Daily Focus, June 3, 2020

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”  James 4:8

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 15:1 – 16:20 (“And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.  He did not depart all his days from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.”)

This Week’s Memory Verse:And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”  2 Peter 1:19

Scroll down this page for a list of prayer requests.

Study God’s Word With Us!  Though our building remains closed to public assemblies, Bible studies will be offered online.  Children’s classes will begin at 6:15; a devotional for all ages will be at 7:00; and teen and adult Bible classes will begin at 7:15.  An email will be sent out this afternoon with all the details and links to get you to your class.

Communion Supplies can be picked up for those who will continue to worship remotely.  Call the church office to arrange a time to pick up yours.  If you’re not able to get out, call us and we’ll bring it to you.

New Time For Sunday Morning Worship:  Effective on June 7 our Sunday morning worship will begin at 10:30.  This will allow most to join our online Bible classes at 9:15 and still be able to make it to the building for worship.  The doors will not open for worship until 10:00 (except for those teaching classes).  We urge you to arrive at least 10 minutes before worship as seating will be managed in order to maintain the 6-feet distancing between individuals / households.

Are You Running Behind in seeing the many videos that have been produced to encourage and educate us during this time of quarantined worship?  Go to Central’s YouTube Channel at this site and make sure you’ve not fallen behind.  Share the link with others.

Remember These In Prayer:

Ashley Doyle came through her spinal fusion surgery on Tuesday at Shriners Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina.  According to Cherie, all went well though she is in pain.  She will likely remain hospitalized for a couple of days.  Continue praying for our young sister.

Ann Booton will return to her orthopedic doctor today to learn the results of the MRI that was recently done.  It is feared that her meniscus is damaged.  Our prayers for God’s help in this situation have been requested.

Ruth Boggs will undergo outpatient surgery on Friday at Johnson City Eye Clinic for muscle realignment in her right eye.  She asks that we pray for all to go well.

Kim Seaton is presently on a regimen of medication and therapy to try to bring under control some difficult sciatica.  She has asked that we pray for God’s help in avoiding surgery.

Fayrene Terry, mother of Wilda Rumbaugh, has been diagnosed with smouldering multiple myeloma.  The “smouldering” aspect means that the cancer is not presently active, but could emerge at any time.  Fayrene, a member of the Oneida (TN) Church of Christ, will be monitored on a regular basis. Wilda asks that we keep her mother in our prayers.

Emma Harrod, the young lady for whom we’ve often prayed the last few years, is scheduled to undergo gall bladder surgery on Friday.  Her doctors feel this will help her feel better.  Arlene Kellum, a close friend of the family, asks for our prayers for all to go well.

The mother of Kate Frakes will be undergoing surgery in Australia soon.  Following her heart attack they determined she needs a triple bypass.  Kate is the wife of John Frakes, son of Sheila and David Frakes, and they have asked that we pray for all to go well in this surgery.

Mary Bracale, a close friend of Cole Heaton, is scheduled to undergo surgery on June 9 at Johnson City Medical Center to fuse several vertebrae in her upper spine.  According to Dan Heaton, this is high-risk surgery, and Mary is only 34 and is a single mom of two children.  Our prayers for all to go well have been requested.

Will Terry, 8-year-old son of former Central member Adam Terry and his wife Catherine, remains at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital as he recovers from head trauma.  He is progressing slowly, and on Tuesday a feeding tube was put in place to help him with nourishment.  He will soon be transferred to Scottish Rites Hospital for Children in Atlanta for more intensive inpatient rehab.

Ashley Cutshall, daughter of Mary Nell Lilly, continues to recover from the COVID-19 virus.  Tests recently showed that she is in recovery, but her strength is very low.  She and her two children live in Denver, Colorado, and she has asked that we pray that she might have the strength she needs for her work and for her role as a mother.

Dustin Mask, a man whom we baptized in 2017 at Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City, has learned that the health issue he has been facing is not cancer.  More tests remain to fully determine the problem, but he is understandably relieved.  Let us give thanks to God for hearing our prayers.

Inner Destruction:  *  “Fear of something is at the root of hate of others, and hate within will eventually destroy the hater.”  (George Washington Carver)  *  “Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.”  (Proverbs 26:24,25)