Category: FBC

Friday

“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.”

~Psalm 25:9 NIV~

  • Update from Jadon Pailet
Not much time to update. It’s been a very long and hard day. I have 132 electrodes attached to my brain which means 132 wires. I also have all the other normal hospital wires. I do not like having these wires attached to me. I was doing really well until around 5:30. I started having stomach pains and got sick. So I didn’t get to eat anything. I was able to hold down some juice about two hours ago. I’m very agitated. I’m mad because I can’t crawl into my moms lap. I keep trying and reaching and crying but they won’t let me. Mommy got as close as possible until I went to sleep. They gave me some medicine to help me relax. I’m also having withdraws from my sabril. I haven’t had it since yesterday and it’s one of those medicines that can effect you that way. So they did order it and gave it to me a little while ago. My seizures are very bad and everytime I have one I cry. The doctor said he is getting plenty of information. He said we will have some results of the EEG tomorrow. Please continue to pray as we will have to make some big decisions tomorrow. Also pray that I will be able to settle down and get some rest.
 Please keep praying for Jadon, his family, and the medical staff caring for him.
  • Dr. Derry Magee continues to improve.  He is participating in physical, occupational, and speech therapy.  He will get moved to the stroke/telemetry unit today where his therapy time can be increased.  He does not get frustrated or angry.  He became very excited when told his grandson Bill would be coming tomorrow with his wife Kellye.  “Miss” Dora and daughter, Nita, thank you for your continued prayers.
  • Mr. Kenneth Felker said B.J.’s surgery was delayed from early morning to late evening, but was eventually done.  The surgery turned out not to be as complicated as originally expected.  David talked with B.J. yesterday, but said she seemed medicated.
  • Baptist Press: Baptists and the Civil War on display at the library
  • Thought for the Day: I’m starting to forget
There’s a beautiful story about a little boy who couldn’t wait for his new baby sister to come home from the hospital. He couldn’t wait to be near her, to talk to her. But his parents didn’t want him to be left alone with her. After all he was only four years old, so they wanted to supervise his visits. He kept begging to be alone with her, so one night his parents finally relented. The boy tiptoed into her room, stood next to his sister’s crib and said: “Tell me about God – I’m starting to forget.”There are times when we as adults get so caught up in the “rat race” and all of our responsibilities. Perhaps we need to go to the children around us and say, “Tell me about God — I’m starting to forget.”There are weeks when we’ve been dealing with irate customers and heavy traffic. We need to fellowship with the saints and worship God together because “I’m starting to forget.”There are weeks when we’ve had to focus on crying babies, the paying of bills and doctors’ appointments. We need the reminder of the Lord’s Supper to see God’s love and grace because “I’m starting to forget.”

There are days when we’re so caught up in deadlines at work and getting the kids to soccer practice, days when we need to slow down a bit and spend time with God in prayer because “I’m starting to forget.”

“Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life.” (Deuteronomy 4:9)

Are you starting to forget? Ask someone to tell you about God once more.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

 

 

  • Please continue to pray for all the others we have had on our prayer list lately.
  • Boyd and Jennie, our daughter and son-in-law, will be speaking in the 10:30 worship service at FBC, Kentwood Sunday.  They are missionaries to the Roma(Gypsies) in Europe.  Their stateside assignment time is ending this month, so they will be returning to Prague soon.  You are invited to join us at this time if you are interested and available.
Anna Lee

Sunday

And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith

and in our knowledge of the Son of God;

we shall become mature people,

reaching to the very height of Christ’s full stature.”

~Ephesians 4:13 TEV~

Today is the 65th anniversary of the day Momma and Daddy got married.  She wanted a big party.  She celebrating in heaven while Daddy will be here with us for a traditional New Year’s meal.  Pray for Daddy today.

I’m thanking God Carol New made it home after a successful knee surgery.  Pray for her as she works to get that knee doing what she wants it to do.

FBC, Kentwood will have  Sunday School and the morning worship service, but nothing tonight.

