Lake Blackshear Baptist Church

Going to “the farm” tomorrow...where I grew up. I’ll visit the graves of our family...precious memories. When the rapture comes (maybe soon?), I’d like to be standing in that cemetery. At two graves, one says Rogers and the other Effie, and I will say, "Come on Mama and Daddy; let’s go meet the Lord in the sky". Do you have a special place where you would like to be at the rapture? In Rev. 22, Jesus says, “Behold I come quickly”. "Even so", John says, "come Lord Jesus!” Amen?

The Hebrew language has no exclamation point to emphasize something. They repeat a word to emphasize it. In Isaiah 6, the seraphim cried out antiphonally, “Holy, Holy, Holy!”, as Isaiah had a vision of the Lord. We’re always asking God for something, but this morning let’s just sing, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, early in the morning we lift our voice to thee”. Feel better? I do! Amen.

Scientists are working trying to find an answer to a strange phenomena. If you hang a dress, suit, slacks in the closet and leave them there through thanksgiving and Christmas, then by January, they will have shrunk by two sizes🤗. I thought with the world we live in you could use a chuckle. Father, we don’t understand all that is happening in our world; sometimes we are worried, even frightened, but we hold to Your promise (Hebrews 13:5) "I will never leave you or forsake you”. Thank You, Father, amen.

Message this Sunday will be "Last Words”. We’re fascinated by the final words of famous people. One actress cursed and told her maid, "don’t you dare ask God to help me”. What would we want our final words to be? In Luke 23:46, Jesus cried out, "Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit”. Father, we thank You for being with us always -  even in the moment of death. We ask You to take us home with You, in Jesus' name, amen.

One of the young men in the seminary class told a joke about “hell”. They all laughed, and then the professor, wiped his glasses and said, “young men, don’t joke about that place, people are dying and going there". I confess that I’ve told a few over the years, but I’ve repented of that. God doesn’t send anyone to hell; it wasn’t designed for us, but for Satan and his angels. Today is the day of salvation, anyone who calls on the name of Lord shall be saved! Father, help us to share the good news with someone today, may Your Holy Spirit penetrate their hearts, in Jesus' name, amen.

God can do what He says He can do precisely, because He is who He says He is (from Beth Moore). Moses asked “who are You?” He replied “I am, that I am...you have no one to compare Me with...no beginning, no end". The chorus is right, “What a mighty God we serve”. God, Who loved us enough that His Son would die for us. Father, we thank You for everything, in Jesus' name, amen.

Message Sunday is "When God says no!”. The Father hears our prayers; He wants to hear from us. In Matthew 7:11, "if we know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him”. Father, we have so much on our plates, so much to pray for, we just ask that Your will be done in our lives; we know it will be the best; we ask in our Savior's name, amen.

Where were you that September morning when the world stopped turning? I remember so vividly that I was at a county commission meeting. Oh my, we’ll never forget. Our nation is so divided, but twice in my lifetime we were united as one: December 7th, 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor, and 9-11, 2001. Father, we remember the heroes of those days, their families; we repent and ask You to heal us, in Jesus' name, amen. To quote Todd Beamer, “let’s roll”.

Thank you Father, our daughter’s surgery went well. Home...feeling the after effects. Thank you is not enough, but it’s all I have. Thank all of you who prayed and reached out to us. It was awesome. I quote our son who said, “Dad, prayer works!”. Father, we thank You for healing and deliverance, but most of all for our salvation. We plead the only thing we have, the precious blood of Jesus that He shed on the cross for us, in His Name, amen.

Our daughter went home yesterday; her mother and I stood, with tears in our eyes and arms around each other watching her drive away. Father, it’s so hard; there's so much pain and sorrow for so many. The days are evil. Oh that Jesus would soon return for His church. Rev. 21:4: "no more pain or suffering nor tears, nor death". In the time remaining, help us to use it wisely, amen!

Labor Day - I know about that. If I have any attribute, it’s a strong work ethic. I thank my parents for that; I was reared to work. Most of the people I come into contact with share this also. Paul addressed this in 2nd Thessalonians 3:19: “if any would not work, neither should he eat”. Father, thank You for blessing us with the strength and desire to work, encourage us to bless in your name those who cannot, in Jesus' name, amen. Happy Labor Day🇱🇷🎉!

Message today is "the rock throwers”. Jesus told the woman, “neither do I condemn you”. That’s why Jesus came to our world to heal us, to deliver us that we might not be condemned. The church is not to be a sanctuary for saints, but to be the ER, the trauma center. We’re not interested in what you’ve done or been, but in what you can become. Jesus didn’t condemn us; He won’t condemn you. Come on in, the door’s open. Amen, church?

In My Father's house...that house is heaven. At visitation people were calling it “a better place”, it is a better place...it’s heaven. I listened as our Amey sang "How Beautiful Heaven Must Be". At a funeral, I saw the smiles on the people’s faces-even on the family that was in grief. Oh my, there are many mansions there. He’s coming back for us, so don’t let our hearts be troubled. Heaven is real; I plan to go there. Don't you? Amen?

I am so thankful to live in South GA. In a funeral procession yesterday on GA 300, the Sheriff's Office led us. I was so heartened when on that busy highway people were pulling over and stopping as a sign of respect, even big trucks and the garbage truck pulled over. In this time of anarchy and evil, I was heartened🤗. Father, thank You for all those who showed respect yesterday, please bless them, in Jesus' name, amen.

The church sign said "stay six apart for COVID but draw close to Jesus”. James 4:8 and Jeremiah 29 tell us to draw close to God, and He will draw close to us. We do this by prayer, worship, reading the scripture and service to others in His Name. Father, we feel Your presence in our lives, thank You, we can not survive without You. Oh, we need You every hour, amen.