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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
January 17, 2017 - Repelling is fun. The feeling of walking off a 50 ft. tower or large cliff with just a rope between you and the ground is exhilarating!
I will never forget the first time that I was challenged to do it. I have to say this right off, I have always had a "fear" of heights. So for me to do this, in my mind, was truly a feat. As I began to climb the tower and think that what I was about to do feeds one of my biggest fears, my chest began to tighten, hands sweating, breathing labored, and my knees got weak. That's right I was in full anxiety mode. My fear was so strong I didn't know if I could make it to the top of the tower, let alone jump off it with nothing more between me and the ground but a rope and one of my Army buddies holding the line at the bottom.
Once I got to the top I was "rigged up" and walked to the edge of the platform. The instructor could tell I was nervous, so he comforted me with the words, "Don't worry if you fall, we can slow your descent so you probably won't die, just break a couple bones." Then he laughed. I was given instructions on how to stop or slow myself on the way down and told to step over the edge. As I looked back over the edge and seen how far it was to the ground, all those fears rushed through my head, "What if the rope breaks?, What if I forget how to stop?, What if the guy on the ground is not paying attention as I plunge to the earth?" Then the instructor gave me some wise advice. He said, Just step over the edge and hold for a few seconds until you get used to being over the edge." Then he told me that the guy on the ground end of the rope could stop me if I started to free fall. You see the "anchor man" at the other end of the rope could actually be your salvation if you began to fall. With this realization, my fears were relieved and my anxiety began to subside. I made the repel without incident and couldn't wait to get back and try it again. I almost let fear and anxiety keep me from experiencing something that could give me enjoyment.
In life we let our fears lead us to anxiety and worry. When we allow these to take control of our lives it can paralyze us and keep us from moving forward. Did you know that about 90 percent of the things we worry about daily never materialize. So we spend a lot of our days being afraid to step out of our comfort zones to be all that God wants us to be. We can use fear and anxiety as justification for our inaction, but in reality it comes down to not trusting our "anchor man." Who we put our trust in if we start to "free fall."
Hebrews 6:19-20 says, "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus." When we are convinced that we can trust Jesus as the anchor of our soul we can live life head on, without fear. Paul tells us that if we, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4: 6-7)
So don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Its time for you to stop letting fear and anxiety hold you back. Step out, and put your faith and trust in the "anchor" that never fails, Jesus Christ. When anxiety enters faith leaves, but when faith takes over anxiety disappears.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
― Theodore Roosevelt.
Trust God and stop worrying. You won't succeed if you never try.
I'm Just sayin,
Mike Belgard
January 17, 2017 - The St John Baptist Church of Tenaha, Texas would like to invite everyone to our Winter Musical featuring the Chariots of Fire from Shreveport, Louisiana on February 11, 2017 at 7:00 pm.
We would be delighted to see you there.
January 16, 2017 - "Arise and go down to the potters house, and there I will let you hear my words." So I went down to the potters house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potters hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Then the word of the Lord came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done?" Declares the Lord. "Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel." (Jeremiah 18:2-6)
This story of the potter's wheel truly is the story of the relationship of mankind on earth with the Lord.
Just as with the clay of the potters wheel, all men are "spoiled" as we are all born into this world with the sin nature inherited from our forefather, Adam.
From birth we are molded by our parents, our siblings, our school and our church, yet we are still spoiled by our sin nature and for us to be complete and be useful vessels we too must be reworked into a useful vessel, a new creation.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
"If anyone is in Christ", meaning, once we have accepted Christ as Lord and Master we are then a "new creation". Once saved you will be changed, the old things of this world will no longer control you as you learn the true joy of living in Christ. You will grow in faith to realize that nothing of this world matters, only God's Word and your relationship with God is important. It is your future, your place in eternity that matters.
"Arise and go down to the potters house, and there I will let you hear my words." Is God not the potter, is the potters house not the church? Isn't God telling us here that if we are to become useful vessels then we must go to where we can hear His words? "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17)
Absolutely, we see here from the scripture that to be saved; we must "hear the word" for "faith comes from hearing". God is telling us that we must be told as were the 1st century Christians, they did not know "the Word" until John the Baptist and Jesus Christ came preaching repentance of sins. Without this preaching, not one person would be saved today.
"Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
"For with heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:10)
There it is, we must be reworked by God's grace into new creations, useful vessels for the work He put us here to do.
If you don't know Him, find a church today be there tonight and begin the process of being reworked by God into a useful vessel.
May God's blessings be upon you...
“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so..” Psalms 107:2
January 16, 2017 - I was a college sophomore when I bought my first car. It was a black twelve-year old ‘41 Ford. Jones Chevrolet in Center, Texas stored it for me eight months while I paid for it. It cost me $495 and I couldn’t wait to drive it home.
I painted the dash tomato red and put a wheel cover and steering knob on it before driving it to ETBC to show it off. Parking it every day in front of the dining hall assured me that everyone saw it. I was proud of that car!!
