Church guide

The funeral date has been set for Carolyn Hopkins. It will be this Saturday 1/27/18 at 1pm, at First Baptist Church Devine with a meal to follow. The family has asked in leu of Flowers please make donations to Wings and Reins. (checks made to Wings and Reins, PO Box 593, Devine, TX). If you have a story, eulogy, pictures, and/or any fond memories of Carolyn please have it on a piece of paper or printed picture to give to the family.

In light of Carolyn Hopkins, Carolyn was an amazing young lady that brought a smile to my face when I saw her. She was so full of life and her creativity was boundless. She struggled with Depression and high Anxiety but that never stopped her serving her Lord God. Romans 8:38-39 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. For those that don’t know who Jesus is, it’s time to come to know Him because you’re not invincible. The Bible says sin is crouching at your door and is ready to devour you. It is only in the Hope of God do we have peace and assurance. If you haven’t been to church in a while it’s time to make that relationship right again. We will miss you Carolyn!!!

2 Chronicles 7:14- "and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land."

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV Thank you God for promise in our lives to have Grace from Christ, the love of God and fellowship. We are blessed beyond our reckoning. It is in you that we find hope and our dreams of who we are and where we are going. Let our identities be in you forged by your hands and built by your Spirit.

A great Time of Worship with Dr. David

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4 In other words Family!!!

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8 NIV Listen to this verse LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Meaning to love one another, no matter what the other person does to you. Question can you love some body that you don’t trust? It’s an interesting question and some of you might try to prove that yes you can love someone and not trust them. The definition of distrust which is what you are doing when you don’t trust someone: Noun- the feeling that someone or something cannot be relied on. "his distrust of his mother's new suitor" synonyms: mistrust, suspicion, wariness, chariness, leeriness, lack of trust, lack of confidence Verb- doubt the honesty or reliability of; regard with suspicion. Now love can have many meanings but at its core trust is such a key component that it is interlinked in love. So if this is the case then why is there so much hate distrust among church members, because they sit in your seat, their daughter likes your son, they hurt your feelings, they’re not doing what you want them to do, and the one I hear the most is because they don’t like me. Question how can you truly love someone when you don’t trust them? You think about that.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. O you un-happy people that I see walking around church and this community for it’s in this verse that such a promise is made and sang. We are to REJOICE!! and let everything and I MEAN EVERYTHING be a highlighted moment for God.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NIV When have you set the things of this world down and actually taught someone or disciple someone in the ways of Christ? Christ said He will be with us are you with Him?

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, Ephesians 2:19 Our identity is in heaven and our citizenship is in heaven. Do you have dual citizenship with heaven and earth or is your citizenship only with heaven and your foreigner and stranger on earth? Think about that.

Pastors Corner The one true God has showed His “reality show” with the suffering, rejection, death, & resurrection of the son of God. Jesus does not have to ride into Jerusalem again on a donkey because every time His creation “repents” and “believes” the “good news”… the kingdom of God is near. When we as Christians die to self and allow God’s son to have first place in our lives by faith once again God’s kingdom is manifest. When we as members of His body work together & love each other His kingdom once again has come on earth. Walk by faith in the con of God & not by sight and out are part of revealing the kingdom of God on earth…..” on earth as it is in heaven”. Blessing, Pastor Mike

When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:18-19 Have you felt overwhelmed and to the point of depression setting in. These words David is saying is that God’s love physically held him up. That God’s comfort brought him joyfulness. This is a promise that extends to you and me. Be still in the Lord and know Him. You don’t have to be alone, afraid, sad, and down trodden by the grace of God BE SET FREE!!!

By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life. Psalms 42:8 A promise that has resounded through scripture; the spirit of the Lord was a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He was their guide day in and day out. There is never a point in your life where God isn’t watching, protecting and directing you. Thank you God for keeping me humble, protected, accountable, and safe.

“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 This is compared to a priest that was about to enter the holy of holies. The priest would wash himself and then put on brand new clothes. This represented purifying himself in body. He then would make a sacrifice to represent purifying himself in the spirit. To enter the holy of holies. Going over the bridge of Christ from the Old Testament to the New Testament the curtain is ripped and we have free access to God. The question is do we go to him purified?