Thought for the Day: Failed resolutions

At the beginning of a New Year, a high school principal decided to post his teachers’ New Year’s resolutions on the bulletin board. As the teachers gathered around the bulletin board, a great commotion started. One of the teachers was complaining. “Why weren’t my resolutions posted?” She was throwing such a temper tantrum that the principal hurried to his office to see if he had overlooked her resolutions. Sure enough, he had mislaid them on his desk.

As he read her resolutions he was astounded. This teacher’s first resolution was not to let little things upset her in the New Year.

It has been said that “nothing is certain but death and taxes.” Perhaps we should add one more thing to that list of certainties — the breaking of New Year’s resolutions! Looking back on 2008, you may be one of the fortunate ones who accomplished exactly what you hoped to accomplish during the year. But, if you’re like most of us, you didn’t read all the way through the Bible like you intended to, you quit smoking but only for a while then picked up the habit again, or you lost a few pounds only to put them back on again when your diet failed. After experiencing this failure year after year, a person tends to say to himself, “What’s the use? Why even bother to try to make these changes?”

As an old Chinese proverb puts it, though, “Failure is not falling down. Failure is not getting back up.” Or as the Japanese put it, “Fall down seven times, get up eight.” If there are areas of your life that you’ve tried to improve and failed, let this this be the month that you try again. And if you fail this month, get up and try again next month. Learn from your mistakes and become stronger. God does not turn his back on the Christian who fails (if you question that, you need only look at the story of Peter’s denial of Christ). However, He cannot help the Christian who refuses to try any longer.

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hearts, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded….Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:7-8,10)

If you have made a resolution to develop a habit that will bring you closer to God or a resolution to get rid of a habit that is pulling you away from God, may God bless you with the strength to accomplish your goal. And, if you should stumble on your journey, may He pick you up and dust you off so that you can continue on the long journey of becoming like Christ.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Have a great Lord’s Day and a great 2012!

Anna Lee

Friday

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called Wonderful,

Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.”

~Isaiah 9:6, NKJV~

Pray for safe traveling for all those who will be traveling in the next two weeks.  Pray for students who are out of school for the holidays.  Pray for safety of children as they play with new gifts.

Ways to Give (including Lottie Moon Christmas Offering)

http://www.imb.org/main/give/default.asp

Baptist Press (Sometimes it is too hard to select only one story to share.)

http://www.bpnews.net/

Many churches are having special services tomorrow and/or different schedules for Christmas.  FBC, Kentwood will have worship service only at 10 A.M.

Thought for the Day: He became one of us

On February 15, 1921, there was a doctor who performed an appendectomy. The doctor performing the surgery was Dr. Evan Kane who over his 37-year medical career had performed nearly 4,000 appendectomies, so this surgery was not at all unusual except for two things.

First of all, this was the first time that local anesthesia had ever been used in major surgery. Dr. Kane believed that local anesthesia was safer than putting a patient completely to sleep. Most of his colleagues agreed with him in principle, but they wanted to see first if it would actually work.

So Dr. Kane searched for a volunteer, a patient who would be willing to undergo surgery while under local anesthesia. It wasn’t easy to find one. Most people are squeamish at the thought of being awake during their own surgery. Others are fearful that the anesthesia might wear off too soon.

Finally, though, Dr. Kane found a volunteer, and on Tuesday morning, February 15th, the operation began. The patient was prepped and wheeled into the operating room. A local anesthetic was applied. And as Dr. Kane had done thousands of times before, he cut open the tissues and removed the appendix. The patient had only minor discomfort and recovered quickly, dismissed two days later.

Dr. Kane had proven his theory. Thanks to the willingness of a brave volunteer, Dr. Kane demonstrated that local anesthesia was an alternative, even a preferred alternative.

But I said there were two facts that made this surgery unusual. I’ve told you the first: the use of local anesthesia. The second unusual thing was the patient — the patient was Dr. Kane. You see, in order to prove his point, Dr. Kane operated on himself. The doctor became a patient in order to convince the patients to trust the doctor.

