John Howard Merritt, Jr., age 90, of Demorest, Georgia passed away on Saturday, August 8, 2015 at a private care facility in Stone Mountain, Georgia following an extended illness.
Welcome Criticism
I learned quite awhile ago to like criticism, even when it is unsolicited. A critic’s words always have some truth to them. It is all in the way we hear them.
There are times when the harsh tone of voice or unreasonable delivery of the opinion can make our defenses stand up and take note. These are the times the best choice is to be quiet. Invited or not, criticism allows us to see ourselves through someone else’s eyes, and whether right or wrong, the opportunity is there to view what others see in us.
Correctly evaluating criticism is key. Not every complaint is valid and like bellybuttons, everyone has an opinion. When those crushing words come your way, take a moment to consider the words. Do not blame the person or immediately start defending yourself. Ask God to bring clarity and constructive thought to what is being said about you. Thank the person for having the courage to point out a flaw in your character and let them know you will thoughtfully meditate on what is being said. You will know immediately if the person’s intentions are out of love or if they are intended to hurt you.
The disapproval of others can be detrimental if we allow it to be. But, when we take control of what is being said and allow God to show us the truth, we disarm the cruelty of the other person if that is the intent. Already, we have God’s love, acceptance, and approval. By putting it in His hands, we give ourselves the spiritual growth to be the person God longs for us to be.
Proverbs 10:17-18, “17 He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who ignores reproof goes astray. 18 He who conceals hatred has lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool.”
Life in Motion: Off to College…
“I adore his smile,
I cherish his hugs,
I admire his heart,
But most of all…
I love that he is my son.”~ Sherry Donnelly with son Cooper
Who do His bidding
Psalm 103:20-23, “Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. 21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.”
Do you realize, when you speak God’s Word, when you do His will, when you declare His Name over your situation, angels will respond? It is a very important part to know. What comes from our mouths is pretty significant. It can change the outcome of our situations.
If you will, consider that words are secondary to our thoughts. We think and then respond. Sometimes, it may appear as if we put no thought into what we are saying, but words come from the thoughts we have. It is important to meditate on the Word of God; to fill our thoughts with God’s Word so that when we respond, it will reflect Him. What is on our minds shows in our words.
Psalm 91:10-12, “No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone.…”
There is a great deal the Lord is telling us in these two scriptures. When we praise Him and when we declare His word over our lives, He instructs His angels to protect us. That in and of itself gives me reason to sit up and take note. The times we need to praise Him the most are the times we don’t feel like praising Him. I’ve learned over the years in ministry, when people are in trouble or hurting or confused, they tend to run away from God. They tend to shake their fists at God. Those are the times His people need to shout out His name in praise because His angels will come to their defense.
One of the greatest weapons of warfare we have is praise. Psalm 34:1, “I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” Not sometimes on my lips or just when things are good and I feel happy, we are to declare I will praise the Lord ALL the time and His praise will ALWAYS be on our lips.
Today, thank God for the blessings of your life. Thank Him for the discipline He has given you. Thank Him for the trials and struggles that you will overcome because of Him. Thank Him for His ability to heal you. Praise Him that He is the ultimate victor and glorify His name because Satan can’t have you. You are God’s child.
Life in Motion: Dancing with heart
Dory Hatchett, San Francisco, California.
“Dancing with the feet is one thing; dancing with the heart is another”
Meeting Minds: Commitment
“The difference between ‘involvement’ and ‘commitment’ is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was ‘involved’ – the pig was ‘committed’.” ~ Unknown
Huge Turnout for B.C. Grant Archery Shoot in Alto
“This is my first year, and I will definitely be back next year.” ~ Casey Williams
Mary H. Brown
Funeral services for Mary Ann Hutson Brown, age 92, of Clarkesville will be held at 4:00 PM on Monday, August 10, 2015 from the Hillside Memorial Chapel, with Rev. Larry Free and Rev. Connie Berry officiating. Burial will follow the service in Bethlehem Baptist Church cemetery.
Donald J. Horne
Donald J. Horne, age 66, of Cornelia, Georgia, passed away on Friday, August 7, 2015.
Animal shelter volunteers needed August 9th
Volunteers are needed this Sunday August 9th, to help remodel the Habersham County Animal Shelter. “We need people that know how to clean, install wall desks, paint, and can help with some heavy lifting,” writes Samantha Freeman of Habersham HELP on the volunteer organization’s Facebook page. “We’d love to put up new lights as well, so if a licensed electrician could help for an hour, that’d be awesome too.”
Sunday’s schedule is as follows:
9:00-11:00 am: Remove everything from the office area (EVERYTHING)
11:00-12:30 : CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN
12:30-2:30 : Paint ceiling, walls, and trim
2:30-4:00 : Install furniture and cabinets and wall art/items, install new light fixtures (if we get an electrician volunteer)
4:00-5:00 : Set up computers
The Habersham County Animal Shelter is located at 4231 Toccoa Highway at the back of the Habersham County Fairgrounds property. For more information contact [email protected].
Claudius “Hugh” Smelley
Claudius “Hugh” Smelley, age 99, of Lula, passed away Friday, August 7, 2015.