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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
April 25, 2017 - Begin your day in prayer at the Annual Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 7:30a.m. at the Senior Nutrition Center.
Donations accepted for Breakfast. Event sponsored by the Center Ministers’ Fellowship.
May 1, 2017 - There will be Mass on Friday, May 5 at 6pm to welcome Fr. Nelson. Following Mass there will be a covered dish dinner. All are encouraged to attend.
Thank you,
Fr. Jose Luis
“What thy hands find to do, do it with thy might…” (Ecc. 9:10)
Willie came this morning to do some painting for us. He arrived at 8: oo sharp as he always does but his 20-year old helper came dragging up an hour late with his hands in his pockets and mumbling excuses.
It’s a good thing he wasn’t working for my father-in-law, Oley LeDoux. Oley has worked for the same company in Sulphur, La. for 56 years and says they never hire anyone who comes for a job interview with their hands in their pockets.
My Dad, one of the world’s hardest workers, told my brothers and me to keep our hands out of our pockets and to work for our pay. But times have changed and we now have a generation of lazy parents spawning a brood of lethargic hand-warmers.
My Pastor told me years ago that the world didn’t need any lazy preachers and advised me to never preach with my hands in my pockets. I never have…
…and never will.
April 28, 2017 - Spring is certainly showing off with its many beautiful colors and various shades of green. It is, as always, the perfect season to stop and reflect on treasured memories and how blessed we are. Our loved ones will be honored at the Willow Grove Homecoming on Saturday, May 6, 2017. It will be a day of fellowship, fun and food. It is also the time of year we contribute to our cemetery fund. We find it our responsibility and honor to pass on this tradition and our heritage to our children.
We will begin the morning with a stroll through the cemetery. Our group meeting will begin at 11am followed by a pot luck dinner in the Willow Grove Fellowship Hall. Everyone contributes dishes and everything is always most delicious.
If you were unable to attend last year, but will this year, you will see our new addition to the cemetery. The new six-foot directory allows anyone to walk up and locate their family gravesite by name and grid. We have gotten many compliments on it and its usefulness. As always, we spotlight Lennis Holt for taking care of the back forty. We also appreciate Bill Davis for keeping the inside grounds so nice. If you see them be sure to thank them!
We are hoping you will make the Homecoming this year. Should you not be able to and would still like to contribute please make checks payable to: Willow Grove Cemetery Fund and send to Willie Edwards, P.O. Box 71, Joaquin, Texas 75954. His telephone number is 936-269-3236.
April 27, 2017 - Mt. Mariah Baptist Church is having a Pastor and Wife Church Anniversary for Pastor Author Cloudy and First Lady LeVarie Cloudy on Sunday, April 30, 2017 at 3pm in Garrison, Texas.
Guest speaker will be Pastor Marlon Cloudy of Abundant Love Ministries, Center. Everyone is cordially invited to celebrate with us.
April 27, 2017 (Event Flyer) - Open Door Baptist Worship Center is hosting a Youth Revival May 16, May 17, and May 18, 2017. The program will begin at 7:00pm nightly with a theme of 'A Chosen Generation' - 1 Peter 2:9. Speakers for the event are:
- Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - Pastor Jimmy Davis of Bountiful Blessings, Burke, Texas
- Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - Pastor LaKendrick Bluford of Triumph Church, Shelbyville, Texas
- Thursday, May 18, 2017 - Minister Michael Cloudy of Abundant Love Ministries, Center, Texas
We are asking all Praise Dancers, Soloists, Choirs, Groups, or Youth to come and join us in our celebration. We hope to see you there.
Open Door Baptist Worship Center is located at 900 Cotton Ford Road, Center, Texas with Pastor Alvin Davis.
April 27, 2017 - Patroon Baptist Church will be holding an indoor garage sale on Friday, April 28 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. and Saturday, April 29 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Patroon Baptist Church is located at 310 FM 2261, Shelbyville.
