Bethany Baptist Church

The morning service began with a hymn, “The Haven of Rest,” then a devotion titled “Seek to Please God” from Galatians 1:8-12. Churches should not depart from the entire truth of the Bible just to get more members. Please God, not man. What is our motive as saved people for doing the things we do for God? Is it to glorify God, or is it for praise for us from man?

After a prayer and Sunday school, we sang “Where We’ll Never Grow Old,” “In the Shadow of the Cross,” “Just Over In the Gloryland” and “Bound for the Promised Land.”

Bro. Aubry’s message, “A Vital Christian Quality,” was taken from 1 Samuel 17:1-10. Saved people should not be weak, but be bold in spreading the Word of God. We can become bold through studying the Bible and through prayer.

Fear and anxiety are natural responses during difficult times. Don’t give up! Fear protects from harmful situations, but serving God is not harmful to us. In verse 12, David was a bold young man. He wasn’t afraid to stand up to Goliath, a giant in the Philistine army. He knew his strength was in the Lord. With only a sling and five small stones, he faced the heavily armored Goliath. It took only one small stone and Goliath was dead. Just as David did, we need to put our trust in God, not man. He will help us while we are doing his will.

The disciples of Jesus were weak in heart although they were saved. They did not look on the heart of the matter, but on the crucifixion of Jesus. Boldness involves risk. Do not be concerned with what man says, but of what God says. Do people in the world see us, members of Bethany Baptist Church, as saved people spreading and living the life of a child of God? Do we shine in the world for Jesus? After a prayer, we sang “Come to Jesus” and were dismissed with a prayer.

The evening service began with the hymn “I Want to be a Worker for the Lord.” Bro. Aubry brought a message from Hosea 14:1-9: While waiting for the Lord’s return, we must not return to past sin. Hosea 14 is a call for Israel to repent of their sin and return to God. Is America ready to return to God, on whom our country was founded? When we as a nation, church or people fall into sin, God invites us to return to him.

When God’s word calls something an abomination, it is sin. We see these sins, which are called an abomination, all over the world today. Homosexuality, abortion and other murders are common practices today. 2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us that if we will humble ourselves and pray and turn from our wicked ways, God will hear us; he will forgive our sin and heal our land. God will always keep his promises. We need to depend on God, not man, to survive. When there is repentance, God intervenes and blesses. God’s ways are right. To avoid judgment, we must obey God.

After prayer and a song, “God Be With You,” and another prayer, we were dismissed. Our prayer list includes Bro. Aubry, Shirley and their great-grandbaby Eli; Glenda Wallace, Billie and Jackie Neeley, Elwyn and Grace Robinson, Jeanette Jessop, J.C. Collins, Hubert Griffin, Chris Knight, missionaries, our church, and the lost and dying world.

Mars Hill Baptist Church

A new year has arrived! If you made resolutions for 2014, what are they? To lose weight, get a better job, be a better person? How about a resolution to know Jesus Christ, to get closer to him or find ways to serve him in your church or community? Whatever your resolution, commit yourself fully to reaching your goal. Jesus committed to us when he came to earth to live as we live and to die for our sins. He didn’t stop because the going got tough. He knew the rewards at the end of the road would be much greater than what he suffered here on earth. As children of God, we know the rewards will be because of the grace of God, not from anything we have done. The trick is to not give up, but to keep on keeping on!

Bro. William Short’s message this week came from 2 Timothy 2:1-7: You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

The first thing we see in this passage is to be strong in the grace of God. Without grace, where would we be? We can’t earn it; it is foolish to try. We can’t impress God and we can never be good enough on our own to earn our way into heaven. Without the grace of God, which we don’t deserve, we would all be bound for a devil’s hell. God’s grace alone is sufficient to carry us through our daily lives. You can’t trust money, your health or fame; all these things can be taken away from us at a moment’s notice. But God’s grace is always there. Grow in grace, and trust God more today than yesterday. He can handle any situation that this life throws our way. I know this to be true because I have personally experienced his grace many times over the years; all I had to do was reach out to him. He heard my cry and saved me. He will save you too; just ask him. He will prove himself over and over. Growing in grace is a good resolution.

Hardships in the life of a Christian are sometimes called spiritual black eyes. Believe it or not, it is good for us to suffer; it makes us stronger than we were before. When you go through hardship and come out the other side, you know it is only because God was by your side or carrying you through that you got there. If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it. Amen!

A soldier goes through many hardships and trials. Our troops suffer daily for our freedom, yet they keep on keeping on. Pray for them daily. A soldier of Christ will suffer hardship as well. Have you really suffered for Christ? I don’t mean going to church even though it is raining. That’s not suffering, but some of us think so! A soldier sometimes loses his life, even his family, for our sake. Christians also have lost their lives for the sake of Christ Jesus, knowing that there is victory to be won. Have you won any battles for Jesus? Do you have what it takes to be a soldier for Jesus? Can you run the race until the end, or do you quit before you really even get started? Don’t give up and don’t let up. Today it is more important than ever to get up and be strong for Jesus. Win the race, win the victory, cast your crown at the feet of Jesus, and accept your eternal reward of a heavenly home. Victory in Jesus—what a wonderful song!

Don’t use God as a spare tire, only bringing him out when things get tough. Live for him daily in everything you do. Don’t let prayer be the last resort to a problem, but pray to God first; seek him and his kingdom first, and all other things will be added to you daily. God really is the answer to all our problems, we just have to believe! Amen.

Next Sunday, Jan. 12, our youth will be serving lunch in the fellowship hall in exchange for donations toward their trip to Gatlinburg, Tenn. Begin praying now for our youth to have a safe journey and that God be blessed through their efforts.

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Pray for our church, our pastor, our children, our troops, our country and our government. God is good, all the time!