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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
July 10, 2018 - As we see the civil unrest in America splashed across the television each day many Christians grow frightened about the future and what manner of troubles we might face in our daily lives.
This fear is well founded for the struggles we face are great. We must know and understand whom we face as we are forced to take up arms against our enemy.
While we see the faces of the people who are driven to threaten us, to persecute us for our belief in God, we must realize that it is not those poor disillusioned souls that are our enemies, it is the force behind them that we must defeat if the gospel is to prosper.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
It is not those who are ignorant of the Word of God that we must fear for they are only the tools of the evil one.
As he tempted Jesus Christ in the wilderness he said something that is very telling about who rules this vile and evil world.
“And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” (Luke 4:5-7)
There you see from the pages of God’s Word whom the world we live in belongs to, it is the domain of the devil, of Satan himself and it is he who we must fight for our faith in Christ.
And if we are to take on the ruler of the earth we must fortify ourselves for the battle we are to fight.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11)
“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one, and take the helmet of salvation, and the word of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” (Ephesians 6:14-18)
The tools we have available to us are: truth, righteousness, knowledge of the Word of God, faith, salvation, the words given us by the Spirit, and prayers to God.
We must equip ourselves each day with all of these tools furnished by the Lord our God if we are to be victorious over the evil one.
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
To win this battle we must draw near to the Lord and to one another for in him we find our strength and in fellowship together we find support and encouragement.
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22)
So Christians let us prepare ourselves through our study, our worship and our fellowship with one another and with the Lord God as we take up arms against against the forces of evil.
Let us be the face of the Lord Jesus Christ to all that come before us whether for good or for evil, let all see the goodness, grace and mercy of our Lord through our lives of service to him.
May you wear the full armor of God each day as you confront the world before you.
July 9, 2018 - The Golden Harvest Ministries Club will meet Monday, July 16, 2018 in the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church at 11:30 AM. The program will be presented by Mr. Charles Niswonger and his musical saw.
Visitors are always welcome to join us for a delicious covered dish luncheon, a good program and time of fellowship.
July 6, 2018 - Mt. Zion C.M.E. will be honoring their pastor Rev. Elgena Weaver with her 2nd Appreciation Service on Sunday, July 8, 2018, at 3p.m. The special guest will be Rev. Jimmy E. Chapman, pastor of House of Prayer, Silsbee, TX.
July 5, 2018 - First Pentecostal Church of Joaquin is hosting a Truth Odyssey Vacation Bible School starting July 26th and ending July 28th. Ages 4 to 11 years old are invited to come discover God's big story in a time machine. The program is nightly from 6pm until 8:30pm at First Pentecostal Church of Joaquin, 11113 Hwy 7 East, Joaquin, Texas 75954. Call 936-572-8233 to pre-register your children today!
July 3, 2018 - Smyrna Baptist Church in Huxley presents The Porch on Monday, July 9th at 7pm with refreshments at 6:30pm. Guest speaker will be Sherry Hagerhjelm. She is a nurse in Shreveport, has gone on missions to Indonesia, Mexico, etc. and is a powerful woman of God. She also shares the humor of God in our everyday life. Worship Leaders are Brittany and Paul Koiner and Bryan Lemon. Nursery is available. Any questions please call Christy at 332-7079. Come and worship the Lord with us at Smyrna.
July 3, 2018 - Please join us this week, July 2-6, at Pleasant Grove MBC for our Revival. Service begins each night at 7. Specials are welcome and we will have refreshments Friday night after service. Everyone is invited!
Speakers include: Josh Crawford, Johnny Lewis, BJ Windham, Don Weatherly, and Billy Windham.
July 2, 2018 - Revival Mount Calvary Full Gospel Church July 16th-20th. Starts at 7pm featuring Pastor Lamar Denby.
The Stanley's will perform Thursday night. Food & Fellowship
417 East Two miles from Shelbyville, TX
July 2, 2018 - Sunday was the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time. It was certainly an ordinary hot and humid Sunday morning in East Texas! I don’t like the cold of winter, but I really can’t take the summer heat anymore. When we were kids we spent many summer days out playing and trying to stay out of our mothers’ hair. It wasn’t until I was in Junior High School that our schools were air conditioned. Last Sunday our air conditioning went out at home; we closed the drapes and turned on all the ceiling fans. It got up to the mid 80s but wasn’t terrible. Luckily the repairman came Monday afternoon, discovered the problem, and fixed it. Later in the week the electric company came by to say that our electricity would be off for a few hours as they are in the process of changing out poles. It turned out to be four hours; this time we didn’t have the benefit of our ceiling fans, but again it wasn’t so bad.