Proceeds will benefit a summer trip to Fort Rock family camp in Arkansas.
April 26, 2017 - "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;" (Joel 2:28) "And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Joel 2:32)
Jesus promised this Holy Spirit of God would come and be with us forever as he prepared his disciples for his coming death and resurrection. He tells the disciples; "If you love me you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him." (John 14:15-17) "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14:26)
"And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you, but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:49)
Jesus left the disciples with these words just before he ascended back to heaven. The disciples returned to Jerusalem as he had directed and waited for the power of the Holy Spirit to come to them.
"When the day of Pentecost arrived they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting." (Acts 2:1-2)
Just as Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit came and filled them and the city being full of travelers, many heard the sound and came to see what was happening.
"And at this sound the multitude came together and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?" (Acts 2:6-8)
Peter began to speak to the masses. Telling them that the apostles were not drunk as some suspected, but that indeed they were fulfilling the prophesy of the prophet Joel.
Peter went on then to tell them what they had done when they crucified the risen Lord.
"Men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know - this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it." (Acts 2:22-24)
"Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." (Acts 2:36) When they heard these words they were in panic mode and asked Peter what they could do. He answered them; "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)
This gift is still available today for all who will step forward and accept it. Jesus died for the sin of all people and accepting him as Lord and Savior gains us the gift of the Holy Spirit just as it did the thousands who were saved on that first day of the empowering of the Holy Spirit. Ask him and he will forgive you and save you today, forever.
May the Lord bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you this day...
April 26, 2017 - The Tenaha Church of Christ invites you to be a part of a Reunion being held on Sunday, May 7! Join us to celebrate God’s goodness as we say goodbye to our old church building and reminisce and fellowship together. There will be a meal at 12:30 with a thanksgiving service following at 2:00. All are welcome... please join us!
April 26, 2017 - One of our favorite family vacations is going to the beach at Galveston for some fun in the sand, sun, and surf. We particularly enjoy surfing on our Boogie boards. We let the older kids use the boogie boards and go do some surfing on their own. The wind was extra high which made the waves larger and more appealing. They were having a great time playing and surfing.
We were setting up our area on the beach, when we looked up and noticed that in no time, the kids had gotten in deeper water and were drifting toward the rocks near the weir. We began to yell and wave for them to come back, but they were oblivious to the impending danger. They couldn't see what we could from our vantage point. By the time they realized they had drifted into the danger of the rocks one of the parents was already to the shore to get them to safety. The more experienced surfer of the three realized as long as they didn't let go of their boards they would not drown. She told the others, "no matter what, don't turn loose of your board." The boogie board was their key to survival, but they had to hang on to it to receive its life saving gift.
The young people learned several lessons that day.
1) The waves stop for no one. As one restated the obvious; "The water is always moving."
2) When you get so busy playing you stop paying attention to your surroundings, you can quickly drift into troubled waters.
3) No matter how far you've drifted, if you keep hold of your life preserver, you will always have a chance to be rescued.
4) Anyone who really loves you, will always have an eye on you, ready to rescue you if you find yourself in trouble.
Have you ever noticed that life is like that. No matter what happens life keeps going. We sometimes get caught up in the "fun," or our day-to-day routine and don't realize that we are drifting towards something that can cause us great harm. Before we know it we are in the "rocks" of life getting hurt and bruised. And life just keeps happening. It doesn't stop because we are trouble. Just like the waves, it just keeps coming.
I have good news though. You have a life preserver (in the grace of God) and a rescuer (Jesus) who loves you and would never leave you in danger. We just need to learn to "hang on" to our lifesaver. Jesus says, "He will never leave us or forsake us." That He is "our mighty fortress in storms". He always has His eye on us and is ready to catch us when we fall. All you have to do is accept His grace and receive His life saving gift.
You can be kept safe from the waves of life. But rest assured, they will keep coming. So why not rest in the lifeboat of God's grace and have peace in the midst of the storm.
I'm just saying,
Mike Belgard
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