BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES FOR SEPTEMBER 12, 2024

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

AMY HEYWARD

JORDAN ASHLEY

JUSTIN RICHARDSON

KIM RAY

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO:

KEN & CHRISSY HUNTER

Be a Planter of Hope & Peace

September 12   Be a Planter of Hope & Peace   Hosea 10:12

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”  (Hosea 10:12)

Would you like to witness a miracle? Would you like to make a difference in the life of an individual? Well, try this: Plant a word of encouragement and love into that person’s life. Continue to nurture and cultivate it with a friendly smile and a committed prayer life, and watch what happens, before your eyes! Our culture has a habit of sowing negative and “hate-filled” rhetoric and the atmosphere of 21st century America is replete with divisions and chaos and unhealthy decisions and sadness and despair. Let’s be the purveyor of “Positive and Uplifting” words of Hope and Goodness! Try it… compliment your neighbor, send flowers to your spouse, visit a widow, be grateful to a waitress, speak a kind word to a stranger! Sowing seeds of His Love and His Peace is like sowing seeds! You do not know the mechanics of how it works; you just know that it does! Seeds of Kindness will produce kindness and the more we sow, the stronger we become and the greater the opportunity to “Share Jesus!” Random acts of Love and Kindness will always produce positive, lifechanging results! Keep Sowing, Keep Nurturing, Keep Believing and Continue to “Push Back the Darkness” in the lives of everyone that you encounter! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!

Post Script: I find it amazing, that when I preach God’s Word, and it offends the world, that the world responds with the idea that I am “hate-filled,” and that I should be tolerant of others, and their attempt to discredit me and my beliefs, yet they are spouting intolerance and “hate-filled” rhetoric towards me, and doing it with the approval of those who are opposed to any rules and regulations that govern behavior, unless it is their twisted and perverse actions! Satan and his minions are ready, willing, and able to discredit, defame, and lie about every attempt to promote the Love of God and His Forgiveness! Remember, we are told that the world and all of the satanic evil that exists, will be against us and that we are to continue to “Push Back the Darkness,” and continue to serve Him with all that is within us!

“Call Upon Me, I Will Listen.”

September 11 “Call Upon Me, I Will Listen.”     Jeremiah 29:12

**Today is the anniversary of a tragic time in our American History. On this day, in September 2001, extreme hatred and blatant disregard for human life, was tragically and vividly displayed for all the world to see! Since that day, Hatred, and the disregard for Human life, has continued to grow and examples of this attitude are evident, every day! Living, in the midst, of this prevailing and sad attitude, we must double down on our PRAYER TIME and OUR DEPENDENCE ON GOD’S PROMISES AND PROVISION! Stop for a moment today, and honor the memory of those who, were living their lives as usual, and went to their daily activities, and because of the hatred of our way of life, these innocent individuals, paid the ultimate price! HATRED, IN ANY FORM, WILL ALWAYS BE DESTRUCTIVE AND HAS NO PLACE IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY! ACROSS THE WORLD, PROTESTS ARE OCCURRING, CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE HATRED FOR AMERICA, ISRAEL AND ANYONE SUPPORTING THEM. IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE! JESUS CHRIST is the ANSWER to HATRED, to the INSANITY that is happening! Those individuals that perpetrated those cowardly acts on 9-11 were driven by Hatred and were fulfilling their twisted Religious Called to Martyr themselves for their Cause, and that Cause is Driven by HATRED! JESUS CHRIST teaches LOVE, NOT HATE! JESUS IS LOVE, and that is the Defining Difference between this Evil and the Transforming Power of the Love of God through Jesus Christ!!**

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Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”  (Jeremiah 29:12)

