By Emily Agee

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understanding all mysteries, and all knowledgeable: and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunted not itself, is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth; but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” (1 Corinthians 13:1–13)

Thought for the week: ‘The Master of My Fate’

“He is the master of my fate – he knows what’s best for me. I stand at his command and wait to learn my destiny. Two roads he gave me in my life, two ways in which to go. One led to darkness and to strife and one to sunshine’s glow. I took the wrong road at the start, not giving it much thought, but soon I learned with heavy heart the pain that it had brought. But then, I saw just up ahead a sign in letters bold; a crossroad that I took instead and there, found joy untold. ’Twas there I met my Savior; he helped me understand that life is sweet where’er we meet if you but hold his hand. He is the master of my fate – he knows what’s best for me. No longer do I stand and wait … I found my destiny!”

Announcements

Holly Grove Baptist Church in Jemison will celebrate its annual Family and Friends Day on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. The Rev. George Brown of Greenleaf Baptist Church in Marion will be the guest speaker, and Frances Allison will serve as emcee. The Rev. Kenneth Dukes is pastor. Everyone is invited.

A Family and Friends Day celebration will be held at the Great Commission Christian Center in Clanton on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. The Rev. Lenard Rogers is pastor. The church is located at 907 Samaria Road in Clanton. Everyone is invited.

Worship service at Holly Grove Baptist Church in Jemison began with praise by the praise team: “Christ Has Everything We Need.” “O Lord, how manifold are there works in wisdom has thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches” Psalm 104:24.

Songs sung were: “Come and Go to that Land,” “Running for Jesus” and “Salvation in the Room.”

The scripture was read by Perry Nunn with prayer by Pastor Dukes and Steven Nunn. Pastor Dukes brought the message with his theme, “Do you trust God?”

Do you say it with your mouth but your actions don’t line up? Lips and life must line up (Matthew 11:20–24).

Are you growing as a Christian? Are you better and able to do more? Are you complacent where you are? Are you growing in your Christian walk? Are you submissive to God’s will and way? Are you satisfied from 10:30 a.m. to noon then rush out and forget it? How much work do you do for Christ?

God has a place prepared at a table for you. Don’t be satisfied with crumb blessings. Get better witnessing for Christ. Seek and save that which is lost.

No. 1: Win souls. Perform your church duties. Give God 100 percent; let everything else get in where they fit in. You should know God’s word when you come to church. Get better in Christian worship. Benediction by Pastor Dukes.

On our sick list this week, we ask you to keep in your prayers: James Singleterry, Martha Binion, Robertha Lee, Sam and Vivian Hicks, Harold Frazier, Ella Faye Nunn, Dorothy Sims, Lee Anna Worthey, Von Harris and Janice Floyd. 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.