DALANEL

Wednesday Word: Goodness

Today, we’ll talk about one of the fruits of the Spirit: Goodness. This short sermon is rather special because it’s from my sister as she gave this sermon during church. Big deal. Anyway, here’s the video:

Good job, Desiree. Sure, you couldn’t see her, but we only needed to hear it. My other sister got a closer look so maybe she’ll let me use her feed.

Okay, let’s talk about Goodness.

Remember when she had us repeat after her? God is good, God made you, therefore, you are good.

Remember when God was creating the world? After each step, He said it was good.

Don’t forget that we are made in His image. If we’re made in the image of the greatest being of all time, don’t you think we aught to be good?

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Daily Word: Charles F. Kettering, 1 Corinthians 13:2

Keep on going, and the chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I never heard of anyone ever stumbling on something sitting down. Charles F. Kettering

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2

Daily Word: Zig Ziglar, Revelation 3:20

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People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing — that’s why we recommend it daily. Zig Ziglar

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

 

The Balance of Gift and Growth

We are born with gifts. Sometimes we know about them early and sometimes they don’t appear until later. Either way, we have gifts.

For the most part, these gifts are from God for us to use for His glory. Some can sing. Some can write. Others can encourage. Whatever it is, it is a gift.

Then there’s growth. This can be in two forms.

One form of growth is the growth of your gift. As time goes on, you take your gift and expand it. You try out various techniques.

The other form of growth is a little more tricky. It sort of flows from the first version except that it’s something dealing with a non-gift.

Some people are naturally gifted to do or be. And then, you have people that have to work hard to reach this same level. And that’s sort of the second growth.

In my opinion, both areas are important. Either way, you have to grow. But, then you have to accept limitations.

Yeah.

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Daily Word: Newt Gingrich, Colossians 3:2

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Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. Newt Gingrich

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2

Good News Friday: Girl meets man who saved her as infant

Oh this story just…it’s a really nice story.

A high school senior who was graduating got a surprise that day: She met the man who found her abandoned in a cemetery.

The man’s name is Charlie Heflin and he found the baby…barely.

See, he was a volunteer firefighter. And, as he sat in his truck, listening to his scanner, a report from dispatch came in that a woman left a baby in the cemetery. After 10 minutes, this baby was still not found, so Charlie went to go find her.

“I pulled up in front of the cemetery.  There was a large pine tree,” Heflin said.  “There was about a foot of snow on the ground.  There were footprints all over the area so it looked like somebody had been there.  I couldn’t find anything.  I walked around the pine tree a couple of times and I didn’t see anything.”  Heflin walked back to his truck but said something told him to go back and check one more time.

“As I approached the tree, I heard a baby whimper.  I thought, ‘Oh, she’s here.’”  Heflin said Skyler was wrapped in a plaid Raggedy Anne blanket.  The day-old infant still had mucus on her and her umbilical cord that was tied off with a shoe string.

He immediately wiped pine leaves off her  and wrapped her in his winter overcoat and pressed her up against his volunteer fire fighter fleece to warm her up.

“I called it in and handed her to the ambulance and that was the last time I saw her,” Heflin said.

That was 1995. This baby was eventually adopted and named Skyler. Last name James. And, yes, by the quote I gave, this particular day was her birthday. The meeting at the graduation was rather special:

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