with Carolyn Goff
Hope everyone in our community and county has been well this past week.
COVID is still on the rise. I hope everyone is praying for this thing to go away as I am. Our nephew has been sick with it for about two weeks, and he has been alone. That is so hard and depressing.
Please pray for our neighbors and friends in our community and our county: Kristen Carlton Jones, Tim Landers, Brianna Landers, Gary Hyatt, Jim Ruth, Eloise Murley, Samantha Mosier, Woodie Deming, Betty Quarles, Dennis Goff, Randy Goff and Barbara Mitchell. Pray for the ones with the virus. Everyone, pray for our churches. Some are really going down in attendance; some are not having services, and I am sure the tithes are down with people out of work. Our churches can not survive if we do not do our part and contribute what we can. Wear your mask and go on to church if yours is having services. If not, go to one that is. Things just seem better if we are in church. I have been staying the weekends with Woodie, so I miss some myself. I really hate to miss. My weeks just are not the same. Bethel is having services at 11 a.m. Sunday morning, 6 p.m. Sunday night and 7 p.m. Wednesday nights. Everyone is welcome to attend.
I hope these folks had a very good birthday last week: Sandra Landers and Elaine Kerly on 8/7; Mike Weaver and Tiny Cupples on 8/9; and Amber Wells and Charlie Well on 8/10.
Happy belated anniversary wishes go to Michael and Sharon Hopper on Aug. 6!
Happy birthday to these folks: Thomas Dees, Jr., Pat Rose and Will Couch on Aug. 13; Kenny Mays on Aug. 16; Phillip Mays on Aug. 17; and Richard Mainers and Peyton Rowland on Aug. 18. Happy Birthday to Barbara Tutor in Heaven this year, which is on Aug. 17 also. Thinking of you, Bobbie!
Our quote this week: “I have accepted fear as part of life-specifically the fear of change…I have gone ahead despite the pounding in the heart that says: turn back.” - Erica Jong
Devotion: It’s Not To Late - “Look at King David, the man touted as the greatest king of Israel. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband killed! I doubt if you’ve messed up as badly as King David did. And the Lord called him on it, exposing David’s sin (2 Samuel 12:5-15). David owned up to it, and he repented. And although he did suffer consequences from his actions (his baby died, and there was strife in his household from that day forward), he was not removed from the throne or banished from the lineage of Christ. No, he remained as king until the end of his life, and to this day is still revered as the greatest king of Israel. Jesus is still called “the Son of David” and God still calls David “a man after His own heart,” even in the New Testament. Talk about getting back on track! These people are examples of God’s grace. If you’ve had a setback or made a bad decision (or several) you’re in good company. Forgive yourself and ask God to help you move on, because His grace extends to you, and He wants to get you back on track, too. One of the devil’s favorite lies is to tell us that it’s too late. We’ve blown it too many times, or taken too long to decide, and now it is over for us and we’re off the track for good. But the devil is a liar. The thing about God is that He doesn’t change His mind about us. He devises a plan for our lives, and then He expects it to come to pass. Romans 11:29 says, ‘God’s gifts and God’s call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded’ (The Message). Never! He hasn’t forgotten about you or changed His mind about you for one moment. His plan for your life is still the same, even if you got off track. Say this: ‘Father, forgive me for my wrong choices. Thank you for giving me another chance. I’m getting back up again! I believe I am not moving forward in your perfect plan for me.’”
Have a blessed week! Stay safe and happy!
My number is 879-9777 if you want to add something to this column.
