A Note Form God

Men’s Tail Gate

Thursday, September 20th

1556 Hwy 51, Madison

6:30 -Until

Wear your team colors

Bring Your Favorite Tailgate Food

Bring A Friend

and you don’t need this ticket to get in

Will see you there!!!

Baptism

Baptism is an act of faith and obedience to the commands of Christ.

Baptism is a symbol of the forgiveness and cleansing Christ has done in your life—a public A public declaration that you are now a follower of Christ.

It is a public confession of your faith in, and commitment to, Jesus Christ.

It is the next step after salvation through repentance and faith and is an important foundation for the Christian life.

Today we were blessed to share in the baptism of father and son, Ken and Dillon Villeret.

Thank You Lord for your mercy and our blessing in this event!

 

 

some words borrowed from: https://hillsong.com/faith/baptism/

Men’s Fellowship Cookout

“And let us consider how to stir up one another

to love and good works”

Hebrews 10:24

“Because we are members of His body” (Eph. 5:30), the men’s fellowship at First Independent Methodist Church enjoyed an amazing cookout. We converged on the home of Billy & Carol Mason on May 18^th and shared in conversation while our brother Billy grilled most delicious hamburgers and hot dogs. We know that where two are three are gathered in His name, He is present. I am sure He enjoyed our fellowship as much as we did. We hope you will join us next time.

 

 

Happy Mother’s Day

Pastor Doug preached a very special message on Mother’s Day. Faith that is determined and directed. A faith that brings one to a decision, and a faith that declares our savior to others. This is a mother’s faith. After the sermon, he called all mothers to the front of the church. Husbands and family stood behind them as he prayed a prayer of thanksgiving and blessing for each.

Only God Himself fully appreciates the influence of a Christian mother in the molding of character in her children. ~ Billy Graham

I don’t believe there are devils enough in hell to pull a boy out of the arms of a godly mother. ~ Billy Sunday

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 31:27-30)

I cannot tell you how much I owe to the solemn word of my good mother. ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother. ~ Abraham Lincoln

Your mother’s voice is the first voice you ever hear – even before you are born. Even as a newborn baby, you know your Mother and prefer her above anyone else. Cherish your mother and be sure she knows you appreciate everything she does for you. The days are short, love your mother before time is gone. If your mother has already gone on before you, take some time to recall memories of her. Share these memories with your family so that she will live on in your hearts. (www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com)

Note From God

   ^“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

Becoming a Team Player

    

We are a diverse group of believers here at FIMC. Our church is blessed to have different races and folks from an array of different states who have move to the area and have chosen to worship here. While we are serious about our Lord and sharing His gospel we also enjoy the fellowship we have with each other. One way we enjoy this fellowship is when we have Fan Day. Because we are from all over the USA we bring our favorite football teams with us. We poke fun at each other and raze each other about success and failures on the field. This one day a year we wear our team colors to church and sit with those who who are fans of “our” team. We even forgive Pastor Doug for being an Ole Miss fan, and we still love him. Afterward we enjoy a fellowship dinner in the Blend, our new youth building. Each person brings something for a nice tailgate party and the food is delicious.

Most importantly is remember who we are in Christ. While we have our fun we must never forget our Savior and the Word of God. On this Sunday, 2016, Pastor Doug preached a sermon titled: Becoming a Team Player. Below is an outline of his sermon reminding us that we are all a part of the body of Christ.

Becoming a Team Player

1 Corinthians 12:12

What should being a team player mean to me?

1. I have made the roster (Revelation 20:15)
2. What does church membership mean at FIMC?
3. I have changed inwardly. (John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17)
4. I will attend regularly. (Hebrews10:25)
5. I will give faithfully. (Malachi 3:8-10; Luke 6:38)
6. I will serve willingly. (John 12:26
7. How does being a member of the team help me?

               Belonging is Necessary to my Growth. It give me a place for my family to

               learn, allows me to accomplish God’s Word, and gives me roots down in faith.

2. I will follow my coach. (Hebrews 13:17)

            Why does ‘team church’ need a pastor/coach?

                 To lead, feed, and succeed. (Acts 20:28)

3. I will find and accept my position. 1 Cor. 12:18-27)

            No one rides the bench on God’s team.

4. I will encourage my teammates. (Eph. 4:2; Psalm 37:4; 1 Thess. 5:11)

            Four Words that describe the attitude of a team player.

1. Humility- the team is more important
2. Gentle – Meekness
3. Patience – Wait Expectantly
4. Loving – Showing love to one another as Jesus did to you. (John 15:12)

 

Thank You Father For Fellowship With You and Others!

