The Akridge Sunday School Class

Prayer Requests:

• Krista-friend who just had baby Ella prematurely and is in NICU. Mom was pregnant with twins but only one survived. Mom is coming home soon without baby Ella.
• Brenda-pray for Jim's strength and to be able to stay well during Christmas
• Christy-Stan Lispey who is in the hospital form a bad wreck. He's in ICU. Please pray for his family too.

Announcements:

• Ladies-Please mark your calendars for Vesla's Prayer & Pampers baby shower. It is going to be on Sunday, January 9 at 5:00pm at Emily's house. Food/drink list & directions to follow.
• Candlelight service on Christmas Eve-all adults and children in the main sanctuary, 5pm.
• No Sunday School December 26th. Kinder through adults meet in one service at 10am in the main sanctuary. Babies thru 4 year olds meet in their classrooms.

Lesson recap:

The Foolish Wise Man-1 Kings 11:1-13, James 1:22, 1:8

"God's Blessings are given by grace, but are enjoyed by obedience" --Warren Wiersbe

I. Solomon disobeyed God's Word (vv1-8)

II. Solomon ignored God's warning (VV9-13)

Solomon began his reign with great wisdom and devotion to God. Somewhere along the way he drifted. By the end of his life, his legacy of greatness was tarnished by the fact that "his heart had turned away from the Lord." (v11:9) There were many factors that led to his turning away. Perhaps it was because he intermarried with the foreign women and took 700 wives and 300 concubines. Perhabps it was because of his pride. Perhaps it was the pressures of being that powerful and that wealthy. Whatever the circumstances, Scripture says v9-"The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart turned away from the Lord."

Our obedience is ultimately a heart issue. We must guard our hearts and keep them focused on God and his ways. God does not want 90% of us. He wants all of us.

Questions to ponder this week:

• What causes us to start drifting?
• Do we listen and recognize God's warning?
• Why did God warn Solomon not to intermarry?
• How do we allow ourselves to be influenced by the world?
• How do I allow myself to love the world more than God?
• What kind of legacy are we leaving? and living?
• What helps us get back on track if we stray.

I pray this week is one of reflection and joy for you and your family as we celebrate the most beautiful birth of our Savior and Lord.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Prayer Requests:

Julie-Dad is having an injection to block pain on Monday.
-family of Alan Wright. He passed away this week of brain cancer.

Announcements:

• No Children's Church December 19th or 26th.
• No Sunday School December 26th. One worship only at 10am.
• Thanks to Amy White for a yummy Breakfast bread...here's the much requested recipe:
  2 pkgs crescent rolls
  2 pkgs 8 oz. cream cheese
  3/4 cup of sugar
  1 egg
  1 tsp. vanilla
  1 tsp. cinnamon mixed with 1/4 cup sugar
  1/2 cup nuts
  Put 1 pkg. crescent rolls rolled out flat in a greased 9x13 cake pan. Mix yoke of egg with 3/4 cup sugar, 2 pkgs. of cream cheese, and 1 tsp. of vanilla, and spread on top of the crescent rolls. Put other pkg. of crescent rolls on top. Brush the egg white on top of the rolls. Mix 1/4 cup sugar, nuts, and cinnamon and sprinkle on top. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

We were also very excited to see Kylie as the very first class member to arrive in Sunday School! I even got a picture to prove it! he, he!

We missed Mike & Brenda but very much enjoyed everyone's discussion on the importance of Why Prayer Deserves Priority. 1 Kings 8:22-43

• God is faithful (1 Kings 8:22-24)
• He listens (1 Kings 8:27-28)
• He Reponds (1 Kings 8:38-39)
• Everyone can Pray (1 Kings 8:43)

If you are interested in reading further on the topic of prayer, a great book to begin with is entitled Prayer by Richard Foster.

Great job to all the kids in the choir performance tonight! I know I won't forget it. :)

Lesson Recap:

We began a new unit in the Explore the Bible Series by studying 1 Kings. The Lesson "What Money Can't Buy" was a great reminder for us, especially at Christmas time, to be wise in the things we ask from God. Our God is faithful to keep his covenents. We should be faithful and wise in those covenents(promises) we make with God or others. Have you found yourself in a difficult situation begging God for an answer and promising if He only answers then you will promise to do... Be careful in the "deals" you make. God wants our yes, to be yes and our no to be no. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

Solomon was a wise man and began his rule with great promise. Somewhere along the way he drifted. Temptation is strong even to the wisest of men. It reminds me of a song that speaks of a "slow fade." Drifting from God is a process. We compromise just a little and then slowly we fade into direct disobedience. The road of righteousness is narrow. We must not allow things to draw us off the path.

Taken from our study guide:

What about you? Where is your commitment to God? Authentic worship is an opportunity to refresh one's commitment to live by God's Word. The Bible shows that God delights in giving wisdom to those who ask for it. What are you asking God for today?

Join in on our study of this great Old Testament book next week as we look at Why Prayer Deserves Priority.

Prayer Requests:
Vesla-grandmother fell. No broken bones but major gash and too little skin to stitch it up so she has to have a skin graph.

Brenda-continue to pray for Jim & his ability to receive treatment Tuesday.

Amy W.-aunt is not doing well with her lung disease. The doctor has suggested calling in hospice.
Announcements:

Don't forget the Christmas party this Friday, Dec. 10th, 6:15-8:15pm. Email Lisa for directions if you didn't get the group email.

A man that is good friends with my father whose daughter I went to school with just lost her litlle girl (she was just a couple weeks further along than me). She was admitted to the hospital in Montgomery and with some complications ended up having to deliver a stillborn. Her name is Emily Pugh Foucault. If you don't mind, I know she and her family would appreciate the prayers as they grieve.