Good morning church family,
GIVING THANKS:
* Thanks to Zach and Tori for leading the Young Adults study and apple picking event! They had a great turn-out and a wonderful time!
* Thanks to Jay Repecko for leading the devotional at the Men's Breakfast last week.
* Thanks for your prayers for Sarah Calderone, Joanna Orduna's daughter who had heart surgery this past week. She is home and grateful for everyone's prayers. Look at her smile!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
* Our son-in-law's mother Karen McMullen will have esophagus & Stomach surgery on November 29th. Her mother Clydia Birdsall was diagnosed with breast cancer recently and she will need a lumpectomy over the next few weeks. Prayers in general for their family who is going through a rough time.
* Randy Springer will be having surgery soon. Our prayers for Randy and the surgeon and for all to go well.
* The Eddy's requested prayers for the family of Matthew Bassford who was a Church of Christ preacher at Chelsey's family's church in Tennessee. Matthew struggled with ALS and has been under hospice care for the past few months. He passed away on Wednesday morning. He was only 45 years old and leaves behind a wife and two young children. Our prayers are with the family. He wrote many hymns. One of the hymns is called “Exalted” see below:
Here is a link to the hymn he wrote…
BENEVOLENCE:
* Our food pantry at the building could use some re-stocking. If anyone has interest in providing non-perishable food, pasta, soups, etc. Please leave it in a bag marked TRUMBULL CHURCH FOOD PANTRY.
OCTOBER EVENTS:
* The next Tuesday morning Bible studies will be on October 31st at a.m. watch for the zoom link. Lisa and Mary Lou are leading this great study on the book of James.
* Trunk or Treating IS TONIGHT! at the church building. It's NOT too late to decorate a trunk and have FUN! Come at 5 or to set up your trunk. Thanks to Derin & Kristen for hosting this event.
* THIS Sunday – TOMORROW – October 29th will be our POT LUCK MEAL right after worship!
NOVEMBER EVENTS:
* LADIES NIGHT OUT – Friday November 10th at p.m.. Old Towne Restaurant in Trumbull. Please RSVP to Lisa Saracino if you are able to come. So far there are 17 ladies coming which is great news! Thanks to Lisa for organizing this.
* On Saturday, November 11th at a.m. at the church building Nadine Keller will be leading the ladies Bible study …“Remember who HE IS” as we study the book of Exodus.
The bible is filled with many animal references. Each animal holds a unique attribute and significance, teaching us valuable lessons about faith.
The cow and the bear –
Wolf in sheep's clothing –
Fish –
Lion –
Deer – Psalm 42
Donkey –
Ants are also referred to in scripture. Ants are probably some of the most interesting and fascinating insects there are, but they are pests and annoyances when they creep into our homes and offices. Yes, they are creepy, but we can learn a lot from their behaviors.
Here are a few facts about the ANT:
* There are more than 12,000 different types of Ants all over the world.
* Ants can lift more than 20 times their own body weight.
* Ants don't have ears. They “hear” by feeling rumbles through the ground through their feet.
* When Ants fight, it's usually to the death.
* Ants leave an invisible “pherome trail” everywhere they go so they know where they've been.
* Ants communicate through scent, touch, motion, sound, and trophollaxis.
Ants work hard. They are driven and focused to the task.
The ant is industrious and is frequently used as a symbol of hard work. Ants symbolize teamwork, perseverance, diligence and productivity.
Ants are mentioned in & .
King Solomon was known to be one of the wisest men on earth. In 1 Kings chapter 3 he asked God for wisdom to rule his people. Instead of requesting material riches, comfort, or pleasure, King Solomon desired to lead God's Kingdom through wise leadership. Because God was so pleased with Solomon's request, He granted it and gave him so much more.
King Solomon acknowledges the ant in the scriptures:
“Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways, and be wise!
It has no commander,
No overseer or ruler,
Yet it stores its provisions in summer and
gathers it's food at harvest.”
“Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer.“
Although the ant is tiny, King Solomon praises the work of the ant and it's diligence. He shares that the ant's behaviors and actions are worthy of imitation. The word “sluggard” or “slacker” implies something more than being un-motivated, but someone who is lazy and irresponsible.
“The soul of the lazy man desires, and has nothing, but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.“
The ant works hard without having to be supervised.
The ant is self-motivated.
The ant knows that there is a time when gathering won't be possible, so he works hard to prepare for the times when there will be no food.
The ant never gives up. If you put a rock in front of an ant, he will climb OVER it, walk around it, or find another way around it.
Ants work together. What a magnificent thing!
“Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.”
“Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor“
King Solomon spoke often about the benefits of being diligent. A quality we should all strive for, not only in the things that we do, but the things that we say.
