As we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church, special prayers were requested for Bob Parish, Janet Chaney, Mike Jefferson and travel prayers for several. Janet Chaney gave the devotion "God is Never Beyond Our Reach" and read Matthew 7:7, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." There is no problem too big for God. Seek Him during your hour of need.

Rick Lett and Wayne Johnson served as ushers and collected the offertory and Becky Johnson and Karen Gardner led the congregational hymns with special music from Karen who sang "Fill My Cup, Lord".

Brother Mark Hall began God's message by talking about farm equipment and the maintenance that must be done to keep it running in good shape.

"Spiritual Maintenance" was the title of the sermon with scripture reading from Psalm 26. Brother Mark told us spiritual maintenance begins with a commitment. "We must trust the Lord first." Psalm 26:1 says, "Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; and I shall not slip."

Spiritual maintenance also requires an examination of self. "We must examine ourself, not our neighbors. God sees us anyway, our hearts and minds. God will let us have the results of our examination, but he expects us to correct it. Any exam is only as good as the followup.

What's the point of the exam if you don't?" Psalm 26:2 says, "Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart."

For spiritual maintenance, we must also be focused on the Lord.

"Trusting God is walking with God. There are four names for Christians who walk with God. They are called saint for their holiness, believers for their faith, brethren for their love of family and church family and disciple for knowledge. When you walk with God, those names fit you.

We need to get over ourselves. Peace with our family is more important than any bank account. We must be separate from the world." Psalm 26:4-5 says, "I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers and will not sit with the wicked."

Brother Mark also told us for spiritual maintenance, we must also be patient in our worship. "When you are a Christian, you can't not talk about God." Psalm 26:6-7 says, "I will wash my hands in innocence; so I will go about your altar, O Lord, that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works."

We must also be persistent in our worship for spiritual maintenance. Brother Mark told us, "Just going to church doesn't save you, but saved people want to go to church. We don't come to church because we love the building, but because we love the Lord and one another."

Psalm 26:8 says, "Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells."

And lastly for spiritual maintenance, we must be dependent in our hope in God, because we can't do things on our own. "We must hang on to Jesus the same way we would if we were afraid of falling from some place." Brother Mark read Psalm 26:9-12. "The Bible tells us that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But we have His loving kindness and tender mercy if we want it. Do you need spiritual maintenance? We have a great high priest to help if you do."

Our hymn of invitation was "Where He Leads Me" and Wayne Johnson gave the benediction. We all then gathered at the creek to witness the baptism of Jake Allison and Gracie Allison. May God bless them for their profession of faith.

We will be participating in the "Back-to-School Block Party" in Noel on Saturday from 5-7 p.m. Homecoming will be held on Sunday, Aug. 20, with special music and lunch in the fellowship hall.

Mill Creek Baptist Church was organized in 1904. Everyone is invited to celebrate 113 years of worshiping our Lord at the little white church on Mill Creek. Sunday school begins at 10 and worship service at 11.