By Emily Agee

“And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” (Exodus 20:1-11 KJV)

Thought for the week: ‘The Morning’

The morning is a splendid time to tell God of your love, a splendid time to praise him for all blessings from above. Just thank him for your night of sleep and precious hours of rest, and thank him for your home with which your family is blessed. Thank him for the time of prayer that opens up your day, and for the sunshine or the rain; whatever comes your way. Thank him for the food he sends in this blessed land of ours, and thank him for the songs of birds and fragrant lovely flowers. Do thank him for your health and strength to finish every task, and for the answers to your prayers when in Christ’s name you ask. Thank him for your salvation too, for Jesus so divine, who gave his life on Calvary to cleanse your sin and mine. In adoration and in love, lift up your words of praise; then you will find his gift of peace and joy throughout your days.

Announcements

The Clanton Faith Full Gospel Baptist Church located at 410 Sixth St. S. will hold a dedication service on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 3 p.m. Reginald A. Carver is the pastor. The guest speaker will be Bishop Freddrick Hardy. Everyone is invited.

Worship service at Holly Grove Baptist Church in Jemison began with praise service led by the male chorus in song, scripture and prayer. Songs sung were “Jesus, a Wonderful Child,” “Take the Lord With You” and “Salvation is in the Room.” Perry Nunn read the scripture, with prayer by Pastor Dukes and Robert Callen.

Pastor Dukes gave the morning message with this theme: “A Made Up Mind.” Indecision weakens a Christian. Don’t be double-minded because you will be unstable. When we overcome things, we have to do something about it. Make a decision to let go of your little secret sins. A made up mind puts a Christian on a different level.

It’s what you do that matters, not what you say. Your love for God can force you to do his will and it will change the way you think. It’s not easy being a child of God. The devil doesn’t bother those he already has. You as a Christian are a prime target for him. With Christ, you are more than a conqueror in Jesus Christ. I have a made up mind.

Pastor Dukes gave the benediction.

Our sympathy goes out to the family of Mr. James Hill in their time of bereavement. Mr. Hill will be funeralized on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 1 p.m. at the Kincheon Road Church of God in Clanton. Agee Brothers Funeral Home will direct the funeral.

We ask you to remember in your prayers: James Singleterry, Martha Binion, Sam and Vivian Hicks, Lisa Wright, Harold Frazier, Dorothy Sims, William Barbour, Lee Anna Worthley, Mildred Archie, Robertha Lee, Versa Davis and J.R. Booker. 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.