Doug Cory was celebrating a birthday as we gathered to worship on God's day at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Special prayers were requested for Anna Harmon, Theodore Mason family, Amber Lemonds and travel prayers for Thanksgiving. Praise from Eileen Hawkins for a good health report and thanks from the Obenshain family.
Linda Abercrombie read a couple of poems about Thanksgiving -- "Thank God for Little Things" and "A Thanksgiving Prayer" that make us aware of little everyday graces. She also read Psalm 23.
With Becky Johnson at the piano, congregational hymns included "The Unclouded Day" led by Karen Gardner who also sang a special "He Touched Me." Tyrel Lett asked the blessing and he and Rick Lett served as offering attendants.
Pastor Mark Hall began God's message for us by asking, "Ever hear something so profound that you wish you would have said it?" He read Psalm 6:2, which deals with healing and says, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled."
Bro. Mark said, "We need healing and mercy in our country, our churches, our families and in our lives. Support is only worth what it costs you to give it whether it is to a friend, your church or whatever."
He gave examples of when things die on the vine and when disease wiped out herds of cattle and crops. "We also have a disease in our church today. It is apathy. The cure can be found in II Chronicles 7:14-15 which says "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.""
Bro. Mark continued by asking, "Ever try to quit a habit? It is just like trying to quit blaming others for your problems and all the other problems in the world? The hardest thing is to try to say 'I'm sorry' or 'it is my fault'. It is hard because we can't humble ourselves to do that because it takes humility to say it. And it seems we can never make an apology without using the word 'but'.
"Why is personal responsibility something we want everyone else to have, but we want to take credit for things? We need to pray and pray with thanksgiving. You will never see a growing church with an empty alter. We should thank God for everything. We want to use prayer like a free 911 call and just have God on speed dial when we need Him.
"We know God can forgive and save, but we have to humble ourselves and have genuine humility and repentance. We can't fool God. It is time for Christians to pray, be humble and seek God's face. A Christian can fool himself by thinking he is OK, but if God could show you what is in your heart, it might scare you. The Bible will keep you from sin, but sin can keep you from the Bible. We need to be reading God's word, loving in God's word and living in God's word."
In closing, Bro. Mark said "It is time for personal responsibility in our country and our spiritual lives. We have become a nation of passing the buck. We have an excuse for everything. It is time for personal responsibility in our church and spiritual lives. Sunday is God's day, not ours. God gives us everyday. We are not doing God a favor by being in church on Sunday. He does us the favor by giving us the day.
"Remember what God tells us in II Chronicles 7:14 about humbling ourselves, praying and seeking His face. Stop blaming others and take responsibility for yourself. Before you pray, humble yourself and then God will hear and the healing starts for yourself, your family, your church and our country which needs healing."
Our hymn of invitation was "The Last Mile of the Way" and Wayne Holly gave the benediction. We invite you to worship with us at Mill Creek Baptist Church on God's day. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m. As we take time to spend with our families this Thanksgiving, let's also take time to thank God for His many blessings. Have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving.
Religion on 11/26/2015