The Reach of a Beautiful Soul

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It has been a bittersweet day for those who knew sister Jane McWhorter. I learned this morning that she passed on from this world to her reward in Heaven. Sister McWhorter was a woman who strove to please the Lord by using the many talents she possessed. The use of these talents touched many lives and today as I scroll through the updates of my Facebook friends, I am witnessing only a small percentage of the reach her life had.

Sister McWhorter was an excellent example of the influence we are able to have on others. One of my favorite illustrations when discussing influence is the story written by brother Nichols. I know I have shared it with you before but I hope you will indulge me and read it again. It is such an excellent reminder of the reach our own lives have…

During the War Between the States, a young woman learned the truth and obeyed the gospel. Her sweetheart, J.H. Halbrook, was a confederate soldier. He was captured by the union army and kept a prisoner in Michigan until the war was over. After the war, he returned to Centerville and married his sweetheart. His wife studied the Bible with him, and he soon became a Christian. He thought the truth was so good and so simple that he began to teach and baptize many of his friends and neighbors. He began to preach, but he recognized his need for more training, so he went to the original Mars Hill Bible School, taught by T.B. Larimore. Upon completing his studies there, instead of going back to Tennessee, they moved farther south, coming into Walker, Marion, Fayette, and Lamar counties in Alabama. One of J.H. Halbrook’s many converts was Charley Alexander Wheeler. Along with his wife, C.A. Wheeler obeyed the gospel and soon began preaching to others. He started more than 100 congregations and baptized more than 6,000 people. One of those 6,000 was my father, the late Gus Nichols. And twelve thousand were baptized under his preaching. Among those baptized by Gus Nichols, no one knows, nor can know, how many began to preach "the glorious gospel of Christ" -2Cor. 4:3,4; but I personally know several. I, Flavil Nichols, am ONE whom he baptized and whom he encouraged to preach the truth. And under my preaching, about 3,000 have been baptized. A few among them preach the gospel also! Only eternity can reveal the total results of the conversion of that one young lady nearly 150 years ago. The results are not yet all in! But this shows that TWENTY-ONE THOUSAND people have become Christians through this single thread in the fabric of her influence.

-Flavil Nichols Huntsville, AL
-From The Winfield Newsletter, Vol. 21, No. 14

      I am so encouraged by the many people writing how Ms. Jane (along with her late husband, Don) influenced and encouraged them. I am reminded by her passing that this only our temporary home. While we struggle with the economy and day-to-day living we must keep in mind that this is only our temporary home. I am encouraged by the unity I feel as we all grieve for and with sister McWhorter’s physical family, but most of all I am encouraged knowing she is in a place so wonderful, words simply do not do it justice and we have the opportunity to be there with her one day. Cindy Colley said it beautifully today, “Praise God for the hope of heaven. Praise Him for the angels who came this morning to take Mrs. Jane home.”

“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

John 14:2-3

Thankful Thursday-Love

I’ve seen social media sites flooded with pictures of candy and flowers from significant others today. I’ve seen bloggers writing about the “love of their life.” Many proposals will take place and wedding vows will be exchanged today as well. All in the name of love, but I wonder how many of those couples realize what love really is. True love is found in John 15:13.

In the spirit of Valentine's day, here are some conversational heart sayings with corresponding verses:

Be Mine-John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

All Mine-John 10:27-30

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.”

Forever Yours-Jeremiah 31:3

“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:

therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Love Me-Luke 10:27

“And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”

I’m Sure-John 14:1-3

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Sweet Talk-Psalm 119:103

“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

Be Good-John 14:15

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Tough Truth Tuesday: Can I Go To Heaven?

            Most people want to believe there is more than just this life. We all want to believe there is a better place to go to. We can read about the beauty of Heaven in Revelation 21:10-22:5. We’ve often heard that heaven is a “prepared place for a prepared people,” but often we see people who want to do as little as possible and still get into that beautiful city. Taking into consideration what many try to do, let’s ask the following questions and look to the scriptures for answers:

Can I go to Heaven on one service a week?

Let’s look at Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” So, if I am able to attend more than one service but choose not to, this verse answers the question with a firm NO.

Can I go to Heaven and love the things of the world?

John answers this question for us in 1 John 2:15: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Can I go to Heaven and not work for the Lord?

           Listen to the words of James, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:17).

Can I go to Heaven and live any way I choose?

            According to Revelation 2:10 we must live “faithful unto death” if we expect to receive a crown of life. We must live our lives as instructed in Titus 2:12…” Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

Can I go to Heaven and not be obedient to the Lord’s plan of salvation?

            The Bible tells us plainly that we must HEAR the Word (Romans 10:17), BELIEVE the Word (John 8:32), REPENT of our sins (Luke 13:3), CONFESS Christ as Lord (Matthew 10:32), and BE BAPTIZED for the remission of our sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). It is only by obedience that we can go to Heaven (Hebrews 5:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

The answers are simple and straightforward, but don’t take my word for it-look it up for yourself!

Motivational Monday: How to promote harmony

Did you know that as Christians we are commanded to promote harmony? Listed below are ten simple ways to we can do so:           

1.    Remember we are all subject to failings of one kind or another.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Romans 3:23

2.   Bear with-not magnify-each other’s infirmities.

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ”

Galatians 6:1-2

3.   Pray for one another in our meetings together and especially in private.

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

James 5:16

4.      Avoid going from house to house, for the purpose of bearing news and interfering with other people’s business. (see #5)

5.     Always turn a deaf ear to any slanderous report and to lay no charge against any person until well founded.

“Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses..”

1 Timothy 5:19

6.   If a member be in fault, tell him of it in private.

“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”

Matthew 18:15

7.   If a member has offended, consider how Godlike it is to forgive, and how unlike a Christians it is to seek revenge.

“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:17-21

8.     Remember that it is always a tool of the devil to promote distance and animosities among members of the church and we should therefore watch against everything that furthers this end.

“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:”

Matthew 12:25

9.     Consider how much more good we can do in the world at large, and in the church in particular, when we are all united in love than we could do when acting alone, and indulging in a contrary spirit.

“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.”

1 Corinthians 3:9

10. Lastly, express the teaching of the Scriptures, and the beautiful example of Christ, as to these things.

“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

John 13:15