As unbelievable as that may seem, it is insignificant compared with what Jesus Christ did for us. The Great Physician voluntarily became one of us. He placed himself in our shoes. He left the glories of heaven to live on this earth as one of us — to suffer our pains and feel our fears. Why? So that when you hurt, you will know that you have someone who understands — your Great Physician — and you will have confidence to go to him for healing.

“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same….For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:14a,18)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
White House Church of Christ
White House, Tennessee

Jesus is the reason for the season!

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

~Luke 2:15b, ESV~

Jesse Dean seems to be having a problem with his cumadin level.  Pray for him as another adjustment is made.

FBC, Kentwood will go Christmas caroling tonight.  As they do so, they will distribute gift bags.  May they bless many lives tonight.

I don’t normally mention birthdays and anniversaries, but I think we should take note of one today.  Mr. and Mrs. Joe (Othell) Williams are celebrating their 70th anniversary today.  What a blessing!

FBC, Kentwood will be receiving the gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering at the special 10 A.M. service Christmas morning.  Here is an example of how funding is needed in Europe.

Abundant Gospel Sowing among European Peoples
Overview: Simply put, this project is about abundantly sowing God’s word among the European peoples. The overwhelming majority of Europeans have never held a Bible or heard it proclaimed. We will not see a great moving of God’s Spirit among Europeans apart from His word being heard, believed, and shared. Missionaries and partners will facilitate publication of Scripture, personally distribute and share Bibles, the Jesus film, MP3 oral format Bibles, and gospels.

Strategic Ministries: Internet, Radio, Literature, Orality, Discipleship, Church Planting

Baptist Press had several very good articles yesterday.  Spend a little time reading at http://www.bpnews.net 

WHAT WAS ELIJAH DOING?

A couple of stories to illustrate how our children explain what happened in the Bible:

A Sunday school teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them to Jerusalem.  A young girl answered:  “Because they couldn’t get a babysitter.”

Another Sunday school teacher was carefully explaining the story of Elijah the prophet and his contest with the false prophets of Baal.  She explained how Elijah built the altar, put wood upon it, cut the bull in pieces and laid it upon the altar.  Then Elijah commanded the people of God to fill four barrels of  water and pour it over the altar.  He had them do this three times.  “Now,” said the teacher, “Can anyone in the class tell me why the Lord had Elijah pour water over the bull on the altar?”  A little girl in the back of the room raised her hand with great enthusiasm.  “To make the gravy.”

It was a good question.  Why DID the Lord tell Elijah to pour the water over the altar?  The answer is obvious (and it has nothing to do with gravy).  The Lord wanted to exhibit His power in an absolutely incredible manner.  When God was finished, no one was going to say, “Well, maybe Elijah used a flame he kept tucked away in his cloak.”  No!
The fire from the Lord burnt up the wet sacrifice, the soaked wood, and even the rocks used to build the altar!

If there is any lesson to be learned in this story, it is that our God is a powerful and awesome God!

Though we ourselves may not see displays of God’s power like what happened on Mount Carmel, it is comforting to know that the God who hears and answers our prayers is the God who has such power.

“Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength!  We will sing and praise Your power.” (Psalm 21:13)

Praise be to our all-powerful and truly awesome God!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Give of yourself today!

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

~Luke 2:14~

Pray for Mrs. Pauline Strickland who is in Baton Rouge General and very sick. Pray for her family and all those caring for her.

Pray for Carol New today as she sees her doctor again and learns if she can have the next surgery yet.  She hopes so, because she is ready to begin walking again.  Pray all goes well at today’s appointment.

Mrs. Mickey Cade has surgery today.  Pray for the medical staff, “Miss” Mickey, and her family and friends.

Susan Rimes will be in OLOL on the large kidney stone that has been resistant to previous attempts to remove it.  Pray for success today and for a good recovery period for Susan.

