By Emily Agee

“O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah. Behold your God! Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hill a balance? Who hath directed the spirit of the Lord, or being his counselor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. To whom then will ye liken God or what likeness will ye compare unto him?” (Isaiah 40:9-18)

Thought for today: ‘Live As You Pray’

“I knelt to pray when day was done, and prayed: “O Lord, bless everyone; lift from each saddened heart the pain and let the sick be well again.” And when I woke another day and carelessly went on my way, the whole day long I did not try to wipe a tear from any eye; I did not try to share the load of any brother on the road; I did not even go to see the sick man just next door to me. Yet once again when day was done, I prayed: “O Lord, bless everyone.” But as I prayed, into my ear there came a voice that whispered clear: “Pause, hypocrite, before you pray; whom have you tried to bless today? God’s sweetest blessings always go by hands that serve him here below.” And then I hid my face and cried, “Forgive me, God, for I have lied; let me but live another day and I will live the way I pray.”

Announcements

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

Songs sung were “Let It Be Real,” “Jesus Is a Rock” and “Praise Him.” The scripture was read by Perry Nunn and prayer was offered by Robert Callen and Pastor Dukes.

The morning message was given by Pastor Dukes with his theme: “You Can’t Be a Christian without Christ.” You do that by how you treat others. When you give a gift to the less fortunate, you give to Jesus.

Who will you choose: Jesus or Barabbas? Barabbas represents the world; Jesus represents heavenly things. Do you choose a sinner over a savior, a murderer over a minister? Jesus came to save; Barabbas was a rebel. Don’t choose that which is not godly. Would your choices identify what your mouth says? Who are you going to serve? Make up your mind—by your actions, not your mouth— who you will choose.

Man cares more about public opinion than eternal life. Do you love people? Do you place wrong above right? Read God’s Word. Are you led by unsaved tradition? Don’t cancel out God’s word with tradition. How many times does God have to warn us before you hear him? The Holy Spirit has the power to make you do right. Christians should not act like the world; we are different. Do you identify in Jesus? Ask yourself. Jesus died that you may be saved.

The benediction was given by Pastor Dukes.

Our sympathy goes out to the families of William Barbour and Anthony Wilson in their time of bereavement. Barbour’s funeral will be Saturday, Feb. 1 at 11 a.m. at Morning Star Baptist Church in Clanton. Arrangements for Wilson are incomplete at this time. Agee Brothers Funeral Home will direct the funeral.

On our sick list this week we ask you to remember in your prayers: James Singleterry, Martha Binion, Harold Frazier, Dorothy Sims, Lee Anna Worthey, Sam and Vivian Hicks, Dora Archie, Mildred Archie, Barbara Agee, Lisa Wright and Versa Davis. 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.