Category: Devotional

Saturday

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly.”

~Colossians 3:16a NIV~

 

From Linda Frazier

Please add Kathy Stillwell to the prayer list,
thanks,

Linda

Ms. Grace Helen was released from the hospital to attend BJ’s wake and again to attend the funeral.  When she went back after the funeral, she was officially released to come home with home health care.  Please pray for Mr. Kenneth Felker and Ms. Grace Helen.

Thought for the Day: Theme songs for Bible characters

Someone has suggested the following theme songs for Bible characters (Warning: some of these are real oldies!):

Noah: “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head”

Adam and Eve: “Strangers in Paradise”

Lazarus: “The Second Time Around”

Esther: “I Feel Pretty”

Job: “I’ve Got a Right to Sing the Blues”

Moses: “The Wanderer”

Jezebel: “The Lady is a Tramp”

Samson: “Hair”

Salome: “I Could Have Danced All Night”

Daniel: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”

Joshua: “Good Vibrations”

Peter: “I’m Sorry”

Esau: “Born To Be Wild”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: “Great Balls of Fire!”

The Wise Men: “When You Wish Upon a Star”

Elijah: “Up, Up, and Away”

Methuselah: “Stayin’ Alive”

Nebuchadnezzar: “Crazy”

There was no theme song suggested for Jesus Christ. May I suggest the following song, entitled “A New Song,” first sung by those two famous groups, “The Four Living Creatures” and “The Twenty-Four Elders”:

“You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; For you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth…..Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev. 5:9-10,12)

I look forward to joining them someday in this great song of praise. Worthy is the Lamb!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
White House Church of Christ
White House, Tennessee

What is your theme song?

  • Near to the Heart of God
  • To the Work
  • Because He Lives
  • Just as I Am
  • Sweet Hour of Prayer
  • I Love to Tell the Story
  • Serve the Lord with Gladness
  • O Happy Day
  • Love Lifted Me
  • Up from the Grave He Arose
  • _________________________

Feel free to fill in that blank.

Anna Lee

Friday

“Then He said to His disciples,

‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”

~Matthew 9:37-38~

From Ashley Raborn

Please keep Sammy Ott in your prayers. They will travel to Jackson in the morning (Friday) to see whether or not he will have a platelet transfusion. We are hoping they will not stop chemo again. As of now, he is in partial remission. We are praying he moves closer and closer towards remission. Please pray for him. Thank you

Pray for Kenneth Birch as he has back surgery today in Baton Rouge.  His sister, Shirley Frazier, has surgery scheduled for the 28th,  Cover these siblings with your prayer.

Testify will be singing at FBC, Kentwood Sunday morning.

http://tangilena.com/view/full_story/17873706/article-Testify-to-appear-Sunday–March-18-at-First-Baptist-Church–Kentwood?instance=Lifestyle+Home+Page

Heart to Heart with Holley Gerth

Thanks for being brave with me…

Posted: 07 Mar 2012 06:29 AM PST

We’ve been talking about overcoming fear for the last couple of weeks.

And if you’re still here, still reading, still trying…

I just wanted to whisper, “thank you.”

You are braver than you realize, my friend.

Stronger than you know.

Loved more than you can even imagine.

I looked again at all the times God said, “do not fear” and almost always he said those words when someone wasalready afraid. Isn’t that reassuring?

As long as we live in this world, we will struggle with fear at times. That simply means we’re human. But we don’t have to stay in fear forever.

Together we will get braver, bit by bit, day by day, finding more courage as we go.

Thanks for walking this path with me and with Jesus.

You being here means more than you know…

–Holley

Blessings to you and yours today,

Anna Lee

Thursday

 

“We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks!

For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.”

~Psalm 75:1~

Pray for Kenneth Birch as he as a procedure Friday to help with with his back pain.

Mrs. Evelyn Bridges still is not up to her usually perky self.  Pray for her to feel better soon.

Janet Phillips Myers is now is remission and at home.  Thank you for praying for her.

Bill Parsons is home and doing much better.  Continue to pray for him as he recovers from surgery.

Mike Price was preparing for lung surgery, but has learned he has heart issues that are worse than the lung issues.  Pray for Mike and Nyla.

The monthly Third Thursday meeting will be tonight at 6:30 at the Alford’s cabin.  Join us for supper, fellowship, a devotional, and prayer.  You’ll be blessed by being with other Christians.

Thought for the Day: How disgusting!

The story is told of a principal of a small middle school who had a problem with a few of the older girls starting to use lipstick. When applying it in the bathroom they would then press their lips to the mirror and leave lip prints.

