with Carolyn Goff
Hello from Deanburg! I hope everyone has a great week and pray you have a good one coming up.
Happy birthday to Kristen Mays on May 25, A.P. Appling on May 27 and Sharon Mays on May 29. Enjoy your special day.
On our prayer list is Woodie Deming, Joyce Stewart, Kirsten Jones and Esther Murley. We hope you are all feeling better.
Remember our shut-ins, homeless and ones in the nursing homes, our military, our local law enforcement, first responders, our county government and our country.
Our devotion this week: “The Damage of Prayerlessness” – “‘When we bring our problems to God in prayer, He responds with encouragement.’ Colossians 4:2-6
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
“Prayer should be a priority in the life of every Christian. If Jesus, who was the Son of God, often slipped away to talk to His Father, then we surely need it even more! Without prayer and Bible reading, believers are prone to feel discouraged and distant from God.
“When troubles loom, do you seek man-made options in place of taking your concerns to the Lord? Chasing counterfeit solutions only leads you away from God and His will. What’s more, they are short-lived at best and utter failures at worst. Under such conditions, discouragement is unavoidable. But a believer who’s immersed in prayer and Scripture reading finds security in God’s power and presence.
“Even though a habit of neglecting prayer has negative consequences, the direction can be reversed at any time. First, confess your prayerlessness. Then ask the Lord to give you the strength and desire to make communication with Him a regular discipline. Then set aside time every day to read your Bible and pray. In those moments of communion, He’ll make burdens lighter, offer encouragement, and fill you with confidence in His faithfulness and care for you.” (www.Intouchministries.org)
Have a blessed week and keep smiling. If you have news to report, call me at 879-9777.
