Your arm is endowed with power. Your right hand exalted. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne: Love and faithfulness go before you. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you. Who walk in the light of your presence. LORD.
Psalm 89:13-15
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GROWING TOGETHER IN CHRIST
BEYOND WHAT YOU SEE ~ By Lynn Maddox
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Quietly I sat in my prayer chair gazing out the window at my crepe myrtle tree giving up its last signs of life to winter. I had watched it come to life in the spring, flower throughout the summer and now give up its beauty to fall. Except for a few leaves showing signs of some precious life. It’s beautiful life’s journey seemed over.
Asking God “Why should this be?” I was reminded of the cycle of life and as I quietly continued to pray…I heard a sudden rushing sound outside my window.
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Opening my eyes, I saw about fifty to seventy five beautiful birds known as Cedar Waxwings. They landed on the seemingly dying branches turning my crepe myrtle into a glorious blooming wonder of life and song. It was as though God was saying, “I am not limited by season.” I am able to give your tree new life in ways never imaged. Look beyond what you see. Rejoice, be glad and give thanks that “I AM” is able to recreate a new vision from that which seems to be passing away.
Look beyond the expected and see the God of the unexpected for He says “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Reflection: What circumstance in your life do you need to look beyond to see what God is doing?
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A Pilgrim’s Prayer
O Lord our God and Heavenly Father, which of thy unspeakable mercy towards us, hast provided meate and drinke for the nourishment of our weake bodies. Grant us peace to use them reverently, as from Thy hands, with thankful hearts: let Thy blessing rest upon these Thy good creatures, to our comfort and sustentation; and grant we humbly beseech Thee, good Lord, that as we do hunger and thirst for this food for our bodies, so our soules may earnestly long after the food of eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord And Savior. Amen
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What Thanksgiving Means to Me... |
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Happy Thanksgiving 2020! In light of what this year symbolizes for all of us, a first thought may be that the words Happy and Thanksgiving don’t belong in the same sentence in 2020. I was asked to say what Thanksgiving means to me, and for me, it is a very special and meaningful holiday (literally Holy Day) partly because of the history behind it. It is a history that needs to be remembered and acknowledged in the midst of huge dinners and football games. Our country is by no means the only one in the world that has a day called Thanksgiving, but the one we celebrate is uniquely American. The first question-and most important one-is: to whom are we directing our thanks? Is it just a generic, generalized good feeling or is it more focused and personal that that? I love the words of William Bradford in 1623 at what is usually considered our first Thanksgiving: “All ye Pilgrims with your wives and little ones, do gather at the Meeting House on the hill.. there to listen to the pastor, and render Thanksgiving to the Almighty God for all His blessings.
Or the proclamation of George Washington in 179 where he called the American people to celebrate “a day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hears the many and signal favors of Almighty God.” In 1863 Abraham Lincoln proclaimed an annual National Day of Thanksgiving “on the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.” In this difficult year it’s important to remember that the first Thanksgiving in 1623 was celebrated after a grueling year in which nearly half the people who came on the Mayflower had died. The 1789 Thanksgiving was at the end of the Revolutionary War when the country was still reeling to establish itself and was fighting over the adoption of our Constitution. The 1863 proclamation was made in the middle of the Civil War to country that was bitterly divided. Division, strife, sickness and uncertainty are not unique to 2020, but the same God who was to be thanked, praised and worshiped in the past is the One we turn to on this November 26th . It is His Word that is the basis for all of this, and God tells us “Be joyful always, pray continually: give thanks in all circumstances, this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18. We often wonder what God’s will is for our lives, and there it is. It is wonderful to live in a country where we have an official day that was created to focus on God and thank Him, but in reality we are called to live lives of Thanksgiving to God every day. As we celebrate Thanksgiving on November 26th for one day, let us carry it over to the next and the one after that and one after that. We, of all people, know we are blessed and have hope because of Jesus Christ, and that is the source of our thankful hears no matter the circumstances. Join me in making God the center of the Holy Day and encourage your family, children, grandchildren and friends to focus on Him and His many blessing as you celebrate. ~ Neal Morgan
