A Genation Of Victims

As we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church, special prayers were requested for Betty Serr, Sherry Easter, Clyde Moss, Sheri White's father, Stephen Holly, Linda Jarvis, Barbara Cory, Jarvis Spears and Vernie and Mildred Cook.

Darlene Mitchell thanked Brother Mark Hall for hosting the Widow's luncheon and Jeanette Easter gave the devotional "Affirm Your Trust in God." She told us that, like a coin in a treasure box, the more you trust in God, the greater your peace. She read Psalm 56:3-4 "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God I will praise His word, In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?" Jeanette also read Matthew 6:20-21 which talks about laying treasures up for yourself in heaven and "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Rick Lett and Tyrel Lett served as users and collected the offertory and we joined voices in singing "Count Your Blessings" and "Sweet Sweet Spirit," with Becky Johnson at the piano. Karen Gardner sang "The Lord's Prayer."

Brother Mark told us he preached on the easy stuff last week, heaven, and this week the tough stuff, "Personal Responsibility," with scripture from Philippians 4:2-8. He told us we have an epidemic today -- we have become a generation of victims. He talked about a song he had heard on the radio, "It Ain't My Fault." "We think to ourselves that if everyone else would just act different, think different and treat me different, I would be so much happier. Why won't they just change? We were created for three relationships-a relationship for God, for others and for ourselves. And even though we are created for relationships, maintaining a healthy and strong relationship is difficult because we bring with it certain habits and attitudes that set up conflicts between us and the other person. When these conflicts arise, we have a tendency to point fingers at the other person and say, "If they would just change, everything would be all right. The truth is, we can't change anyone but ourselves."

Brother Mark continued by saying "Here are some questions you need to ask yourself. What's it like to be married to me? What's it like to be in a relationship with me? What's it like to be my friend? What's it like to have me for a mother, father, son, daughter, brother or sister? What's it like to have me for a neighbor, a boss or an employee? The core of the answer is that we have to take responsibility for ourselves. The only person you can change is yourself. The greatest miracle that God performs is the changed life when someone becomes a believer. We can't change anyone, but God can. You can only change through the Holy Spirit. When you do that, your relationship with people becomes better because when you start making changes in how you relate to people that will change how they relate to you also. We have to take personal responsibility for our part, our emotions and our happiness. Don't let the actions and words of others rob you of your joy and control your response to them. By learning how to control your thoughts, we can control our feelings and our actions. If you want to be able to control your temper, control your thoughts. If you want to control your emotions and your feelings, you must be able to control your thoughts. If you are prone to impulsive reactions, you must learn to control your thoughts."

Brother Mark read 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 and told us "Don't let what others do or don't do or what they say or don't say effect my feelings and my actions. By dwelling on it, you just get frustrated and angry. But if you take those things captive for God you can be at peace." Brother Mark referred back to Philippians and the two sisters in Christ who couldn't get along. Paul addressed them and wanted them understand that instead of fighting, bickering and being angry at one another, they had the power through God's spirit to change their destructive thought pattern and find joy again. He gave them four ways to do that."

"First, remember the importance of your relationship and the good things about how it once was. Remember the good things and how important it once was to us. When we can't control our thoughts, we can't control our actions or reactions. Then, the first thing you know you have a box of matches out and are burning every bridge you built. Second, we need to find joy in every situation. Dwelling on it just ads fuel to the fire. Third, you need to turn your situation over to God in prayer. God is the greatest relationship counselor. Pour out your heart to God, not Facebook. No advice is better than God's. And fourth, dwell on the positive. When someone does you wrong, focus on the positive. When you are in a relationship, you know what button to push to make the other person angry. We all have our faults. Leave the buttons alone. Control how you react to the button pushers. The only control you have over the button pushers is how you react to them."

In closing, Brother Mark referred to Luke 6:27-31 "Love Your Enemies" and Matthew 5:9 which says "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God". Brother Mark asked, "Would you like to be known as a peacemaker and the son of God? Look at yourself and ask yourself what is it like to be married to me or have me as a friend?"

Our hymn of invitation was "Kneel at the Cross" and Wayne Holly gave the benediction. We invite you to worship with us at Mill Creek Baptist Church on Sunday mornings at 11:00. Sunday school begins at 10:00. Everyone is welcome.

Religion on 01/19/2017