Ministries to Encourage Joyous and Purposeful Living

Vol. VI,  1

April 2007

Colossians 3:17

Thank You Notes

The Newsletter of Giving Thanks Ministries

Norma McMurry, President   15 W. Xenia Drive   Fairborn, Ohio 45324

PH: 937.879.0618                Fax 937.233.1851

 

on the web at: www.givingthanksministries.com

email: norma@givingthanksministries.com or normamcmurry@sbcglobal.net

Giving Thanks From My Heart

 

Don’t you just thrill when God gives a moment that you know without a doubt is His working? I enjoy Bible studies written by Beth Moore, and, for several years, have worked in her books in sequence as they have been published. Last summer, the group I study with had heard so much about her Daniel study that we decided to skip The Patriarchs to explore Daniel. Fantastic! In January, we started The Patriarchs. That seemed the routine route to take. The study has been anything but routine for me! From the beginning, Abraham deals with separation—first from his country (Gen. 12:1), then from Lot (Gen. 13:14-18), then from his treasured son, Isaac (Gen. 22). Beth writes “Make no mistake. God tests our willingness to follow Him in obedience… We won’t embrace with both hands what God has for us if we hold our old lives in a death grip.”

 

How can I be studying separation at this moment? God planned it!! You see, Joseph, Lisa, Walker and Fletcher, who have lived and served the Lord 25 miles from us for two years, moved at the end of February to Danville, Va. The pain of separation is so real and strong for me, I know that God had me study Abraham right now! My gratefulness that our son and his family are being obedient to God must outweigh my grief at their physical leaving. But it’s a hard lesson! Perhaps you too need a reminder that God insists on obedience. His outcome will be best though we can’t see it in the present. If we hold on to selfish desires, we will be “pitching our tents toward Sodom.”

Giving Thanks For Future Events!

 

Please ask God to work in the hearts of those who attend:

 

April 10            East Dayton Baptist Church,                              Dayton, OH

April 14            North Main Street Baptist Church,                           Danville, VA

April 28            Beaver Baptist Church, KY

May 5                First Baptist Church, Waynesville,                           OH

May 8                First Baptist Church, Kettering, OH

May 12             West Union Baptist Church, OH

May 19             Calvary Baptist Church,                                     Wilmington, OH

Giving Thanks For Family

 

Our family has certainly been active in 2007. Donald and Heather traveled with 25 members of their church, including ten teens, to Matamoros, Mexico, to minister for a week. They conducted Vacation Bible Schools, complete with puppets, crafts, games and food, in four locations. They stationed themselves at an orphanage in a village where they helped with yard work and other chores. To the people who live in the city dump, their group gave clothes and food, played games and held a service. In the squatters’ camp where people have spent their life savings to get to the American border, the group did VBS and gave haircuts. They couldn’t take the puppet stage in the two fishing boats to Abraham’s Island, but soccer balls, food and crafts went with them.

 

Grace and her Aunt Valerie (Heather’s brother Tim’s wife) donated their hair March 29 to Locks of Love. That organization gives hair to children with medical needs. Their before and after photos are shown below. For a better look and more information, log on at www.locksoflove.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before

 

After

Giving Thanks For Ministry Events!

Giving Thanks for YOU!

Thank you for your encouragement to Giving Thanks Ministries! Writing encouragement notes is a large part of ministry activity. Your requests are appreciated. Several of have mentioned recently that you appreciate that GTM contributes to the Cooperative Program and Greater Dayton Association. We’re glad you like what we do!! Please continue to pray that God will use GTM “to encourage joyous and purposeful living.”

 

Thank you to those who volunteer with Giving Thanks Ministries!! Each moment you invest is helping spread the word about the love of Jesus!

Giving Thanks for Your Prayers

Your prayers are greatly appreciated. Some specific requests for ministry are:

· Publication of For the Journey, a booklet from our experience to help the families of cancer patients.

· Safety in travel as Norma and those who accompany her go to encourage.

· Hearts who will receive the message that Jesus is the only One who is able to grant joyous and purposeful living.

· Opportunities for Norma to share her heart and Scriptures with groups and individuals.

· Wisdom in helping individuals with whom Norma speaks encouragement.

· Good health for Norma and Don and our families.

For our friends in Missouri—

 

Don has the opportunity to greet readers and sign books Friday, June 8, at Downtown Book and Toy Co., 125 East High St., Jefferson City. Please come by so we can visit you.

Caroline and Scott look forward to yet another life adventure in the fall. Scott has been named Head Coach of the Woodland High School Wolfpack in Henry County, Ga. Scott has been an assistant football coach for 10 years. The school will be brand new and have freshmen, sophomores and juniors the first year. Caroline’s words were, “God must think I can handle being a head coach’s wife.”

 

Joseph, Lisa, Walker and Fletcher moved March 7 to Danville, Va. where he is Minister to Students at North Main Street Baptist Church. Matt Hudson, Heather’s brother, is also on staff at the church as Associate Pastor.

 

Praise the Lord, Don’s and my health continues to be strong so we can travel to see these three families who are so scattered around our wonderful country!!