All of the greatest moments of my life have been experienced, in prayer and the results of prayer! The scripture passage for today, follows a promise that God made, to provide a future and to offer hope! I feel blessed and privileged to be able to call on my God, and to know that He has promised a “Divinely Guided Future” and His “Blessed Hope” for my Life! You see, prayer, sincere and faith-filled prayer, is the conduit by which we enter His presence and talk with Him and position ourselves to claim His Divine Promises for our Lives! I get excited, each time that I enter the presence of the “UNLIMITED GOD,” especially, when I recognize my “LIMITED” capacity! PRAISE GOD! Because of His “UNLIMITED” provisions, I can live “LIMITLESS!” Folks, the privilege of prayer is a blessing!  We can talk to God, and He will listen and answer our prayers! He listens to my “whining” and my “complaining” and still Loves me and has promised that He would provide His Grace for my every shortcoming (Boy oh boy, there are many)! So, given the promise, and believing His Word, and recognizing His “UNLIMITED” capacity and power, with intensity and with clear focus, call on the Lord, in Faith, and share your burdens and struggles and needs and desires, and leave them at His feet! Every day, in faithful prayer, share your ups and downs and LEAVE THEM WITH HIM! Pray for each other and lift up our leaders and our friends and neighbors and LEAVE IT THERE! Bring all your burdens to the Lord, put them at His Feet and LEAVE THEM THERE! Guess What? Your Husband or Wife, Your Friends, Your Co-Workers, even Your Pastor may not always listen to you, yet we have a friend, a friend that is closer than a brother, that will listen, hear, and respond to our prayers! What a privilege that we have in Holy and UNLIMITED PRAYER! Daddy used to describe his prayer time, with intensity, when he called it his “Bent Knee” Praying! We MUST Exercise the Privilege and Pour Out Your Heart to God and Expect His Blessings, Corrections, and His Provisions! Be involved in so “Bent Knee” Praying… HE WILL LISTEN TO YOU!! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE! 

ANNIVERSARIES FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO:

BOBBY & RIXIE STEVENS

BIRTHDAYS FOR SEPTEMBER 10, 2024

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

TONY ALFORD

KIM CREECH

TERRY WRIGHT

MICHAEL RICHARDSON

September 10  “Two is Better than One”  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”                              (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

Henry Ward Beecher, a pastor that lived in the 1800’s, said, “Climbers of the Alps fasten themselves together with a rope for safety.”  What amazingly wise words for us, in our world conditions for today.  The Words of Solomon, also referred to as, the “Preacher,” instructs us that, two are, absolutely, better than one!  Throughout the Bible, we are encouraged to fellowship and to support and to lift one another up.  That is part of God’s plan for us to be “Givers!”  Giving of our time and our talents and our blessings and our financial resources and our words of encouragement!  Romans 12:1 instructs us to “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Many of us have excuses for why we can’t or don’t give, of ourselves as encouragement and comfort to others.  I want you to “THINK THIS OVER!” 

God made the Sun…It Gives.

God made the Moon…It Gives.

God made the Stars…They Give.

God made the Air…It Gives.

God made the Clouds…They Give.

God made the Earth…It Gives.

God made the Trees…They Give.

God made the Flowers…They Give.

God made the Birds…They Give.

God made the PLAN…HE GIVES.

God made Man…He ?

Serving God requires that we GIVE!  It means that we give of our Time, Talent, Resources, Blessings, and Our All!  During this difficult time of uncertainty, please exercise your blessings, by reaching out to others, and be a blessing to them.  God provided the example with His Son, Jesus and He expects us to honor His gift to us, by being a blessing to others!  Serving Jesus is the best way that I know, to be a “GIVER!”  We have our “CALL TO ACTION!”  Believers, step up and shout the “Good News” of encouragement to everyone around you and fulfill your calling and responsibility, through the Blood of Jesus!  TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!  Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR NATION, OUR LEADERS, AND EACH OTHER!

