Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 11A
November 28, 2012
Pastor’s Corner
aReporter
Whatever^ happening to you now, give thanks
BY BRIAN MOORE
W fe are in a season of thinking
about all that we are
thankful for in this
world. Typically our
minds gravitate to
ward the things that produce happi
ness and joy in our hearts and minds.
We also attach thanksgiving to receiv
ing. In this materialistic culture, we are
most thankful when we get what we
want. We are most thankful in rela
tionships when the other person per
forms like we want them to. But if
we are only thankful in the good
times, are we truly thankful? True
thanksgiving has to find its roots much deeper
than our circumstances.
True thanksgiving is rooted in a person
al relationship with Jesus Christ.
Followers of Christ are able to be thank
ful in all things because of who Christ is,
not because of what their circumstances
consist of. We are able to obey the
command of 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “in
everything give thanks: for this is
I the will of God in Christ Jesus for
I you.”
No matter what your circum
stances may bring your way, Christ
will always remain constant. He is
the only immovable foundation that
allows us to remain thankful even
in the hard times.
We must ask ourselves, “Is God
truly in control of all things?” We
must also ask, “Does God know
what is best and is He capable of achiev
ing that which is best for me?”
If we answer both of these questions in
the affirmative, then we also have to
believe that whatever happens to us will
work together for what is best in the end
(Romans 8:28). When hard times come,
we can trust that they were absolutely
necessary in accomplishing the good that
God has planned for us or else He would
not have allowed them to take place.
Many people struggle with the question,
“Why do bad things happen to good peo
ple?” If we only look at the circumstance,
we may very easily miss God’s purposes
in the midst of hard times. James 1:2-3
says “My brethren, count it all joy when
you fall into various trials, knowing that
the testing of your faith produces
patience.”
Why does God allow trials to come upon
His children? One reason is to test the
strength of our faith. Do we turn toward
God or away from Him when hard times
come? He uses trials to humble us, to
wean us from our dependence on worldly
things, and to point us to a heavenly and
eternal hope. Trials help us discern what
we truly love and what is most important
to us. They teach us the value of God’s
blessings, and they create in us a
strength that better enables us to endure.
In addition to all of these uses of trials in
our lives, hard times equip us to help oth
ers when they endure difficult situations.
When we understand that God knows
what is best for us and wants what is
best for us, we are able to look for those
things in hard times and be thankful for
them. God is good, all the time! His plan
reflects His goodness! Let us be thankful
for all that His plan contains.
The Pastor’s Corner is sponsored by the
Monroe County Ministerial Association.
Brian Moore is the senior pastor of New
Providence Baptist Church, 2560 Hwy. 41
South, Forsyth, www.npbcsmarr.com
Pastor Brian
Moore
Oh Canada!: Reporter, Bethany Baptist head north
Seventeen members of the Young at Heart Sunday School class of Bethany Baptist Church in Bolingbroke toured Canada and the Atlantic coastal states for two weeks, and The Reporter
went with the class for a view of Niagara Falls. Pictured at Niagara Falls, left to right, are Janie Mays, Eileen Riley, Margaret Greene. Pictured in Ottawa, Canada are, left to right, front row,
Carolyn Rogers, Lynn Rogers, Elsie Rogers, Curtis Riley, Eileen Riley, Margaret Greene, Janie Mays, Dolores Rogers; back row, Lamar Edwards, Sonny Rogers, Janice Edwards, Carol Tay
lor. Not pictured are Jim Taylor, Lisa Davis, Jarrett Davis, Bob Blackaby, Vivian Blackaby.
AT&T Pioneers donate to C.A.R.E. Cottage
Members of the Macon AT&T Pioneers donated winter caps and gloves, pillows and block
board books to the Monroe County C.A.R.E. Cottage on Nov. 14. Pictured above from left to
right: Debra Coody, C.A.R.E. Cottage Victim Services Coordinator; Amanda Skelton, C.A.R.E.
Cottage Victim Services Assistant; Betty Pierson; Martha Young; Lt. K.B. Ayer, C.A.R.E. Cot
tage Director; Marian Joseph; Jim Wilds and Louise Wilds. (Photo/Richard Dumas)
UMC, Swtarr
EvesWty of the- A dvemt
C hr i-ytmety 5 ecx^orv
November 28
-December 19
December 9
Wednesday Night Advent
Study 6:30 pm Led by
Pastor Liza - The Journey
Christinas Choir Cantata
Repeat The Sounding Joy
11:00 am Worship
Dece m ber 16 $fappy Birthday Jesus! Party
for all the Children 11:00 am
December 24 Christmas Tve Candfe&gfit
JfoCy Communion & Live Nativity
5:00 j>m
*
*
*
Forsyth churches enact
live nativity Dec. 7,8
In partnership with Rocky Creek
Baptist Church, Christ United
Methodist Church will host a manger
scene that includes actors and live ani
mals on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 7
and 8 from 7-8:30 p.m. each night. The
event will be at Christ UMC, 417 North
Frontage Road in Forsyth. Everyone is
encouraged to be a part of the meaning
of Christmas through this presentation.
Open House
This Thursday! Nov. 29 th , Noon — 8 p.m.
14 E. Main Street Forsyth, GA
(Across from Monroe County Bank)
Register to Win New Gas Grill
Drawing this Friday Nov. 30 m at 12 noon!
Donny McKinney (former owner of McKinney's Propane Gas) is back in the propane gas business!
Donny and his team invite you to a CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE at Donny's new office at
14 E. Main Street in Forsyth. We are located across the street from the Monroe County Bank.
We also will be serving Hot Chocolate, Coffee & Christmas Cookies
during Forsyth's Annual Christmas Parade from 6-8 p.m.
We look forward to seeing previous customers of McKinney's Propane
as well as residents of Forsyth, Monroe County and the Middle Georgia
area that we have not met yet!
Call 478-992-8326 to learn more about our Exceptional Propane
Services where our Customers are our Top Priority!
Donny McKinney & Donny's Propane Das Team Donny McKinney