Baptist Press: ‘Isaiah’ surprises seminary with chapel message

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36820

What a lesson in preaching!  I know the students will always remember the fine example set forth by the NOBTS professor.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering – Pray!

YANGON, MYANMAR. Throughout history, religious pilgrims have come to Yangon’s hilltop pagoda, bringing offerings and hoping for enlightenment. Black markets, karma, bamboo huts, paying homage to golden images define the daily routines of 6 million residents. Yangon is being intentionally engaged with God’s Word. Although, spiritual strongholds loom as high as the walls of the pagoda, these barriers can be broken. *Living Lord, may Your Spirit bring people to Your saving grace. *Creator God, reign in hearts of individuals so that You are worshiped as the One and only God.

Heart to Heart with Holley: The best gift this year

Hello Friend!

Have you been to the stores lately? I’ve seen the shelves piled high with gadgets, new styles, and the latest-whatever-you-want.

And I’m telling you, I think I’ve found the best gift this year.

It’s not available in retail locations, online or for $29.95 plus shipping and handling.

Can you lean in and listen close while I whisper this secret?

Psst…it’s you.

Or, really, Jesus in you.

Yes, my friend, you offer Him to the world in a way no one else can.And no one else ever will.

You are a one-of-a-kind original. Not replaceable or exchangeable.

Beautiful just as you are because of your Maker.

Designed just as He intended.

More amazing than you even realize.

Loved, needed and more valuable than all those fancy things in all the stores in the world.

Yes, ma’am.

You’re the real deal and don’t you forget it. Promise?

With love,

Holley

 The gift bags for the nursing home residents and the homebound people will be packed with much love and excitement today.  Thanks to all who have given, baked, or shopped.  Pray for those who will be caroling and delivering the bags tomorrow and those who will receive one.  May the true meaning of Christmas be clear to all involved in this ministry!

Christmas is not Christmas without Jesus!

Anna Lee

Monday

“Don’t be afraid, for look,

I proclaim to you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people:

today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born

for you in the city of David.”

~Luke 2:10-11, HCSB~

Yesterday was a special day at FBC, Kentwood.  The musical, A Song in the Air, really put forth the real Christmas spirit.  Our church is blessed to have so many people with musical talent.  The dinner and candlelight service last night added to the joy of the day and the season.  I feel so blessed to have been in church yesterday.  What a difference that little baby Jesus made to the world when He was born and still today!

Susan Rimes has surgery tomorrow in Baton Rouge.  Renee Deck has surgery Thursday.  Please be in prayer for these two ladies.

Jason Dean is now able to work half a day.  Continue to pray for him as he heals and returns to normal activities.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering at work in Europe

http://www.imb.org/main/give/lmw/Story.asp?StoryID=8037&LanguageID=1709

Thought for the Day: Kid’s view of love

I have enjoyed these thoughts from kids, though I do not know the original source:

CONCERNING WHY LOVE HAPPENS BETWEEN TWO PARTICULAR PEOPLE

“I think you’re supposed to get shot with an arrow or something, but the rest of it isn’t supposed to be so painful.” –Manuel, age 8

ON WHAT FALLING IN LOVE IS LIKE

“Like an avalanche where you have to run for your life.”
–John, age 9

“If falling in love is anything like learning how to spell, I don’t want
to do it. It takes too long.” –Glenn, age 7

ON THE ROLE OF BEAUTY AND HANDSOMENESS IN LOVE

“If you want to be loved by somebody who isn’t already in your family, it doesn’t hurt to be beautiful.” –Anita, age 8

“It isn’t always just how you look. Look at me. I’m handsome like anything and I haven’t got anybody to marry me yet.”
–Brian, age 7

CONCERNING WHY LOVERS OFTEN HOLD HANDS

“They want to make sure their rings don’t fall off because they paid good money for them.” –Gavin, age 8

CONFIDENTIAL OPINIONS ABOUT LOVE

“I’m in favor of love as long as it doesn’t happen when ‘Dinosaurs’ is on television.” –Jill, age 6

