Prayer of the Day: Psa 25:15-16 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. (16) Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
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Daily Devotional
We buried my wife's father 2 days before Thanksgiving, and every year the holiday is tinged with the sorrow of losing him. No doubt your calendar contains some of these difficult days that roll around once a year, bringing fresh reminders of losses that still hurt and people you still miss. A Wall Street Journal article calls these dates "emotional land mines" and says they may be even more difficult to face when they coincide with national holidays or anniversaries of significant events. Grief counselors point out that taking a positive step can help us deal with grief. One year we planted a tree to mark the anniversary of a parent's death and the birth of a grandson on the same day. A scholarship fund or a memorial gift can benefit others while honoring the memory of a loved one. But a deep healing of spirit is a gift from God. You may know Psalm 23 by heart, but try reading it with new eyes today. This familiar passage of comfort proclaims: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" (v.6). Not just some of the days—all the days. When we traverse the emotional minefield of painful memories, the Good Shepherd is with us on every difficult day.
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Sermon of the Day: Lifting Up the Mercy of The Lord ->> by David Rosales.

From the Pastor: Praise the Lord! Let's keep praying for souls to be saved in our church and to grow in the Lord once they're saved!

God Bless You- Pastor Sam Smith

Prayer of the Day: Eph 3:14-21 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (15) Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (16) That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; (17) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; (19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (20) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (21) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
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Daily Devotional
Followers of Jesus are to be "rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share" (1 Timothy 6:18). This was demonstrated in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia. Christians quickly poured in money, materials, and manpower to bring relief to the suffering. That help has continued. Believers show this generosity in their local communities as well. When a family lost their home and all their belongings in a fire, a flood of assistance—money, food, clothing, a temporary place to live—came from fellow believers all over the area to get them through the crisis.
When a husband walked out on his wife and three children after depleting the family's savings account and running up huge bills, the people of her church stepped in with the spiritual, emotional, and financial support she needed. And some of the women of the church faithfully encircled her with prayer and encouragement.
These believers are following the plan of God for the Christian life. There are needs all around you that you can have a vital part in meeting.
Are you "rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share"?
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Sermon of the Day: Loving God and Loving Others ->> from "Family Life Today".

From the Pastor: Praise the Lord! We had first time visitors for the third week in a row,another soul was saved yesterday morning and we had 31 in Service. At our district fellowship in Salem, 5 more were saved, and we had a wonderful service and fellowship. Let's keep praying for souls to be saved and for God to bless our church.

God Bless You- Pastor Sam Smith

Prayer of the Day: Psa 5:1-3 Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. (2) Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. (3) My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
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Daily Devotional
The army of Alexander the Great was advancing on Persia. At one critical point, it appeared that his troops might be defeated. The soldiers had taken so much plunder from their previous campaigns that they had become weighted down and were losing their effectiveness in combat. Alexander commanded that all the spoils be thrown into a heap and burned. The men complained bitterly but soon saw the wisdom of the order. Someone wrote, "It was as if wings had been given to them—they walked lightly again." Victory was assured. As soldiers of Christ, we must rid ourselves of anything that hinders us in the conflict with our spiritual enemy. To fight the battle effectively, we must be clad only with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17).
The Bible also likens Christians to runners. To win the race, we must "lay aside every weight" that would drag us down and rob us of our strength and endurance (Hebrews 12:1). This weight may be an excessive desire for possessions, the captivating love of money, an endless pursuit of pleasure, slavery to sinful passions, or a burdensome legalism. Yes, if we are to fight the good fight of faith and run the spiritual race with endurance, the watchword must be: Off with the weight!
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Sermon of the Day: The Whole Armor Of God ->> by Ed Taylor.

From the Pastor: Praise the Lord! The board meeting yesterday went very well, and we will be working together with the Community Corrections to set up our halfway house ministry. The director said he should have no problems providing the funds to renovate the house and pay for the rent and utilities once the program starts. Please join me in praying that the Lord will use this ministry to renovate the lives of those who live there.

