GOOD NEWS YOU CAN USE...

A Literary Arts Ministry Newsletter - Issue 5

A Lifetime Story

The Christmas season is when the world stops to reflect on the miraculous Birth of Jesus. There are nativity scenes of Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus displayed across the globe. There are movies broadcast on multiple networks, with expressions of how angels visited the shepherds and how the star in the east guided the wise men to the world's Savior, how they worshipped him and presented gifts.

What a glorious time of the year. Joy fills the atmosphere among friends and strangers alike. Families gather to feast and share in gift-giving. But the joy subsides at the start of the new year, keeping no actual significance of the reason for the season at heart.

Jesus is the reason for the season, and He is alive in the hearts of man today. A delight of expression year in and out, a season of celebration throughout a lifetime.

This miraculous birth initiates the beginning of our salvation, those who profess hope in Christ. For this reason, He came in human form to reconcile man back to God as a sacrificial blood offering. For the remission of our sins. His birth commences his missionary journey, paving the way to His death on the cross and resurrection to serve as a redeemer for humanity.

John 3:16 states, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."

Christians must keep the season alive by displaying the reason for the season daily, which is JESUS, and not letting the purpose reside in a commercialized season.

SPOTLIGHT!!!

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SHARE YOUR GIFTS & TALENTS... (James 1:17)

Jessie Shinault was born and raised in Memphis, TN. He is the father of one daughter, Jessica Shinault, and the biological grandfather to three, but he is called granddaddy by many. He attended Hamilton Junior High School in Shelby County.

Jessie works for Bellacino's Pizza & Grinders, where he has served for 21 years. His hiring role was a dishwasher, but he worked himself up to his current role as manager/baker.

He receives the most inspiration from his grandchildren; his desire is for them to be happy and live fulfilling lives. He was raised in church as a child and served as a youth usher but later chose a path that took him from engaging in worship to being satisfied with worldly gratification.

He delights in sharing the transformation of his life with others. He shared, "The teachings instilled as a child resonated within, and when the time was at hand, I heard the voice of God and acted at once, and I was ready to be committed."

In 2019, he began visiting our church. Since then, he has been faithful in attendance and continues his faith journey. He acknowledges he is shy, but upon entering the sanctuary, a feeling of boldness enters and uplifts him to engage in praise and worship. Furthermore, on November 2, 2020, he was welcomed into our church family and received the Right Hand of Fellowship, and in 2021, he received a Certificate of Completion of New Membership.

Jessie's motivation is focusing on keeping a positive view of life. He reminds himself, "I woke up this morning. I have breath in my body, so today I will move forward and count my blessings. Tomorrow is not promised." He aims to try to live better every day, putting God first, taking the back seat, and letting God be the driver.

One of his most noteworthy accomplishments as a child was overcoming a speech impediment. He disclosed that he stuttered with every word, which caused him great embarrassment, but a teacher encouraged him to speak with patience, and over time the stutter left. Just that simple accomplishment made a significant impact on his life.

His hobbies include playing basketball, walking, jogging, and maintaining good health. He is a member of the fanbase Faithful Empire for the San Francisco Forty-Niners football team. He has loved the Forty-Niners since the Joe Montana era. One of his goals is to purchase a house, and two adventurous goals are to ride on an airplane and swim in the ocean.

Because of the path taken in his earlier years, Jessie's passion is visiting juvenile detention children to advise them that choosing this life will only lead to destruction. He also shares his experience to help them choose a better way.

A feeling of great peace comes when Jessie can visit his mother's gravesite, express his thoughts, and reflect on the memories held within his heart. He shares that his mother was his everything.

Jessie is a faithful member of the Saint Matthew Missionary Baptist Church, where he is a member of the Brotherhood Chorus and a dedicated student of the Sunday School Department. He frequently donates hand sanitizer and bottled water to ensure supplies are readily available. We take pride in having this humble servant as a member of our church family.

Displayed below are some highlights of our spotlight.

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Unsure About God?

by Mercelle (Age 9)

I have had some ups and downs in believing in God. For example, when I pray and see if He'll answer me, it seems He doesn't.

I know that God may not answer right away, so I wait and have faith that He might do it the next day, but unfortunately, it doesn't work. I get discouraged.

My mom listens to Dr. Charles Stanley, Dr. Adrian Rogers, and Dr. Tony Evans, and sometimes that helps, and I think God wants me to see that He's not a genie or a person that does stuff just because you want it. He teaches you a lesson or answers your prayer when needed.

Psalms 145:18 is an easy verse to memorize. It says, "The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth." This verse helps me understand that God does listen to me when I pray.

INSPIRATIONS FOR THE SOUL

GIVING GOD THE GLORY

by Davina Dean

I was thinking back to December when I looked forward to this new year of 2023. I had a mixture of excitement and dread.

I was excited because God had brought me through another year, and I was hoping for something new. Then, immediately following that thought, there was a sense of dread that said negatively, "What is going to happen this year?"

I will be honest, even though I know that thought was not from God. I still have ideas like that all the time. I must continuously fight the negative thoughts in my mind and from the world to get back my joy and excitement for what God has for me.

Meditate on these verses from Psalms 86: 10-12, "For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: though art God alone. Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth; unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart."

I have to make an effort and a choice to give God the glory. Despite my fears, pain, heartache, and circumstances, He is worthy of my praise. My life can give Him glory by trusting and believing in His Word.

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THE TRUE & LIVING GOD

by Pastor W. B. Armstrong

While thinking about what is happening in the world, I reflect on what role God's people play and the church's expectations. God's people are overcomers of the world because He who lives within is greater than he who is in the world.

The believer's life can sometimes be complicated, and we might even find ourselves asking if God is there. My cousin shared his struggle with an addiction that he believed he could not overcome. He recognized how his actions hurt his family, but in his efforts, he couldn't come to grips with letting go. His family eventually turned their back on him and wanted nothing more to do with him and his life's choices. I tried to console him, reassure Him that God could assist, and emphasize that God is not an imaginary God but real. The true and living God who, through His Son Jesus, could save and deliver him from his addiction. The first step was for him to trust and believe He is God, the All-Powerful One.

So, it is for us all. God is the God of love and will continue to love us even when we fall. The world's delight is that we fall, but we must remember Jesus overcame the world when He died on the cross, and because we confess repentance, we can now experience the victory of getting back up when we fall.

Stop listening to the world's voice and hear the voice of God, allowing Jesus to live in you. The voice of the Lord will lift you above all heights of imagination that the world offers.

Always remember God is not an imagination, but He is real, A true and living God. Trust in Him and never doubt, for He will always bring you out.

Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will direct your path (Proverbs 3:6)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT...

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ABC’s Of SALVATION

(ADMIT), (BELEIVE), (CONFESS)

John 1:12–13

Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

“Receive Him” - submit to him in a personal relationship.

“Believe in" - gain personal trust.

“His name” - all that is true about him, and therefore the totality of His person.

“Born, not of blood . . . , but of God” - no physical birth nor ethnic descent nor human effort can make people children of God, but only God’s supernatural work.

DCS Food Drive

"A Family Striving to Meet the Approval of God," Psalm 1.

On December 19, 2022, our church family donated non-perishable items, food, and snacks to the Department of Children Services (DCS) of Davidson County, organized by Shevon Kelley. We were honored to accomplish this community service with hopes of continuing to serve.