What we do when we are criticized is about the strongest test of what we are made of. Criticism seems to come at the worst of times. It comes when we are discouraged and can knock us even lower. It comes when everything else is going great and can spoil the whole day. One thing we can be sure of is, if we are doing anything worthwhile, we will be criticized. What can we do about criticism?

First of all, we can see if the criticism is true and make whatever corrections are necessary. Second, if it isn't true, we must ignore it. No matter how difficult that may be, you cannot allow yourself to be sidetracked from a good work because of criticism.

A wise man once said, "It is only at trees bearing good fruit that stones are thrown."

Peter tells us in I Peter 2:20 "If when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God's approval." Also, remember that if you are doing a good work and are criticized, you are in pretty good company. God's greatest servants have been criticized and "bad mouthed" by their (and God's) enemies. Nehemiah, for example, was laughed at, threatened, and lied about when he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. His true greatness is measured with these words. "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" (Nehemiah 6:3).

So don't be surprised if you are criticized - it probably means you are doing a good work. Remember what Sam Rayburn said about criticism. "It is much easier to be an obstructionist than a constructionist. A mule can kick a barn down but it takes a carpenter to put one up."

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You Tell on Yourself

You tell on yourself by the friends you seek,
By the very manner in which you speak,
By the way you employ your leisure time,
By the use you make of the dollar and dime.

You tell on yourself by the things you wear,
By the spirit in which you your burdens bear,
By the kind of things that make you laugh,
By the places you go to photograph.

You tell on yourself by the way you walk,
By the things of which you delight to talk,
By the manner in which you bear defeat,
By so simple a thing as how you eat.

By the books you choose from the well filled shelf,
In these ways and more, you tell on yourself.
So there is not a particle of sense,
In an effort to keep up a false pretense.

"Ye shall know them by their fruits" — Matthew 7:16a

Our hearts go out in sympathy to the family and friends of Ruby Dale, the mother-in-law of Linda Dale, who passed away this past Friday morning, March 18th. No funeral arrangements were available at this printing. Let’s keep the Dale family in our prayers during this time of sadness and loss.

Singing Class
The Wednesday night singing class that is usually scheduled for the 4th Wednesday evening each month – has been bumped down to the 5th Wednesday this month (March) because of the Gospel Meeting that occurred in the second week. In other words, the singing class will be next week (30th) instead of this week.

New Members
Heath and Pam Rowe came forward last Sunday evening, in response to the Gospel, asking for God’s forgiveness and the prayers of the congregation. The Rowes also expressed a desire to be added to the number of saints who worship here at Orange Street. They were previously members at South Florida Avenue in Lakeland. Take a few moments to meet them and make them feel welcome. We will run their directory information when it is made available to us.

Attendance Cards
The elders have determined a need to establish a member attendance system. They are asking that one orange card per family be filled out by one member of each family and passed to the center aisle to picked up during each worship assembly, Sunday AM and PM, as well as on Wednesday evening. Please assist them by cooperating – so that they may better serve the congregation.

Maturity is the ability to control anger and settle differences without violence or destruction. It is being able to make a decision and stand by it. The immature spend their lives exploring endless possibilities, then do nothing.