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: www.givingthanksministries.com

email:norma@givingthanksministries.com

 or normamcmurry@sbcglobal.net

Vol. VIII, No. 1                   Ministries to Encourage Joyous and Purposeful Living                   Jan 2008

Friends and family are so dear! Since the last newsletter, we’ve seen friends at the SBC in San Antonio, visited my cousin Russ in Texas, Don’s brother Charlie in Missouri and my kin in North Carolina. We stayed with my college roommate Sandra Adams while we attended Homecoming and Don’s 40th class reunion at Wake Forest. I’ve chatted with old and new friends at conferences and retreats, and laughed for hours with childhood friends at my 45th high school class reunion. Class of 1962 president Tony Warren granted me the privilege of bringing the devotion. “Some Things Never Change” fit the occasion. Our elementary school is torn down; our high school sits empty, with the gym as a flea market. Classmates have died; others have physical ailments and all of us surely look “old” compared to the nametag pictures from our senior yearbook we wore at our gathering. Still, the smiles were the same. We were glad be together again to share memories. We are still Robersonville Rams! Never changing also describes Jesus Christ. Hebrews 13:8 tells us He “is the same yesterday and today and forever.” In Jeremiah 31:3 the Lord says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” God loves you!! That will never change! Whether you feel like it or not! Let that be your 2008 theme!

We McMurrys spent Christmas together! What fun!! Watching eight grandchildren interact gives me great pleasure. Trey turned 10 in November; the others admire him. Grace is 7; we adults could talk with each other because she can “mother” any group. Zach (6), Max (4), Brennen (5) and Walker (3) raced cars, flew a space ship and saved the world as superheroes. Justin (2) joined each activity as if he were as big as the others. Fletcher (1) toddled around smiling at whoever came close. Joseph and Lisa expect little Cooper in May of 2008. We can’t thank God enough for those precious little ones. We are pleased that last July Grace asked Jesus into her heart and was baptized soon after. We pray that each will follow the Lord as Savior. I constantly ask God to use me to help show those precious children Jesus.

Photo by Sandy Warren, Fairborn, OH
 
Caroline’s husband Scott took the helm of the Woodland Wolfpack in Stockbridge, Georgia, as head coach last fall when the new school opened. He led the team to learn about football and life. Caroline will soon engage in an administration internship that she earned.

 

Donald, Heather and family continue to live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Joseph and Lisa care for and work with the youth of Main Street Baptist Church in Danville, Virginia. In addition, Joseph plays guitar for worship and Lisa sings in the choir and performs solos. God blessed Lisa’s dad Kent with healing after a motorcycle accident. TYL!

Don’s memoir book Forever Seventeen continues to stir memories for hundreds of Jefferson City Jays. Readers have expressed thanks for Don’s hard work and exciting football stories. Don truly gives glory to God in the accounts he details. A bonus for Don in October was a busy weekend he and his siblings, Jo Ann and Charlie, and Jo Ann’s husband Carl, enjoyed while Carolyn Lewis and I traveled to Arkansas with GTM. They journeyed to a Notre Dame football game, then stayed at our house to visit. Now Don is recovering from a hip replacement December 7. Hospital staff expressed amazement at how well he recovered. With each comment, Don told of many prayers offered and God’s faithfulness.

 

 

 



 

 

Leaving a Legacy Cynthiana, KY

Report of Ministry Events

Women’s events led in number the opportunities for GTM. They came in the form of Mother-Daughter Banquets, Retreats, Teas, Get-aways, Conferences and Mothers Of Preschoolers.

 

 

Women’s Tea Blytheville, AR

 

 

 

Giving Thanks for Missions Lakota Hills, OH

 

 

Giving Thanks

                     forEncouragement!

God granted variety and included men in Senior Citizen groups, Mission Celebrations, book signings, staff retreat and my class reunion.

To see pictures of other events, visit www.givingthanks.net

 

 

 

 

 

Mike, Phil and Ronald, My friends since elementary school

 

Giving Thanks for Missions Lakota Hills, OH
 
You, GTM friends, are much appreciated! By your words and actions, you “raise me up” to “keep at it.” Your new themes for meetings keep me studying. Emails and notes urge me to pray and find ways to share God’s love and promises. I know you pray for GTM and your material support provides the means to travel and to learn. I am unreservedly grateful!! The McMurrys and Giving Thanks Ministries hope and pray for you a Blessed 2008! Don sets goals diligently each year and urges me to do the same. That reminds me how GTM board member Lee Young never fails to promote a ministry business plan. I think I hesitate to set goals because I’m afraid I’ll fail. That sounds contradictory for someone whose ministry purpose is to encourage others, reminding them that failure is never final. I’m sharing 2008 goals with you, asking you to pray for me and for my attentiveness to the tasks set before me.

With God’s help in 2008, GTM will:

V  Provide the brochure For Your Journey to encourage those who have cancer or have a loved one with cancer.

V  Submit Beautiful Feet, a six-week Bible study, to a publisher.

V  Attend at least four conferences for growth in personal life and ministry.

V  Speak or teach no less than 20 times.

V  Consistently send material to Monty Lewis to update the GTM website.

Praise the Lord for His faithfulness and goodness!! Join us in setting goals for your personal life and ministry.s