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Thanksgiving…My favorite holiday-simply a time to slow down and be with those I love. ~ Gina Robinson
Thanksgiving to me means intentional family time with lots of food. Mark is from the Boston area and is one of five siblings. Luckily, that all live within 45 minutes of Mark’s parents’ house, so you can get everyone in one trip. My family is spread out. While my parents live close to us in Rome, I have a sister in Dallas, TX and a sister in Beaufort, SC. It’s a bit more complicated. We all want to be together for Thanksgiving and it can be just as stressful being apart as it is being together. I love how Thanksgiving establishes the tradition of intentional time together and help us impress on our three kids that family is important. I hope through either the traveling or the hosting, they see the effort of our families trying to be together. Everyone loves to eat the Thanksgiving meal. Besides the turkey and all the sides, I do love going around the table and hearing everyone say what they are thankful for. Thanksgiving is a time of reflection for the blessings given by God. Expressing our gratitude to God in each’s other presence brings joy for each of us. Of course, the desserts bring a little joy too! ~ Jill Fisher
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Throughout scripture God instructs his people to be thankful. I Chronicles 16:3-1 reads: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever. In the New Testament I Thessalonians Paul reminds his people “to be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” To give thanks in all circumstances is a very difficult command for my sinful nature to obey. However, in my life experiences I have found that there is a very strong connection between thankfulness and a blessed joy in the Lord. A thankful heart will result in a quiet inner joy that sustains us as we walk through our day. This joy may burst forth in praise as we see a beautiful fall tree, a sunset, or a loved one. A realization of our blessed life calls for thankfulness. At these times we acknowledge asscripture teaches usthat God is good and he provides us new mercies each day. The opposite is true, if I spend my day grumbling and wishing that my circumstances were different. I become lost in my selfishness and lose my joy. I hide God’s light under a bowl and my life doesn’t show others the gift that God has given me as a Christian. It is during these times that I must make my relationship with God my priority each day. His word gives me strength and new direction. Isaiah 28:29 states; “You, O Lord of hosts, are wonderful in counsel and great in wisdom.” Time alone reading scripture and talking to God renews my joy and rejuvenates my thankfulness. I’m overwhelmed that God loved me so much that He gave His only son Jesus to die on a cross for my sins. He did this so I would be counted as Holy before God and be filled with the Holy Spirit. I did nothing to deserve this. It was a free gift from a loving, faithful, ever present God. Because of this gift I will be able to live with Him eternally. The knowledge and acceptance of this truth fills my heart with gratitude. Thank you Jesus. You are always with me through the good and bad experiences of this life. May I always grow in your likeness. Praise your Holy name. ~ Ellissia Smyth |
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Coming Up
Christmas Decorating of Church:
King Hall- Monday, Nov. 23, 2020
Sanctuary- Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020
Please contact Virginia Saunders at 205-914-4034 to sign up.
Farewell to the Chadwicks
Saturday, November 14, 2020 at 4:30pm in King Hall. Cards and Monetary Donations will be accepted. Come and join us.
Books we’re reading:
- Sacred Marriage- Gary Thomas-What if God designed marriage to make us Holy more than make us Happy?
- Present over perfect-Shauna Niequist-Leaving behind frantic for a simpler more soulful way of living.
- Hinds Feet on High Places-Hannah Hurnard-an allegory dramatizing the yearning of God’s children to be led to new heights of love, joy and victory.
- Uncomfortable Grace-Marsha Thompson-story of healing and restoration
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November Birthdays
November 1- Carole Lawton November 3 - Jan Irmscher November 4 - Maggie Atha November 6 - Julie Cross
November 9 - Avery Holcombe
November 11 - Bobbie Hand November 12 - Pam Morgan November14 - Mandy Williams November 17 - Gail Burkhalter November 18 - Rachel Hudson November 19 - Arden McCleskey November 20 – Vickie Goodrich November 21- Danelle Warner November 22 - Chris Milam November 23 - Tha Berry
November 24 - Anna Kate Rix November 28 - Barbara Allen
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*If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the Women’s Council
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