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The Ozark Letter – February 2008
By MMCG.ORG | February 1, 2008
FEBRUARY GREETINGS: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalms 49:1
Just a few words about the Super Sabbath. Good fellowship, good food, good messages…. There were 87 people in
attendance. The morning was filled with Spiritual messages and the afternoon filled with musical talent, readings, etc.
which indeed, continued to feed the Spirit. Several enjoyed basketball and volleyball at the Eldon Community Center
Gymnasium, during the evening. A big thanks to all who attended and participated.
Take a look at the new Mid-Missouri Church of God website and you will notice many changes and updates. If you want to
know what we are doing, just take a look at the calendar. Todd Craig keeps the updates posted. Thanks also go to Terry
Craig for any graphics that you see in the Ozark Letter. Csh>>>>>>>>
A Publication of the Mid-Missouri Church of God
February, 2008
Volume XII, Issue 2
The Ozark Newsletter
Lake of the Ozarks
OUR HERITAGE by Cindy Amick
Taken from the “Acts” Magazine, November 2007 (All Scripture is from the New American Standard Bible)
Throughout the Bible, God refers to children and children’s children. The historical account from the Garden of Eden
names Cain and Abel, one who chose evil and one who chose good, and continues sequentially naming who begat whom,
how long they lived, and their part in history. Matthew chapter one records the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah in great de-
tail. Although some might wonder why it might be necessary to proclaim the generations, it becomes obvious that God had
a reason for doing so.
God has always had a plan for salvation, for humankind’s redemption, and He will accomplish His purpose. In His plan,
family and family ties have always played an important role. During the times of the kings, the Bible records Ahaz, king of
Judah, as doing EVIL in the sight of the LORD. Jehoshaphat, as recorded in 1 Kings, “walked in all the way of Asa his fa-
ther; he did not turn aside from it, doing RIGHT in the sight of the LORD” (22:43). All of the kings are also recorded as
“walking in the way of his father and in the way of his mother.” How important it then becomes, to share the Gospel daily,
as the Scripture teaches us, about Jesus Christ, His perfect life, what He taught, why He taught it, and what it means for us
personally today.
These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and
shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. (Deuteronomy 6:6-8).
The battle we are fighting is for our grandchildren’s minds. We teach our children and grandchildren daily by our walk and
talk with Christ. If we are angry and unforgiving, we teach our children to hate, not love. If we criticize and belittle, we
teach them to fear, not trust in the Lord. If we refuse to give God glory, our children and grandchildren will follow suit. If
we speak praise and thanks to God, our children and grandchildren will know about God’s love. The biblical promise of
training up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it, Proverbs 22:6, rings in our ears. I
believe God holds us accountable for everything we do and say. Our responsibility then becomes apparent when we realize
how vitally important our actions are. First Peter 4:8 tells us, “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because
love covers a multitude of sins.”
How can we best reach the hearts and minds of our loved ones, especially our children or grandchildren? In this wicked
world we can strive to be beacons of hope for them, always expecting the best of them, always praising their right behavior, spending time with them. Do we really KNOW our children and grandchildren, their hopes and dreams? How
much actual time do families spend together in today’s world? Television, video games, cell phones, and computers have
made us among the most highly technological societies in the world. But, do we have family time, eat meals together, or
have game nights? Do we have father-daughter banquets, grandparent-grandchildren activities? Do we attend school func-
tions where grandparents are invited? Are we truly interested in saving our children or grandchildren for the kingdom of
God?
It is harder sometimes to witness to our own family than to a stranger because of past hurts and family history. In the world
we live in of broken homes and relationships, it can be very difficult to even establish a relationship with a grandchild due
to circumstances. But our responsibility, as parents or grandparents, is to share time and prayer for our families every day,
praying that God will protect them as they walk by the way.
Sometimes it seems extremely difficult, in this thankless generation, to remain steadfast in pursuing the way of the Lord.
Our human nature demands appreciation from those we love, but God’s love requires all that we can give to our families
whether it will ever be appreciated or not. God’s Word is very understandable. He promises to bless us if we follow Him.
Deuteronomy 6:2 offers this command and promise to us: …..so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the
LORD your God, to keep all His statues and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that
your days may be prolonged.”
