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ERTIE LEDGER-ADVANCE NOVEMBER 29,20171 B3 The fabric of Bertie County since 1832 Faith Being an agent of mercy Luke 6:36 “Be merciful, just as 'our Father is merciful. ” Luke tells us Jesus was look ing at his disciples when he poke these words. Mercy was in important ministry to Jesus, here are very practical ways to live out his message provided >y the examples from how he iived his life. The four principles of mercy ;hown by Jesus are: 1. Start looking and listening for other leople’s needs; 2. Don’t be of- ended by their sins; 3. Choose our words carefully; and 4. 'alue saving people over keep ing rules. When you show mercy to [other people, it is an act of wor ship. Showing mercy builds fel lowship. It is a ministry to other people. You become more like Jesus. The world is against Christians. When the world has beaten us up all week long, what a blessing to come into the sanc tuary and receive mercy. The world is becoming self-serving and focused on “me.” We are re cipients of God’s mercy and we are to be his agents of mercy to others. Have a Christian heart this Christmas and be an agent of mercy. Start looking and listening for other people’s needs. Agents of mercy are aware. They look and listen for the needs of others. Philippians 2:4 “Look out for others interests not just your own.” Look for people 1) in cri sis; 2) in need; 3) in grief; 4) in need of friends; and 5) in need of a second chance. Don’t be offended by their sins. An agent of mercy can’t be offended by their sin. Grace and mercy are unconditional love. Jesus wasn’t offended by the sins of the people he ministered to. There were thieves, prosti tutes, murderers, and tax collec tors. We need to call the sin a sin but not let it make the sinner unacceptable to our grace and mercy and the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. Accept them as a person. Don’t tell them to clean their life up and come to Jesus. Tell them to come to Jesus and he will help them clean their life up. The sin ner may deny you and your God, but an agent of mercy cannot deny the sinner. “Love each other love covers Love The Rev. Randall Woodard This is the day 1 Peter 4:8 deeply, because over a multitude of sins.” has a way of looking at the per son, and not the sin. What bet ter way to become more like Je sus than to answer his calling to look past their sins? Ephesians 4:2 “Be patient with each other making allowances for each oth er’s faults.” In a nut shell, don’t expect unbelievers to act like believers until they are. When they are, walk with them. Choose your words carefully. Colossians 4:6 “Let your conver sation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer every one.” You are never persuasive when you are abrasive. In to day’s world people often pick the most public places to be abrasive. Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for build ing others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen.” You may at times need to get somewhere alone with Jesus to confess your weakness with words and ask his wisdom and help to come into your heart and teach you the feelings and the words to show other people mercy. You can be an agent of mercy without accepting or ap proving what they say and do. The Lord gives to you freely. Learn to give to others freely. Value saving people over keep ing rules. Jesus is much better at cleansing people than we are at bringing them to the cross. Mat thew 23:23”Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill and cum in. But, you have neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithful ness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” These are the words of Jesus. There are five places we can be agents of mercy: 1. Look for people in crisis and show sup port; 2. Look for people with unmet needs and help them; 3. Look for people who are griev ing and comfort them; 4. Look for people who need friends and show hospitality; and 5. Look for people who need a second chance and guide them to an opportunity. Being an agent of mercy re quires taking the four principles out of the sanctuary and into the five places where people need mercy. Pray, “Lord, take me into the places needing mer cy and make me into an agent of mercy.” Randall Woodard is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Roberson- ville. He may be reached at randall- woodard69@yahoo .com. Stiff Necked “I have seen these people, ” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. ” Exodus 32:9 It’s never a compliment to be called stiff-necked, especially by the Lord. Figuratively it refers to someone who is being stub born, resistant, rebellious, defi ant, and willful. Only a few month old, we be came concerned when the pe diatrician referred our baby girl to see a neurosurgeon. We were told that we have a window of time to correct her head before the flat spot became permanent. What was the problem? She was diagnosed with torticollis, a stiff neck. Apparently in the womb her head had become stuck in one position. Then as she slept in the crib she always favored that one side. The same was true as she was being held. Physi cal therapy was prescribed to strengthen the weak muscles and stretch out the tight mus cles. The sessions involved much discomfort and crying as she was initially forced to turn her head in a direction in which it did not want to go. Upon doc tor’s orders, sandbags were placed in the crib to keep her from rolling to the other side. Now after many months, she is The Rev. Charlie Lanier Be Still free from the stiff neck. There are no more tears when she looks the other way, and her head is taking shape. The ord calls those of the first generation of the Exodus “stiff necked.” As they were freed from the bondage of slav ery, the people of God experienced his amazing glory. They saw the ten plagues, the sea divide in two, the great Egyptian army destroyed, manna rain down from heaven, wa ter flowing from a rock, the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. However, as Moses lingered on top of Mount Sinai, the newly freed people down below be came anxious and afraid. Their stubborn thoughts were turning back to their time in Egypt. “How good we had it then!” Despite all the amazing events they had witnessed, as soon as they lost sight of their God they quickly reverted to their old ways to fill the spiritual void. They demanded that their priest make them a golden calf to worship, resembling the idols of Egypt. Like an infant with tor ticollis that always favors one side, they found it