Rocky Mount UMC

Pastor Guin’s Sunday message “Those Smelly Christians” caused many smiles. He led us to Ezekiel, where the prophet wrote of the effect of our obedience to God’s Word. He called it “fragrant incense” to God.

Pastor Guin then moved to the 2 Corinthians, where Paul tells the church in Corinth that to God, disobedience is like the smell of an open tomb. I wondered just what others smell when they walk past me. Do the acts of disobedience I perform each day when I fail to do his will stink to high heaven (no pun intended)? Do my prayers of repentance and my efforts to do better the next day bring a breath of fresh air?

Our lives as Christians must pass the smell test Sunday through Saturday. We may be the only Bible some people ever read. Don’t let the stink of failing to love one another be your Christian testimony. Don’t let gossip and mean actions change the odor surrounding you.

Before others find your Christian scent less than pleasing, lay your destructive thoughts at the foot of the cross, where they can be filtered through the aroma of a loving Christ. Make sure your Christian walk is as fragrant incense to God.

Our summer worship schedule is in full swing. The youth group meets each Wednesday, and there will be no Sunday evening Bible study throughout the summer; instead, we will have special opportunities for fellowship, such as barbeques, ice cream, hot dogs and sling shots. Watch for announcements of time and place.

Sunday morning, our adult class meets to study Genesis, and our youth meet in the basement.

On May 17, there will be a reception honoring our newest high school graduate, Kyra Glasscock. We are proud to help her celebrate this proud moment in her life.

Submitted by Charlotte Powell

Mountain Springs Church

Sunday morning, the congregation sang the hymns “Glory to His Name,” “Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All,” “If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again” and “Heaven’s Jubilee.”

Bro. Roger Cleckler brought his devotion from 2 Kings 4:8-10, 13. The woman in this passage is referred to as “a great woman.” Her name is never mentioned, so we don’t know her name, but God sure does. The Lord granted her the desire of her heart. It shouldn’t matter if we get attention for what we do, we should want to do God’s work no matter what. He is looking down and looking out, and you will be rewarded.

After Sunday school, Ricky Cleckler sang “Momma’s Prayer.”

Bro. Heath Vines preached from Proverbs 31:10-31. The only way a mother can be godly is to follow and read the Word of God.

Proverbs 31:10: Who can find a virtuous woman? Virtuous means you’re so close to God that everything that comes out of you is godly. God wants us to be virtuous. If you do right and live right, God will find you virtuous.

Proverbs 31:28: We need to be that Godly influence for our kids so they can grow up and say their parents were the example that helped them grow with God. We have people behind us that are watching us. We need to live godly lives every day.

Proverbs 31:30: There are a lot of things in this life that are deceitful. The outward appearance means nothing, but our hearts mean everything. The most important thing we have on this earth besides God is our family. We need to lead, guide and protect our families. God knew the importance of a family when he put it into place.

The importance of a mother:

(1) A great responsibility has been placed mothers; children learn from and imitate them. God entrusted his Son to a mother.

(2) Mothers are responsible for the spiritual needs of their children.

(3) There’s a lot to being a mother, and mothers do their work without pay. A mother’s reward comes in seeing what her child is doing for God. There’s great reward for being a godly mother, but the greatest of all will be from God.

Revival began on Sunday night and ran through Wednesday.

Submitted by Savannah Parrish