We are so very excited that Brother Rob will be returning home, in a few days, after being deployed for the past six months. We have missed him so very much, probably not nearly as much as his wife and daughters, but his absence has been felt in a big way with all of us. We are all looking forward to welcoming him home.
This past weekend was our regional Family Retreat. Brother Pate did an awesome job of putting it together, as usual. He does an excellent job of planning the menus and preparing the food too. Sister Autumn was such a blessing in allowing God to work in her and through her as she ministered or while she was just having fun. If you walked away from the retreat without being blessed, then maybe you should have moved up front where we were, because no one that was sitting any where near me was without a blessing. God's presence was felt strongly and we are so thankful for the opportunity to have attended. We had great classes too...Brother Jesse and Sister Vicky did an outstanding job! We rejoice over the 5 who received salvation and the one that was sanctified...God is good and and we thank Him for answering these prayers and look forward to the other prayers that He will be answering. Of course, the icing on all of this was the fellowship...it is always wonderful to get to see everyone and have so much fun.
We have changed locations. We are now meeting at the Cochran Music Preschool, just off south I-35 and Indian Hills Road behind Double Dave's Pizza (Hey Dey's). We meet there on Sunday mornings at 10:00 for Sunday School and 10:45 begins our worship service. We are still meeting in our home at 7:00 on Wednesday evenings. If you are in the area, please join us.
Till next time...Sister Tammi
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Winning Vs. Losing
This was my devotion this morning. How often do we become so convinced that we are right and destroy those we love or our brothers or sisters in Christ trying to prove that we are right, when we should back off and allow God to do the proving?
"One of the hardest things in life is allowing someone to "win" a disagreement — especially when we’re convinced that we’re right. The Word of God teaches, however, that "losing" in the eyes of the world can mean "winning" in the eyes of God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9)
Did you get into a disagreement with a spouse, family member, friend, or colleague? Have you decided that you’re not going to "back down"?
As Matthew 5:9 instructs, who we really are has very little to do with who gets the "last word" or what we "accomplish." After all, even non-believers win a lot of debates, and accomplish impressive things! Instead, who we really are has everything to do with how we love, treat, and unify people. In 1 Corinthians chapter 13, the Bible warns that we can speak in tongues, have prophetic powers, and give everything we have to the poor, yet still be a "useless nobody" to God.
Being "someone" to God often means surrendering our right to be "right." It also means that, occasionally, we’ll have to "lose" with people in order to "win" with God.
The devil will do anything to escalate a disagreement. He will remind us of what someone said, and how they said it. He will feed a tiny offense until it progresses into an explosive fight. That’s what he does! The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy the unity in families, among believers, and in friendships. He recognizes the power of peace — and so should we." (Marsha DuCille)
James 3:18 promises:
"And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
The fruit is sown of them that MAKE peace...in other words, those who work at bringing peace or making peace in situations will bear the fruit in peace. So...in the situations you are facing today, are you making peace, sowing seeds in peace or are you destroying others in the pursuit of proving that you are right?
Lord, help me to surrender my NEED or desire to be right into Your hands and help me to never destroy those that I come in contact with in my pursuit to prove how right I am!
"One of the hardest things in life is allowing someone to "win" a disagreement — especially when we’re convinced that we’re right. The Word of God teaches, however, that "losing" in the eyes of the world can mean "winning" in the eyes of God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9)
Did you get into a disagreement with a spouse, family member, friend, or colleague? Have you decided that you’re not going to "back down"?
As Matthew 5:9 instructs, who we really are has very little to do with who gets the "last word" or what we "accomplish." After all, even non-believers win a lot of debates, and accomplish impressive things! Instead, who we really are has everything to do with how we love, treat, and unify people. In 1 Corinthians chapter 13, the Bible warns that we can speak in tongues, have prophetic powers, and give everything we have to the poor, yet still be a "useless nobody" to God.
Being "someone" to God often means surrendering our right to be "right." It also means that, occasionally, we’ll have to "lose" with people in order to "win" with God.
The devil will do anything to escalate a disagreement. He will remind us of what someone said, and how they said it. He will feed a tiny offense until it progresses into an explosive fight. That’s what he does! The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy the unity in families, among believers, and in friendships. He recognizes the power of peace — and so should we." (Marsha DuCille)
James 3:18 promises:
"And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
The fruit is sown of them that MAKE peace...in other words, those who work at bringing peace or making peace in situations will bear the fruit in peace. So...in the situations you are facing today, are you making peace, sowing seeds in peace or are you destroying others in the pursuit of proving that you are right?
Lord, help me to surrender my NEED or desire to be right into Your hands and help me to never destroy those that I come in contact with in my pursuit to prove how right I am!
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