“I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way where in I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me” (Psalm 142:1-7).

Thought for the week: “Is the Cross You Wear Too Heavy to Bear?”

Complainingly I told myself, “This cross is too heavy to wear” and I wondered discontentedly why God gave it to me to bear. And I looked with envy at others whose crosses seemed lighter than mine and wished that I could change my cross for one of a lighter design — and then, in a dream and beheld the cross I impulsively wanted to wear, it was fashioned of pearls and diamonds and gems that were precious and rare. And when I hung it around my neck the weight of the jewels and the gold was much too heavy and cumbersome for my small, slender neck to hold — So I tossed it aside and before my eyes was a cross of rose-red flowers and I said with delight as I put it on, “This cross I can wear for hours” — For it was so dainty and fragile, so lovely and light and thin, but I had forgotten about the thorns that started to pierce my skin — and then in my dream I saw “my cross,” rugged and old and plain, that clumsy old cross I had looked upon with discontented disdain — and at last I knew that God had made this special cross for me, for God in His great wisdom knows what I before could not see, that often the loveliest crosses are the heaviest crosses to bear, for only God is wise enough to choose the cross we can wear — so never complain about your cross, for your cross has been blessed, God made it just for you to wear and remember, God knows best!”

Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Maplesville will celebrate its 118th church anniversary and homecoming day celebration Sunday July 5 at 2 p.m. The Rev. Rodney T. Morton, pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Selma, will be the guest speaker, and the Rev. Donald Nix is pastor. Everyone is invited.

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

The morning message was given by pastor Dukes. His theme: Don’t get frustrated with bad folks. What is good? What is a good man? The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. David messed up more than once. He loved the Lord but decided to take a break and sinned. After seeing Bathsheba and causing her husband death, Nathan told him what he had done. David repented. A good man knows when to come out of the lie, but a devil stays in his.

Our sympathy goes out to the family of Mr. William White in their time of bereavement. Funeral services are Thursday at noon at West End Church of Christ on 11th Street South in Clanton. Agee Brother’s Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

On our sick list this week we ask you to remember in your prayers: Linda Clay, Lee Anna Worthey, Joseph McCall, Bubba Rogers, Sam and Vivian Hicks and Rebecca Johnson Roberts. May God heal, strengthen and keep them in His care is our prayer.