The Scars of Life

Some years ago, on a hot summer day in South Florida ,
a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went.

He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could. Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father.

It was too late.

Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.
From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms
just as the alligator snatched his legs.... That began an incredible
tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go.

A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived.
His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal.
And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, 'But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too.

I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go.'

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too.
No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you...

The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God.
He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful.

He did not and will not ever let you go.

God has blessed you, so that you can be a blessing to others.
You just never know where a person is in his/her life and what they are going through. Never judge another person's scars, because you don't know how they got them...

Right now, someone needs to know that God loves them, and you love them, too - enough to not let them go .

Always tell your family and friends how much you love them!

April Schedule of Events

April 1 - Newsletter Info Due

Luncheon at Bridgewater COB from 11 am to 1 pm - Cost is $5.00

Women's Fellowship Meeting - 7:30 at Marsha Howdyshell's home

April 2 - Church Board Meeting at 7:00 pm

April 3 - Bridgewater Retirement Community Voluteer Recognition Reception - 6:30 pm at the Houff Community Center

April 4 - Junior High Youth Evening at Massanutten Water Park

Easter Egg Hunt from 10 am to 12 pm. Prizes and lunch provided by the Ark Group

April 12 - Come join us for worship on Easter Sunday and bring a friend!

Easter Sunrise Service at 7:00 am

Breakfast at 8:00 am

Sunday School at 10:00 am

Worship at 11:00 am

Easter Cantata at 7:00 pm

April 14, 21, & 28 - Boy Scouts Meeting

April 15 - Serve Sangersville-Towers Ruritan Club at Ruritan Building. See Marsha or Norma Jean for more details.

April 18 - Longaberger Basket and Craftsman Tool Bingo Benefit for Mary Frances Casady at Mt. Solon Fire Department Building.

April 19 - Council Meeting following Worship

April 20 - Ark Group Meeting at 6:30 pm

April 25 - Scrapbooking from 8 to 8

Judge Roy Moore

Some of you may be wondering what Judge Roy Moore has been doing since he was removed from the bench for refusing to remove the Ten Commandments from his courtroom wall. Please read the poem he wrote. It's below his picture.



The following is a poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama . Judge Moore was sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer. He has been stripped of his judgeship and now they are trying to strip his right to practice law in Alabama ! The judge's poem sums it up quite well.

America the beautiful,
or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims' pride;
I'm glad they'll never see.

Babies piled in dumpster's,
Abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty;
your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly
poisoned by cocaine
choosing to indulge their lusts,
when God has said abstain

From sea to shining sea,
our Nation turns away
From the teaching of God's love
and a need to always pray

We've kept God in our
temples, how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool,
and Heaven is His throne.

We've voted in a government
that's rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges;
who throw reason out the door,

Too soft to place a killer
in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby
before he leaves the womb.

You think that God's not
angry, that our land's a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait
before His judgment comes?

How are we to face our God,
from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do,
but stem this evil tide?

If we who are His children,
will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face
and mend our evil way:

Then God will hear from Heaven;
and forgive us of our sins,
He'll heal our sickly land
and those who live within.

But, America the Beautiful,
If you don't - then you will see,
A sad but Holy God
withdraw His hand from Thee.

~~Judge Roy Moore~~


This says it all. May we all offer our prayers for Judge Moore to be blessed and for America to wake up and realize what we need to do to keep OUR America the Beautiful.

Pass this on and let's lift Judge Moore up in Prayer..He has stood firm and needs our support.

IN GOD WE TRUST!

Praise Team - Psalm 150

Follow The Children

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Glory to God for this blog where we can share a website that has blessed many!

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February Schedule of Events

Saturday, January 31 - Serve Mt. Solon Fire and Rescue

Sunday, February 2 - "Souper Bowl Sunday" (soup and sandwich meal and collecting canned food)

Sunday, February 8 - Boy Scout Sunday and a meal following Worship Service

Tuesday, February 10 - Boy Scouts meeting

Thursday, February 12 - "Think Tank" at 7:00 p.m.

Friday, February 13 - Valentine's Dinner

Tuesday, February 17 - Boy Scouts meeting

Wednesday, February 18 - Emmanuel's Ark

Thursday, February 24 - Boy Scouts Meeting

Wednesday, February 25 - Ash Wednesday

Thursday, February 26 - "Think Tank" at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 28 - "Scrapbooking"