It behooves us all, then, to “discipline your son while there is hope, and do not desire his death” (Proverbs 19:18). It is up to
us to speak the truth in love and to do what God shows us to do, recalling that God is still in charge, but empowers us,
through His Holy Spirit to do His will. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Page 2 The Ozark Newslet ter Volume XI I , Issue 2
(from the Internet)
THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God’s child (John 1:12)
I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord(1 Cor. 6:17 )
I am bought with a price(1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth ( Matt.5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ(1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant ( Phil.3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God(2 Cor.5 :17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God( Rom.8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22)
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28)
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God’s temple (1 Cor. 3: 16 ). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God’s co-worker (1 Cor.. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God’s workmanship(Eph. 2:10 )
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven( Col.1:14).I have been adopted as God’s child(Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
who you are!? God Is a Good Listener by Lenny Cacchio
Taken from “The Sabbath Morning Companion”
“Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8 NKJV)
Do you know
when to Listen?
I am thankful that God knows what I need even before I ask, but that leads me to wonder: “If God knows what I need be-
fore I ask, then why ask at all?” God is good. He’ll give me what I need. Besides, Paul says that “we do not know what we
should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be ut-
tered.” (Romans 8:26 NKJV)
It’s tempting to think that we might bore God with things he already knows, but we run no risk of doing that. Even though
God knows everything we need, he likes to hear us talk. In John 17, Jesus prayed the obvious: The hour has come. God
gave Jesus authority over all flesh. Eternal life is to know God and Jesus. Jesus had glory with the Father before the world
was. Jesus had shown God’s name to men. Etc, etc., etc.
The point being that Jesus said nothing that the Father didn’t already know. And the Father didn’t seem to mind. Jesus
needed the therapy of talk and the Father wanted to listen. One can get the impression that the Father likes to hear us talk,
and that is part of the therapy of prayer.
Knowing that God already knows but listens anyway teaches a lesson that reaches into my living room. Sometimes I am
tempted with boredom when my daughter wants to talk about kid things. I really don’t want to put down the book or turn
off O’Reilly, who is talking about the really big issues rocking the world (which I can do nothing about) in order to hear
about the latest schoolyard problem. And I really don’t want to take a break from writing this essay when my wife decides
it is time to talk about cleaning up my desk before company comes over.
But then I must ask myself: What does our Heavenly Father do when I talk to him about the obvious? He would put down
the book, put the universe on cruise control, lean forward, and listen. God likes to hear us talk, and he is the best listener
there is. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
Page 3 The Ozark Newslet ter Volume XI I , Issue 2
JONAH & THE GREAT FISH FILL-IN
(Fit the words into the puzzle grid)
HID
RAN
FISH
LORD
GRACE
JONAH
HUMBLE
STORMED
MERCIFUL
NINEVEH
BIBLE PUZZLE Page 4 The Ozark Newslet ter Volume XI I , Issue 2
MID-MISSOURI CHURCH OF GOD
PO Box 92, Eldon, MO 65026/mailing address. Actual physical address is: 602 East North Street. Phone: 573-392-1232 or
573-498-3775; Email: mmcg@craigcomputers.com Website: www.mmcg.org The Mid-Missouri Church of God
(MMCG) holds Christian Sabbath services each Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at 602 East North Street, Eldon, MO… A Bible
Study and song service is scheduled at 10:30am before Sabbath services. Potluck meals after services are planned for the
fourth Sabbath of each month. A weekly Bible study is held each Thursday at 6:30pm. It is best to call ahead and confirm
times if you are traveling any distance to visit us (see the phone numbers above). Occasionally we will cancel local services
to attend en masse elsewhere. Come and enjoy the fellowship! Also, the first Wednesday of each month the ladies meet for
a “get together” and you can contact Martha Roberts at 573-496-3203 or Charleen Gitthens at 573-392-5965 for location
and time if you plan to attend.
Something Good About You
Author Unknown (submitted by Sam and Faye Stamper)
Wouldn’t this old world be better,
If the folks we meet would say,
“I know something good about you!”
And treat us just that way.
Wouldn’t it be fine and dandy,
If each handclasp, fond and true,
Carried with it this assurance,
“I know something good about you.”
Wouldn’t life be lots more happy,
If the good that’s in us all,
Were the only thing about us,
That folks bothered to recall?
Wouldn’t life be lots more happy,
If we praised the good we see?
For there’s such a lot of goodness,
In the worst of you and me!
Wouldn’t it be nice to practice,
That fine way of thinking, too?
You know something good about me,
I know something good about you?
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