Bethsalem Baptist Church

We had a great day of worshiping. Bro. Cleve welcomed everyone and gave our ministry opportunities. The congregation sang many beautiful songs. The Celebration Choir’s special was “Written in Red.”

Dr. Lee Dymond preached our morning and evening messages.

We will have a potluck meal and meet with our oncoming pastor, Bro. Justin Thomas and his family. Next Sunday is Mother’s Day. Bro. Justin will preach for us. We will vote on him, calling him as our new pastor. There will be no evening service.

Pray this week for Charles Bryant, Hunter Moore, Wayne Smith, Ralph Patterson, Adelynn Gray, Kara Foster, Paul Price, Rebecca Martin, Mark Walker, Sid Griner, Bob and Bethany Hollis, Lynetta Bolden, Jessie Phillips, Jason Nelson, Dan Tessin, Lula Spigner, George and Diane Williams, Nate Jones, Debbie Powell and Jenifer Walls.

Happy anniversary to Frankie and Carol Smith (35 years). Happy birthday to those who had a birthday this week.

Have a blessed week. God bless.

Bethany Baptist Church

Service began with the hymn, “Oh Happy Day” and a devotional titled “Reasons to Bless the Lord” from Psalm 103:1-6. God forgives sin and heals our body of diseases, even though to be healed we must see a doctor, as he heals through doctors and medicine. Sometimes it is not God’s will for our bodies to be healed, but we still have more reasons to be happy than to be gloomy. Rather than dwelling on all the bad in life, we need to go around talking about the good things God has done for us. After a prayer and Sunday school, we began the morning service by singing, “I Will Sing the Wondrous Story,” “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” “Tell Me the Old, Old Story” and “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks.”

Bro. Aubry’s message was from Matthew 5:7 titled “Blessed are the Merciful.” This is one of the beatitudes of Matthew 5, and the word “beatitude” means to have a blessed attitude. A merciful person feels compassion for those who hurt. We need to show mercy to others because God, in sending his Son to die on the cross, showed mercy to us. We do not deserve mercy, and many who need our mercy do not deserve it either. We cannot show mercy to others unless we have experienced it ourselves through salvation in Jesus Christ (Isaiah 64:6). We must forgive those who have wronged us, even though they may not ask. Most of all, we need compassion for those going to hell. When we reach out the hand of mercy to others, we show mercy to God. The more mercy we give by helping others, the more mercy we receive. Thank God for Jesus Christ!

We closed with a prayer and the hymn “Softly and Tenderly.”

In the evening service, we sang “Where the Soul Never Dies” and Bro. Aubry preached his message, “A Good Pair of Shoes” from Ephesians 6:10-15. At some point in time, everyone has had a pair of shoes that did not fit properly, causing our feet to hurt. God wants us to trade in those shoes, spiritually speaking, for a comfortable pair of combat boots. It is the Christian’s responsibility to wear the “whole armor of God.” Be prepared to carry the gospel message to a lost and dying world. Our footwear is the preparation, or readiness, of being able to go at any moment to do God’s work (Romans 10:14-15).

If we are not ready to tell the world, how will they hear? These verses in Romans are not for pastors only, but every saved person. Our feet must be well-grounded in the truth of God’s Word. We must stand in the peace of the gospel.

Before experiencing salvation, we have an enemy: God (Isaiah 59:2). God loves us, but hates sin. The moment we accept Christ, we have a position of peace (Romans 5:1). Then there is the power of peace. We must have peace with God through salvation, and in knowing we are doing everything we can to please God (John 14:15-18, 26-27). Thirdly, we must practice peace—the filling of the Holy Spirit and allowing the Holy Spirit to control us (Ephesians 5:19-21). Keep your hearts and minds on Jesus Christ.

We closed with a prayer and a hymn, “Pass Me Not.”

Our prayer list includes: our church, Lisa Rodriguez, Barbara T. Williams, Colyn and Sherry, Bro. Aubry, Shirley, Jenny Hayes, Wayne Smith, Journey Baptist, Grace, Elwyn, Billie, Jackie, Phyllis, Chris Knight, Bro. Hubert, missionaries, Glenda, John Rodriguez and the unsaved.