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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
February 22, 2017 - Mt. Mariah Baptist Church cordially invites you to come and share in this great event to be held March 5 at 3pm.
11941 East County Road 3285 Garrison, Tx. 75946. Rev. Arthur Cloudy, Pastor.
Come one, come all!
February 21, 2017 - St. Johns Episcopal Church is having its annual pancake supper on Feb. 28th Fat Tuesday from 5pm to 7pm.
Located at 1063 Southview Circle-96 South. Everyone is invited to attend.
February 21, 2017 - Gates Chapel Baptist Church of Shelbyville will host its 104th Church Anniversary program on Sunday, March 5 at 2:30pm. The special guest speaker will be Rev. Marvin Jackson, Jr. of Clayton Temple, Timpson. Everyone is invited to attend says Pastor Frankie Cooper.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not lean on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)
February 21, 2017 - The great king Solomon, the son of king David brings us these words in the book of Proverbs, the source of many of the wisest words of the Bible.
King Solomon advises us against depending upon our own opinions, but instead to trust in the Lord and not ourselves.
"In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:6)
To make straight our path means to make our path shorter, more direct, an easier way to go. So by asking God for His help and leadership in all that we do we find ourselves having an easier time of navigating the path through this world. Acknowledge your own weakness and His strength.
As the old saying goes; "the man who has himself for his lawyer has a fool for a lawyer" so to is the man who "leans upon his own understanding".
"Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil." (Proverbs 3:7)
The wise man fears the Lord, for He is all powerful, controlling all things, at all times. As the model prayer says; "for your's is the power, the kingdom, the glory" these things, all power, all kingdom and all glory belong only to the Lord, it is His and His alone and He will not share His glory with anyone.
The person who thinks he is smarter than the Lord is indeed a fool and destined for darkness. Fear the Lord and turn away from evil so that you too may flourish and be fruitful.
No man possesses wisdom, wisdom is an attribute which must be found and it is only found through prayer to the Lord. When, as a young man,Solomon became king of Israel God asked Solomon what he would wish for God to grant to him. Solomon asked for the wisdom to govern his people with knowledge and understanding. "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore," (1 Kings 4:29)
Solomon understood what God had done for him and he used his God-given wisdom to rightly judge and rule over Israel all of his days. He wrote these words about wisdom and understanding; "Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from "her" (being wisdom) is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold." (Proverbs 3:13-14)
If you find yourself floundering in a sea of despair, if the daily grind seems just too much to handle, stop what you are doing.
Sit for a time each morning, waiting on the Lord. Just sit and talk to the Lord as you would your best friend, for He wishes to be so. Talk to Him about your problems and troubles, ask Him for guidance and leadership and wisdom.
But first, if you are not saved, ask Him to save you, for the prayers of the unsaved fall on deaf ears.
Ask him to forgive your sins and to save your soul from hell, accept Him as Lord and He will redeem you. Gain the wisdom from God to navigate the straight path through this world.
May God bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you...
February 21, 2017 - Patroon Baptist Church will be holding a spring revival March 5 through March 8. Supper will be served each night at 6 p.m. and services will begin at 7 p.m. The revival will be brought by Bro. George Ross from New Hope Baptist Church. Patroon Baptist Church is located at 310 FM 2261 in Shelbyville.
February 20, 2017 - Sunday was the 7th Sunday of the Epiphany, a season which is very long this year because Easter is so late. The Old Testament Lesson from Leviticus and the Gospel Lesson are tied by a command. In Leviticus 19:2 we are told to be holy because God is holy. In Matthew 5:48 Jesus says we are to be perfect because God is perfect. Holiness and Christian Perfection strike at the heart of Methodism and Wesleyan theology. In Wesleyan thought there is no holding steady—either one is moving toward Christian perfection or one is moving away from God. We too often become conditioned and don’t spend the time needed to study and to meditate. Wesley speaks of two kinds of works which are a sign of one’s love for God. First are works of piety which include worship, prayer, meditation, fasting, and studying scriptures. Then there are works of mercy: visiting the sick and imprisoned, taking care of the poor, and above all else, Wesley says, “doing no harm.”
