GOOD NEWS YOU CAN USE...

Approximately forty years ago, a small congregation collaborated with the idea of placing a steeple on the church's roof. They voted, and the vote was unanimous. The steeple was purchased and ready for installation; however, the cost was higher than budgeted. But the pastor had mountain-moving faith and volunteered him and his two teenage sons to install the steeple. All were on board with the idea except for the younger son. The younger son was unaware of how his brother felt about the whole situation, but he knew his faith was less than Doubting Thomas, the apostle. He had already envisioned the steeple tumbling to the ground and crashing into millions of pieces.

From the steeple's base to the top of its cross, it measured longer than the length of a full-size school bus. From the ground, the peak and incline of the church roof didn't look high, but it was! Just the slightest slip could be fatal.

About four deacons appeared to serve only as bystanders. Later, in the installation process, they all began to leave one by one except for good ole Faithful. He stayed for morale support, standing with a short rope to assist as best he could.

As the younger son remained vastly in doubt, he and his brother heard the voice of their father and obeyed every command with great intent. The father-son team moved forward, lifting the steeple on top of the church's retired activity-school bus, and pushing it gently closer to the roof. They had reached the point to maneuver the steeple upon the roof's incline. The two sons held it steady on the roof's peak while their father measured and cut the steeple to prepare it for placing.

Together they lifted the steeple with its cross pointing to the heavens. Its base settled perfectly onto the roof's peak. The mountain-moving faith was apparent, "...faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).

The father-son team and the faithful deacon rejoiced at the accomplished task. But a feeling of regret and sadness overtook the faithful deacon. It was evident that he was no longer holding the short rope. In disbelief, all eyes followed his finger as he pointed towards the steeple. The rope was looped across the cross out of hand reach—just a gesture of Satan's tactic of trying to be lifted like the Most High.

With success, they removed the rope, and the challenging event became a laughable memory to cherish for years to come.

Because the faithless younger son heard and obeyed his father's instructions, he grew to understand that "...faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17) and that obeying God's word removes all fear and doubt.

The steeple, placed in faith, stands today and has withstood stormy weather and a devastating tornado. It has remained in place to symbolize the purpose of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, that all might come unto Him and be SAVED!

AMEN!

by Deacon Armstrong

Frances Elizabeth (Lewis) Taylor was born and raised in Pasquo, TN, Davidson County. She is the mother of two daughters, a foster mother to two daughters, and a grandmother and great-grandmother.

She attended Pasquo Elementary and Haynes High School and took some Tennessee State University elective courses. Additional education trades include Medical Lab Tech, Childcare, Foster Grandparenting, Psychology Tech, and Mary Kay beauty consultant.

She was a lab tech for several physicians with Convenient Care Emergency and Tennessee State Mental Hospital. She provided childcare services for many years as a Daycare Business owner.

Frances has received various achievements, including being crowned Queen Taylor with Mary Kay, a 4-star award, and trophies through her Childcare business. She presently volunteers as a "granny" at Smithson Craighead Academy for the third graders.

She is most inspired when she receives compliments from children such as, "You are nice to me," "I love you," and "You encourage me to do better and grow stronger." She loves to bring a smile to a mentally challenged person's face with simple words such as " Hello " and "Be Happy." She wishes everyone to be Happy but understands that's not realistic but knows it could help many people.

Frances often meditates on her favorite scripture, "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalms 23:1). At times, she may wish she had, but when considered, there is no want, for she knows God supplies all her needs. One of her goals is to have a clear mind and active body at 100, which will be in January 2035.

Some of her hobbies include crafts, crocheting, sewing, coloring pictures, nature watching, and attending social cooking classes.

Frances is passionate about helping others, particularly visiting the sick and volunteering for the school children. She has also welcomed relatives and friends into her home as a place of shelter until they could become established. However, her greatest passion is to see the world at peace and everyone "Be Happy."

Frances served as the Usher's Board president and became a member of the choir at ten years old during her Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church membership. Her love for singing encouraged her to become a Heavenly Tones Gospel group member. She is currently a faithful member of the Saint Matthew Missionary Baptist Church, where she served as the Willing Worker's president and is a member of the Missionary Society. She is one of our senior members, and we are delighted to honor her in this quarter's newsletter.

Displayed below are some highlights of our spotlight.

My name is Mishael Armstrong, and I drew and painted a picture of an Orchid tree.

What does the orchid tree mean to me?

What I love about painting is that once done with the artwork, people have their perspective about the image and what the picture may show the person. When I look at this painting of the orchid tree, it shows me a family tree, a place where family comes to meet and talk, a place of bonding, a tree that has been in the family for years and is a significant memorial to the family. A place of comfort! The pink resembles peace.

Process of creating the painting.

My first start in creating the painting was to outline the tree and the leaves on the tree. Once finished, I painted the tree trunk, painted the tree leaves with a sponge to give it a leafy look, painted the ground green, added gold wind swooshes, and finished the painting by adding my name on the top right corner.

Why did I paint this picture?

In painting, there is no specific way to paint; instead, painting what you feel goes. Whatever you like. I painted this picture for my High School choir teacher. He was leaving for California for a new career, and I wanted him to have a picture to remind him of his students and remind him he still had family back in Nashville.

Thank you for reading my article,

Mishael

by Mary L. Hearn

Who holds our hand when the nights are dark?

