Monday, April 23, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Dear Pastor and Praying friends, April 18, 2012
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
We are so thankful that Spring has sprung. It is such a joy to go outside and feel a cool breeze blowing, hear the birds chirping, see so many beautiful flowers in bloom and smell the fragrance of food cooking on the grill. Our family sure did our part in contributing to that aroma on Ressurection Sunday. What a blessed Sunday it was for us. All of our members were in attendance and several children came as well. I preached a message that was inspiring to me, if no one else, about the power of Christ and His resurrection. After the service we had several activities for the children and their families including a scavenger hunt, Peter and Paul relay race, and family photos. When that was finished we gave all who attended “Ressurection bags” filled with treats and trinkets. What a blessing to know we serve a risen Savior!
I am also happy to report that we have detected some spiritual growth amongst our members and to share the story about the salvation of a precious seventy-eight year old woman by the name of Bobbie Jean. As we began visitation we asked the Lord to send us to someone who was hungry for the Gospel. My wife visited her home and she almost begged her to stay and talk for a while. My wife asked her the question that we so often ask those we visit, “If you died today are you sure you would wake up in Heaven?”. Her husband died just last October and Mrs. Bobbie began to cry and comment that she prayed everyday that God would show her how she could know that she would be in Heaven with her husband when she died. By the answers she gave to our questions we detected a Church of Christ background. Sure enough she said she had attended a Church of Christ just down the road before her husband died. To make a long story short, she confessed that she was lost and on her way to Hell; but wanted to ask Jesus to save her soul and take her to Heaven. She prayed to receive Christ and was saved that very night! What a blessing!!! I am not sure if her husband is in Heaven or not; but I am so glad that Mrs. Bobbie now knows that she will wake up in Heaven when that time comes.
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:5-7
We truly have sensed the Lord’s presence with us this year and praise Him for His provision and blessings. We hope you are having a blessed year as well and want to thank you for your prayers and financial support.
In His service,
Pastor Raymond Beckles
(For photos go to our church blog...here
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
We are so thankful that Spring has sprung. It is such a joy to go outside and feel a cool breeze blowing, hear the birds chirping, see so many beautiful flowers in bloom and smell the fragrance of food cooking on the grill. Our family sure did our part in contributing to that aroma on Ressurection Sunday. What a blessed Sunday it was for us. All of our members were in attendance and several children came as well. I preached a message that was inspiring to me, if no one else, about the power of Christ and His resurrection. After the service we had several activities for the children and their families including a scavenger hunt, Peter and Paul relay race, and family photos. When that was finished we gave all who attended “Ressurection bags” filled with treats and trinkets. What a blessing to know we serve a risen Savior!
I am also happy to report that we have detected some spiritual growth amongst our members and to share the story about the salvation of a precious seventy-eight year old woman by the name of Bobbie Jean. As we began visitation we asked the Lord to send us to someone who was hungry for the Gospel. My wife visited her home and she almost begged her to stay and talk for a while. My wife asked her the question that we so often ask those we visit, “If you died today are you sure you would wake up in Heaven?”. Her husband died just last October and Mrs. Bobbie began to cry and comment that she prayed everyday that God would show her how she could know that she would be in Heaven with her husband when she died. By the answers she gave to our questions we detected a Church of Christ background. Sure enough she said she had attended a Church of Christ just down the road before her husband died. To make a long story short, she confessed that she was lost and on her way to Hell; but wanted to ask Jesus to save her soul and take her to Heaven. She prayed to receive Christ and was saved that very night! What a blessing!!! I am not sure if her husband is in Heaven or not; but I am so glad that Mrs. Bobbie now knows that she will wake up in Heaven when that time comes.
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:5-7
We truly have sensed the Lord’s presence with us this year and praise Him for His provision and blessings. We hope you are having a blessed year as well and want to thank you for your prayers and financial support.
In His service,
Pastor Raymond Beckles
(For photos go to our church blog...here
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Who made the Sky?
Saturday evening we were sitting outside by the garden and Aaliyah said, "Look Momma, the sky!"
Me: "Good Aaliyah! Who made the sky?"
Aaliyah: "um...Daddy."
Me: "Sorry dear, as good as your Dad is at making things; he did not make the sky. God did."
Aaliyah: "Hm."
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Our Church Blog
Nursing Homes
One of the joys of our week is going to the Care homes in our community. In Newport there are two. One my wife goes to weekly to read scripture and sing to the residents. On occasion I preach there also. The other our whole family attends.... Click here to read more.
Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,
“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord” Psalm 122:1
We are excited to begin a new year in the ministry here in Newport, Arkansas. Recently our church had its first ever conference entitled the “Faith, Love, and Family Conference”. The purpose of this conference was to provide the people in our community and around us with sound biblical teaching about Faith in the Lord, Love for Christ and others, and proper relationships with those in our family... Click here to read more.
One of the joys of our week is going to the Care homes in our community. In Newport there are two. One my wife goes to weekly to read scripture and sing to the residents. On occasion I preach there also. The other our whole family attends.... Click here to read more.
Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,
“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord” Psalm 122:1
We are excited to begin a new year in the ministry here in Newport, Arkansas. Recently our church had its first ever conference entitled the “Faith, Love, and Family Conference”. The purpose of this conference was to provide the people in our community and around us with sound biblical teaching about Faith in the Lord, Love for Christ and others, and proper relationships with those in our family... Click here to read more.
Spring Garden!
Until next time.
Yard Sale!
Last Saturday morning I was on my way to the grocery store when I passed a sign that read "Yard Sale". This was not unusual for a Saturday morning; but I was unusually busy because we had just returned from a trip and I NEEDED to go and get groceries. It was also unusual because I had money that belong strictly to me (given as a gift from a church specifically to me!). I had asked the Lord to help me to spend it wisely; and I almost drove right passed that sale; but it seemed as if the Holy Spirit was tugging me that way (VERY unusual!)...so I stopped, and I am sure glad I did! I left with two HUGE (50 gallon) tubs of clothes, over twenty pairs of shoes, books and toys for the girls and the church nursery, ect. Guess how much it all cost? Fifty Dollars!!! Isn't that great! There were many things at that yard sale that I would never have been able to buy because they were luxeries; but only cost me pennies. All I can say is Praise God for yard sales adn gifts from others that give us money to spend at them!
Until next time,
Until next time,
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| Aaliyah in a smart outfit and new shoes from the yard sale. |
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| Another outfit/play clothes |
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| Aaliyah challenging me to play swords. Cassidy is not so sure about my sword. |
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| Two more smart outfits from the sale. Check out Aaliyahs cute shoes. The lady on far left will be 100 years old this week. |
A visit to D.C.
A couple of weeks ago I told you that we went to a Missions Conference in Virginia. While there we realized that we were only twenty minutes or so away from D.C. so we decided to go site seeing during the day. We had a blast; but we didn't realize the new challenges we would face by having two small children and a dog with us! During the conference we had meetings in the evenings. One day we had a ladies luncheon where Mrs. Weniger, the pastor's wife, took all the missionary wives to a wonderful buffet with all types of food and I do mean all types - from pizza to pad thai. During the other two days we went site seeing. I hope you enjoy a few of my favorite pics from our adventures.
Until next time,
I hope you enjoy a few of my favorite pics from our adventures.
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| Raymond in front of the Old Post Office |
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| Street shots |
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| People encamped in front of Wall street |
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| Interesting buildings |
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| American Red Cross building |
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