Samaria Baptist Church

It is amazing how fast this year has flown by. We were blessed with a special by Floyd Collins, “How Long Has It Been?” The years go by faster as we grow older, until we get to the place where we cannot remember the last time we witnessed and shared Jesus with others. How long has it been since we stood up for what Jesus means to us? And how long since we praised him and thanked him for all he freely gives to us.

Our pastor’s text was taken from 1 Timothy 3: Witnessing seems to be a weak link for many of us. How can we be silent when others are dying and going to hell every single day? Planting seeds in the lives of those we meet and those we love will bring forth fruit in God’s time. False religions try to gain adherence to their beliefs. These beliefs are not based on what God’s word says. A belief that is not founded on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is dead wrong.

Sometimes, Sunday school can give us a better understanding of the teachings of the Bible than preaching can. We learn what is right and what is good. Hindu and Muslim believers are trusting in a belief that can do nothing for their soul. Nothing can take us away from the almighty love of God. And when we are saved by his grace, we are forever in his hands.

Our nation is giving in to the demands of other religions in the name of civil rights. This is yielding to the methods of the devil himself. If a faith is not based on Christ, it is a false religion. America was founded on faith in a loving, Almighty God. Now we have leaders who want to forsake this foundation. As a result, we have shootings in schools, bombings in public places and abuse.

Hitler’s Germany was guilty of torturing Christians and Jews. Hitler hated God. If we are not faithful and diligent in our service to God, the same negativity will overtake our nation. Trouble makers are ramping up the energy it takes to tear America down as a Christian nation. Let us stand up and make sure we lift up Christ to a lost and dying world.

God bless you. Let us love our Savior this Christmas season.

Rocky Mount UMC

Thanksgiving and the Iron Bowl are both behind us now and we turn our heads, our hearts, our minds and our spirits to the most important part of this season of Advent: the birth of Jesus Christ!

With scripture from Matthew 24:36-44, we read of the fact that no man knows the day of the return of the Son of God. We conclude the reading with “Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.” Are you ready for this special moment? We don’t get the privilege of making all our plans and schedules as to be fully ready for this moment. We must live each day and each moment as if it is our last.

We hope that you will take time to look around you and enjoy this special season. We hope that you will take the time to count your many blessings and, as you are able, share those blessings with others who are not as fortunate. We are so proud that we as a church and a community were able to fill shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse, and following the blessing of these boxes that filled our altar, were able to send them on their way to children in areas that do not have the privileges with which we are blessed. We pray for the children who receive these boxes, and also for the many hands that filled, shipped, transported, or in any other way, had a part in the distribution of these boxes and the messages of love they carry.

Work hard to get your heart right with God, for when God is for you, who could be against you?