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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
March 1, 2017 - Everybody is in a hurry. We eat at our desk at work, while driving down the road, I've even seen people eating while they walk. We are constantly on the phone either texting, talking, or checking social media. We have microwaves to cook our food faster, cars and planes to get places faster, the internet to get information faster, everything is about doing more in less time. I read a recent study that stated that no other time in history have we had more things to make our lives easier and faster, and yet we have less free time than at any time in history. We try and cram more "stuff" in less time.
There is a song by the group Alabama whose lyrics go like this; "I am in a hurry to get things done. I rush and rush until life's no fun. All I really have to do is live and die. I'm in a hurry and don't know why." The truth of the matter is that we do seem to stress ourselves out trying to get more things done in a day. We even transfer that stress to our children. If we don't have enough to do, we try and fill our children's life up with stress by enrolling them into every sport, cheer-leading, after school activity that there is and expect them to perform at their highest level at all of them. There's no wonder that the rate of teen suicide is at an all time high. There are more children as well as adults on antidepressants and anti anxiety medicines than anytime in history. More and more do I see children and adults coming into my office for stress related illnesses. Stomach ailments, hypertension, anxiety, depression, headaches, heart disease, obesity, and yes even some cancers can be attributed to or worsened by stress. Increased stress steals our joy and health and can cause us to drift from God. News Flash! You don't have to do everything!
In Psalms 46: 10 God says, "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
We need to learn to be still. God wants us to step back every once and a while and just rest in Him. Jesus tells us in Matthew 11: 29-30, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." God wants us to be happy and stress free, content with our lives.
So now I know the question your going to ask. "How can I find relaxation in my hectic day?" Well I am glad you asked. I have a prescription for you to try. First, put down your phone. Turn off the TV and the radio. Find a quiet place and take three deep breaths. Then second, if you will take just 10 minutes a day and sit still, read aloud these three passages it can change your stress level and your life. Recite Psalms 23, Psalms 91, Matthew 6: 25-34 and make them personal. I promise it will change your life.
Don't take my word for it. Try it! Slow down and let God remove the stress from your life.
I'm just sayin,
Mike Belgard
March 1, 2017 (Order Form) - A Youth Fundraiser will be held Friday, March 3 from 11am until 2pm on the Center Square for the youth of First Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ.
Pulled pork sandwich lunches include pulled pork sandwich, chips, dessert, and bottled water is $7. Pickup on the Center Square.
Pre-order can be faxed to 936-598-9599 or called in to 936-332-0048.
February 28, 2017 - Sunday was Transfiguration Sunday. In the ancient church and in many denominations today, Transfiguration Sunday is one of the most important holy days in the Christian faith. In the ancient world, the earth was flat and above the sky was the realm of God (or gods). So when Moses was called by God to receive the Torah, he was called to the mountain. Moses was enveloped in a cloud, and the people saw what appeared to be a raging fire on the mountain. In our Gospel Lesson Jesus along with Peter, James and John ascend the Holy Mountain: The three disciples see Jesus transfigured and standing with Moses and Elijah. They hear from within the cloud a voice which says, “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.” With this holy day, the Season of the Epiphany ends. Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the forty days of Lent.
I went to Tenaha Methodist this morning to hear Pastor Matt preach. It was so nice to see so many friends and to listen to Matt’s thoughtful message. I was late for Sunday School, but Fannie gave me an excused tardy. This was the last lesson in the quarter; accordingly, we received new material and will have a new author. We have been in double digits at Paxton every Sunday this year! We all hope that Susan, Vera, and Keith are on the mend. Sue has also been sick, so I took her place to start our worship service with readings.
This past week we headed to both Holiday and Lakeside for our monthly ministry. Both ministries were well attended—we had so many volunteers who read, sang, and visited with the residents. Larry Terry came to both ministries to play his fiddle. At Holiday Fannie told some little-known facts about the Presidents in honor of Presidents’ Day. Nora read a book and sang a song. At Lakeside Joyce Hughes and Emily Taylor brought their harps and played several selections. Joyce also played the piano and sang. Nora and sister Jo put their voices together to sing a song. Laura read three poems. We all had a good time and enjoy visiting our friends at the various nursing centers.
