My One Word

When I first saw a friend’s Facebook post on her “One Word” I had no idea what she was talking about so I did some investigation. Apparently this has been going on for several years without me knowing. Who knew! Being the bandwagon jumper that I am, of course I had to participate.

The premise of “One Word” is sort of like a New Year’s resolution. But unlike a laundry list of resolutions that are here and quickly forgotten, you choose one word to focus on all year long. What kind of word? A word that motivates you, a word you can strive toward, a word that gives you vision, a word that urges you on toward a specific goal. If you can’t think of one, ask God where He’s leading you and He will provide the word for you.

My one word is:  ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGED, ENCOURAGER, ENCOURAGING

I chose a Bible verse to go along with my one word:

That is, that you and I may be mutually ENCOURAGED by each other’s faith. Romans 1:12

Why encourage? Because, I need encouragement every day to do what God has placed before me. I need encouragement:

1.     To study my Bible

2.     To be a good wife

3.     To raise my son

4.     In my writing life

5.     In leading FBC’s drama group

I need to encourage:

1.     My husband

2.     My children

3.     My sisters and brothers in Christ

4.     My pastors and church leaders

5.     My Christian writing community

The list could go on and on!

Lord, I pray that 2014 would be a year of encouragement. Let me be encouraged to do everything you would have me to do and give me the opportunity to be an encouragement to someone who needs it. Amen!

Daily Reflections On The Names of God: A Devotional By Ava Pennington

Every name God calls Himself and every name His people called Him holds clues to who He is, how He relates to His children, and the promises He has made—and kept.

Daily Reflections on the Names of God: A Devotional is published by Revell Books and endorsed by Kay Arthur, founder of Precepts Ministries International. It examines the biblical names of God through 366 daily readings and helps readers discover what those names mean for their own faith.

Daily Reflections on the Names of God offers you a wonderful opportunity to spend time each day getting to know God more intimately by exploring 122 of His names and attributes. Using three individual devotions for each name, you will discover something new about who God is, who you are, and how you relate to others.

One year from now, will you be able to say that you know God better than you did before? Revitalize your devotional life with an intimate journey through the names of God. Come, settle down with this book, and know God more fully. The next 366 days will pass quickly—make each one count!

This week only, Ava's devotional is available for only $3.99 from Christianbook.com! Stop by and pick up a copy before time runs out. 

http://www.christianbook.com/daily-reflections-names-god-devotional-ebook/ava-pennington/9781441244963/pd/40294EB?event=AAI

Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem - 1868

Words by: Phillips Brooks, Music by: Lewis Redner

Micah 5:2 says, “But you, Bethlehem, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”

Many considered Reverend Phillips Brooks an intimidating man. Not because of his bold preaching style, or that he was a native Bostonian. It wasn't because of his ninth generation Puritan stock or even his Harvard education. It was because he stood nearly six foot six and weighed more than three hundred pounds that made him so daunting.

In fact, his preaching underwent much criticism. People of his day said his doctrine was thin at best.  Nonetheless, he is considered one of America’s greatest preachers and went on to introduce the famous deaf, blind, mute, Helen Keller to Christianity.

Reverend Brooks upheld the cause of the North in the American Civil War and adamantly opposed the institution of slavery. On December 24, 1865, toward the end of the War Between the States, Brooks went on a trip to the Holy Land.

“I traveled by horseback from Jerusalem to attend a five-hour Christmas Eve service at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. I remember standing in the old church in Bethlehem. Close to the spot where Jesus was born, the whole church began ringing, hour after hour with splendid hymns of praise to God. Again and again it seemed as if I could hear voices I knew well! Telling each other of the Wonderful Night of the Savior’s birth!”

Three years later in 1867 as Brooks prepared for the Christmas season he desired to compose an original hymn for the children to sing at their annual program. The words to the song came quickly to Brooks. He gave the hymn to church organist, Lewis Redner and asked him to come up with a tune to go along with the poem.

Lewis wrestled with his assignment claiming the words gave him no inspiration. But on the night before the children’s program, he awoke with the music resounding in his ears! Quickly he wrote down the melody and fell back asleep. The following day, a group of Sunday school teachers and thirty-six children sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”

The last stanza…usually omitted from our hymnbooks says:

Where children pure and happy, pray to the blessed Child,

Where misery cries out to Thee, Son of the mother mild;

Where charity stands watching and faith holds wide the door,

The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, and Christmas comes once more.

