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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
April 19, 2023 - St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church and Rev. Dr. Freddie D. Wilson, Pastor, is hosting “Gathering of the Powerful Praying Eagles Prayer Conference” on Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 10am until 2:30pm.
The conference theme is "Anointed; Appointed; Approved."
Inspired, dynamic, and anointed women of God opening up, revealing, and expounding on the theme from the word of God.
Prayer warriors from St. Paul-Center, Nacogdoches-Lufkin, and Shreveport-Bossier-Haughton prayer line groups will be “in the house” with powerful prayer, praise, worship, intercession, and teaching.
Minister Linda Patterson of Shreveport, Evangelist Marilyn Lister-Thompson of Nacogdoches, and Evangelist Yolanda Warren of Lufkin will be speaking. These mighty women of God are prepared, dialed in, and ready to pour out of the anointing on their lives.
We are anticipating a mighty move and manifestation of God! Come ready to be blessed and inspired!
We are inviting all our area musicians to join us. You are welcome. Bring your instruments and your gift, help us make a joyful noise unto the Lord and lift the name of Jesus!
You do not want to miss this gathering!!!
Meet us there at 10am on Saturday, May 6, $10 offering/donation. Refreshments will be served at intermission.
St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church is located at 617 Hopkins Street, Center, Texas 75935, Rev. Dr. Freddie D. Wilson, Pastor.
April 19, 2023 - In Luke chapter 6 and verse 46, Jesus is preaching and says, "Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" At first glance, perhaps that sounds a bit harsh. However, it could have been a question in which the expression of pity, surprise and patient love on the face of Jesus softened the rebuke.
Let's be honest. Often to do the things Jesus tells us to do is not an easy matter. He said so much and often they were such hard sayings. Yet, Jesus dealt in principles and what he said can be summed up in three principles.
We are to put God first in our lives. That is why Jesus said to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). We must put our neighbor second, remember Jesus said we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Then, we are to put ourselves last.
The great tragedy of our day and time is that we so often put self first, before God and others. Have you ever considered what a wonderful place this world would be if we all put God first in our lives and put self last? Why not start right now to put God first, others second and self third in your thinking. It just might make life better.
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.
April 17, 2023 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, April 17.
Yesterday our pastor began a sermon series on the armor of God. He preached from the famous passage in the sixth chapter of Ephesians that mentions the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith.
Most of these tools of spiritual warfare are defensive in nature, but his message centered on an offensive weapon - the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, the Bible. Here are some verses of promise, protection, and power, that are great weapons for your spiritual battles.
- I John 4:4 - Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.
- Romans 8:31 - If God is for us, then who can be against us?
- James 4:7 - Submit yourselves to God, resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
- 2 Timothy 1:7 - God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
- John 16:33 - In the world you shall have tribulations, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
April 13, 2023 - Jackson Cemetery Homecoming will be Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 10:30a.m.
Those unable to attend can mail their contributions for the upkeep of the cemetery to:
Jackson Cemetery Committee
P.O. Box 15
Joaquin, TX 75954
April 13, 2023 - A preacher one time was asked if a certain man and his wife belonged to the church where he preached. His reply was, “No, they do not belong to the church here. They are members, but they do not belong to the church.”
“It’s like this,” the preacher explained, “neither their time, their affection, their energy, their money, nor their influence belong to the church.”
Does that make you wonder what kind of membership these people had in the church? The preacher said, “They came to us, and we received them in good faith, and we thought they were looking for spiritual fellowship and service. Sadly, their attendance has been so infrequent they have no sense of belonging to the church family and the church has not been a spiritual home to them. Truthfully, there is not an ounce of this man and his wife that belongs to the church. All they have ever added to the church is a name on the roll.”
The sad truth is, the rolls of local churches are loaded with names that are “members only”. This is their only indication of love for Christ. Yet, Bible love is active and not passive. Jesus expressed His love by dying for us. Will we show our love by living for Him?
Do you belong to the church? Where will you be this coming Lord’s Day?
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.
April 12, 2023 - St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Africa Community, Center, Texas and Pastor Winston Kibbles invites everyone to come fellowship at their Family and Friends Day Celebration on Sunday, April 16th at 2:00pm. Special guest is Pastor Johnny Jones, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Center.
Friends love through all kinds of weather and families stick together in all kinds of trouble! Proverbs 17:17.
April 11, 2023 - House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries presents their Usher Program at 3pm on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Guest speaker is Elder Richard McCowin, Lone Star Missionary Baptist Church, Chandler, Texas. Everyone is invited. Lunch will be served.
Apostle W.E. Nash Jr. and church family
April 10, 2023 - The Annual Duncan Cemetery meeting will be held Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 1pm at the Cemetery.
If you cannot attend and want to send your upkeep donation, send it to Duncan Cemetery, c/o Traci Parker Barrientos, 25514 Saddlebrook Way, Katy, Texas 77494.
Hope to see you there.
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
April 10, 2023 - In 1949, Daddy moved our family of eight children to a house on the Shelbyville Hill. It was a good year for me: I had been converted in a tent revival that year and George Smith had given me a job taking up tickets at The Rio Theater in Center. I was able to hitch-hike to work every Saturday and hitch-hiked back home around midnight. I would be dropped off on the hilltop where the old cotton gin used to be and walked the 100 yard walk to the house in total darkness. I could see neither the road nor the dark ditches on each side.
So I prayed all the way home… that God would hold my hand and keep me from falling in the ditches. I was learning that praying in dark times was a lot easier than praying when the sun was shining. And who would believe that in 1990… fifty years later… we moved back… not just to East Texas… but to Shelbyville’s First Baptist Church. And the sanctuary sets precisely at the mouth of that dark road I walked years ago. I’m an old feller now and God still holds my hand and guides my feet…
… and I’m still praying on my way home.
April 10, 2023 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, April 10.
The Bible is a book that is dominated by stories about men. I challenge you to name more than ten significant female characters from God’s Word. Why is this? Perhaps it’s because the Bible was written in a culture dominated by men. Whatever your conclusion, we must agree that women of the Word, although few in number, are often great in faith. Women like Queen Esther, Deborah the Judge, Ruth, of the Book of Ruth, Priscilla, protege of Paul, and Mary, the mother of Christ.
Yesterday, on Easter, many Sunday School lessons and sermons centered on the resurrection story from the 20th chapter of the gospel of John. The main character of that story was, of course, Jesus, a man. But, in a very important role, we find a woman, Mary Magdalene.
The Bible tells us that, early in His ministry, Jesus healed Mary of seven demons, and we can safely assume that she was one of the many that followed Him and supported Him and loved Him throughout His time on Earth. This is evident in the events of Holy Week, when ten men, the disciples, were nowhere to be found when Christ was dying on the Cross. But Mary Magdalene was there. When two men took Jesus down from the Cross and buried Him, the Bible tells us that Mary was there, silently watching. And on that first Easter morning it was Mary who came to the empty tomb. It was Mary who was the first to see the Risen Lord.
After this story in John 20, there is nothing else written in the Word about Mary Magdalene. But we can safely assume that she remained a devoted follower of Christ for the rest of her life, perhaps sharing, over and over, her unique and powerful testimony. Mary Magdalene, an inspiring Bible character. Mary Magdalene, a woman of faith.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
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