Frankie Garvin was celebrating a birthday last week and Tom Sharp was celebrating a birthday this week as we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Special prayers were requested for John Davis, Bob Easter, Sheri White's father, Josh Hively, Debbie Taylor and the Troy Blankenship family. Praise was shared that Bailey Sherman is doing well.
Linda Abercrombie gave the devotional "Power Up" and read 1 Corinthians 4:20: "For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power." In contrast, Linda talked about living by God's power and a generator used to power a home. It is hard to accomplish much at home when the power goes out. Much like life, we feel weaker without God's power. It creates a glitch in our life and, without power, things shut down. We must have access to spiritual power to avoid sin, endure hardships and deal with our spiritual enemies. When we feel powerless, we should refocus our life on God's purpose and ask Him to glorify Himself in us.
Tyrel Lett asked God's blessing, and he and Rick Lett served as ushers with wonderful organ music from Becky Johnson. Wayne Johnson led the congregation in singing "Blessed Assurance" and "When The Saints Go Marching In." Susan Cory sang a beautiful "I Am Thine Own Lord" and read Hebrews 10:22. We were also blessed with special song about Jesus' suffering from Steve Morgan.
We were blessed to have James Whitford of Watered Gardens Gospel Rescue Mission in Joplin speak to us about the work of the mission. He told us a church is not a building. It is its people. We need to have a heart for the poor and a mind for the poor and he talked about the five steps to dependency on charity.
He told us how the ministry started 17 years ago and how it has changed and about the Worthshop where those in need work. Mr. Whitford also talked about the men's and women's overnight shelter but also about the day outreach center and helping people with their basic needs.
"God calls us not just to give charity," Mr. Whitford said, "but to also give of ourselves to share the love of God. It is one thing to see poverty. It is another to feel it. God wants us to do more than just see it. He wants us to look and take response to it. Good intentions don't always bear fruit. It is not just about giving. God can use you to do something incredible to help those in need -- not just to pacify them, but to look intently at helping them."
Brother Mark Hall led us in observance of the Lord's Supper and read 1 Corinthians 11:23-34. Jerry Abercrombie and Rick passed the bread and cup. "Blessed Be The Ties" was our hymn of invitation, and Wayne Holly gave the benediction.
We invite you to worship with us next Sunday morning as Joe Bratton and family will bring us special music during our song service. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m. Mill Creek Baptist Church is located 3.5 miles east of Noel, just off Highway 90. Everyone is welcome.
Religion on 02/09/2017