The Best Trade I Ever Made

Frankie Garvin was celebrating a birthday as we gathered to worship Sunday at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Praise from Janice Mason for her new grandbaby, and special prayers were requested for Wayne Holly's uncle and Carolyn and Betty Walker.

Linda Abercrombie shared the devotional by Ann Spangler, "God Doesn't Waste Anything," and scripture from Jeremiah 29:11. It told us to trust God to make something beautiful no matter how painful and confusing our circumstance may be. If you have bad circumstances, let God mold them into His plan. Wayne Johnson opened our service with prayer and Karen Gardner and Wayne led the congregation in singing "When The Saints Go Marching In." With Becky Johnson at the piano, Karen sang "Leave It There." Mitchell Lett asked God's blessing upon our tithes and offerings and he and Tyrel Lett served as ushers.

Brother Mark Hall began God's message for us, "The Best Trade I Ever Made," by reading scripture from I Peter 1:3-5. Brother Mark talked about trading things for things in life and shared his story of bad pocket knife trades. He told us the best trade he ever made was when he traded his old life for a new one when he came to know Jesus Christ. Galatians 2:20 says "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Brother Mark told us when you trade your old life for a new one in Christ you get a new life with boot. "First Peter tells us that the boot is hope, inheritance and a reservation. If you trade your old life for a new one, you have a reservation in heaven. Peter shows us our three prizes -- a living hope, an inheritance and your inheritance is kept by the power of God. To inherit something on this earth, you have to be born. To inherit the kingdom of Heaven you have to be born again and God stands guard on your inheritance and reservation in heaven. Your reservation is safe because God guards it. You get that reservation by faith. It is easy to keep that reservation while you are in church, but it is when we enter into the world outside of the church doors that it becomes difficult. Don't leave your faith sitting on the pew. Take it with you and carry it through the week."

Brother Mark referred to I John 5:1-5 which tells us that "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith." Brother Mark told us we must first believe Jesus is the Christ and be born again. Second, we must love God and keep His commandments which are not burdensome. Our faith in Jesus helps us overcome the world. "We must believe in Jesus, love God, keep our faith and love our brothers and sisters. We keep His commandments through faith. When you love Jesus first and then your brothers and sisters, the commandments become easier. When you believe Jesus is the son of God, your name goes in the look just like a reservation. The book is kept by God. Be blessed and know you have that reservation. We live with the reality that we won't always be here on this earth, but don't get down because if you believe in Jesus, God has your reservation. Do you have yours?"

Our hymn of invitation was "Near The Cross." As we observed the Lord's Supper, Mitchell and Tyrel passed the elements as Brother Mark shared First Corinthians. We then took of the Lord's Supper done in remembrance and love for our Father in Heaven.

We invite you to worship with us next Sunday at Mill Creek Baptist Church. The Bratton family, Joe, Angela and Sarah, will join us with special music during our song service. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome. Mill Creek is located 3 1/2 miles east of Noel just off Highway 90.