+ Church Directory
+ Read the Bible Online (Link)
Contributing Writers: David Mathis | Tim Perkins
Past Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard
Faith
June 17, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Monday, June 17.
I have the blessing of sharing the broadcast Sunday School lesson at First Baptist Center. It goes out locally through FM radio and cable TV, and streams around the world on Face Book Live and our church website. Our system has been down for a couple of weeks due to power outages and so it was good to be back yesterday - sending out the Word.
The Bible lesson yesterday morning was about God's covenant with Abraham, and there were several points that spoke to me, and that I wanted to share with our faithful Daily Devotion readers. Before God made a covenant with Abraham - He gave Him a command. He told him to leave his home, his family, everything he knew, and move to an unknown land and into an uncertain future. Sometimes God calls us to do things that are challenging, that are hard, that are outside our comfort zone.
And then God made a promise to Abraham. He told him that he would be the father of a mighty nation, that his family would number more than the stars in the sky and be a blessing to all the world. Well, this particular promise must have sounded very strange to Abraham, since his wife, Sarai, wasn't able to bear children. Sometimes God's vision and purpose for us can make no sense, can be confusing and confounding, can seem impossible.
How did Abraham respond to God's challenging command and confusing promise? In Genesis 15:6 we read these words - "And Abraham believed the Lord". Simple, profound, powerful. We, like Abraham, may be challenged and even confounded by God's will for our lives. But our response should be simple. Belief. Faith. Trust.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
June 14, 2024 - Mt. Zion to celebrates its 148th Church Anniversary on Sunday, June 16th at 3pm. The special guest speaker is Rev. Rhonda Christopher, pastor of St. Paul C.M.E. Church, Nacogdoches, Texas. Rev. Richard Edwards, Pastor.
June 13, 2024 - This coming Sunday is the day set aside as “Father’s Day.” The day we honor our earthly fathers. With that in mind, I thought the following poem was appropriate. I don’t know who wrote it, I am assuming it was written by that prolific author known as “anonymous.”
I go through life most carefully
For a little fellow follows me.
I do not dare to go astray
For fear he’ll go the self-same way.
Not once can I escape his eyes,
What’er he sees me do, he tries.
And says like me he’s going to be.
That little chap who follows me.
He thinks that I am good and fine,
Believes in every word of mine.
He must not se the bad in me,
That little chap who follows me.
I must remember as I go
Through summer sun and winter snow
I’m building for the years to be
That little chap who follows me.
It’s something to think about... tbp
Join Us for Worship this coming Lord’s Day at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com.
June 13, 2024 - Please join Joaquin Church of Christ for an edifying lectureship study on "Focusing on Jesus" beginning June 16.
Services will begin at 9am and 6pm on Sunday, June 16; and, 7pm on Monday, June 17, Tuesday, June 18, and Thursday, June 20. Each lesson will be presented by a different guest speaker.
The church is located at 10674 US Hwy 84E in Joaquin.
June 12, 2024 - Wallace Chapel Baptist Church will host their annual "Homecoming and Revival" Sunday, July 7, 2024 12:30pm Theme: "Ain't No Place Like Home." Luke 15:11-24
Speaker will be Reverend Jeremy Moore, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Bobo, Texas
Revival Services - 7pm nightly Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night - July 8, 9, and 10, 2024 with Evangelist: Bishop Cedrick O'Keith Grace, Sr. Mount Zion Baptist Church, San Augustine, Texas
Wallace Chapel Baptist Church
109 South Marcus Street
Timpson, Texas 75975
Reverend Derrick Rhodes, Pastor Sister LaQuista Garrett - Secretary
June 10, 2024 - Lone Cedar Missionary Baptist Church is hosting ‘Arise, Shine; For thy Light is Come” Vacation Bible School from 6-8:30pm nightly, June 10 through June 14.
Lone Cedar Missionary Baptist Church is located at 2068 FM 3082, Joaquin, Texas 75954.
June 10, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Monday, June 10.
Well, another Vacation Bible School is in the rear-view mirror. God blessed our church last week with a group of 167 excited kids and 43 great volunteers. Yesterday morning, in our worship service, the kids shared their VBS musical, "Not Your Average Joe", a modern retelling of the story of Old Testament Joseph.
Joseph is considered by theologians to be a "type" of Christ, a foreshadowing of who the Messiah would be. There are other Bible characters like that - Isaac, David, and exotically named Melchizedek - just to name a few. Each of these would be well worthy of some self-study.
But last week, our VBS kids studied Joseph and his remarkable life story. Misunderstood and abused by his own people, Joseph was faithful to the Father's purpose and plan for his life. And in the end, he was a man of incredible forgiveness and amazing grace. Is it any wonder that he is seen as a foretaste of Jesus?
These are words of Joseph to his brothers.
What you intended for evil, God intended for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
June 6, 2024 - With the storms of the past week, we have all seen what it like when the lights go out. We are accustomed to the darkness of night, and yet, there is always some light even then. The light from the street lights or security lights filters through the window, there is the light from the digital clock and the lights on the other various appliances that are plugged in. Then, many times we have a “night-light” of some fashion that burns during the night. Yet, when the power completely fails, we are plunged into a black darkness we are not accustomed to.
That darkness when the power goes out is the kind of darkness a world without the light of Jesus Christ experiences. It is the kind of darkness a world without the influence of Christian people experiences. Jesus told his followers in the Sermon On The Mount (Matthew 5:14) that they were the light of the world. As followers of Jesus Christ, those who belong to Him are to let their light shine so that those who see their good works will glorify God, the Father in Heaven.
To plain, provincial people Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world!” The light that Christians have is indispensable to the solution of the problems of mankind. As Christians, we are to let our light shine brightly and conspicuously. Just as light influences the darkness, we are to influence the world around us. The question is, how are we doing with that? Is our light shining brightly for God?
It’s something to think about... tbp
Join Us for Worship this coming Lord’s Day at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com
June 4, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Tuesday, June 4.
Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Center got off to a great start yesterday - lots of kids, lots of excitement. During the remainder of this busy week, I'll be sharing some of my favorite Bible verses, maybe some will be your favorites, too.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come.
Matthew 11:28 - Come unto me, all ye who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Romans 8:28 - And God works all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are set on You, because they trust in You.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
June 3, 2024 - White Rock Missionary Baptist Church invites your child/children of all ages to our 1 day Vacation Bible on Saturday, June 15th from 9am until 2pm. There will be music, games, activities, crafts, lunch, and most important - a Bible Lesson. The volunteers are passionate about telling your child about our Lord and Savior. If your child needs a ride, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
‘Arise, Shine; For Thy Light is Come’ ~ Isaiah 60:1
Classes and activities will be for all ages preschool to teens. Register online at https://www.myvbs.org/Shinevbswrmbc/. For more information, contact Jennifer Vaughn at 432-210-9942.
Pages
