Church of the Nazarene

 Golf Lesson

Exodus 4:12 I will help you speak, and I will teach you what to say.

My golf game was in bad shape. No doubt about it, I needed
a lesson from a professional, and I needed it pronto! I stood on the
range, hitting a few balls to warm up as I waited for the golf pro. I
could see him emerge from the pro shop with a smile on his face –
ready to take the challenge of helping this sorry excuse of a golfer!
First he told me to address the ball – just stand comfortably
however I thought I should. He told me that body position was so
important in the game of golf – I would need to line up every shot.
Next he checked my grip, making sure my fingers were in the correct
position on the club. Now he was ready to watch me swing and try to hit
the ball. He watched and analyzed, watched and gave gentle
corrections, watched and gave more instructions. He told me to go
practice a lot and play a few rounds. Then I was to come back for
another lesson to see if I was applying what I had learned.

I don’t like to take lessons or practice, but I did as I
had been instructed, because I knew this was a plan which would help me
in my golf life.

In life, God is my pro. He meets me with a loving smile as
I stand waiting for Him. He will ask me about my spiritual posture as
I go to Him in prayer- am I ready to get quiet before Him? To be ready
for whatever He has to tell me?To kneel, bow my head or lay prostate
before Him? He will teach and guide me through life. He will give me
tools to study and people to support me. He will then send me out to
practice and play, reminding me to check back in with Him to see if I
was applying what I had learned.

Before I met the golf pro or God, I had to make the choice to
do so. Neither my golf game nor my spiritual growth would happen unless
I took that first step, and asked for help.
I am so thankful I did seek God out, for He taught me the
intimacy of prayer with Him, the delight derived as I praise Him, the
awesomeness as I worship Him, and the unspeakable joy as I come into
His holy presence. This is all available to each of you, too. Just
sign up for that first lesson of love…. It is a lesson you will
never regret having taken.

Marion Smith

 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and
destruction... life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so
that you and your children may live. Deuteronomy 30:15-19
.. .as (a man) thinketh in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7

Clearing out clutter, and sprucing up after the holidays, called for
something new from the nearby garden shop. I picked a hardy houseplant
and placed the pot outside where you could see it from the kitchen. It
looked perfect out there.

One day I looked out the window and the plant was all bent over and
facing the other way. It had gotten plenty of water, what happened? It
looked so pretty before!

Seemed like that plant changed direction overnight. Of course, it
didn’t happen that fast. It was like time lapse photography. Each
day, the little leaves turned their faces towards the sun.
Imperceptibly, the plant was turning. Ever so slowly. And over a period
of time, the difference was noticeable.

Plants don’t have a choice. They just do what they do. We, however,
have a choice. We can choose what we look at, what we think about, what
we absorb.

In our day-to-day lives, all the seemingly insignificant decisions we
make, matter. As we turn in the direction of our focus, little by
little, the choices pile up to create a definite, noticeable change.

The Bible says: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is
noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever
is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such
things.” (Phil. 4:8)

Wherever we may be planted, we can bloom and grow, as we continue to
decision and purpose to follow in the path our Lord has mapped out for
us in His Word. Thank you, Lord, in Jesus’name, amen.

* Smile at a stranger

* Drop a coin where a child can find it

* Learn something new and teach it to someone

* Tell someone you love them

* Hug someone

* Forgive someone who has wronged you

* Try saying “I’m sorry” when you ought to

* Tell a child how great they are

* Sing a song about Jesus to yourself

* Keep a promise

* Call someone just to say hello

* Try listening more than talking

* Stand up for what you believe in

* Thank God for His beautiful Creation

* Encourage someone who is feeling down

* Cherish today as if it were your last one

* Tell someone about Jesus

– Author Unknown

Put up your Angel Food order between 9:00 - 10:00am

The Fellowship Hall class will be starting a new 6 week study. “If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat”.

Teen L.I.F.E. starts up again. We had a blast last fall. With the shopping trip and all the weekly events. Come join us for more fun and fellowship. And a bigger and better trip at the end. Wednesdays @ 7pm

Encounter Weekend will be held at our sister church in Mt. Pleasant. Cost is $20 (which covers your meals). Call church office for details.

The Youth will be having a “Lock In” on Friday Jan 18th.

9pm to 6:30am

6:30pm at Sandra Pundt’s house.  Bring your stitching or anything to work on and have a time of fun and prayer.

Annual Chili & Stew Cookoff  @ Noon

Super Bowl Party @ 5pm