Southside's Blog

Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord;
They are studied by all who delight in them.
Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever.
He has made His wonders to be remembered;
The Lord is gracious and compassionate.
He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will remember His covenant forever.

He has made known to His people the power of His works,
In giving them the heritage of the nations.

The works of His hands are truth and justice;
All His precepts are sure.
They are upheld forever and ever;
They are performed in truth and uprightness.
He has sent redemption to His people;
He has ordained His covenant forever;
Holy and awesome is His name.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;
His praise endures forever. Psalm 111

O Lord, You are truly worthy of praise from all people!

I will say thanks to You in front of everyone I meet, without any reservation; whether they acknowledge You or not.

Your works are so great that there are many who doubt that You exist because they cannot fathom a being capable of such creative wonders.

Your righteous deeds, Your redemptive power, Your creative grace has never been forgotten in all the history of the earth.

You are grace and compassion, and You show it by Your care for those You honor You. When we show grace and compassion to others, we are simply being like You.

You never forget a promise.  Your works are truth and justice and Your rules to live by will never be wrong.

You buy back those who turn from their slavery to sin, and You never forget those who love You.

To say that Your name is holy and awesome is not enough for You, but it is the most I have to offer with words from my lips.

May all my decisions emanate from a reverent respect for You and Your teachings.

Your praise will not end.

Amen and Amen

Take a few moments and talk to God. Whether you are making a decision or reaffirming an earlier one, talk to your Maker about your eternal life. You might find this prayer helpful: Immanuel, you are with me. You became a person and took on flesh. You became my Savior and took on my sin. I accept your gift. I receive you as my Lord, Savior, and friend. And because of you, I’ll never be alone again.

From Mike: I believe Max's opening paragraph describes a number of people in this world. Our greatest need is to build and cultivate a relationship with God. Attending church is only one facet of a relationship. Have a very honest talk with Him. He already knows what's on your heart but He wants us to open up in prayer to Him. You'll never regret opening up to God!

Being a follower of Jesus Christ, a Christian, is more than just going to church, saying you believe in Jesus, or reading your Bible every day. The goal for every Christian should be to become more like Jesus. Following Him is to become like Him. I like what James Wilhoit says about Christian spiritual formation:

“Christian spiritual formation: (1) is intentional; (2) is communal; (3) requires our engagement; (4) is accomplished by the Holy Spirit; (5) is for the glory of God and the service of others; and has as its means and end the imitation of Christ.” – James C. Wilhoit, Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered: Growing in Christ through Community, 23

I must want to become more like Jesus. I must realize the need to be part of a church family striving for the same goal. I must remain connected to Jesus, and allow the Holy Spirit to work on me to produce fruit. I must seek to honor God through my service to Him and my love for others.

When it comes to being you, you were made for the part. So speak your lines with confidence.

From Mike: Sometimes, we want to excel in what we want, not what God wants. My brother-in-law wanted to be a preacher. After his Navy service, he went to Freed Hardeman, determined to become a preacher. His experience there and the staff convinced him that was not what he was made for. Now, 30+ years later, he does excellent personal work in the church.  I believe he is popping God's buttons!

It is a new year and I will be doing some Sermons and Bible Studies to help strengthen our faith and our walk with Jesus each day.

Starting this Sunday evening, I will begin a Bible study focusing on an overview of the Old Testament. This will last a few months. It is intended to help us understand God's big story and how we fit into it.

On Wednesday, January 17, I will begin a study in our auditorium class on Wednesday evenings on the Book of Daniel. There is a lot in Daniel that is valuable to both our understanding of the Old and New Testaments and how we should respond to the challenges of the culture.

Starting Sunday, January 21, I will begin a sermon series on Sunday mornings at 10 am from the Book of Colossians called:  Christ, Church, and the Christian. We will be looking at Christ's supremacy, the Church's importance, and how we should live as Christians in this world.

Please join us in person or online!

God wants our hearts! He wants them voluntarily. He will not force us, deceive us, or trick us. Unfortunately, Satan wants them too. He doesn’t care how he gets them. He’s willing to deceive or mislead us in any way he can. Which of these two relationships describes the relationship you want to live in?

Who you give your heart to is not a one-time decision but one we make moment by moment each day.  Paul gives an accurate description of my life in Romans.

Romans 7:19-25:

 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

I continue to believe that I’m in a war with Satan over my soul! Each temptation is a battle in the war. It’s my choice! It’s also yours! Choose to give your heart to God!

Thanks

Mike  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This past Sunday I suggested that the New Year is a great time to make some spiritual commitments. We need to be focused and committed to living out the Greatest Commands (Matthew 22:36-40).

The 4 Spiritual Commitments for 2024 I encourage every person to make:

1. Commit to Spending Daily Time with God.
2. Commit to Worshipping Regularly with the Church.
3. Commit to Expressing Love for Other People.
4. Commit to Giving Back to God.

