Samaria Baptist Church

We enjoyed a great day in the Lord’s house. Celebrating birthdays were Bro. Hank Stoneback and his twin boys. We welcome to our fellowship Josh and Amanda Parker and their children. They are a wonderful addition to our church.

Bro. Floyd Collins sang “Life’s Railway,” and he did a wonderful job. Bro. Charles’ message came from Hosea 3:1-5. It focused on the awesome forgiveness that God afforded the adulteress. Hosea was commanded to take her for his wife, thus changing her life forever. She was to turn from her sin and be the saved sinner that God wanted her to be. That is the way it is with all of us. We have the opportunity to make a change. No, we cannot save ourselves, but we have to decide to turn away from our sinful ways, and let Jesus come in and make the change complete. He knocks on the door of our hearts, and we know that we need to change something. What an awesome feeling to be in the will of Almighty God, to know that when we stray, he is there through the Holy Spirit and will welcome us back to safety.

When the actions of others cause you sadness, pain, grief or despair, your responsibility is to forgive them. We cannot be whole again as long as a grudge or offense is held against someone else. Jesus is the only power that can enable us to be forgiving in times of anger, anguish, sorrow and betrayal. He forgave us then, and he forgives us now. How can we find peace by doing anything less?

Many of us go through life with pain in our hearts caused by other folks. Sometimes we forgive them, but many times we find it impossible. Without the peace of God in our hearts, we are not able to grant forgiveness to anyone. God makes it all possible, and he expects us to learn from the example Jesus set when he came and taught by example.

Of course the people talked about Hosea. He was belittled for taking the adulteress as his wife. But when God told him what to do, Hosea knew that it would all work out for the greater good. May God bless you today in your battles. May you be able to forgive those who have hurt you or have, in some way, brought harm to your life. It’s all about forgiveness; without it we are all doomed.

God bless you and your family this week. Come to Samaria; meet Jesus here.

Cedar Grove Church

Bro. Randy Perry’s text came from Psalm 20:1-9. His sermon was titled “There Is Coming a Glad Day.”

A glad day is coming when there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, and Satan will be no more. Right now, the closer you get to God, the harder the fight you will have against Satan, but great news: The battle is not yours; it belongs to God. Praise the Lord that we are not alone!

God has been better to us than we have been to him. God has kept us alive that we may not go down into the pit of sin and hell. He has given us the freedom of choice to choose to serve him or Satan. His anger is but for a moment, but his favor is for life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

We see and hear in the world today a lot of people have given up on Christ’s return and the Rapture. Jesus tells us in his word to be vigilant, alert and ready, for we know not the day or the hour of his coming. Only the father knows, which begs the question: Do you know that you know that you know you are ready to face him? Notice I said, “ready,” not “worthy.” Jesus stands in the gap for you and me, and we are saved by his grace. We can fool our pastor and we can fool the world, our family and friends into to believing we are a born again Christian, but we cannot fool the Master, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We all know, if we will just admit it. Either we are saved or we are not; there is no in between. We are not forced to serve Christ. If we do not choose to accept Jesus as our Savior, then without question, we choose to spend eternity in hell. If today were your last chance to move, where would you be moving to? I am ready for that great homecoming in heaven. Are you?

Love to all. God bless and have a great week!

Announcements:

Friday night prayer service starts at 7 p.m.

Prayer concerns: Tracy Perry, Janet Wyatt, Bro. Heath and family, Eugene Neeley, Peggy Pearson, Mary McGuire, Diane Patterson and family, Bro. Jeff and Tucker Jones.