Youth Revival

On Purpose

Youth Conference 2016

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

From September 25-28, we held our first FIMC of Madison youth conference. Churches from all over Mississippi were invited to attend. Based on Jeremiah 1:5. When asking our youth pastor how he came upon the idea to have a conference, this was his reply: “I was in my office praying and just being quite. I felt the Lord was speaking to me about doing a conference. I was totally pumped! I have been waiting to do something like this, but didn’t want to just have one without the Lord having control of it. I was totally excited to gather young men to preach for the conference. Everything fell right in line with God’s will for this conference. The Lord made the path straight by bringing these men of God to preach, and lead worship for these four services.” Here are the message titles God laid on their hearts with our theme, On Purpose.

Josh Wilfong came all the way down from Fredericktown, MO to lead us in worship and WoW the Lord used him in a huge way. Playing his guitar and singing he did a magnificent job allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us with a heart ready for worship and the receiving of God’s Word. Thank you Josh!

Justin Sawyer of Hattiesburg, MS kicked it off for us Sunday the 25^th. His message was titled Pursue Purpose. Using Jeremiah as a young person who felt he was too young for God’s purpose, Justin emphasized his point when he said, “Our life is not just looking for a purpose but in searching for it through Jesus Christ!

Ven Tripi Madison, MS reminded us in his message, Wake Up Your Purpose of the force behind our purpose. Using Ephesians 2:10 Ven reminded us to grow our focus in the purpose God has given us. Without growth the enemy will try to keep us from God’s purpose. Remember the enemy has been defeated and cannot keep us from God’s will and purpose. Pastor Ryan said this was one of the best sermons he’s heard in a long time.

Jake Korokis, Kosciusko, MS used the story of Daniel and the lions Den to teach us that Patience Has Purpose (Daniel 6:11KJV). Jake challenged our students like they have never been challenged before. The altar was full! God was moving in their hearts.

Ryan Sawyer, FIMC Youth Pastor, Madison, MS spoke Wednesday night on The Progress of Your Purpose” the whole idea of the message was to tell the students not the let the places they start dictate where they finish! Wednesday the altars were filled once again!

Fifteen youth accepted the challenges that were given. Several students have said this conference was a much needed blessing. “Kinda like going to church camp and getting fired up for the Lord,” one youth said. Another student sent me (Ryan) a text after the last night. He said “I want to seek his purpose for my life and follow it.” PTL

God is about to do some great things in the lives of our students. We are not going to stop until we see the Lord. The response to the conference has been a huge blessing! Most, if not all, asked if we were going to do this next year. The Answer is a resounding, “YES!” Pastor Ryan said he is already looking forward to it!

Josh was a true blessing. Worship was fantastic and was as important as the speakers. This conference had the Lord all over it; here’s why. The four preachers and the worship leader were given the theme, On Purpose. When the conference came to an end, the five discussed the services. It was amazing how God used each one to magnify and continue what the previous speaker had spoken on purpose. They didn’t plan it that way—God did. The Holy Spirit worked all the messages together, as one for the Lord’s purpose.

 Can’t wait till next year! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A New Goliath -Part 3

“Then your light will break out like the dawn,

And your recovery will speedily spring forth;

And your righteousness will go before you;

The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.”

Isaiah 58:8

In Part 2 we discussed if we have a right to be afraid and should we stand against those who want to kill us. If we remember the fear David experienced while he was running for his life we understand that at times we do have fear in our lives. This is not God’s perfect will for us. His will is that we enjoy an abundant life. The way we receive this life is by living within His will. We know His will by His Word, the Bible. We also know His will by communing with him on a personal basis. Communion with Him is how we overcome Goliath when he tries to frighten us into submission. So this brings us to the last question. This is the same question David asked in Psalm 11:3, our premise for this series.

What can the righteous do?

While praying and searching over the last several months the Lord has placed several thoughts in my heart. I am excited! When these revelations hit me it was like a hand slap to the back of my head. These are nothing new. This is how every man of God in the Old and New Testaments defeated his Goliath. As Christians the following revelations are what we should be already be doing, everyday.

What a wake-up call. If we are not doing these things then we are not prepared for any Goliath, let alone this one. Search your heart and see if you are doing these things. I know there must be many more to add to this list. Feel free to add anything God lays on your heart.

1. Choose: Make a decision¾you are either in, or you are out. Joshua 24:15 ^“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

2. Live through him¾remember who we are *

We have been given permission, the freedom, the liberty, the ability to become, and the power to conquer.

We are fellow helper’s to the truth.

We are the vehicle the Lord uses to bring someone to the knowledge of salvation.

We find our peace, joy, comfort, guidance and direction through Him.

