January 12, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Friday, January 12.
On this date in 1969, the singer B.J. Thomas released the song "Hooked on a Feeling". It became a million seller and was the first big hit for Thomas, who would go on to have a successful career that spanned seven decades until his death in 2021. But today's devotion isn't about B.J. Thomas. It's centered on this thought - you never know what you'll find when you go to church!
In 2009 I was on staff at First Baptist in Rosenberg, Texas. The secretaries were in the middle of a project to transfer the old church records to computer. And one day they came across a membership form from 1952. It was signed by a ten-year old boy named Billy Joe. As it turned out Billy Joe grew up in Rosenberg and sang in the church choir, before he used his remarkable voice to become the world famous B.J.
I remember another time when I was serving in a church in Grand Prairie, Texas. They were remodeling their children's area and when they pulled down some ancient paneling they discovered an offering envelope containing 25 cents from a first-grade girl. They were actually able to track the girl down, but by that time she was a grandmother. She said the church could keep the quarter.
One day, years ago, at my home church in Houston, they were also doing a remodel. When they removed a wall they found dozens of messages behind it, well wishes to my father, who was pastor of that church. Messages that had been quietly waiting to be seen . . . for 50 years.
Hidden treasures. Sacred surprises.
GO TO CHURCH! (you never know what you'll find)
Meet you back here on Monday,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