Hear No Evil By: Mary Hamilton

Admittedly, I have always been a fan of tween fiction…can’t get enough of it. Mary Hamilton’s debut book, Hear No Evil, didn’t fail to keep me entertained. The book begins with poor Brady McCaul being left at church camp where he knows absolutely no one. And to make matters worse his mother informs him that she no longer wants him living with her and her new husband and won’t be returning for him. His estranged father will pick him up at the end of the week. The book deals with bullying, having a handicap, pre-teen crushes and how God is with you during all the storms of life. Mom’s reason for leaving him isn’t revealed until the very end, leaving the reader in suspense through the entire novel. I have been to church camps in east Texas and Mary’s descriptions of the smells, sights and sounds were spot on. In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story about trusting God when there’s no one else you can trust.

Hear No Evil will be available on November 5, 2013

Learn more about Mary at: www.maryhamiltonbooks.com www.twitter.com/mhamilton122

A Day That Will Live In Infamy

Twelve years ago today, 9-11-01, I was driving my young son and daughter to their fifth and third grade classes at their elementary school. It would have been just after 8:00 Houston time. After I dropped them off I headed home with my eleven month old in the car-seat beside me.

The radio announcers were talking about a report that an airplane had accidentally hit the World Trade Center. There was a live reporter on the ground reporting from the scene. He said an airplane; probably a small prop plane had hit one of the towers. That’s when it happened. The second plane crashed into the other tower as he stood by and watched. At first he couldn't speak, when he did find the words he wanted to say were laced with disbelief, horror and tears. “This is not an accident. We are under attack.”

Panic set in. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn't call my husband; he had boarded a flight earlier that morning. My dad’s face popped into my mind. His shop was just around the corner from the kid’s school. He would know what to do.

I pulled into the shop driveway and honked my horn. Daddy came out of the office—the only one there at that time of morning. A concerned look came over his face as he glanced at my panicked expression. I told him to come listen to the radio in my car. When he heard the whole story he asked where Dan, my husband was. I told him he was in the air. He told me to go home…he would follow me.

I’d never seen that look on my father’s face. Something was terribly wrong.

We rushed to my house, turned on the television and checked on my mother who was safe at home. The news anchors told the horrific story:

American Airlines Flight 11: Left Boston's Logan Airport at 7:59 a.m. for Los Angeles. Hijackers flew the plane into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m.

United Airlines Flight 175: Left Logan Airport at 8:14 for Los Angeles Hijackers flew the plane into the South Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:03 a.m. (This was the one I heard…as it happened…on the radio at 8:03 Houston time.)

American Airlines Flight 77: Left Washington Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia at 8:20 a.m. headed to Los Angeles. The hijackers flew this plane into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m.

United Airlines Flight 93: Left Newark International Airport at 8:42 a.m. for San Francisco. The passengers banned together against the hijackers and the plane crashed to the ground near Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:03 a.m.

As the report came in about the fourth plane crash all I could think of was oh Dear God please make it stop. And it did…but then the buildings started to fall. I prayed for those trapped in the buildings, for the rescue teams, for our country. Heavenly Father help us all!

I needed to talk to my husband, but he hadn’t yet turned his cell phone back on following his flight. I panicked wondering if he’d even made it to his destination. My baby could sense my terror and whined all day long. The FAA grounded all planes within the continental U.S. at 8:40 a.m. Houston time. I called Dan’s phone number nonstop from the time he was supposed to have landed. He didn’t answer.

He finally turned his phone back on when he was in the taxi. He answered my call. My heart could start beating again. (From that day forward he calls me from the runway without fail. I hadn’t realized why he’d done that until just now.) I asked if he’d heard the news. He hadn’t so I told him. He relayed the information to his boss who didn’t believe a word of it. Dan was sick that he wasn’t there for me.

That’s pretty much all of my story. My dad stayed with me all day. He knew how upset I was. He told me to go check the kids out of school and I did. We didn’t know what else these terrorists had planned and we wanted them with us. They played video games all afternoon, having no understanding of the magnitude of what had happened.

My husband and his boss had to hitch a ride back home in another man’s rental car. Dan, along with the rest of the world will forever remember that horrible day. Not only because of the tragic circumstances but also because he would forever remember that America was ruthlessly violated the day before his 40^th birthday.

In closing I would like to say…Happy birthday Dan. Let’s not have a repeat of your 40^th! 

Photo courtesy of Paul McRae (Delta Niner)

First Baptist Church of Porter, Texas Presents TEAM IMPACT!

Have you ever broke a concrete block, a baseball bat or bent a solid steel bar with your bare hands? I didn't think so. But Team Impact can!

This group of athletes consists of former NFL players, champion power lifters, and previous WWE wrestlers. 

Come to FBC Porter to witness amazing feats of strength and hear the positive message they have to share.

You don't want to miss this special event! September 20-22, 2013 in Porter, Texas.

Come one, come all to the First Baptist Church Porter SUMMER CELEBRATION to kick off our summer ministries. Join in the fun at First Baptist Church in Porter, Texas on FM 1314, (the big church next to the McDonalds). We look forward to seeing you there!