Shelby County Today

July 12, 2018 - Attention! All are invited to join Friendship Baptist Church for this year's VBS: Jungle River Adventure July 23rd through July 27th from 6pm until 8:30pm nightly. Ride the current to God's perfect plan! For more information contact Sarah Madden at 936-572-3221 or Ada Lowe at 936-591-5756. Friendship Baptist Church is located at 6796 US Hwy 84 East in Joaquin.

July 10, 2018 - As we see the civil unrest in America splashed across the television each day many Christians grow frightened about the future and what manner of troubles we might face in our daily lives.

This fear is well founded for the struggles we face are great. We must know and understand whom we face as we are forced to take up arms against our enemy.

While we see the faces of the people who are driven to threaten us, to persecute us for our belief in God, we must realize that it is not those poor disillusioned souls that are our enemies, it is the force behind them that we must defeat if the gospel is to prosper.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

It is not those who are ignorant of the Word of God that we must fear for they are only the tools of the evil one.

As he tempted Jesus Christ in the wilderness he said something that is very telling about who rules this vile and evil world.

“And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” (Luke 4:5-7)

There you see from the pages of God’s Word whom the world we live in belongs to, it is the domain of the devil, of Satan himself and it is he who we must fight for our faith in Christ.

And if we are to take on the ruler of the earth we must fortify ourselves for the battle we are to fight.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11)

“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one, and take the helmet of salvation, and the word of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” (Ephesians 6:14-18)

The tools we have available to us are: truth, righteousness, knowledge of the Word of God, faith, salvation, the words given us by the Spirit, and prayers to God.
We must equip ourselves each day with all of these tools furnished by the Lord our God if we are to be victorious over the evil one.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

To win this battle we must draw near to the Lord and to one another for in him we find our strength and in fellowship together we find support and encouragement.

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22)

So Christians let us prepare ourselves through our study, our worship and our fellowship with one another and with the Lord God as we take up arms against against the forces of evil.

Let us be the face of the Lord Jesus Christ to all that come before us whether for good or for evil, let all see the goodness, grace and mercy of our Lord through our lives of service to him.

May you wear the full armor of God each day as you confront the world before you.

July 6, 2018 - Mt. Zion C.M.E. will be honoring their pastor Rev. Elgena Weaver with her 2nd Appreciation Service on Sunday, July 8, 2018, at 3p.m. The special guest will be Rev. Jimmy E. Chapman, pastor of House of Prayer, Silsbee, TX.

July 3, 2018 - Smyrna Baptist Church in Huxley presents The Porch on Monday, July 9th at 7pm with refreshments at 6:30pm. Guest speaker will be Sherry Hagerhjelm. She is a nurse in Shreveport, has gone on missions to Indonesia, Mexico, etc. and is a powerful woman of God. She also shares the humor of God in our everyday life. Worship Leaders are Brittany and Paul Koiner and Bryan Lemon. Nursery is available. Any questions please call Christy at 332-7079. Come and worship the Lord with us at Smyrna.