In and 15-16 the Apostle Paul shares:
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
“Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
King Solomon started out on the right track, but sadly he grew to love God's blessings more than God Himself, when his life revolved around his pleasure, his wealth and his adoration. He elevated his earthly wisdom above Godly wisdom. He forgot that it is the wisdom of God that answers our every need and gives us true perspective on life's deepest questions.
King Solomon learned that wisdom 'under the sun', apart from God, left him unfulfilled and discontented. God had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the LORD's command. So the LORD said to him, “Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants.”
There are three Types of Wisdom:
- Human Wisdom – Appeals to the senses and emotions. It says “follow your heart”
- “What has been will be again. What has been done, will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.“
- “Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both; As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless.”
- . “Do not be over wicked, and do not be a fool.”
Earthly wisdom
- “We do however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. “
- . …”For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. “
Godly wisdom –
* “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
- “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”
- “We speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.”
- “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
- “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
We have a ton of distractions in this world which pull us away from God. We are constantly bombarded by varying viewpoints of people, images and ideals that contradict those set by God in the scriptures. This is a true battle going on between the Physical and the Spiritual, and the evil one prowls around seeking whom he can devour.
The Wisdom that is from God, is about HIM!
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?”
“Then Jesus told him,”Because you have seen me,
you have believed,
blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
“Salvation is found in no one else,
for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.“
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure;
then peace-loving,
considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit,
impartial and sincere.”
As followers of Jesus Christ, we must remain focused on whom we serve, and be diligent and steadfast keeping God's wisdom at the forefront of our minds.
The Ant is a small insect that is mostly bothersome to us when we see them, but let us remember that they can teach us a lot about our spiritual fervor, our commitment, and our dedication to God.
KEEP SINGING….
I WILL CARRY YOUR NAME
How merciful the cross
How powerful the blood
How beautiful Your arms
Open for us
Open for us
How powerful the blood
How beautiful Your arms
Open for us
Open for us
No greater love
God's only Son
Jesus, Jesus
No other name
Mighty to save
Jesus, Jesus
God's only Son
Jesus, Jesus
No other name
Mighty to save
Jesus, Jesus
By Your wounds we are healed
And You have conquered the grave
And in Your rising, we will rise
To carry Your name
Above every name
And You have conquered the grave
And in Your rising, we will rise
To carry Your name
Above every name
No greater love
God's only Son
Jesus, Jesus
No other name
Mighty to save
Jesus, Jesus
God's only Son
Jesus, Jesus
No other name
Mighty to save
Jesus, Jesus
I will carry Your name
Carry Your name
Jesus, Your name forever
For all of my days
In all of my ways
Jesus, Your name forever
Carry Your name
Jesus, Your name forever
For all of my days
In all of my ways
Jesus, Your name forever
I will carry Your name
Carry Your name
Jesus, Your name forever
For all of my days
In all of my ways
Jesus, Your name forever
Carry Your name
Jesus, Your name forever
For all of my days
In all of my ways
Jesus, Your name forever
Jesus, your name, your name
No greater love
God's only Son
Jesus, Jesus
No other name
Mighty to save
Jesus, Jesus
God's only Son
Jesus, Jesus
No other name
Mighty to save
Jesus, Jesus
I will carry Your name
Carry Your name
Jesus, Your name forever
For all of my days
In all of my ways
Jesus, Your name forever
Carry Your name
Jesus, Your name forever
For all of my days
In all of my ways
Jesus, Your name forever
I WANT TO BE A WORKER FOR THE LORD.
I want to be a worker for the Lord,
I want to love and trust His holy Word,
I want to sing and pray,
Be busy every day
In the vineyard of the Lord.
Refrain
I will work, I will pray,
In the vineyard, in the vineyard of the Lord.
I will work, I will pray.
I will labor every day, in the vineyard of the Lord.
I want to be a worker every day,
I want to lead the erring in the way
That leads to Heaven above,
Where all is peace and love,
In the vineyard of the Lord. Refrain
I want to be a worker strong and brave,
I want to trust in Jesus’ pow’r to save;
All who will truly come
Shall find a happy home
In the vineyard of the Lord. [Refrain]
I want to be a worker; help me, Lord,
To lead the lost and erring to Thy Word,
That points to joys on high
Where pleasures never die,
In the vineyard of the Lord.
Let us be like the small but diligent, hard working ants who are trustworthy, hard-working, loyal and selfless to their colony. “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the LORD“.
Let us keep our focus and remain loyal and faithful to our Creator. “So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”
Let us serve Him (with no drama, just serve). “Serve the LORD with gladness.“
Let us be diligent and never give up. “…Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.“
Let us carry His Name, forever.
“Then Jesus came to them and said,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always,
to the very end of the age.“
We get to Pass it on!
In His Holy Name,
Bruce & Paula