God Bless You- Pastor Sam Smith

Prayer of the Day: Psa 25:11 For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
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Daily Devotional
A team led by an Australian astronomer calculated the number of stars in the known universe to be 70 sextillion—7 followed by 22 zeros. That unfathomable number is said to be more than the grains of sand in every beach and every desert on earth. The calculation was the by-product of research on the development of galaxies. One team member said, "Finding the number of stars is not really the research we were doing, but it was a nice result to play around with." Having an estimate of the number of stars can help us praise God with greater awe and wonder. Psalm 147 says: "It is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. . . . He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite" (vv.1,4-5). This psalm not only presents God's majesty, but it also affirms His personal concern for each of us. He "heals the brokenhearted" (v.3), "lifts up the humble" (v.6), and "takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy" (v.11).
Let's praise the great God of stars and sand who knows and cares for each one of us.
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Sermon of the Day: Humility: Bowing Low ->> by Chuck Swindoll.

From the Pastor: Praise the Lord! I thank God for two souls saved this Sunday: let's keep on praying for souls to be saved this week! Also, please join me in prayer for today's meeting with the communitty corrections board.

God Bless You- Pastor Sam Smith

Prayer of the Day: Psa 63:1-7 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; (2) To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. (3) Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. (4) Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. (5) My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: (6) When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. (7) Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
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Daily Devotional
The image on the TV screen captures our attention and we sit down to watch. As we flip from channel to channel, is there any connection between what we decide to watch and what is in our heart? Does our faith in Christ have anything at all to do with our TV choices? In a world of falling standards, we must think through this question: How does our relationship with Christ affect our TV viewing habits? One secular writer speaking about today's television programs said, "The notion of indecency has become obsolete." He is suggesting that a standard has been pushed aside. What is that standard? I believe it's the moral standard found in biblical teaching. Most TV productions are not governed by the guidelines God wants us to follow. The Bible tells us, "Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8). It's hard to do that when we're being bombarded by the ungodly images presented on television. Let's ask God to help us make godly choices in what we watch on TV.
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Sermon of the Day: Why Don't You Wear Your New Suit ->> by Michael Easley.

From the Pastor: Praise the Lord! Tomorrow I am meeting the County Corrections Board of Directors, please join me in prayer for this meeting.

God Bless You- Pastor Sam Smith

Prayer of the Day: Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
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Daily Devotional
As a minister was addressing a group of men, he took a large piece of paper and made a black dot in the center of it. Then he held up the paper and asked them what they saw. One person replied, "I see a black mark." "Right," the preacher said. "What else?" Complete silence prevailed. "I'm really surprised," the speaker commented. "You have completely overlooked the most important thing of all—the sheet of paper." We are often distracted by small, dot-like disappointments, and we are prone to forget the innumerable blessings we receive from the Lord. But like the sheet of paper, the good things are far more important than the adversities that monopolize our attention. This reminds me of a whimsical bit of verse that expresses good practical advice. "As you travel down life's pathway, may this ever be your goal: Keep your eye upon the doughnut, and not upon the hole!" Yes, rather than concentrating on the trials of life, we should fix our attention on its blessings. Let's say with the psalmist, "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits" (Psalm 68:19). Let's keep praising Him so we won't be distracted by dots and doughnut holes.
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Sermon of the Day: Dealing With Giants ->> by Greg Laurie.

From the Pastor: Praise the Lord! The day care center is visiting today and deciding whether or not to rent our church. As we come to the end of our time of prayer and fasting, please join me in prayer that we will get our church rented and that souls will be saved this Sunday!