“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. God’s Speed!
Forgiveness
February 28, 2017 - Such a simple term, such a difficult task at times. Forgiveness is the true test of the Christian's inner self, a true test of the level of faith in each of us.
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15) This verse follows the Lord's Model Prayer which is (Matthew 6:9-13).
Jesus forgave those who nailed him to the cross, even as they drove the nails through his hands. He is our example, our measuring board for our actions in life.
Job sat in sack cloth and ashes, covered by sores from head to toe, suffering extreme pain. Three of his friends came to console him, but instead they judged him guilty of some heinous crime due to his condition. Job however did not let them persuade him, for he knew he had done nothing wrong, instead he trusted in the Lord and the Lord repaid him double what he had before when his test was completed.
Like the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18, we are forgiven by our Master, so to must we forgive others or be judged as hypocrites.
"Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying; "I repent, you must forgive him." (Luke 17:3-4) Note, the scripture didn't say; "you might forgive him, no, it says, you must forgive him." It also tells us it may not always be easy to be a Christian. Not easy to forgive when we are wrongly or unjustly accused or blamed, not easy, but necessary, for the Lord says we must.
"And you who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he sat aside, nailing it to the cross." (Colossians 2:13-14)
As the Lord nailed our trespasses to the cross and forgave us our sins, we too must forgive others of their trespasses and sins.
No matter the situation, whether it is in business, in our family life, with our friends, or in church, the command is the same. Forgive others as the Lord forgave you.
"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are all members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil." (Ephesians 4:25-27)
Speak the truth, always, because we are all of the same family, the human family. You may be angered by the actions of others toward you, but you must forgive and not sin as they have sinned.
For if you do not forgive; you enable the devil to come into your life and hinder your faith, hurting only yourself. Stopping you from becoming the Christian you can be.
Lord, please, help us to bring the spirit of forgiveness and repentance back into our country, into our daily lives and into our churches.
Help us, O Lord to be the best we can be for your namesake, amen...
May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you this day...
February 27, 2017 - Bell Chapel Baptist Church, San Augustine, would like to welcome everyone to our Pastor's 7th Anniversary Service for Timothy Teel and Earnestine Teel at 2:30pm Sunday, March 5, 2017. The morning service is held at 11 am and will be lead by Service Minister Michael Jenkins, Associate Minister at Mt. Dena Baptist Church. Evening service is held at 2:30pm and will be lead by Reverend George Cartwright, Pastor at Mt. Horeb Baptist Church.
February 16, 2017 - (Flyer) - The Incredible Years Basic Parent Training Program. Come join us for dinner and childcare every Monday night!
The Incredible Years Consist of how to:
- Build strong relationships with children.
- Be a social/emotional and academic coach for your child.
- Provide praise & incentives to build social & academic competency.
- Set limits & establish household rules.
- Handle misbehavior.
You will learn how to use emotion management, problem solving, and social skills.
Time: Mondays at 4:30pm to 6:30pm
Where: Open Door Worship Center, 900 Cotton Ford Road, Center, Texas 75935
Who to contact: 936-598-6315 + ext. Shelia Reed & Lucero Espinosa ext. 84; Deganda Brown ext. 33; Lisa Smith ext. 32: Chelcie Butler ext. 93
Next meeting: Monday, February 27, 2017. (This Monday, Feb. 20, 2017 is President's Day - No Meeting)
Every Monday, there after through May 15, 2017 at Open Door Worship Center 4:30pm -6:30pm.
Free childcare! And we can even get you there if you need transportation. Sponsored by: Tri-County Community Action.
