Announcements
Lynn
Meyer Memorial Service--
Will
be Sunday, February 16 @ 2pm at Ridgedale Baptist Church on Hickory
Valley Road.
Fruit
of the Spirit--
Sunday
evenings @ 6:15
Community
Kitchen Spot
There
are a lot of hungry and homeless children of God and the community
needs some help feeding them. If you would like to help out, please
bring the following items to church this Sunday & put them on the
bookshelf.
Plastic
Forks, Knives, Spoons
Dinner
Napkins
Heavy
Duty Sectional Dinner Plates
Dessert
Plates
New
Hope News
Sunday
School—We
start
Matthew
11
this coming Sunday.
Wednesday
Suppers—Have
begun! Bring your supper and join us at 6, or come to study 1 Samuel
(we'll be in chapter 25 next week) at 6:30.
Pray
For:
Norma
Capone
Christine
Dyer
The
folks at Trinity Presbyterian Church
Give
thanks! For today. For life. For a community. For food to eat and
water to drink. For hope. For Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Links
Keith's
Random Thoughts
Have you ever watched a
two year old brush his teeth?
It's awkward. I've seen
more grace (but less enthusiasm) at the zoo watching a hippopotamus
lumber out of a pond. I find myself saying things like, “Don't
bite the brush,” all the while laughing as my son wildly pushes a
tiny brush around his entire face. I love it, but I am also very
aware that the plaque does not tremble in fear at the sound of the
toothbrush, because I'm not sure the brush ever comes into contact
with his teeth.
The doctor, however,
told us that it doesn't matter too much. His baby teeth only have to
make it a few years. What is important is setting habits and
routines so that Caleb will brush his adult teeth, the ones he has to
keep for many decades. Brushing his teeth now sets a pattern that
will keep him healthy later on. So as ungraceful as his brushing may
be, it's important.
Our early spiritual
growth attempts fits into the same pattern. Often, we struggle to do
it well. We stumble at our attempts to pray. We read the Bible and
our attention drifts, or we can't make sense of it. We try, but we
don't feel like we're doing much good.
The important thing,
though, is that we're setting a pattern in place. We're putting
habits in place that will bear fruit later. At first, we may not see
the fruit, but over weeks, months, years and decades, our practices
will build up, cumulatively, and make a huge difference in our
overall quality of discipleship.
Text
for this Tuesday, December 24
Acts
4:32-5:11
(ESV)
32 Now the full number of those who
believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the
things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in
common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their
testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was
upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as
many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the
proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and
it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was
also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of
encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that
belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles'
feet.
Ananias and Sapphira
5 But a man named Ananias, with his
wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife's
knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought
only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter
said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy
Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the
land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And
after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you
have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but
to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and
breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6
The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried
him.
7 After an interval of about three
hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter
said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And
she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is
it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?
Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the
door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at
his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found
her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard
of these things.
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