“And the Lord hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel as the Lord promised, and have built a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, which he made with our fathers when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: And he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart. Who hast kept with thy servant David thy Father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. Therefore now, Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promised him, saying, there shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel: so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me. And now, O God of Israel let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee: how much less this house that I have builded?” I Kings 8:20–27.

Thought for the Week: “Somebody Cares”

“Somebody cares and always will – The world forgets but God loves you still. You cannot go beyond his love no matter what you’re guilty of, for God forgives until the end – He is your faithful, loyal friend … And though you try to hide your face, there is no shelter anyplace that can escape his watchful eye, for on the earth and in the sky. He’s ever-present and always there to take you in his tender care and bind the wounds and mend the breaks when all the world around forsakes. Somebody cares and loves you still, and God is the someone who always will.”

Announcements

Worship services at Holly Grove Baptist Church in Jemison began with praise service of songs, scripture and prayer.

Songs sung were “Come to Jesus,” “Lord I Thank You” and “Jesus Is a Rock in a Weary Land.”

Prayer was by Pastor Dukes and Robert Callen.

Scripture was read by Perry Nunn.

Pastor Dukes brought the message. His theme was “Your Relationship with God. Do You Struggle?”

How is your relationship with Christ? John 15:1–11. God is the vine; we are the branches. How are you connected? If you are not connected, you are dead.

Everyone has difficult days, saved and unsaved. We owe God everything for what he did on Calvary.

Are you a throwaway branch? God cuts if off. God is the gardener; Christ is the vine. Christ died for us so throwaway branches can be reattached.

Stay in God’s word to stay connected to him. Everybody has work to do. Are you ready for God to judge your work? Don’t neglect the church and find fault in the sign of a disconnected branch. Show God’s love to others.

What you do for Christ will last. We are servants; what can I do for others? The connecting branch must remain connected to the vine. Stay in God’s word. Stay in his word; tell Jesus Christ died for me and you. The power source is Jesus.

Benediction was by Pastor Dukes.

On our sick list this week, we ask you to remember in your prayers: James Singleterry, Harold Frazier, Ella Faye Nunn, Dorothy Sims, Sam and Vivian Hicks, Martha Binion, Robertha Lee, Janice Floyd and Von Harris. May God heal, strengthen and keep them in his care is our prayer.

—Emily Agee is a religion columnist for The Clanton Advertiser.