+ Church Directory
+ Read the Bible Online (Link)
Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
February 13, 2019 - “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted,” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)
Time waits for no one but marches on toward the end of the age when all things will change and all things will be made right under the Lord.
When this new age arrives all will see the glory of the Lord and all will know that he is Lord of all and King of kings, but for so many the time will have passed and they will be lost, destined to an eternity of tribulation and distress, while a few will see peace at last.
“There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.” (Romans 2:9-11)
And so I ask you,”Where will you be two hundred years from now? Can you answer that without hesitation, without doubt or question? If the answer is, “I don’t know, or I hope, then the answer is, without repentance, you will be under that tribulation and distress the scriptures speaks of in (Romans 2:9-11), a very sad place to be.
Jesus said, “I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom (meaning the kingdom of earth) will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:11-12)
I tell you today, that is not the place that anyone would wish to spend eternity, cast away from God forever in torment and agony. But it does not have to be, for God wishes that none should perish but that all should repent and receive everlasting life with him in heaven. Peter tells us as he attempts to save us all from the perils of non-belief as he says; “I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.
For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.
By the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
Do not overlook this fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” (2 Peter 3:1-10)
And so I ask you again, where will you be two hundred years from now?
I and all other born-again Christians will be waiting with the Lord.
“But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13)
Repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as Lord now for the day of the coming of the Lord grows closer but no one knows the day nor the hour when he will come...
February 12, 2019 - Love and peace from our brother, Jesus. Sunday was the 5th Sunday of Epiphany. We had all four seasons this week, including snow. Sunday started out cloudy, but by afternoon it was sunny and warm. We were in double digits again this morning at Paxton Methodist. We began the third unit of study in Sunday School. The title was “Pondering God’s Steadfast Love.” The Scripture reading came from Psalm 48 and only had one line speaking of God’s love. The lesson began by talking about churches having fewer members than when their buildings were built. Maybe the author was speaking about Paxton, but we are still kicking and keep moving forward.
I had a difficult time this week getting everything together for Sunday morning. I use a tablet and have my sermon and prayers on it. But I always run off a “hard copy” just in case my Amazon Fire doesn’t do what I want it to do. This morning, unfortunately, I left the printed pages home. I was “working without a net,” but luckily everything went fine.
Today’s Gospel Lesson is a familiar one in which Peter, James, John, and Andrew are fishing but having absolutely no luck. Later in the day, Jesus has Peter take the boat back out and cast the nets again. This time the nets are full of fish. Jesus tells Peter that he will now be fishing for people. This week we head to Focused Care for our monthly ministry—our version, I guess, of fishing for people.
Whoever you are, in whatever faith you were born, whatever creed you profess; if you come to this house to find God you are welcome here.” Paxton United Methodist Church is an inviting church that takes to heart the idea of “Open Doors, Open Hearts, Open Minds.” Sunday School starts at 9:30 and Worship begins at 10:00. Our email address is paxtonumc@yahoo.com. If you would like the weekly email newsletter about Paxton Methodist you can send me your email address to the Paxton email address and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
Randy & Sue Smith
Paxton Methodist Church
February 11, 2019 - “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:
In 1949, Daddy moved our family of eight children to a house on the Shelbyville Hill. It was a good year for me: I had been converted in a tent revival that year and George Smith had given me a job taking up tickets at The Rio Theater in Center. I was able to hitch-hike to work every Saturday and hitch-hiked back home around midnight. I would be dropped off on the hilltop where the old cotton gin used to be and walked the 100 yard walk to the house in total darkness. I I could see neither the road nor the dark ditches on each side.
So I prayed all the way home…that God would hold my hand and keep me from falling in the ditches. I was learning that praying in dark times was a lot easier than praying when the sun was shining. And who would believe that in 1990…fifty years later…we moved back…not just to East Texas…but to Shelbyville’s First Baptist Church. And the sanctuary sets precisely at the mouth of that dark road I walked years ago. I’m an old feller now and God still holds my hand and guides my feet…..
…………. and I’m still praying on my way home.
February 5, 2019 - Smyrna Baptist Church in Huxley invites you to "The Porch," Monday, February 11th at 7pm, refreshments at 6:30pm.
Coach W.T. Johnston (Head Coach of the State Champion Newton Eagles) will be unable to attend as planned. Come on and have praise and worship with us, we're still going to have the program.
Worship Leaders are Paul & Brittany Koiner, Abigail Hagerhyelm & Bryan Lemmons.
Everyone is invited to Come and Receive a Blessing... Bring someone!!! More info? 332-7079 Pastor Bro. Rusty Hall
February 6, 2019 - Short United Methodist Church invites all to an evening of singing and fellowship February 15, 2019 6pm.
