Samaria Baptist Church

Bro. Floyd Collins sang “Blessed Redeemer,” and all received a blessing. We continue in prayer for our pastor, Bro. Charles, and we thank God that he is home from the hospital. Prayers are also being said today for Paul Brooks, who spent last week at U.A.B. Our faith carries us in times like these.

Our guest speaker today was Mr. Jimmy Hardy. His text was taken from James 1:22-27. His message was titled “Being the Church Today.” James told the people to be doers of the word, not hearers only. As children, many of us learned this in a song. Christians represent the body of Christ. We are responsible for delivering a Christian example of what Christ’s church should be. Our beautiful church building is just that, a building. We are the church, as the body of Christ.

We must be compassionate to those who are lost in sin. We love the sinner, but hate the sin. We have to take the church outside to allow the world to see what Jesus is doing in our lives. God’s love must show through our actions, which scream louder than words ever could.

Be the vessel that brings in the lost. Apply the word to your life. We are a living Bible, and we are the only Bible that some will ever read.

Our Bible school was an awesome blessing this year. Our children were really blessed, and we thank all our workers who gave so tirelessly of their time and energy.

Remember to pray for those who are sick, and seek ye the Lord while he may be found. God bless you.

Mars Hill Baptist Church

It’s already the middle of July! The summer is flying by fast. Our children will soon be back in school and vacations will be a memory. VBS is something to think about for next year. Christmas will be upon us before we can blink. And just that soon, Jesus could come back for us! Are you ready? You can’t be just a good person and get into heaven. You have to know who’s who, what’s what and where’s where.

Bro. William Short took the message from Deuteronomy 9:4-7. In these passages, the people of Israel are ready to pass over the Jordan River and enter the land promised to them by God through Abraham. God tells them he will cast the people of the land out before them. He warns them that it will not be their righteousness that wins the battle, but God. How many times do we say within our hearts, “I did this,” or “I am so talented,” or maybe, “I am a better teacher than he is?” We forget that it is only through the righteousness of a holy God that we are able to do the things we do. We should use our talents for the Lord our God; he is the one who bestowed them upon us. Our righteousness is only filthy rags in God’s sight, and we can do nothing without him. God doesn’t need me or you, but oh, how we need him.

Our country was founded on faith in God, but we act like it isn’t. Our Lord is the only hope for a future in this land that we love. Getting back on track in America starts in our homes, with godly parents reading the Bible to their children and teaching them to love and reverence God.

So, who’s who? God is the “who” that is going to take care of us in rough times, and we should not forget him in the good times.

Sometimes we act like concrete Baptists, all mixed up and set in our ways. We don’t know what’s what. We depend on someone else to do everything for us, like computers, for example. Ever been to the bank, expecting to cash a check only to be told the computers were down? Our world runs on computers, not on our brains anymore. What do we do when the power goes off, the cell phone dies or the computer crashes? Wail, moan and groan? No, we still have an awesome, almighty God to depend upon. He should be our foundation, unmovable and unchangeable. Believe God, not the world. Have questions? He is the final answer to “what’s what.”

And finally, “where is where:” heaven or hell? Only those who have seriously bowed before God, confessed their sins and ask forgiveness for them will get into heaven. Again, just being a good person is not good enough. There is no place in between heaven and hell. It’s where you stand with Jesus that will get you into heaven. Make sure of your salvation today. Can you say Jesus knows me, this I love? So, where is where? Look inside your heart for the answer; only you know for sure.

This world needs to see Jesus in what we do for his kingdom, not for me or you. Give your talents to him to be used for him. Jesus is the who, what and where, the final “amen” to this world. We need him more every day, in our homes, our churches, our work places and our government.

Please make plans to be with us on Sunday, July 28, at 5 p.m. Stephanie Leavins will be singing, giving her testimony and leading us in worship this night. She is a blessing, and if you have not heard her, come on out and join us. We will be serving finger foods afterward in our fellowship hall.

Please continue to pray for our church, our pastor and his family, the lost, the sick, the hurting souls of this world, our government, our troops and our children. God is good, all the time! Amen.