January 18, 2016
Hales Chapel Family,
We all enjoyed seeing our first snow of 2016 on Sunday as the wintry mix changed to snow during Sunday School. As Keith stated in his prayer on Sunday the beauty of the snow reminds us that our sins have been washed white as snow. We should be as excited about the forgiveness of our sins that we have through Christ as the children on the front pew were about seeing the snow—actually more excited. Since I referenced the weather this is good time to mention that if we have to cancel services due to weather, we will do a phone tree call and post it on WRAL. Occasionally there may be times that for safety purposes that we will make this decision. Even if we are having services there may be times that you should not come because of your particular road and/or your personal health situation. Please, make wise decisions. We will miss you or you might miss me, but we will all understand. Since I referenced missing church let me say it was great to have our Prodigal Couple, Johnny and Lulu, back in our service on Sunday! It was great to see them back in their normal pew. We are thankful for the great improvement that Johnny has made and we are praying for more improvement in the days to come.
Devotional Thought: This week I am going to share thoughts from my good friend, Dr. Chuck Lawless.
Pharaoh had had two strange dreams, and word came to him that Joseph had previously interpreted dreams properly. So, he sent for Joseph in the prison and asked him to interpret his dreams. Look at Joseph’s response: “I cannot do it . . . but God will give Pharaoh the answer.” (Gen. 41:16). Joseph’s response should give us hope today: “I cannot do it . . . but God will . . ..” Think about the hope we have here:
I cannot save people, but God will.
I cannot answer prayer, but God will.
I cannot forgive sinners, but God will.
I cannot grant hope to the hopeless, but God will.
I cannot stretch dollars to meet needs, but God will.
I cannot build the church, but God will.
I cannot ultimately defeat the devil, but God will.
I cannot resurrect the dead, but God will.
The truth is that we can’t do anything that God calls us to do in our own power. We can’t love Him, hear Him, or follow Him in our strength — but God will change and mold us to get us there. We can’t love the unlovable, but God will incline our hearts toward them. We can’t preach or teach the Word in power, but God will empower us. Husbands can’t love their wives as Christ demands, and wives can’t respond in turn, but God will bring them to that place. We can’t overcome sin, but God will be the warrior who fights for us. “But God will” . . . Those are good words for us today.
Bullet Point Announcements:
*January 20th, Quarterly Business Meeting at the conclusion of Prayer Meeting
*February 20th, New Members Class
*March 27 – Easter
Easter Week Schedule:
No Wednesday activities on March 23, 2016
Maundy Thursday Service on March 24, 2016 at 7:00 PM
Easter Sunrise Service on Sunday, March 27, 2016 at 7:00 AM at the Pavilion
Breakfast in the Fellowship Hall on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016 at 8:00 AM
Sunday School at 9:00 AM on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016
Worship Service at 10:00 AM on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016
*April 17-20, 2016 – Community Revival – Dr. Jim Shaddix preaching
Community-Wide Revival will be April 17-20, 2016 at 7:00 PM at Antioch Baptist Church. Our guest preacher will be Dr. Jim Shaddix, Professor of Preaching at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Shaddix is an excellent proclaimer of the Word and is a highly sought after preacher for conventions, conferences, revivals, and supply preaching.
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