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As we
near
closing
2004's
eyes,
the year
in
reflections
piles high. Our church matured spiritually during the study
and completion of THE FORTY DAYS OF PURPOSE. We celebrated First Baptist
Church's
100
anniversary
in grand
style as
we
exalted
our Lord
and
Savior.
We sent
a team
of
missionaries
to
Bangkok
to teach
and
spread
His
glorious
word,
and we
watched
the
presentation
of IT'S
A
WONDERFUL
LIFE.
Each
brought
blessings
abundantly
as
participates
and
spectators.
I hope
your
Christmas
was as
awesome.
I'm
sitting
in my
son's
living
room in
Memphis,
Tennessee,
as I pen
my last
article
of 2004,
snow and
ice are
piled
high.
I've seen something happen here I've never seen before.
Snow fell from the sky in such cold and wet conditions it
covered
the
ground
like a
slab of
ice. In
the
neighborhood
where Keith lives there were seventy-four wrecks, around
the mall
area, in
less
than
four
hours.
Businesses
closed
their
doors
with
Christmas
Eve
shoppers
still
needing
to
shop, church programs and Christmas services were
canceled.
The news
stressed
humans
to stay
home.
Today,
church
services
were
still
being
canceled.
The ice
semi-melts, re-freezes, and becomes even more hazardous.
This
reminds
me that
these
are some
of the
same
conditions
for falling out of a DAILY RELATIONSHIP with God. We
eat on the run and forget to thank God for our food. We
skip
church
and
Sunday
school
to catch
up on
tasks we
didn't finish during the week and the following Sunday is
easier
to miss.
We are
too busy
to call
friends
or loved
ones we know need encouragement and help. With life
in such
a hurry,
we
become
cold and
indifferent.
Hazardous
conditions
prevent
us from
telling
THE GOOD
NEWS
that
we are
commanded
to do in
Acts
l:8.
Pat and
I have
been
blessed
beyond
measure
during
this
year. My
writing
has
allowed
me a few
extra
trips to
the
bank as
I won
several
poetry
contests.
(not big
checks,
but checks) I've had two books of my poetry published
and even
sold a
few
copies.
We
traveled
eight
times to
visit family and friends and attended a poetry conference in
Abilene,
Texas.
We
celebrated
our
grandson's
birthdays
with
Pat's.
Sixty
years
apart,
they
share
the same
calendar's
week. Pat's mom joined us in this celebration. What a
blessing!
Our
daughter-in-law
has
become
our
friend,
and I can honestly say, "I love my son's wife." AGAIN,
what a blessing!!! We have a daily relationship with her now.
This
brings
me to
the core
of the
theme
for my
final
2004
article.
With
life in
such a
hurry, a
new task
awaits
us now.
When we
return
to
Artesia,
our life
will
take a
different
turn, a
slower
pace. We
are
facing
kidney
dialysis...Pat's
kidneys
have
dropped
two more
levels
during
the end
of
November.
He faces this very brave and with an outstanding attitude.
I watch him, He is not scared. That's how I want to feel,
That's how I want to act. That's how I want to live. I feel
like a rug has been pulled out from underneath me. Even
though I
know God
is in
control,
I feel
panicky,
(not a
good
witness
for God
my
Savior),
and I
feel
hazardous,
much like the road conditions we've witnessed
since
Christmas
Eve.
I know
prayers
are
being
prayed
for us,
and we
do so
much appreciate all of them. They help keep us going.
They are
laying
the
ground
work for
the
challenge
that
lies
ahead
for us.
It is a
great
blessing
to know
prayers
are
being
lifted
up on
our
behalf...and
we know
prayer
changes
all things. May 2005 mature us even more spiritually than
2004
did, and
may we
accept
the
slower
pace of
life God
sees fit
to give
to Pat
and I.
God
Bless
you all,
and
thanks
for
being
our
brothers
and sisters in Christ.
Carol
Dee
Meeks
2005
Copyrighted.
All
rights
reserved.
carmks@excite.com
God Will
Turn It
Around
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Writers
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And Such
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Authors.
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