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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
May 16, 2018 - There are universal questions about God and heaven, asked by most people during their lifetime. Those questions are; “Is there really a heaven? Is there a place where God lives, far above where I live? Can I someday go there and be with him, forever?
For the answers we need only to turn to the pages of God’s Word, the Holy Bible to see for ourselves the answers we all seek.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
Is the knowledge of heaven so important that it is given us in the very first verse of the Bible? That we will know that both the heavens and the earth are Gods creations!
Yes, I think so.
“Thus says the Lord, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.” (Isaiah 66:1)
There can be no question about the existence of heaven for those who truly believe in the Lord for we are told many times through His Word that heaven does exist and it is His current place of residence, the place where all who truly believe will eventually go to be with Him, forever.
Jesus has said to us; “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that were I am you may be also.” (John 14:2-3)
God’s house is located in heaven and there also is Jesus standing in for his children.
“According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)
So the born-again Christian has an inheritance that cannot be destroyed but is being kept for him in heaven by the power of God!!! WOW!!! GIVE ME SOME OF THAT!!!
We know from the Bible that the old heavens and earth which we see today will be burned up at the end of this age and the lost will be thrown into the fires of hell but for those who are true believers, “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13)
And here is a warning for those who are having trouble turning away from the world and turning to God today.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life - is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1John 2:15-17)
So do I know that there is heaven, the home of God, yes I know it. I know it because the Bible tells me so when it says; “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”(Genesis 1:1) Blessed be the name of our Lord God of Heaven…
May 15, 2018 - UMARMY (United Methodist Action Reach-Out Mission By Youth) will be in town June 10th-16th staying for a week at Center First United Methodist Church located at 211 Porter Street. They will be building wheelchair ramps, porches, painting houses and doing other small repairs.
If you own your home and are in need of the things listed above, please come to the church office to fill out a application. You must own your home and have a desperate need. Feel free to contact Kelli Snider for more details at (936) 598-2707.
Deadline for applications is May 25th.
May 15, 2018 - Pastor Marlin Cloudy, Sr. and the Abundant Love Ministries family will host a “Seniors Recognition” Service, on Sunday, May 20th at 3:00 pm. Mrs. Eboni Booth Taylor, Associate Principal of Instruction, Spring ISD, Claughton Middle School is our guest speaker.
All area high schools’ 2018 graduates and their families are welcome and invited to attend. Graduates are asked to be at the church at 2:30pm with their cap and gown.
Refreshments will be served.
Abundant Love Ministries is located at 1426 Shelbyville St., Center, TX 75935.
May 14, 2018 - Pastor Byron Coutee, Jr. and the Blount Chapel Missionary Baptist Church cordially invites all area churches to our Annual Usher Day on Sunday, June 3rd, 2018 at 3:00pm.
Guest Speaker is Pastor Rayford Caraway of the New Prospect Baptist Church in Timpson, Texas.
"For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." - Psalms 84:10 KJV
May 14, 2018 - Sunday was the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Next Sunday is the Day of Pentecost which tradition tells us is the birth of the Jesus Movement. Today is also Mother’s Day. This holiday is set aside to honor mothers and those who helped raise us. Mothers are instrumental in the family: We often see what happens to families where love has disappeared or never existed. Jesus certainly understood the import of mothers, our families, our friends, our marriages, our church, and our journey in faith. One of our most important priorities in life is relationships and our most valuable resources are time, attention, and love. This week Joy and Gene will celebrate their 50th anniversary—congratulations to the newlyweds!
Our Sunday school lesson had Leviticus 23: 9-14, 22 as the scripture for the lesson titled “Bringing First Fruits.” Our writer provided some really humorous anecdotes and also provoked a wide-ranging discussion in our small class this morning. Ms. Fannie kept bringing us back to the idea that our best and first gifts should be for God.
Last week a group of us met at Focused Care for singing, stories, and fellowship. Nora, Jo, Fannie, Hilda, Pastor Matt, and I were welcomed as we always are. Morris picked the songs that we sang, and Ms. Hilda played the piano. Fannie and I shared stories about Mother’s Day, and Nora told a funny story about why you should never give a pig pancakes. Matt shared a scripture dealing with passages and told the residents about finishing up at seminary. We are all really proud of Matt, and I know he will not miss the drive to Dallas and back every week.
