Matthew 5:43-45 - “[Love for Enemies] "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43:18-19
The children of Israel had sinned, they had refused to follow God’s commands and to make matters worse they were now enslaved and imprisoned by Babylon; but Isaiah was telling them despite the circumstances, God was doing a new thing. The problem was the Israelites were struggling to perceive what God was doing. They were dwelling on their past, judging their future based on what had happened rather than trusting in what God could do. So Isaiah gives them the formula for living in the newness of God’s blessing; forget the former things, don’t dwell on the past.
Many times we find ourselves caught in the vicious cycle of living to the standard our past. Our trophies are great symbols of what we have done but they can also be cruel ceilings to what the future holds. We measure our future based on the accomplishments and failures we have experienced. The problem with experience is that it often fails to account for what God can and will do if we trust him.
Do you perceive what God is doing? If not it may be that you are clinging too tightly to some experience that is holding you in bondage to the past. In this New Year, I challenge you to look for the “new thing” God is doing with the understanding that “new” is unlike anything ever done before and it cannot be measured by what once was.
| First Baptist Church
204 W. Athens & Mills at Palestine Street
P O Box 455
Hutchins, Texas 75141 Telephone: 972-225-2612
Mobile: 469-363-0463 Sunday • Sunday School for all ages; ESL class for adults. - 9:45 AM to 10:45 AM • Morning Worship - 11:00 AM • Evening Worship - 6:00 PM Wednesday • Evening Services; Mission Friends, RAs, GAs, ESL, Prayer and Praise service for youth and adults - 7:00 PM • Miercoles - Clase de English gratis - 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM   Scott Chadwick's 5th anniversary as pastor - Feb 13 Bro. Scott became official pastor in 2005, however has served the church since 1995 in various leadership roles - youth leader, church treasurer, HBS principal to name a few. We are so thankful for his spiritual guidance and applaud both Scott and Peggy for their dedication to Christ and His church. Ladies Luncheon, February 13 Maxine Chadwick will host lunch at her home at noon. Sunday School We are currently enrolling all ages for Sunday morning Bible Study classes. Come to the church by 9:45 A. M. Sunday to register. Race for Hunger - February 21 at 5:00 P. M. Annual racer derby for all ages. Re-design the racer your have or build a new pinewood car. (Randall Tuley has kits for $1.00). Trophies for fastest car, best design and most unusual design in three age divisions.
Entry fee on Feb 21 - one can of food for local food pantry. Prayer requests Requests may be added to this site - click on Prayer tab above, then follow instructions. Prayer check the requests often for concerns Clase de English gratis - every Wednesday (Miercoles) night and Sunday (Domingo) - English as a Second Language classes 7:00 to 8:00 Wednesday (Miercoles); Sunday (Domingo) 9:45 A. M. Michelle and James Hoyt teachers. Free Gratis child care. Military people to pray for Active military known to us are Casey Williams, Blake Hutchinson, Alex Wright, Aaron Wright, Jason Burden, Jay Eckenfels, Steven Clinton, Jason Hutchinson, Tony Lippold. You may add others using prayer request link on this site. |
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