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

Daily Bible Reading: Nahum 1:1 – 2:13 (“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”)

This Week’s Memory Verse: “Enter by the narrow gate.  For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.” Matthew 7:13

Remember These In Prayer:

Grace Muse, mother of Luanne Hoilman and a long-time member of Central, continues to decline in health following a stroke last week.  She is being kept comfortable, but has not regained consciousness since shortly after the stroke.  Keep this dear sister in your prayers.

Dean Hayes, husband of Edna, was to have been discharged Monday evening from Johnson City Medical Center.  He is recovering from injuries suffered in a fall last week at his home.  He reports feeling some better, but will receive home physical therapy.

Dave Clark continues to recover at home following an outpatient surgical procedure on Friday.

Claudette Rhea, who has worshiped with us for the past few years, had to visit the ER on Monday.  Scans found that she has gall stones, and she has been referred to her physician to get a referral to a surgeon.  Claudette is also recovering from hip replacement surgery about a month ago.  She asks that we pray for her.

Sammie Best, great-nephew of Debbie Ingram, was admitted to Wake Med in Raleigh, North Carolina on Monday evening with breathing difficulties.  He is two years old.  Debbie asks that we pray for him.

Henrick Kouvas, the 4-year-old boy with Down Syndrome we’ve prayed for who developed complications after what seemed to be routine surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids, has been on a ventilator since mid-December.  On Monday he pulled out the ventilator himself, something the medical staff had been afraid to do, and so far has not needed to be intubated again.  He is going through withdrawal from the sedatives that were being administered.  Our continued prayers for his recovery have been requested.

Can You Help?  There is a need for women’s jeans, size 12, and for women’s shoes, size 8.  If you have either of these items that you would be willing to donate, please contact the church office.

More Than We Thought!  We spoke in yesterday’s Daily Focus about some who joined us for worship Sunday morning through our audio live streaming.  Mike Higginbotham reported Monday that there were 25 different devices connected on Sunday morning, the most he can recall seeing.

We Hit A Speed Bump: The “New Year / New Life” event that had been planned for this evening at Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City, had to be postponed due to a lockdown that occurred in all state prisons this past weekend.  The event has been moved to Tuesday, January 29.  Please pray with us that we’ll be able to take the Good News of Jesus Christ to these men on that date.

Changing Standards?  *  “Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.”  (Leo Tolstoy)  *  “You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice.”  (Exodus 23:2)