ITS THAT TIME AGAIN COME HELP RISE FUNDS FOR THE BUILDING FUND. THIS SAT.FROM 8 TILL 5.AT THE CHURCH  220 HULL ST.LOTS OF EVERYTHING MUST SEE EVERYTHING MUST GO SO TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO  COME ON OUT AND SUPPORT THE CHURCH. THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS……….

by Linda Sedrick Pearson

Did you ever stop to think about how Jesus never had to have a pulpit in order to preach or teach? He preached from a boat (Mark 4:38), on a hillside (Matthew 5:1), in the plain (Luke 6:17), or wherever he went. This makes me think that maybe we put too much pomp and circumstance into the preaching and teaching. Maybe it’s time we get back to the basics and get down in the crowd with the people to speak with the people not to them.

I have heard a lot of men lately state that God has called them to preach. That is awesome and I thank God for calling more to preach. I pray that they all remember that a preacher is just a teacher and they should make sure they fellowship with all the people. Don’t worry about a pulpit to stand behind. Get out into the world and teach the people like Jesus did. Then, you will really be following in Jesus’ footsteps and people will be saved!

by Linda S. Pearson

Many religions worship saviors, but Christians are the only followers that have a Savior that is alive! His name is Jesus and when the disciples went to his tomb on that first Easter morning, they found it empty. Why? Because while his dead body (he died for all of the sins of all people) – an empty shell – lay in that tomb, Jesus Christ traveled to the very depths of hell. He had to experience everything that mankind experiences so that we could all accept and receive his death on the cross as payment for all of our sins.

While in hell, he walked up to Satan and, with the devil humbled, that old serpent crawled up to Jesus and handed over the keys of death and hell. Jesus turned and walked away.

Returning to his empty shell (his body), he put it on one more time. The stone rolled away and Jesus prepared to meet with his disciples and many witnesses once again. There were approximately 515 witnesses that saw Jesus once he was resurrected.

After He gave them their last instructions, the Father called his Son home. A few witnesses saw him ascend into heaven. The angels gave the promise that he will return again. This time he comes to take his rightful place as King of all (not just the Jews).

Are you ready for his return? If not, accept him today!

Broken Vessels 2012 is preparing for this year’s women’s retreat titled Are You Ready for Battle. There is a $20.00 registration fee to help pay for your lunch and supplies.

When: June 9, 2012 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Where: Gladewater Missionary Baptist Church, 220 W. Hull St. , Gladewater, TX

Download a copy of the registration form.

Make check payable to: Broken Vessels Ministry

Mail completed form and check to:

Gladewater Missionary Baptist Church
Broken Vessels Ministry
P.O. Box 405
Gladewater, TX 75647

Linda Sedrick Pearson

Ezekiel 47:9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

When I look at this verse in Ezekiel it makes me understand better why Jesus said, “I will make you fishers of men.” Look at this verse in Ezekiel. It says that there will be a great multitude of fish because of the waters and they shall be healed. I think God was talking about the healing of people through the Living Water – Jesus Christ. Revelations 21:6 states, “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” In John 4:14 Jesus said, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” Finally, in Revelations 22:17 he says, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

The more I study about the river, especially a healing river, the more it points me to Jesus Christ. After all, when you come to the Living River (Jesus), you shall live! How great is that?

Thank you God for the Living Water and for the River that heals all our sins and sicknesses. Amen

GMBC needs your donations of left over yard sale items. We collect items for several months and then have a garage sale event approximately once a year. All donations are for our building fund in order to build a larger building to help us promote the gospel of Jesus Christ. We also donate items to those in need without cost. Many people need help and just don’t know where to turn. Gladewater Missionary Baptist Church members are missionaries to our local communities. Help us help others!

Call Pastor Ken Ross (903) 841-1413 or email him pastor@gladewatermissionarybaptist.com if you have items to donate. We will pick up any items.

Upcoming Garage Sale will be May 19 this year.

by Linda Sedrick Pearson

Isaiah 62:11-12  Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

I don’t know about you, but for me to read that the Lord is calling me, ‘Sought out,’ it is amazing. It makes my heart jump for joy. Imagine the Lord God sitting in his heaven on his beautiful throne and seeking the earth for us! To know that someone loves me enough to search for me is the most wonderful love I can ever hope for. God himself – the Lord God Almighty – has sought me out. What else could I want but that? There is nothing else.

Not only am I sought out, but I am a city not forsaken. God has not forsaken me. No matter how alone I ever feel, I can remember these words and know that I am not alone. I am not forsaken. My God loves me and is with me. He has not forsaken me. He seeks me out and does not give up until he finds me!

How do you feel knowing that God seeks you out? Does it make you feel wanted? It does me. I hope you can find peace in these words as I have. You see, it doesn’t matter who rejects you and casts you aside. The Lord God Almighty has not thrown you away. No matter what, he wants you. He loves you enough to search for you. He has sought you out. He calls you a city not forsaken. He wants you! He loves you! Jesus Christ gave his life for you. What else can you want but that?

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, what are you waiting on? Our reward is in him. He calls us ‘the holy people.’ Join us in the family of God. God is looking for you and waiting for you. All you have to do is call out his name. Ask him to forgive you of all of your sins. Accept and receive his love, peace, and joy. Let him call you, ‘a city not forsaken.’

