As we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church, Janice Mason was celebrating a birthday. Special prayers were requested for many, including Janet Chaney, Clyde Moss, Fred Hall, Bill Nelson, Linda's sister, Debbie Taylor, Judy, Wayne Holly's aunt, the Barbara Hitt family, Kerrie, Paul Sprenkle and the Mike Blankenship family.
Linda Abercrombie gave the Valentine's Day devotional and shared a lot of her own thoughts about the word "love," a verb and a noun. She told us love begins before we are born with our mother and father, and how love changes and grows as we age and mature. Linda read the "Love chapter" from 1 Corinthians 13, which tells us: "Love is patient and is kind, love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." Jaret Jarvis and Ashton Cory then passed out Valentine's Day treats to the congregation.
Rick Lett and Tyrel Lett served as ushers and collected the offertory, and Karen Gardner and Becky Johnson led the congregational hymns, including "At Calvary." We were blessed with special music and personal testimony from Joe and Angela Bratton, who sang "Beulah Land" and songs about trusting in Jesus.
Brother Mark Hall began God's message for us by reading the 46th Psalm, which includes "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling."
Brother Mark repeated that God is our refuge, our strength and our help when we are in trouble.
He told us, "We would have a lot less stress and misunderstanding if we would be still and not get in a tizzy."
Brother Mark's advice for us when we feel a tizzy coming on is to stop, be still and know that He is our God.
"We need to remember three things: who God is, where God is and what God can do."
He talked about the circuit riders in the old days who rode and thought about God.
"We get in a tizzy because we think about ourselves instead of being still and listening to God. To be still in God's presence is to be comfortable in God's presence. We need to be able to tell Him, 'I love you, trust you and feel safe with you.'"
Brother Mark continued by telling us that being still is not just meditating. God is not using us to do nothing. We must remember who God is. No mater what your problem, God can't help you until you are still and listen to Him. Psalm 46:10-11 says, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge."
Brother Mark told us we must remember where God is.
"God is ever-present. If you can't find Him, who has moved? You?"
Psalm 46:4 tells us, "There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High." God has a peaceful river of life waiting for us in His sanctuary.
What can God do? Bro. Mark told us we need to stop, be still and look at our options.
"Sometimes situations look hopeless, but God has all the options. He wants to take care of us. Sometimes God stills the storm for His children, and sometimes God stills the storm in us. The quieter you become, the more you can hear. Be still long enough to hear God so he can help you."
Brother Mark talked about John 6:15, which tells of the disciples in a boat. It is dark, a storm is coming up and they didn't know where Jesus was. It tells of Jesus walking on the sea.
"When we have dark storms in life, we need to listen to Him. He is right there. When the storms of life, put you in a tizzy, no matter how dark and how hard the wind is blowing, be still and know that God is there to help you. When you find yourself in a tizzy, be still and remember who God is, where God is and what He can do for you."
Our hymn of invitation was "He Was There All the Time," and Tom Sharp gave the benediction.
We invite you to worship with us at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11. Come see what you are missing. Everyone is welcome.
Religion on 02/16/2017