We had a small Sunday School class but a great lesson, which again used Paul’s letter to the Galatians as the starting point. Paul speaks in his letter to people about freedom, an idea not well understood in the Empire. Only a small number were citizens of Rome. Most people were conquered, and many were slaves. But Paul sees freedom in following Jesus. Ms. Fannie led a lively discussion, and we all appreciate her preparation. We missed Joy at Sunday School and worship, sending her our best as she recuperates from surgery. Keith and Vera both have the flu, and we hope they start feeling better soon. We miss you all.
Our Sunday School class (there is only one) is held in the sanctuary. It is always such a wonderful sound to hear the door opening as folks come to worship. It was great to see Larry, Susan, Laura, and Joe. Hilda plays for First Methodist in Tenaha and then drives down 84 to Paxton to play for us. Hilda and Joe always select hymns that seem just the right ones for that particular Sunday.
Sue starts off our worship time with The Gathering Words which usually come from that Sunday’s Psalter Lesson. We as a congregation then speak a creed of our church. Usually we use the one that most Protestants know the best—The Apostles Creed. But the last few Sundays we have been using a Modern Affirmation. Next Sunday is The Transfiguration, which will be followed by the forty days of Lent. As you know, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is the day after Fat Tuesday (better known as Mardi Gras) and ends on Easter weekend.
We have two ministries this week. On Tuesday we go to Holiday Nursing Center and on Thursday, Lakeside Assisted Living. Both ministries start at 2:00. We have been collecting soap and shampoo all month for Community Christian Services. Next month we will donate cans of chili.
“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!
February 16, 2017 - Please join us for our Annual Church Anniversary at Triumph Church at 908 Daniel St., Center, TX on Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 3:00pm.
All are welcome! Steven Neal, Pastor
February 14, 2017 - Every day he came to the nursing home and sat. Every morning at the same time he would walk through the door, pass the nurses station and greet the nurses and staff with a "Good morning. What a beautiful day."
He would go down the hall, enter the room where his wife was lying in bed and greet her with a kiss. She would stare blankly into space as if she never heard him. He would wrap a napkin around her neck and begin feeding her. He would tell her what the latest news was with the children and grandchildren. He would laugh out loud as he told the stories, but still she would just stare. Everyday, seven days a week, 365 days a year the same routine. One day as he entered the building with his usual greetings to the staff, one of the orderlies asked, "Do you ever take a day off? You know she wouldn't know if you missed a day." He looked at the young man and said, "Son I made a commitment to her over 60 years ago that I would never leave her. That I would love her and care for her until I died. Young man love is not just about saying, its about doing."
Love is probably one of the most used, but most misinterpreted words in the English language. Love is not just a word or emotion to describe something that we like, its the very essence of human existence. Without love the world would disintegrate into chaos. However, when true unconditional love is applied to any situation it will transform that situation into a picture of God himself. 1 John 4: 7-8 says: "Beloved let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."
The first fruit of the Spirit mentioned is love. It is not coincidence that it is first. Without love, nothing else we do really matters to God. In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul tells us of the importance of doing all things for love. "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." You see when we are filled with the Spirit, love becomes the motivation for everything we do. There are so many people who think that being a "christian" is about showing up for church, teaching Sunday school, going on mission trips to far away places, or making a public display standing for a religious cause. These are great things to do, but if you do them just to receive accolades from the world not because you have a true love for the people that you are doing it for, you have missed the point. Demonstrating Gods love for people so that they may see Him through you should be your only motivation. Just as Gods love for us is without limits or boundaries, so should our love for others be. Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love for us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us." You see God loves you without conditions. He loves you right where your at. You don't have to be good enough before he'll love you. Jesus died for you while you were still lost. I am so thankful He didn't say," I'm going to wait until Mike gets good enough before I show him my love." But instead He said, "I'm going to show Mike how much I love him by dying on the cross for him even though he doesn't love me or know me right now." You could be the worst person in the world or the best and he loves you the same. Love is just what God does.
