Posts Tagged ‘Carolyn Compton’
December 25,2011
December 26th, 2011In todays’ day and time, it’s easy to lose sight,
When we go shopping, We say “How much will it cost?”
Amidst the tinsel, glitter And ribbons of gold,
The children look for Santa In his big, red sleigh
In reality, When we look into the night sky,
A faithful reminder, Of that night so long ago,
Santa lives at the North Pole.. JESUS is everywhere.
Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is “Hi little boy or girl, what’s your name?”…
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
December 18,2011 Bulletin
December 19th, 2011New Requests: Violet Foster Family, John O’Cull Family, Lowell McClurg, Emma
Jordan Family, Natalie Bradley and her family
Continuing Requests: Jerry Love, Jason Cox, Scott Sullivan, Ellen Moore,
Carolyn Compton, John McLaughlin, Donna Dietrich
Cancer Patients: Lanny Cooper, Earl Cooper, Joe Hewlett, William Jordan, Paul
Roberts, Angie Bussell, Tara McCann, Kathy Sower, Ruth Hurst, Star Johnson, Edith
Westfall, Billy Barbour
Elderly and Shut Ins and their Families: Maxine Soards, Carrie Edington, Helen
Dixon, Ina Hurst, Sammy Ginn, Gardena Ginn, Flora Wells, Charles Riley, Donald
Lykins, Sr., Lance O’Cull, Joe Hardy, Carol Wills, Marie Drexell
Our Web Prayer Requests, Our Troops, Unspoken Needs, Missionaries, the
“Lost”, the Emotionally, Physically and Spiritually Troubled
Birthdays December 21 Billy Melton REMINDERS
Christmas Play—Sunday, December 18—6:30
Christmas Sunday—Morning Services Only
WHERE’S THE LINE TO SEE JESUS?
The story behind this song, as told by Steve Haupt:
“While at the mall last year, my four year old grandson saw kids lined up excitedly to see Santa Claus. Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that Christians celebrate the birth of God’s son; with the innocence of a child, he asked his mom, ‘Where’s the line to see Jesus? If Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, why don’t we see Him more?’ As his grandpa, I was so happy that little Spencer understood the meaning of Christmas at such a tender age, and then the words for a song were jotted down in just a few minutes. The song was inspired by my grandson, and the message was inspired by my Savior. Out of the mouths of babes come profound truths that many adults cannot understand. Hopefully Spencer’s observation and our song will cause people to reflect on the love of Jesus, and the certainty that one day we will all stand in line to see Jesus. Merry Christmas everyone.”
Christmas time was approaching, Snow is starting to fall,
Shoppers choosing their presents, People filling the mall.
Children waiting for Santa, With excitement and glee,
A little boy tugged my sweater, Looked up and asked me.
“Where’s the line to see Jesus? Is He here at the store?
It’s Christmas time, it’s His birthday. Why don’t we see Him more?
Where’s the line to see Jesus? He was born for me.
Santa Claus brought me presents. But Christ gave His life for me.”
As I stood in amazement, At this message profound,
I looked down to thank him, He was nowhere around.
Little boy at the mall, Might as well have had wings,
As the tears filled my eyes, but I heard him sing.
“Where’s the line to see Jesus? Is He here at the store?
It’s Christmas time, it’s His birthday. Why don’t we see Him more?
Where’s the line to see Jesus? He was born for me.
Santa Claus brought me presents. But Christ gave His life for me.”
In the blink of an eye, at the sound of His trump,
We’ll all stand in line at His throne. Every knee shall bow down,
Every tongue will confess, That Jesus Christ is Lord
“Where’s the line to see Jesus? Is He here at the store?
It’s Christmas time, it’s His birthday. Why don’t we see Him more?
Where’s the line to see Jesus? He was born for me.
Santa Claus brought me presents. But Christ gave His life for me.”
You can hear this song by going to www.youtube.com and searching for “Where’s The Line To See Jesus.”
What’s Christmas About?
It’s not about when Santa comes.
It’s not about candies and sugarplums.
It’s about the belief in the birth of a heavenly babe.
Which will bring us eternal life, once we are saved.
It’s not about getting the latest trend, toy or game.
It’s about knowing the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, are the same.
It’s not about the biggest tree or the brightest lights.
It’s about faith in His word that will keep us on a path that’s right.
It’s not about the amount of money we’ve spent.
It’s about the heavy load, on us, that causes His back to be bent.
It’s about the ultimate sacrifice, in the name of love.
A man, once sent to us, as a messenger from above.
A man, once sent to us, to save us from our sins.
Always offering a way to live and to begin again.
Maybe, Happy Birthday are words that need to be said,
Along with Merry Christmas, as we lie and pray, in our beds.
It’s about an oft said, cliche’,
That needs to be repeated, especially on this day.
Jesus is the reason — for the season!
