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Nile
Street Notes
Anna Church of
Christ 104 Nile Street,
Anna, Illinois 62906 833-5815 |
Website: www.annachurchofchrist.com
Vol 24. Issue
2 Jan.
10, 2010
He's Watching You
A
couple of months ago, I walked into my daughter's bedroom and I noticed that
she had placed towels on top of all her American Girl baby dolls. So I
asked her, "Anne Marie, why do all your dolls have towels over their
heads?" She said, "Because of their eyes...they're all watching
me." Well, I had to laugh because I remember being afraid of a
snowman that used to sit in my sister's room when I was a little boy, and it
too had eyes that "watched me."
But did you know that Psalm 139 teaches us that we cannot escape the
"all-seeing" eyes of God? He sees everything. He is
always present. And that truth leads me to this question. Do God's
"all-seeing eyes" give you comfort or fear?
For the child of God who is seeking to become more and more like Jesus, the
presence and oversight of God in one's daily walk should be comforting and
reassuring; like a child learning to ride a bike as that child's father runs along side for protection and safety.
But for the one who is carelessly living his life, unconcerned about the will
of God, the presence and "all-seeing eyes" of God should be a
terrifying proposition.
So which is it for you? Does the fact that God sees everything give you
comfort and reassurance, or does this fact make you want to reach for a towel?
- Steve Higginbotham via MercEmail
SERMON TOPICS
A.M. – “Make No Apologies”
(Rom. 1:14-16)
P.M. – “From Revenge to
Reconciliation”
(Gen. 47:4-7)
Those For
Whom We Are Praying:
Kathleen Ritchey
Rodney & Nikki Lingle
Bill Whitnel
Mitchell Shock – Grandson of
Rosemary’s cousin.
Bonnie Mangum
Virginia McIntyre
Rose Wright –
Home, recovering from abdominal surgery.
Michelle Ashby
(friend of the Driskills) – Has inflammatory breast
cancer that has spread to her ribs, liver, lower spine, & right pelvis. Is
being treated w/chemotherapy and radiation.
Quotable Quote: “When you come to the end of your rope, tie a
knot and hang on.” – Frankiln
Roosevelt
Wisdom From Proverbs: “The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the
counsels of the wicked are deceit” (Prov. 12:5).
Welcome! If you're visiting with us, we extend you a
special welcome and invite you to come back at every opportunity. If our
worship seems unusual to you, please let us know what you find different. We
endeavor to worship "in Spirit and in truth" (Jn. 4:24) and do only
what scripture authorizes (Col. 3:17, Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18-19).
UPCOMING
ACTIVITIES/MEETINGS
* Please remember to mute or turn off cell
phones.
* Today is Flower Fund
Sunday.
* Mark your
calendars and watch for more info about Inspiration 2010—the Dexter Youth
Rally. Dates have been set for March
5-6 and Joe Wells will be speaking.
* The month of
September is open if you'd like to prepare communion. The sign-up sheet is on
the bulletin board.
* Please clip
“Box Tops For Education” & put them in the box in the Preacher’s office.
* Please
continue to drop any Bible questions in the Question & Answer box in the
foyer.
* Please
continue boycotting Pepsi & Frito-Lay
products as they support the homosexual agenda..
*
Congratulations to Renee McAlister. She has worked part-time at Kent Library at
SEMO University for the last 4 years and
has just been hired for a new full-time
position there. She begins Jan. 4, 2010.
* 2010 is just
around the corner! Be careful as you travel these next few days.
* Hearing assistance available
upon request.
BIBLE QUESTION/ANSWER:
Last week’s
answer: Hannah (I Sam.
1:20).
New question: Which
brother was the first to object to killing Joseph?
Sentence Sermon: “A lot of kneeling keeps you in good standing.”
Birthdays &Anniversaries
Chuck Edwards – 1/11
Carlos Wright - 1/13
The
Church And Joy
I
love hanging out with happy people. People who are full of joy and life are my
kind of people and I find myself drawn to them. I’ve also noticed that in
the same way that I love being around joyous people, I find myself naturally
avoiding people who are constantly unhappy. I think you probably agree
that most people feel the same way as I do.
If
there is anyone in this world that should be joyous, it’s a Christian.
Our joy shouldn’t be dependant upon our
circumstances, but upon our future. We’re all going to have bad days.
We’re all going to have daily frustrations, but our focus should be on the
good, the spiritual and the future we have. It’s all about our focus.
Sadly,
too many Christians focus only on the negative things in their lives. If it’s
bad, they want to dwell on it and tell about it:
“It’s
my back.”
“It’s
my children.”
“It’s
my marriage.”
“It’s
my job.”
“It’s
my church.”
I
still remember the place where I was standing when I heard Ms. Griper (as I
like to secretly call her) say something that shocked me. Everyone knew
how much she disliked her preacher, her church and her life, because she told
anyone who would listen. As I stood there listening to her spill about
what she didn’t like about the past Sunday’s worship service, she stopped and
said, “You know, I don’t know why I can’t get my husband to come to church
with me.” Well, duh, I wonder. I didn’t want to visit her
church with all the bad things she was always saying so why would her
husband? There was NO joy in this woman’s life, and if you spent any time
with her at all, she’d suck the joy out of your life.
There
will always be people who have no joy because they choose to focus on the wrong
things. Kind of like the “One-Uppers” of this world, who no matter what,
will always one-up whatever you’ve had happen with something much worse.
If you had to go to the dentist, they’ll tell you that they just
had 4 root canals that same day. If your dog got hit by a car, it just so
happened that their dog was mauled on the front lawn by a lion while all the
kids were watching in horror of course.
It’s
about focus. As a Christian we must focus on what we do have, not on what we
don’t have. Let me help you, just in case you’re not sure about what you
have as a Christian…
·
You have a Father in heaven
who is madly in love with you.
·
You have forgiveness, mercy
and grace through Jesus.
·
You have the gift of
prayer, anywhere, anytime and any place.
·
You’ve got church family
that loves you and cares for you.
·
You’ve got a future in
heaven that no one can steal from you.
If
those aren’t some great reasons to be joyous, then there’s no hope for you
J. Your focus affects your joy. What are you focused on?
“Be
full of joy always. And again I say be full of joy.” Philippians
4:4 (NCV)
- Trey Morgan, Childress, Texas
The Changing
Seasons
One of the times of year I like the most is fall.
The leaves begin to change colors. The weather becomes cooler.
It reminds me of what the Psalmist wrote: “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.” (Ps.19:1 KNJV).
God indirectly speaks to us through nature. When we think of nature we should be able to see God’s beauty. We should be able to witness and feel God’s power. Nature shows us how changes can come rapidly. Perhaps this is why Paul wrote: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. “(Rom. 1:10). Let us think about God and all his attributes as we see the changing seasons.
But let us always remember that God
never changes (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8).
- Bill Brandstatter