October
Text Box: Pastor’s Thoughts How do you say thanks for the contributions that the Church of God has made in your life? All too often the church is misrepresented and viewed through the critical eyes of individuals who are looking for an excuse to follow the world rather than Jesus Christ. Highlighted are the sour notes and flaws of human judgment. Pastors, singers and board members become the focus of ministerial success or failure as the congregation inspects the attendance board and financial statements. All the time the underlying faithful work of God’s Spirit in the life of the redeemed goes unnoticed and unappreciated. What’s overlooked are the multitudes of prayers offered on our behalf by saints in their prayer closet. There are the countless hours of sermon preparation, study and devotion by those who provide life lessons for children, youth and adults, and the contribution of song writers, musicians and singers; all endeavoring to minister to our soul’s needs. The Church is the salt that seasons our world with the good things of God. The Church is the tangible light empowered by God to expose the darkness of evil and corruption which ends in eternal doom. The Church embodies the spirit of Christ and expresses the influence of the Gospel He came to deliver. The warm and caring hands of God are seen through the physical acts of kindness and generosity displayed by God’s children. Most of all the Church plays a vital part in introducing the lost to the one and only source of salvation, Jesus Christ! For this we should all be thankful! Thank You I dreamed I went to heaven And you were there with me We walked upon the streets of gold Beside the crystal sea We heard the angels singing Then someone called your name You turned and saw this young man And he was smiling as he came And he said friend you may not know me now And then he said but wait You used to teach my Sunday School When I was only eight And every week you would say a prayer Before the class would start And one day when you said that prayer I asked Jesus in my heart Then another man stood before you And said remember the time A missionary came to your church And his pictures made you cry You didn't have much money But you gave it anyway Jesus took the gift you gave And that's why I'm here today One by one they came Far as the eyes could see Each life somehow touched By your generosity Little things that you had done Sacrifices made Unnoticed on the earth In heaven now proclaimed And I know that up in heaven You're not supposed to cry But I am almost sure There were tears in your eyes As Jesus took your hand And you stood before the Lord He said, my child look around you For great is your reward CHORUS Thank you for giving to the Lord I am a life that was changed Thank you for giving to the Lord I am so glad you gave Ray Boltz