Donations needed: Please bring individually wrapped snacks, such as chips, cookies, or other snacks to the church no later than May 28th. You can bring store bought or homemade snacks (non-perishable please).
We have 27 individuals going to camp.
Yesterday, April 26, was Administrative Professional’s Day. In layman’s terms: Secretary’s Day. I want to encourage you to show your appreciation to the world’s best secretary in the whole-wide-world. Our very own Michelle Brown. So, drop her a card, send her a text, and give her a gift to let her know how much you appreciate her!
To Live Is Christ
Bro. Danny
Sarah Hirt has been in the hospital since late January due to complications from her c-section. She is still in the hospital and will be moving to a rehab soon. The church will be taking up a love offering for Sarah and her family on Sunday, February 26th. If you would like to give online, please use the link below. Choose “Love Offering” from the giving category list.
Over a year ago, LeBron Wilson came from the Bahamas to Oklahoma City to play summer basketball. What he did not know was that God would open a door for him to stay in OKC.
LeBron will be a senior this year at Destiny Christian School in Del City, OK. He has been living with Jamin and Andrea Jones. His family has been able to send him some money to help with his personal expenses – though limited.
We have an opportunity to be a blessing to LeBron. We are collecting a love offering to give to him August 28 at the end of the morning services.
If you would like to give, be sure and designate your gift to LeBron Wilson on your check or offering envelope, or choose “LeBron Wilson Love Offering” if you are giving online.
To Live is Christ,
Bro. Danny
Dear Southmoore Family and Friends,
The month of January is named after a Roman god, Janus. Janus is depicted as a man with two faces: One looking back into the year passed. This face bore traces of sorrow, disappointment, trouble, and perplexity. The other face is looking forward with confidence and hope.
At this time of the year, we cannot help but look back to 2021. Not that you need my permission, but go ahead and make an inventory of the highs and lows of last year. Some of you who are reading this article are more than ready to move on. 2021 brought a broken heart, unthinkable challenges, unbelievable circumstances, and much more.
As we all begin a new year, I want to encourage you to “Press On”. These were the words Paul used to encourage the believers in Philippi. Not to compare our circumstances with the Philippians; life for them was not easy. And life for many of us has not been easy in 2021.
As Paul encouraged the believers in Philippi, I want to do the same to you. Don’t give up. Press On. Paul is describing the Christian life as a race. If a runner is going to win the race, he must keep looking forward.
Press On in 2022. Keep looking ahead. Keep straining. Keep picking them up and setting them down. And last of all, see who is waiting for you at the finish line. He is your biggest fan. You will recognize Him. He is the One with the nail-scarred hands!
To Live is Christ,
Bro. Danny.
Dear Southmoore Family and Friends,
I want to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. I know with all that is going on in our world and in our lives, it sometimes makes it difficult to see the blessing that God has given us.
The Lord told Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to pray blessing over the Israelites:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:22-26)
When you gather this week, I want to encourage you to pray this blessing over your family. Choose someone to read this blessing and see how God uses it to make a huge difference in your gathering.
This blessing is a reminder that each and every one of us matter to God. He has come, though His son Jesus, to bless us, keep us, shine his face upon us, be gracious to us, turn his face toward us, and give us peace. That’s how much God loves us.
Thanksgiving is a special time to simply say, “Thank You” to the Lord for all that he has done for us. God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.
Many of you know that the Lord called our son, Woody, home to be with Him, November 24, 2017, the day after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving now is not only a reminder of God’s goodness and blessings, but also a reminder that Woody is not here with us.
Our family is grateful for a church family and friends that pray for us during this time. Your prayers have made a difference and has helped us through this journey.
The last few days have been extremely difficult for me. The grief has hit me hard. I so miss my son. I know I am not alone. I have not only been thinking about myself, but also thinking of others who are going through the same thing. I know several who now live with a broken heart. Your pain is real. Your tears are real. Your broken heart is real.
As Judy has said before, “In my mind – this is what I have been thinking.”
The last few days I too have been thinking. To help me cope with my grief, I thought I would write a letter to Woody.
Please, please, don’t think I am sharing this letter to bring attention to myself. I am sharing this letter to be a blessing and bring help to the many who are entering the holidays with a broken heart.
Dear Woody,
Four years ago, you left us. We didn’t get to say, “Goodbye.” You were with us Thanksgiving Day, and the next day, you were in the presence of God. Your faith turned to sight. We didn’t want you to go. I know it is selfish to want you to come back. We don’t have you, but we do have our memories. That is one thing that death cannot take away from us.
I remember the lyrics of a song that reads: “If you can see me now, you would not wish me back.” The Bible tells us that heaven is a beautiful place – a place that cannot be described with mere words. But what makes heaven heaven is not what is there, but Who is there! You have seen for yourself that the only scars in heaven are on the “One” who holds you close.
We can’t bring you back, but one day, we will come and join you. Knowing that we will see you again helps us down the road of life. Thanksgiving is not the same anymore. Life is not the same anymore. I know you would want us to keep living life to the fullest. And with God’s help, we will until we see you again.
We love and miss you,
Mom and Dad
Dear Southmoore Family and Friends,
This past week, I was out running some errands. I had my to-do list and was pleased I was making some progress. It was a beautiful fall day. The sky was blue, the temperature was mild, and the wind was not blowing. One could say, “It was a picture-perfect day!”
I came to a stoplight, and while waiting for the light to turn green, I looked over my left shoulder and noticed a woman talking on her cell phone. She was the only one in her car. I didn’t want to stare, and I didn’t want the lady to look my way and think I was a nosey neighbor, so I turned my head and looked straight ahead.
The light was still red which gave me the opportunity to take one last peek. The woman was very animated while she was talking. Her hand was moving back and forth, and her head was bobbing up and down. I couldn’t help but think, “What’s going on?”
I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but I was hoping for the best. One never knows.
The “what ifs” began to set in. What if this woman is facing some health problems? Maybe she has a child who is struggling in school? Maybe the rent is due, and she doesn’t have the money to pay? Maybe she is going through a divorce?
Or maybe this woman is not facing a crisis, but has just received some good news? Maybe she was so excited she could hardly control herself.
This leads me to ask you, “What is going on in your life as you read this article?” Are you experiencing happy days? Are you living the dream? Or are you facing tough times?
I’d like to make a couple of recommendations.
#1 If you are facing tough times, I want to remind you that you have a God who loves you. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1)
# 2 If you are enjoying happy days, be sure and thank God for blessing you. “Give thanks to Him and praise his name” (Psalm 100:4).
To Live is Christ,
Bro. Danny
