Shelby County Today

May 11, 2017 - When I was only eight years old my father passed away. My mother having to fend for herself,  and the five boys she had to raise alone, had to have help taking care of us. So my brothers and I spent a lot of time with our grandmothers. Both of who were widows as well. I learned a lot observing  the actions and words of these women of God. As I reflect back on these pearls of wisdom that they passed on to myself and my brothers, I realize they have carried me through, and kept me out of many difficulties in life. They are too good not to pass along for others to treasure as well. 

So here they are:
1) A hug and kiss is the best pain reliever. There is something in a hug that just seems to make things better. I don't mean one of those half hearted side hugs, but a both arms around you, head on the chest hug. The kind that lets the person getting the hug share the hurt with  the person who is hugging them. Those kind of hugs seem to melt away the hurts in life. It reminds us that there is someone who  loves us, protects us, and cares for us no matter how bad things are at the time.

2) Its always better to tell the truth than a lie. My grandmother used to say lies grow. You have to tell three more lies to cover the first. So its always best just to tell the truth to start. Some people tell lies for so long that they even start believing they are true. The truth will set you free. A lie will enslave you. Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free"

3) Coloring with your child is a great way to find out what they are really thinking and feeling. Never pass up a chance to spend that one on one quality time with your child. It will stay with them for their entire life. I was at a funeral recently and watched the "memory video" that was playing. It dawned on me that when we pass from this earth, our life is nothing more than a collage of memories that we have given our family and friends. So spend your time wisely making as many good memories as you can. That is how you will be remembered.

4) Hold hands when things get scary. Knowing that your not alone when things look dangerous gives you comfort and courage. Holding hands also gives you a sense of security in knowing if you fall, become weak, or something tries to "snatch" you away someone is there to hold you, pick you up, or willing to go through it with you.

5) Don't Stick your finger in the fan. I learned this the hard way. Mother told me this many times and still one day as I stood in front of the fan I just had to see for myself what the big deal was. So I inched my finger ever so close until BRRRRRRING!! I thought that I had lost not only my finger but my whole hand! After a hug and a kiss to relieve the pain my grandmother reminded me of the bible verse that said "if you obey your parents it will add years to your life." There are lots of fans (dangers) out there we just don't need to ever put our fingers in.

6) Just because your poor doesn't mean you have to be dirty. In other words keep yourself clean no matter your circumstances. Always "put your best face forward." Proverbs 13:7, "There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing: And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches."

7) Always put on clean underwear when you leave home. You never know what will happen to you; so be prepared. Every time you leave home you are stepping into the unknown. Don't let life catch you off guard, and embarrass you. Let what's underneath be as clean as what's showing on the outside. Matt.23:26, "first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside may be clean also."

8) Don't Worry about things you can't change. Just concern yourself with the things you can change. That's where you can make a difference. Stop wasting time worrying. Matt 6:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

9) Choose your battles. Don't allow others to draw you into troubles when you can avoid them. There are things worth fighting for, but there are some things its best to walk away from. Romans 12:21, "Do not be over come by evil, but overcome evil with good."

10) Love with all your heart even if it hurts sometimes. To be children of God we have to love. God is love. Galatians 5:14, "For the law is fufilled in on word, even in this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

11) Doing things for others always makes you feel better. It is more blessed to give than receive. We are called to serve. Mark 10:45, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many."

12) Learn to laugh at yourself and laugh often. We all do funny things sometimes. Don't take yourself too seriously. Life is too short not to enjoy. Proverbs 17:22, "A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones."

+1) God is in Control. When all is said and done God is sovereign and His will, will be done. God loves us and always has our best interest at heart. Romans 8:31, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us who can be against us?"

If you take these pearls that were given to me by the woman who mothered me through the years, I believe they will add peace, joy, and happiness to yours.

Just sayin
Mike Belgard

May 10, 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 the second Saturday of May 2017. I.D. & proof of residence is required * only (1) box per household.

Date: May 13, 2017

Time: 9am - until food is gone

Location: Hillcrest Baptist Church 901 Southview Circle, Center Texas

May 9, 2017 - Today in America those who follow the Lord Jesus in their beliefs and their actions are fast becoming judged to be on the wrong side of society.

While the Bible was once looked to for guidance in our daily lives, now, those who use the Bible for the same reasons are scoffed, called names, and purported to be a threat to society. What has happened America? The answer is simple. America has become ignorant to the words of God; the country no longer turns to the Bible for instruction. Too many turn to the only things they know, the media. Whether it is television, telephone, or the internet with things such as FaceBook, Twitter, etc., many get their "truth" each day from these social media sources.

I wonder if any of them ever stop to ask! Now, where did this originate? Who authored this "news" I am reading? How do I know its the truth? I think, none of them ever ask these questions of themselves or of their "news/truth media".
There is but one "truth media", and that is the Holy Spirit of God, sent by the Holy Father, at the request of the Lord Jesus to be the administrator of all things coming from heaven each day.

Jesus calls him our "Helper", the one who leads, guides, directs us through each day. Jesus told the disciples shortly before he was crucified; "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now, When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will speak not on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak and he will declare to you the things that are to come." (John 16:12-13)

The problem with this is that only the believer can hear this Helper. For too many, the words of Jesus are like a fairy tale. The Bible is considered by many to be only a "book of fables", a book like so many others, a book of fiction. 

There is hope however. There is hope for our God is slow to anger, He is compassionate for all people, wishing that no one should perish, but that all should live. We are the solution, Christians. We must stand up and contend for our faith in Christ. As Jesus' half-brother, Jude said; "But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, "in the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions. It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh." (Jude 17-23)

Jude is telling us to love all people, have compassion for the person, show mercy to doubters, snatch others out of the fire, work to bring all to the faith. 

Let the Helper guide you each day and do as he directs you for his words come directly from the Lord Jesus.
I have found that if I do my best, pray often and leave the rest to Jesus it always works out...

May the Lord bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you...

"Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled." Matthew 26:56  

May 8, 2017 - Gordon was a member of our church congregation in Lumberton, Texas and was one of my closest friends.  Several years after leaving Lumberton, I returned to deliver the eulogy at his funeral. The church was packed with an overflowing number of his friends and as we carried his casket to the grave site, the hearse driver fell dead from a heart attack.

Our long talks were many and uplifting. We attended church together…. hunted and fished together…. and never made a trip that we didn't thoroughly enjoy. He had some favorite stories I remember well. His brawl at the Diary Queen was one of them.

He was with two of his “best friends” one night at a Dairy Queen in Beaumont when they were suddenly attacked by a gang of motorcycle punks. While two of them had Gordon pinned to the ground, his "friends" fled… leaving him to face them alone.  After a detailed account of his bloody encounter, he'd eye me seriously and say, "Ðoug,  I don't know about you, but if a man is going to be my friend, he's gonna have to fight for me".

A lot of professing Christians attend church regularly and will even put money in the offering plate…but when times get rough, they mysteriously disappear. The slightest pressure spooks them and they run away to hide. Like Gordon’s friends,  they don't want to be involved. But if they're really a friend of Christ…

… they won't run away…they'll stay and fight.