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Birdwell Lane Church of Christ Big Spring, TX |
Weekly Thoughts - December 2007
| <---- November 2007 | -- | January 2008 ----> |
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02 - SOME THINGS TO KEEP 09 - ASK YOURSELF SERIOUSLY 16 - GODLY FATHERS 23 - CHRISTMAS SPIRIT 30 - No Bulletin This Week |
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SOME THINGS TO KEEP Brethren, each day you will be reaching an important milestone in life. Some will go to new jobs, some may get married, and others will be assuming more responsibility and making more decisions for yourself. Whatever you do, you will be assuming the responsibility for where you will end up. As you do, please consider these things to keep.
See ya Sunday, Ralph |
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ASK YOURSELF SERIOUSLY Does my life please God? Am I studying the Bible daily? Am I enjoying my Christian life? Have I ever won a soul to Christ? How much time do I spend in prayer? Am I trying to bring my friends to Christ? Am I really giving as the Lord prospers me? How does my life look to those who are not members of the church? How many things do I put before Christ? Where am I making my worst mistake? Is the world being made better by my living in it? Simple questions, exciting and frightening at the same time. You see the answers to these questions reveals the answer to the question, how is my relationship to God? Is it a growing or a going relationship? Am I nearer or further away from God today than a year ago? Am I more faithful or less faithful? More evangelistic or less evangelistic? Nobody can answer these question for you except yourself. Nobody can do these things for you except yourself. Nobody can go to heaven or hell for you, it is your choice and yours alone to live and serve God in accordance with His word and in fellowship with His Son. So ask yourself seriously… How am I doing? See ya Sunday, Ralph |
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GODLY FATHERS "How can I go back to my father if the lad is not with me?" (Genesis 44:34). An evangelist once used this to prod fathers to do some soul-searching regarding their responsibility for the salvation of their children even though the text actually has to do with a man's concern for his brother. The verse pierced one father's heart like an arrow. His son was not a Christian and he had never had a heart-to-heart talk with him about it. He immediately went to his boy, "Son", he said, "I've just heard a message which has deeply stirred me. The text was, "How can I go back to my father if the lad is not with me?" "I am a Christian and have tried to set the proper example for you. But I have never talked to you about obeying Christ. One of these days I will be going to my heavenly Father. I do not want to leave this earth without knowing you will eventually join me in heaven." Every parent has an appointment with God and will give an account of their stewardship as parents. Within our hands God has committed the care and keeping and spiritual training of the most precious gift we could have as parents -our children. May I ask you a personal question, one I hope will prick your conscience? Will your children be with you in heaven? It would be the ultimate grief to face our Father in the judgment having failed in our most important responsibility - sharing the gospel with our own children. "HOW CAN I GO BACK TO MY FATHER IF THE LAD IS NOT WITH ME? Genesis 44:34. See ya Sunday, Ralph |
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CHRISTMAS SPIRIT Now I don’t know about you but I love this time of the year. For the most part it is the one time of the year that we would rather give than receive. I love the spirit of the season and the fact that so many take a long look at my Lord. Yes, I know that He wasn’t born on Christmas day. I don’t celebrate it as a religious holiday but I do celebrate the spirit of the season. I am thankful that at least many will stop and think about the arrival of God’s Son. Were it not for His birth we wouldn’t have the benefits of His death which we celebrate each Sunday around the memorial feast. What I like about the season was well said by E.C. Baird many years ago. I am the Christmas spirit! I enter the home of poverty, causing Paleface children to open their eyes wide, In pleased wonder. I cause the miser's clutched hand to relax, And thus paint a bright spot on his Soul. I cause the aged to renew their youth, And to laugh in the glad way. I keep romance alive in the heart of childhood, And brighten sleep with Dreams woven of magic I cause eager feet to climb dark stairways with Filled basket, leaving behind Hearts amazed At the goodness of the World. I cause the prodigal to pause a moment On his wild , wasteful way, and send to Anxious Love some little token that releases Glad tears - tears Which wash away the Hard lines of sorrow. I enter dark prison cells, reminding Scarred Manhood of what might have been, And pointing Forward to good days yet to be. I come softly into the still, white home of Pain, and lips that are too weak to speak Just tremble in silent, eloquent gratitude. In a thousand ways I cause the weary World to look Up into the face of God, and For a moment, a little moment, forget the things that are small and wretched. I am the Christmas Spirit! ---- E.C. Baird See ya Sunday, Ralph |
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No Bulletin This Week |
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