DEDICATED TO BRINGING GLORY TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

COLLEGE LAKES BAPTIST CHURCH

4704 Ramsey Street
Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311-1615
Church Office 910-488-8344
Church Cell Phone 910-658-3475

church@collegelakeschurch.org
R E T U R N S ERVICE R EQUESTED

T HE
C OLLEGE L AKES

Challenger

News From College Lakes Church

A Message from Reverend Lanier. . .

Mothers and God

Mothers Day, an acknowledgment of
our mothers. Those who have
experienced the sorrow and pain of
childbirth certainly earn the respect of
all. They are special and respected. We
will honor our mothers this year. Those
who have passed, we will honor and
cherish their memories. They live on in
our hearts and lives.
Mother is a vast subject reaching from
the first mother from Eden to the most
famous mother, Mary, mother of our
Lord Jesus. It includes all those present
and future. It is true that Eve brought
sin to the human race and there have
been good and bad since that time. And,
by Gods grace, through the Son of
Mary, the way back to Gods fellowship
has been establishedno matter how
good or bad we have been. Yes, there
have been very bad mothers who
encouraged their children to do evil.
There have been bad mothers who came
to know the Lord and their lives turned
around by Gods miracle of GRACE.
Eve gave us the curse and no doubt

May 8, 2014

suffered beyond words as she sorrowed

through the ugly murder of Abel by her
eldest son. Ruth, grandmother of king
David, born in Moab, with no connection
to the True God, would have never got
right with God except for her mother in
law Naomi. Ruth made a deliberate
choice to cling to her widowed mother in
law and her mother in laws God.
Herodias lived for the flesh and was
rebuked by John the Baptist for her
ungodly lifestyle. Descending deeper into
evil, she instructed her perverted
daughter to request the head of John as a
response to Herods gift promise as the
daughter danced immorally before him.
Not many have been this wicked. Yet,
all mothers need to be saved by Gods
grace. Good ones or ones made good by
God will tell you so. From bad to good,
bad that became worse, and good ones
made better by Grace, all mothers have a
tremendous influence upon their children.
We will never get over the blessing our
mom gave to us. Timothys mom and
grandmother influenced him to be godly.
Even if mothers have failed their
children, coming to the Lord later in life,

2 New s From College Lakes Church

they can have a great witness to the
grandchildren. Ladies, let us rejoice in
how God made us, and no matter how
much we have done or not done, we can
give God the rest of our time and enjoy
the Wonderful fellowship and healing of
Our Great Savior, Who longs to comfort
all of us in our sorrows.
Jesus Is the Master Encourager
Finding Encouragement in the Word
of God
A bruised reed shall he not break, and
smoking flax shall he not quench, till he
send forth judgment unto victory.
Matthew 12:20
The greatest tool in the devils arsenal
is discouragement. It makes us let down
the shield of faith. Disappointment
leads to discouragement which leads to
disqualification. Moses had it and hit
the rock twice, thus losing his
opportunity to enter the Promised Land.
Mrs. Job had it and became bitter.
Naomi changed her name to Marah
because of it.
How do you avoid disappointment?
Avoid sin. Sin disappoints. Ask Eve,
Cain, Saul, Samson, Lot, and the
Prodigal son. Making major decisions
without counsel brings disappointment.
How do you get back on your feet
spiritually when discouraged? Bathe for
a long period of time in the Word of
God. Flee to a stronger Christian for
some fellowship. Dont keep repeating
your story of sorrow to everyone. Sing
plenty of hymns.
Jesus never discouraged anyone. If
there was any life or hope left in a
situation, Jesus capitalized on it! When
Peter sank, Jesus noticed his little
faith. Jesus welcomed Stephen home by
standing. While Paul was at a low point

May 8, 2014

in his life, Jesus came and stood by him

in jail. Jesus encouraged a backslidden
Peter to get back to serving God. During
the storm in Matthew 14:27, He told the
disciples not to fear. Jesus told the
woman who was caught in adultery that
she could be forgiven (John 8:3).
God will not break the
your reed is still alive,
it. God doesnt quit!
discouraged, and there
your life God can use!

bruised reed. If
He can still use
He never gets
is something in

Hast thou not known? hast thou not

heard, that the everlasting God, the
LORD, the Creator of the ends of the
earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?
there is no searching of his
understanding. But they that wait upon
the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as
eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:28, 31
This article is adapted from the book, Facets of Christ, by Mike Ray.

Ushers for May 11

A.M. Jerry Adams
Michael Williams
John Johnson
John Hughes
Billy Tyson
Sonny Alvarez
P.M. Ken Triplett
Mothers Day
Let us be thankful for all of our Mothers
this Sunday.
New Phone Number
The church now has a new cell phone
number 910-658-3475.
Prayer Request
Please pray for those whose loved ones
have passed away recently.