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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
July 26, 2017 - Gates Chapel Baptist Church will host homecoming services Sunday, August 6 at 3pm. Rev. Timothy Teel of the Bell Chapel Baptist Church will bring the message.
Also, Revival services Monday through Friday, August 7-11 at 7:30pm nightly. Bishop W.C. Martin of the Bennett Chapel Baptist Church will be the evangelist. Everyone is invited to attend says Pastor Frankie Cooper.
July 25, 2017 - "For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting." (Psalm 147:1)
As with so many of the Psalms, the 147th Psalm is a song of praise to the Lord, it gives us so many reasons for praising or worshiping our Lord.
"He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3) Yes, He is the "Great Physician", He deals with our wounds whether physical or spiritual and He binds them to Himself, covering us with His love.
"He determines the number of the stars; He gives to all of them, their names." "Great is our Lord and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure." (Psalm 147:4-5)
There is no measure of the power of the Lord, He created the world that we see daily simply by speaking it into existence.
"And God said; "Let there be light, and there was light." (Genesis 1:3)
Just as He created the sun, moon and stars, He created all of the universe simply by speaking it into existence. That, is the power of our God, there is none other like Him.
"The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked to the ground." (Psalm 147:6)
Once saved, one is protected from the penalty of sin, no longer judged guilty, but acquitted of all sin by the blood of Jesus. He lifts up the humble.
You may say, well I see many who appear to be evil and they are doing well, better off than I. Yes, that may be, in this world, but if you are truly saved, redeemed by the blood of Christ, then this world will no longer interest you. Your focus must be on the prize to come, the crown all believers will receive once in heaven. As we are told in 1 Peter; "so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God." (1 Peter 4:2)
Our God is so great; "He covers the heavens with clouds; He prepares rain for the earth; He makes grass grow on the hills." (Psalm 147:8) "He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry." (Psalm 147:9)
He watches over all things, He feeds all things, He constructed the universe so that it works in unison, each feeding the other within the circle of life. Being long-suffering, He gives time to all people, time to accept His Son, the Lord Jesus as Lord and Savior.
"But, the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His steadfast love." (Psalm 147:11) While He is long-suffering, His pleasure is in being needed by His children, He wants us to need Him, to ask Him first, for all things. "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." (1 Peter 3:12)
God hears only one prayer from the sinner, the prayer of repentance, but He hears every prayer of His children.
He waits to hear from each of us, each day. God wishes to be with us, that is the goal, the reason for eternity when we will all be together and God will be among us. You see, God wishes to have a closer relationship with each of His children each day. When you devote ample time each day to prayer, you please God, for He takes pleasure in those who fear Him.
Give Him time today, take time just to sit and talk, privately, with the Lord. Pour out your heart to Him, tell Him your wishes, and praise Him; for He is worthy.
May God bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you this day...
July 25, 2017 - You are invited to the Community Concert & Fellowship at First Baptist Church, Center, Texas on Sunday, August 6, at 6:00 pm. An hour of great gospel music will be followed by a unique and exciting community party called Show and Tell. The First Baptist gym will have tables displaying a variety of crafts, collections, and hobbies. The First Baptist Family invites your family to be our guest for this evening of music, food and fun.
July 24, 2017 - Sunday was the 7th Sunday after Pentecost, in the midst of Ordinary Time on the Christian calendar. The Gospel Lesson from Matthew 13 continues with the Kingdom parables. In today’s parable Jesus speaks of a field of wheat that has also been sown with weeds. The particular weed in question looks like wheat but is actually poisonous. Parables are wonderful in their simplicity and poetry, but parables have a way of having multiple meanings. Looking at this field of dreams, the hope is that the wheat will grow and produce a bountiful harvest so that the most basic food of the ancient world—bread—can be produced. The weeds that had looked so falsely promising have turned darker than the wheat and are easily removed. Next week the Gospel will once again focus on kingdom parables, and in quick succession Jesus explains what the kingdom will be like.
Our Sunday school lesson was on Ezekiel’s Call and continues with the theme of the calling of the Old Testament prophets. Ezekiel was told to speak to the chosen people who had forgotten about God. Ezekiel’s courage to do this comes from the fact that God has fed him holy words and would be with him always.
Billy and Dianna Collum, friends of Keith and Vera, worshiped with us this morning. We certainly enjoyed having them and hope they will return. We were in double digits, and for a church our size that is something to celebrate. Joy and Gene Hutto brought okra from their garden to share with everyone.
Last week folks ventured to Holiday Nursing Center for our monthly program. We had more residents than usual and a rollicking good time. Minnie cheerfully played everything we threw at her. Fannie and Sue, because some of our presenters had to be absent, each read two selections. Mrs. Hilda and Jo strengthened our crew and our singing ability. It’s so nice that Mrs. Hilda is able to be with us again.
This Thursday we will head to Lakeside Village Assisted Living at 2:00 PM. All month we have been collecting cans of spaghetti and ravioli for Community Christian Services. In August we will collect new children’s underwear and socks. This summer has gone by fast, and it won’t be long until kids will be buying school supplies and other necessities for a new year. With the heat and humidity lately, it is hard to imagine riding a school bus to school. But stores are already shelving school supplies; at Hobby Lobby recently, they were selling Christmas items right alongside Fourth of July and summer markdowns!
Our sister church, Joaquin Methodist, is having Vacation Bible School this week. We thought they outdid themselves last year by building a barn façade in the sanctuary and having live animals. This year, though, they’ve built a castle and have knights in shining armor! What’s more, they received an award from the District as the best small church. Way to go, FUMCJ!
“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
July 24, 2017 - Joaquin Methodist will begin VBS at 9am on July 24th. The theme this year is "The Armor of God". Lunch will be served to the children at noon each day. There will be a commencement at 6:30 Friday evening, followed by hamburgers, hotdogs, and a bounce house. Come learn with us at the castle!!
