By Emily Agee

Praise ye the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul. While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever; Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners. The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 146:1-10.

Thought for the week: “My Basket of Blessings”

My life, well it’s my basket, each day the Lord begins to add His special blessings as I lift it up to Him. The blessings of a new day. The sun, so bright and warm, that I arose this morning in a place that I call home… Flowers in my garden, birds that sweetly sing, music from my radio – oh, what happiness they bring. Hands to help my neighbors, work for me to do, joy to fill my heart and soul whenever I am blue. My basket’s overflowing at the ending of the day. Such thankfulness fills my heart… with such gratitude I pray.”

Union Missionary Baptist Church in Clanton will celebrate its Annual Women’s Day Observance on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, beginning at 11 a.m. with Minister Ellen Craig of Kincheon Road Church of God in Clanton bringing the message. At 2:30 p.m., Sis. Callie Nelson of Hopewell Baptist Church in Clanton will be the speaker. Everyone is invited.

Worship service at the Holly Grove Baptist Church in Jemison began with praise service of prayer,scripture and songs by the senior choir. The scripture was read by Earl Lucas with prayer by Pastor Dukes and Carl Singleterry. Songs sung: “One More Time,” “Blessed The Lord in Me,” and “Amazing Grace.” The morning message was given by Pastor Dukes. His theme: “Surviving Difficult Times.” How do you apply this to your life? All things work together for the good of God’s people, count it all joy in difficult times. James, Jesus’ disciple, said this: We should praise God thru all things, you got to know God is able in any situation, God is in control. Lean and trust him, he made everything that was made. You can’t doubt God; if it’s his will, it will be. God gave us power over the devil. What did you do with it? See God in the midst of a storm. Learn to recognize Jesus. He is walking on your problems. Keep your eyes on Jesus, don’t sink, he is close, reach out your hand, he is there. Pray and ask God to keep a bandage around you. Never more then we can bear from Jesus. So don’t put things on your self-blame it on God. God brings meaning in our difficult times. After all I’ve been through, I still have joy in God. No problem in life is beyond God’s grace. Benediction by Pastor Dukes.

On our sick list this week we ask you to remember in your prayers: Jerry Wilson, Sam and Vivian Hicks, Eliza Stewart, Roosevelt Morrow, Lee Anna Worthey, Delores Morrow, Jessie Childs, Jr., Flora B. Frazier, Evelyn Austin and Robert Spence. May God heal, strengthen and keep them in His care is our prayer.