Shelby County Today

September 19, 2016 - “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.”   Psalms 107:2 

“Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.” Malachi 3:16  

In 2008 Pam and I took a three week vacation to the Pacific Northwest. I once lived in Oregon and had for many years wanted to visit there again.  On our way up, we visited Yellowstone, spent several days along the Snake River, and a few days in Oregon and Washington.   On our way home we drove down the Highway 5 along the beautiful Oregon /California Pacific Coast line. 

It didn’t take long to us to see the difference between the Northwest and our home in the Bible-Belt.  (Only 25% Washington and Oregon’s population belong to a church…of any kind.)  And instead of the Christian decal of the fish on automobiles, we saw a large number of symbols promoting atheism. When we saw the fish sticker on a car one day, we followed it into a parking lot only to find that the fish had feet and the anti- God symbol “Darwin” inscribed on it.

But when we stopped at a Colorado Motel on the way home, a man wearing a large wooden cross checked us in. “He’s obviously a Christian”, I whispered to Pam.  As the clerk filled out his paper work, I asked him, “Are you a Christian?”…and never looking up, he almost inaudibly mumbled under his breath one word…. “Yeah”.  Since he never said anything else, it was obvious he didn’t want to talk about Jesus.

When we got to our room, I told Pam that if the man had said “No” instead of “Yeah”, it would have meant about the same thing.  This I know for sure:  The world will never be won to Jesus if we are just cross wearers instead of cross bearers….

And if all we can say about Jesus is…..
“Yeah”.

September 16, 2016 - Annual Yellowpine homecoming services are being planned for September 24-25. There will be a gospel singing at 6:00 p.m. Saturday, September 24, with local participation. The homecoming service will begin at 10:00 a.m. Sunday, September 25. This service will be highlighted by special music from the Southern Plainsmen Quartet and the message by Bro. T.A. Lane. "Dinner on the ground" will be served at noon, followed by more singing with the Southern Plainsmen at 1:30 p.m. Activities will be held at the campus of Yellowpine-Macedonia Baptist Church, located at the intersection of Highway 87 South and FM 2343 in Sabine County's Yellowpine community. For information, contact Bro. Lane at 409-584-1144 or 409-382-8765.

September 14, 2016 - There once was an old farmer who was walking along a turn row going home after a long days work in the fields. As he walks he hears a voice from the ground saying, "Hey, pick me up." As he looked around he didn't see anyone around so he began his walk again. Once again he heard, "Hey, please pick me up." As he looked down at a mud hole that he was walking past, he noticed a small frog looking up at him. The frog spoke up and said, "Please pick me up. I am a frog now but if you pick me up and kiss me I will turn into a beautiful woman who will give you anything you desire."

The old farmer looked with astonishment at the frog because he could not believe what he had just heard. He picked the frog up, looked at it this way and that. Then without saying a word he put the frog in his shirt pocket. As he began to walk along the turn row, the frog pushed it's head out of his pocket and said to the farmer, "Aren't you going to kiss me? I will give you anything that you want." The old farmer looked down at the frog and said, "Naw, at my age think I would rather have a talking frog."

You see the farmer had learned over the years to be satisfied with what he had. We sometimes think we always have to have more, or the new and improved version of everything. We just can't be satisfied with what we have and realize that we are blessed already.

When we learn to be content with what God has blessed us with we can live happier, less stressful, joy filled lives. Paul the apostle wrote to the church at Phillipi while he was in prison. He said, "For I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:11-13) To live content lives, Paul is saying, that whether we are rich or poor, hungry or well fed, whether we have the nicest boat, biggest house, or live in a shack, our joy and our strength comes from Christ and Him alone.

So ask yourself these questions. Is there anything going on in your life that God can't fix? Is there anything that you don't have right now that you just can't live without? Is there something or someone in your life that seems to control your happiness. If you answered no to these questions, then you have probably learned to be content with what God has given you and you trust Him to sustain you. If you answered yes, then you need to realize that the God who created everything in the universe is waiting for you to put your total trust in Him. He wants you to rely on His strength. Remember what Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all theses things will be added to you." (Matt. 6:33)

God promises to give you all that you need and just like that old farmer you can be happy and content with just a talking frog. Trust Him, Believe Him, turn your life over to Him and His strength will take care of all your needs.

I'm just Sayin
Mike Belgard

September 9, 2016 - The 1st to preach the "new message", the message of repentance and acceptance of the coming Savior ( Jesus Christ ) was John the Baptist. Also, the 1st to preach that to truly be saved is to repent of all sins and effect a true and lasting change in one's life.

John explained that each person would be changed forever and that change would show in the way they lived their daily lives from that day forth.  As James, the Brother of Jesus, said; "be yea doers of the Word, not just hearers of the Word". As John preached the Word of God the people came to him saying; "So the people asked him, saying, what shall we do then? He answered and said to them, he who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise. Then the tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, Teacher, what shall we do? And he said to them, Collect no more than what is appointed for you. Likewise, the soldiers asked him, saying, and what shall we do? So he said to them, Do not intimate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages." (Luke 3:10-14)  

This message from John gives us all a new outlook on life, we realize that the new person should be more benevolent, helping his fellow men, not from commands but from the heart. 

Our natural sin nature causes us be born to covet, to be greedy, to hoard, and to ignore the needs of others. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we begin becoming more like Christ, who is Himself a giver. Our concern for others grows, especially for those in need. We become willing to sacrifice so others will be helped.

Whether tax collector or soldier or ordinary person; John tells us to be truer to Christ and not to take advantage of others or of our position in life.

As your life changed to the extent that others identify you as a believer?
Are you recognized as a giving person? 
Do others see you as a fair and honest person? 
Can you be trusted with the well-being of others,even if, they are not believers,?

The truly repentant do not look for opportunities to do harm to one another. They seek to do good to all. They don't falsely accuse but speak only the truth. They are content with fair pay for a good days work.

Take some time to reflect upon your life both before you accepted Christ and after. Have there been changes?

Can others see these changes in your daily life? Are there areas in which you have struggled to become a truly changed person? Do you ever worry about ever becoming a truly changed person? If so, there is hope for you then. 

The truly repentant are more aware than ever of their shortcomings. And further evidence of true repentance is the understanding that we are constantly changing, more for the better than for the worse...

The world says; take all you can, keep it all, do not share. Do not listen to the world, only when you fully turn away and begin to seek God and His will for your life will you find true contentment. 

May God Bless And keep you each day...