Happy 25th Jessica!!!

Paula came to town Friday night for Jessica's birthday weekend.  She and the girls came over Saturday night for Jessica's for supper.  I had told Jessica that it would be her "official" birthday dinner, so she selected the menu.  Afterwards we met up with a few friends at the bowling alley for some fun.  I hadn't been bowling in probably 10-12 years!  It was a lot of fun and I do believe Jessica ended up with the highest total score of the evening.
When everyone got tired of bowling, we decided to head over to Braums for some ice cream.  Then we went to the girls' house to watch a movie.  Fun times all around!

We had a good crowd at the assembly yesterday.  Heather was doing better and able to make it both times.  It is always so good to see her there and not suffering.  (Even tho she never feels good, there are times when it just hurts to see the pain on her face.)  Jared gave a good lesson on aiming our arrows (children) at the true target.  It was a wonderful morning of worship and fellowship!
Paula and the girls came back over to the house for lunch and then went back to the girls' to rest up.  Then after another good assembly that afternoon, about 25 of us headed over to Rosa's for supper and a little extra fellowship. Of course we had to sing "Happy Birthday" to Jessica at the restaurant.  Good times!  Batteries recharged for another week!

Today is Jessica's actual birthday, even tho all the hoopla is over (athough I reckon the bank will do something today to celebrate).  The past six years that Jessica has been with us has been a blessing to our family.  It is hard to imagine our lives without her now!  She has brought so much joy and laughter to our home, and we are so thankful to count her as our extra daughter.  Love you, girl!

 Ru 3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

Ps 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

I love how "recharged" I feel after a beautiful Lord's day!  After a cool and rainy Saturday, we awakened to a glorious day yesterday.  We had most all of our regular members at the assembly for the first time in awhile, as well as a "repeat" visitor.  The singing was beautiful and really touched my heart...to the point of tears.  Dennis gave an excellent lesson on judgement...I was so "into" the lesson that everything else faded away.  When dear Brother Wayne lead the closing prayer, my heart rejoiced to hear such humility and such a strong desire to draw nearer to God come from the lips of such a elderly and godly man.  After another wonderful assembly last night, a large group of us met for supper at Rosa's to top off our inspiring day.  Thank God for designing the assembly for us to come together on a weekly basis to worship Him and be strengthened through His Word and in fellowship with His children.

New additions to our church family

We are so happy to welcome newcomers to our congregation at Highway!  Wayne and Mayrene D. have moved to Weatherford to be closer to their two daughters, Karen and Linda.  Rebecca H. has moved there, also, to attend Weatherford College.  We are so happy and thankful to have them all with us. 

I am also happy to report that Maddie F. was baptized last week...as well as her cousin, Troy H.  Such a wonderful surprise when it was announced this past Lord's Day morning!  I know Layne and Heather are thrilled to have both of their children beginning their Christian walk at such young ages.  It has been so neat to watch little Brett take on a role in the assemblies.  Such a wonderful young family!

1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity

A few "inspirational" thoughts

I had a hard time deciding on a verse to share on fb this morning.  I normally read several chapters, a couple from the OT and a couple from the NT.  Then whichever verse speaks to me the most, I share.  This morning I was reading from James 1 and John 17, and pretty much every verse I read moved me.  I love the book of James…so much practical admonition for our lives.  And of course, John 17 is our Lord’s prayer to His Father for His disciples…including us.  I finally selected the following verse and decided to expand more on why I made this selection:

Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Jesus brought the Word of God to mankind…in His flesh.  He was the living Word!  (1Jo 1:1  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;)( Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.)  Jesus wasn’t of this world but of the Father, and He said the same would be true of His followers.  The world would hate them as they hated Him.  He prayed that God would protect them from the evil.  What a comfort this is…that Jesus interceded on our behalf for God’s protection, even before we were even conceived!  But notice that he asked not that we be removed from this evil world.  Our place is IN this world, to be God’s ambassadors to it…to share His Word with it…to help others escape from the evil in it.

He prayed that we would be sanctified (to make holy, purify or consecrate) through the truth in God’s Word.  This is something that has been on my mind a lot lately.  I see and hear a lot of people who focus on inspirational quotes, stories, videos, etc.  People’s bookshelves are filled with devotionals, “spiritual self-help” books, and study guides of all kinds.  Many hours are spent in these devices and, it seems, more attention is devoted to them than to the bible.  I don’t have anything against reading or watching resources that might help our understanding, and I frequently do so.  However, this should ALWAYS be done with the idea that these are just the writings of men.  THEY are not TRUTH…only God’s Word is that.  God has graciously provided us with “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3).  Our focus should be on the simplicity of God’s word, not man’s wisdom.  2Co 1:12  For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.  We CAN be lead away and deceived by the subtle deceptions of this world.  2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

We HAVE the Word of God.  God breathed it, His prophets and Jesus’ disciples penned it, and God’s grace and providence has preserved it for us throughout the ages.  Let us TRULY appreciate and USE it…making sure all of the nice quotes and messages that we adopt and share are consistent with it.  Or better yet, use God’s Word for our inspiration, not man’s.