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES FOR SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

SUSAN ANDREWS

TAMMY NARRON

MITCH JOHNSON

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO:

RUSSELL & LESLIE RAGAN

Love Like Jesus

September 8        Love Like Jesus             John 13:34

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34)

Setting standards and establishing acceptable behaviors can be challenging to parents.  From the time that Kayla was old enough to understand, we have taught her to be aware of her surroundings and to know who, is around her, always.  It happened that one day, Annette had bent down to pull a pot from the cabinet and Kayla, at the same time, had pulled the drawer out; that just happened to be above where Annette was bent down to retrieve the pot.  Annette stood up and banged her head on the drawer that was still pulled out.  Annette shouted, “Kayla, REALLY!”  Kayla’s response was priceless, “Mama, Daddy says that you need to be aware of your surroundings and know what is going on around you, at all times!”  Obviously, Annette was still challenged, yet she affirmed Daddy’s words and moved on.  Annette and I, both, resisted the urge to say, “Do what I say, not what I do!”  There were times that it would have been so appropriate, however, it wasn’t right when I heard it, as a youth, and it is not right today!  Mama had a standard that she lived by, and she expected me to follow her example.  My dear Mother was committed to treating others the way that she expected to be treated.  That is exactly what Jesus did!  His motto was, “Do as I say AND as I do!”  In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, the Apostle Paul spoke of unconditional love, and I recognize these words as a description of the way that Jesus loves us!  “Love is patient, Love is Kind.  It does not Envy, it does not Boast, it is not Proud.  It does not Dishonor others, it is not Self-seeking, it is not easily Angered, it keeps no record of Wrongs.  Love does not Delight in Evil; but Rejoices in the Truth.  It Always Protects, Always Trust, Always Hopes, Always Perseveres.  Love Never Fails. But where there are Prophecies, they will cease; where there are Tongues, they will be Stilled; where there is Knowledge, it will pass away.”  Think about this: If we are to be “Christ-Like,” and, if we are to “Reflect the Love of Jesus,” then we must do as HE SAYS, AND WHAT HE DID!!  I wonder what our human relationships would be if we were to be patient with others, and not judge others, and if we were less prideful and stubborn and were forgiving of others. Paul is telling us to, “LOVE LIKE JESUS!”  Are we living by this standard?  Are we demonstrating the Love of Christ, to our fellow travelers, through this journey of life?  When we are all about growing in our relationship with Jesus, then, we will, naturally, increase our capacity to LOVE OTHERS!  When we are confronted with a challenging “Love-Challenge,” what are we to do?  In every challenge and in every opportunity, I ask myself, “What would Mama do?”  Immediately, I shift gears and go to the eternal solution, for all the “Ills” of humanity… “WHAT WOULD JESUS DO AND HOW WOULD HE LOVE, IN THE SITUATION?”  Folks, this is not a suggestion, for the believer!  This is a COMMANDMENT!!  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”  Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!

BIRTHDAYS FOR SEPTEMBER 7, 2024

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

KEEGAN BECK

Healthy Habits

September 7             Healthy Habits         2 Peter 3:18

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)

Growth, spiritual growth, is absolutely necessary for every Christian! In order to fulfill God’s plan for our lives, we must continue to grow and mature! Think about it… If a child stops growing and developing, every parent would be very concerned! When, as Christians, we stop growing, then we need help! Listen, if you are the same Christian that you were 6 months ago, please be very careful! Go now, to your knees, and ask God to restore you, empower you, and to cause you to move towards the goal that He has prepared for you! You need a check-up! Not for your physical body, but a check-up of your heart! You need a check-up from the chest up! One of the primary ways to determine your spiritual health is to evaluate your habits!! Are you habitually following worldly endeavors, disregarding your daily growth requirements? Simply put… We must develop some healthy habits, engage in these habits regularly, and watch what happens! The first (and foremost) habit that we MUST develop is the Habit of PRAYER! The second habit is the habit of STUDYING (digging into God’s Word with a passion), and the third habit is GIVING (your time, talents, treasure) and the final habit is to FELLOWSHIP with other Believers! Try it, you will like it! Remember: PRAY – STUDY – GIVE – FELLOWSHIP! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!

 Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES FOR SEPTEMBER 6, 2024

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

SETH CREECH

MRS. JEAN O’NEAL

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO:

OSCAR & SHIRLEY LANE

JON & SUSAN BENNETT

“How to Defeat Satan”

September 6      “How to Defeat Satan”   James 4:7

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!”  (James 4:7)

“Don’t even think about it!”  Have you ever heard these words?  My mother had an amazing ability to know when I was thinking up a way, to get into trouble and to “aggravate the stew” out of her (at least, that was the way that she described it).  “Get it out of your mind,” was another one of her statements that would cause great concern for me. How does she know what I am thinking and how does she know what I am about to do?  If my earthly mother, with her human flaws and shortcomings, could anticipate my actions and know my thoughts and motivations, just imagine what my Heavenly Father knows!  God tells us, in His Word, that we should “Think on the good, just, noble, edifying, faith-filled and divine expectations.”  Mama used to tell me that I must protect what goes in my mind through my eyes and ears.  Basically, she demanded and expected that I control what I saw, and I heard, the way I spoke, what I spoke and my actions, both public and private!  “Mama, can I go with ‘So in So’ to the party?”  “NO!”  “WHY?”  Here was her standard answer, “Because it doesn’t look good!”  My dear Friends, I am asking and pleading with you to surrender your hearts, your minds, your words, your actions, and your ALL to Jesus and walk in the assurance of His Love, His Promises and His Eternal Provision!  REMEMBER: IF IT IS NOT EDIFYING TO GOD, LEAVE IT ALONE!! What God does with you, depends upon what you do!  It Always has; It Always will!!  Be Sure, be Productive and Continue to Share the Love of God with Others…Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES FOR SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

JOHN COOKE

GENE BUTLER

McKINLEY JOHNSON

RONNIE DALE FAULKNER (In Heaven)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO:

MONTE & CAROLINE DIEHL

RONNIE & JENNENE FAULKNER (In Heaven)

Single-Minded Focus

September 5   Single-Minded Focus    James 1:8

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8)

The longer that I live, the more that I am amazed at the inconsistent attitudes and actions of those who profess to be Born Again Believers, and I am constantly reminded of the necessity of remaining focused on what is real and just and edifying to my Savior.  A few years ago, the Texas Legislature passed a restrictive bill, limiting the timeline on abortions.  Fascinatingly, many professing believers found a “Soap-box,” in order to decry the violation of one’s rights, restated, the right to end the life of an unborn baby.  In the summer of 2020, I discovered, personally, that my Faith and Worldly Politics, could not and must not mix.  My Faith and My Commitment to Christ is the standard for my living and the Worldly influences must not take priority (It requires all of my concentration and the power of the Holy Spirit to achieve this).  How can we participate and support anything that is in direct conflict with the Holy Scriptures and still have a growing and dynamic relationship with God? How can we promote, by word and deeds, concepts that are absolutely opposed to the teaching of our Savior, JESUS CHRIST? You absolutely cannot serve two Masters!! What is more important?  Our limited and temporal existence, here on earth, or our eternal citizenship?  James 3:10 tells us, “Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”  BOTTOM LINE:  You are either for God and all that is associated with Him, or you are not!  I am committed to living, as much as possible, “peacefully” with everyone, even the hard to love, however, I draw the line when it violates the eternal and divine relationship with my Savior.  We, as believers, must make God, and His Ways, our ways and we must present ourselves as growing and forgiven witnesses of His Great Love and we must not be entangles in the issues of the world that tatter and destroy our witness!  We must be what He expects us to be!  1 Corinthians 14:8 tells us, clearly, “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?”  Is your “Trumpet” playing an uncertain sound?  Are you living with one foot in the world and one in the presence of God?  Remember---“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways!”  The world will be offended by your commitment, your lifestyle, and your witness!  Please take inventory of your life and determine who you will serve and how you will live!  Matthew 5:10-14 tells us “How’ and why’s” of serving Him… “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”  Be Real, Be Consistent, Be HIS Light in this dark and evil world… Remember, Your Political and Social Opinions Really Don’t Matter; It is the Fact of HIS WORD, and the Implementation of That Word, into Our Lives that really matters!!Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!

