Friday

Please continue to pray for Mrs. Jeanette McGehee as she and her doctors plan the next steps in her treatment.

Continue to pray for Mrs. Faye Price and her family.  “Miss” Faye’s heart surgery was a year ago yesterday.  It has been a difficult year for her and for her family.  God continues to walk by their side day-by-day.  Pray for the medical staff as they work to overcome an infection.

Dr. Earl Council’s test Monday did not show a problem.  The current plan is to give him more blood Monday.  Keep praying for his return to good health.

Caleb Estay is doing well following his surgery Tuesday.  God has faithfully answered many prayer on Caleb’s behalf.  He will be carefully monitored in the hospital for a while longer.

Bro. Butch Reviere has one more day of medical tests today.  Next week he has another day of tests and meets with the doctor to learn the “game plan”.  Continue to pray for Bro. Butch and his doctor.

Peoples of Iran

Tucking away a JESUS film and a few Bibles in her belongings, Zahra* boards a bus in the capital city of Tehran to share the Gospel with relatives in the Iranian countryside.

Zahra is taking a risk by carrying evangelistic material in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Publishing and distributing Bibles is illegal. Converting to Christianity and sharing the Gospel can be punishable by prison or death.

Despite the risks, Zahra felt burdened to act after seeing her tribe — the Bakhtiari — listed as an unreached people group in International Mission Board material her house church pastor had given her.

While it is safer to share the Gospel in small home groups to escape notice, the Lord gave Zahra boldness when the movie being shown on the bus malfunctioned. She handed the JESUS film to the driver, who played it all the way through.

Eight of the 40 people on the bus told her they were interested in becoming Christians. During home visits, Zahra led the driver, his wife and their three grown children to the Lord — as well as her own sister.

Though there are restrictions against Christian workers living in Iran, giving through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program enables personnel to share the Gospel with Iranians living in various parts of the world, disciple Christian refugees and train house church leaders when they can travel outside their country.

Pray
Pray for Christians who risk their lives to share the Gospel in Iran. Pray for the peoples of Iran to be able to hear and read God’s Word. Uplift workers as they find ways to help Iranians know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

From Trisha (Mrs. Dwayne) Wilson

Thanks, Friends, for praying for the outreach in our home for Abby Grace’s class. Eight kids came,  2 moms stayed, and the rest of the moms dropped their kiddos off  at our house. Things went well except for some minor distractions from one of my twins….I’ll let you guess which one. Praying my kids will be the well behaved ones for our outreach to Graham’s class tomorrow! Please pray for us tomorrow at 4!

Love,

Tricia

CHARGED, BUT JUSTIFIED

A local policeman had just finished his shift one cold November evening and was at home with his wife. “You just won’t believe what happened this evening.  In all my years on the force I’ve never seen anything like it!”

“What happened?”

“I came across two guys down by the canal, one of them was drinking battery acid and the other was eating fireworks.”

“Drinking battery acid and eating fireworks!!  What did you do with them?”

“I charged one and let the other one off.”  <insert GROAN here>

Spiritually speaking, those of us who are Christians have been both “charged” and “let off.”  We are charged with sin (and rightfully so, for we are guilty).  “For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.” (Rom. 3:9)

But, those of us who are Christians who have put on Christ have also been “let off” because Jesus Christ has paid the price for our sins.  We have been justified, “just as if I’d” never sinned.  “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38-39)

To be charged is a frightful thing (those of you who have received tickets can vouch for that).  To have a judge say, “I find you guilty, but I’m going to pay the fine for you” is inconceivable.  Yet, that’s exactly what has happened!  May our lives demonstrate the gratitude we feel.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a great day!

Anna Lee