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Contributing Writers: David Mathis | Tim Perkins
Past Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard
Faith
October 17, 2017 - Abundant Love Ministries will celebrate their Pastor’s and Wife Appreciation Service, Sunday, Oct. 22nd, at 2:30pm. Elder Norris Cloudy, Divine Faith Tabernacle, Houston, TX is the guest speaker.
All regular services (Sunday School and regular noon day service), are cancelled. You are invited and welcome.
Abundant Love Ministries is located at 1426 Shelbyville St., Center, TX 75935
October 17, 2017 - The great king of Israel, David, a man after God’s own heart, but, a man also of imperfect desires. A man who needed help from the Lord to protect him from the enemies of this world.
We are no different today, no matter how large or powerful one might think of himself, there are times when everyone needs help from someone more powerful.
When we find ourselves in need of “Higher” help, let us do as David, let us turn to the Lord God for help.
Let us know as did king David; “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:10)
You see, David knew that his help lay in the arms of the Lord, he knew that the Lord God was his refuge from evil and worldly problems.
“I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, my stronghold." (Psalm 18:1-2)
David had no doubt that the Lord God was his refuge and he didn’t hesitate to call upon the Lord when he was in need or when he felt threatened.
“I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised and I am saved from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:3)
David had many enemies in his role as king of Israel, political enemies who wished to see him unseated from the throne of Israel. But, also, enemies of the Lord who wished to see David silenced as he witnessed for the Lord God in his daily life. He faced the same enemies of God as Christians face today, those who wish to discount and deface God and all who worship God. As they hated Christ Jesus, they hate us today.
We see those same faces as they try each day to break down the goodness of America and the world in general and cause diversion, devision, and deviation from the ways of the Lord.
We too can call upon the Lord God in those times when we feel persecuted, threatened and ridiculed by the forces of evil.
“I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.” (Psalm 17:6-7)
“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,” (Psalm 17:8)
David goes on in this prayer to speak of those who are causing him problems and many are those who he calls “men of the world.” The same men we see today causing trouble for the children of God who have been separated from the world and are now hated by the world as was the Lord Jesus.
“Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword, from men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.” (Psalm 17:13-14)
You see David is talking directly about the people of the world. Men who store up treasure on earth but not in heaven. For those who are not of God are the true enemies of all who have been born-again and set aside for the glory of God.
When you feel threatened by the world, turn to the One who has defeated the world, turn to the Lord God for help in your times of trouble and need. May Gods blessings be upon you this day...
October 16, 2017 - Old Home Baptist Church will be having their annual Fall Festival, Saturday, October 21st at 6pm. Hay ride, hot dog roast and games. All ages welcome to come out and enjoy the fellowship. Call or text for more details: 936-332-9293.
October 16, 2017 - Sunday was the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The weather folks on TV are promising us that fall is coming this week. The Christian Year is coming to a close. Soon our attention will be on preparing for the Christ Child and the season of Advent. We have been in the very long season of Ordinary Time. From Pentecost until All Saints Day, there are no holy days like Christmas, Easter, or Pentecost. But even in ordinary day-to-day living we can still get glimpses of the Divine.
The Gospel Lesson for Sunday was Matthew 22:1-14, the third parable Jesus told during Holy Week at the Temple Mount. All the parables were aimed at the priests and elders who were supposed to be close to God and protectors of the faith. In this third parable the King invites his guests to the wedding feast for his son. The invited guests don’t seem interested and at the end of the parable the King sends out servants to round up anyone on the street. This parable was full of meaning about the Kingdom and what we should all be about.
Fannie’s Sunday school lesson stuck with the theme of covenant. This week’s lesson was God’s Written Covenant. The scripture came from Exodus 20:18-26; the people of Israel have witnessed thunder and lightning, the sound of the horn, and smoke covering the mountain. They were quite content to let Moses be the go-between.
This past Thursday our volunteers went to Focused Care in Center. We had a small crowd, but Nora, Jo, Hilda, and I enjoyed visiting and singing many songs. This Tuesday we go at 2PM to Holiday Nursing Center. Our church voted to send money to Gene and Joy’s grandson to buy wreaths for soldiers in cemeteries across the nation—a Boy Scout project. We also decided to help out financially with additional hurricane relief. All this month we are collecting peanut butter and jelly to take to Community Christian Services. We are also going to contribute to buying Christmas gifts for children through Community Christian Services.
“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.
