“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”

~1 Timothy 2:1-2~

I have a special request for a family that I choose not to name at this time.  Pray for a family that we have known for a long time.

Mrs. Anne Hurst is back at home.  Please keep praying for her.

Read the Bible – Act 17-18 and Psalm 127

I’ve followed Alan Smith’s posts for many years.  He has inspired me with the way he shared God’s Word.  I’ve only known his through his posts, but I feel we share many aspects of our faith. This is the one he posted for today.

Personal note:  It is with a great deal of sadness that I announce that this is the last TFTD message that I will be sending out.  For the past 20 years or so, I have been sending out TFTD, sometimes as often as five times a week.  During those 20 years, I have been blessed to have the opportunity to establish a relationship with thousands of people around the world, from the United States to Nigeria, from Scotland to Australia, from China to Antarctica (yes, really!).  Your words of encouragement through the years have been a tremendous blessing to me.  Many of you helped me get through a really tough time in my life, and for that I will be eternally grateful.  But it is time for TFTD to come to an end.  I believe that God has other plans for me, and my attention needs to be focused in other directions.  From time to time, I will still post a blog on our church website (www.cruciformcoc.com), and you are welcome to keep an eye on that (and make comments!).  For all that you have done for me, and for all the ways that you have blessed my life, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I am truly blessed with wonderful friends.  May God richly pour out His blessings on you all.

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25)

=====  Thursday’s Thought For The Day (Oct. 12, 2017)  =====

GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR FRIENDS

I heard about a farmer who was detained for questioning about an election scandal.   The attorney asked him, “Did you sell your vote?”

The farmer said, “No sir, not me.  I voted for that there fella ’cause I liked him.”

The attorney said, “Come, now, I have evidence that he gave you fifty dollars for a vote.”

The farmer said, “Well, now, it’s plain common sense that when a fella gives you fifty dollars you like him.”

I suppose that’s one way to define a friend.  In fact, Solomon said, “Many entreat the favor of the nobility, and every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.” (Proverbs 19:6).

But, a true friend involves a depth of relationship.  It’s someone you enjoy doing things with, someone you enjoy talking with, someone you wouldn’t hesitate to turn to in times of need.  I like how I once heard someone describe a friend as someone you could call at 2:00 a.m. if you needed something.  Solomon lets us know how important friends are in the difficult times of life:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.  For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.  But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.  Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?  Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.  And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

Give thanks to God for the friends who are a blessing in your life.  And let those friends know how special they are to you!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Cruciform Church of Christ
Spring Lake, North Carolina
www.cruciformcoc.com

You are such a blessing in my life.  I look forward to sharing with you each day.

Anna Lee