Edenton Bible Study

I am excited to share that on Thursday, September 13, 2012, we will have the kickoff, for our local woman’s Bible study, in Edenton, North Carolina. Mrs. Erilynne Barnum, of “Call2Discipleship” Ministries will be here to share God’s Word. She will be sharing in a morning and evening session, like a “mini” retreat! Men are encouraged to join their wives, at the evening session. It is my understanding, from the planning that the decorations may include several tablecloths tied/sown together, leading to the foot of a cross. Signifying that although we come from different churches and all walks of life, the ground is LEVEL, at the foot of the cross! What an exciting time! Won’t you join us?

Where: Edenton Baptist Church Fellowship Hall
200 S Granville St.
Edenton, NC
When: 10am and 7pm

If you would like to come to the 10 am session, there will be a catered lunch, for $10.00, if you would like to have lunch together. Hope to see you there,

Tammy Holton

Baby Dove

Baby Dove

By; Sara
Have you ever found a baby bird lost from their nest? A lovely beautiful Dove Baby Bird. I did this morning. Mother Dove waiting in nest about 14 ft straight up wondering how she is going to retrieve her baby. Two Shelties barking and running around with wonderment trying to retrieve the baby.

My Sheltie, Lily, banging my door, barked in a stressful way until I followed her out to see what the happening was. I found the Baby Dove. My heart broke wondering if the baby had fallen more than 14 ft to a concrete patio and damaged for life. My Shelties, Lily and Shadow and myself went into panic mode. I called my son, Chris, only to find out he was an hour away. I called my other son, Jon, with same result. I called my busy husband and he didn’t have much choice but to come home to help since he didn’t think I was thinking well in my emotional fervor. A Baby Dove escaped from the nest and he must pick it up and help.

I made a call to Debi, another Lily, trying to prepare as a teacher for her second week of school. I tell her I am sending fallen baby bird to her to feed and help. She said, “Me? Why me?” Ok, ok, ok, she said I will find the Vet Tech (VT) teacher and see what she says. Whee, finally, some help. Almost time for school to start. Our time is short. We must act. VT said, Baby Dove is in good shape. Must go back in nest. Here comes Debi. Out comes the folding ladder. Two unskilled ladder techs, Debi and myself. Help someone. OK, we got help. Ladder up. Mother Dove in nest. Now what? Call to VT,  how can we put baby in nest with Mother there. “Go forward,” she says. “Mother will fly away and come back. Just an ‘old wive’s fable that Mother Bird won’t come back to nest if we touch it.’ O, by the way, it took us ten minutes to locate the VT on phone after the bird just left her precious hands. And, that was with the help of other school staff. School went into Vet ER for Baby Dove.

Forward, we went. Into nest went Baby Dove with no Mom. Debi got back to school in the nick of time for students. I waited by window to see if Mother would return. SHE DID! She flew in and out of nest all day with food.

I have been thinking and meditating today how God told us if we are worried about our everyday life-whether we have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear to just pause and take a look at His birds and how He takes care of them.

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:26

Yes, you are!

How’s your Faith?

By Tammy Holton

Edenton, NC
(Luke 7: 36 – 50) “One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!’ Then Jesus answered his thoughts, ‘Simon,’ he said to the Pharisee, ‘I have something to say to you.’ ‘Go ahead, Teacher,’ Simon replied. Then Jesus told him this story. ‘A man loaned money to two people–500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?’ Simon answered. ‘I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.’ ‘That’s right,’ Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon. ‘Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You eglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. I tell you, her sins–and they are many– have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. but a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.’ Then Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ The men at the table said among themselves.’Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins/’ And Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’”

The dictionary defines faith: “1) complete trust or confidence in someone or something. 2) strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.”
A portion of the footnotes for Luke 7: 44 says: “Although God’s grace through faith is what saves us, and not acts of love or generosity, this woman’s act demonstrated her true faith, and Jesus honored her.”
The title of this blog asks…”how’s your faith?” On a scale from 1 to 10, (10 = the most faith in Christ), do you think this woman’s score would be a 10? What do you think your score is?

Hope and Future

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Ivan Parker’s Thoughts: “don’t ever let the devil tell you there is no future. So many hold to the opinion there’s no hope for me. You may be alone and lonely or discouraged from your circumstances but never adjust your spirit of faithfulness to nonsense. God is true and on course in your life so be careful not to loose focus of his good for you!”

My Thoughts: God does not want to harm us even when we feel we are been harmed by pain, discouragement or friends. Lock faith in your heart and mind and our good comes into play!

What are your thoughts on this scripture?

Lily Prayer Points

Back to school is here. Some schools have started, others readied themselves for a new school year. School includes many in our communities. Students, teachers, staff and support staff. It takes more than a train to run a school.
I love to hear about and be a part of the prayer groups that faithfully work around the school year to support our schools. The daily lily has a prayer box, Lily Prayer Points, that we place prayers in for weekly prayers. I would like to expand and be a part of prayer groups and help others connect to be a part of a their local prayer groups.
If you have a group or are a part of a group and would like to share here and invite others to be a part of your group we would like to be a point of connection to help groups grow and thrive. Tell us about your group and how others can be a part.
Prayers and Hope for the new school year.  Let’s watch and be a part of our Lily Prayer Points as the Lily opens each morning with Lily Prayer. Visit http://www.thedailylily.com often. Offer a prayer, a thought, and give hope to All! Share about a job opening, an opportunity for others, or other news that might spar another into action.
Share your prayer group and contact info with one and another and another!
“one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph.4:6)