God Bless You- Pastor Sam Smith

Prayer of the Day: Psa 31:3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
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Daily Devotional
All of us need at least one or two close friends. A small boy defined a friend as "someone who knows all about you and likes you just the same." Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature." Henry Durbanville made this observation about friendship: "A friend is the first person to come in when the whole world goes out." Solomon wrote in Proverbs 17:17, "A friend loves at all times." We can't improve on that definition. To have someone who remains true to us under all circumstances is one of life's choicest blessings. The support and encouragement that only an intimate friend can offer is sorely needed when the burdens of life weigh heavily upon us. Jesus, of course, is the ultimate friend, for He laid down His life for His friends (John 15:13). Proverbs 18:24 makes an important point and takes us beyond a description of what it means to be a friend. It says that "a man who has friends must himself be friendly." The implication is clear: Friendliness must begin with us. We must take the initiative in developing relationships with others. Let us be to others what we desire for ourselves. When it comes to friends, to have one you must be one! —RWD

I went outside to find a friend
But could not find one there;
I went outside to be a friend,
And friends were everywhere! —Anon.

Friends are seldom found; they are made. —Wentworth
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Sermon of the Day: Friendship: the One Thing You Can't Live Without ->> by Jim Burns.

From the Pastor: Praise the Lord! We have a day care provider looking at the building Friday afternoon: she is very serious and said that she is 99% sure she will rent the building. Please join me in prayer that this works out.

God Bless You- Pastor Sam Smith

Prayer of the Day: Luk 11:4 ...lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

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Daily Devotional
According to Greek mythology, sirens (sea nymphs) inhabited certain Mediterranean coastal areas. As ships passed by, the sirens sang such enchanting songs that the sailors, drawn by the music, would jump overboard and drown. Odysseus was on a ship that had to pass that way. Aware of the powerful allurement of those songs, he ordered that he be bound with ropes to the mast and that the crewmen's ears be sealed with wax to block out the tantalizing music of the sirens. Having taken such precautions, Odysseus and the rest of the crew were able to sail past without yielding to the lure of the sea nymphs. As Christians, we should be prepared to resist any temptations to evil. We must hate sin and be so serious about not giving in to its allurements that we are determined to deny our desire to participate in it. Are there recurring sins in your life that have been defeating you? Drastic measures must be taken. You must keep away from any enticements that you know would play into your weakness. The best protection against temptation is to heed the warning Paul gave to Timothy: "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness" (2 Timothy 2:22). That was good counsel then; it's still good today.
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Sermon of the Day: Resisting Temptation ->> by Greg Laurie.

From the Pastor: Praise the Lord! The day care business we met is going to give us an answer in the next couple of days whether or not they'll rent our building. Please join me in prayer for this situation, and also pray with us that souls will be saved this Sunday at church.

God Bless You- Pastor Sam Smith

Prayer of the Day: Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
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Daily Devotional
Have you ever worked at a job where you felt a strong bond with your co-workers? Perhaps you were united by a sense of mission, or by a respect for your boss, or by the belief that a prosperous company will benefit everyone financially. The more points of agreement among members of a group, the more they will be unified, the better they will perform, and the less likely they will be to fight among themselves. Christians have a built-in list of unifiers that can keep them working together with a oneness of spirit. In Ephesians 4:4-6, Paul listed seven uniting "ones." Think of how helpful they can be to any group of believers working together on the same project:

One body—we are a single family unified for one purpose
One Spirit—we all have the Spirit as our power source
One hope—we all look forward to the same future
One Lord—we all trust the same Person in charge
One faith—we all trust Jesus' sacrifice for our salvation
One baptism—we all have a single identity
One God and Father—we all share the same source of our existence
What a difference it would make if we all could dwell on those seven "ones."
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From the Pastor: Praise the Lord! Let's keep on praying together for souls to be saved and lives to be changed through our ministry!

