I AM A SOLDIER

On my first Disater Relief/Rebuild trip to Pascagoula, during our devotional the first night we were there, our DOM Hamp Valentine read this to us and I want to share it with you.
I AM A SOLDIER
"I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct. Faith, Prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare. I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire.
I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity. I will either retire in this army at the Rapture or I will die in this army. But I will not get out, sell out, be talked out or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable. If my God needs me, I am there. If He needs me in the Sunday School, to teach the children, work with the youth, help adults or just sit and learn, He can use me because I am there!
I am a soldier. I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up. I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me or lure me. I am a soldier. I am not a wimp. I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name and building His kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards or candy or give me handouts. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for or catered to. I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.
When Jesus called me into this army, I had nothing. If I end up with nothing I will still come out ahead. I will win. My God has and will continue to supply all my needs. I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ. The devil cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me, and hell cannot handle me. I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my Commanding officer calls me from His battlefield, He will promote me to captain and then allow me to rule with Him. I am a soldier in this army, and I'm marching claiming victory. I will not give up. I will not turn around.
I am a soldier, marching Heavenbound. Here I stand! Will you stand with me?"

This is the way I want to serve Him every day!

Tyler couldn't be 9 years old!!

My oldest grandson Tyler had a birthday yesterday. He turned 9. Doesn't seem possible!! He is so big and I am so proud of him and I know his Papaw in Heaven is proud too. Hard to believe we used to play hide and seek with Papaw and Tyler always had to look in the cookie jar for him..."Papaw's not in the cookie jar" he would say and then grab a cookie! I love the memories we made together and thank God for all the memories we are going to continue to make!!

God's Word will never change! Prayer is the Hope of our Nation!

Yesterday was the National Day of Prayer. "America's Hope" was the theme. So many people didn't even know what day it was. So many people knew it and didn't care. So many people NEVER pray! A group from my church went to the capital for the ceremony there. One of our children from church was asked to read a quote from one of our founding fathers. I didn't get to go because I had to work but I was told that even though there was a good group from our church there the total number of people attending was disappointing. I get discouraged about things like that. This morning when I was reading a devotional from Open Windows, my God was so good to give me a scripture to encourage me. I pray daily for our nation and our leaders and for revival to come to America...but even if we don't turn from our wicked ways, God's Word will still stand. God is still in control.
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will by no means pass away." Mark 13:31
Praise Him!

"GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DICIPLES OF ALL NATIONS..."

The Tates Creek Baptist Association is praying about beginning a new partnership in Panama! My pastor, Brother Kenny, along with Brother Hamp (our DOM) and several others from the Association went on mission there this past week. I wanted to share these pictures Brother Kenny took while they were there. He will be giving a presentation in the near future to share how God used them during this trip. The date will be posted on the Bethel Baptist Church web site and you can assess that web site from this blog. Please remember us in prayer as we serve God by praying for missions, giving to missions, and going on mission!
Matthew 28:18-20 " And Jesus came up and spoke to them saying, " All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

YARD/CRAFT/BAKE SALE!

The Bethel Baptist WMU, Youth Group and CiA are teaming up to have a combination yard/craft/bake sale on May 23, 2009 in the parking lot of the Dollar General Store on the strip in Berea across from McDonalds. We are raising money for the Youth mission trip to Pascagoula, Mississippi. We have a great group of guys attending our church from the Bluegrass Career Development Center and one of them, has made quite a few things for us to sell. He is very talented as you can see from the pictures and we are just so grateful to him and all the guys from the center! They have all been a blessing to us and we are praying for them that God would be guiding them throughout the rest of their lives!