It’s a Girl! Landry Joe Ritchie Born Monday, October 1 7 lbs. 9 oz. Proud Parents: Drew & Cathryn Ritchie Proud Grandparents: Joe & Karen Phillips Allen & Sharon Ritchie
YGS 20180919
I have been looking forward to this week for a long time. For most, it’s just another week, but for me, it is the week that some of my family will arrive in town. It was a little over five years ago when my mum and one of my brothers last came to the USA for Lisa’s and my wedding. This will be the first time they will all get to meet, hold, and love-on Zoey. To me, this is exciting and a long time anticipated. I will often joke about wanting to get away from family so much that I decided to move continents, but the truth is I love my family very much even when they might frustrate me or send me negative feelings. I genuinely don’t think we fully appreciate family until we don’t get to see them often. I remember the first time I had moved away from home and I got sick. I knew my family, my mum specifically, was too far away to look after me. I remember having a massive headache, feeling queasy, and having muscular aches all over. My housemates were playing their music as loud as they could to test out their new speakers. I remember rolling over in bed almost in tears because I just wanted “mum”. I have learned over time that no one can replace my mum. But as time goes on, you find people who you can rely on and go to in her stead. The church should be that family unit for anyone who shares the blood of Jesus in the death, burial, and resurrection of Baptism. The church is a family that I believe we should be excited about seeing at every opportunity possible. Don’t get me wrong, I know when people fall ill, have to work, or something else comes up, I know people need to be gone at times. I don’t think “forsaking the assembly” (Heb. 10:25) is the same as fulfilling other duties, but I believe the church needs to be such a place that we desire to be in each other’s lives, that we’re looking out for one another, that we know everybody’s hurts, joys, fears, weaknesses. How exciting would it be to get to meet the celebrity of your dreams or to see a long-lost friend or family member? This is the level of joy we should have about being in the family of God. To see each other, study and grow together, and to be mentored and mentors to the body we worship with. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Cor. 12:27) Peter Hunt
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YGS 20180914
I have been asking myself this question a lot recently. After hearing about a former Harding Student, 26-year-old, Botham Shem Jean, who was shot and killed in his own apartment by a Dallas Police Officer, who “mistakenly” entered the wrong apartment. Yesterday, many around the world remembered all the lives lost seventeen years ago in New York City (9/11). I doubt any of these people woke up that day thinking, “I might die today.” The lives lost left many more behind, but it is often only at a persons death, the kind remarks are made about that person. The question I have been asking this week is, “If I were to die today, what would people say about me?” Now, I understand that my life’s purpose is to draw people without a relationship with God, into a relationship with Him – I get that. But often, we all need to be built up and encouraged by the people we come into contact with on a regular basis. What would people say about you? Are you a kind person? Do you go out of your way to help others, or to be a blessing to them? Will you be remembered for the talents you have, for your voice, music, special abilities etc.? There are so many people in the world fighting depression and understanding their self-worth. What if we lived each day as if it were someone else’s last day? What would you tell them? Would you thank them for doing certain things? Would you encourage them to be strong? If we lived our life like it’s everyone else’s last day, do you think you would be a better person for it? If you lived this way, when “today” becomes your last day, what would the world say about you? I know, this can be read as a very depressing thought of the week, but I want you to think about this: If you can make a life better by simply speaking kindness – which in turn will make yours better, why would you not? Because we do not know when our time or another, may come, I challenge you to outdo each other in showing love, honor, and building each other up. ““But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13:32 “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Romans 12:10 What will be your legacy?
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C&S 20180916
Please Pray for:
Savannah Stewart has been having tests and will get results this week. Please be praying for good results.
Dawn Smithey is at home, receiving treatments for pneumonia and needs our continued prayers.
Noah Barager was released from UTMB on Monday, but will be having more tests run.
Susan Hairston had a procedure for kidney stones on Tuesday and is now at home.
Andrea Pantle, Kelley McBrayer’s sister, had a stroke on Sept. 8th. She is out of ICU and will be moved to rehab.
Linley Glover and her family on the passing of her father, Jeff Johnson on Sept. 11. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 22, 11:00 am at the Spring Creek Church of Christ in Tomball.
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C&S 20180909
Please be praying for:
Dawn Smithey is at home and needs our continued prayers.
Maggie Stroman had gall bladder surgery on Tuesday and was to go home on Thursday.
Nicole Palmer (friend of the Fraziers) is fighting melanoma. Her son Ayden Goff has visited here with Callan.
Jerry and Arlene Miller will be traveling back and forth to Lubbock to help take their daughter and new granddaughter to Dr. appointments. Please remember Oakley and her parents and grandparents as they will be facing future surgeries to correct her lip and soft palate.
Gary McBrayer had successful cornea surgery. He is on light restrictions better than expected.
Noah Barager was in UTMB for pancreatitis. He was doing better and was hoping to be released on Friday.
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YGS 20180905
The title for Sunday’s sermon was “Identity” and we looked at the age-old questions; Who am I? Where did I come from? What is my purpose? Where do I belong? After the lesson, I have had time to sit back, reflect a little on it and what I would do differently if I were to do it again. There was a comment made to me recently, nothing I hadn’t heard before and I am sure I will hear it a hundred times more, “You must be true to yourself.” I think, this is the core of one’s true identity, to be true to yourself. God made you to be who you are. People may not like what they see, that’s ok. Sometimes you seek the approval of these people and you are willing to change who you are to be accepted by that person or group of people. There is a warning about trying to be someone/something else, you no longer will know who you truly are, then we become even more confused about where we belong. Jesus, in His ministry, could have been the coolest guy where everyone liked Him, He knew what to say at the right time etc. but this didn’t always buy Him friends. In fact, I would say He was hated by more people of His time than He was ever liked. The same goes for us, here and now. We have an abundance of opportunities to try to be someone else, we can even play “pretend” like children do when they dress up in their parents’ clothes – pretending to be mom or dad. God made YOU just the way you are. If you don’t fit in because you act differently, believe different things, sound different, it doesn’t matter. God formed you to be you, we have other personalities, we don’t need more of them, but we do need more of you. If you were an apple tree, you can only produce apples, don’t be an apple tree trying to produce something else. Be true to yourself, God will bless you in more ways than you could ever dream of. Peter Hunt
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