Thursday

“But know that the Lord has set apart

for Himself him who is godly;

the Lord will hear when I call to Him.”

~Psalm 4:3~

Aaron Hill

Posting for Aaron

Frann

Thank you, Natalie, for reminding me of this verse.

‘Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.’ Matt. 6:26-27.

God is still feeding Aaron this evening. He has had a very quiet day, resting and draining fluid. The doctors haven’t decided on starting to feed him yet, but hopefully they will start some form of nutrition after night rounds. They had to cut the nitric up again on his breathing assistance, but it seems to make him more comfortable and for that we are glad. His heart rate and breathing is less labored and we are thankful for that as well.

We still struggle with patience. However, we are grateful and thankful for Aaron’s stability today and his small progress. Thinking about patience and Job today, I read a devotional on thankfulness. The text was Job 42:10- ‘And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” I am so thankful for everyone’s continued prayers for Aaron and hope that God will bless each of you twofold for praying for us-as friends

(NOTE: One of the families mentioned today may be familiar to many of you.)

Baptist Press

March 26, 2008

WASHINGTON–‘Living together’ a statistical risk, experts say. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27699

TENNESSEE–Churches help ease pain of flood victims. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27700

CZECH REPUBLIC–Kids help mom & dad evangelize Gypsies. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27701

NORTH CAROLINA–Gypsy outreach gets First Baptist boost. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27702

NEW ORLEANS–Prof lends expertise to martyrs documentary. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27703

KENTUCKY–Page warns against weak prayer lives. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27704

DALLAS–FIRST-PERSON (Tamara Quintana): About those prescription meds … http://www.bpnews.net/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=27705

Deacon Hospital Visitation

  • Jimmy Williams
  • James Rimes

Nursery Volunteers for Sunday, March 30th

  • Bobby Raborn
  • Wanda Miller
  • Susan Rimes
  • Paul Scott Schwartz

Church Council Meeting

  • Sunday, March 30 @ 4 P.M.
  • Room across from the Heritage Room

Birthday Celebration for Mrs. Mickey Cade’s 75th Birthday

  • Saturday, March 29th
  • 2 – 4 P.M.
  • Fellowship Hall
  • Your presence is your gift.

Migrant Health Kits

  • Soap, Washcloth, Shampoo, Comb, Deoderant, Toothpaste, Toothbrush
  • Place items in a gallon size Zip-loc bag.
  • The church will supply a Bible
  • Deadline: Wednewday, April 2

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

  • Our goal: $13,000.00
  • Received so far: $6,218.75

Boxes of Offering Envelopes

  • Available on the table underneah the soundroom stairs

AWANA Party

  • Sunday during AWANA time
  • Each child is to bring 6 candy-filled plastic eggs

Associational Missions Fair

  • April 19th – FBC in Amite
  • April 20th – Individual churches

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”

(Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor


LIGHT AND DARKNESS are common Biblical themes throughout Scripture…

They express vividly the chasm between Christ and Satan. We would all do well to mine its depths in our own personal study.

We understand clearly physical darkness and light. Sighted people witness it daily. Darkness, dawn, daylight and dusk frame our lives. They hide or irradiate our existence. The lessons from them are bountiful.

Someone steps out of physical darkness into light. The contrast is clear in our minds. We are in one or the other. When mixed in between, we characterize it as being shaded in darkness or some such phrase. However, we do not say they are standing clearly in the light. Sometimes, we ponder what they are hiding. We sense danger when someone is remaining partially shadowed in darkness.

Criminals, like some vicious animals, use darkness as a cloak to hide their predatory behavior. Rebels who seek a break from proper society often employ an air of darkness and mystery.

Darkness obscures truth and clarity, replacing them with confusion and deception. Shady deals are those that employ the latter to steal money from their victims.

God brought physical light into the world through Christ (Genesis 1:1-4; John 1:1-3). “God divided the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:4, NKJV). The creation of light was an astounding moment that still reverberates.

God brought spiritual light to the world through Christ (John 1:1-5). “Jesus spoke again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life'” (John 8:12). Humanity will never be the same.

Christ throws open the shutters on the clandestine methods of Satan and his dark kingdom. Satan is the father of lies, an adversary that seeks to devour and deceive all of us (John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9). He remains shrouded in darkness leading people to think he is a fairy tale while empowering them to do his will. His deception leads billions astray (Matthew 7:13-14; Psalm 82:5; Proverbs 4:19).

Christ offers life through the light (John 1:4). The path to heaven opens up before us. “Your word is a lamp to my feet [a]nd a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). We learn of Christ through Scripture and it becomes the path to salvation (John 12:48; Romans 10:17).

James Stewart writes, “Christ is the redeemed man’s new environment. [The Christian] has been lifted out of the cramping restrictions of his earthly lot into a different sphere; the sphere of Christ…His spirit is breathing a nobler element. He is moving on a loftier plane.”

Salvation is only in Christ (John 14:6; Acts 2:47; Ephesians 1:22-23; Hebrews 9:11-15). “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). Grace through faith and the sprinkled blood of Christ saves us from Satan’s clutches (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:6-11).

Christians must be actively faithful and obedient to God’s Word (Ephesians 2:10; John 14:15). “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). We are to walk worthy of Christ every day as we show his light to the world (Ephesians 4:1; Matthew 5:14-16).

We cannot try to stand in darkness and in light simultaneously. It will only be shady and deceptive. Christ demands that we follow him exclusively.

Darkness brings death while light brings salvation. Which path

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).


Leave a comment