Before it got out of hand he thought of a way to stop it. He gathered all the girls together that wore lipstick and told them he wanted to meet with them in the ladies’ room at 2 pm. They gathered at 2 pm and found the principal and the school custodian waiting for them.

The principal explained that it was becoming a problem for the custodian to clean the mirror every night. He said he felt the ladies did not fully understand just how much of a problem it was and he wanted them to witness just how hard it was to clean.

The custodian then demonstrated. He took a long brush on a handle out of a box. He then dipped the brush in the nearest toilet, moved to the mirror and proceeded to remove the lipstick.

That was the last day the girls pressed their lips on the mirror!!!

I know……that’s disgusting!!!! But sometimes it takes something disgusting for us to recognize the seriousness of what we have done. Like my sins, for example. I’m often tempted to take them lightly (“they’re not really so bad”). Sometimes I need to be shocked by the realization of what happened on the cross because of my sin. The spit running down Jesus’ face, the blood gushing out, the excruciating agony of spikes being driven into his flesh. It’s not a pretty sight. In fact, it’s disgusting! But it is in that disgusting sight that I find the strength to turn from the sin I may be contemplating.

“Then they struck him on the head with a reed and spat on him; and bowing the knee they worshiped him. And when they had mocked him, they took the purple off him, put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.” (Mark 15:19-20).

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Boone Church of Christ
Boone, NC

Don’t forget about praying for and giving to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American (US & Canada) Missions. 100% of the money given will go to those who serve as missionaries.

Have a terrific Thursday.

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“With you I can attack a barrier,

and with my God I can leap over a wall.”

~2 Samuel 22:30, HCSB~

 

JAPAN IN CRISIS. As we have reached the one-year anniversary of the triple disaster that overtook unsuspecting Japan, it seems fitting and proper to pause a moment and voice a prayer for the more than 16,000 lives that have been confirmed as lost and the more than 3,000 lives that are not yet accounted for. At the same time, perhaps it would be appropriate to remember a life that was spared. Kenji Sato is a descendant of fishermen in the coastal town of Minamisanriku. On that fateful day of March 11, he was due to be on the job at a local nursing home. Yet on that day, he took time off from work to see his third child, Haruse, born at a hospital in a nearby port city. That decision spared his life, as following the tsunami, the only thing left of his workplace was a skeleton of twisted steel pillars. A year later, the four-generation Sato family celebrates the birthday of little Haruse. His grandmother insists, “He is a child who was born to save us.” As Christians, we know this wasn’t the first time that a child came into the world to save others. Pray that countless Japanese will come to know the Christ child who was born to save them so that they might walk in new life and hope.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Feastasianpeoples.imb.org%2Fjapan-in-crisis%2F&h=NAQEw8_NSAQHxcV1yImhoCRF_NADitibMMUxfQd9M3T2xQg

With the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck northern Japan yesterday, think how frightened the people must be there.  Pray for Christians to share with the people of Japan the news of one who is able to save the people so they might have eternal homes that never can be shaken.  Thankfully, there was no significant damage or any loss of life, but I’m sure it was a reminder of what happened last year.  May the people see their need for God as they face the threat of another earthquake and tsunami.

Crossover: Katrina labors have opened hearts

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37380

Boyd is helping to coordinate some volunteers to work in the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting this summer in New Orleans.  I’m signed up to help register delegates.  There are many opportunities for you too.  Do some checking to find the spot that fits you “just right” and volunteer.

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions

What do AAEO-supported missionaries do?

  • Start new churches
  • Engage in student evangelism on college campuses
  • Serve the physical and spiritual needs of people through inner-city Baptist centers
  • Serve in local Baptist associations as church planting catalysts
  • Provide training and ministry in apologetics (interfaith witness) evangelism
  • Minister in resort settings such as campgrounds and ski areas

    I’m thankful for those who are full time or volunteer missionaries in Canada and North America.  Imagine how many people they reach through non-traditional ways (outside of Baptist churches).  The lost can find God while having a meal at a BCM (Baptist Collegient Ministry), at a campground in a state park, while hiking a mountain trail, while skiing at a resort, or many other places.  Yes, even at a church!  Don’t you feel your responsibility to help by going, praying, and/or giving.  Remember, the theme this year is “Whatever it Takes”.

The Beth Moore studies of James are going well.  I encourage other churches to offer this opportunity.  If you missed James: Mercy Triumphs and would like to particiapate in a study, please let me know.  I’ll try to connect you with a group.  If you are offering this study at your church in the future, please let me know.  I may be able to help let people know about the study and match some up with a group that is going to start in the future.

