Shaping or Finishing?
Bob Plunket

I was looking at the handle of a fingernail file the other day, and on one side it said "shaping" and the other side it said "finishing." Every woman knows that one side is for roughing nails, cutting them down, and the other side is for finishing them up. One side is coarse, and the other side is very fine. Carpenters are aware of the same principle They use the coarse sand paper when they are shaping a piece of wood, and when Its finally shaped, they use the fine paper to give it a good, even, smooth texture.

God, too, has a shaping and finishing file. Just as we have a purpose in mind with a file, so does God. He Is trying to shape us into vessels of honor and usefulness. He may start with the shaping, abrasive side to form us, then he turns to the finishing side to perfect us. We mustn't fight the file God has something beautiful in mind for your life. Does the fingernail flinch or move from side to side when you are trying to shape it into something beautiful? Does a fine piece of wood move about when the master carpenter is shaping it into a beautiful piece of furniture? Job said, "Shall we receive good at the hand of God and not correction" (Job 2: 10)? David said, "It Is good for me that I have been afflicted (or filed) that I might learn thy statutes" (Psalm 119:71). "Behold I have refined thee.. in the furnace of affliction" (Isaiah 48:10). "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord" (Hebrews 12:5). Then he says, "Afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness" (Hebrews 12:11).

The side of the file that God uses may, to some degree, be up to us. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "What will ye that I come unto you with a rod or in love in the spirit of gentleness" (1 Corinthians 4:21)? Parents are aware of this in dealing with their children. Children who are at times rebellious and defiant call for the abrasive side, but as they learn and mature, we can use the finishing side. Let us pray that God will use the side it takes to make us into something useful and to get us home at last.

2004 Sign-Up Sheets
It’s that time of the year when we need to make up the duty schedules for the coming year. We have posted the sign-up sheets on the bulletin board in the foyer. Please take the time to look over the schedule and make any changes, additions or deletions that you deem necessary. It is important that we fill in all of the blank spaces. Slots that are left vacant have to be filled by those who already have a full plate. If the current (last year’s) schedule is still good for you, signify by marking that entry OK. If during the course of the year you find that you will be unable to serve in one of these monthly scheduled duties, please make arrangements with someone to take your place. The forms will be posted until Dec.28th and if everyone helps out - then no one will have to carry more than their fair share. If you can’t find an open slot on the schedule - see Carl Chambers. We want everyone to have the opportunity to serve.

December Calendars
The December edition of the Orange St. Activities Calendar and Men to Serve List is available today in the foyer. Get a copy so that you can be informed of the coming month’s scheduled activities and duty schedules.

PM Fellowship Tonight
All are invited to the annex tonight after the evening worship for a period of food and fellowship. We will be honoring those who have birthdays and anniversaries in the month of November. Plan to be with us.

For The Pantry
We need to continue to bring in canned goods so that our pantry can be stocked for the needs that so often arise during the holidays. Canned meats, vegetables, fruits and entrees are needed.

Wisdom and understanding are the keys to success in this life. But how do we acquire wisdom? Solomon gives us the answer. "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverb 2:6)