Do You Put It Into Action?

Barbara Cory and Eileen Hawkins were celebrating birthdays, and Wayne Johnson opened our morning service with prayer as we gathered to worship Sunday at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Special prayers were requested, including for Jimmy Easter, Steve Mason, Cynthia Ross, Susan's grandchildren, Barbara's niece and the Johnson family.

Linda Abercrombie gave the devotional, "Difficulty," and read Psalm 19:12-14. Life is a challenge, sometimes more than it should be. When we face trouble and disappointment, remember the proverb "this too, shall pass." Life's difficulties are seasonal and will pass. We may ask ourselves if we are responsible for our own difficulties. Sin has life implications. Sometimes sin seems like the path of least resistance but will only take us where we don't really want to go, and we live under its power. We can live better with God's help and guidance.

Tyrel Lett asked God's blessing upon the offertory, and he and Rick Lett served as ushers.

With piano accompaniment from Becky Johnson, Jerry Abercrombie led the congregational hymns, including "Standing on the Promises," and we were blessed with special music from Ronnie and Amy, who sang, "Just A Little Talk with Jesus."

Brother Mark Hall brought us God's message as we began the third week of Bible study in the book of James. "Go on and Do It" was the title of the sermon, with scripture from James 1:22-27 and James 2:1-4. Brother Mark began by telling us that the more we read our Bible, the more we hear our Father speak to us. "Do you ever look in the mirror and realize that we sometimes forget what we look like. For example, when we age and don't realize it but notice it on other people? You can deceive yourself on how you look just like you can deceive yourself spiritually. If you just come to church and hear the word but don't go out and spread the word, we have deceived ourselves. We can tell about what the Bible says, but do we put it into action?"

Through the scripture, Brother Mark focused on two important things. First, we need to mind our tongue. "If you are to be known as a Christian, you need to mind your tongue. People don't hear half the good you say but hear all the bad. It is like burning off sage grass. You can light it in one place and it spreads quickly and burns off the whole field. Our tongue can do the same thing. The Bible tells us we need to keep ourselves 'unspotted by the world.' When a Christian gets too close to a mud hole, we track it into God's house."

Second, Brother Mark told us, "The Bible tells us not to show favoritism." James 2:1 says, "My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism." Brother Mark also read verses 2-4 and told us, "It doesn't matter what people wear. Everyone needs Jesus. We are bad about favoritism. We think people should look, act and smell like us or we look differently at them. God doesn't discriminate. He doesn't and we shouldn't either. It shouldn't matter what you have or don't have. Everyone will look shabby on judgment day. What we have or don't have on that day won't matter. Only righteousness will matter."

In closing, Brother Mark said, "Don't wait until you get your tongue in order. Come as you are to Jesus. Jesus will get your tongue right; He will get the dirt off you and clean you up. Get Jesus first and then ask Him what He would have you do."

Our hymn of invitation was "Just As I Am," and Rick Lett gave the benediction. The widow and widower's luncheon hosted by Brother Mark and Shelley will be after the morning worship service on Sunday, March 25.

As we approach Easter, we invite you to worship with us and share in giving thanks to Jesus for all He did for us. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome at Mill Creek Baptist Church, located three and one-half miles east of Noel, just off Highway 90.