God’s blessings: The best is yet to come
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Letter to the Editor:
The angels proclaimed Good News and great joy to all the people at the birth of our Savior. As His people we, too, must take every opportunity to give glory to God for all His blessings!
We saw God revealing Himself in mighty ways at the musical presentation at Equality Methodist Church on Saturday, December 21. God indeed anointed Hunter Goff with outstanding musical gifts and talents that he freely shares with others. He is the organist at Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, in addition to all the other venues where he shares his love for God and music.
Hunter has deep roots in Coosa County as he is the grandson of Rockford’s highly loved and respected Dr. Goff and son of Bill and Judy Maddox Goff. His program also included the Flanagans, a violinist and cello husband and wife team who were professors at Samford University for 30 years.
Also, Peggy Shores from St. Louis, Missouri, who has been the organist at one of its largest churches, was honored by a national organization with their highest honor as Ms. Senior America, and shares her musical gifts from Missouri to Alabama! We were transported from this little rural church in Coosa County to heavenly realms! All praise to God!
God’s blessings extended beyond the music as we witnessed His hand moving in the lives of so many in attendance. There were four seniors over 90 in attendance who graced us with their presence – Raymond and Sara Maddox Shaw, Robbie Martin and Patsy Barkley Johnston. Length of days is a blessing from the Lord!
We give praise to God for miracles that were performed during this year that allowed the occasion to happen! Hunter experienced a serious illness and received God’s miracle touch of healing! Peggy Shores suffered a stoke in March of 2023 that prevented her from playing, and God helped her to recover, restored her ability and allowed her to drive from Missouri to Alabama! Joe Mallory experienced many life-threatening illnesses, and God saved him! God healed Dale Martin from cancer!
My husband, Tommy Barkley, suffered a stroke in April of this year that required surgery at UAB, but the day of the surgery the doctor reported the blockage was gone – another miracle! (Dr. Goff delivered him on December 18, 1945, at a home south of Rockford after a huge snowfall. God has allowed him to recover from three near-death experiences, and by His grace is allowing us to celebrate 60 years of marriage on December 30 this year!)
These are just a few of the miracles that we give praise to the Lord for His goodness to the children of men as we have seen His moving! God has a purpose for each of us!
We give thanks to God for Susan Selman, our choir director and pianist, who laid the groundwork for this special occasion and for our Pastor Wayne Cowhick (healed of cancer for six years) for helping to make His message personal to each of us. We praise God for Trey Bradley who shared the Christmas Scripture reading and for all the ways He is moving in this young man’s life!
We are so blessed to have Gary Taunton, a gifted trumpet player, in our church family who ended the worship program with a beautiful trumpet solo! How timely with the message that is being repeated today that parallels scripture – the Last Trump!
Let us look for all the ways that God is revealing His glory at such a time as this! God is real, God has a plan, God is in control, and God loves us! The best is yet to come!
Blessings,
Anne Barkley
Equality, Ala.