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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
March 20, 2018 - The Shelbyville First United Methodist Church will have an Easter Sunrise service on Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018. Worship service will begin at 6:30am. After worship, we will have brunch and all are invited to attend.
March 20, 2018 - When I was just a little boy I lived with my grandmother. Everyday we would walk up the road to my great-grandmothers house. I so enjoyed walking with "Ma." We would discuss life and she would answer any question I asked (and I asked a lot of them.) One day I asked her, "Why do people talk about being saved so much at church? What do we need to be saved from?" She looked at me and with a smile and said "sin." I didn't quite understand but I acknowledged her and went on.
Once I became a pastor and I listened to people talk about being saved, I realized that most people, even older Christians don't completely understand what they are saved from when they accept Christ. We can all use our Sunday school answer and say, "sin." So what is sin? The translated word for sin from the original Hebrew text means to "miss the mark." We miss the mark established by God for righteousness. Well, how do I know I have sinned? The Apostle Paul says in Romans 3:23: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." So none of us are free from guilt. Is there anyone, other than Jesus who didn't sin? Well, no, but there have been people who claim they are better than others even to the point of saying their sins aren't as bad as others. John in his first letter says, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." So we can safely say that everyone needs saving.
Lets look at it in regards to sin, what we are "saved from." First, Jesus' death saved us from the penalty of sin. What is the penalty of sin? Romans 6:23 states "the wages of sin is death." This may not be a physical death but spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God. Jesus was the gift of God to the world so that through Him we could spend eternity in the presence of God and not separated from Him. Romans 6:23 goes on to say, "but the gift of God is eternal life."
Second, we are saved from the power of sin. When you become a Christian, God gives you power over the sin in your life. You are no longer bound by the chains that sin has on you. Romans 8:31 says "if God is for us, who can stand against us?" Because of the love that God had for us by sending His son Jesus you can overcome anything that is thrown at you.
Third, we are saved from the presence of sin. Revelation 21:3-4 says, "Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God." God has prepared a place for all who accept His free gift of grace through faith to live with Him in a place where, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." You see, God loves you so much that He has went to great lengths to give you a way to be saved from the things that are hurting you.
Jesus died on the cross for you! Only He can save you. Trust Him and He will set you free from the penalty, power and presence of sin in your life.
I'm just sayin,
Mike Belgard
March 20, 2018 - Pastor Marlin Cloudy, Sr., and the Abundant Love Ministries family, will celebrate their 9th Annual Church Anniversary, Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 2:30 pm. Bishop W.C. Martin, Bennett Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, will be our guest speaker.
Sunday school and regular noonday services are canceled.
Everyone is welcomed and invited to celebrate with us!
Abundant Love Ministries is located at 1426 Shelbyville Street, Center, TX.
March 19, 2018 - Sunday was the Fifth Sunday in Lent, with the promise of spring in the air. Next week is Palm Sunday—yes, already! This weekend I went by and visited with Roy and Judy at Sunshine Flowers. Roy always orders palm fronds for our Palm Sunday worship service. I also ordered some Easter lilies since we will be having Easter Sunday services at the church this year. Fannie and family had 30 glorious years of sunrise services, but they decided 30 was a good number to end on.
The Old Testament Lesson for this Sunday was Jeremiah 31:31-35. This short passage is a promise to Judah and Israel that a new covenant will be made after the nation, Jerusalem, and the Temple are destroyed. This covenant will not be centered on sacrifice and Temple worship but will be portable—written on the hearts of the people.
Both the Old and New Testaments are about covenant making and covenant breaking. The relationship between Jesus and his followers is intended as the newest covenant spoken about by Jeremiah, one for the here and now. This is not a last will and testament that promises us unwarranted rewards in Heaven but is a living covenant to govern us as we stumble, fall, walk, or run down life’s ways.
