Shelby County Today

June 3, 2019 - My wife Connie, makes one of the best chocolate cakes I have ever eaten. I have watched her make it from scratch. The ingredients that she uses like flour, butter, cocoa, buttermilk, powdered sugar, baking soda. When they are eaten alone, none of these ingredients taste very good and would probably give you a tummy ache. But if you stir them up and put them in an oven on about 350 for a while  it turns into something that that is pleasing to the eye and palate.

Thats how God does with things in our life that are difficult. He mixes them up puts them in the fire and when its all said and done you come out a better person than you were before it all started. Coming out on the other side of the fire turns you into something completely new and pleasing to God and others.

We know that trials are going to happen in life. We just don't expect them to happen when they do. But one thing we can be sure of is that there is a reason that we are going through them.

There are two ways that we can react to trials: 1. We can wallow in self pity. 2. We can rejoice in our suffering knowing that it is a testing of our faith that will make us a better Christian in the end. Dr. Charles Stanley wrote about how to deal with difficult times. This is my spin on his points.

There are ten things we must be convinced of when going through these difficult times.

1. God is in control of this trial and its intensity. James 1: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
2. God has a specific purpose for this trial. “God does not spare present pain if it means future glory.” (David Jeremiah)
3. It is designed to meet a specific need. God is working things out in you during trials. Pray more “show me” prayers than “deliver me” prayers.
4. This trial is going to teach you something about yourself that you didn't know. You will be pushed out of your comfort zone to do things that you never knew you could do.
5. It is going to strengthen your faith. James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
6. God is going to sustain you under extreme pressure. 1Cor. 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
7. It will develop a Christlike character in you. Romans 5 "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
8. It will help you measure your spiritual gifts. Sometimes God has to give us a push to make us seek the wisdom of the Spirit and use the gifts that He has given us.
9. God will walk with you through the trial every step. God is faithful to stay with us in any trial we go through. He promises to “never leave us or forsake us.”
10. By the grace of God you will be more than conquerers. Romans. 8:35-37 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. God is always there for us.

Trials are Gods way of taking all the things that aren’t quite right in our lives and applying a little heat to turn us into something beautiful and pleasing to Him.

James 1:12, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

I’m Just Sayin
Mike Belgard

May 31, 2019 - Jackson Missionary Baptist Church Youth Camp hamburger fundraiser Friday, June 14, 2019.

$8 per plate, on the square in Center, Tx. 11am - 2pm or until sold out. Includes hamburger, chips, cookie, water, fixings. 

Delivery available. Taking pre-orders. 

Any questions contact Michelle Rhame - 936-591-7917

May 27, 2019 - “Hear this all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.” (Psalm 49:1-2) 

The Psalmist makes it abundantly clear that he is speaking to all people and that all should listen and hear his words of wisdom.

“I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.” (Psalm 49:4) 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)

“Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?” (Psalm 49:5-6)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) 

By putting our trust in the Lord and leaning on him each day through constant prayer; we are led through the pitfalls of this world by our redeemer, forever safe in the arms of our Lord.

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:6-8)

No amount of wealth can protect one from death of the flesh. All people who are born on earth shall surely die in the flesh unless the Lord returns for his own before their time is up. 

The goal of all should be to forever live in the Spirit by the salvation freely given by God through the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ, who gave up his own life on the cross as payment for the sin of all mankind, once for all…

“For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others.” (Psalm 49:10) 

“Their graves are their homes forever, they're dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.” (Psalm 49:11-12)

“In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.” (Proverbs 15:6)

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19) 

“Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together!” (Psalm 49:1) 

Listen to the words of the Psalmist and do Gods will in life and not the will of man or of your own desires of the flesh. Listen and be blessed by the Lord God of heaven…

May 24, 2019 - As we prepare to enter into the Memorial Day weekend let us look at exactly what we are suppose to be celebrating.

Originally Memorial Day was known as Decoration Day to honor the the Union and Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War (620,000 on both sides. This is more than WWI and WWII combined) By the 1900s it became a day to celebrate all American soldiers who have fought and died while serving in the military. It wasn’t until 1967 that it was officially designated Memorial Day.

In 2000 congress passed a law that requires all Americans to stop what they are doing at 3pm on Memorial Day to remember and honor those who have died serving the United States. (Bill Clinton signed into law).

I’m sure that almost every American can look back and find someone in their family who has served in and died in an American war. We must never forget those brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live in a country with so many freedoms. We also should never forget 9/11/2001 when we were attacked by the terrorist that took the lives of so many Americans in New York, The Pentagon, and Flight 93. God has blessed America and we should never forget to memorialize those individuals who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Memorials have been used through out history all the way back to the origins of the Bible. In Joshua 4:6-7 God instructed Joshua to erect a memorial to remember the crossing of the Jordon into the promised land. “That this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” Then in the New Testament there are also commands to memorialize the sacrifice of the cross, when Paul instructs the Corinthians on Jesus commandment, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.” (1 Cor. 11: 23-26).

You see Memorial Day is much more important than just another day off work. It is a time to remember what others have sacrificed for us. So let this Memorial Day be different for you this year. Take some time to reflect on, remember how blessed we are to have had men and women, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandparents, moms and dads who were all willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. And for a Saviour who died for our sins so that we may live in peace in this life and through eternity.

I’m Just Sayin,
Mike Belgard