Merry Christmas From Jason and Tammy Cox and Aills Christian Church
We will be having church services on Sunday Christmas Day . Everyone is welcome. Come worshop with us .
Jesus is The Reason For The Season !!!
December 11,2011
December 11th, 2011
New Requests: David Dummitt Family,John O’Cull Family
Continuing Requests: Jerry Love, Jason Cox, Scott Sullivan, Ellen Moore,
Carolyn Compton, John McLaughlin, Douglas Applegate, Donna Dietrich
Cancer Patients: Lanny Cooper, Earl Cooper, Joe Hewlett, William Jordan, Paul
Roberts, Angie Bussell, Tara McCann, Kathy Sower, Ruth Hurst,
Star Johnson, Edith Westfall, Billy Barbour
Elderly and Shut Ins and their Families: Maxine Soards, Carrie Edington, Helen
Dixon, Ina Hurst, Sammy Ginn, Gardena Ginn, Flora Wells, Charles Riley, Donald
Lykins, Sr., Lance O’Cull, Joe Hardy, Carol Wills, E. V. Holder, Louella Ruark
Our Web Prayer Requests, Our Troops, Unspoken Needs, Missionaries, the
“Lost”, the Emotionally, Physically and Spiritually Troubled
REMINDERS
Sunday Night Bible Study— Religions of Today
Ladies Meeting—Thurs. Dec. 15–6:00—All Ladies Invited—Bring a dish
Play Practice—Sat. Dec 17—4:00-6:30
Christmas Play—Sunday, December 18—6:30
Happy Anniversary December 16 Melvin/Jenny Wills
I Wonder
Every year about this time I WONDER what happened to the real meaning of Christmas. Store sales, Christmas lights, etc. In many ways we have marred the true meaning of Christmas.
We all know the story of Christmas. On that night long ago, while the shepherds guarded the temple flocks at a place called Migdal-Eder, a ray of hope burst forth on a people and a world trapped in darkness. We’re told an angel spoke words which have become somewhat famous the world over.
“Fear not,” he said, “I bring you glad tidings of great joy!”
The shepherds turned their attention heavenward, for they understood what these tidings might be. The angel continued.
“Unto you is born this day in the City of David, a savior, who is Christ (the chosen and anointed one) the Lord.” Then the angel was joined by an entire company of heavenly beings, rejoicing and singing “glory to God in the highest…”
The shepherds, far from being dumbfounded by this display as we have been led to believe, understood what all of this meant. In fact, Jewish and Rabbinical tradition named this Migdal-Eder as the place where the long awaited announcement of the coming of the savior would occur. The proclamation would go out from that point. In answer to that very tradition, the scriptures tell us that, upon hearing this from the heavens, and seeing the child laying in the manger, the shepherd “made known abroad all they had heard and seen.” Some coincidence, huh?
As Christmas draws near, I wonder what the shepherds, the angels, and the baby in the manger of Bethlehem had to do with million dollar church buildings, million dollar church bank accounts, and church boards which pull the strings of puppet-like “pulpiteers.”
I wonder what the Christ-child would say about all the pretty songs being sung in shopping mall atriums where no one stops to hear — or even think about — the message of the season.
I wonder what the shepherds would think if they knew that we, too, have heard the glad tidings of great joy, only to fail miserably at spreading it abroad.
I wonder what Mary – who knew the truth of that boy-child at her breast and pondered it in her heart – would say if she could see how we idolize that manger and that starry night while skirting the issue of the cross and almost completely ignoring the truth of the empty tomb.
I wonder what Joseph, who had taken many a risk to get to this point in his eventful life, would say if he could hear the excuses we make, or the whining we do, when things get rough.
On that night, when the shepherds approached the stable, the wise men had only begun their journey to the Holy Land. They knew that this baby they would someday find in Bethlehem was no ordinary baby. They would bring him gifts from their home countries. They would honor him as a king.
I wonder what these gift bearing gentiles would think about our glut of gift giving; about our wanting and demanding, pushing and shoving to get just the right gift at just the right price. I wonder what they would say if they could hear a child – influenced by television and by family tradition – demand that his parents (or Santa Clause) get him another “accessories sold separately, batteries not included” fad toy of the year. They would all probably feel, as a friend of ours so eloquently states, that we “just don’t get it.”
The truth is, the Creator of the Universe gave a gift to this world on that special night, so long ago. This gift was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. It was a ray of warm sunshine in a cold, dark land. It was a gift of hope in a world gone wrong. It was God putting on skin and walking among men.
This baby we celebrate was not only Jesus of Nazareth, as some would say.
A good man. A teacher. Maybe a prophet, but at any rate, at the very least a wise and just rabbi. No.
He was much more than that! He was the Christ; the son of the living God. And he still is!
See Luke 2:1-20. Have a true Merry Christmas everyone.