God Bless You- Pastor Sam Smith

Prayer of the Day: Psa 51:1-2 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. (2) Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
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Daily Devotional
Travelers who drive across the flat landscape of Groom, Texas, are surprised by an unexpected sight. Looming up against the sky is a cross 190 feet high. That giant symbol of the Christian faith was erected by Steve Thomas in the prayerful hope that the thoughts of anyone who sees it might be turned to Jesus. When his handiwork was finished and dedicated, he said, "We want some converts out of this." All Christians are grateful when a nonbeliever's attention is drawn to Jesus Christ and the cross. The awareness may be fleeting, but who can predict what even a split-second reaction may mean to an immortal soul? Suddenly a sinful person may begin to wonder why Jesus died on the cross. This may prompt him to seek answers from the Bible or from Christians he may know. What about us as Christians? As we hurry along through life's often dreary landscape, are we grateful for any reminder of our Father's love that sent His Son to die? Through the cross, Jesus has reconciled us to God and given us His peace (Ephesians 2:14,16). Take some time today to reflect on the meaning of the cross, and let it flood your heart with praise to the Savior.
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Sermon of the Day: The Truth That Sets Us Free ->> by Chuck Swindoll.

From the Pastor: Praise the Lord! The Lord has sent us a daycare business that is considering renting the church! Please pray with me that the situation will work out! Also, please join me in prayer that souls will be saved this Sunday!

God Bless You- Pastor Sam Smith

Prayer of the Day: Joh 17:17 Sanctify (me) through thy truth: thy word is truth.
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Daily Devotional
Farmers in Zentsuji, Japan, are preparing full-grown watermelons for shipment—only these are no ordinary melons, they're square! They were placed in tempered-glass cubes while they were still growing. Why would anyone want a square watermelon? They're much easier to store in a refrigerator! It's amusing to think of how a naturally round watermelon can become square because of the shape of the container in which it's grown. This reminds me of the forces in the world that exert their influence on us and attempt to shape us. That's why in Romans 12:2 we are told not to be "conformed to this world," but to be "transformed by the renewing of [our] mind." The idea is rather simple: We are to allow the transforming Word of God to work within us and produce outward results, instead of permitting external pressures to shape us. If we meditate on God's Word daily, it will influence our thoughts and help us grow to be more like Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). Then we will act in a manner that pleases Him. Pressures of the world will continue to try to shape our character, but they will not succeed if God's Word is changing us from within.
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Sermon of the Day: Be Devoted to Prayer and The Word ->> by (insert preacher name).

From the Pastor: Please join me in and continue to fast and pray for a breakthrough in our finances and for souls to be saved this Sunday!

God Bless You- Pastor Sam Smith

Prayer of the Day: Psa 27:7-8 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. (8) When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
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Daily Devotional
I first met Noel when he was in the early stages of overcoming drug dependence. He had put his faith in Christ, and he was becoming a well-established disciple. One day he admitted, "When I first trusted the Lord, I felt powerless and needed to depend on Him for everything. But now that He's made me stronger, I'm afraid I'm not depending on Him as much." I believed that Noel still depended on the Lord, but I needed to reassure him somehow. So I said, "Noel, when someone starts weightlifting, which weights should be used first?" Noel replied, "The lightest ones." Then I said, "Though the weights are hard to lift, they feel lighter when the muscles increase. So what should one do next?" With a knowing smile, Noel replied, "Increase the weights!" "That's what the Lord is doing with you," I reasoned. "The loads you first carried feel lighter now, for you are spiritually stronger. But don't become overconfident. The Lord will keep increasing your load to remind you of your limited strength. You'll never outgrow your need to depend on Him!" What about you? Are you getting stronger as a Christian? Do you still sense your need to call on the Lord and depend on His strength?
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Sermon of the Day: Do Not Fear ->> by Alistair Begg.

From the Pastor: Let's continue to fast and pray for the growth and finances of our church. Today, please join me in prayer for souls to be saved this Sunday.

