THURSDAY

Prayer Focus

Yesterday, we had a special prayer time to pray for our country. Today, let’s continue to pray for our country, the leadership of our country, and those who are involved in any branch of the military or police.

Let’s also pray for the many around us who are ill, some with seasonal colds and some with serious health issues. Thank God for those who provide any form of health care for them.

Read the Bible in 2026

  • January 15
  • Mark 4-5

No New Obituaries Listed this Morning

Baptist Press

https://www.baptistpress.com/

Waylon Bailey

“It’s Not Time to be Invisible”

The last six weeks have been remarkable. We will never forget this time in our lives.

One of the positives that has come from this time is the necessity to connect with people other than in our weekend worship services. So many of us connect simply–and wonderfully–by passing someone in the hallway, smiling, and moving on.

That isn’t happening now and we are forced to connect in other ways–also wonderful and meaningful. Everything that happens gives the opportunity to connect to people.

One of those happened last week in our church. We sent out a request for people to send us a picture to put up in our worship center to help me with my preaching and to remind us that the church is not a building but the people of God. It also helps our pastors have a mental picture of people for whom they are praying.

One of the men in our church sent his picture and a few lines about knowing and serving Christ. I responded back thanking him for sending the picture and being faithful in this time. He answered with a classic response: “It’s not time to be invisible.”

In fact, it is time to be very visible as we serve and minister. It is time to be bold and courageous. It is a time to pray and to encourage others to be faithful as they live out their faith.

Jesus made clear our necessity for being visible. “In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

It is time to live for Christ with all that we are and all that we have.

A Picture and Thought To Remember

“For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.”

Psalm 96:5

It’s as easy as 1,2,3.

  1. Other gods are fake: The gods of other nations are just “idols” (things of nothing).
  2. The LORD is real: But the LORD made the heavens (the sky, stars, etc.).
  3. Worship Him: So, the LORD is the only one truly worthy of our worship because He is the Creator. 

Easy English Commentary

Here is one of the earliest Scriptures I learned.

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you,” Ephesians 4:32 KJV

Of course, I learned the King James version. The New International Version is shown below.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 NIV

I get the same message from both versions. Let’s work to practice this today!

Anna Lee