Silver Stars Activites

December 3, 2026: Silver Stars Christmas Party, GMBC Youth Room (Second Floor), 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Meal: Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Mix Veggies, Roll, and Pies; Cost: $15.00 per person.

Please bring an unwrapped gift for a newborn child to 5 year old.

December 17, 2026: Covered dish dinner (supper) then bus tour of the Christmas Lights on the Concho River. (time to be determined)

December 12, 2026: Wylie Baptist Church Christmas Play, Abilene TX (details to be determined)

GMBC ACTIVITIES AND OTHER DATES

September 6, 2026: GMBC Starting Point, 11:00 AM, room 104

September 15, 2026: GMBC Men’s Burgers & Blue Bell, auditorium, 6:00 PM

GMBC Tuesday Mornings Women’s Bible Study, room 201, 9:30 AM

SOME THINGS MUST ROT TO BE USEFUL

I know that the title will throw you off and make you wonder about me, but it is true. There are things that we enjoy, that have to “rot” before we can enjoy them. Most cheese is “aged” or “rotted” before it gets the flavor it needs. The red pepper sauce I put in food to give it some flavor has to “rot” in wooden barrels for several years to develop the flavor. I make my own sauerkraut. It also goes through a “rotting” period before it develops the right texture and flavor.

Mat 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (KJV)

Being an old farmer, I can relate to this parable and understand the types of soil that we all see when we read this passage and make the reference to the condition of people’s hearts when they hear the word of God.

One thing that I haven’t heard talked about is the fact that the farmer literally had to throw away “good” seed. The seed had to leave the farmers hand and go into the ground and “ROT” to begin the growing process. If you have ever dug into the furrow a few days after planting to check the “germination” of the seed, you know that before the seed puts forth new growth, it literally rots away almost to nothing. Then the new growth begins.

Our testimony is the same way. We all have a testimony and unless we share that testimony, throw it away, it never has a chance to multiply. If we keep it to ourselves and never share it with others it never has a chance to reach the potential thar God intended for it.

Only when we share what God has done for us do we release the seed to go into the ground and begin the process of “rot” deep within the heart of another person. Once our words have had time to “germinate” in the other persons heart, they begin to grow and develop. This new growth needs to be nurtured by giving doses of love and encouragement along the way for the growth to continue, but the first step is always letting go of the seed and letting it “rot” the way God intended when he gave it to us.

By James Lively

NEVER FORGET YOUR FRIENDS!

Many years ago, a newlywed young man was sitting on a couch on a hot, humid day, sipping frozen juice during a visit to his father.

As he talked about life, marriage, responsibilities, and obligations, the father thoughtfully stirred the ice cubes in his glass and cast a clear sober look on his son.

“Never forget your friends,” he advised, “they will become more important as you get older.”

“Regardless of how much you love your family and the children you happen to have, you will always need friends. Remember to go out with them occasionally, do activities with them, call them…!

“What strange advice!” Thought the young man. “I just entered the married world, I am an adult and surely my wife and family that we will start will be everything I need to make sense of my live."

Yet he obeyed his father; kept in touch with his friends and annually increased their number. Over the years, he became aware that his father knew what he was talking about.

Inasmuch as time and nature carry out their designs and mysteries on a man, friends were the bulwarks of his life.

After 60 years of life, here is what he learned:

Time passes.

Life goes on.

The distance separates.

Children grow up.

Children cease to be children and become independent. And to the parents it breaks the heart but the children are separated of the parents.

Jobs come and go.

Illusions, desires, attraction weaken.

People do not do what they should do.

The heart breaks.

The parents die.

Colleagues forget the favors.

The race is over.

But, true friends are always there, no matter how long or how many miles they are.

A friend is never more distant than the reach of a need, barring you, intervening in your favor, waiting for you with open arms or blessing your life.

TODAY

Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles:

A fresh pot of coffee you didn’t have to make yourself,

An expected call from an old friend,

Green stoplights to wherever you go!

I wish you a day of little things to rejoice in,

The fastest line at the grocery store,

A good sing-a-long song on the radio,

Your keys right where you look.

I wish you a day of happiness and perfection,

Little bite size pieces – that give you the feeling that the Lord is smiling on you,

Holding your hand, so gently, because you are someone so special and rare.

I wish you a day of peace, happiness & joy.