Who heals our hurts when they are not really there?

Who understands our sigh and never asks why?

Who's always waiting, though the days and years roll by,

And never gets tired, though time seems like an eternity?

Who opens the door when all others are closed,

And keeps on praying when words seem to fail,

And waits for the answer when the heart seems to smother?

DON'T YOU KNOW WHO, MOTHER!

- Submitted by Estella Armstrong

by Danielle Horton

I have been a Christian since I was a pre-teen, and I used to love serving and attending church. I would listen to my T.V. pastors, donate to various charities, teach my kids about God, and if I weren't busy on Sunday, I would attend church. When I became an adult and life started to get hard, I thought I was putting the church on the back burner by not going consistently, but I was honestly weakening my relationship with God. I felt I was justified in not going because I still loved God; I knew I was a Christian, read my Bible, and prayed at home.

The years 2019-2021 were absolute torture for me. Most days, I tried my hardest not to kill myself. I could usually put on a fake happy face for my kids, but I cried a lot in the shower or bed. The end of 2021 got better, but every day I didn't carry out my plan was literally by the grace of God. I honestly believed the LIE that I had no one and that my kids (biological and students), family, and friends would be better off without me, but something stayed in my hand for almost two years.

On Christmas of 2021, we went through our typical tradition of praying and reading the Christmas story that morning, and Rissa asked if that story was real. Reese said no, and I tried to explain that it was. They were like, okay, can we open presents now? Lol. I realized then that the Bible stories that I would tell my kids were just stories to them. They honestly didn't see God or Jesus as real things in their life. It hurt my heart so much. So I committed myself that from now on, I wanted my children to see God and Jesus as real things in their life instead of bedtime stories that we read every night. My first step was to pray. I prayed that the Lord would allow my kids to see Him and that He was real. I also prayed they would develop a love for Him that no one could take away. My final prayer was that He would use me to lead them in the way that they should go and that He would show me because I have no idea what I am doing.

My next step was to find a church home with a youth group. For January and February, we went to so many different churches in Clarksville, but no place felt like home. We finally went back home, and it was so tough at first. We had to wake up super early because it was an hour away. My kids didn't want to get dressed for church or get their hair done the night before. They don't like to sit still and be quiet for over 30 minutes, but we have finally gotten into a bit of a routine where we are no more than 10-15 minutes late every Sunday, and sometimes we are on time.

In July, I noticed that they were asking questions. After church and during the week, they would randomly bring up God. In September, they started having prayer requests for their friends and teachers. And now, Reese is saying that he loves Jesus.

Going to church is NOT the ONLY thing that will help me or my kids build a relationship with God, but it will give me the support and strength I need. Last night, I got an answer to one of the prayers from 11 months ago. I don't always get to see an "in my face" response to my prayers, and it gave me so much joy that I had to share. Does Reese fully know what being a Christian means? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Do I think he is beginning to understand some things and will be able to make his own decision about God when he is older? YES!

Side note I see this a lot: A lot of people focus on the people at church. I used to too. I have seen very evil people at church (from the ministers to the people sitting on the pew). Still, I see them in all shapes, sizes, ages, colors, and denominations/religions; at school, work, supermarket, street, and everywhere else. But I choose to focus on Jesus; my focus will always be on Jesus and what He says in His word. If I can't focus on Jesus at my church, I will go to another church. We're in TN; there's a church on every street.

DREAMS

"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly."

quote by Langston Hughes

* * * * * * * *

HOW I LIVE MY LIFE

"A river cuts through rock not because of its power, but it's persistence."

by Unknown Author

* * * * * * * *

BEWARE

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits.

Watch your habits, for they become your character.

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

WHAT WE THINK, WE BECOME.

by Unknown Author

(ADMIT)

He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

(BELEIVE)

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved; you and your household."

(CONFESS)

Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then, immediately, he and all his household were baptized.

- Acts 16:30-33

In the mid-70s, these three Women of Faith bonded in love. They have laughed, cried, prayed, praised, served, and worshiped as a Sisterhood, a bond that will last a lifetime. They take a "Golden Girls" photo each year during our Pastor's Appreciation Day to commemorate their friendship. They are given this name because of their poise, PURE GOLD, full of WISDOM and WORTH, cherished by many!

- Estella, Ann, and Lois

AUXILIARY ANNIVERSARIES

November 20th ~ Youth Music Ministry Pre-Annual Day at 10:00 a.m.

November 27th ~ Youth Music Ministry Annual Day at 10:00 a.m.

Y.A.Y.D. MINISTRY FALL REVIVAL

November 16th -18th ~ Reverend Dr. Jeremiah Parks, evangelist

Special Guest (18th) ~ The Brown Four Gospel Singers

7:00 p.m., nightly

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT!

Information provided by Jacqueline Carr

For 2022, Tennessee is distributing a new license plate during renewal. You can

request a license plate that contains "In God We Trust." However, you will need to ask

at the time of renewal.

https://www.tn.gov/revenue/title-and-registration/renewals/coming-soon/new-license-plate-faqs.html

Email: stmattrealdealta@gmail.com
Website: www.stmatthewrealdeal.org
Location: 2412 Osage Street, Nashville, TN, USA
Phone: (615) 329-0173
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmatthewmbrealdeal