Daily Focus, May 16, 2019

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

Daily Bible Reading: Acts 12:1 – 13:52 (“So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.”)

This Week’s Memory Verse:And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” (Colossians 1:18)

Remember These In Prayer:

Bradley McFarlane, grandson of Becky Blacklidge and great-grandson of Bonnie Franklin, is scheduled to undergo outpatient surgery today in Knoxville.  Say a prayer that all will go well for him.  Bradley identified with Central a few months ago.

Teresa Haywood, mother of Tim Haywood, remains under hospice care at her home.  Teresa and her husband Bill have served the Abingdon (VA) Church of Christ for many years.  Keep them and their family in your prayers.

The 4-year-son of Amy Potter is at Niswonger Children’s Hospital, and blood work has been sent to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis.  There is a chance he may have cancer.  Lynda Gray has asked that we pray for this child and his mother.

Addie Blevins, great-aunt of Elizabeth McConnell, has been in declining health the last few months.  This past week she has been in great pain.  Elizabeth asks that we remember Addie in our prayers.

Don Blackwell, preacher for the Southaven (MS) Church of Christ, is still undergoing evaluation after severely injuring his spinal cord in an ATV accident last week.  Amy Clevenger shared information on Wednesday that he is to be admitted today the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, a facility that specializes in traumatic injuries like Don’s.  He is reportedly in good spirits and eating a little more.  Keep Don and his wife Sheri in your prayers; she also was injured in the accident, but her prognosis is more favorable.  An article with more information on Don and the accident can be seen by clicking here.

Pray For This Movie: Have we ever asked you to pray for a movie’s success?  In this case the movie is “The Meanest Man In Texas”, a true story about Clyde Thompson.  Clyde’s life powerfully illustrates how the love of Christ can change a person.  Clyde, who was baptized into the church of Christ while in a Texas prison, went on to use his dark past to preach the good news of deliverance and true freedom.  This site tells how the movie is beginning to show in select theaters, and how Don Umphrey came to write the book upon which the movie is based.  There is also a trailer you can watch to get an idea of what the movie will be like.

Making A Difference?  We recently served many in our annual “Streams Of Sharing” (SOS) event.  Did we do any good?  Here is what one woman wrote: “What you give is such a blessing to my life.  I draw a check and it only goes so far, and what you gave helps me make it the rest of the month.  My husband is incarcerated and can’t help me, but he’s very grateful for your kindness.  He … calls your church a Doers Church, doing Christ’s work with love to everyone. … You can see the love of Jesus shining in all of your faces.  What a witness!  May God bless you richly.”  (To see this card and read all of her comments, look on the bulletin board in the old foyer.  She lives near to our building.)

Big Fish Tournament: If you enjoy fishing, check out High Rock Bible Camp’s “Big Fish” Tournament, which goes through the end of May.  To learn more about it, go to this site.

And Speaking Of High Rock … Summer camp sessions begin soon.  Teen Week will begin on Sunday, June 9, and Preteen Week begins the following week.  Here is where you can watch slide shows from last year’s sessions, and you’ll find a link to register for 2019 camp.  Young people thrive spiritually at High Rock!!

Speak Or Listen?  *  “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”  (Winston Churchill)  *  “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: … a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.”  (Ecclesiastes 3:1,7)