God’s Promises
Our precious Lord never promised us an easy road in life.
But He promised He’d be with us to help us face the strife.
He never promised us that we would never suffer grief.
But He promised He’d be with us to help provide relief.
He never promised us that we’d never have a broken heart.
But He promised to be with us to help ease the aching part.
He never promised us our life would be free of pain.
But He promised He’d be with us to help ease our suffering.
He never promised us that our life would be free of stress.
But He promised He’d be with us to help put our souls at rest.
He never promised us an abundance of earthly treasures.
The ones He promised are up above in unbelievable measures.
God will never break His promises, on that we can depend.
The most important promise was the Son He was to send.
By trusting all His promises and by trusting in His only Son,
We’ll overcome our earthly perils for the battle we have won.
December 3,2011
December 5th, 2011New Requests: Billy Melton, Douglas Applegate, Billy Barbour, Donna Dietrich
Continuing Requests: Jerry Love, Jason Cox, Scott Sullivan, Ellen Moore,
Carolyn Compton, John McLaughlin
Cancer Patients: Lanny Cooper, Earl Cooper, Joe Hewlett, William Jordan, Paul
Roberts, Angie Bussell, Tara McCann , Kathy Sower, John O’Cull, Ruth Hurst,
Star Johnson, Edith Westfall
Elderly and Shut Ins and their Families: Maxine Soards, Carrie Edington, Helen
Dixon, Ina Hurst, Sammy Ginn, Gardena Ginn, Flora Wells, Charles Riley, Donald
Lykins, Sr., Lance O’Cull, Joe Hardy, Carol Wills, E. V. Holder, Paul Collier,
Louella Ruark
Our Web Prayer Requests, Our Troops, Unspoken Needs, Missionaries, the
“Lost”, the Emotionally, Physically and Spiritually Troubled
REMINDERS
Sunday Night Bible Study—Bible Prophecy—Religions of Today
Ladies Meeting—Thurs. Dec. 9-6:00
Play Practice—Sat. Dec 10—4:00-6:00
Christmas Play—Sunday, December 18—6:30
Birthday December 10 Jennifer Sullivan
Congratulation on Shirley and Jack McCann on becoming grandparents again. Little Owen is 5 1/2 months old and will arrive in the states in three or four months. Let’s all pray that all goes well for Chuck and Lana in the next few months.
Twas the Month before Christmas
Twas the month before Christmas when all through our land, not a Christian was praying nor taking a stand. See the PC Police had taken away the reason for Christmas – no one could say. The children were told by their schools not to sing about Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things. It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would say December 25th is just a ‘ Holiday ‘. Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit pushing folks down to the floor just to get it! CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod something was changing, something quite odd! Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa in hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda. As Targets were hanging their trees upside down at Lowe’s the word Christmas – was no where to be found, at K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears you won’t hear the word Christmas; it won’t touch your ears. Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty are words that were used to intimidate me. Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen, on Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton ! At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter to eliminate Jesus, in all public matter. And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith forbidden to speak of salvation and grace. The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded the reason for the season, stopped before it started. So as you celebrate ‘Winter Break’ under your ‘Dream Tree’ sipping your Starbucks, listen to me. Choose your words carefully, choose what you say Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday ! Please, all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet MERRY CHRISTMAS. Christ is The Reason’ for the Christ-mas Season!
THE THREE TREES
Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, “Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with Intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.”
Then the second tree said, “Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.”
Finally the third tree said, “I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.”
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, “This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter”… and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree a woodsman said, “This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.” The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true.
One of the Woodsmen said, “I don’t need anything special from my tree so I’ll
take this one,” and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.
The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.
The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.
The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.
Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn’t think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said “Peace” and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that when things don’t seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts.
Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don’t always know what God’s plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
Merry Christmas and God Bless From Jason and Tammy Cox
November 27,2011
November 28th, 2011New Requests: Harry Hester Family, Marie Dummitt Family, Vicki Clark, Carolyn
Compton, Mary Swearingen Family
Continuing Requests: Jerry Love, Jason Cox, Scott Sullivan, Ellen Moore, Marie
Drexel
Cancer Patients: Lanny Cooper, Earl Cooper, Joe Hewlett, William Jordan, Paul
Roberts, Stacy Pingleton, Andrew Grigson, Angie Bussell, Tara McCann
Kathy Sower, Alex Mason, John O’Cull, Ruth Hurst, Star John, Edith Westfall
Elderly and Shut Ins and their Families: Maxine Soards, Carrie Edington, Helen
Dixon, Ina Hurst, Sammy Ginn, Gardena Ginn, Flora Wells, Charles Riley, Donald
Lykins, Sr., Lance O’Cull, Joe Hardy, Emma Jordan, Wilson Moore, Malcolm Roe,
Mitch Hickle, Carol Wills, E. V. Holder, Paul Collier
Our Web Prayer Requests, Our Troops, Unspoken Needs, Missionaries, the
“Lost”, the Emotionally, Physically and Spiritually Troubled
Sunday Night Bible Study—Bible Prophecy
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Birthdays and Anniversaries
November 27 Michelle Himes
November 28 Stephen Cordle
December 2 Daneyl Carrington
December 3 George/Daneyl Carrington
December 3 Carol Cunningham
December 3 Mark Vergne
Will the Christ Child Come?
