October 20, 2017 - Patroon Baptist Church will host their annual Fall Fest Saturday, October 28 beginning at 6pm. As always, we will have chili dogs and frito pie, a cake walk, games, candy and a hayride. Costumes are encouraged, but we ask that they are church appropriate please.

Everyone is welcome. We would love to have you and your family! Patroon Baptist Church is located in the Patroon Community at 310 FM 2261 in Shelbyville.

October 20, 2017 - Gates Chapel Baptist Church will host its 9th Pastor's Anniversary honoring Pastor Frankie Cooper and First Lady Fannie Cooper on Sunday, November 5 at 2:30pm.

The special guest speaker will be Rev. Lynn Morris, pastor of New Hope CME & Mt. Gillion CME.

Everyone is invited to attend.

October 20, 2017 - I like movies about super heroes. Probably one of my favorites is Captain America. Before he was transformed into Captain America, he was a small man in stature but a large one in heart. He had no special skills or talents just a desire to serve his country when it was in need, with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. While he was in training his heart, not his size or strength, set him apart from the rest of the trainees. It was discovered that he was the kind of soldier that they needed to get the job done. So his body was transformed to match his spirit and his heart. God works like that in the lives people. He always has, and still does today. He takes the ordinary and turns them into the extraordinary world changers. He turned a shy Moses into the great leader of His people. He used a shepherd boy to slay a giant and transformed him into a king. He chose an unassuming Mary to be the mother of Jesus. He used Tax collectors, carpenters, fishermen, ex prostitutes, business men and women, to establish His church. He used people just like us!

Every time that I read the story of the birth of Christ at Christmas it gives me great joy and confidence in knowing that God loved me so much that He was willing to come from His throne in Heaven to this earth to be born in a manger. He could have been born in a castle or even a great temple, but He chose a stable. He could have announced His coming to kings and princes, but He chose shepherds. God could have chosen a King and a Queen to be the parents of His son, but He chose a carpenter and a housewife. When I look back at how God works throughout the bible there seem to be some things that never change.

1) God always uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Just as Joseph and Mary were ordinary common folk of the day, so were all the disciples. He used fisherman, tax collectors, carpenters, folks just like you and I. They had problems with anger, depression, fear, doubt, health issues, finances, but God used them to change the world.

2) God uses simple things to accomplish great things. He spoke, and the world came into existence. The touch of Moses staff caused the Red Sea to part. A smooth stone in a shepherd boys slingshot brought down a giant. A baby born in a manger brought salvation to the entire human race.

3) Gods plan includes all people. He doesn't care how rich or poor you are. He doesn't care how attractive you are or even who your mom and dad are, He loves you and wants you to be part of His family. 

4) Wherever God is, there is great Joy. On that night the sky exploded with the sound of angels singing " Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men !" (Luke 2:14) The angels sang because God had come to earth and revealed Himself as Savior and Lord. That's why we as Christians should always be able to find joy in all circumstances. If Jesus resides in your heart joy will be there too.

My pray for you this day is that you find the joy of the Lord in your heart and the peace that passes all understanding. That His love will bring happiness to you and all your family. Remember God loves you so much that He came from heaven to earth to give you a way to live with Him forever. He wants to use you to change the world and make a difference in others lives. All you have to do is give yourself over to His guidance and obey. Let God transform you into the great person that He has put inside of you.

                                I'm Just Sayin,
                                Mike Belgard

October 19, 2017 - The Shelbyville First United Methodist Church will be hosting a celebration of our Historic Church Building on October 29, 2017.  The present building is on the same site as the original church structure and services have been held continuously since 1897 following the reconstruction of the destroyed church building.
 
The service will begin at 10:30am on October 29, 2017. A history of the church and a time for memories will be shared by our members and honored guests. After the service, you are invited to have lunch with us in our Clyde Monroe Educational Building.  

We hope you will join us on this day and bring your pictures and your memories to share your heritage with us at Shelbyville First United Methodist Church.

October 19, 2017 - Fellowship MBC of Joaquin, TX will host revival services Oct 18th - Oct 20th. Serveries will be at 6:30pm each night, with food and fellowship to follow each evening.

Bro. JC Lewis, Bro. Levi Cohorst, & Bro. Martin Ferguson will be the evangelist.  

October 17, 2017 - Get ready for food, fun, fellowship and games because October 31st is Hallelujah Night at Center Christian Fellowship. It is a community wide event. This year the night of excitement will begin at 6pm and be over at 8:30pm. You will need to be there at 6pm to enter the costume contest. It is a Christian alternative to what the world calls “Halloween”. It’s free, free, free!  Everyone is invited to come and enjoy! Every child that comes will win lots of candy and prizes by playing the various games we have to offer.