easier to turn back to the way that was more comfortable for them. They favored living for their visible man-made idols over trust in the God they could not see. The apostle Paul, talking about the golden calf, warns the church, “take heed lest you fall” (1 Corinthians 10). As soon as we lose sight of God, we forget our need for him. When we stop remembering his goodness and grace, we fill that spiritual void with something else. Our stiff necks take us right back to our old ways. There is a cure for a stiff neck. It is to remember the greatness of God and not forget all that he has done and all that he has promised. Faith is often difficult and uncomfortable. Faith re quires admitting a dependence on a God you cannot see. How ever, when we start to walk by faith and trust in the Lord, fol lowing him becomes easier and easier. The discomfort will fade away. “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God...” Deuteronomy 8:11 The Rev. Charlie Lanier is Pas tor of Capeharts Baptist Church near Merry Hill. He can be reached via email at charliela- nier@hotmail. com. Send all church news to Thadd White at twhite @ ncweeklies .com all seasons self ST orage 1212 N. OAKUM ST, EDENTON 252-482-2019 WWW.ALLSEASONSSELFSTORAGE.US • CLIMATE CONTROLLED 255 UNITS • UNIT SIZES FROM 5' X 5' TO 10' X 30' • SECURITY GATE & CAMERAS • RV & BOAT STORAGE • BOXES & MOVING SUPPLIES BANKRUPTCY STOP Foreclosure STOP Lawsuits STOP Car Repossession STOP Tax Levies and Garnishments Call Allen C. Brown Attorney #252-752-0753 A Debt Relief Agency helping people eliminate debt through bankrupWy ^ Special Events Church announcements are published each week in the Bertie Ledger-Advance. The deadline to submit news items for this listing is 10 a. m. each Monday. Submis sions may be emailed to twhite@ncweeklies.com. Dec. 2 Home for the Holidays OAK CITY - Home for the Holidays 5 is planned for 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 at St. Paul Baptist Church. The pre-Christmas celebration will be presented by The Gospel Five of Oak City, and will feature Resurrection of Greenville, The Gospel Impressions of Lewiston, The Has-, sell Gospel Singers, The Williams Chapel Male Chorus of Scotland Neck and Mary Brown and the Spiritual Singers of Windsor. Dec. 3 Musical Festival AHOSKIE - The G.N. Calviness Gospel Chorus will cel ebrate its annual Musical Festival at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. There will be many choirs and groups performing. The church is located at 600 Catherine St. in Ahoskie. The Pastor, the Rev. Dr. J.V. Moody, and congregation invite the public to attend. Dec. 9-10 Christmas Cantata WILLIAMSTON - The annual Christmas Cantata titled Emmanuel is planned for Dec. 9 and 10 at Back Swamp Church. The services will begin at 4 p.m. each evening. The cantata will feature The Voices of Back Swamp and guest soloists and accompanists. The event will be direct ed by Dr. Michael E. Bunch. The congregation invites the public to attend. Dec. 16 Evening Prayer ROXOBEL - Evening Prayer wili be observed at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Light refreshments will be served following the ser vice. The church is located at 206 West Church St. in Roxo- bel. The Rev. Canon Sonny Browne and congregation invite the public to attend. Dec. 24 Evening Prayer ROXOBEL - A Christmas Eve service is planned for 11 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 24 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Light refreshments will be served following the ser vice. The church is located at 206 West Church St. in Roxo- bei. The Rev. Canon Sonny Browne and congregation invite the public to attend. Bertie Ambulance Service Corporate Office Bertie Co. 606 South King St., Windsor, NC 27983 252-794-9141 or Toll Free 877-757-1121 Attention Mark Your Calendars 2018 January 8,9,10 and 11,2018 ServSafe is a course designed by the Nationai Restaurant Association Educationai Foundation to provide food service operators, managers, and support personnel with the knowledge essential for food preparation and handling within their respective facilities to help reduce the risk of food home illness breakouts. The course covers handling food, from receiving and storing to preparing and serving. It gives science-based information on how to run a safe establishment This Servsafe class ensures that you are in compliance with the new state law that came into effect January 1,2014. This is a 16-hour class to be held at Windsor Community Building, 201 South Queen Street, Windsor. Classes will begin promptly at 9:00 am. Classes will be held: January 8 9:00AM-12:30PM January 9 9:00AM-1:15PM January 10 9:OOAM-2:OOPM January 11 TEST 9:00AM-UNTIL l H.C.A&T COOPERATIVE EXTENSION Registration cost is $145 (which includes 7th edition (New Book) and exam sheet. If you have already purchased a book see fee schedule on registration form.) To register. complete the registration form and return with fee fo: Whitney Watson, Family & Consumer Science Area Agent, Bertie County Center, P.O. Box 280, Windsor, NC 27983, If you have further questions, please contact Whitney Watson at (252) 794-5317. Registration fees are non-refundabie but are transferable to another person. Registration deadline: December 22,2017 Registration fees must be paid by the deadline. A service provided by: Bertie County Cooperative Extension Center North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion sex, age, or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A8iT State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and local governments cooperating. BOARD VACANCIES Tfie Bertie County Board of Commissioners is aaepting applications for the following openings on boards/commissions/ committees. Copies of the application to serve and appointment policy can be picked up at the County Manager's Office, 106 Dundee Street Windsor, NC 27983 and are also available on the web at www.co.bertie.nc.gov. IMMEDIATE OPENINGS Board/Coniinteilon/CommlttBe Northeast Tourism Devsiopmeiit (NET) JCPC Board Nursing Homo/Bdult Caro CBC Planning Board Positions BvaBahlo 1 CADA Board Position Romdremiint N/A N/A Cannot have bimiodlats lamHy mamber omployod or residing In/ by any Nursing Home or AdunCarefacmtyln Bertia County Blstrlct n, J. iTant Roxobal/IVIIBV N/A UPCOMING APPOINTMENTS BY MONTH JANUARY 2018 APPLICATIONS DUE BY DECEMBER 29,2017 Board/Comnilssinn/Coinniittee Poslthms AvaHabla Position Renulmniant BertloMartln JoH 2 N/A ^
Bertie Ledger-Advance (Windsor, N.C.)
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