One Christmas we had an interesting experience that I would like to share. Halfway through December we were doing the regular evening things when there was a knock at the door. We opened it to find a small package with a beautiful ceramic lamb inside. We looked at the calendar and realized that the 12 days of Christmas were beginning! We waited excitedly for the next night’s surprise and only then, with the gift of a matching shepherd, did we realize that the lamb was part of a nativity set.
Each night we grew more excited to see what piece we would receive. Each was exquisitely beautiful. The kids kept trying to catch the givers as we slowly built the scene at the manger and began to focus on Christ’s birth.
On Christmas Eve, all the pieces were in place, all but the Baby Jesus. My 12-year-old son really wanted to catch our benefactors and began to devise all kinds of ways to trap them. He ate dinner in the minivan, watching and waiting, but no one came. Finally, we called him in to go through our family’s Christmas Eve traditions. But before the kids went to bed, we checked the front step – - no Baby Jesus! We began to worry that my son had scared them off. My husband suggested that maybe they dropped the Jesus and there wouldn’t be anything coming. Somehow, something was missing that Christmas Eve.
There was a feeling that things weren’t complete. The kids went to bed and before I went to bed, I again checked to see if the Jesus had come – - no, the doorstep was empty. In our family, the kids can open their stockings when they want to, but they have to wait to open any presents until Dad wakes up. So one by one they woke up very early and I also woke up to watch them. Even before they opened their stockings, each child checked to see if perhaps during the night the Baby Jesus had come.
Missing that piece of the set seemed to have an odd effect. At least it changed my focus. I knew there were presents under the tree for me and I was excited to watch the children open their gifts, but first on my mind was the feeling of waiting for the ceramic Christ Child. We had opened just about all of the presents when one of the children found one more for me buried deep beneath the limbs of the tree.
He handed me a small package from my former visiting teaching companion. This sister was somewhat less-active in the church. I had been her visiting teacher for a couple of years and then, when she was asked to be a visiting teacher, she requested to go with me. I had learned over time they didn’t have much for Christmas, so that their focus was on the children. It sounded like she didn’t get many gifts to open, so I had always given her a small package — new dish towels, the next year’s Relief Society lesson manual — not much, but something for her to open.
I was touched when at church on the day before Christmas, she had given me this small package, saying it was just a token of her love and appreciation. As I took off the bow, I remembered my friendship with her and was filled with gratitude for knowing her and for her kindness and sacrifice in this giving me a gift. But as the paper fell away, I began to tremble and cry. There in the small brown box was the Baby Jesus! He had come!
I realized on that Christmas Day, that Christ will come into our lives in ways that we don’t expect. The spirit of Christ comes into our hearts as we serve one another. We had waited and watched for Him to come, expecting the dramatic “knock at the door and scurrying of feet” but He came in a small, simple package that represented service, friendship, gratitude and love.
This experience taught me that the beginning of the true spirit of Christmas comes as we open our hearts and actively focus on the Savior. But we will most likely find Him in the small and simple acts of love, friendship and service that we give to each other. This Christmas I want to feel again the joy of knowing that Christ is in our home. I want to focus on loving and serving. More than that, I want to open my heart to Him all year that I may see Him again.
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21 NIV)
Don’t Worry, Let God
Why do we tend to worry about the things we cannot change?
We only need to remember that God has our lives arranged.
He knew us when we were being formed within our mother’s womb.
He planned our life ahead of time from our birth until the tomb.
He knows our problems and our fears we have to face each day.
Just trust He’ll walk beside us and know He’ll be with us all the way.
When we think we can’t get through the day and let despair set in,
Just look above and ask for the help that He’s always ready to send.
Rather than placing our trust in God, we often think we can do it alone.
This is just part of our human nature; the sin of pride as it is known.
God loves us dearly and wants to help us; He’s just a prayer away.
Let’s call upon His wonderful name; He’ll get us through our day.
I have had many days I thought I would never get through.
But when I stopped and talked to God, He said, “I’m here for you.”
When I heard His tender voice, it gave me the strength I needed.
My friends I’m here to tell you, with God you can’t be defeated.
There is no worry or problem that’s too big for our Lord to handle.
Remember that on our darkest days, His love is like a candle.
His love for us will light our way with a beam so very bright.
No matter what we have to face, God will help us win the fight.