PS… Thank you to all of you who have been so encouraging, and prayerfully supportive, over these past years, and please know that I appreciate each one of you and consider it a privilege to serve our God together! Regardless of what the future holds, always remember that you are loved and genuinely appreciated! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

BIRTHDAYS FOR SEPTEMBER 4, 2024

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

HARMON GLASCO

RAY “PAPA” HALE

PAYTON McDOWELL

Unending Blessings

September 4   Unending Blessings         Psalm 21:6

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.

Unending, eternal and glorious blessings are ahead for every believer! Wow! Joy, Happiness, Blessings, and Spiritual Prosperity are ahead forever! That is what is just on the horizon for each one of us who are under the Blood of Jesus! When times get hard, and the way is truly dark and unclear, and the decisions are difficult, and the issues are overwhelming, then it is time to shift our thinking and to focus on the Promises of God! Think about it… what we experience here on earth, is not our final existence! Praise God! Difficulties will happen, and dark times will occur, but remember that this is just for a season. Eternity is going to be absolutely awesome! A dear brother in Christ, Pastor Shannon Scott once said that “for the lost person, this is as good as it gets, but for the believer, this is the worst that it gets!” Dear friends, we must be “Eternity Minded,” and we must recognize that the Truth will always be sufficient to help us move from the darkness into the Light! I am excited that this world is not my home, I am simply passing through! I pray that each of us will embrace God’s power, Joy, and Prosperity and live each day here to the fulliest, praising Him, sharing the Good News and preparing for the day when we arrive in our “Eternal” home! TO GOD BE THE GLORY! Stay Strong, Stay Focused… THE BEST IS YET TO BE!

Side Observation: It appears to me that “Truth” is a rare commodity in Life & Politics in 2024. Hatred, Prejudice, Tradition, and some motivations that defy explanation are driving the political process! Left, Right, Blue, Red, it doesn’t matter. Truth is the Truth, always has been, and always will be! I was brought up with the idea that I was to work, provide for myself, and my family, and that I was to help others and to be a productive citizen in the greatest country in the history of mankind. Agree, disagree, protest, remain silent, it is entirely up to you, but I feel compelled to point out that we are at yet another crossroads in our country and in our social & Political lives. One side offers a traditional idea of patriotism, love of country and the idea of hard work will lead to prosperity, and that the individual knows what is best for themselves and their families and the exercise of this principle will make every life better. One the other side, is offered the idea that we are not capable of taking care of ourselves, therefore the government must step in to make life’s decisions for us, to dictate the way we work, and to control our every aspect of living. It has become apparent, at least in my opinion, that the majority of those who embrace this idea are also less patriotic, more hostile to Free Speech, angry and unsettled, and seem to be opposed to certain religions, especially Christianity. I have asked myself why! It dawned on me recently that Christianity has a moral foundation, based on the Truths of Almighty God, and when you are operating towards a communist, anti-God way of government, moral standards of right and wrong complicate the transition to full government control of every area of human existence. Communism, Totalitarian Controls, Socialism have been tried and each time it ultimately fails. Weak, imperfect, flawed and often confused in my journey of life, but the one fact is always center stage for me… I CHOOSE TO SERVE MY GOD, WALK IN HIS WILL, AND I AM GOING TO SPEAK OUT, SHARE HIS GOOD NEWS AND I WILL CONTINUE TO OPPOSE ANY ATTEMPT TO STIFFLE HIS AMAZING GRACE! How About You?

