin in Christ Jesus. Our eyes and ears must and will remain open to the needs of those who are searching for truth. Our eyes and ears must also remain open to the schemes of some who would trouble us and seek to destroy the hope we have in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 10:16 – “Be wise as serpents and harmless and doves.” We will.
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