October 16, 2017 - Strong Triumph Church presents Fall Festival on Saturday, October 28, 2017 from 6pm until 9pm. Come out for a fun-filled night full of games, music, food, and take a walk through the haunted house!!!
For more information, please contact Elder Faye Dell Allen at 936-368-2611 or 936-572-5810 or Sis. Sylvia Hubbard at 936-332-3103.
October 16, 2017 - First Baptist Church of Center will be hosting a Blood Drive on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 from 10am until 2:30pm in the Fellowship Hall.
Contact Teresa at (936) 598–5605 to schedule an appointment. Eat, drink, and bring identification!
“Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God…and the other prisoners heard them…” Acts 16:25
October 12, 2017 - This past month I’ve been photographing America’s most beautiful songbird, the male painted bunting. These gorgeous little birds arrive in the Sand Hills of East Texas every April to mate and raise a family. Their red, blue, green and yellow colors have given them the name, “nonpareil” (no equal) in French and “Mariposa pintada” (painted butterfly) in Spanish.
Their numbers have declined sharply in recent years because many are trapped for cage birds in Mexico every winter and sold on the European bird market. Buntings don’t sing loudly but they sing sweetly. And they sing their best when they’re in cages!
Unfortunately we Christians whine a lot when we’re in cages. And when we do, we’re not whining what we preach. Living for the Lord doesn’t mean we’ll never be in a cage. The most beautiful of God’s children wind up there sometimes, but by God’s grace they keep singing.
The world needs to sing the songs of Zion, too. But they never will….
…unless we do.
October 12, 2017 - Huxley Helping Hands, a local mission group from the Huxley community, are holding a food pantry for the residents of Shelby County. It will be held Saturday, October 14, 2017. Identification and proof of residency will be required. Only (1) box per household will be given.
The October food pantry starts at 9am and lasts until food is gone. Pickup is at Hillcrest Baptist Church, 901 Southview Circle, Center Texas.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
October 11, 2017 - Can you answer this question without hesitation, without doubt, without fear; “Where will you be 200 years from today?”
Only by living in Christ can you truthfully, without hesitation answer the question. For only those who know Christ Jesus and have fully and completely accepted him as Lord and Savior have that peace, knowing that their future lies with the Lord forever.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) This word condemnation is the act of condemning, to condemn means; “To pronounce an unfavorable or adverse judgement on someone. For him to be found guilty and to be sentenced to punishment.” So when the scripture says the there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ, we should listen and consider that statement.
We should ask to know more, why are those in Christ released from judgement and punishment. We see the answer in the following scriptures.
“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2) To be “in Christ Jesus” means that one has accepted him as Lord and Master and is living his life led by the Holy Spirit in the love of Christ Jesus. To be “in Christ” is to be redeemed, set free from the penalty of sin, forever.
“For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:3-4)
God issued his law to Moses as the law for the people of Israel to follow if they were to be saved from an eternity in hell. The law was a perfect vessel and man being imperfect could not possibly follow it. This was the beauty of the law of God, that no man could follow each and every law, but, in order to follow all laws, one had to follow each law, without blemish, without failure. NO man other than the Lord Jesus could do so.
For Jesus to be able to come to earth, live his life and pay for the sins of all mankind by his sacrifice on the cross he had to follow and live the law of Moses, perfectly, which he did, qualifying himself to become the sacrificial lamb of God that would pay for all sin, once for all.
You see, Jesus did what NO MAN could do. He qualified to be the vessel, approved by God, to remove the penalty of sin for all who would accept him as Lord and Master.
“There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
For those who are saved there can be no more beautiful words in the Bible than that, the first verse of Romans chapter eight.
And so I ask you again, are you living your life in Christ? Do you know where you will be 200 years from today?
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Accept this free gift of eternal life today; “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him fro the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
God will not force you, you must take this step by yourself to be saved forever and to live forever in the arms of our Lord.
Take it today, accept him as Lord and know his joy forever. May you feel his blessings this day and forevermore...
October 9, 2017 - Old Salem Missionary Baptist Church is hosting a Fall Festival on Saturday, October 14, 2017 from 6pm to 8pm. Everyone is invited to come enjoy games, cupcake walk, prizes, good food, and a hayride at dark. All ages are welcome and bring a friend!
Directions to the church are: go Highway 7 West 5 miles out. Take a left on FM 711. Go 10 miles down FM 711 and take CR 1297 on left. Go 1/4 mile and you will see the church.
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