God Bless You- Pastor Sam Smith

Prayer of the Day: Psa 43:3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
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Daily Devotional
One summer afternoon I climbed a hill near my home. When I reached the top, I stretched out on the grass to relax. Turning my head to one side, my eyes focused on some blades of grass within inches of my face. This short-range focus not only strained my eyes, but it blurred my view of anything beyond the end of my nose. So I began to adjust my focus, and then the distant city came into view instead. I found I could shift my sights from near to far at will. The choice was mine. In today's Bible reading, the apostle Paul emphasized that followers of Christ need to keep eternity in view. He wrote, "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2). We can choose where to put our focus. We can succumb to selfish, earthbound thoughts, blurring our view of anything beyond the end of our nose. Or we can gaze through this sinful scene and fix our attention on things above, where Christ is seated at God's right hand—and we with Him! Then, and only then, are we in a position to see what's most important in life. Only the mind set on things above can say no to sin and yes to holiness. The choice is ours.
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Sermon of the Day: Sin In The Camp ->> by Bayless Conley.

From the Pastor: Praise the Lord! I want to encourage everyone to continue fasting and praying for a breakthrough in growth and finances for our church. We have received almost $500.00 in offerings from other churches so far.

God Bless You- Pastor Sam Smith

Prayer of the Day: Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
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Daily Devotional Don takes walks on the city's railroad tracks and searches under freeway overpasses. He's not looking for lost treasure; he's looking for homeless people. Don met Jake, who lives in a makeshift underground shack and is mentally ill. He stops by to see Jake occasionally, making sure he's warm and has food. He tells Jake about Jesus because he wants him to find "treasure in heaven."
Jesus talked about this treasure with a rich young man who asked Him how to inherit eternal life. Jesus said, "Sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me" (Mark 10:21).
Jesus wasn't teaching that we must give up our wealth to be acceptable to Him. We can never earn eternal life by our works. He was showing this man his spiritual bankruptcy. His heart was set on wealth, not Jesus. That rich young man and our homeless friend have more in common than we might think. In the eyes of God, both are spiritually bankrupt. We all are, unless we have Jesus. No good deed can earn eternal life—not helping the homeless or giving away all our money. Jesus wants us to give Him our heart. Then we'll have real treasure—treasure in heaven—and we'll seek to help others.
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Sermon of the Day: Laying Up Treasure In Heaven ->> by Lloyd Pulley.

From the Pastor: Praise the Lord. I met with Don Harshey, the director of Floyd County Community Corrections, to discuss beginning a transitional ministry for men coming out of jail. We discussed funds available for ministry start-up and we are adressing his governing board on January 29th. Please continue to pray for God's favor and for a tenant to share our building.

God Bless You- Pastor Sam Smith

Prayer of the Day: Psa 25:4-5 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. (5) Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
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Daily Devotional Adoniram Judson (1788-1850) was gifted with a brilliant mind. He learned to read at age 3, could translate Greek at 12, and enrolled in Brown University when he was 16. While there he was befriended by Jacob Eames, a man who rejected the miracles of the Bible. When Judson graduated as valedictorian in 1807, he had been so influenced by Eames that he denied his Christian faith. One night, when Judson was staying at a village inn, he was disturbed by a man moaning in the next room. The following morning he asked the innkeeper about the ailing man. He was told that the man had died and that his name was Jacob Eames. The startling coincidence of being near his friend at the point of his death stunned Judson. He felt compelled to search his own soul and to seek God's pardon for denying his faith. From that point on, he began to live for the Lord. God led him to pioneer missionary work in Burma. At the end of his life, Adoniram could look back on his ministry that had planted dozens of churches and influenced thousands to become believers. What kind of influence are we having on others? Do our lives encourage faith in the Savior, or do we cause others to doubt?
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Sermon of the Day: No Regrets ->> by Pastor Greg Laurie.

From the Pastor: Prise the Lord! In just the last two months of the year, we raised almost $900.00 for our harvest partner ministry in Thailand. Remember how Jesus pointed out that the widow with two pennies gave more than all the others because she gave in a time of her own need, and as you join me in fasting and praying for these next three weeks, let's pray earnestly that the offering we've sown will result in an abundant financial harvest for our church.

God Bless You- Pastor Sam Smith