By Emily Agee

“Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to the broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make his ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.” (Luke 12: 37–46)

Thought for the week: “Father, Are You There?”

“A little child lay in the dark; the room was strange, he saw nowhere, he was afraid, but then he called, ‘Father, are you there?’ He felt a hand, so strong and warm, close clasping his; then calm and clear he heard his Father’s tender voice, ‘Yes, laddie, I am here.’ Like that small child, we sometimes feel that we are in the dark of care; in terror of some harm, we call, ‘O Father, are you there?’ We reach our hand to him, and find a blessed answer to our fear; his hand holds ours; we hear his voice, ‘Fear not, for I am here.’ So though we tremble in the dark, in need of strength and help and cheer, we have a tender Father’s word, ‘Fear not, for I am here.’”

Announcements

“Worship Without Walls and Divisions,” sponsored by West End Community Ministry will be Saturday, June 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. behind E.M. Henry School between Coosa and Fourth Street in Clanton.

Worship service at Holly Grove Baptist Church in Jemison began with praise service by the male chorus. Song sung were “Glad to Be in the Service,” “I Give You All the Praise” and “I Did Not Have Any Doubt.” The Scripture was read by Perry Nunn with prayer by Pastor Dukes and Robert Callen.

The morning message was given by Pastor Dukes with his theme: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy, Life Is Not about Possessions.” You need life, not stuff. There is no profit to gain the whole world and lose your soul. Jesus provides us a prescription for a worry-free life. Make the right decision. You can’t go backward. Lay up your treasure in Heaven. Have priorities. God will provide your needs. Walk by faith, not by sight. The decision to serve Jesus leads to a worry-free life. Trust the right Father. God takes care of the birds. He will take care of you. There is no dead end when you do what God tells you. God loves us more than we love ourselves. Pursue the right ambition. Seek first the kingdom of God. Ask him to rule over your life; where is your loyalty and focus on Christ? Benediction by Pastor Dukes.

Our sympathy goes out to the families of Calvin Ann Sartain and C.J. McCloud in their time of bereavement. Arrangements are incomplete at this time. Agee Brothers Funeral Home directing.

On our sick list this week, we ask you to remember in your prayers: James Singleterry, Rena Dickerson, Martha Binion, Harold Frazier, Dorothy Sims, Joe Sexton, Jamie Pelham, Lee Anna Worthey and Ella Faye Nunn. May God heal, strengthen and keep them in his care is our prayer.

—Emily Agee is a religion columnist for The Clanton Advertiser. Her column appears each Thursday.