July 21, 2017 - Those who believe in the Lord believe that one day he shall return, in judgment, and administer justice as it is deserved for all people.
We believe this for the Bible tells us this will happen with all certainly, it just does not tell us when. But, it tells us that it is impossible for those who read and study to miss the fact of the coming day of judgment.
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.” (Malachi 3:5)
Pretty plain isn’t it, he is coming back in judgment at some point and all will be judged according to the lives they have lived, how they have treated others.
Moses gives us instructions for how we should live and serve the Lord.
“What does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
Moses tells us just what one must do to live in the light of the Lord; simply put, to fear him, understanding his power and might, to follow Gods wishes each day and not the wishes of man, to love him and serve him with all of your being and to keep the Ten Commandments he has given us to live by.
Simple but difficult for even those who have accepted the Lord as our Master and Savior still must live in this corrupt and evil world. We must cope with those who do not know the Lord so our lives are made difficult by our surroundings. For though salvation removes the penalty of sin from us, it does not remove the power of sin from around us. This will not change until the Lord calls each of us home to be with him in his glory.
Jesus gives us two examples of how we might be judged by him on that day of judgment. If we are saved and have lived a life in the light of the Lord as he directs us then we may hear; “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)
But for those who have not accepted him as Lord but have lived lives built on lies and deception he will say; “And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of iniquity.” ( Matthew 7:23)
So I ask you today, if you had to stand before him in judgment today, which would you hear, oh good and faithful servant, or, might it be, depart from me? That is the question we must all answer for ourselves. We do not know the day when our time on this earth is up, but, we must be prepared every day for that to happen. Are you prepared today? Can you truthfully, honestly say that you are 100% sure of which words you will hear when you stand before him in judgment?
If not then nothing is more important today than making your relationship with the Lord Jesus such that you can say with all certainty that you are destined for an eternity, in heaven, with the Lord.
So I beg you today, get right with the Lord, make his ways your ways, walk with him each day in the light of salvation and receive his blessings every day of your life…
July 20, 2017 - The movie "Forest Gump" is one of my all time favorite movies. It is a movie about a man who is simple minded. And even though he had some mental handicaps, there was one thing that Forest could do; he could run. One of the main lines of the movie was "run Forest run." You see Forest ran for a lot of different reasons. He ran from bullies when he was a child. He ran for the University of Alabama football team when he went to college. He ran to save his wounded buddies in the Vietnam war. He once ran across the United States from coast to coast twice, just to think. You see, Forest new that life was all about running. We all, whether we want to or not, have to run in this life. We are all part of the human race.
What we need to decide is what we are running for; and If we are running this race, are we in it to win or just make a showing.
1 Cor. 9: 24 says, "Do you not know that all those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to win." Paul is telling us that in this race called life that we are in, it's like running in the Olympics. It takes much discipline and training to be a contender.
Winning the prize is what we should be running for. The prize that is offered is eternal life. I can think of no better prize to received.
God gives us a training manual called the Bible that gives us instructions, that if we follow will ensure our victory. Here are some of them:
1) Discipline. Any athlete knows that we have to discipline our minds and bodies to be competitive. We have to put "self" aside and learn to keep training even when we don't feel like it. The same is true in our spiritual life. Jesus tells us in Luke 9:23 "If you truly want to be my disciple, you must die to your self daily, take up your cross and follow Me."
2) Training. Training prepares our minds and bodies for what they will face in the race. Spiritual training is no different. We must train by praying, reading and meditating on Gods word, and fellowship with other believers. Titus 2: 11-12, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passion, and to live self-controlled, upright, godly lives in the present age."
3) Staying Focused on the prize. When you are running a race and you turn and look back, you will automatically slow down or even worse, trip and fall. The same is true in life. Don't look back at where you have been, you can't change that. Stay focused on the race ahead so you can make adjustments and stay on track. Hebrews 12:1, " ..... let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith...."
4) Patience. Don't get in a hurry. Run your race. The race is not always to the swift but to the one who is patient. Isaiah 40: 31, "Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up on wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not get weary."
We have the greatest coach and trainer in God. If we trust Him we will all be winners in life. Don't give up. Trust God and He will lead you to a victorious life.
I'm just sayin
Mike Belgard
July 19, 2017 - President Helen Collard called the Golden Harvest Ministries Club to order Monday, July 17, 2017 at the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church in Center at 11:30 AM. While Alice West accompanied on the piano, Harold Hanson led members in singing favorite hymns and "Happy Birthday" to Brenda Applequist, Chris Mahan, Sylvia Jackson, and Becky Maidic.
Bob Lacher, representing Gideons International, spoke on the history of the Gideons, the spread of Bibles across the world, and the work of the Shelby County Gideons.
Historian Linda Bordelon displayed the new scrapbook and read the dedication to former president Jim Forbes. The tables were decorated with American flags and red and white flowers to honor our July independence. Ann Forbes discussed those on the prayer report and encouraged everyone to visit the ones in the nursing homes.
Submitted by Linda Bordelon, Reporter
July 18, 2017 - House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries Pastor and members invite everyone to our Family and Friends Day program Sunday, July 23, 2017 at 3pm.
Guest speaker: Pastor Robert Lane of Sandridge Baptist Church Nacogdoches, Tx.
Everyone is invited! Lunch will be served.
July 17, 2017 - Old Salem Missionary Baptist Church will hold their revival July 31st - August 4th starting each night at 7pm. Congregational singing and all specials are welcome.
Brother Cliff Durham of Rosevine MBC will bring the word of God each night.
Take highway 7 West from Center to FM 711 to County Road 1297 on the left.
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