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Contributing Writers: David Mathis | Tim Perkins
Past Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard
Faith
May 9, 2019 - When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, the world was not prepared for His birth. There was no room in the inn for Joseph and Mary so Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger where the livestock were fed. This is a story that always makes us just a bit sad. Yet, there are things worse than a “No Vacancy” sign at the local Inn.
You see, much worse than a crowded Inn is a heart that has no room for Jesus. A heart that contains evil thoughts. A heart with hatred, jealousy and envy. A heart filled with unforgiveness. When these things are present in our hearts, there is no room for Jesus.
The result of a heart too crowded for Jesus is an empty heart. When the unclean spirit went out of a heart in Matthew 12, nothing was placed there to take its place. It returned and found the heart empty, swept and garnished (Matthew 12:44). With the aid of seven more wicked spirits he enters and we read the last state was worse than the first (Matthew 12:45).
We should not allow our hearts to be too crowded for Jesus nor should our hearts remain empty. In the words of that old song, “Let Jesus Come Into Your Heart” and keep his blood upon the door posts of your soul. Invite Jesus in, make room for Him, live His kind of life, live it His way and someday make your home with Him in Heaven. Blessed thought and happy day!
It’s something to think about… tbp
Join us for worship this coming Lord’s day at the Center Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas.
May 8, 2019 - Lone Cedar Missionary Baptist Church will be holding their annual Homecoming Celebration on Sunday, May 12th at 10:30am. There will be special music, cemetery report and offering, and a pot luck lunch to follow.
Family and friends of the community are welcome to come and share a memory and enjoy the fellowship.
May 8, 2019 - Guess what everybody! We know you're running around getting ready for graduation and summer vacation and we pray that you will be abundantly blessed in it all. Also we at Messiah Baptist Church Timpson would like to invite you to take a break with us May 15-19th as we celebrate Christ in Revival with different visiting ministers on each date! We are so excited and ready for the Lord to refresh us through His word and His music! Watch for more details! (Parking is behind the Church)
Wednesday, May 15th 7pm - Sermon by Bro. Ottis Jarrel Of Hallsville
Thursday, May 16th 7pm - Sermon by Bro Jeremiah Moss Of Nacogdoches
Friday, May 17th 7pm - Sermon by Bro Grant Hanes Of Nacogdoches
Saturday, May 18th 7pm - To Be Announced
Sunday, May 19, 11am - Sermon by Our Own Bro David Lawhorn of Timpson
All Music by Wayne Wimberly of Carthage
May 8, 2019 - The Pastor and Members of Carroll Chapel CME Church in Shelbyville would like to invite you to our Annual Building Fund Program Sunday, May 19 at 3pm. Our Guest Speaker will be Rev. Bobby Russell, Pastor of Rocky Hill Baptist Church in Huntington, TX. Everyone is invited.
May 7, 2019 - Love and peace from our brother Jesus. Sunday was the Third Sunday of Easter. Easter is not to be a one-day remembrance and celebration but a way of life, and the time from Easter to Pentecost is often referred to as Eastertide. The first Sunday in May was beautiful after days of rain and storms. Since it was the first Sunday of the month, we celebrated Holy Communion. Also, during this month we will be collecting cans of fruit for Community Christian Services.
Our Sunday school lesson was about God’s grace: The scripture for the lesson was Romans 3: 21-31. The Letter to the Romans is probably the most important of all the New Testament letters to Protestants. Luther certainly saw it as crucial, and Wesley had his “heart strangely warmed” during a study of this letter. Fannie had us really thinking and dealing with questions that don’t seem to have pat answers. I guess that is when faith becomes even more important.
I used Psalm 30 as the scripture for my sermon. The Psalms are the Jewish hymnbook, and this psalm was a hymn of thanksgiving. The writer expresses gratitude to God for saving him from death as well as from those who wanted to do him harm. He goes on to say, “Weeping may stay all night, but by morning, joy.”
Our monthly Focused Care program has been changed to the first Monday at 10AM, so that is where we were today. We had a lively bunch, both presenters and residents. Hilda had a long trip to Lumberton and back on Sunday, but on Monday she was playing piano with gusto. I emceed, choosing songs we all knew (and could therefore belt out joyfully). Pastor Matt did a devotional on a post-Easter sighting of Jesus and also spread his personal good news: He has been appointed to Beaumont’s Wesley United Methodist Church, and his wife Ami has a school job in deaf education, her field. We’ll certainly miss them but wish them good journey. Sue read The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash, and Nora sang her book, Grandma’s Feather Bed. Fannie shared some wisdom sayings and placed replicas on the tables for the residents. Jo, her voice getting stronger all the time, joined us, as well as Teresa, in her first of—we hope—many programs with us. Morris, as he has been doing, assisted the church group with the congregational singing.
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.
May 7, 2019 - The world today is filled with those will do not believe in the Lord God as the Creator and Ruler of all things.
For today all are told that one can be his own god, that all one must do is to serve his own will and desires, that there is no God that must be served and obeyed.
These same people, these liars and false prophets, tell all that if they have a like, a desire, then to follow it and enjoy it for we are our own gods.
Let me tell you, through the words of the apostle Paul what God’s Word says about unrighteousness, which is what we have been talking about, the acts of being unrighteous which the dictionary says is; “not righteous, sinful and wicked.”
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” (Romans 1:18)
This one verse from God’s Word is describing those liars and false prophets who preach and teach a perverted gospel and not the gospel of our Lord. God’s wrath will fall upon them when God decides the time is right for there is no excuse under heaven for their lies and deceptions against their fellow man.
“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:19-20)
What Paul is saying is that as we live in this world we are surrounded by God’s creations, from the earth and the heavens to all the creatures upon the earth.
