February 23, 2025
“… my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” ~ Acts 20:24 (NLT) ~
THE POWER OF DETERMINATION
In July of 2018, a story broke onABC News about a young man named Walter Carr of Homestead,Alabama. His was a story about the power of determination. You see, the day before he was scheduled to begin a new job working for a moving company, he found himself facing a dilemma: His car broke down and he had no way of getting to work.
Or, rather, no easy way of getting to work. He realized his only option was to walk the 20 mile distance from his home to the job site the home of a family named Lamey, whom he was to help move.
After sleeping a few hours, Walter left at midnight, expecting the walk to take about 8 hours.
At the half-way point he stopped to rest. When police officer Mike Knighten stopped him for a routine check, Walter told his story. Within minutes another police car arrived. Intrigued by Walter’s determination to get to work on time, the officers gave him a ride to the job site after taking him to breakfast.
Arriving at 6:30 a.m. at the Laney residence, rather than accept an offer to rest for awhile until the rest of the moving crew arrived at 8:00 a.m., he insisted that he begin to work right away. During that time he told the Laney family he would soon graduate with his A.A. Degree and then join the Marines.
The Lamey family, as well as his co-workers, were impressed with his determination and so was his boss, the moving company’s CEO. So impressed, in fact, that a few days later, he drove from his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Homestead,Alabama to have lunch with Walter.
While Walter walked the half-hour distance to meet with his boss, the Lamey family, the Pelham police, and his co-workers were waiting for him. His boss, Luke Marklin, gave Walter the keys to a brand new Ford Escape SUV.
Mrs. Lamey later said her family will be inspired by Walter whenever they have tough times. “He’s like the poster boy for no excuses. He’s just got this deep faith that he wasn’t alone.” In Walter Carr, we see the power of determination at work.
It is the same determination that drove theApostle Paul to keep moving forward in the mission Jesus had given him. The drive to complete the task of sharing the Gospel with as many people as he possibly could during his lifetime. For Paul, no distance was too far to travel no obstacle was to difficult to overcome and no danger was too frightening to get his work done. Paul’s faith in Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Gospel to save people was worth the all the labor and risks that he would face.
What distance are you being challenged to travel to share your faith in Jesus? Is it to go around the world? Is it to go across the street?
What obstacles are standing in your way? Is it a language or cultural barrier. Is it a financial barrier? Is it an age barrier?
What dangers stand before you? Losing the support of your family or friends who don’t understand your determination? Moving into a location hostile to the Gospel?
Our challenges are really the same as those faced by theApostle Paul. The question is will our faith move us forward no matter the risks no matter the costs? Will we demonstrate the power of determination in our walk with Jesus?
Blessings on your week as you come to grips with the power of determination in your life. I hope to see you this Sunday in worship. We will come to an end of IMMERSE: Kingdoms this week and I will share ACrash Course on Life-Lessons.
Pastor Terrell
MEN’S DAY OUT
– Target Shooting –Includes: Range shooting, Black Powder Demonstration/Display & Lunch Saturday, March 1, 2025
Contact Church Office for more information.
YOUTH GROUP Students in grades 7-12
Wednesdays 6:30 PM at the CABIN !
Sunday Morning Youth Bible Study 9 AM to 10 AM at the Cabin !
IF YOU NEED HELP Deacon of the Week:
2820 N. Pleasant View Drive Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
928-772-7218
fsbcpv@firstsouthernpv.org
www.firstsouthernpv.org
Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30AM - 2:30PM
Kidz4Christ dismissed
Welcome & Offertory Prayer “Rejoice!” “Ancient Words” THE BIBLE CONTAINS ...
KINGDOMS
2 Kings 22/pages 263-265/paragraphs 6ff
“Step by Step” “Yes, Lord, Yes”
Offerings and Connection Cards will be collected in the Offering Boxes located just inside the two main entrances into our Worship Center, as well as in the Office Hallway.
Senior Pastor Terrell Eldreth: 619-244-6265
PastorTerrell@firstsouthernpv.org
Worship Pastor Bart Young 928-254-8713
PastorBart@firstsouthernpv.org
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