“WATCH YOUR MOUTH”

September 2   “WATCH YOUR MOUTH”         Proverbs 13:3

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.” (Proverbs 13:3)

We have all said things that we wish that we had not spoken, and as soon as the words left our mouths, we regretted it. Speaking before Thinking is a universal problem, and some have perfected it to an art form! Unfortunately, my mouth works faster than my brain! My dear mother used to warn me to “Watch my mouth!” Her warning was her way of teaching me to filter my words and to control my conversations! Mama would add to her instructions by telling me to always “Tell the Truth!” As life has progressed, and I am now the instructor, I still cling to the truth of Mama’s words, to “Watch my Mouth!” Luke 6:45 speaks the truth when it instructs with these words: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” We are to be “Christ-Like” in our actions, words and deeds! Think about this truth… When Jesus spoke to individuals and groups, His words were designed to encourage and to teach and to empower and to heal the listeners. His example of communication has set a high standard for us to follow, and we need to be praying, studying His Word, and intent on controlling our tongues, so that we can be what God intends for us to be! Remember Mama’s Warning: “Watch Your Mouth!” Stay Strong, Stay Focused … THE BEST IS YET TO BE!

P.S. What motivates your voting decisions (for that matter, all decisions that you make)? Are you controlled by traditions, family, prejudices, habits? This is a simple reminder for the Believer! Your Life, Your Living, Your Actions, Your Attitude, Your Very Existence is, or should be, dictated by Your Faith and Commitment to Almighty God, through His Gift of Grace in Jesus Christ! How can a “Born-Again” Believer promote, participate, and support individuals that are absolutely opposed to the very foundations of your declared Faith and Beliefs? Before anyone “climbs to the top of their offended ladder,” I am simply stating an observation of current activities. Yesterday, I overheard a young man expressing his displeasure in one of the candidates for office, and his apparent driving decision maker was his stance on specific social issues. Oh, I left out that he was wearing a cap that said, “Jesus is the Answer!” Read Matthew 13:24-30, about “The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares!” Decide who you will follow and do it quickly! Jesus said, “If you love Me, Keep My Commandments!”

BIRTHDAYS FOR SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

MRS. ALICE HARRIS

Fix Our Eyes on Him

September 1   Fix Our Eyes on Him   2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

Troubles are present in every area of living! Difficulties, misunderstandings, conflicts, prejudices, hatred, and a host of other issues are a constant in our human existence! How are we to navigate through this insanity and how are we to tolerate the challenges that we are faced with? When I ponder this issue, and I pray to God for clarity and guidance, I am presented with a beautiful reality! I can hear my God expressing that I should see all of these things from His perspective. He is telling me to let the Light of His Presence fill my mind with His view of this world, and to realize that when things don’t go my way, that He is there to make things right! Can you hear Him speaking to you through His Holy Word? I can hear Him saying, “Don’t let the petty issues of the day, caused my others that have no clue, to dictate your hope, your attitude and your response to the insanity!” If we are to truly walk in the newness of life that He provides through His Shed Blood, then we have to recognize the “Life-Changing” reality of His Atonement for our sins and begin to see the world through His Eyes! Please do not waste your precious energies on the petty problems of this present age, and do not allow others, and their misguided words and behaviors, to determine your joy, your attitude, and your obedience! I love what Paul says, “all of these troubles are light and momentary, compared to the eternal glory that is ours!” When I catch myself being consumed by the troubles of the day, and I am presented with issues that should not be issues among “Grown” people, I stop, drop, and pray! I admit that at times, the sheer volume of issues can be overwhelming, but, again, I stop, drop, and PRAY! Isn’t it a blessing to know that these temporary irritations and issues are just that, TEMPORARY! Please trust God and do not let others steal your attitude and joy! Remember, this world is not our home, we are just passing through! Stay Strong, Stay Focused …THE BEST IS YET TO BE!

BIRTHDAYS FOR AUGUST 31, 2024

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO;

CONNIE O’NEAL