By Linda Sedrick Pearson

I was reading through some of the Levitical laws today and found and interesting verse I had not noticed before. The verse is Leviticus 19:14. It reads:

“Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shall fear thy God: I am the LORD.”

Thinking about what this verse says, I wondered about these things. Take for instance the part that says, “Thou shalt not curse the deaf.” Now, if a person is deaf, she would not be able to hear any curses said against her. What does it matter if you curse that person? It matters because this is one of God’s creations. It makes no difference whether the person hears you speak matters against him or not. God hears it. It’s not about doing things against someone that cannot hear you. It is about the speaker and God. The one speaking the cursing is really uttering cursing upon herself. God hears it and is displeased. This makes me think that this part of this verse could go along with the verse about backbiting (2 Corinthians 12:20).

When you are backbiting you are uttering things against a person that cannot hear you. You are talking to others about a person and behind the subject’s back. Is that any different than cursing someone who is deaf? No, it is the same thing. You are hurting your own soul when you backbite or curse the deaf (Romans 1:28-32).

Now, back to Leviticus 19:14. It also says we are not supposed to put a stumblingblock before the blind. Imagine that you cannot see. Think about your daily living conditions, how everything is arranged in your home. Close your eyes and walk through a room where you know the exact placement of all the objects in that room. Next, you are going to do this a second time only this time someone is going to place an object in your path. It will cause you to stumble over it. You may even fall down to the floor. You are blessed because you have a choice to open your eyes and see or keep your eyes closed and stumble.

We can associate “nor put a stumblingblock before the blind” with a spiritual blindness. People that are spiritually blind are those who have never accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. We are not to put a stumblingblock in front of those who are spiritually blind either. These types of stumblingblocks are lying, gossiping, backbiting, cheating, or anything else that is against God. Sometimes as Christians we stretch our freedoms too far by thinking we don’t have to obey speed limit laws, or maybe we think we can cheat on our taxes. These are not showing a Christlike nature to those who are spiritually blind. These things become stumblingblocks to the unsaved people.

When the unsaved see Christians committing un-Godlike behavior, they wonder why they should accept Jesus Christ as Savior because we Christians are doing the same things they are doing. Where is the difference? Can people see a difference in you? How are your ethics and integrity? Double check yourself to see if there is anything that can be a stumblingblock to the blind (spiritually or physically).

by Linda Sedrick Pearson

There is an accuser who points his bony fingers at the children of God. Day and night he stalks the earth (Job 1:6-7; 1 Peter 5:8-9), tempting and tormenting those who are not prepared for battle. He is our enemy. The accuser is Satan and he hates God’s children. He wants to destroy us.

He lies about us and tells us lies to get us to turn our backs on God. It is up to us to be prepared for these tactics of the devil. He hinders us with deceit (1 Thessalonians 2:18) and causes division and contrary beliefs. These beliefs are contrary to God and God’s words.

He weakens our nations through the sin of pride – prideful men stand and proclaim “I will do things my way!” Our widows and orphans go without help while others get lost in addictions. These are people searching for a better way who have never found Jesus Christ.

Take heart, children of God. We do have defenses against these tactics of the devil. Against the accusing and stalking tormentor we only need to be aware that he is seeking us out to destroy us. If we are aware of these tactics, then we can prepare before he catches us. Close any doors of weakness. If you have played around with occult objects or read books on witchcraft out of curiousity or maybe with an intent to try them out, ask God’s forgiveness. Burn any objects you have in your possession that promotes these things. Don’t pass them on to others. Burn them, destroy them. This is the only way to close these doors of weakness. Slam the doors in the face of Satan.

Another way to defend yourself against the accuser is to stand up to him in the authority and power of Jesus Christ. If you are a child of God, meaning you have accepted Jesus Christ as payment for all of your sin, you do have the authority and power of Jesus Christ and can stand up to the accuser. Cast out any demonic or bad spirit that may have attached to you through touching things that are not Godly. Rebuke Satan in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ask God to show you the truth. Ask Him to open your spiritual eyes so you can see the real truth that is lurking in the darkness.

Resist the devil with your faith in God. Stand strong in your faith. Pray for our government officials and for the healing of our nation. Realize that Satan has no real power unless we give it to him. We give him power when we dabble in things that are not Godly. The truth is one of the biggest defenses against the devil and his lies.

Stand strong, Christian. Stand up and fight the accuser. Do not back down and do not give in. Whatever you do, do not run away. Stand up in the power and authority of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came in the flesh. Stand and fight!

by Linda Sedrick Pearson

2 Samuel 22:25  Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.

I am measured not by man, but by God. What man counts as unrighteous, God counts as righteousness (John 7:18). My cleanness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) according to man’s standards and measuring stick. Not so according to God’s eye sight.

People expect us to do things the way they expect us to do them. It is when we step out as individuals that others begin to get upset with us. God likes individuality. In fact, He created us that way. Be an individual. Be the way God created you and stop trying to please people. As long as you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, accepted that He paid all of your sin debt, you are righteous. You can stand up and say, “According to my cleanness in His (God’s) eye sight.”

It is God who is the judge and His judgment that matters. Who cares what others think of you? There is nothing they can do to you or for you that begins to compare with what God has for you – he recompenses you with His rewards. This is a great relief to my mind, soul, and spirit. That takes the pressures of the world off my shoulders. It is much easier to please one than tens, hundreds, or thousands.

Thank you, God, for Your eye sight!