Cedar Grove

Announcements: Homecoming is Aug. 18 with Bro. Randy Perry, with revival to follow Aug. 19-21.

Prayer meetings are Friday nights at 7 p.m.; all are welcomed.

We would like to welcome a new member to our church family, Will Vines, son of Bro. Heath and Freda Vines, born on June 3, weighing 7.8 pounds and 20.5 inches long. What a blessing.

Prayer concerns: Peggy Pearce, Bro. Jeff Carroll, Janet Wyatt, Joyce Scott, Billy Caton, Mary McGuire, Jean Varden, spoken and unspoken requests.

Bro. Jeff Carroll’s text came from 1 Kings 19:1-8, “The Still Small Voice.”

Hearing from God is the most awesome part of a Christian’s life—to receive his personal guidance on how to live our lives to the fullest for the Glory of God.

We oftentimes, when going through a trial or a storm, tend to become discouraged, depressed, frustrated, feel helpless, wondering what am I going to do?

“I” being the key word here. Without God’s still small voice speaking to us, giving us guidance through his word, we will ultimately fail.

We will continue to sink into that miry pit of sin, never able to get out, until we cry out for God asking his forgiveness for your lack of faith.

God is able. He does not put more on us than we can handle, he is always there for us and he never allows us to be in any situation without a way out.

Where are you in your relationship with God today?

He expects and deserves our complete faith be put in him and he will enable us to make the right choices, have joy in our relationship with him, give us the ability to fight the good fight.

Evening worship was brought by the youth following youth camp and vacation bible school/youth revival. Many young and older lives were changed by these services.

Many decisions were made with three youths saved these past two weeks—two from other churches and one from our church family, Gracie Mims. How great is our God.

God showed up and placed an anointing on the services of the past two weeks in an awesome way.

There were several testimonies given tonight by the youth proclaiming God’s gospel and grace. I would say the main focus was on how God would have us treat others by loving them, sharing Christ with them, not looking at their outward appearance and not being so religious because let us never forget religious people hung Jesus on the cross.

God bless and have a great week.

Bethany Baptist Church

On Sunday morning, Bro. Steve’s message was, “Are You on the Right Road?” taken from Matthew 7:13-14.

This passage mentions two ways, two gates, two destinations and two groups of people on these destinations.

The narrow way is one of holiness, obedience to God, faith, sacrifice and with fellowship with God.

The broad way is the way of ease, worldliness, conformity to the world in lifestyle, dress and leisure.

It is the way of the flesh, to “fit in” with the world.

There are two gates: few enter the straight gate (through Jesus Christ) and sadly, many enter the wide gate to destruction.

The way you get on the right way is to, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (See Acts 16:31).

There are two destinations, heaven and hell. Are you on the right road?

On Sunday night, Bro. Steven began a study, Major Lessons from Minor Characters.

The study was on Diotrophes, taken from 3 John 9-10. Diotrophes was an individual in the church who was full of pride and seemed to want to be preeminent.

To avoid being this type of person, we should place Jesus first in our hearts, in our speech and in our service. We should follow after that which is good (verse 11) and never sacrifice principles to attain unity.

We should pray for the person who is in error and seek reconciliation.

We should be gentle but firm and seek the unity of the spirit.

Prayer list: Betty Biggs, Doris and Verdie Glenn, Carle Gray, Jeanette Jessop, Bro. Danny Jones and his family, Frances McKinnon, Henry Moore, Billie Neeley and Grace and Elwyn Robinson.

See you Sunday.