“… Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
~ Hebrews 13:5 ~
BATTLE AGAINST SIN AND LONELINESS
One of my favorite quotes is from William Carey. It was from his journal, written in April 1794, during his first year of missionary work in India.
“This day was tumultuous in its beginning but was afterwards more calm. Yet a burden of guilt is not easily removed: nothing short of infinite power, and infinite goodness, can remove such a load as mine. O that I had but a smiling God, or an earthly friend to whom I could unbosom my soul! But my friend is at a great distance, and God frowns upon my soul. O may his countenance be lifted upon me again.”
Carey was expressing his feelings here, not writing good theology. His words reflect a servant’s struggle with sin and the struggle with loneliness. Everyone in the ministry deals with them both. Everyone in living life deals with them both. You don’t have to travel to India to meet these enemies face-to-face. They’ll come to where you are.
So, what do you do when you’re losing the battle against sin and loneliness? You turn to the God whose mercy never ends, and even if it’s for the thousandth time, you can still find grace in your time of need. Carey knew that even if he didn’t feel it at the moment he penned these words.
And you turn to one of the good people God has put in your life, and you “unbosom your soul”. You have an advantage Carey didn’t have: If that person isn’t nearby, you can pick up the phone and give them a call.
Most importantly, when you’re losing the battle against sin and loneliness, you stay in the fight until victory finds you. Losing the battle doesn’t mean you’re losing the war but quitting does.
Carey eventually won his battle. He stayed in India translated the New Testament into several languages planted churches and missionary training centers and became known as the Father of Modern Missions. Today at least seven institutions of higher learning bear his name.Amazing especially when you consider he worked for three years before he baptized his first convert.
Blessings on your week.As you face your moments of loneliness, remember you can do so with the presence and help of your Savior and Lord. Looking forward to seeing you this coming Sunday for In-Person or Online Worship. I am super excited that we are beginning the last section of IMMERSE. I am beginning my new sermon series on CHRONICLES: looking first at ACrash Course on Life-Changing Prayer.
Pastor Terrell
P.S.
This coming week, many of you will be meeting with others in one of our IMMERSE Growth Groups to begin discussing this last section of our 3-year study of the whole Word of God. You can find the details of when and where groups will meet here in this issue of CONNECTIONS.
Let me encourage you to get involved.
First, get your final section of the Immerse Bible for this study. It is called Chronicles.
Second, be sure to do the reading for week one. The reading schedule is found in your Immerse Bible but for this week it will cover pp.A9 - pp.20.
Third, decide that you will not give up as you begin to read. This section of Scripture is the longest genealogy found in the Bible. Most of the names you will not recognize and that’s ok. However, my hope and prayer is that by the time you both read and discuss this section with others you will discover that these pages are one of the most remarkable passages in the Word of God.
ScheduleforSundayAugust6,2023:
Ruth Class @ 9:00 AM in Room #202
The Saints Class @ 9:00 AM in Room #201
Prayer Room open @ 9:00 AM Room #206
Preschool Worship opens in KID CITY @ 10:15 AM
Morning Worship In-Person & Online @ 10:30 AM in Worship Center
Kidz4Christ dismissed during Morning Worship
Schedulefortherestoftheweek,August7-August12,2023:
Monday @ 4:30 PM Growth Group @ Puffers’ home.
Tuesday @ 10:00 AM Growth Groups: Men Room #202; Women in Fellowship Hall
Thursday@ 6:00 PM Growth Group in Fellowship Hall
Saturday@ 9:00 AM Good News Club Training at First Southern in Fellowship Hall
PLEASE REGISTER FOR GOOD NEWS CLUB TRAINING: click link below, OR scan QR code, OR contact CEF AZ Yavapai County Director, Mara Byrd @ 320-224-9249
Chronicles is the sixth and final installment of Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience program. Chronicles contains the remaining First Testament Books:
1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, and Daniel.
https://www.immersebible.com/chronicles-8-week/
Total : 44,971
$ 21,088.96
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Morning Worship at a glance
O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing”
“No One Like You, Lord”
“Graves Into Gardens”
WELCOME HERE
Welcome & Offertory Prayer
Kidz4Christ dismissed
“Cry of My Heart”
“Revival”
“I Must Tell Jesus”
CHRONICLES
Immersing Our Lives in God’s Word
A Crash Course on Life-Changing Prayer
1 Chronicles 4:9-10/page 9/paragraph 2
“Change My Heart, Oh God”
“Cry of My Heart”
A Life Giving Church … Giving Life
2820 N. Pleasant View Drive Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 928-772-7218
fsbcpv@firstsouthernpv.org
www.firstsouthernpv.org
Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30AM - 2:30PM
Senior Pastor Terrell Eldreth: 619-244-6265
PastorTerrell@firstsouthernpv.org
Worship Pastor Bart Young 928-254-8713
PastorBart@firstsouthernpv.org
Advancing the Kingdom of God
one heart at a time.
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