Category Archives: Guests

Guests

Good Company

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Today’s (February 18) selection from Beth Moore’s book Breaking Free Day by Day tells me I am in good company. If you missed my KT Paraphrasing post, click HERE.

Beth paraphrases too! Read and enjoy — well, it’s a negative paraphrase which should give us real incentive to go positive with it.

The peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

I decided to bring home the impact of this passage by paraphrasing it from a negative standpoint, turning this prescription for peace into a no-fail prescription for anxiety. My result looked like this:

“Do not be calm about anything, but in everything, by dwelling on it constantly and feeling picked on by God, with thoughts like, ‘And this is the thanks I get,’ present your aggravations to everyone you know but Him. And the acid in your stomach, which transcends all milk products, will cause you an ulcer, and the doctor bills will cause you a heart attack, and you will lose your mind.”

There you have it.

Good Company.

Praying for These   — Please remember we added Iris to our list yesterday.

Thank You, ABBA, for Beth and for the insights You have given her. I pray each of us will take Your Word to our hearts and live in Your Peace every day; refusing to give up the Peace You have provided for us.  Thank You for loving us and for receiving our petitions and our praise. We declare here and now You along are worthy of worship and praise. And we thank You for tending our prayer charges and our IDOK Troops. We have no doubt You will do right by each of them in JESUS Name. Amen and amen.

Until then + + +
Kathie

Guests

And I Heard From God

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In Sunday’s ‘bulletin’ for First Baptist Satsuma, my Associate Pastor, Bruce Holmes, encouraged us with an article.  He has graciously allowed me to share it with you all. I think it will bless you even as it did me.

        Many of you know I enjoy nature. I’m not the type to be dropped off by a helicopter in a secluded location and find my way back to civilization like the guy on television. But, I am the type of guy who loves to go walk through the woods and listen to the wind blow. I am the type of guy who loves to hear rain fall. I am the type of guy who will go hunting, occasionally, just to see the sun rise or the sun set. I’m the type of guy who loves to see the different animals and how they were made uniquely different. I love being in nature.
       But, there is another reason I love being in nature. This is where I find the highest quality of time with God. Have you ever had one of those weeks? I mean, one of those weeks where you just had to get away for some time with God. I’ve always thought that was a little hokey, in a sense. It is always good to spend time with him but I’m talking about getting away from everything, every responsibility, every concern and just seek His Will for whatever you need an answer to. This past week I did just that.
       I was seeking an answer of a personal question that took me all over South Alabama to various locations to be in the nature God created. As I began to pray aloud I felt God’s presence. (If you have ever experienced His presence you know what I’m talking about. If you have not ever experienced His presence, it may sound hokey, and that’s OK. I’ll claim hokey!) And even though I was standing in the freezing drizzle on a dock in a lake in 30* weather, I didn’t want to leave His presence. I heard the wind blow in the trees and watch it make ripples in the water. I got to see fallen trees and examine how nature changes over time. I got to see a hawk fly above. I heard the sound of a light rain hitting the lake. And, I heard from God.
      He again allowed me into His presence at another location while I was walking through the woods. Again it was freezing and getting dark but I stood longer this time and as He was talking I got to enjoy His nature. There was no other person in either location, too cold I guess. So I was able to talk with God, right by myself.  And, I heard from God.     
     There is no feeling like it in the world! I urge you, if you are seeking an answer to something, find your place and get alone with God. Pray, read His Word, listen to Christian music, sing and praise. He is everywhere around us. He’s just waiting on you. Then you can say, “And, I heard from God”.

Written by: Michael Bruce Holmes
Associate Pastor of Administration
First Baptist Church of Satsuma

Praying for These

Thank You, ABBA, that You speak and every soul who desires to hear from You can. I pray for each who comes to this page that they will be willing to hear from You. Thank You for Bruce and the ministry You have called him to at Satsuma First. Thank You for the strenght, wisdom and intergity You give him. As I set this to post I pray for strength, wisdom, integrity for all our Readers and for our Praying for These, thank You for the plans You have for them; thank You for what You are doing; thank You for the healings, the restorations and the mendings of broken and bruised hearts. Thank You for ears to hear You and eyes to see You.  Thank You for our IDOK Troops, for keeping them safe and for calling them to a closer walk with You; we pray each will answer yes in JESUS Name.  Amen and amen.

Until then + + +
Kathie

Christian Living, Guests

Who Am I?

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We are privileged to have a Guest Contributor this Wednesday.

Jamie Martin.

I met Jamie in May of 2004, I believe it was – one of Jerry’s Youth at Myers Memorial Baptist Church in Eight Mile, Alabama. Since then I have come to love her dearly, watching her grow more and more in love with JESUS and ministering more and more to people.

Please read attentively what she has to say.

So yesterday Heather and I went downtown to help feed the homeless with One Meal. Right as we were coming off of the connector, we saw a guy holding a sign that said “just hungry”. I told Heather we should tell him they were about to serve a free meal around the corner, so while at the red light, I cracked my window and told him. While we were pulling away, I said “let’s see if he comes. I doubt it”.

Well as we were pulling off I thought I saw someone stop to pick him up. Come to find out the “one meal” coordinator had stopped to tell the guy about the free meal and offered a ride. Well, as soon as I saw him, my heart sank. Who am I to judge that man?!?! Here I am, on my way to serve these people and show them God’s love and having a negative attitude without even realizing it. Judging whether or not I think the man’s cardboard sign was telling me the truth. So what?!? Who am I that I think he owes me even the truth?!?

When he came through the line for the third time (I guess he was “just hungry for what it’s worth now), all we had left were beans. He walked up and held the plate out and stood there until the plate couldn’t hold anymore. He thanked us and as he walked away he said “These will help me keep warm tonight”. At that point God just kind of slapped me…hard. :) He basically was saying how can you expect me to use you as I intend when you are letting human thoughts creep in and slander my people. God calls us to see people as He sees people. Love as He loves. And what did I do? The exact opposite. EVEN IF his sign was lying and he was just trying to get an easy buck, SO WHAT! It’s not up to me. Nothing is. It’s not about me and my opinions.

Just that morning I taught a Bible Study class on Romans 10. A portion of our lesson was this–“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”. Okay, I know that’s talking about salvation, but we all are God’s workmanship. All of us. Homeless or not. Black or white. Hispanic or Asian. American or not (this could be a whole other thing! Maybe I’ll post that later).

My point is I had just had a reminder of why I do what I do. To show God’s love to ALL people. God doesn’t favor one over the other. We all have the opportunity to be adopted into His family. How can I correctly portray His love and think the way I did towards that man? I’ll end here, because I am rambling a bit, BUT let’s all try to check ourselves before serving others. Are we showing God’s love? Or are we showing human love which will most likely fail?

I just couldn’t stop thinking about him and still haven’t.

And all God’s People said,  Amen!

Praying for These

Thank You, ABBA, for Jamie. Thank You for the message You have given her. Thank You for the privilege of sharing it here. Be glorified, LORD, and grow us in Your likeness as we meditate upon these words. Briefly here we bring those we love whose names are recorded at Praying for These and our IDOK Troops, praying for You to be glorified in us all. Praying for revival; praying to be prepared to minister; praying for our families to be redeemed in JESUS name. Amen and amen.

Until Then + + +,
Kathie

Until Then – Let this be our Theme Song!!