Is it possible that the first half of January is almost past? It seems as if the holidays were just yesterday. Yes, time passes fast and we should make everyday count by serving the one that gives us each and every day. The Lord our God has given us life, provided us with all we need and has a definite plan for each of our lives. We have a choice of living our lives for Him and fulfilling that special plan or ignoring Him; never to realize the joy of having all the empty places in our lives filled to the brim with the peace that passes all understanding. Even through all the struggles that we may have to walk through; He promises to be by our side and will always provide a way. As we sing in the wonderful old hymn, “Only Trust Him.”
Many of our members did not let the frigid weather keep them from attending church and worshiping the Lord together at Red Bank on Sunday. However, we did miss our Sunday school superintendent, Jerry Huff, who had the stomach flu. Pam Shell and Bill Holland were not feeling well enough to attend either. Ralph and Barbadene Laughlin were also missing from our midst. Gary Lirley filled in for Jerry and welcomed everyone present. Jake Hampton led in hymns for the morning worship service. Prayer request were for those members that could not be with us this Sunday. Also, we continue to pray for those that lost loved ones and those that were severely injured in the brutal shooting attack that took place in Arizona. Violence is never the answer.
The subject of the morning sermon was, “Be Humble and Follow God’s Plan.” We have many different examples in the Bible of really listening to God’s plan and humbly, trustingly and totally following it. For instance, in Genesis 46:3 we read the instructions that God gave Jacob. “And he said, ‘I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation’.” Jacob took God at his Word. He loaded up every person of his seed and every thing else he owned and moved to Egypt, even though he was now 130 years old and blind. I call that being very humble and obedient. In Isaiah 53, we find that the prophet of old foretold of God’s plan to send us a Savior. Verse 5 says, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” In the New Testament we read how Jesus, humbly, obeyed his Father in Heaven, and took our place on the Cross to pay the penalty for our sins. On the subject of humility, Paul wrote in Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” In other words, we should always be gracious, kind, selfless and very patient; no matter what the circumstance. Just like Jesus always was.
Sunday afternoon, Gary and Alice Lirley visited with Maxine Lirley. Later that day, they, along with many others, attended the fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration that was held for Merle and Darlene Davis in the Plainview School gymnasium. “Happy Anniversary” greetings go out to Merle and Darlene.
I spoke to our pastor on the phone this week. He had become very ill with a virus of some kind. He said that he was having a tough time getting over it, but that he was giving it his best effort and appreciated our prayers for him.
I also talked to Tattie Maggard on the phone. She said that her baby daughter, Zorianna, was very sick with the stomach flu. Our prayers go out for that little one.
I will close this week’s article with what a writer wrote in the, Life Words,” Sunday school literature on the subject of humbleness. This writer said that a friend once gave this good advice. “Make sure you’re good to everyone. You never know if he or she will become your boss someday.”
