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A Note from the Preacher…Larry Sweeney
I hope you have marked your calendar for our upcoming Gospel Meeting. It begins Friday, April 28th and continues through Sunday, April 30th. Also remember that April 30th is our next Friend's Day. I have spoken with Ben Flatt, and he is looking forward to being with us. Please keep Ben in your prayers and plan on inviting your friends and family.
Shaped for Glory
During the Great Depression a good man lost his job, exhausted his savings, and forfeited his home. His grief was multiplied by the sudden death of his precious wife. The only thing he had left was his faith, and it was weakening.
One day he was combing the neighborhood looking for work. He stopped to watch some men who were doing the stonework on a church building. One of those men was skillfully chiseling a triangular piece of rock. Not seeing a spot where it would fit, he asked, “Where are you going to put that?” The man pointed toward the top of the building and said, “See that little opening up there near the spire? That's where it goes. I'm shaping it down here so it will fit up there.”
Tears filled this good man's eyes as he walked away. “Shaping it down here so it will fit up there” gave new meaning in his difficult situation.
Some who read this may be going through terrible troublesome times. You may be experiencing some heart-breaking sorrow. Or perhaps you are enduring some painful physical illness. Or it may be something else – maybe even too excruciating to talk about. The blows of the hammer and chisel hurt.
But hold to your faith. Don't let your difficulties get you down. They are only temporary. Glory is coming. It's the harsh blows to the outward man that often bring the greatest strength to the inner man. Keep praying. Keep believing. The Master has to do some shaping of us down here so we will be fit up there.
Put More In
Years ago, a circuit riding preacher entered one church building with his young son, and dropped a coin into the offering box in the back. Not many came that Sunday, and those who did didn't seem too excited about what was said. After the service, the preacher and son walked to the back, and he emptied the box. Out fell one coin. The young boy said, “Dad, if you'd have put more in, you'd have gotten more out!” Most of us get more out of our classes when we put more into them! -copied