Sunday

We are not our own bosses to live or die

as we ourselves might choose.

Living or dying we follow the Lord.

Either way we are his.

~Romans 14:7-8 (LB)~

Please continue to pray for Jesse and Majel Dean and Mr. Phillip and “Miss” Annie Bell Harrell.

Pray for those working to stop the oil from coming ashore on the Gulf Coast.

Pray for our nation to unite in prayer Thursday, the National Day of Prayer.  Many of the local cities are having special activities for prayer.  Spring Creek Baptist Church will host a lunch and First Baptist Church, Kentwood will host a service Thursday night.  Everyone is invited to participate.

BLESSING OR BAD LUCK?

 The story is told of a man who was walking across the road when he was 

hit by a car.  The impact knocked him on his head which caused him to be 

in a coma for two days before he finally regained consciousness.  When he 

opened his eyes, his loving wife was there beside his bed.  He held her hand 

and said to her:

 "You know, Judy, you've always been right by my side.  When I was a 

struggling college student, I failed again and again.  But you were always 

there with me, encouraging me to go on trying."

 She squeezed his hands as he continued:  "And when I got out of school 

and went for all of my interviews and failed to get any of the jobs, you stayed 

right there with me, cutting out more classifieds for me to check on..."

 "Then I started work at this little firm and finally got the chance to handle a 

big contract.  But I blew it because of one little mistake, and yet you were 

there beside me all the way.  Then I finally got another job after being laid 

off for sometime.  But I never seemed to be promoted and my hard work 

was never recognized.  And so, I remained in the same position from the 

day I joined the company until now... And, through it all, you were right 

there by my side."

 Her eyes brimmed with tears as she listened to her husband:  "And now 

I've been in this accident and when I woke up, you're the first person I see. 

There's something I'd really like to say to you...."

 She flung herself on the bed to hug her husband, sobbing with emotion.

 He said, "Judy, I think you're just plain bad luck!"

 Our attitude makes a big difference in how we see things, doesn't it?  As 

the saying goes, we can either see the glass as half full or half empty.  We 

can either appreciate the good during our times of adversity (the faithfulness 

of God, greater opportunities to develop our faith, the blessing of good 

friends to see us through it) or we can moan and complain about our "bad 

luck."

 The apostle Paul is a great example of someone with a marvelous attitude. 

Through all of his trials, God had been right there by his side.  But never 

once did he blame God for his misfortune.  Instead, listen to the positive 

attitude in Paul's words as he sat imprisoned for preaching the gospel:

 "But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me 

have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel." (Philippians 1:12)

 No moaning, no complaining.  Just a marvelous attitude that brought joy to

 his life.  May it serve as an example to you today.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a great Lord's Day!

Anna Lee