School will soon be out; summer will officially begin. The last week or so, the temperatures have been in the 90s, reminding us that we live in Texas. All this month we will collect cans of fruit for Community Christian Services. This Tuesday we head to Holiday Nursing Center for our ministry there. Our program starts at 2:00, and everyone is invited.
“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.
May 10, 2018 - Come along for the ride May 12, 2018, 10am-1pm.
Horses & Hearts Ministry Impact Cowboy Church of Nacogdoches. 415 FM 2112, Nacogdoches, TX.
An event for children 3-18 years old with physical, cognitive, and/or emotional disabilities. Siblings are welcome.
Lunch provided, face painting, crafts and games, horseback riding and t-shirts.
Pre-registration is preferred but not required.
For more information and registration contact Marc Green: 936-645-5122; Dawn Green: 936-645-5120; 936-585-1020.
horsesandheartsministry@gmail.com or the Facebook event page
Notarized parent/guardian consent rerquired for horseback riding.
May 8, 2018 - Jackson Cemetery Homecoming is Sunday, May 20, 2018 at the Jackson Missionary Baptist Church at 10:50am. Worship service with message given by Bro. Harold Hanson will be followed by a brief informative report on the cemetery upkeep. Afterwards we will have lunch and fellowship together as is the tradition of homecoming. If unable to attend, donations may be mailed to: Jackson Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 15, Joaquin, Texas 75954.
One day as Jesus sat by the sea and many people had come to hear his words he told a parable of the weeds. A story of a man who was planting seeds in his field, looking for a fruitful harvest to come.
And so Jesus said; “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weds appeared also.” (Matt13:24-26)
Jesus then explains that when the servants of the house saw the weeds they came and asked the master of the house did he not plant only good seeds. And so why does it have weeds among the grain?
The master answered them; “An enemy has done this. so the servants said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them? But he said, “No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matt. 13:28-30)
Later when only Jesus and his disciples remained there they asked him to explain the parable of the weeds to them so they would better understand his teachings.
And so Jesus answered them; “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matt. 13:37-43)
The age which Jesus is speaking about here is the age we are living in which many call the “church age”, when it comes to an end we will then enter the “kingdom age”. The kingdom age being the kingdom of Jesus Christ erected here on earth, a reign of one thousand years after which will come the final day of judgement when all will be sorted out as Jesus explains in this parable.
Now I ask you today, if the end of this age were to come today, into which group would you fall, the good seed or the weeds?
That is the question we must all answer for ourselves, for if we would fall today into the group of the weeds then today we must make ourselves right with the Lord.
We must come humbly before the Lord, seeking his face and his grace, praying for his forgiveness for our sins and for his help in repentance of our sins. For only by our submission to him are we to find forgiveness of our sins.
Only by trusting Jesus Christ and acknowledging him as our sovereign Lord and Master are we to be able to come before the Father to receive eternal life in Christ.
So I beg you today, if you do not know him, seek him out today and offer yourself as a living sacrifice to him this very day for no one knows the hour nor even the day when the end of this age will come.
Prepare yourself today before the time has passed and salvation is no more… Blessed be the name of our Lord…
May 7, 2018 - The Dragons will face off against Douglass Friday, May 11 at 6:00 pm at Nacogdoches HS in the playoffs. The second game is Saturday, May 12 at 3:00 pm at Nacogdoches HS and game 3, if necessary will be following Game 2.
"And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." Matthew 6:7
May 7, 2018 - Muslims pray fifty prayers every day and pray them five times daily. There are several religions that use prayer beads to keep track of their repetitious prayers. Among these religions are Hinduism, ISLAM, Buddhism, Sikhism, the Bahai belief and some Christian denominations.
Christians are told to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), but that doesn't mean chanting the same words over and over. Praying (or singing) "I love the Lord" 100 consecutive times does not prove that we love Him. And our prayers don’t always have to be audible. If the heart prays them right, the mouth cannot get it wrong.
The old adage is right: "It's not how loud you holler or how high you jump…
It's how straight you walk when you come down".
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