Thursday, December 20, 2012


Help for Today: Seek First
Text: Matthew 6:33-34



“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it’s own things…” Along with the blessings, we have responsibilities. What do you put first? I do not mean, what is important to you? Or, what do you value? I’m asking you this morning, above all others, what is your number one priority? Frankly, God will accept no place other than first place. Check yourself today. What, or Who, do you put first?

All the best and I hope this gives you “Help for Today”.

~ Clark

P.S. As this will be our last "Help for Today" until Monday, January 7, I wanted to wish you a wonderful holiday season and a great New Year!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012


Help for Today: God’s Care  
Text: Matthew 6:28-30



“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” Have you walked out in the early morning and noticed the dew on the ground? Have you looked toward the sky at sunset? Have you tasted a summer tomato between two slices of bread on a hot July day? Look at the birds. Listen to them sing. Why would we ever doubt God’s care for us?

All the best and I hope this gives you “Help for Today”.

~ Clark Sims

Tuesday, December 18, 2012


Help for Today: Watch

                 

Everyone there that day had the opportunity. Plenty of time went by before Jesus stood up. When He stood up, He did the amazing. The King of Kings armed Himself with a basin of water and a towel and made His way around the room washing feet. How could this be? How could the Alpha and the Omega be bent over washing the dirty feet of the very men who should have been washing His? But He did. The one who had told them to love their neighbor as themselves gave them a real-life example to observe. Why were the other men waiting? Who did they think should have been doing this “lowliest” of tasks? Likely, that answer would have been anybody except Jesus and themselves. Not Him and not me! Washing feet! Are you kidding? At the end of the day, this needed to be done. While they wondered who would get up, your Savior got up and washed feet. The apostles observed it. Through the eye of faith, students of scripture observe it. The Lord of Lords told all of us, the example that I have given to you is the pattern that you are to follow. Simply stated, love your neighbor. Wash feet! Today...

All the best and I hope this gives you “Help for Today”

~ Clark

Monday, December 17, 2012


Help for Today: Forsake All
Text: Luke 5:11


“So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.” For this group of weatherbeaten fishermen, it was the best day they had ever had. They caught so many fish the nets broke and the boat began to sink. You can only imagine the financial bonanza that was waiting on them. And yet, they dropped it all to follow Jesus. Why? Those fishermen understood that the best the world has to offer does not compare with forsaking all and following Jesus. That is our challenge. Give Him what you have. Let the world go.

All the best and I hope this gives you “Help for Today”

~ Clark Sims

Thursday, December 13, 2012


Help for Today: Study
Text: 2 Timothy 2:15


“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” I remember enough from English to know when an action verb starts a sentence, the understood subject is “you.” Therefore, the scripture accurately reads, (You) study to show thyself approved. Don’t you want to know your doctor, your mechanic and your accountant take the time to study? How much more important is it for us to study the word of God, which gives the keys to life and life eternal. We’ve just got to spend time in the word!

All the best and I hope this gives you “Help for Today”.

~ Clark

Wednesday, December 12, 2012


Help for Today: Faith
Text: Hebrews 11:1, 6


“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” We live in a world that puts great emphasis on the tangible. 2 plus 2 always equals 4 and c-a-t always spells cat. But faith…faith is much bigger than the tangible! It goes past what I see to what I know. It trusts a being much greater than any one of us. It helps your head rest easy on your pillow at night. I love this line from a movie I saw recently. “Seeing isn’t believing, believing is seeing.” Faith.

All the best and I hope this gives you “Help for Today”.

~ Clark Sims

Tuesday, December 11, 2012


Year In Review

VERSE OF THE YEAR:

"For this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” - I Peter 2:21

Over the past semester Randy along with some of the other college guys have taught a series of lessons on what it really means to be a disciple of Christ. Discipleship is more than being a “good Church member.” These lessons have truly challenged us to be stronger in our walk with God and look within ourselves to be the disciples Christ needs us to be.



This has been one busy and successful year for the CLIC! We’re so blessed to have each other and our family at Cottondale to help get us through these years of college. As we look back on all of the things we’ve done in 2012, it’s almost overwhelming to think about how full our calendars are at times. From the events that happen every week like Monday Night Word at the Ferg, to the monthly Girls’ Devo, to our once a year CLIC Bowl, everything combines to make us closer to each other and closer to God.  We’re so thankful for the families at Cottondale who have taken us in and provided Meet & Three Meals every week, hosted our Halloween & Christmas Parties, and other events, and have just been there for us whenever we needed a shoulder for support. Many events this year allowed us to grow closer to some new friends from the Starkville Church of Christ as we have joined with them for our Bull Run Scavenger Hunt, Halloween Costume Party, Ultimate Game Night, and CLIC Bowl. Retreats this year have been events to remember for sure. Last spring we were able to do a lot of service work, helping both ICYC and the Mobile Inner City Church of Christ with various clean-up and outreach projects. These two works are so good and do a lot of things for many, many people; it’s rewarding for us to be able to give something back to them every once in a while. Then, this fall we were able to enjoy fall break at the beach, growing closer to God, each other, and making some incredible memories at the same time.  
– Candace Cole


We started the fall semester off great with the Week of Welcome. During this week, we had the Showdown in T-town, Kids’R’Us at the Fun Factory, the first Meet and Three Meal, and Game Night. We were very busy! This week gave us the opportunity to reconnect with our friends and make new ones. We also participated in Get On Board Day, where organizations set up tables on campus to tell other students about their organization. We were able to meet new students and tell them about the CLIC. During this week and semester we have had a lot of fun, but we have also enjoyed helping others. From our Congregational Visits to Mercedes Drive and Eutaw, Sack Lunch Sunday, and Mustache Movember to raise money for the North Alabama Children’s Home, we have had many opportunities to help those around us. – Courtney Webb

This year I have been so blessed to get to know the Cottondale church family and appreciate each person for the gifts they bring to our group. I know that each church has its problems, but I feel that Cottondale is the first church I have gone to where everyone is on the same page. Everyone is here to be better, and to help each other work for the cause of Christ. It means the world to me to worship in an environment that encourages everyone to be active in their walk with Christ. I noticed this particularly during VBS when everyone helped to make this possible. This was the first VBS which I had attended that had classes for all ages. To me this is significant because it's what sets our church family apart. I can't begin to describe how thankful I am for the lessons, the hugs, words of encouragement, the sweet smiles and the copious amounts of delicious food that each of you give without a second thought. I know I speak for the CLIC as a whole when I say that we honestly had no idea what we were missing before we came here. Being a member of the Cottondale family has given me the opportunity to serve, share my gifts with others, and grow in my relationship with Christ as well as my church family. To me, there is no greater gift than this. Thank you for all that you do!!!! :) Love, Lauren Gray

The most meaningful experience I have had with the CLIC this past year is, much to the surprise of some, Bible class! Randy carefully plans out successions of Sunday morning and Wednesday night lessons to address the specific needs of the college group. While all the retreats and game nights are a blast and full of fellowship, Bible class is where the meat is. No one has ever pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged my faith and spiritual walk more than Randy has. I don’t come to Bible class to get a pat on the back for a job well done; I come to Bible class to get a poke in the back to move forward!

– Emily 



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