Pastor's Weekly Message - 8/28/11

August 28, 2011

If you missed last Sunday’s services you missed Rondale Banks giving his testimony. It was powerful, touching and funny. (All but his baptism.)  The part “made in God’s image” was priceless and powerful, and where he talked about finding God’s purpose for his life made us all stop and think.  Everyone has a testimony. God always give us something to say. If you missed it go our website and listen to it.

Pastor's Weekly Message - 8/21/11

August 21, 2011

Today is another wonderful day to Praise the Lord. We are so blessed by the Lord daily and many times fail to Thank Him for all he has done. The weather has been wonderful: Not as hot during the day and cool nights. Change is in the air. School is back in session (Monday for Stephens County) and lives are getting back to normal - whatever normal means. I completed my classes this past Friday. Praise the Lord! But many of you are just starting.

Pastor's Weekly Message - 8/14/11

August 14, 2011

Today is another wonderful day to worship and praise the Lord.  Last Sunday's service was great.  The testimonies of Ms. Karen and Ms. Gina were so uplifting.  You could feel the love they have for the Christian Preschool and each child who attends.  They not only help the children who came last year.  Seven of them will be returning to school this year.  We have ten enrolled for the first time.  Orientation is tomorrow night from 6 to 8pm.  School will start Friday August 19th.  If anyone would like to sponsor a child so they can attend the Registration fee is $75.00.  Monthly Tuition for 3 days a week is $80 and for 5 days it is $95.  Last week there was a family who wanted their child to come, but could not financially afford it.  A couple from New Bethel made a donation so this child can attend.  Blessing after blessings can be yours.  People, God's love is real.  Let's share His Love with others.  It will not come back void.

Pastor's Weekly Message - 8/7/11

August 7, 2011

Today we welcome our teachers from the preschool: Karen Thomson and Gina Ayers. These two ladies have been with us for the last two school years and will be here this year.  You will be hearing from them both today. We are so blessed to have two ladies that love the Lord and love kids. They put in countless hours here at the preschool and many more hours at home for the kids. We have stated before that their families are very supportive of the school and their burden for kids. I am amazed at the love and passion that these ladies give each day for our kids. They are here during the summer getting ready for this new school year. It doesn’t take a person very long in talking with them to see they have a heart for kids. You will see in today’s bulletin how many kids have come through the preschool in the past. Several of them are church kids or family of church members who have attended.

Pastor's Weekly Message - 7/24/11

July 24, 2011

We are coming to the close of the Book of Genesis and it has been a great Wednesday night study for me. I have enjoyed teaching and preaching through this wonderful book. The study has been on time for us and there has been a lot of information we have learned. Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph have been the main characters in this book. The Nation of Israel was birthed and all that God had promised Abraham came true just like He said it would.  I am going to miss the studies when we conclude them. Wednesday is my favorite time together with you because we have time to do an in-depth subject or a study.   I am not sure where we will be going after we finish this Book but it will be another Book study. It is amazing how the Books we are studying cover things we are dealing with today in life.

Lesia Thomas 1959-2011

Lesia Thomas

1959 ~ 2011

Mrs. Lesia Joy Higginbotham Thomas, age 51, of Carnesville, died Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at her home.

Born November 14, 1959 in Stephens County, she was a daughter of Joyce Sullen English and the late Harrison Dwain Higginbotham.

She was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church and was a hairdresser.

Family members include her mother, Joyce Sullens English; her husband, Larry Thomas; son, Logan Thomas; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gomer and Frances Thomas; brother and sister-in-law, Mitty and Teresa Higginbotham; sister and brother-in-law, Lynne and Phillip Brady; brother, Allan Higginbotham; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Billy and Brenda Hallford and David and Sandra Marchman; nieces, Autumn Higginbotham, Mattie Higginbotham and Amy Higginbotham Crunkleton; a friend, Rebecca Thomas.

Funeral services will be held at four o’clock Friday from the Chapel of Whitlock Mortuary with the Rev. Tommy Childress, Mr. Mitty Higginbotham and Miss Autumn Higginbotham officiating. 

Burial will follow in New Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary from 7 pm - 9 pm Thursday and from 2 pm until the funeral hour Friday.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully ask that donations by made to the family to help

with the funeral expenses.

The family will be at the home of Larry Thomas in Carnesville and Joyce English in Toccoa.

Whitlock Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.

Obtained from: http://www.whitlockmortuary.net/Obituaries.html 

Pastor's Weekly Message - 7/17/11

STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR

July 17, 2011

How would we react if for the past 22 years we were misused, abused, lies told about us and eventually we were put in jail?  What would be our “standard of behavior?”  Would we be bitter, angry, or want revenge? We have been looking at a man on Wednesday nights who faced all these things.  Some of the people who mistreated him he saw daily and he behaved as if they did nothing to him.  Wow! Could we behave that way?  The Lord made the difference in his life.  For 22 years he stayed positive concerning his behavior.  He couldn’t help what the people did to him but he could help how he treated them.   

We all have a choice to do what is right.  Our behavior comes from our belief in God.  How well are we behaving?  Attending a meeting Thursday morning, the Holy Spirit revealed to me some areas of need in my life.  How well do we make eye contact and smile at people we are talking with?  In assisting with needs do we listen to what they are communicating?  They have trusted us to share their burdens, needs and desires, but do we speak to those?  The old saying, treat others as you want to be treated goes a long way.  Be not judgmental towards them or their actions.  Talk with them not at them. This is a big one for me because we are trained to fix people’s problems.  Everybody’s needs  are special and need special attention addressed to them not just general answers.  Provide quality care to every person every time.  Take time to listen and show that you are listening to them by repeating what they have conveyed to you.  Listening skills are important because it may not be what they are saying, but the nonverbal word that needs to be addressed.  Be honest in what you say and do.  Our belief does affect our behavior; both ways good and bad.

Pastor Tommy