Our Sunday school lesson was based on 2 Chronicles 7:1-9, describing a scene of worship and sacrifice during the time of King Solomon. Worship is something that has also changed and evolved from the Temple worship with sacrifices to the home churches of the early Jesus movement to the imperial church of Constantine. Even today, worship has changed or been added to in order to reach a new generation of people. I guess the secret is holding to some of the traditions but adding new ways that enlarge our understanding.
We have two nursing home ministries this week. On Tuesday we head to Holiday Nursing Center and on Thursday, Lakeside Assisted Living. Both programs are at 2:00 PM. Because of so much sickness earlier this year, we missed the January and February programs. But here it is, springtime, and we’re rarin’ to go once again!
“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. Godspeed.
Randy & Sue Smith
Paxton Methodist Church
March 15, 2018 - St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Center, Texas, Rev. Winston Kibbles - Pastor Celebrating Friends and Family Day.
The event will be held Sunday, April 15, at 2:30pm. Special guest, Rev. Cedric Grace, Pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church San Augustine, Tx.
Theme: "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity." Psalm: 133.
March 14, 2015 - Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church cordially invites you to our 25th Appreciation Service Honoring Pastor and Sister Freddie D. Wilson on Sunday, March 18, 2018 at 3:00 P.M.
Evangelist for the service is Pastor A.L. Horton Sr. from Reed Chapel Baptist Church, San Augustine, Texas.
March 14, 2018 - Most people search each day for more of what they do not have; peace, happiness and joy. All of which are very difficult to find in this present day world.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
To ask; is to realize that what we seek can only be found by being aware of the sovereignty of God. That only God can grant these things and that only by through humility can we effectively seek the peace afforded those who seek the face of God.
To seek; is to connect with God through reverent prayer and responsible action as we pursue the will of God in our lives. We must commit our lives to his will and wishes.
To knock; is to persevere. We are to persist in our prayers being confident that the Father will provide whatever is best for us, according to his sovereign, gracious will. Remembering it is his will and not our own that matters, for he sees all, knows all and does what is best for his children.
Jesus tells us even more about the grace of our Lord and what he will do for his children.
“Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11)
How wonderful can it be to be wrapped in the arms of our Lord?
For it is written: “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Oh, the glory to be received by those who trust in the Lord and accept him as their sovereign Lord and Savior.
So what are we to do as children of the Most High God?
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)
What we know as the “Golden Rule”, we are told here to be the basis for all scripture as the “Law and the Prophets” is the Hebrew name for the entire Old Testament.
For if we have accepted the Lord as our God and if we then treat others with grace then we too will be so treated by our Lord.
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those that find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
Jesus warns us here that to follow God is not always easy, that he is the only way to the Father, that we must enter through acceptance of him as our Lord. And that the ways of the world will appear glamorous and inviting but not to be deceived for only the way of the Lord leads to eternal life in heaven, all others lead to death.
Which have you chosen, or which will you choose, for all must choose and all must live by their choices. Please make your choice the right one today. May the blessings of our Lord be upon you…
March 13, 2018 - Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church cordially invites you to our 25th Appreciation Service Honoring Pastor and Sister Freddie D. Wilson.
Sunday, March 18, 2018 at 3pm. Evangelist: Pastor A.L. Horton Sr. Reed Chapel Baptist Church San Augustine, Texas
March 12, 2018 - "Take Off the Mask," Women's Conference is set for Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 10am at Open Door Worship Center.
Guest speakers are Sis. Stephanie Hicks of Center; 1st Lady Levarie Cloudy of Garrison; Minister Darlene Hawkins of Henderson; 1st Lady Shaneeta Rhodes of Timpson; Prophetess Annie Weaver of Lanesville, TX; and Keynote speaker Prophetess Rhonda Coleman of Athens, TX.
March 12, 2018 - The Golden Harvest Ministries Club will meet Monday, March 19, 2018 in the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church at 11:30 AM. The program will be presented by Matthew Mettauer concerning the upcoming school bond election. The program should be very informative and of interest to all.
Visitors are always welcome to join us for a delicious covered dish luncheon, a good program and time of fellowship.
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