Many years ago Sue and I accompanied my parents to England, where we spent two weeks in London. My dad always made sure that wherever he stayed there was AC. One of our guides said she thought air conditioning was quite unhealthy. We replied that living in Texas during the summer without air conditioning was indeed unhealthy!
On Sunday worshipped with my friends at Tenaha Methodist. I missed seeing Maggie and Gene and hope they are doing OK. Pastor Matt had a fine sermon, and I was able to celebrate Holy Communion with my Tenaha friends. I got to Sunday school late, but Mrs. Fannie gave me an excused tardy! It was so nice to see Vera and Keith. They’ve been under the weather for awhile, and we sure miss them. Fannie’s lesson was based on Matthew 18: 21-35, dealing with forgiveness and how many times we should forgive our fellow humans. Jesus’ answer to forgive often is very hard for us, but we must try and try again.
The Gospel Lesson for this Sunday was Mark 5: 21-43. This lesson is two stories of healing woven into one. Jairus, of the local synagogue, and the unnamed woman who had been sick for twelve years had both despairingly reached their breaking points. Jairus’ daughter was extremely ill, and the woman had been sick for so long she was almost without hope. These two people from two very different walks of life had a chance encounter with the power of love and compassion who was Jesus. Joe and Hilda led us in patriotic songs: “America,” “America the Beautiful,” and “God Bless America.”
We celebrated Holy Communion today and were excited to be in double digits! Sue took a car full of Paxton Methodist’s toilet paper and paper towel donations to Community Christian Services this week. She reported that, as usual, CCS had everything well organized, with lots of customers but also lots of volunteers. This month we are collecting cans of spaghetti and ravioli.
Last week was our monthly program at Lakeside Assisted Living. Minnie played for us, letting Hilda enjoy the singing part of the program. Congregational singing included patriotic songs as well as hymns from Heavenly Highways. Gene and Minnie did “Morning Has Broken” and “The Church in the Wildwood.” Nora had a song she hadn’t known until recently, “Soon and Very Soon,” but a lot of those gathered knew it. Fannie read a piece about our country in view of the upcoming Fourth of July, and Sue had some biographical information about Peggy Lee, accompanied by selected verses from her song, “I’m a Woman.” Pastor Matt began the program, talking about changes—his own, now that he’s through seminary, and Biblical ones. He also finished out the program with a benediction and our usual “God Be with You.”
“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.
July 2, 2018 - Salvation, what does it mean to be born again into the Lord, to be called by the Lord for his good pleasure and his good will?
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.” (Psalm 40:1-2)
That is salvation from the penalties of ones sins. To be lifted up from the darkness of sin into the light of the Lamb of God. To be removed from the shaky ground of the world and placed upon the solid rock of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ. Changing ones path from a shaky path in darkness to the ever-lighted path of Christ, walking with the assurance of being secure in the Lord God, forever.
“Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!” (Psalm 40:4)
Blessed in the man who is not deceived by the devil, who trusts only in the Lord God and not in man.
For those who are deceived are drawn away from righteousness and into the pit of destruction by the lies of the devil and his minions.
Blessed is the man who delights in doing the will of Almighty God all of his days.
“Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:7-8)
For those whom the Lord has called to be his own he has written his law on their hearts, that it cannot be removed by any person or power of this earth. Salvation for the Jew and also for the Gentile, for the Lord shows no partiality to any man.
“I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God and they will be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:33)
What does it mean to be born again into the Lord; it means he is forevermore your God and you are forevermore his child. There is no other blessing that can compare to this blessing of salvation in the Lord. Always to be at home and secure from sin in the Lord.
“As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!” (Psalm 40:11)
The Lord never restrains his love, grace and mercy from those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their sovereign Lord. Once saved by God, washed clean by the blood of Jesus one is saved from the penalties of sin forever.
“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)
What does it mean to be born again unto the Lord; it means one is forever saved from the wrath of God that is to come on the day of the final judgement. It means one has eternal life in Christ, removed from even the presence of sin in heaven, forever.
There simply is no other blessing that can compare with the blessing of salvation, for as Jesus said; “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
“But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually; “Great is the Lord.”
May you know the Lord this day and may you say forevermore, “Great is the Lord.”
June 27, 2018 - Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but we have had to cancel the chicken spaghetti fundraiser on Friday for Dreka Pentecostal Church until further notice due to uncontrollable circumstances.
June 26, 2018 - The Dreka Pentecostal Church will be having a chicken spaghetti plate luncheon fundraiser on Friday, June 29 from 11-2 to replace the icebox in the fellowship hall that has quit working.
The plates are seven dollars and will have chicken spaghetti green beans, corn, garlic bread and a dessert.For more information you can call Mildred Mcgee at 9365984433.
Thank You & God Bless, Dreka Pentecostal Church
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