“Love is foolish … but I still might try it sometime.”
–Floyd, age 9

“Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I been trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding me.” –Dave, age 8

“I’m not rushing into being in love. I’m finding fourth grade hard
enough.” –Regina, age 10

SOME SUREFIRE WAYS TO MAKE A PERSON FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU

“Tell them that you own a whole bunch of candy stores.”
–Del, age 6

“Don’t do things like have smelly, green sneakers. You might get attention, but attention ain’t the same thing as love.”
–Alonzo, age 9

Those of us who are older smile because we know that children have such a limited understanding of what love is (although Alonzo has learned something that many adults haven’t yet learned!). And yet, our own view of love is limited as well. And certainly our expression of love is limited and faulty.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (I John 4:7-8)

May you look to God for the ultimate example of love as you seek to be more loving toward others today.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
White House Church of Christ
White House, Tennessee

Jesus is the reason for the season and each and every day!

Anna Lee

Sunday

    “Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength!  

We will sing and praise Your power.”

~Psalm 21:13~

FBC, Kentwood Schedule for Today

  •  The choir will present a musical, “A Song in the Air” during the 10:30 worship service.
  •  Dinner and candlelight service @ 5 and 6 P.M.
Lottie Moon at Work – Asia and the Pacific Rim
May the Christmas spirit invade you life this week making you realize it all began in a manger and lives on through our actions of love!
Anna Lee

Saturday

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord!

Call upon His name;

make known His deeds among the peoples!”

~Psalm 105:1~

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering at work in Africa and the Middle East

http://www.imb.org/main/give/lmw/Story.asp?StoryID=8038&LanguageID=1709

Baptist Press – Could you do what this man has done?

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36806

FBC, Kentwood Schedule for Christmas Holidays

  • Dec. 18th – The choir will present a musical, “A Song in the Air” during the 10:30 worship service.
  • Dec. 18th – Dinner and candlelight service @ 5 and 6 P.M.
  • Dec. 20th – Breakfast muffins needed for gift bags which will be distributed on the 21st.
  • Dec. 21st – Church-wide caroling at 6 P.M.; Gift bags will be distributed.
  • Dec. 25th – Morning worship only – 10 A.M.

Thought for the Day: The greatest gift

I heard recently about a 90-year-old lady who one Christmas found buying presents a bit much, so she wrote out checks for all of her family and friends, and decided she would put them in with her Christmas cards. She wrote out her Christmas cards and put “Buy your own present” after her name, then sent them off.

But after the Christmas festivities were over, she found the checks in her desk! Everyone had got a Christmas card from her with “Buy your own present” written inside but without the checks!

We all like gifts. We like to receive them from those that we love. And we also enjoy giving them. What Jesus said is certainly true: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35). I used to think that the greatest joy of Christmas belonged to children because they get to experience the excitement of opening their presents. But I’ve learned that the real excitement of Christmas comes in being able to give to those who mean so much to you.

Unfortunately, our gift list is always so limited. If you’re like me at this time of the year, you always have a lot of people you would like to get something special for, but you just don’t have the money. We can’t give to everyone. But God can, and God has, and there’s no one who’s been left off of his gift list.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) 

This Christmas, enjoy giving gifts and enjoy receiving them. But be especially thankful for the greatest gift of all that came to this earth in the form of a baby in a stable in the little town of Bethlehem, and be sure that you respond by receiving that gift through obedient faith.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
White House Church of Christ
White House, Tennessee

Yes, it is true!  Jesus is the reason for the season!

Anna Lee

Friday

“She gave thanks to the Lord,

and spoke of Him to all those

who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

~Luke 2:38, NKJV~

Thought for the Day: Christ at the center

A few years ago Fast Lane magazine conducted a survey to find out whose lives its readers would most like to emulate. Lt. Colonel Oliver North placed first. President Ronald Reagan placed second. Clint Eastwood was third. Fourth place was a tie between Lee Iacocca and Jesus Christ. That’s a sad commentary on our society!