If you want to watch the sermon, please check out our YouTube page for the Southside Church of Christ in Shelbyville, TN.

Imitate the apostle Paul who said, “Our goal is to stay within the boundaries of God’s plan for us” (2 Corinthians 10:13 NLT). So extract your uniqueness. “Kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you” (2 Timothy 1:6 NASB). And do so to make a big deal out of God.

From Mike:To say that He gave you NO gift would be calling Him a liar. If you have not tried to discover the gift then you must make an effort. He will guide you. Sometimes it just comes down to common sense. He did not give me the gift of leading the singing. I know that and you would to if I tried. 

James 4:17 - So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

How vital, then, that we pray, armed with the knowledge that God is in heaven. And he has chosen to bend near toward earth to see our sorrow and hear our prayers. Though we may not be able to see his purpose or his plan, the Lord of heaven is on his throne and in firm control of the universe and our lives.

I’m an early riser. I have my coffee and work on crossword puzzles and other computer games to get my mind working. Some days that takes a long time. Then, I turn the lights off in my study, stare into the darkness, and talk to God. Doing it this way keeps my attention deficit down.

For some reason, this morning, my mind turned to Ms. Nellie Shoemaker. Unfortunately, I didn’t really know her. This past summer, I saw her in Walmart. Because of my speech, I don’t often speak to folks who don’t really know me. On this occasion, I got up the courage to say hello. I could not remember her name, so I told her we go to church together. I had to tell her twice because she was guarded. It dawned on her who I was.  She smiled really big, “You’re that man that sends me that letter every month.” I said, “Yes, mam”. After all, she was only a few years younger than my Mom would have been. She told me that she kept the letters with her Bible to reread. We chatted for a few more minutes about her lifestyle, and she moved on to her car to drive home. It's incredible that at 90+ years old, she was capable of so much memory and freedom.

Most of us complicate life well beyond what we need to. Ms. Nellie’s life seemed so uncomplicated. She had a deep and abiding love for God. She knew He was in charge and was very comfortable with that fact. For just a brief encounter, she made such an impression on me. It’s easy to picture her in the arms of Jesus.

Thanks, Ms. Nellie, for sharing your Godly thoughts with me! Hopefully, I will pass your spirit on!

Mike                                

Peace is a state of tranquility or quiet, serene or calm – the absence of war. The Hebrew word is shalom (both adjective and substantive), meaning primarily "soundness" "health," but also coming to signify "prosperity," well-being in general, all good in relation to both man and God.

What brings you peace in your life? You might say everything is right in my world! We are all healthy, jobs are going fine, the kids are doing well, and we have no appreciable debt.

You should be at peace in this case, but how long will this last? I’m not a pessimist, but we all realize that life can take a turn quickly.

Over a year, you learn that your 18-year-old daughter, who just graduated from high school, is pregnant. Your brother-in-law has committed suicide. The company you manage is running out of money. The Board votes not to raise more capital and to cease operations. After the company’s dissolution is settled, a friend invites you to join his company as a partner. Within days, you field calls from the business’s creditors who want their money.  Investigation shows that his daughter has been embezzling money to blow at the casinos. This company goes under within four months of joining it. During all this, you, your wife, and son are negotiating to buy a retail business for them to manage.

There is not much peace!!!  Where do we go from here? Satan loves these opportunities. He’ll tell you God doesn’t care about you, so why should you be loyal to Him? He will help you wallow in your self-pity. Well, you don’t blame God and turn away from Him. You run to His arms and ask for a comforting hug.

The following are quotes from Allen Jackson:

Thankfully, there is no fear that cannot be overcome with the peace that Jesus gives us. His life was filled with situations that would cause real fear in the bravest of us, but He was never afraid. His life was marked by criticism and rejection, but He demonstrated a calm assurance that God was always with Him. If Jesus said we don’t have to be afraid, we don’t have to be. If Jesus gives me His peace, that’s good enough for me.

Allen’s prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that in this troubled world You provide peace, security, and abundant life through the cross of Jesus Christ. May your Holy Spirit counsel me daily in Your peace. When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In Jesus’ name, amen

From Chris Lawrence:

Here are seven things to know about the peace of God:

This peace is a gift. You must look outside yourself for this peace. You will not find this peace by looking deep inside your own heart, but by looking outside of yourself, to another power and a person. And this person is God.

As God has said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. John 14:27  He offers this gift with no strings attached. It is a blessing for us to enjoy. But it is something you must ask for in order to receive. Psalm 29:11

The peace that God offers is not something we can fully understand. We are relying upon God after all. As the Bible says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding…  Philippians 4:6-7 The great thing is that we don’t have to fully understand it to experience it!

