The Woodmont Word

E-Newsletter

A Family of Faith on Mission

February 2015

From the Pastor

THIS is the Day

This is the day that the Lord has made... I will rejoice and be glad in it! That is the declaration of the psalmist, a declaration of intent! Like I WILL do this. Is it a statement of faith? God has made this day and given it to me, so I will rejoice. Let me suggest a subtle but important distinction. Put the emphasis on "this." This day (as opposed to all the others) is the one God has made and given to me. He could've made me a prettier day. He could've made me an easier day with no conflict, and no pressure. He could have given me a day without struggle against sin and pressures. But... this is the one He made and gave me. This is what He has chosen for me, therefore, I'm going to rejoice in it! This one right here is mine. Thank you God! For some reason, as you work out your wonderful will, this is what I've been asked to carry. So, I'm going to bend over and pick up this day... and carry it like a Trojan. In faith, I believe that this day has not just "happened" but been divinely created and I've been asked to walk / work through it. And by your grace, that's just what I'll do.

Now, another benefit? I'm not living for tomorrow, or entrapped by yesterday. THIS is the day! In reality, you only have one time to serve Him - that's today! And in my "now" by His grace I will serve Him! I rejoice in this day and all that He wants to do right now!

Love you,

Bro Jerry

Thompson's Text

It is easy in America and our society to forget the blessings we enjoy. So much of what we hear today centers on "our rights" or "our entertainment." We often forget the blessings we have.

10 blessings easy to overlook...

Clean water: 884 million people lack access to clean water.

A bathroom: 40% of the world does not have a toilet.

Electricity: 1.6 billion people live without any electricity.

Shelter: 2.5 million in America are homeless and 640 million children worldwide do not have shelter.

Food: 28% of children in developing countries are estimated to be underweight or have stunted growth.

Your stove: 2.5 billion people use fuelwood, charcoal or animal dung to meet their energy needs.

Regular income: Most of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.

Education: Nearly 1 billion people cannot read a book or write their names.

Health: 2.2 million children die each year because they are not immunized. Annually there are 300-500 million cases of malaria including 1 million fatalities.

Freedom to worship God: More than 400 Christians die for their faith every day across the world.

From AFA Journal November 2013

Steve

Reese's Pieces

I'm currently thoroughly immersed in a book called "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand. It is the true story of Louie Zamperini, Olympic runner, WWII airman, prisoner of war, and heroic survivor of staggering torture and other horrors. There is a spellbinding section of the book in which Louie's plane has been shot down. He and two members of his crew drift on life rafts, helpless and utterly lost, in the vast Pacific for 47- plus days. Injured and facing extreme exhaustion, starvation, dehydration, sunburn, hovering insanity, and the constant threat of encircling sharks, one of the three men begins to sing hymns with what little voice he has left. Songs this soldier had learned as a child come flooding back in his moments of desperation. The lyrics become a source of encouragement for all three hope-hungry men, and also serve to keep their minds active and sharp.

Naturally, I was reminded of a similar occurrence in the sixteenth chapter of Acts, in which two other heroes, stripped, beaten, chained, and jailed, somehow find their singing voices as their hearts overflow with inexplicable praise. I can only imagine the uplifting, if mind-boggling, effect this midnight concert must have had on the captives in neighboring cells.

Job 35:10 mentions the "God who gives songs in the night." The psalmist in Psalm 42:8 declares, "...at night His song is with me--a prayer to the God of my life." By "night," I would be so bold to say, these writers were not merely referring to the hours of the day when the sun isn't shining, but rather that dark "night" of the soul that every one of us must inevitably endure.

As a worship leader, I have often said, "Never underestimate the power of a song." But I think I would like to modify that sentiment: Never underestimate the power of the Giver of the song.

Why are there so many hymns and worship tunes that invoke comfort and peace in our times of suffering? Because those compositions have most likely been borne out of the songwriter's very own suffering. A song is given by the Giver to the composer during his or her dark time, it is written down or otherwise shared, and that song lives on and reaches to you and me (and maybe millions of others) in our own times of desperation.

Has God ever given you a song in the night? What is your favorite hymn or worship song? Hide it in your heart and it will be there for you when you need it most. Sing it or pray it back to the Giver the next time you feel you're drowning, lost, drifting with nothing in sight but miles of ocean in every direction. Sing it, though your throat be parched, your voice crack, and your strength be depleted. You may find that your song in the night becomes your very means of survival.

Kevin

Hess's Headlines

40 Days of Prayer for UNITE WEEKEND: OWN IT 2015

Husband & Wife Praying

Feb. 1 - Organization/Preparation

Feb. 2 - Spiritual Growth

Feb. 3 - Sheffield Homes Block Party

Feb. 4 - One Nite Unite Service 6:30-8:00 PM

Feb. 5 - A Call to Missions

Feb. 6 - Local Schools

Feb. 7 - Safety

Feb. 8 - Unity

Feb. 9 - Host Homes

Feb. 10 - Transformed Lives

Feb. 11 - Small Group Leaders

Feb. 12 - New Churches to Participate

Feb. 13 - Youth Revival

Feb. 14 - Authentic Christianity

Feb. 15 - The City of Muscle Shoals

Feb. 16 - Participating Churches/Youth Groups

Feb. 17 - Wisdom and Discernment

Feb. 18 - Drivers/Transportation

Feb. 19 - The City of Tuscumbia

Feb. 20 - Love of God/Love for God

Feb. 21 - College Student Leaders

Feb. 22 - Good Weather for Unite Weekend

Feb. 23 - Salvation

Feb. 24 - Overflo Productions (Lights & Sound)

Feb. 25 - Registrations

Feb. 26 - Those Preparing Food

Feb. 27 - Worship Leaders (FaceDown the Band)

Feb. 28 - Volunteers

March 1 - Boldness

March 2 - Small Group Discussions

March 3 - Event Coordinators

March 4 - The City of Sheffield

March 5 - Small Group Leaders Meeting

March 6 - Friday Night Session of Unite Weekend

March 7 - Saturday Session of Unite Weekend

March 8 - Sunday Morning Worship Service

Children's Ministry

The last few months we have been studying about God's power in Bible Study. We never know if our lessons are sticking. Is the time we put in each week worth it? Well the answer is yes. Cindy Ferson was teaching Children's Church this past Sunday, and her lesson had a sentence that went like this: "Jesus is wonderful because ...." the answers were because He has power over creation, power over evil, power over sickness, and He has power over death. Yes these are all the lessons we have been studying this past six weeks. No matter how tired we are on Sunday mornings, just remember this, what you do in Children's ministry makes a difference. Who knows, one of your former students may be the next missionary, pastor, or even the President -- and what an impact you have had on their lives. I cannot thank you enough for going above and beyond to teach, rock babies, and serve. I pray the Lord's blessings upon each of you!

God Bless You!

Denise

Singles Ministry

Singles' Game Night- Friday, February 20^th at the East Campus 6:30. Bring a finger food. Kids are also welcome.

DivorceCare and DC4K - This 13-week program meets on Monday nights from 6-8 in the education wing at Woodmont main campus. For more info, contact Belinda Green- 256-766-1255.

Woodmont offers 5 Bible Study Connections on Sunday morning at 9:00 for Single Adults: