Announcements
THANK YOU: We want to say thank you to all our friends for the cards, messages of sympathy, and prayers we received at the sudden passing of our son, Kenneth Sheldon. It was certainly needed at this most sadden time in our lives. Carol & Harold Goettner
SUNDAY FUN DAY: is coming up on Sunday, October 6 and volunteers are needed! Please sign up at the Welcome Desk, or see Pastor Josh if you have any questions.
NEEDED: Ladies who are willing to assist with weekly after-school Bible clubs in Carroll County public elementary schools. No before club preparation needed. Transportation provided, if requested. Call Maggie S. at (301) 549-0458.
DEACONS: Please pick up your packets at the Welcome Desk.
From My Heart
In Job 10:12, we read, “Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.” This is a tremendous statement made by the man who lost everything that was dear and precious to him. We certainly can remember the words to the great hymn “Count Your Blessings.” The first verse states, “When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.”
It is always a profitable matter when we sit and think of all the many blessings we are given daily by the graciousness of our Lord. Once you start considering the goodness of the Lord, you soon realize that His blessings come much faster than we can count them! Someone wisely said, “Ingratitude is treason when it is against God.”
One of the most blessed of all the exercises to which we can give ourselves in this life is the exercise of calling to mind every day the kindness and mercies of God toward us and our loved ones. I think it is very important for us to find some time every day to think of our blessings and then thank the Lord for them.
The man who spoke this 12th verse in Job was right in the middle of experiencing the worst days of his entire life. To those who knew him and were witnesses to what he was facing, it appeared he had committed some huge immoral sin and was under the judgment hand of God. Job lost his property, all of his children, and he lost his friends - who turned out to be fair-weather friends at best! Even his dear wife, once he was afflicted with a terrible condition that caused huge boils to pop up on his body, said to him almost in an atheistic manner, “Why don’t you just curse God and die.”
In all the suffering and pain, the discouragement and distress, and the sorrow and shock of being so cruelly attacked, Job spoke up and said to the Lord, “Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.” Job singles out three things for which he gave gratitude to the Lord! Oh, how we should also recognize God’s mercies and be grateful to Him for these same three things.
First, Job said, “Well, at least I am still alive.” It is almost like Job was saying, “All has been taken from me, it would seem, except life - I am still alive, and I am grateful for that fact!” Second, Job said, “Thou hast granted me favour.” Oh, how the Lord has granted us favour! We can all agree the Lord has been so good to us and has given us health, strength, and a desire to serve Him. Then, third, Job said God had given him a “sound mind.” Do you know the multitudes of folks on this planet who do not have a sound mind? Drugs, alcohol, vice, addictions, lust, a love of the world afflict them. The truth is - there are multitudes of things that can cause people to have an unsound mind! Just look at these wild-eyed, rebellious people who are trying to kill former President Trump! They are so full of hatred that they are unable to function in a normal setting. Rush Limbaugh called this hatred, “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” And it seems there are millions of folks suffering from this condition.
Let’s simply stop and count our many blessings to see what God has done! You will be amazed at all of God’s blessings to you! Have a wonderful day in the Lord.
Pastor Norris