 

Thought for the Day: What are you willing to commit?

Choking
The story is told of a man in a fancy restaurant who started to choke on a bone. A doctor rushed over, identified himself as a doctor, and reassured the man that he was going to be all right. He performed the Heimlich Maneuver and the bone popped out.

As the man’s breath and voice returned he said, “I’m ever so grateful, doctor, how can I ever repay you?”

The doctor smiled and said, “I’ll settle for one-tenth of what you were willing to pay while you were choking.”

It’s true, isn’t it, that when you’re facing a crisis (especially a life-threatening crisis), you would give everything you have to get through it. Money is no object!

We do the same thing on a spiritual level. How many times have you faced hardship and prayed, “Lord, if you’ll just see me through this, I’ll serve you faithfully the rest of my life!” or something similar? But what happens when the crisis passes? Those feelings of urgency about serving God pass as well. If we could commit ourselves to doing one-tenth of what we’re willing to do in those moments, most of us would ascend to a new level of commitment.

Paul wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

Father, there are moments in my life when I am reminded of how much I need you and how urgent it is that I commit my life to you. All too often, though, those feelings disappear, and I quickly revert back to a less-than-satisfactory level of commitment. Please forgive me and strengthen me in my resolve to reach the point where I can say with the apostle Paul, “To me, to live is Christ.” In Jesus’ name, amen.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Boone Church of Christ
Boone, NC

 

Make a difference in someone’s life today!

Anna Lee

Saturday (Early Edition)

“For everything that was written in the past

was written to teach us,

so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures

and the encouragement they provide

we might have hope.”

~Romans 15:4 NIV~

Baptist Press

http://www.bpnews.net/

Plan now to change your clocks so you won’t be late for Sunday School and worship Sunday.  We will spring forward. so you will lose an hour’s sleep.

Heart to Heart with Holley

http://www.holleygerth.com/heart-to-heart-with-holley/2012/3/8/youre-beautiful.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dayspring%2FaSfH+%28Heart+to+Heart+with+Holley%29

The Beth Moore study of James is going very well.  We have thirty-four ladies working on this.  Thank God for each lady willing to set aside the time and put forth the effort to learn the Scripture better than before.

Thanks for praying for so many people..  Look back over the list of names for the last week and continue to pray for the same names.

Anna Lee

Friday

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty;

for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;

Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all.”

~1 Chronicles 29:11~

If you are on the highway today, please be careful.  Take it easy and drive safely.

Continue to pray for the Annie Armstrong Week of Prayer.

http://www.anniearmstrong.com/whoisannie/

Thought for the Day: A God who will supply all our needs

Here is a dilemma for your consideration: You are driving along on a wild stormy night. You pass by a bus stop, and you see three people waiting for the bus:

1. An old lady who is about to die.

2. An old friend who once saved your life.

3. The perfect man (or woman) you have been dreaming about.

Which one would you choose, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car?

This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application.

You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first; or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back. However, you may never be able to find your perfect dream lover again.

Think before you continue reading………………………………

The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer.

His answer was, “I would give the car keys to my old friend, and let him take the old lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the woman of my dreams.”

Why didn’t I think of that??? I was feeling pretty good about taking care of the needs of that old lady, and along comes someone who meets ALL of their needs!

It’s very much the way I feel before God. I am a person who gets pleasure from trying to meet the needs of people around me. But, so often I fall short. That’s why I’m so very thankful to have a God who can not only meet all my needs, but also the needs of everyone else I come in contact with.

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Phil 4:19-20)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Boone Church of Christ
Boone, North Carolina

Thank you for praying today.  Your prayers mean so much to so many.

Anna Lee

Thursday

 “I commit you to God and to the Word of his grace,

 which can build you up

and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

~Acts 20:32 NIV~

Bill Parsons is home.  He has several new stents and is very blessed.  Keep him in your prayers.

Betty Catherine Hatcher will have cataract surgery in Hammond today.  Pray for her as she goes through the next couple of weeks.

Barbara Hutchinson will be having an angiogram Friday.  Keep her on your prayer list.

Frances Strickland will be seeing a doctor Friday to determine if and when she will have cataract surgery.

Naomi Tolar has had cataract surgery.  Pray for her as she recovers.

Remember Andy Taylor’s upcoming surgery on March 13th.  Pray for continued relief from the shingles.

Renee Deck will be having some medical tests today.  Pray for Renee who has blessed us so in Kentwood.

Debi Bales has been having some health problems.  Pray for her to find the relief she has been searching for.

Pray for Robbie Lynn Callihan Kirby as she has her disability hearing today.

