Daily Focus, December 16, 2019

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

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 39:1 – 40:16 (“The Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the house of the people, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.”)

This Week’s Memory Verse: “And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.”  1 Corinthians 6:14

Remember These In Prayer:

Sherry Carden was discharged from Johnson City Medical Center on Sunday afternoon, and is now back home.  No explanation was found for the serious pain in the back of her head; she will follow up with a neurologist.  Jim reported Sunday evening that she is a little better, but still quite uncomfortable.

Lee Davis is scheduled to begin a fourth round of chemotherapy today.  He and Carla were to have returned home from Nashville on Sunday.  Pray for God’s power to make these treatments effective.

June Selby is recovering at home following a fall at her home on Friday.  She was found to have an infection, and is being treated for that.

Lena Whitted, mother of Jerry Whitted, continues under hospice care as she is being treated for pneumonia.  She is at Durham-Hensley Health & Rehab in Greene County.

Jacquelyn Ellis is scheduled to undergo oral surgery today following the discovery of a cyst in her gum.  Pray for good findings to come from today’s procedure.

Kenn Neal is scheduled to undergo a heart catheterization on Tuesday.  Dean asks that we pray for good results.

Edie Lowry will continue at Quillen Rehab Hospital through at least December 18 to receive physical therapy following her stroke.

Louise Van de Vuurst, mother of a coworker with Steve Trent, has advanced colon cancer.  She lives in Memphis, and Steve asks for our prayers for healing and peace for Louise, and for all of her family.

A former teacher of Seth Gilliam lost her father a few weeks ago.  Seth asks that we pray for God’s comfort to be with her.

The family of Hurbbie Potter, grandfather of Sharley French, is mourning his passing on Friday morning.  A funeral service was conducted on Sunday in Mountain City.

The family of Jessie Cornett is mourning her passing on Saturday after a long illness.  Jessie, known to several here at Central, was a long-time member of the Northeast Church of Christ in Kingsport.  The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 12:00 until 1:45 at Oak Hill Funeral Home in Kingsport, and a funeral service will follow at 2:00.  You may view her obituary by clicking here.

Monday Night For The Master is now on Winter Recess, and will resume in early March.  If you’d like to have opportunities to serve during this interim, let me know.  There are always opportunities to serve.

Identifying With Central on Sunday was Rose Hammonds.  Rose moved to our area back in the summer, and has gotten involved in various ways.  She was formerly a member of the Brooks Avenue Church of Christ in Raleigh, NC, and is originally from Milan, TN.  She is listed in Instant Church Directory, the directory app that many of you have installed; get to know her and welcome her to our family.

Your Generosity Is Striking: The drive to take simple gifts to Princeton Assisted Living and Transitional Care ended yesterday, and the pile of gifts was amazing!  You also responded generously to the effort to help a young lady who is moving into her apartment today.  If you have any questions about this latter effort, contact Mary or Andrew McCormick.

What Is Hope?  *  “Hope is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier.”  (Author Unknown)  *  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”  (Hebrews 12:1)