"He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name." Psalms 111:9
February 27, 2017 - J. W. and I were students at ETBC in Marshall, Texas back in the fifties. We had several things in common: We were both ministerial students, drove '55 Fords, were both English majors and were both student pastors.
One Sunday he invited me to visit with him at his church in Weaver, Texas, (a small town in northeast Texas.) The building resembled many of the country churches of that time… a small sanctuary with two Sunday School rooms. As he walked me through the building, I called out, '"J", what is the seating capacity of the building?" He immediately grabbed me by the arm, pulled me to the side and whispered, "Doug, don't call me "J." "Call me "Rev. Baker"… "I want the people to respect me here." And since members were now arriving, I choked down my rebuttal for the time being.
As we drove home, I asked if he knew that Billy Graham never liked being called "Reverend". "'When Reverend" appears in the Bible," I said…" it is referring to God…not man". "People respect us by what we are", I insisted.
I haven't seen J.W. since we graduated from ETBC in the summer of '58. I heard he married a girl named Patricia that he called "the world's sweetest girl".
J. W. Baker was a good man and I have no doubt that he was respected wherever he went…..
….. Even by those who called him "J".
February 27, 2017 - The Shelbyville First United Methodist Church will have an Ash Wednesday service including the imposition of ashes on Wednesday, March 1 beginning at 6:00 pm.
February 23, 2017 - Short United Methodist Church is hosting an evening of Singing and Fellowship at 4:00pm Sunday, February 26, 2017.
There will be congregational singing as well as special music for all to enjoy. Bring a song or two and a covered dish. We look forward to seeing you.
For more information contact: Kenny or Lisa Harris 936-332-5619.
February 22, 2017 - There was an experiment where a group of children were put in a classroom. A teacher was chosen to go into that classroom and teach these children. However, before the teacher went into the room they were briefed on the children's behavior. The first was told that these children were good students and that they had exemplary behavior. When the teacher went into the room she walked in smiling with a pleasant demeanor. She was eager to answer the children's questions. When asked at the end of the day how it went she gushed at how smart and easy these children were to teach.
The second teacher was briefed on the same class but was told that the children were difficult to control and slow to learn. Her approach to the children was vastly different. She was very stern in her speech and gave only short answers to the children's questions. At the end of the day the second teacher appeared much more stressed and told the researcher how difficult her day had been with these children. The researchers came to the conclusion that the teachers attitudes toward their work and the children were directly related to the positive or negative information they received. Positive counsel produces positive attitudes and results. Negative counsel produces negative attitudes and results.
We can easily apply these same principles to our lives. Have you ever worked with someone who always says "that will never work" before they even try? What about those who are constantly complaining? They seem to always want to share their misery with everyone. If we are to be happy and productive, we need to avoid those who would speak negativity into our lives. Instead you need to seek out those who can speak positive things into your life. We can use the principles taught in the Bible to help us overcome negativity in our lives.
First, we can make sure that we do not ask people who have predetermined, negative ideas about things for counsel. King David tells us in the first Psalm, "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields it's fruit in season, it's leaf does not wither . And he will prosper in all he does." In other words when you seek counsel from someone who is not a Godly person, you cannot get wise, Godly answers. But if you align yourself with those who are seeking God, you will most often receive wise counsel that is led by the Spirit. The Bible promises us if we follow this principle we will always be successful.
Second, we must speak positive encouraging words into other's lives. When we speak encouraging words to others it not only gives them hope, but helps us to maintain a positive attitude and wholesome spirit. "We are what we speak." Paul says in Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good for edifying (building up), that it may minister grace to the hearers." We must learn to speak good things if we are to expect positive results. Our words are powerful, and must be spoken wisely.
God loves you and He wants you to live a happy, successful, joy filled life. When you meditate on the love that God gives us in His word and share through positive words to others, both of you will "bloom where you are planted." Believe Him, trust Him, and surround yourself with others who do the same, and He promises to never let you fail.
I'm just Sayin,
Mike Belgard
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