This night of excitement will take place at Center Christian Fellowship located at 2471 U.S. Highway 96 North in Center, Texas. We would love for you to come. There will be games, bounce houses, an obstacle course, hayrides, face painting, cake walk, etc. There will be snow cones, fried Oreos, hot dogs, popcorn and more.   

October 17, 2017 - Abundant Love Ministries will celebrate their Pastor’s and Wife Appreciation Service, Sunday, Oct. 22nd, at 2:30pm. Elder Norris Cloudy, Divine Faith Tabernacle, Houston, TX is the guest speaker. 

All regular services (Sunday School and regular noon day service), are cancelled.  You are invited and welcome.

Abundant Love Ministries is located at 1426 Shelbyville St., Center, TX 75935

October 17, 2017 - The great king of Israel, David, a man after God’s own heart, but, a man also of imperfect desires. A man who needed help from the Lord to protect him from the enemies of this world.

We are no different today, no matter how large or powerful one might think of himself, there are times when everyone needs help from someone more powerful.

When we find ourselves in need of “Higher” help, let us do as David, let us turn to the Lord God for help.

Let us know as did king David; “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:10)

You see, David knew that his help lay in the arms of the Lord, he knew that the Lord God was his refuge from evil and worldly problems.

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, my stronghold." (Psalm 18:1-2)

David had no doubt that the Lord God was his refuge and he didn’t hesitate to call upon the Lord when he was in need or when he felt threatened.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised and I am saved from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:3)

David had many enemies in his role as king of Israel, political enemies who wished to see him unseated from the throne of Israel. But, also, enemies of the Lord who wished to see David silenced as he witnessed for the Lord God in his daily life. He faced the same enemies of God as Christians face today, those who wish to discount and deface God and all who worship God. As they hated Christ Jesus, they hate us today.

We see those same faces as they try each day to break down the goodness of America and the world in general and cause diversion, devision, and deviation from the ways of the Lord.

We too can call upon the Lord God in those times when we feel persecuted, threatened and ridiculed by the forces of evil.

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.” (Psalm 17:6-7)

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,” (Psalm 17:8)

David goes on in this prayer to speak of those who are causing him problems and many are those who he calls “men of the world.” The same men we see today causing trouble for the children of God who have been separated from the world and are now hated by the world as was the Lord Jesus.

Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword, from men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.” (Psalm 17:13-14)

You see David is talking directly about the people of the world. Men who store up treasure on earth but not in heaven. For those who are not of God are the true enemies of all who have been born-again and set aside for the glory of God.

When you feel threatened by the world, turn to the One who has defeated the world, turn to the Lord God for help in your times of trouble and need. May Gods blessings be upon you this day...

October 16, 2017 - Old Home Baptist Church will be having their annual Fall Festival, Saturday, October 21st at 6pm. Hay ride, hot dog roast and games. All ages welcome to come out and enjoy the fellowship. Call or text for more details: 936-332-9293.

October 16, 2017 - Sunday was the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The weather folks on TV are promising us that fall is coming this week. The Christian Year is coming to a close. Soon our attention will be on preparing for the Christ Child and the season of Advent. We have been in the very long season of Ordinary Time. From Pentecost until All Saints Day, there are no holy days like Christmas, Easter, or Pentecost. But even in ordinary day-to-day living we can still get glimpses of the Divine.

The Gospel Lesson for Sunday was Matthew 22:1-14, the third parable Jesus told during Holy Week at the Temple Mount. All the parables were aimed at the priests and elders who were supposed to be close to God and protectors of the faith. In this third parable the King invites his guests to the wedding feast for his son. The invited guests don’t seem interested and at the end of the parable the King sends out servants to round up anyone on the street. This parable was full of meaning about the Kingdom and what we should all be about.

Fannie’s Sunday school lesson stuck with the theme of covenant. This week’s lesson was God’s Written Covenant. The scripture came from Exodus 20:18-26; the people of Israel have witnessed thunder and lightning, the sound of the horn, and smoke covering the mountain. They were quite content to let Moses be the go-between.

This past Thursday our volunteers went to Focused Care in Center. We had a small crowd, but Nora, Jo, Hilda, and I enjoyed visiting and singing many songs. This Tuesday we go at 2PM to Holiday Nursing Center. Our church voted to send money to Gene and Joy’s grandson to buy wreaths for soldiers in cemeteries across the nation—a Boy Scout project. We also decided to help out financially with additional hurricane relief. All this month we are collecting peanut butter and jelly to take to Community Christian Services. We are also going to contribute to buying Christmas gifts for children through 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. Godspeed.

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