BERTIE LEDGER-ADVANCE
APRIL 11,20181 B5
The fabric of Bertie County since 1832
Faith
Surrender: Turning a crisis around
John 16:33 “In this world you
will have trouble. But take
heart! I have overcome the
world.” How true are those
words to you? Have you expe
rienced trouble, problems, cri
ses, and tribulations? How did
you get through what you were
going through? The healthy re
covery process has six steps:
shock, sorrow, struggle, surren
der, sanctification, and service.
In three messages (May 15, June
5, and June 26) we learned Jesus
is the only answer for shock,
sorrow, and struggle. When we
first get catastrophic news we
are shocked. There is a feeling
of numbness and disbelief. It is
a time to let others help, and to
cry out to God. The crisis can be
health, financial, family, death,
relationships, job, and a long
list of other. Our shock is fol
lowed by overwhelming sorrow
and grief. The sadness and pain
is unbearable. It is followed by
our struggle with the issue. We
want to know why. We become
angry with others, ourselves,
and with God. At this point we
need a turning point. In 2 Samu
el 12, David’s loss of a child pro
vides the example of surrender.
Surrender is the turning point
from shock, sorrow, and strug
gle. What did David do? His six
steps of surrender lay a pathway
to finding peace. The same six
steps can determine whether a
crisis will destroy you, define
you, or develop you. In verses
16-24 David cried out to God to
spare Bathsheba’s child. On
the seventh day the child died.
Everyone close to King David
was concerned “what will David
do?”
1. Accept what cannot be
changed. This is necessary to
Pastor
Randall
Woodard
Be
Still
heal and find peace. David had
fasted, wept, and prayed for the
child. He accepted that did not
change anything. Acceptance
does not mean
you don’t care. It
does not mean it
does not hurt. It
does not mean
the loss is good.
It only means
you accept it can
not be changed.
Realize and rec
ognize God’s
sovereignty. To
heal you have to
accept where you
are.
2. Remember it
is not the end of the story. In
2 Samuel 12 23, David says “one
day I will go to him, but he can
not return to me.” To heal you
have to look to the future.
3. Remember to take care of
yourself. In verse 20 “David got
up from the ground, cleaned
himself, and put on lotions and
clean clothes.” When you hit
bottom you have to look up, get
up, and get going. You have to
take care of yourself to heal. It
takes time. It can be like learn
ing to live again.
4. Refocus on God through
worship. God will help you do
this. In verse 20 “then he went to
the tabernacle and worshipped
the Lord.” Psalm 73:16-17 “When
I tried to understand all this, it
troubled me deeply till I entered
the sanctuary of God, then I un
derstood their final destiny.”
There is healing with believers
because of believing. The temp
tation is to turn away and run
away from God. There is a place
for those emotions. The fastest
runner does not always win the
race, on this side. God will right
the wrongs. Bad things happen
to good folks. Hurt can eat away
at you. Give it to the Lord for a
redemptive purpose.
5. Do something productive.
A crisis can paralyze us and
get us stuck. David returned
to the palace. The palace was
his place of work, responsibility,
and accountability. He was still
grieving, still sad, still confused,
and still angry. But, he returned
to his routine in a changed way.
Get moving. The God of the
mountain top is the same God of
the valley.
6. Keep loving even in your
pain. The natural reaction is
to pull into your shell, to build
walls around yourself. You need
to be building bridges to oth
ers. Redirect your love. Turn
another direction to people who
need you. Relationships can
hurt you. Church people can
hurt you. But if you want the
hanging fruit, you have to climb
the tree. What did David do? In
verse 24 “David comforted Bath-
sheba and they had another son
and named him Solomon.” Look
what God did. Solomon is the
outcome of David’s path from
overwhelming pain to peace.
Keep on loving even when you
feel your love is being rejected.
1 John 3:16 “Christ gave his life
for us.” We know what real love
is. We are recipients of God’s
love and God’s peace.
This week, give it all to God.
God can turn things around. Let
God work His redemptive plan
in your life.
Randall Woodard is the pastor
of First Baptist Church in Rober-
sonville. He may be reached at
randallwoodard69@yahoo. com.
Run to Jesus
The number one priority for
parents is safety of their chil
dren. Look both ways before
crossing the street. Don’t touch
a red burner. Broken glass will
hurt you.
Don’t run on uneven ground.
Stay away from unfamiliar dogs
(or animals). Yes, parents pro
duce a long list of “do’s” and
“don’ts” to spare children from
danger. This is especially true
for my daughter and her family,
who live in a foreign country.
* Three-year-old, Asher, is a typ
ical boy with lots of energy. Liv
ing in downtown St. Petersburg,
Russia, gives ample opportunity
for dangerous situations.
Therefore, mom and dad are
clear and firm in rules for pro
tection.
Mom: “Asher, remember the
I rules. When you are not in your
stroller you must remember:
(1) Do NOT go with strangers
(2) Hold my hand (3) Do NOT
run or walk away.”
Asher: “Can I run to Jesus?”