Pray Marsha Bankston gets a correct diagnosis for her liver problem.  Pray for a liver donor to be found.

Debra Faye Bateman Johnston, (Keith Womack’s aunt) 55, of McComb, died March 6, 2012, at her residence.

Arrangements are incomplete at Jones Family Funeral Services in McComb.

Allen Thomas Capdeboscq, Sr.
(September 10, 1939 – March 7, 2012)

Allen Thomas Capdeboscq, Sr. was born September 10, 1939 and passed away at 10:35 p.m., Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was 72, a native of Algiers and a resident of Amite. Allen served our country in the US Air Force.

Allen is survived by his wife of 50 years, Lucy Liuzza Capdeboscq, Amite; 2 daughters, Carolyn C. Waller and husband James, Pine Grove & Louanne C. Bertrand and husband Brett, Mandeville; son, Allen Thomas Capdeboscq, Jr. and wife Jody, St. Louis. MO; 5 grandchildren, Peyton Waller, Andrew Bertrand, Cooper Capdeboscq, Eli Capdeboscq & Emma Claire Capdeboscq; brother, John Capdeboscq, Jr., LaPlace; sister-in-law, Josephine Capdeboscq, Amite; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family, and his 4 legged friend Millie.

Preceded in death by by his parents, J’ean Marie & Sylvia Shally Capdeboscq, Sr.; 2 brothers, Roy Capdeboscq & Bernard Capdeboscq; sister-in-law, Janice Capdeboscq.

Service times will be added later today, Thursday, March 8, 2012

An on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home is located at I-55N (Exit 46) & LA Hwy 16W (60100 Westway Drive)behind Mr. Tom’s Car Wash, Bond Eye Clinic and Holiday Inn. Express

Baptist Press – http://www.bpnews.net/

Thought for the Day: Showing through

Stan Buck tells the story about a little girl who, on the way home from church, turned to her mother and said, “Mommy, the preacher’s sermon this morning confused me.”

The mother said, “Oh! Why is that?”

The girl replied, “Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?”

“Yes, that’s true,” the mother replied.

“He also said that God lives within us. Is that true, too?”

Again the mother replied, “Yes.”

“Well,” said the girl. “if God is bigger that us and he lives in us, wouldn’t he show through?”

I like that little girl’s way of putting it. If God lives in us, then there’s no way of keeping Him from “showing through.” That’s the essence of Christian living — living in such a way that people around will see God in our lives.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

A simple question as you live this day: Is God “showing through” in your life?

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
White House Church of Christ
White House, Tennessee

The Thursday night group of the Beth Moore study of James will meet at 6:00 tonight.  I love to hear the ladies tell how meaningful the study is to their lives.

Have a wonderful day!

Anna Lee


Wednesday

“Faith comes from hearing the message,

and the message is heard through the Word about Christ.”

~Romans 10:17 NIV~

 

Baptist Press has some great articles.

http://www.bpnews.net/

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

http://www.anniearmstrong.com/anniearmstrongpb.aspx?pageid=13304

If you know of any SLU students who are interested in chicken and dumplings for lunch today for FREE, please tell them to go to the BCM (Baptist Collegient Ministry) today.  Our associational WMU is providing the lunch today.

Thought for the Day: Encouraging those who are week

It was a sunny Saturday morning, and Joe was beginning his pre-shot routine, visualizing his upcoming shot when a voice came over the clubhouse loudspeaker – “Would the gentleman on the woman’s tee please back up to the men’s tee, please!”

Joe was still deep in his routine, seemingly impervious to the interruption. Again the announcement – “Would the man on the women’s tee kindly back up the men’s tee!”

Joe had had enough. He shouted, “Would the announcer in the clubhouse kindly shut up and let me play my second shot!”

I am very familiar with not being as far down the golf course as I am expected to be after my first shot! 🙂 And sometimes, I’m not as far along spiritually as others think I should be. There are some others who are not as far along spiritually as I think they should be.

What is to be our attitude toward these “weak” brethren? Sometimes the situation calls for some words of gentle rebuke (Heb. 5:12-14). Sometimes the situation calls for patient forbearance (Rom. 14:1). In all things, our goal is to encourage and build up.

“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” (Rom. 15:1-2, NIV).

May be truly encourage one another as we live our Christian lives, with those who are strong helping those who are weak. We need all the help we can get!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Boone Church of Christ
Boone, North Carolina

Have a great day!

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you.”

~Psalm 119:11 NIV~

Robbie Lynn C. Kirby had another procedure yesterday to help with her back.  Pray she gets some relief.

Mr. Kenneth Felker is better and should be able to come home from the hospital today.  Thank God for his improvement.