When I was converted to the Lord, I was so proud of the Lord Jesus. I apologized to people I had offended, returned the fifty cents I’d stolen from Barney Bridges’ Café , and showed my new faith to everyone.
Many people don’t show off their cars like they used to. I’ve also noticed that many Christians don’t show the Lord off like they once did.
I wonder why.
January 11, 2017 - As we look upon the light of a new day, a new year, let us have hope for a better time in 2017. Let us look forward to a closer walk with our Lord each day, let us do as the Lord instructs us in Psalm 27. "You have said, "seek my face." My heart says to You, "Your face, Lord do I seek." (Psalm 27:8)
We must seek His face daily if we are to walk closer with Him who is our refuge, our strength.
But, how do I seek His face and walk closer with God each day? God set in motion the link we have to Him, He inspired the writings of the Old Testament Prophets, then He sent His only Son, to open the door to the throne of God and to start the gospel of Christ. Through the Apostles and disciples that Jesus called to Him we have the New Testament, more inspired writings of God, we must seek His face through His word.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1) When man has rejected us, when the world looks upon us with scorn for our faith, let us know that the answers to life's problems are within our reach, within God's Word.
"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10)
God told the Israelites at the Red Sea when Moses said; "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today." (Exodus 14:13) God is telling us the same today, when we are troubled we must turn to Him for strength and guidance. Know that He is God, that He is all powerful, that all glory is His and that we have our Lord to carry us.
Jesus tells us; "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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." (Matthew 11:28-30)
Study in God's Word gives us the most powerful weapon on earth, no enemy can overcome the message of the Word.
As the Word says; "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord and you are exalted as head above all." (1Chronicles 29:11) NOTHING of this world can overcome our Lord.
Study His Word daily so you too have the weapons to overcome the world. And remember this each day, no matter the situation or circumstances; "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." (Psalm 46:11)
Seek His face daily, if you know Him seek His face so you can walk closer with Him. If you do not know Him, please, seek His face, pray to Him, today, for forgiveness for your sins, for if you do, He is good and just and will forgive you and save you from the fires of hell.
May God bless you each day...
January 11, 2017 - I was riding my bicycle down a country road when I noticed a house with two large German Shepard dogs lying on the porch. They began to bark so I just stepped up my peddling and went past without incidence. It helped that when I passed I was going down hill. I made my bike ride and had really pushed myself pretty hard and was tired. As I came up the last hill I was exhausted and struggling just to keep the wheels moving forward.
When all of a sudden off the front porch came those two large dogs. I was so focused on making it up the hill that I forgot where I was at. As they ran toward me with teeth bared, I tried to pedal the bike faster but was so tired and out of breath I couldn't make it move any faster. I realized I couldn't out run them.
My "flight or fight" response had kicked in and since my "flight" was exhausted, I did the only thing left to do, I jumped off the bike, grabbed it with both hands and put it between me and the dogs. From somewhere deep inside of me came this bellow like a charging bull, and I stood my ground! I am sure I had this crazy look in my eye and those dogs figured out by my look, that I had poised to fight. When the dogs became aware that I wasn't going to run they just turned to one another and looked as if to say this guy is crazy. There was a brief standoff and then they left and I continued on my way. Those dogs never chased me again. Sometimes they would bark but they never got off the porch again.
Things we have done, or have been done to us in the past, can be like those dogs. We can peddle right past them without hardly giving them a second thought when we are fresh and feeling good about life. But when we get tired, worn out from what life is throwing at us today, looking back and feeling sorry for ourselves for what has already happened that we can't change, that's when those sleeping dogs from our past wake up and try to bite us. The devils main tool he uses against us is our past mistakes and circumstances. When the devil brings those things back up to us we have only two responses; we can run or we can fight and stand our ground against the attack.
God is not a god who brings up our past mistakes or hurtful circumstances but he is the God who delivers us from those things and separates them from us "as far as the east is from the west." He gives us a blessing for today and a hope for a future. He wants us to "Let sleeping dogs lye." God knows that we can't move forward if we constantly look back to our past. Those thoughts and circumstances will "chase you" the rest of your life and steal your peace and joy. Jesus wants you to put Him between you and your past. Matthew 11:28 "Come to me all who labor and heavy laden and I will give you rest."
If you put your faith in Him, those dogs from your past may raise up and bark at you but they will never get off the porch to chase you again. Jesus died so that you can let your past be just that, your past. He wants you to trust Him, put Him between you and your past. He will give you peace and rest.
I'm just Sayin
Mike Belgard
January 11, 2017 - Huxley Helping Hands, a local mission group from the Huxley Community, are holding a food pantry for the residents of Shelby County on Saturday, January 14, 2017. All recipients must show identification, proof of residency and income. Only one (1) box per household.
Sign-in starts at 9am at Hillcrest Baptist Church until food is gone. Hillcrest is located at 901 Southview Circle, Center, Texas 75935.
