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Hugh Vol. 44 May 7, 2019 Number 17
Godly Mothers Are Not Accidentally Made
By Barry Kennedy
There are a lot of things that we may become as a result of blind luck. One may
become rich by being born into a wealthy family. Some might be the winner of a game with
a lucky catch, hit or some other such play. They get the praise and honor for the win, but
deep down they know that they just got lucky. However, godly mothers are not the result of
luck. It takes planning, preparation, and a lot of prayers to be a godly mother.
Godly mothers are the source of strength. One of the greatest examples of
motherly strength has to be Naomi. She endured more than any one woman should ever
have to endure. The first chapter in the book of Ruth records the great suffering Naomi had
to endure. Verses one and two describe how Naomi and her family had to deal with famine.
It is very difficult for a family to have to pack up and leave their homes, but how much
more difficult would it be when survival is the reason? Naomi showed great strength by
following Elimelech to Moab (Ephesians 5:22).
Moving to Moab may have seemed to be a great victory over the famine, but it
would be short lived. Naomi would now have to face the death of her husband and father of
her two sons. Just think about how easy it would have been for Naomi to give up and say,
“Why me?” However, she continued to show strength for her two sons. This too would not
last long, for then her two sons died (Ruth 1:5). Many people have faced an onslaught of
trials in life and though each one is unique; we all suffer in similar ways. It takes great faith
to have the strength to keep going to the end. Naomi decided she would return to the land of
her ancestry. Her strength is shown in her attitude toward her daughters-in-law. “And
Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the
LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The LORD grant
you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them;
and they lifted up their voice and wept.” She felt as though God were against her and she
had nothing left to offer Orpah and Ruth (Ruth 1:12, 13).
Orpah left Naomi and Ruth to be with her blood relatives, but Ruth was committed
to the strength of Naomi’s faith. “And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return
from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will
lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die,
and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part
thee and me” (Ruth 1:16, 17). No doubt, Naomi’s example brought Ruth close to her side.
We do not know about Ruth’s parents, but we know the strong desire she had toward Naomi
--article continued on page 2--
ELDERS
Mike Childers..............397-6453
Dennis Hallmark .........255-5557
Mark Hitt.....................322-0917
Bobby Lindley.............260-9193
DEACONS
Wade Bryan.................419-5552
William Harris.............416-8149
Ricky Lindsey .............255-8136
Jeff Mansel..................871-0357
Jimmy Spearman.........840-8957
Michael Wilson ...........891-0891
PREACHER
Barry Kennedy ... (931)787-7108
SECRETARY
Renee Childers
Office...........................842-6116
Fax...............................842-7091
E-MAIL
eastmaincoc38804@gmail.com
WEB PAGE
eastmaincoc.com
SUNDAY SERVICES
Worship....................... 9:00 a.m.
Bible Classes............. 10:15 a.m.
Worship..................... 11:15 a.m.
Singing or Devotional
Last Sunday of the Month
MID-WEEK
SERVICES
Wednesday Classes .....7:00 p.m.
EAST MAIN CHURCH OF CHRIST
1606 East Main Street
P. O. Box 1761
Tupelo, Mississippi 38802
“Thou shalt observe to do all that they inform thee”
(Deut. 17:10)
2. --article continued from page 1--
(Ruth 2:1-3). This would put Ruth in the right place, at
the right time to meet her future husband Boaz, a near
kinsman to Elimelech (Ruth 2:20). Naomi saw the favor
of God in this chance meeting and advised Ruth in what
she should do next ((Ruth 2:22-3:4). What if Ruth had
not listened to the advice of Naomi? Obed would not
have been born and if Obed had not been born Jesse
would not have been born. Jesse was the father of David
and all of these are in the lineage of Jesus (Matthew
1:1ff). Solomon’s inspired advice is for a son (or
daughter) to “hear the instruction of thy father and
forsake not the law of thy mother” (Proverbs 1:8). It is
not wise to neglect this advice, nor is it in our best
interest. Good advice, like other godly traits, are passed
on from one generation to another (Titus 2:3ff).
No, godly mothers are not accidents, but rather, the
carefully taught and nurtured daughters of today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ladies’ Monthly Fellowship
The ladies’ monthly
fellowship will be held
this Thursday, May 9 at
6:00 p.m. at Hardin’s
Country Store.
Family Fellowship
The Family First
Group will be hosting a
“Family Fellowship” on
the last Sunday of every
month from 8:15-8:45
a.m. before worship services. Donuts, coffee, and
juice will be provided.
Missing Tables
There are two 6-foot tables missing from the
multipurpose room. We will need these on May 19 for
our luncheon to honor our High School graduates. If you
borrowed them, please return them ASAP. Thank you!
