Warsaw Christian Church
You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
-James 4:3
James gives us an important lesson on prayer. While we encourage praying for ourselves, we should be cautious not to pray selfishly, seeking only to advance our pleasures. Praying for ourselves that we may better serve Jesus is a good thing. However, praying for ourselves that we may increase our selfish wants is wrongheaded.
God promises to give us the wisdom and resources to live faithful and other-oriented lives. But we must ask with sincere faith, not with the desire to elevate ourselves or satisfy ourselves with pleasures. If God answered our selfish prayers, it would harm us spiritually. God will never do that. So whether we say the words or not, we always pray, “Thy will be done.” Isn’t that what we want?
Unity Of The Lakes
This Sunday 3/24/24 is Palm Sunday. Are you ready to enter the Holy City of Jerusalem? Rev. Don will help us to enter the Holy city within us. The scripture reference is John 12:12-50. As we use Keep A True Lent as our guide through this week we will have a greater journey toward Easter Sunday. We would love to have you join us on this journey. Service is 11 am, dress is casual and all are welcome. Join us after service for refreshments and fellowship. We are located 8 miles South of Warsaw on highway 65. Our physical address is 34948 Hwy 65 South. If we have helped you on your spiritual path and you would like to send us a love offering or tithe, you may mail it to Unity of The Lakes P.O. Box 1336, Warsaw, MO. 65355. We have some great speakers, services and classes coming up and would love to have you join us. Please let us know how we may best serve you. Follow us on Facebook.
From The Pastor's Desk
I have made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a young woman.
-Job 31:1 (NLT)
This may be a delicate subject for some but I heard of a testimony this last week that really impressed me to the point that I felt like sharing it with my faithful readers.
Richard Allen, 79, was on life support recently for 14 days. I knew him personally but never knew the story I am about to share. Last week, they unhooked him from the life support machines and he died a few days later on March 5, 2024. The doctors thought he would die instantly, but he didn't. At his funeral, the following story was told.
While other men at work would make a big deal whenever an attractive woman would pass by, Richard always kept his eyes on the job at hand. When asked, he replied that his wife was the most beautiful woman in the world to him and that he didn't need to look at other women. He mentioned Job 31:1 as his standard of practice and his inspiration.
On this day of divorce and womanizers, let that sink in for a moment.
Although lust is nothing new. The Bible is filled with lustful accounts of men straying from their wives and of sexual misconduct; stories of David and Bathsheba, Samson and Delilah, the taking of Diana and the raping of Tamar by her brother and so on and so on.
Solomon had 700 wives and three hundred concubines. Many men had more than one wife.
We are told that Sarah, Diana, Tamar, Bathsheba, Queen Esther and Rachel were all beautiful to look upon. Perhaps, Eve, Mary, Mary Magdalene, the woman at the well, Lydia, Jezebel, Delilah, Ruth and many others were also very attractive women.
Regardless of what the world might tell you, man is born with the natural desire for a woman to love, marry and live with until death do they part.
There is nothing wrong with simply admiring beautiful women, for God made them so, but Jesus said that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart (Matthew 5:28).
What man could honestly say that he had never fallen victim to that temptation?
To Richard, some would agree with Rudyard Kipling and borrow a line from his poem and say, "You are a better man than I am Gunga Din."
Yes, Richard was of a rare breed, a man of substance in that he truly loved his wife. He left a moving testimony and a high standard for the rest of us .
Husbands, do you love your wives? Really? Is your wife the most beautiful woman in the world to you?
I am Pastor Johnie J. Logue of Grace Baptist Church at 31046 Hwy MM, Warsaw MO, 65355. Phone is (660) 281-4775.
Lincoln First Baptist Church
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. There are a lot of things going on throughout the Christian community. The Baptist Ridge Camp is gearing up for the spring and summer camps. Pack the Pantry is in full swing with the request of items that are needed to supply the camp. A drive is being held to up grade the pool and bathhouse at the camp. There is also a list of things needed around the camp. Check on line at the camp’s website to find out how you can help.
Worship was well attended today. The church is starting to grow. With God’s blessing we will continue to grow in the youth group. Pastor Jesse leads the youth. The youth will be going to Bennet Springs on March 29th for a fishing trip. Our church will be hosting the Good Friday Service on March 29th at 7pm. On Easter the 31st we will have breakfast at 9:30 in place of Sunday school, worship at 10:30 and an Easter egg hunt for the children after service. Come and join us.
People used by God. The dreams you’re chasing are you content with them? Pastor started in Exodus with Moses. When God brought Moses out of Egypt He got Moses where He could use him. God made him into something Moses didn’t think he could be. Moses couldn’t be quiet. God used Peter and Andrew, Paul, Abraham and many more. Jesus can bring a fulfillment to your dreams. If you are a saved child of God you will live forever. God will use us all for His plans. Remember where you came from so you know where you are going. We have Jesus and only to be saved for Him to use us. Pray for others. UNTIL NEXT TIME GOD BLESS.
Hopewell Baptist Church
In Matthew 17:1-13, a week has passed since Jesus told the disciples He was going to die. Jesus takes three of the disciples up to the mountain top where He was transfigured from Jesus the human, to the Son of Man, a spiritual being, and the disciples noticed the difference. He shines so bright like a light and two more spiritual beings show up to chat with Jesus. Somehow the disciples recognize them as Elisha and Moses. A bright cloud covered them and a voice from God Himself says, this is my Son with whom I am pleased, listen to Him. The disciples are terrified throwing themselves on the ground. They’re having a spiritually high moment. God said, this is my Son, and you cannot simply know He exists, you must listen when He speaks.
As the disciples are walking down the mountain, they ask why the Teachers of the law say Elijah needs to come first. They were looking for a new Moses and their experience challenged what they believed. Do we let the message of Sunday sink in, or do we leave it on the mountain? Jesus tells them Elijah already came, and no one recognized him. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands. Jesus tells the disciples John the Baptist was like Elijah, proclaiming the name of the Lord. The disciples thought he was just Jesus’ cousin. The disciples were watching what was happening and they were putting all the pieces together, and we get a full view of who Jesus is and now we need to see what it means for us to serve Jesus. No one ages out of studying the scripture and we must be willing to listen. God is trying to do something in our hearts and lives. The Holy Spirit works in our hearts and then it spills out. Jesus doesn’t stop working because we leave the mountain top. Who are we going to be? Jesus is talking, are we listening? Confess and tell Jesus you need Him. If God is calling us to do something we’ve got to stop being afraid! Let’s do it together.
Join us Sunday mornings for Sunday School at 10 a.m. with Worship at 11 a.m., and Sunday and Wednesday Bible Study at 6 p.m. Watch live at 11 a.m. each Sunday on Hopewell Baptist Church Facebook page.