For all that we see has been created by God and in his creations we see his supreme power and majesty displayed so that all can see.
Who we are and what we have are all the works of our God, for without him we are nothing, we do not exist without him. He blew the breath of life into every one of us, our very being is dependent upon him.
Herein lies the problem for so many in the world today, deceived by those who spread falsehoods, those who would deny that God created the universe and all things in it, those who would claim some random-big-bang beginning to the world instead of the acts of our Creator.
God’s Word says this about all who would deny him and his works of creation.
“For although they knew God, (for all can see his handiworks around them) they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” (Romans 1:21-25)
And so I ask you today. Whom shall you believe? Whom shall you follow, the Creator of all things or one of his creatures?
The choice is yours to make, for all must choose, for from birth we are following the wrong choice and must change or we will remain lost forever.
For Jesus says to all; “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Choose wisely my friends, choose wisely, choose life with Christ Jesus today…
May 6, 2019 - St. John Missionary Baptist Church honoring 12th year pastoral anniversary Sunday, June 
2nd, 2019, 2:30pm.
St. John Missionary Baptist Church is located at 2308 CR 2050 Center, Tx. Guest speaker will be Rev. Shan Gilder, Holy Temple C.O.G.I.C., Silsbee, Tx.
May 6, 2019 - In this world there are those who seek righteousness and also those who seek wickedness and the results of their searches are very different.
If you are one who seeks righteousness then the Lord says to you, “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.” (Psalm 37:1-2)
Though they struggle with all their might to establish wealth on earth, it is all for naught for the Bible says; “I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree. But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.” (Psalm 37:35-36)
You see, earthly wealth accomplishes nothing for when one dies he is gone but his wealth is left for another to enjoy.
Rather than seeking earthly wealth work daily to store up your treasures in heaven where they will not be lost, they will not rust nor will they ruin but will be waiting for your arrival in heaven when the Lord calls you home.
For the seeker of righteousness, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.” (Psalm 37:3) “Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever.” (Psalm 37:27)
Again the Lord tells all who seek him and his righteous not to fret over the evil ones of this world but to focus on the Lord and his kingdom instead. Dwell with him!
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” (Psalm 37:7)
“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.” (Psalm 37:8-9)
There is nothing to envy of the wicked man for his wealth is perishable and shall be burned away on the day of the Lord, while the wealth of the righteous is stored in heaven where it cannot be spoiled nor destroyed but is safe and waiting for its owner to come home and claim it as his own.
“The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked for he sees that his day is coming.” (Psalm 37:12-13)
When the world turns against you and ridicules you and persecutes you for your faith in Christ Jesus turn away and focus on our Lord, let him establish your steps and direct your paths, let your path be as the Bible says in the book of Matthew where it says, not to be anxious about what we shall eat or what we drink or what we shall wear for our Heavenly Father knows what we need in life and he will provide for those who seek his face and do his will; “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:33)
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way.” (Psalm 37:23) Follow the Lord and delight in his way and he will direct your path.
“Turn away from evil and do good, so shall you dwell forever.” (Psalm 37:27)
For all who turn away from evil and do good can truly expect that, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6) Follow God and not man and know his rich blessings today my friends. Trust in the Lord and know his peace and eternal joy…
May 6, 2019 - “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.” Psalms 107:2
“Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.” Malachi 3:16
In 2008 Pam and I took a three week vacation to the Pacific Northwest. I once lived in Oregon and had for many years wanted to visit there again. On our way up, we visited Yellowstone, spent several days along the Snake River, and a few days in Oregon and Washington. On our way home we drove down the Highway 5 along the beautiful Oregon /California Pacific Coast line.
It didn’t take long to us to see the difference between the Northwest and our home in the Bible-Belt. (Only 25% Washington and Oregon’s population belong to a church…of any kind.) And instead of the Christian decal of the fish on automobiles, we saw a large number of symbols promoting atheism. When we saw the fish sticker on a car one day, we followed it into a parking lot only to find that the fish had feet and the anti- God symbol “Darwin” inscribed on it.
But when we stopped at a Colorado Motel on the way home, a man wearing a large wooden cross checked us in. “He’s obviously a Christian”, I whispered to Pam. As the clerk filled out his paper work, I asked him, “Are you a Christian?”…and never looking up, he almost inaudibly mumbled under his breath one word…. “Yeah”. Since he never looked up, it was obvious he didn’t want to talk about Jesus.
When we got to our room, I told Pam that if the man had said “No” instead of “Yeah”, it would have meant about the same thing. This I know for sure: The world will never be won to Jesus if we are just cross wearers instead of cross bearers….
And if all we can say about Jesus is…..
“Yeah”.
May 5, 2019 - First Baptist Church of Center is hosting 'In the Wild, Amazing Encounters with Jesus' June 17 through June 21 for Kindergarden - 6th grade and Summer Music Camp for completed 1st through 6th grade.
1st through 6th graders are invited to come from 12:15pm until 3pm for the Summer Music Camp VBS. The Summer Music Camp is $10 for each camper and kids can experience 'In the Wild' with Bible study and special activities planned just for them. Kindergarden through 6th grade are invited to come for free from 9am until 12:15pm for their own adventure.
Gas up the all-terrain vehicle and head out on a wilderness adventure like no other. Get up close and personal with elephants and egrets, polar bears and penguins, cockatoos and crocodiles, and so much more! This summer kids will focus in on some amazing, real-life encounters with Jesus and discover the most amazing truth of all—Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing we can have life in His name. Each day kids will make crafts, play fun games, enjoy tasty snacks, sing cool songs, and learn about missions.
For more information, call First Baptist Church at 936-598-5605 or email scline@fbccenter.org. The church is located at 117 Cora Street, Center, Texas 75935.
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