Our Sunday morning service was opened with prayer from Wayne Johnson, who led the congregational reading, "The Beatitudes," from Matthew 1:1-16.
Business meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 10.
We will be collecting items for Christmas in July for the Noel Senior Citizens.
Dot and Susan shared praises, and special prayers were requested for Lucas Beaty and Connie. We joined voices in singing hymns of praise, including "My God Is Real" and "Glory To His Name," led by Becky Johnson and Karen Gardner. We we enjoyed special music from Susan Cory, who read John 11:25 before singing "When The Roll Is Called." Rick Lett asked God's blessing, and he and Tyrel Lett served as offertory ushers.
Brother Mark Hall began God's message for us, "Self-control," by reading Proverbs 25:28: "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls." He began by telling us that whoever has no self-control has no security.
"Almost everyone, regardless of age, how they live, where they live and their circumstances, desires two things: self-reliance/independence and to have self-respect. You will never have self-reliance and self-respect until first you have self-control. Self-control is lacking in today's society. A lot of problems come from lack of self-control. For example, when it comes to finances, we do what we can't afford. Maybe the problem is not what we make, but what we spend. If we are happy without it, we probably won't be any happier with it. Things won't make you near as happy as having your bills paid with a little bit of rainy day savings and the security that it brings. Finances is just one way we need to have self-control."
Brother Mark continued by telling us that we also need to have self-control over our tempers and emotions. He shared stories about road rage and river rage. "Don't do anything permanently foolish just because you are temporarily upset. There are four things to look at when we are tempted, mad, lustful or craving. We need to stop, think, consider what consequences could happen and ask yourself if that is what you want. We get controlled by our wants. We get our wants confused with our needs. When our wants battle our needs, our needs are self-control. Our needs are simple. Self-control and no self-control is the difference between wants and needs. One of the main factors for success in life is self-control. Do you know what self-control can give you?
"This is the benefit package for self-control: It can give you a mastery over your moods and emotions. It will help you have control over your words, actions and reactions. Self-control will give you mastery over your schedule and money. It can also help with your health."
Brother Mark read Acts 24, which tells about Paul being in prison and defending himself before Felix. Felix was afraid because of righteousness and what will come when judged on self-control. "Real self-control is actually God-control. Until you have that, you will never have the peace and contentment you are looking for in life. Self-control is a way of getting grace and peace."
Brother Mark read II Peter 1:1-12, which tells us how to have grace and peace. It tells us, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus, our Lord. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
In closing, Brother Mark asked, "Do you have a lack of self-control? If you do, is it because you have not asked God for self-control? You have to give God control of your life. He doesn't just take it. Until you give God control, you don't have any self-control, and that is why we get in trouble by our words, actions, tempers, cravings and finances.
In order for God to have control in your life, you have to give it to him. Until you give control to God, you will never have self-control.
Do you have self-control? Don't have not, because you have asked not.
Give control to God. He knows what to do."
Our hymn of invitation was "Just as I Am," and Rick Lett gave the benediction.
We invite you to worship with us and share in the grace and peace that only God can give you. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11. Everyone is always welcome. Mill Creek is located 3.5 miles east of Noel just off Highway 90. Come see what you are missing on Sunday mornings.
Religion on 06/30/2016