A third PHS student has passed away in six weeks following an accident two weeks ago.  Pray for the families, the student body, and the staff.

Update from Courtney Roth, Tripp’s mother

http://randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com/2012/03/very-humbling-couple-of-weeks.html?spref=fb

Baptist Press

http://www.bpnews.net/

Thought for the Day: The story of a giant

Jewish poet and storyteller Noah ben Shea tells this parable:

After dinner, the children turned to Jacob and asked if he would tell them a story. “A story about what?” asked Jacob.

“About a giant,” squealed the children.

Jacob smiled, leaned against the warm stones at the side of the fireplace, and his voice turned softly inward.

“Once there was a boy who asked his father to take him to see the great parade that passed through the village. The father, remembering the parade from when he was a boy, quickly agreed, and the next morning the boy and his father set out together.

“As they approached the parade route, people started to push in from all sides, and the crowd grew thick. When the people along the way became almost a wall; the father lifted his son and placed him on his shoulders.

“Soon the parade began and as it passed, the boy kept telling his father how wonderful it was and how spectacular were the colors and images. The boy, in fact, grew so prideful of what he saw that he mocked those who saw less saying, even to his father, ‘If only you could see what I see.'”

“But,” said Jacob staring straight in the faces of the children, “what the boy did not look at was why he could see. What the boy forgot was that once his father, too, could see.”

Then as if he had finished the story, Jacob stopped speaking.

“Is that it?” said a disappointed girl. “We thought you were going to tell us a story about a giant.”

“But I did,” said Jacob. “I told you a story about a boy who could have been a giant.”

“How?” squealed the children.

“A giant,” said Jacob, “is anyone who remembers we are all sitting on someone else’s shoulders.”

“And what does it make us if we don’t remember?” asked the boy.

“A burden,” answered Jacob.

We all have been richly blessed by those who have gone before us. As a family member, I recognize that I have grandparents and parents who through much sacrifice and effort have given me the opportunity to do things that they couldn’t even dream of doing. As a citizen of the United States, I owe a great debt of gratitude to those who gave their lives for the freedoms I am able to enjoy. And as a Christian, I look back on so many others (both in recent years and in biblical times) who laid a foundation of faith that gives me the encouragement to draw closer to God myself. I pray that I will never forget that I am sitting on someone else’s shoulders.

” And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented — of whom the world was not worthy…..Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Heb. 11:35b-38a;12:1).

Are you a giant……or a burden?

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
White House Church of Christ
White House, Tennessee

“Are you a giant or a burden?”  

Am I a giant or a burden?

Anna Lee

Monday

 

 

“For the LORD gives wisdom;

from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

~Proverbs 2:6, HCSB)~

Caroline Cutrer

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/carolinecutrer

 

Sometimes God is taking care of us when we are being obedient tho Him.  Marty Simpson took off work Wednesday to prepare the jambalaya for the SLU BCM students.  His work partner had a wreck and had to be taken to the hospital.  If Marty had not been at SLU, he would have been in the same vehicle.  Thank you, God, for Marty’s service to you and your protection for him because of that service.

The associational WMU will meet at 10:00 this morning at East Fork to learn more about North American missions as we celebrate the Week of Prayer.  Rev. Fred Day, a retired missionary to the Caribbean, will be speaking.  We will share lunch after the meeting.  I hope to see some of you there today.

The North Americans who represent all the other missionaries for our prayer times for yesterday and today:

Day 1: Send North America
Church planting is at the core of the North American Mission Board’s national strategy, Send North America. This strategy is designed to mobilize churches to plant churches, mobilize church planters, and equip church planters and “sending churches” for evangelistic church planting.

Day 2: Shaun and Deshni Pillay, Connecticut
Shaun is church planter and pastor of Cornerstone International Church in Norwich. The church ministers to a large international population and a large homeless community meeting physical needs and directing people to Christ.

Thought for the Day: A prayer as we grow older

The author of the following prayer is unknown to me:

Lord, keep me from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs.

Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all – but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind from the recital of endless details – give me wings to get to the point.

Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others but help me to listen to them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory but a growing humility and lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memory of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a “saint” – some of them are hard to live with – but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil.

Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people. Give me the grace to tell them so.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Growing old can be a frightening thing. We worry about what we will be like in the years ahead. We hope to be wise and gentle and kind and loving. The only way to be that way as an old person, though, is to strive to live that way every day as a young person.

“Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’ ” (Eccl. 12:1)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
White House Church of Christ
White House, Tennessee

Do something today to help someone of your choice.  Smile while doing your chosen activity.

Anna Lee