We are adopted children and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are justified by faith

Jesus is our wisdom and righteousness in everything we do and say.

He will reward us if we diligently seek Him.

We have our hope in Him.

3. Do NOT lose heart: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18so we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
4. Encourage one another and fellowship together. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 ^“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” In other words you should already be doing this and now is not the time to quit. Ephesians 5:19-21 “speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.Are you living your life as the fragrance to God? Are you living your life as an example to the unbeliever?

Encourage unbelievers. 1 John 4:16 “…we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

5. a) Love one another. John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
6. b) Love those who hate us. Matthew 5:44 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Matthew 5:43-48 “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 children 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. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

This is not something we just say, it is something we must do. If this New Goliath comes against us there will be those, both saved and unsaved, who will need our comfort. Are you living your life in a way that these will feel comfortable approaching you?

6. Be obedient to God’s Word, especially when we don’t understand it. John 14:15
   If you love me, you will keep my commandments I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Remember the Old and New Testament saints we mentioned in Part 2? They are examples of obedience. Hebrews 12 gives us a list of so many who provide us with an example of faith. Remember, “. . . with out faith, it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exist and He rewards those who seek Him.
7. Pray!!! Pray!!! Pray!!! James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. We have heard this verse many times. Do we believe it? This is verse is so important to understanding John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

As one evangelist has stated so bluntly, we do not have answered prayer because we are too lazy to pray consistently. Is this true in your life? We assure ourselves that we stand with the righteous. When we ask in prayer, we must ask in travailing prayer much as Jesus when sweat drops fell from his brow in the Garden of Gethsemane. This is sincere prayer. This is not a head prayer, but a heart prayer.

8. Be compassionate. Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Telling others about Christ is our foremost responsibility. God trust us to be obedient and win others to Him. When is the last time you shared the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ/

A another wake up call: Ezekiel 3:18-19 If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. “But,” if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. It is of utmost importance that we understand this. People are dying and we may be their only last hope of salvation.

9. Be confident, stay in the race, never quit, and look toward the reward. Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. Sometimes we must suffer. This is part of our calling. But, as 1 Peter 5:10 says, And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. He is always faithful to reestablish us. Remember Job?
10. Be filled with the Holy Spirit, He is our Helper John 4:23-24 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Remember these things:

Romans 8:16: The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

1 John 5:6-8: And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

Galatians 5:16-19 Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

11. “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority,. . .” WHY, you ask? “ . . . because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you” Hebrews 13:17.
12. Teach your children and grandchildren Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Deuteronomy 4:9“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children— Deuteronomy 6:6-9 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
13. Expect God to fulfill His promises. Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments 1 Corinthians 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful 1 Thessalonians 5:24 The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. 2 Timothy 2:13if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. 

    14. Give thanks in all things: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Psalm 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Daniel 6:10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Notice, when evil men came against Daniel, he gave thanks as he had always done.

15. Praise God! 1 Chronicles 16:8 Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
16. Again, of utmost importance, remember Who our real foundation is, it is not this world. Government did not build these foundations. God did. Genesis, chapter 1ff.

2 Timothy 1:9-10 Remember who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Ephesians 4:1 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

I mentioned at the beginning of Part 3, if you have any you would like to add please feel free to do so. There are so many! PTL

Now this I know:
  The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
    with the victorious power of his right hand.

Psalm 20:6

******

*https://theunfetteredpreacher.com/2016/07/25/that-we-might-theunfetteredpreacher/

 

The Cry of My Heart

How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.

Psalm 84:1-2

What does your soul yearn for? What does your heart cry out for?

I would imagine there are many possibilities.

As I sit here this morning thinking about it, this might be the question above all questions, the answer to which will tell us everything about ourselves. If my soul yearns for earthly things, say money or status or power, maybe for drugs or drink, possibly for love and romance… what would that say about my spiritual condition?

Yes indeed, there are so many possible answers…

Why is it that my soul cries out for God when I find myself in trouble, but when all seems well, things other than God have my attention? Oh yes, that says something about my spiritual condition!

I want to say that my heart and soul cry out for God, but if that were true, what would my daily life look like; would it look the same as it does now? Hmmm…

The things of this life are all around us, the pleasures of this life call out. The problems of this life are all around us as well; they aren’t easy to miss: The things of this life are ubiquitous in fact, and if my attention is to be on the things that are above, maybe I’m going to need to decide consciously to put it there, instead of on the things of this life. Yes, maybe I’m going to need to put my attention on God purposefully, deliberately as a choice I make. After all, don’t our hearts and souls yearn for the things were pay attention to?

By: Don Merritt ~ https://lifereference.wordpress.com/2016/07/26/the-cry-of-my-heart/