Southside Scoop - 8.25.2024 by southsidecoc

Southside Church of Christ

800 Elmira Avenue Durham, NC 27707

info@sside.org | www.sside.org

919.688.3535

STAFF

Orlander R. Thomas Senior Minister

William A. Stephens Minister Emeritus

Candice P. Blount Church Administrator

Quentella Williams Executive Assistant

John Merriweather Online Campus Minister

Dineen Merriweather Online Campus Director

DEACONS

John Alcox

Anthony Green, Sr.

Arthur Hackney

John Mathis

Chester Mayfield, Jr.

Roger McDougal

Joe Williams

Keith Wright

W E E K L Y W O R D

Realize and BE

By RICKI FULLER

Upon recognizing GOD’s immeasurable goodness to all of His children/followers/worshippers, it is apparent that we are in the best possible position to seek and receive His guidance in all aspects of our lives That being declared, the thought arises that all Christians know this is true! If our belief system is so certain that it is true we, Christ followers, are in the best possible postures, the question emerges as to why so many of GOD’s children are locked in emotional/spiritual turmoil How can this be, and how do we discover the problem?

The Bible is replete with scriptures designed to assure us that GOD Is with us in every facet of our lives He Is our very Present GOD/Immanuel according to Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23. Unlike trustworthy humans, Immanuel Is constantly with us without regard to our positive, negative, successful, and unsuccessful experiences. So, what, then causes many people to remain under the anguish of hurt and pain? Could it be due to a sense of unbelief similar to that dad, in Mark 9:24? While he confessed that he believed, he also proclaimed to Jesus to help his unbelief Seemingly he recognized Jesus’ abilities/power Yet, he realized the importance of confessing his unbelief due to the severity of his pain/hurt Perhaps similar to many of us, he had half-heartedly asked for the healing of his son (Matthew 7:7-8; 21:22)

There’s a strong possibility the dad had been so inundated by societal norms and human ways (Romans 12:2) that ful GOD was strange Expecting GOD co heal his son was laughable. After disciples had failed, so why expend h on Jesus?

Beloved, that man’s reaction, along w response, may serve to help us unde plights In today’s societal norms acc by opinionated social media, we tend Genesis 1:26-28 which states we are GOD’s Image There’s clear descriptio in verses 1 and following Being made Image shows we have been made with a main responsibility of supervisin GOD’s creation!

That’s something to contemplate instead of constantly focusing on what is wrong! It’s time to realize who we are in Christ! He came to earth to restore the original design/purpose for our existence. Studying Ephesians 1:3-14 promises to help guide our minds to understand/realize how much GOD loves us. Thus, we can, realize as Hagar did when she and GOD saw each other. She referred to Him as El Roi (Genesis 16:13). Let’s realize/accept/believe GOD purposefully sees us! He’s our Mighty GOD Who overpowers physical and mental diseases, and strengthens through all life’s challenges!

Let’s realize who we are because of Christ Whom we confess is GOD’s Son! Let’s release hurts/pains, and thankfully BE our GOD-authentic selves! Know/realize we are blessed by His Peace which cancels out hurt.

Yes, we will be confronted by hurts/pains. But we realize our security/protection in Christ’s Love! Appreciate GOD and yourself!