Skip to main content

The Sunday Before Christmas

This morning, my family was all together at the Peerless Road Church in Cleveland. Debra, Lindsey and I made the trip over to the home of Shaun, Stephanie and Reagan, along with a friend of ours, Secil Mathew who had flown in from London, England to spend the holidays with us.

The music and other parts of the service were great and the Pastor, Tim Coalter preached on of the best sermons I believe I've ever hear on the "Gift of Grace." My heart was so full as we concluded the service with holy communion, with my family and so many friends present. God certainly has been good to our family.

I am certain that whatever form the services took today in our churches across Tennessee, that many others were blessed just as I am. We have such wonderful pastors, pastor's families and laity in this great State and we are all blessed to work and worship together in the great harvest the Lord has placed us in.

My final thought concerns a Christmas service well over 30-years-ago, when I was serving in the the United States Army on foreign soil. It was such a lonely Sunday as I looked out across a perimeter not knowing what nightfall might bring. God was good to me and spared my life, and the life of so many of my comrades then, and today it all came rushing back as I thought about our troops serving with such great dignity. We live in a wonderful land, where our freedom has been secured by generations of such men and women who deserve and need our respect and affection.

Let us also remember all of the first responders, police, firefighters and EMS personnel who will be working to keep us safe while they are away from their families too.

My final prayer today was for them...the men and women who are away from their families this Christmas, standing as the first line of defense for Freedom. I hope you will join me this day remembering their sacrifice, and the sacrifice of their familes, and let's breath a prayer for them.


"Father, we pray that You will keep Your arms of protection around our military and their families...and Father bring them home safely." May God bless all of you today! Amen.!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Come Down From That Ivory Tower

Hebrews 11 has become known as the "Hall of Faith." The reason is quite simple. The writer spends a great deal of time giving a role call of the heroes of the faith. After all, this chapter is about faith, and what better way to teach faith than to illustrate with some real-life examples. Mos of the people in this chapter are well-known, at least by anyone who spent time squirming in a Sunday School class as a small child, or who watched the late-night movies on the local channels featuring their stories. Who were they? Abel, Enoch and Noah. Abel pleased God with his excellent offering, Enoch was so close to God that he actually walked with God to the point that one evening, while walking God said to Enoch, "we are closer to my house than we are yours, so why don't you just go home with me?" Of course, Noah built an ark (according to God's instructions) that saved mankind from total destruction. Then there was Abraham...the father of the faithful. He...
10 comments
Read more

Prayer Request

Yesterday and today have been filled with non-stop preparations and meetings for the General Assembly. The State/National Overseers will be traveling to begin meeting this week in Nashville. Will you please join me in prayer for travel mercies for all of those on their way to Nashville? Also, Sister Wilma Massengale is still in Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. This precious lady and her family need our prayer support, and I hope you will join me in prayer for them, believing the Lord is able to meet their need.
Post a Comment
Read more

Raising your Leadership GPA

Please note the upcoming seminar taught by Pastor Gary Lanley from Hawaii. Here is his description of the seminar: "Leadership Training Seminar The weekend before the General Assembly, Bishop Gary Langley, Pastor of Kaneohe, Hawaii, Windward Worship Center, will be teaching a 3-session leadership training seminar at Sonbright Christian Center, hosted by Pastor R.C. (Chip) Meadows. A lot of the materials I use are from some intensive training I received from Don Cousins. Improve Your Leadership GPA will help you better understand how your Spiritual Gifts, Passions and Abilities are all vital components in your successful ministry and sense of fulfillment. Among the topics to be covered… • Uncover your Spiritual Gifts • Identify your passion • Integrate your natural abilities • Learn effective ways to recruit, motivate and retain volunteers • Examine the pattern for true Biblical leadership • Move toward consistently ministering “in the zone” • Understand anointed moments • Begin ...
1 comment
Read more