Special music by Ed and Heather (Hart) Held. Pot luck fellowship following singing. For more information please contact, Sherry Harding - 936-288-2382 or Kenny Harris - 936-427-7083
February 4, 2019 - Love and peace from our brother, Jesus. Sunday was the 4th Sunday of Epiphany. It feels like springtime as I write this article on Monday morning. My dog companions, Gunter and Sam, went with me to the city park this morning for our morning constitutional. I am usually bundled up against the cold, but this morning I took off my jacket and even unbuttoned my long-sleeved shirt. This false spring gets me thinking about my garden. Christian mystics tell us that God is to be found in the most ordinary of things—we just need to keep our eyes and ears open, as to the beauty of growing things.
Gene and Joy were back from their Austin trip so we had our full Sunday school class this morning. Fannie had a really good lesson, with the scripture once again from Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Paul reminds us 21st Century Christians, as he was reminding his friends, that sometimes our problems seem too big to be solved. In our political climate today, we often feel this way. But we can’t become jaded. As Paul says, we press on.
The Gospel Lesson for the 4th Sunday of Epiphany was Luke 4: 21-30. The scripture started right where last Sunday’s lesson left off. Jesus does what he often does—he comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. His neighbors and kin have gotten too contented thinking they were special—that God loved them more than others. Jesus points out two examples in the Jewish Scriptures when God overlooked Jewish folks and instead brought wholeness and healing to Gentiles. Needless to say, those hearing Jesus that morning thought Jesus had stopped preaching and started meddling!
It was great to see Theresa and Larry this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with Theresa as she makes the rounds of her doctors. We celebrated Holy Communion this morning. Our first nursing home ministry will be a week from Thursday (Valentine’s Day) at Focused Care. We will gather at 10:00. During the month of February we will be collecting soap and shampoo for Community Christian Services.
Whoever you are, in whatever faith you were born, whatever creed you profess; if you come to this house to find God you are welcome here.” Paxton United Methodist Church is an inviting church that takes to heart the idea of “Open Doors, Open Hearts, Open Minds.” Sunday School starts at 9:30 and Worship begins at 10:00. Our email address is paxtonumc@yahoo.com. If you would like the weekly email newsletter about Paxton Methodist you can send me your email address to the Paxton email address and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
"The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." (2 Corinthians 10:26)
February 4, 2019 - Each day when you rise and greet the day you see God's earthly creations in all the majesty with which they were created. Spoken into existence by the Almighty Lord God; "And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" (Isaiah 6:3) Isaiahs description of the words of the angels he saw in a vision of the Lord.
God's glory fills the earth; "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (2 Corinthians 10:31)
Paul tells us in the 2nd letter to the Corinthians how we are to live and to present ourselves in our daily living. That we are only here due to God's glory and that only God is worthy of glory and praise. He also tells us, as he does in so many scriptures, that our days are to be spent trying to influence others that they too may be saved.
"Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved." (2 Corinthians 10:32-33)
By our daily lives we are to give all glory to God and through the name of his Son, the Lord Jesus, we are to work to lead others to salvation. That is the duty of all Christians each day. "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation." (1 Peter 2:12)
By our words and deeds we are known, by glorifying God in everything we do, we give others a chance to glorify him through their salvation on the day they are called to God.
"For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. (1 Peter 2:15)
Not by fancy words or lengthy prayers, but by the lives we live, God is glorified each day. Jesus set the example for us by his earthly life, he lived each day with humility, always giving glory to the One who sent him.
"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)
Only when we decide to follow him do we then see just how big the steps are that we must follow.
"He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to Him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:22-24)
There is the true glory of God, displayed upon the cross, the ultimate trust in the Father above, sending a message for all peoples. The glory of the one true God, manifest in his Son as he came and paid for the sins of all mankind with his willing sacrifice of himself on the cross of Calvary.
As Christ is an example for us, we too must be examples for others, helping to give to them the same gift of freedom from sin as we have received. Be a reflection pool today that others can use to see the image of Christ Jesus.
May the Lord bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you this day...
February 4, 2019 - The Pastor and Members of Carroll Chapel CME Church in Shelbyville will be having their Annual Black History Program. Sunday, February 17, 2019 at 3pm.
Our Gueat Speaker will be: Dr. Edward Thomas of the Long Chapel CME Church in Lufkin, TX.
Everyone is invited.
Calling All Pastors and Preachers!
January 31, 2019 - The St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Center will be observing their Annual Black History program on Sunday, February 17, 2019 at 2:30pm. The church will be honoring all the Pastors through out Shelby County and surrounding counties. St. John MBC asks that you come out and join us in this great celebration.
Rev. Kirkendoll and the St. Luke Baptist Church of Logansport will be the special guests.
January 30, 2019 - Mt. Zion will have a Women's Conference on Saturday, February 9th from 9am - 12pm.
This year's theme is "Man In the Mirror."
Speakers are Felicia Cloudy, Vanessa Davis, Stephanie Hicks, Sharon Ratcliff, and Donna Thomas.
Rev. Richard Edwards, Pastor.
Rose Patton and Tracie Garrett, Conference Chairpersons.
Pages