Paul goes on to tell us what true love really looks like. "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails." (1 Cor 13: 4-8) True love always behaves like that passage. Husbands, can you say that your wives use these traits to describe how you treat her? Wives, what about loving your husbands this way. This is the kind of love God has for you. We should all reflect His love and rest in His love.
I'm Just Sayin'
Mike Belgard
As I see the unrest, the "protests", the "riots" in America I wonder, just what is causing these things? They claim they are protesting for some mythical, "worthy cause", but when asked questions about their reasons, most cannot answer. Most cannot tell you why they are there. I see the answer in God's Word.
"And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." (Romans 1:28-32)
Now, before you accuse me of mixing religion and politics, no, I am simply looking to the only real truth in this world for answers to today's questions of life. I know by studying the Bible that it is the only truth of this world. If I need answers I am going to look for them where there is truth. I go to the book of answers, the Holy Bible.
The problems of America are not; unemployment, illegal aliens, or ISIS. No, the problems of America are lack of knowledge of the Word of God.
God tells us how dangerous this is, to reject Him. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children." (Hosea 4:6)
An unrepentant generation can cause just such happenings as we see daily on the television. God clearly states that if we forget His teachings, He will forget, even our children.
When God is at controversy with the people of any land that land falls into despair and the following happens; "There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed." (Hosea 4:1-2)
Is that what we are seeing in America? Is that where we are headed? I am afraid so, I am afraid that unless Christians rise up and do as God has instructed us in His Word that things are going to continue to follow the path of destruction in America.
"If my people who are called by my name (Christians) humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Its time Christians, it's time to follow God's instructions. Do as He says; humble yourself, forget your pride, get on your knees and beg Him for forgiveness for yourself and your country. Only then will we see conditions in America improve.
Read and study your Bible every day, make time, its important...
Not by man but by the Lord God will America be restored to its former greatness.
May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you this day.
February 13, 2017 - Sunday was the 6th Sunday of the Epiphany, a season which is very long this year because Easter is so late. The Council of Nicaea in 325 CE decreed that Easter would be the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox. That makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? Our Gathering Words this morning came from the Apocrypha—Sirach 15:15-20. Early Christians considered the books of the Apocrypha as authoritative, although they weren’t included in the Old or New Testaments. The Old Testament Lesson was Deuteronomy 30:15-20. What we have here is Moses’ Farewell Address. He has summoned the people together and tells them they must choose between life and death. They are to follow God’s ways and live in covenant with God and their fellow travelers or choose a path that leads to death.
The Holy Gospel continued with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Matthew certainly doesn’t see Jesus as one who came to replace the Torah, but as one who would perfect the Torah. Jesus reminds them that the Torah says one shall not murder. But Jesus takes that command further, stating that one must not have anger towards one’s brothers and sisters. Jesus tells the listeners to make things right—to get rid of the anger. Next Sunday continues with the Sermon on the Mount.
We had a big-for-Paxton crowd at church Sunday. Lillie, Liz, and Mike were up from Houston for a few days and joined us for worship. Having them with us really makes our day, reminding us how important friends are. Laura and Joe teamed up to lead us in our singing. Mrs. Hilda is so kind to join us each Sunday to play the piano, especially after she has already been to church in Tenaha. Susan was under the weather, and we always miss her when she is not here. For the altar, Sue brought the Valentine’s Day floral display that I got her at Sunshine Flowers. And Liz gave everyone a heart-shaped box of chocolates.
Mrs. Fannie had a really good Sunday school lesson from Galatians 4: 8-20. Paul is trying to heal a rift that has developed about the Torah in the church of Galatia. One of the earliest disputes in the early church dealt with the question of whether Christian converts first needed to be converted to Judaism. This dispute is witnessed to in Acts and in many of Paul’s writings.
Paxton has two more nursing home outreaches this month. On Tuesday February 21st we go to Holiday Nursing Center. Two days later, Thursday February 23rd we head to Lakeside. In some months the third Tuesday and fourth Thursday end up in the same week. Both ministries begin at 2:00 PM.
“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!
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