Samaria Baptist Church

Do we ever stop to think just how good God is to us? If we did, we would truly be amazed at what the hand of God is doing in our lives each hour of every day.

Bro. Shane’s text came from Genesis 37. It is the story of Joseph and the grace that God showed him throughout all his troubles and trials. Joseph was the chosen son of Jacob. Jacob was so proud of the young man that Joseph had become, and he knew that great things awaited him.

We know the story of Joseph’s brothers who were jealous. Jealousy is an extremely dangerous characteristic to possess. Not only does it harm your own life, but it can destroy those whom you focus your jealousy on. Joseph was resented by his brothers. They put Joseph in a pit, and then they decided to sell him. Joseph did not fear, nor did he doubt that God was alive in the midst of all his troubles. He knew he was open to God’s will for him. So he trusted God to deliver him through all things.

Pharaoh bought him and learned quickly how valuable Joseph was. He gave him a job of authority over the entire palace. However, the devil wasn’t finished. Pharaoh’s wife began flirtations with Joseph, and tried to lure him to her bed. When Joseph refused, she lied and said he tried to attack her. Joseph was imprisoned; yet again he was placed in authority. He interpreted dreams for the prisoners, and then for the Pharaoh. Joseph was placed in highest esteem once again, and through the seven years of plenty and seven years of famine, he managed to save the entire city. He also was able to reunite with his family because he trusted God to deliver him through whatever he faced.

Let us exhibit this kind of faith. God is standing there waiting for us to trust him. He loves us so much, and we need to lean on him for all we need.

Prayers today for Barbara Collins, Sam Dawson, Hank Stoneback, Gladys Headley, Debbie and Frank Robberson, Bobby and Leone Patterson, Diane Fisher’s niece in the loss of her husband, and our VBS in two weeks.

Our special music today was a beautiful song “No Sweeter Name” sung by Lauren Wyatt.

Bring your burdens to Jesus. Samaria is a good place to start. God bless all who read this. Happy Fourth of July!

Cedar Grove Church

There is power in the name of Jesus!

Prayer concerns: Chris Cleckley, Bobbie and Earl Giles, Kim Crowe, Jean Varden, Janet Wyatt, Kenny Wyatt, Nanett Fricke, Mary McGuire those in the nursing homes and hospitals, spoken and unspoken request, and Ulla Riggins, the widow of U. L. Riggins.

Pastor Jeff Carroll’s text comes from Acts 22:26-28 and Exodus 2:8 titled “Free Born – Born Free.”

We take our freedom for granted. Freedom is not free. We have civil freedom (free country). A lot of blood has been spilled over the years for our civil freedom to have a free country. As sinners, we are a servant to sin (alcohol, drugs and so on); therefore if the Son makes us free, we are free indeed.

Jesus paid the ultimate price for our freedom from sin. Jesus saw us wretched sinners as being of worth to be redeemed by him dying on the cross. Unless the son of God makes us free, we are still servants to the sin of Satan.

We see in Exodus that the Jews were in bondage as slaves in Egypt until Moses obeyed God and led his people out of Egypt. The world hid their faces when Jesus died on the cross and Satan thought he had won, but then Jesus rose from the dead on the third day as prophesied. Jesus defeated death, hell and the grave. Jesus’ name is the only name by which we can be truly made free and escape a devil’s hell.

We as Christians have the joy and hope of knowing that we are going to be with Jesus. No matter where we go in this world, we will still worship God. One day every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings. Thank you Lord for shedding your precious life’s blood so that all who choose can indeed be set free.

Love to all. God bless and have a great week.