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Announcements Plus Devotional Aids

Let's Learn a Bible Verse!

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
--Romans 12:9 NIV

 

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Announcements

Red Cross Blood Drive - March 10, 2025

We will have our annual winter Red Cross Blood Drive on Monday, March 10, 2025 from 2:30 - 7:00 p.m. Please sign-up online at www.redcrossblood.org or call our office to make an appointment. (Search online using zip code 28630.)

Special Guests December 22nd

We invite you to our Sunday before Christmas service with our special singing guests, The Hickory Music Factory. Help us celebrate the coming Christmas day of remembering the birth of our dear Lord and Savior, Jesus.

We will also take up our annual special offering, Gifts for Christ. Give a little extra in this season of joy as we prepare to enter a new year of service in the Kingdom of God. We thank you for your support in the past year and into the future.

 

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Quote to Ponder

“One design you are to pursue to the end of time,--the enjoyment of God in time and in eternity,” said John Wesley, “Desire other things, so far as they tend to this.”

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For Meditation

“I used to be woke. The smallest thing would get me triggered. I protested everything that offended me, and demanded it all be canceled. Finally, I outgrew it, and went to preschool.” –tomfuller5585 (in comment section online)

 

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Mini-bible Lesson #92: Joyful in the Lord

This is the day that the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. –Psalm 118:24

References: Psalm 118:24; Philippians 4:4; Jeremiah 31:34; Romans 3:23; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 6:4; Ephesians 2:8-9; Psalm 95:1; Matthew 11:29-30; Psalm 119:11; Psalm 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Philippians 3:13-24.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. –Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

How do we maintain joyfulness in troubled times? We can talk all we want about believing in God’s promises, and announcing to ourselves that God is in control, no matter what is gong on in this fallen world. But our sense of joy can falter and crash into despair anyway. So how do we keep our joyfulness despite heartaches, disappointments, frustrations, ill health, bad decisions and hard consequences? These seven guidelines may help.

1. Accept the gift of grace. As it says in Eph. 2:8, “For it is by grace you have been saved.” Don’t be one of the “enlightened” of Hebrews 6:4-6, who tasted the “goodness of the word of God” and then fall away from their faith. This is not a head belief, but a heart belief. You don’t work for it. You can’t earn it. You can’t buy it. It is a gift from God— “not of works, lest any man should boast (Eph. 2:9). Open your hands and your heart and your life and accept the gift. Jesus gives it freely. He covers you with Himself. He washes your sins away with His blood, until you are “blameless.” There is no shame in Christ.

2. Confess your sins, repent, and let the guilt go. “I will remember [your] sins no more (Jeremiah 31:34).” God lets them go, why can’t you? “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).” You are no worse or better than anyone else in God’s eyes. We humans ten to rank sins, but to God, all sin is loathsome. So, once He washes you clean, let them go and move forward in Christ.

3. Forgive others as you have been forgiven. Let go of your past sins and mistakes and let go of the sins of others done to you also. Resentment is a burden you bear to your own sorrow and harm. “Vengeance is mine”, saith the Lord. “I will repay (Romans 12:19).” With God on your side, who can stand against you? And if God can forgive you, then you can and should forgive others and yourself. When you let go of past hurts your load is lightened. This is why Jesus says, “His burden is light (Matthew 11:30).” Because there is no resentment, or bitterness or guild or shame to carry around when we truly hand it all over to Him. We are free in Christ—freer than we would ever be without Him and His grace.

4. Stop doing it yourself. Take His yoke upon you (Matthew 11:29). Let Him lead. Let the Holy Spirit have control and lean on His power—not our own power and strategies.

5. Study God’s Word regularly and consistently and reverently. Meditate on God’s Word day and night and accept His promises as true. (Psalm 119:11; Psalm 1:2)

6. Pray. Commune with God daily and hourly. Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

7. Keep your eyes on the prize. The true prize of life and living is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is our Savior, Messiah, Redeemer, Friend, King of kings and Lord of lords—forever and ever. (Philippians 3:13-14)

And the final thing you can consider doing that will keep your joy going is by working in and supporting God’s church and its ministries and spreading the Good News about Jesus while showing the love that Jesus has shown to you to your family, friends, neighbors, companions, and business associates—to everyone. Working in the church and helping with its ministries keeps you from obsessing about your problems and sins and the condition of the world. It also helps you to keep your eyes on the true purpose of your life in Christ. You cannot earn your salvation, but you can show your salvation through your work in God’s kingdom here on earth.

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)

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Special Resources

The picture below is our new Resource Room with books, dvds, videos, and a TV screen (not shown in photo). Individuals are encouraged to take resources home for Bible study or reading; and classes can use the room to show videos related to their studies. We would appreciate donations of books or dvds, especially for young children for this collection.

 

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Ongoing Collections - Updated - 10/09/2023

CCC & TI Food Pantry Collection - Yearly in April

Throughout the month of April, we will be collecting single serve, microwaveable or ready-to-eat items for students at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. Suggested items: single serve Ramen Noodles, macaroni and cheese, crackers with cheese or peanut butter, cookies, single serve canned meats, etc.

Oakhill Backpack Ministry

We are beginning to collect single serve, easy to microwave or use food items to send home with needy children, such as, fruit cups, mac and cheese, snacks, noodles, etc. The children will receive a backpack of these items to take home on the weekends, and use for themselves and their families. Put the items in the old fellowship hall. We thank you for helping.

Local Schools Supply Closet

We continue to collect items for our local teachers.This ministry provides items for teachers and their students that they cannot obtain through the regular budget.

They include the following: Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, hand soap, paper towels, facial tissues, sharpies, dry board markers highlighters, black/blue/red ink pens, colored pencils, glue sticks, composition books and notebook paper (wide and college ruled), crayons, scissors (children's type), index cards, construction paper, pencil sharpeners, sheet protectors, file folders, large and small legal pads, white out, paper clips, staples, pencil pouches, markers, rulers, ring binders, card stock white/assorted, 3 ring note books, large and small pencil top erasers, and post it notes.

South Caldwell Christian Ministries

We are collecting non-perishable food and clean used clothing in good condition that will be taken to South Caldwell Christian Ministries. You may leave the items at the church on Sundays or during normal office hours (8:30 to 1:00 p.m., Monday-Friday).

We thank you for helping us to minister to the needs of our community.

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Contact Information: 828-396-2214 or emcdudleyshoals@yahoo.com;
4948 Burns Rd., Granite Falls NC 28630