Do You Believe In Answered Prayer?

Do you believe in answered prayer? I don't mean do you believe in going through the ritual of prayer because it is commanded. What I'm asking is, do you really believe in answered prayer.

It has always amazed me that many of the people who appear to be the most religious do not actually believe that their prayers are answered. Often they make up excuses or alibis as to why their prayers are not answered . . . or they come up with elaborate theological reasons why prayer should not be answered.

But what does the Bible say? 1 John 5:14-15: "And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask, anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him."

Also consider Matthew 21:22, Here Jesus promises: "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."

Also look at John 16:23, when Jesus was saying farewell to his friends, he said: "Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name."

These are only three of the many passages which promise an answer to prayers made in faith, in the name of Christ. Sounds like Jesus and the apostles believed in answered prayer . . . so much so that Jesus promised an answer. So I repeat my original question —- Do you believe in answered prayer?

Only God’s people have the promise of an answered prayer! (Matthew 21:22, compare with 2 Chronicles 7:14). God might choose to hear non-Christians' prayers but he has not promised to answer them. But the good news is that anyone can become a Christian and have this promise.

~Larry Fitzgerald
Bulletin Digest

JOY Bus News

Well, there are only a few more days of school left and summer vacation for the children will be here. The JOY Bus Ministry will be running and we hope and pray that the riders will stay faithful to worship services. This family has been Blessed with a Ministry for 33 years that knocks doors in the community and brings souls under the sound of the gospel.  Through those years many workers have come and gone, and the Word of God was and is being planted into the hearts of many souls.  Many little ones are now adults with children. We are safe in saying this JOY Bus Ministry has sought, brought and taught thousands of souls. We pray that the desire to evangelize stays strong in this family and that the safety and soul winning hearts of all the workers continue to enjoy the privilege of bringing the lost under the sound of the Gospel. Continue to enjoy to pray for the routes and Captains and may the hearts of the community respond to the invitation.

India Work Update

The work continues on the new church building in India.  Follow the progress here.

Senior Sunday

On Sunday, May 26 the church will honor the seniors. A beautiful handmade quilt will be given to each graduate. The ladies of the church make these beautiful quilts out of love; Each stitch is a symbol of kindness. We pray that God's seniors will always remember and focus on God's Word each day of their life.

Great Race and Honor Bus - April 2013

Champions! Congratulations to the Blue Bus #2 for winning the Great Race and Honor Bus for April 2013.

The Church Must Be Committed

The purpose and mission of the church is to bring glory and honor to God through Jesus Christ His Son. There is much that the church must do in order to accomplish this purpose: We must convert sinners, teach the saved, defend the truth, and provide an atmosphere for Christian growth, among other things. However, for us to be successful in fulfilling our purpose, we first must be committed. We will never be the church that the Lord wants us to be without commitment.

First, we must be committed to God. Jesus said that we must love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). God must be our first love above all else.

Second, we must be committed to Jesus. lf we are truly concerned about pleasing God and serving Jesus, we will commit ourselves to Him (Matthew 16:24). We will never be disappointed if we trust and follow Jesus.

Third, we must be committed to the kingdom of God, the church. Jesus said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness " (Matthew 6:33). There is no enterprise in this world that is more important than the Lord’s church. We must live our lives based upon this fact.

And finally, we must be committed to the work of the church. (1 Corinthians 15:58). lt is entirely possible for us to understand our purpose and to make great plans to bring glory to God, but our goal will never be accomplished without work.

Let every one of us commit ourselves to the church of Christ so that we might bring glory to God through His Son Jesus Christ. For God to be pleased, the church must be committed!

~Kevin Lawrence

via Dexter Church of Christ

If Jesus Came To Your House

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two -

If he came unexpectedly, I wonder what you’d do.

Oh, I know you’d give your nicest room to such an honored Guest,

And all the food you’d serve to him would be the very best,

And you would keep assuring Him you’re glad to have Him there -

That serving Him in your own is joy beyond compare.

But when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door

With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly visitor?  

Or would you have to change your clothes before you let him in?

Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they’d been.

Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn’t heard?

And wish you hadn’t uttered that last, loud hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and get some hymn books out

Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you run about?

And I wonder - if the Savior spent a day or two with you,

would you go right on doing the things you always do?

Would you go right on saying the things you always say?

Would life continue as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep up its usual pace?

And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?

Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read,

And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?

Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you’d planned to go?

Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so.

Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends?

Or would you hope they’d stay away until His visit ends?

Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on?

Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?

It might be interesting to know the things that you would do -

If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you.

- Lois Kendall Blanchard

The Alpha and the Omega

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God, "Who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8).

Among some three hundred figures of speech in the Bible used to illustrate the person and work of Jesus Christ, John contributed several including the designation, the ALPHA and OMEGA.

To the Greeks this figure suggested completeness and absolute perfection. We use the same in   stating that a student has mastered his lesson from “A to Z.” Jesus existed before all things were created. He is today. He will be forever (Heb. 13:8). Jesus is co-eternal with God the Father and God the Spirit (John 1:1-3).

I know a lady who invariable reads the last chapter of any book first. Her rationale is simple; “If the story doesn’t end right, I don’t want to waste my time reading it!"

Not many people begin reading the Bible with the book of Revelation. But if they did, they would have no fears about reading the rest of the Sacred Volume. Everything turns out alright for those who love God and serve Him faithfully (Rev. 17:14).

As the sage has aptly noted: "I don’t know what the future holds...But I do know who holds the future." Whenever we have fears about the future, we would do well to remember that Jesus is the FIRST and the LAST.  

~Randall J. Medlin

I Attend the Sunday Evening Assemblies Because:

1. I want to go, and I am wanted.

2. I need to go, and I am needed.

3. I had rather be there than anywhere else.

4. My children are watching me and will follow my example.

5. My soul is strengthened by the teaching.

6. My heart is warmed by the spiritual songs as I praise Him above.

7. I am better prepared to meet in discussion those who do not understand the truth.

8. I hunger and thirst after righteousness.

~via The Meadowlark Message

Fort Collins, CO

Youth Camp Donations

Along with the commodities request (list posted in the foyer) for camp this year, we are asking each congregation to consider a cash donation.  All commodity and cash donations are very much appreciated.  All cash donations can be made by check to:  Ohio Valley Christian Youth Camp.  Address: c/o Melcie Wells, 535 Lang Farm Road, Marietta, OH 45750.  Commodities will be picked up around June 2nd.