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Faith
May 28, 2024 - Joaquin Methodist is having Bible School from June 3 thru 7 at the church in Joaquin. 'All Aboard for Jesus' is our theme with trains everywhere you look. We even have train rides for the little ones. Ages 3 thru high school are welcome from 9am until 12 noon each day with a light lunch served daily. We will have music, crafts, science and lots of fun. Join us. All are welcome.
May 28, 2024 - Join in Revival services with Lone Cedar Missionary Baptist Church Bro. Martin Ferguson, Pastor, May 27 - May 31 starting at 7pm.
Bro. Brian Sellars, Evangelist; Bro. Jay Pollan, Music Director; Dr. Travis Worsham, Pianist.
Lone Cedar Missionary Baptist Church is located at 2068 FM 3082, Joaquin, Texas 75954.
"And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God." Ecclesiastes 3:13
May 27, 2024 - When I was a college ministerial student, I was invited to preach at the Neuville Baptist Church near Center, Texas. It was a "Half-time Church" meeting on the first and third Sundays of each month. I was already preaching on the second and fourth Sundays at the Patroon Baptist Church, another "Half-Time Church." So, these two half-time churches now had me… a half-grown Baptist preacher… preaching for them.
I arrived at the church on a cold, rainy morning… and carefully maneuvered my '49 Mercury down to the church. As the members arrived, they walked straight to the center of the small frame building and stood… hands to their back… around a small wood heater… and when everyone was warm, we sat down together for Sunday School.
After Sunday School, I stepped out on the front steps and spotted two brothers (Fate and Jehu Bailey) walking up the clay hill with a stringer of small catfish.
"Y'all come in for church," I hollered. "Oh, no, we're too muddy," they quickly replied. But after we talked a while, they laid their muddy rubber boots and fish on the steps and came inside.
Afterwards I went home to eat with them and while Fate played his guitar, Jehu cooked. My mouth literally watered from the aroma coming from the kitchen. Jehu's meal was both simple and delicious: fried catfish and eggs scrambled with green onions. It was a meal I have never forgotten…
But as much as I enjoyed it, it's a wonder that I have never… at any time since then… eaten scrambled eggs with green onions again. But that doesn't mean I never will. I'll probably try it again…
… some day.
May 27, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Monday, May 27.
Today at 11AM our community will gather at our historic courthouse to commemorate Memorial Day. A program of music and presentations and traditions will be hosted by our VFW in the courtroom. At the close the crowd will move to the flag plaza for the playing of Taps. A memorable moment. A time to remember.
Memorial Day was inspired by a 19th Century Southern tradition called Decoration Day. It was a day for families to go to the cemetery to honor their ancestors and to plant flowers. In the years following the Civil War the practice expanded to the North. After World War II, the name Memorial Day became generally accepted, but it wasn't made an official federal holiday until 1967.
Wherever you are today, take a moment to remember the fallen. Remember those who, as Abraham Lincoln put it, "gave the last full measure of devotion".
Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for a friend. John 15:13
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
May 24, 2024 - Join First Baptist Church Timpson for Vacation Bible School June 3-7, 5:30-8pm!
Kids (preK-6th) will be challenged as they discover that God’s truth never changes, everyone needs Jesus, and to learn to speak the truth in love. Adventure awaits each day as kids explore tide pools, spot orcas, fly kites, and watch the mighty waves crash up against the immovable Breaker Rock!
May 23, 2024 - Bennett Chapel MBC church family invites everyone to worship with us as we celebrate 39 devout years of service from Bishop WC and First Lady Donna Martin on Sunday, May 26, 2024 at 3:30pm. Special Guest is Bishop RL Brazzle and the BTM Ministry from Longview, TX.
May 23, 2024 - There is a very significant passage in Luke chapter 11. Jesus had come from prayer, and his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples.” Those men had never seen prayer like that. They were accustomed to much prayer in their religion, but to them prayer was a duty and a part of their ritual. In the life of Jesus, they saw prayer as a fresh and more intimate approach to God.
You see, prayer in the life of Jesus was extremely important. Not only was it his regular habit, but it was also his resort in every situation, whatever the nature of that situation might be. When perplexed, he prayed. When hungry for fellowship, he prayed. If he was fatigued in body or weary in spirit, he would go to the Father in prayer.
We read in Mark 1:25 that Jesus started his day with prayer. Mark writes, “Rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Prayer brought Jesus unmeasured power and kept the flow unbroken and undiminished. There is no emergency, no difficulty, no necessity and no temptation that will not yield to prayer if we practice it as Jesus practiced it.
Yet, we must ask ourselves if prayer is as important a part of our lives as it should be? Is prayer a habit of our lives or something we use “only in emergencies”? Daily prayer, daily talking with God should be a part of our lives.
It’s something to think about... tbp
Join Us for Worship this coming Lord’s Day at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com
May 22, 2024 - The annual Waterman Homecoming is Sunday, June 9, 2024. Lunch will be at noon. Bring a chair and join us in fellowship and remembrance of those past. If you cannot attend, you can send donations to the Waterman Cemetery in care of Jackie Fountain at 654 Cr 1548 Center, TX 75935.
“If anyone is ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of Him when I come into my kingdom”… Luke 9:26
May 20, 2024 - Every day the name of Jesus becomes a “rock of offense” to more and more Americans. In an effort to offend no one, timid church members (especially politicians) are using a new term to escape the scorn of the “politically correct.” Instead of “I’m a Christian,” it’s now, “I’m a person of faith.” This brings no criticism from those who don’t like the name of Jesus.
Saying “I’m am a person of faith” is just a bit vague. Faith in what?… A rock? A tree? Faith in whom?… Buddha? Confucius?
Make no mistake about it. The gates of heaven only open for those who confess Jesus.
Political platitudes won’t do it.
May 20, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Monday, May 20.
Our pastor is preaching a sermon series through the mighty Twelfth Chapter of Romans. It is a powerhouse passage where the Apostle Paul lays out a blueprint for living the Christian life. Just like these Daily Devotions, you can read Romans 12 in about two minutes, and I encourage you to do that today.
But this morning, our focus, as our pastor's focus was yesterday, is on verse 13, where Paul gives a simple commandment - Practice Hospitality. It reminded me of a woman that I had the pleasure to know 40 years ago. I was a young minister, attending seminary, and working part time at a church in Dallas. She was a respected member of that church, a senior adult, a widow, and very wealthy. And she had a unique ministry . . . of hospitality.
Every couple of months, half a dozen times each year, she would host a dinner party at her palatial home. The 12-person guest list would be carefully chosen by her from the church roll. She would seat a brand-new believer next to a senior saint. She would place a young couple across from a bank president and his wife. At her dinner parties she would connect people who, otherwise, would have never been connected.
And so, in addition to providing her guests with an evening of fine dining, she was building up her church. She was using the blessings that God had given her to bless others. She was practicing hospitality. And she made a lasting impression on that young couple, me and my wife.
Hospitality doesn't have to involve throwing a dinner party. It happens when we take whatever God has given us - talents, experience, wisdom - and share it with another. Practice hospitality today. And read Romans 12!
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
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