Thank You Notes
I want to say thank you very much for the
fabulous knitted hats you have made and donated to
the cancer center and all the cards and prayers on
mom’s behalf. My sister and I have bought many
caps for her, but she has received the most
compliments on her yellow knitted one she is
wearing this spring. This boosts her spirits so
much. Please continue to pray for her. Her lung
cancer has metastasized to her hip and back. The
pain is unbearable for her. She has many more
appointments and treatments ahead. We thought
she was on the downhill slide, but she is headed
back up hill. Sincerely with lots of love,
Debbie Duke
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
East Main Community Outreach,
Thank you for donating to the Hope Food Pantry
at the Cancer Center! We have patients who truly
benefit from your donation and kindness. Each
donation that we get is a blessing to someone in
need. Thanks for all you do. NMMC Radiation
Lauren Thompson, LSW
Mark Your Calendar
East Main’s VBS June 2-5
3. Daily Bible Reading
May 8......................................................Nehemiah 5-6
May 9.........................................................Nehemiah 7
May 10.......................................................Nehemiah 8
May 11..................................................Nehemiah 9-10
May 12................................................Nehemiah 11-12
May 13.....................................................Nehemiah 13
May 14..........................................................Esther 1-2
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays: Chelsea Wynne (May 8), Jake
Donald (May 10), Barbara Wright (May 10),
Tammy Hughes (May 11), Maggie Minor
(May 12), Summer Smith (May 12), Dolline Gibson
(May 13), Scotty Bishop (May 14). Anniversaries:
LuAnne & Paul Funderburk (May 8), Larry &
Suzanne Long (May 12).
Our Sick
Jean Mounce continues her therapy at the Eupora
Hospital. Evelyn McEwen, Mary Ann Wallace’s
mother; Sarah Grubbs, Mark Hitt & Lori Sheffield’s
grandmother; and Jill Rice, Debbie Vines, mother;
are all at the Sanctuary Hospice House. Steve Kelly
continues to recuperate from foot surgery. It was
good to see Betty Long at services Sunday after
having 5 stints put in. Marlon & Gail Geno’s 2-
year-old great-granddaughter, Penny Lane, has been
diagnosed with diabetes.
On-Going Illnesses
Laverne Raper, Frankie Estes, Donny Dulaney,
Adam McCurley, Linda McCurley, Mary Jordan,
Bretta Robinson, James Goddard, Bill Goff,
Tommy Goff, James Nichols, Sheba Tuggers,
Sherry Gregory, Leroy Brown, Jadon Parish, Carol
Nichols, Jerry Smith, Mitch Maclean, Randy
Groover
Nursing Homes/Assisted
Living
Nancy Haywood, Randy Attaway, Shirley
McCarthy, Mary Southern, Veona Harris
Home Devotional
In what chapter of the Bible do you find?
Enoch and Methuselah...............................Genesis 5
The tower of Babel...................................Genesis 11
The ten plagues ..................................... Exodus 7-12
Hannah .....................................................1 Samuel 1
Birth of Jesus.................................................. Luke 2
List the divisions of the New Testament:
Gospels
History
Letters
Prophecy
List the 8 writers of the New Testament:
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Peter
Paul
James
Jude
Memory Verse:
Why do I need Jesus?
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and
come short of the glory of God.”
Put the following Bible characters in
chronological order:
Moses
Abraham
Noah
Benjamin
Joshua
Can you tell a Bible story form the
following picture?
4. Go Into All the World
“IN CHRIST ALONE...”
June 7th-8th
Please register at eastmaincoc.com ASAP!
Speakers: Eric Owens, Joe Wells, Jonathan Bates & Harrison Moran
This camp is for ages 13-22 and is being hosted by the East Main Church of Christ, 1606 East
Main St., Tupelo, MS 38804. Please see Josh or Barry Kennedy for more information.
Men to Serve Sunday, May 12, 2019 a.m.
Announcements...................................Mike Childers
Bible Reading.....................................Ricky Lindsey
Opening Prayer ....................................Larry Presley
Lord’s Supper
Bobby Joe Lindley & Hugh Scribner
Serve Congregation, East Side:
Chad Willis, Ian Willis, Aaron Willis
Serve Congregation, West Side:
Grady Vines, Robert Parker, Greg Lyle
Lead Singing..............................................Mark Hitt
Closing Prayer................................ Clinton Kingsley
Ushers ..........................Andy Baldwyn & Joe Minor
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday Afternoon
Opening Prayer .....................................Harold Roby
Closing Prayer................................. Robert Kingsley
Lead Singing................................... Eddie Simmons
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Prayer................................................ William Harris
Lead Singing........................................ Greg Hughes
Contact Wade Bryan (419-5552) if unable to serve.
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Greeters .............................. Mike & Renee Childers
....................... Bobby Joe & Brenda Lindley
Prepare Lord’s Supper—May..........................James
& Sandra Simmons
Nursery....Chevela Underwood & Twinette Wallace
Pantry.................................................................Jelly
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 5-1-19................................................163
Sunday 1st
Worship, 5-5-19 .................................190
Sunday Bible Class ..............................................183
Sunday 2nd
Worship.............................................180
Contribution (budget $7,900)..........................$7,461