“I’ll be back…” John 14:3
January 9, 2017 - Last spring I spent several weeks photographing a painted bunting in the Brady Community near Center, Texas. He was a beautiful bird…blue, green, red, yellow…and in time this timid little gem became so comfortable in my presence that he allowed me to photograph him from only ten feet away! The distinguishing white spot on his red breast earned him his name, “Spot”. He raised two clutches of young, molted in August, grew new feathers, and in October returned to Central America to winter.
On this cold December day I drove out to the little sandy road where I’d found him last spring. All the leaves had fallen, the vegetation he’d fed on was dead and the large number of happy birds in love was conspicuously missing. But next spring when the seedy patches of rumex grass reappear along the sand hill roadsides, the air will awake again with the singing of these sweet avians …and Spot will be back!
Two thousand cold winters and hot summers have passed since Jesus left his disciples and returned to heaven. Many look at our decaying society and say “where is the promise of his coming”. But at a time when nations are at loggerheads with each other and the world rocks and reels in sin, the Eastern sky will suddenly split open, the trumpet of God will sound… and our hearts will burst with joy…
…and He’ll be back!
January 4, 2017 - In the movie "Back To The Future part II," the bully character named Biff, went back in time with a book on sports statistics that had the scores of every major sporting event and who had won. He took that information and bet on all the events and won so much money that it changed his future. Instead of being a personal assistant to someone, he altered his future and became the richest man in the world. With that book he couldn't lose. It gave him the edge, in that he knew the final score before the game was ever played. It altered his whole life plan. He became confident and bold in the way that he dealt with life and people.
Now think about this. What if you knew that no matter what happened in your life that in the end you would come out on top? That no matter what life threw at you, it would always come back around to be to your advantage? What would you do different than you do now? What would that do to your confidence? How would it change the way you react to problems and difficulties? I have to say that for most people that I know it would completely change their outlook on life, and the day to day problems that pop up. I am sure that if you were confident that things would always eventually work out in your favor that you wouldn't let little things bother you. You would approach each day with the confidence that something great was going to happen that day. You should be able to "shrug off" disappointments and setbacks as nothing more than small obstacles that slow down but not hinder the great thing that is going to happen that day.
Now let me let you in on some really good news! There is a way for you to be on top. Its a promise given to us by God. He says that if we put our trust in Him we will always be victorious. Paul asks a rhetorical question in Romans 8:31 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" This does not mean that we will not have hard times or be exempt from challenges; but that if we have the One who created the universe and controls the outcome of life on our side, we don't have to worry about what the final score will be. The game still has to be played for there to be a declared victor. You will have to go through the trials in life but you can be assured that you will be victorious because the one true God of all creation is on your side. That's why Paul went on to say in Romans 8: 28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." God has your back. He will make sure that no matter what, you win in the end.
What you have to do is to believe God and trust his promises. That book of statistics would have been of no use to Biff if he had not trusted what was in it. That's what faith is. Knowing that something is true even if you can't or haven't seen it. Trusting in the author and creator of all. God loves you and he wants to make you victorious. The ball is in your court. Do you want to be successful for eternity or do you want to just keep doing what your doing? The choice is yours. I choose victory over defeat and success over failure. You have to make your choice.
I'm Just Sayin
Mike Belgard
In 1 John, the Apostle tells us how we must "test the spirits" in these latter days in order to know the truth and that we must remember that God is love and we to must live in love for one another.
"Beloved do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1)
How, you may ask can I know? Simple, if the prophet speaks of Christ coming in the flesh then he is from God, all others are from Satan.
A true, God-sent-preacher must profess that Jesus has indeed come in the flesh, a living man, and that He truly is the Son of God, that Jesus is both man and God, one in the same. If any preacher does not profess this then you should not listen to him nor assist him.
How can we know we are in the company of other true Christians?
"Beloved let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7)
God's love was made manifest when he sent His only Son into the sinful world so that all humanity had the chance to live eternally with Him in heaven. The love of both the Father and the Son is so strong that Jesus died a cruel death on the cross for the sins of all people, forever.
Only those "of God" will show love to others when they are persecuting them, those of the world do not know the love of God and will not show Godly love to those who disagree with them."Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." (1 John 4:15)
Each day we are to witness to others that Jesus is truly the living Son of God so they see the joy we have as we abide in Him. We don't live in a perfect world and we are not perfect so there will be trials and tribulations but we must do our best to hold true to the faith and promote the gospel of the Lord to others each day. Just saying "I pray you have a blessed day" is sometimes all it takes to help someone through a rough day, be an example of good for Christ.
"By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgement, because as He is, so also, are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)
Residing in Christ gives us the peace of mind we need to have total confidence in the day of judgement and our place in it. Either eternal life or eternal punishment awaits all humanity. "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36)
The choice must be made by each. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Redeemer, simply ask Him and He will save you.
May God bless you each day.
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