Cedar Grove Church

Our only hope is in Jesus Christ!

Announcements: Friday night prayer service starts at 7 p.m.

Prayer concerns: Judy, Joyce Scott, Linda, Susie, Charlotte and family, Terry L. Mims, Janet Wyatt, Betty and Mark Robinson, Mary McGuire, spoken and unspoken requests.

Special music by Sam: “I Cannot Walk Without Jesus Holding My Hand,” and Stacey sang “The Potter Knows the Clay.” These songs were wonderful blessings.

Pastor Jeff Carroll’s text came from Acts 27:40-43 titled “A Broken Ship.” Paul, who used to be Saul, was out to destroy all Christians and Christianity until one day, on the road to Damascus, he was struck down and blinded by God until he saw the light of Jesus Christ. His sight was restored, he accepted Jesus as his Savior and his name was changed to “Paul.” The Gentiles knew him.” We all go through storms in life and there are some things to be learned from those storms. A biblical example is Paul being a prisoner aboard a ship with a centurion captain. The ship was in a hurricane being tossed to and fro for 14 days. Those aboard the ship finally woke up one day to see land in the distance. The plan was to raise the main sail and head for the shore; however, before reaching the shore, they ran aground between some rocks, causing the back of the ship to begin to break apart. At this point, all who were onboard had to get on pieces of the ship to stay afloat and survive.

Our plans are not God›s plans. We all have a tendency to plan out the things in our lives for ourselves, letting our unbelief smash the perfect plan God has for us against the rocks that represent our unbelief. The rocks in this story can represent neglect, procrastination, over-doing the will of God or putting off until tomorrow what should be done today. The greatest gamble or mistake we could ever make is to know we are lost and refuse to accept Christ as our Savior, choosing instead to go forward with the highest stake imaginable: gambling with our salvation, our soul.

Love of this world and what it has to offer can become more of a priority than what God wants us to do. Only God can offer salvation and eternal life. A rich farmer in the Bible began bragging. In pride, his plan was to build a larger barn for his harvest, then sit back, enjoy life and what he had accomplished—just take it easy. But God had a different plan. He told the rich farmer, “Today, your soul shall be required of you.” Foolish thinking was his downfall.

We cannot walk without God holding our hand; we cannot take our next breath without God allowing it. We can plan all we want, and even see the goal in sight, but without God in it, those plans can crumble in an instant. You can become sick or a financial crisis can occur, and without God in your life, there is no hope. We all need to ask God what he has planned for each moment of our life and what we should do in a certain situation, and not choose what we would do. God is the Master Builder. Seek him today; you will have no worry for tomorrow because God is already there.

Hallelujah to the Lamb! Love to all from Cedar Grove Church. Have a blessed week!

Bethsalem Baptist Church

Bro. Cleve opened our day of worship with ministry opportunities and by welcoming everyone. Great songs were sung by the congregation. The Celebration Choir sang “Trophies of Grace.”

Dr. Harold Cushing preached from John 1:35-41 about spreading the Good News, building the Church and telling people about Jesus.

In the evening, we had a great Fall Festival Trunk-or-Treat. Thanks to everyone who had a part in this great event.

Wednesday night: Supper at 5:30 p.m., prayer meeting for adults at 6:30 p.m., Team Kids for children and Student’s Outlet

Happy Birthday to Emily Clackler, Lula Spigne, Karina Thrasher, Hailey Wingard, James Headley, Anthony Courtney, Joe Hollon and Dylan Moseley.

Pray for Sid Griner, Rebecca Martin, Debbie Burch, Hayley Boyd, David Johnson, Charles Bryant, the Hunt family’s adoption, our shut-ins, our Pastor Search Committee, Pete Barber, Hunter Moore, Lillianna Thompson, Jennifer and Brandon Teel, George and Diane Williams, Betty McGee, Gladys Bryant, Kathy Headley, Kathy Fitzgerald, Austin Chandler, Lois Blalock, Raymond Griner, Dean Parker, Harold Patterson, Renee Dobbins, Wendy Speigner and Pete Barber.

Remember the time change on Nov. 3: turn clocks back one hour.

Come worship with us on Sundays.