I heard about a young woman who went into a Denver jewelry store and told the clerk she wanted to purchase a gold cross on a chain to wear around her neck. The clerk turned to the display case and asked, “Do you want a plain one, or one with a little man on it?”

We live in a world where Jesus ties for fourth place with Lee Iacocca and is referred to as a little man on a piece of jewelry. But, for Christians, Jesus Christ can be nothing less than the very center of our lives. Paul wrote:

“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (I Corinthians 2:2)

Are we truly consumed with knowing Jesus Christ? Oh sure, we understand the necessity of the cross and the resurrection, we understand its connection with salvation and forgiveness from sin. But do we really recognize the importance of Jesus Christ continually in our lives?

Do we see Christ as the Lord of our lives, telling us what to do? Do we see Christ as the model of our lives, showing us how to do it? Do we see Christ as the power in our lives, giving us the ability to do it?

May Christ have his rightful place at the very center of our lives.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

 

In our modern world to technology, I’m including ways to learn how the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Internation Missions works in Central and South America.  I hope you enjoy there and share them.

http://www.imb.org/main/give/lmw/Story.asp?StoryID=9866&LanguageID=1709

As families get busy with all the secular events of Christmas, I hope you will still have time to learn more about the LMCO and how it introduces people around the world to Jesus.

FBC, Kentwood will have an emphasis on the LMCO Christmas morning.  I hope you find it in your heart to bring an offering that morning and that your offering for the LMCO is greater than your gift to any individual on your Christmas list!

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;

therefore the child to be born[e] will be called holy–the Son of God.”

~Luke 1: 35, ESV~

Jesse Dean’s sister, Patsy, is doing better.  A diagnosis is getting closer.  Plans are being made to transfer her to rehab.  Continue to pray for her.

Pray for Andy and Betty Taylor as they return to the doctor.  Andy hopes surgery will be scheduled to remove the rod in his right hand.  Pray all goes well with them.

Mike Moore of West Monroe learned last week that he has a melanoma behind one eye.  Yesterday, a doctor told him the melanoma usually travels through the blood to the liver, but this hasn’t happened yet with Mike.  Surgery to remove the melanoma has been scheduled for the first week of January.  Pray for the family.

FBC, Kentwood will make a schedule change tonight.  Prayer meeting will begin at 6 P.M. to fit better with the youth schedule.

I broke my arm at the shoulder one year ago today.  Since then, my life has been a whirl of doctors, tests, and hospitals because of my broken arm, Momma’s sickness and death, and my brain tumor.  I thank God for bringing me through this year and walking each step with me and my family.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering®

Every penny given to Lottie Moon is used to support Southern Baptist missionaries as they share the Gospel overseas. The offering represents 57 percent of the International Mission Board’s total income.

Thought for the Day: Did You Remember to Light Your Candle?

A circus owner walked into a restaurant to see everyone crowded around a table watching a little show. On the table was an upside down pot and a duck tap dancing on it.

The circus owner was so impressed that he offered to buy the duck from its owner. After some wheeling and dealing they settled for $10,000 for the duck and the pot.

Three days later, the circus owner runs back to the restaurant in anger, “Your duck is a rip-off! I put him on the pot before a whole audience and he didn’t dance a single step!”

“So?” asked the duck’s former owner, “did you remember to light the candle under the pot?”

Well, that might be one reason that someone would put a lighted candle under a pot, but that’s not what candles are for! As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, candles are meant to “give light to all who are in the house.” In like manner, our Christian lives are to “shine before men.” (Matt. 5:16-17). The reason is that we are to be a positive influence on others around us.

We sometimes speak of a “secret Christian” as if that’s a possibility. The truth is, unless our lives are reflecting the light of Jesus Christ, we’re not living Christian lives at all. If we don’t influence the world around us for Christ, the world will influence us.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth).” (Eph. 5:8-9)

Did you remember to light your candle?

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Jesus is the reason for the season!  Let your light shine for Him!

Anna Lee