Unfortunately, strangers are
preying on our children, entic
ing them away from the safety
of parents. Some children are
releasing the hand that loves
them, walking away to an un
known future. However, it isn’t
children, only. Adults are do
ing the same by
following the ap
peal of satan (the
stranger).
Adults leaving
the hand that,
protects (God’s)
and walking to an
unknown future
of pain, destruc
tion, and ulti
mate death. This
is NOT the will of
the heavenly Fa
ther. He wants us
close. He wants
to hold our hand. He wants us
to walk with Him.
“Can I run to Jesus?” Well,
of course, you can, Asher! You
can run to Jesus. That’s what all
should do. Run to Jesus when
you are in danger. Run to Jesus
when you’re lonely. Run to Jesus
when you have strayed. Run to
Jesus! Run to Jesus!
Luke 15 tells of a son who left
the father’s house and followed
the stranger. He waisted his life
Pastor
R.O Buddy
Denton
This is the
Day
in pleasures. Eventually, he re
alized his mistake. What did he
do? He went home. He ran back
to safety. Back to his father.
Romans 3:23 says, “For all have
sinned and fall short of the glo
ry of God.” This means all have
left the safety and protection of
their heavenly Father. However,
all have not run back to Jesus.
Too many are still wandering
with the stranger.
How do we run back? By con
fessing and repenting of our sins
to God. This brings us back into
relation with Him. Back to safe
ty. Peace. Happiness. Eternal
life.
Whether it be sin, sickness, fi
nancial, or simply the struggles
of life, we should always run to
Jesus for help. The Psalmist
said in Psalm 121:2, “My help
comes from the Lord....” There
fore, let’s never forget to Run to
Jesus in our time of need. You
have His permission.
The Rev. R.O. “Buddy" Denton
Jr. is Pastor of Askewville As-
sembly of God Church. He can be
reached via email at rodenton®
coastalnet.com.
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. Submissions may
be emailed to twhite@ncweeklies.com.
April 15
Women’s Day
WINDSOR - Women’s Day will be observed at 11 a.m.
Sunday, April 15 at St. James Church of Christ (DOC).
Eldress Allie James will deliver the message. She will be
accompanied by the Smithwick Chapel Choir and congre
gation.
Dinner will be served following the service.
At 3 p.m., Eldress Maggie Mensah will be the speaker.
The St. James Choir will provide music.
The church is located at 326 U.S. 13-17 in Windsor.
The Pastor, Willie 0. Speller, and congregation invite the
public to attend.
April 18-20
Men’s Conference
WINDSOR - The 2018 Men’s Conference will be held April
18-20 at Victory Temple Church of God in Christ,
The conference begins nightly at 7:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, Pastor Kenneth Jefferson of Greater Har
vest Fellowship COGIC from Ahoskie will be the speaker,
followed by Pastor James Horton of New Life Deliverance
Center COGIC in Greenville on Thursday. Friday will see El
der Richard Williams and Elder Leon Hargrove of Victory
Temple/The Evidence Church speak.
The congregation invites the public to attend.
April 21
Evening Prayer
ROXOBEL - Evening Prayer will be observed at 5 p.m.
Saturday, April 21 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.
Light refreshments will be served following the service.
The church is located at 206 W. Church St. in Roxobel.
The Rev. Canon Sonny Browne and congregation invite
the public to attend.
April 22
Old Ship of Zion
AHOSKIE - The Trustees will present “The Old Ship of
Zion” at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 22 at Calvary Missionary Bap
tist Church.
The presentation will feature Deacon Bruce Watford and
New Holley Grove Baptist Church.
The church is located at 600 N. Catherine St. in Ahoskie.
The Pastor, the Rev. Jerryl V. Moody, and congregation
invite the public to attend.
April 24-26
Spring Revival
WINDSOR - Annual Spring Revival Services are planned
April 24-26 at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church.
Services begin with prayer service at 7 p.m. each night,
followed by revival at 7:30 p.m.
The guest speakers will be the Rev. Roy Sharpe (Tues
day), the Rev. Shelton Barnes (Wednesday) and the Rev.
Dr. William Sawyer (Thursday).
The church is located at 1352 Woodard Rd. in Windsor.
The Pastor, the Rev. Dr. James R. Wrighton, and congre
gation invite the public to attend.
April 25-26
Youth Revival
WINDSOR - Spring Youth Revival will be held April 25-26
at Peterson Grove Missionary Baptist Church.
Services begin nightly at 7:30 p.m.
The guest speaker will be the Rev. Omar Pearsall, Pastor
of Weeping Mary Church of Hassell.
Deacon Edward Brown Sr. and the Weeping Mary Choir
will offer music.
The Pastor, Zachariah Wilson, and congregation invite
the public to attend.
April 29
Church Anniversary
WINDSOR-The 149th anniversary of St. Paul Missionary
Baptist Church will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Sunday, April
29.
The guest speaker will be the Rev Ronald Taylor of First
Baptist of Aulander. He will be accompanied by his choir
and congregation.
The church is located at 1352 Woodard Rd. in Windsor.
The Pastor, the Rev. Dr. James R. Wrighton, and congre
gation invite the public to attend.
Service
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