This peace will give you strength. The feeling of calm and confidence, even while the wind blows and thunder rolls, is a powerful weapon against the storms of cancer, coronavirus or whatever challenges you face. Those that experience it will find a new kind of strength. God has promised to increase the power of the weak, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.” Isaiah 40:29-31

This peace will guard your heart. Especially in the face of suffering and threats, your heart is a fragile thing. This peace builds a fortress around your heart and protects you from the surrounding dangers and fears.

This peace will help you sleep. So often, our anxiety rears its head the most when we try to sleep. If we begin experiencing a calm and tranquility about our future, better sleep is a natural outcome. God promises it to us. “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8

You must ask for this peace. We can’t assume that this peace will automatically arrive on our doorstep. We have to ask God for it. He is relational and does not intrude on people. You must invite him into your life, and into your journey. As God says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20

There is a gift of peace you can experience, no matter where you are at on your journey.  Are you ready to ask for it?

God knows what we need, even better than we know it ourselves. Is that settled in your heart? Does your life reflect that?

We are all in need of peace. This article was spurred primarily by the weather in Middle Tennessee this past weekend.  Six tornadoes, as of this writing, six deaths, and one of those was a child. Many injured. An unknown number of homes were destroyed. Christmas presents are scattered for miles around the countryside.

But then, Evelyn needs additional neurological surgery. A significant amount of peace is required when your child faces any surgery but brain surgery.

I’m sure that Allen’s writings come from many years in ministry to those who need and are in search of peace. Chris’s article comes from his ministry to help cancer patients find peace.

In addition to your search for peace, do you help others in the search?

God is waiting for you to come for a hug. His arms are open wide. Go ahead ! They feel good!

God Bless!

Mike    Mikeclement5772@gmail,com

Standing Firm – Allen Jackson – 2018 – Intend Publishing

Hope Has Arrived - The Gift of Peace - From the Internet – Chris Lawrence

What about you? You have a choice: to obey or disobey. Because Joseph obeyed, God used him to change the world. Can he do the same with you? Will you be that kind of person? Will you serve…even when you don’t understand?

And when you find yourself in another house, do what my daughter’s friend did – just call home. He won’t mind, he’ll be waiting.

From Mike: Very comforting!!

I learned the lesson God had used my daughter to teach me. All of us are here by grace and, at some point, all of us have to share some grace. So the next time you find yourself next to a questionable character, don’t give him a hard time—give him a pretzel!

You harvested food you didn’t make from an earth you didn’t create. Let me see if I have this straight. Had God not done his part, you would have no food. Hmmm…perhaps we best return to the word beggar. We are all beggars, in need of bread.

From Mike: This is for all of us and especially for those that don't believe they need to say "Thank you" to God!

Isn’t that what we all need? An abba who will hear when we call? An abba who will swing us up into his arms and carry us home? Don’t we all need an Abba Father?

From Mike: As we observe this special day, let's give special thanks to Abba!

"You see, resentment is a prison. Jesus doesn’t question the reality of your wounds, he just doubts whether resentment is going to heal them. What are you going to do? Are you going to spend your life guarding the jail cell, or are you going to trust your wounds to Jesus?"

From Mike: Max you don't understand. Jesus may not exact all the vengeance that I believe is necessary! Folks, if that's your attitude then you will continue your prison sentence of dealing with resentment. Just remember that you sentenced yourself!

If you’re talking about your financial debt, that’s not likely to happen. But if you’re talking about your spiritual debt, it already has. Your heavenly Father has covered your shortfall. In God’s house you’re covered by the roof of his grace!

So the next time your plate has a portion you find hard to swallow, talk to God about it. Jesus did. In the garden of Gethsemane his Father handed him a cup of suffering so sour, so vile, that Jesus handed it back to heaven. “My Father,” he prayed, “if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).

From Mike: In addition to the fact that I really enjoyed Max's devotional this morning, I had to share some humor. When I was a kid, my Mother and I had a constant battle over green beans.  Every time she made them, I had to try them again.  I strongly objected.

When I was in rehab in 2015 for a major stroke, I could only swallow liquid and had to be careful with that. For the first ten days I lived on soup and Ensure. The day finally came when they switched me to pureed food. Breakfast was a scrambled egg and pureed biscuit. That might have been the best biscuit I've ever eaten. I looked forward to lunch with anticipation. The offering was some kind of brown meat pureed, mashed potatoes, and a giant scoop of evil-looking green mass. Yep, they pureed green beans. I could see the giant smile on Mother's face up in heaven. Pureeing them does not make them better!

Mike

So the next time your plate has more broccoli than apple pie, just remember who prepared the meal. Even Jesus was given a portion he found hard to swallow. But with God’s help, he did. And with God’s help, you can too.

From Mike: There is always a request for prayers for those going through adversity in the Southside bulletin. The vast majority of the requests are because of health. Wonder how many people are struggling with something other than illness? Marriage problems, children problems, work problems, or other problems with living life. Most of us don't open up about the different struggles in life. The next time you pray for the members at Southside, ask for God's help swallowing the broccoli, whatever it may be.!