Shelby County Today

April 20, 2017 - A man I know had gotten ill and ended up in the hospital. After many tests, several days in the hospital, and cardiac stents he was handed a very large bill. He was faced with the dilemma that many people have today of not being able to pay the bill in full. He worked with the hospital on a payment plan and began to try and make payments, but as bills mounted and everyday life expenses took their toll on his monthly income, he found himself in financial trouble. He had run out of options and money.

So he swallowed his pride, mustered his courage and went back to the hospital to ask them his balance and if they could renegotiate his payments. He was met by a pleasant young lady who was quick to tell him his balance was over $40,000. She told him that before she could talk to him about lowering his payment she would have to talk with her supervisor. He noticed she walked over to the desk of a woman who had looked to be watching and listening to their conversation.

They seemed to be discussing things when the lady got up from her desk and walked over to where he was standing. She looked over his previous payments looked up at him and said "I see that you have been faithful to pay on time each month even though the amount is too small to impact the balance." He agreed with her, but told her that he was there to see if he could get his payments lowered. She didn't respond but went to her desk, did some calculations, came back and said "Sir, your debt has been forgiven. You no longer owe us any money." Needless to say he was ecstatic! He had went to the hospital seeking mercy only, but instead was given grace!

Our relationship with God is like that. When we come asking for mercy, God extends to us grace. Mercy is when you don't get what you do deserve. Grace is when you do get something that you don't deserve. You had to do nothing to get it, you have no control over the one who is offering it, the only responsibility you have is to receive it. Gods grace is amazing because it is given to us irregardless of how bad or good we have been.

An example of that is the thief on the cross who said, "Lord remember me when You come into Your kingdom."  Jesus hearing his cry for mercy, not only shows mercy, but extends grace by promising; "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." There is nothing that you can do or not do, to make God love you more. Jesus died for all. He loves you and extends his grace to you because of his unconditional love for you." For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is God's gift--Not from works so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2: 8-9)

You can't earn grace. It is a free gift, and what an amazing gift it is! Living forever with Jesus in heaven. That is why grace is so amazing. Receive it, accept it, live in it, and experience the abundant love and joy of the Lord. "Mercy, saves us from hell. Grace, gives us heaven". (David Jeremiah)
                                                                              I'm Just Sayin,
                                                                              Mike Belgard

April 18, 2017 - The Todd Spring Baptist Church, Shelbyville, Tx. will have their annual Family and Friends Day celebration Sunday, April 23, 2017 at 2:30pm.

Pastor Curtis Archie and the East Liberty Baptist Church will be the special guest.

Everyone is invited to attend. Wilbert Simmons Jr., Pastor.

April 13, 2017 - "And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "which commandment is the most important of all?" (Mark 12:28)

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)

So there we have it from Jesus' own mouth. Our first priority is to love God with our entire being, body and soul and secondly, to love our neighbor as ourself.

The great king, Solomon, in his later days pondered all he had learned and had this to say about serving God.

"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the sole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, with every secret thing, whether god or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Does that not sound like the words of Jesus many generations later in time?

God asks all people through the scriptures to step forth and live wholeheartedly, for Him. To love Him with all that we are, each day. God is not looking for "Sunday Morning Christians" no, He is looking for those who cling to Him all day, every day.

So many are afraid of this total commitment, so many want to worship a little while on Sunday and slip right back into the world on Monday morning.

Folks, this is not what the Lord asks of us, we are asked to give Him our all, without hesitation and, to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Is this so hard, are the pleasures of the earth so great that they are worth forfeiting eternity spent, in heaven, with the Lord?

If worldly pleasures seem so important to you then I ask you to listen to the words of Jesus, given to His disciples only days before His death on the cross. He is telling them of the coming of the Son of Man, the event we call the Second Coming, when Jesus comes back to earth in all His glory. An event so great, so dramatic that as the Bible says; "every knee shall bend, every head shall bow" as the world witnesses God's great glory. Jesus said this about the events into the future.

"So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates. (Matthew 24:33)
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words will not pass away." (Matthew 24:35)

Any worldly things you may be concerned with; those will not survive the second coming of our Lord. They will be burned up as chaff of the field, nothing left of them but ashes.

Jesus tells us what is important, love Him with all that we have, and he tells us why. Because in the end we will have nothing left but our relationship with Him. Choose life today, choose to believe God's Word, choose to accept the free gift of eternal salvation, paid for by the Lord Jesus and His death of the cross. Just tell Him; "Jesus save me for I am a sinner", and He will.

May God's blessings be upon you this day...

April 13, 2017 - Huxley Helping Hands, a local mission group from the Huxley community is holding a food pantry for the residents of Shelby County this Saturday, April 15 at Hillcrest Baptist Church, 901 Southview Circle, Center, Texas .

I.D.& proof of residencey is required. You will not receive a box if you do not bring photo ID.

Only one (1) box per household.

Sign-in starts at 9:00 am until food is gone.