Bethany Primitive Baptist Church

POST-CHANGE DEPRESSION

There is a depression that comes with great change and one needs to be prepared for it. You will go through a mourning period when suddenly it hits you that life is forever different and familiar things are now gone. For instance, your spouse may have left you; but know that even the best marriages can end badly. Just because it ended badly does not mean that it was a bad marriage. A marriage that stays good is the only kind of marriage we want and it hurts beyond measure when it goes awry. After my experience, I never believed I would ever feel joy again, but I did and I was very pleasantly surprised by it. I have learned that when depression comes–to let it come–but we need to attend to it. Don’t let it fester but look for the things that help it heal. Time does not heal all wounds but it takes time for wounds to heal. The medicine that heals is faith and hope.–Elder David Montgomery

Bethany had a glorious 100th anniversary meeting with Elder Ricky Harcrow preaching three messages on “Take Heed”, “Now unto Him who is Able”, and Reigning Sin and Reigning Grace”. Many visitors and good singing, praying, food and fellowship.

On July 9, 2019 Elder David Wise and four other Primitive Baptist ministers, left on a preaching and teaching trip to Kenya, Africa and Tanzania, Africa. The following is a link that describes the trip and experience through the eyes of Brother David Wise. He gives a summary of each day and many pictures of worship services, baptisms and other interesting things they all encountered. God is working in all countries as pertaining to His chosen people, May He be honored in all that we do and pray the Lord will bless these people to all be faithful to their God and us here in the USA as well.

Click on the link and to will take you to the Macedonia Primitive Baptist website and the description of the trip by Elder David Wise:

Kenya 2019 Preaching Trip

Spelling Jesus, My Saviour ….
“How do you spell Jesus?” I asked my eight year old daughter, this was years ago in the 1970’s, as we happily enjoyed working together on teaching her the correct spelling of new words that she had not learned how to spell at school. After thinking for awhile, Sharon spelled out J-E-S-E-S. In my effort to help her to remember how to spell Jesus correctly, I answered, “You have the first three letters correct, but the last two is U-S, not E-S. Always remember that “US” is in Jesus”.

As I spoke these words, suddenly a “sweetness” of feeling ran through me as I again remembered the words of Jesus unto God the Father when he said, “As thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.”

In my heart I pondered the sweetness of “us being in Jesus”, being one with Christ and the Father. I know that everyone has had moments in their lives where something happened that “thrilled their soul”. Well, this thought was so sweet to me that it just thrilled my soul! It lifted my spirit! It gave great joy to my heart.

After absorbing the sweetness of “us” being in Jesus, I continued on with our spelling bee and I asked her to spell several different words and then I asked her to spell Saviour. She quickly spelled “S-A-V-I-U-R”. I replied, “You left out the “O”. The last three letters in Saviour is “O-U-R” (our). So remember, he is “our” Saviour and the last three letters is “our”.

Again I was made to ponder the sweetness of my discoveries in the spelling bee. Talking about being “happy in the Lord”; for a few moments of time I was carried high with joy as the thought of “our” Saviour (yours and mine) made me to feel again how very blessed we are. Oh, how wonderful it is that He died for us. He is our Saviour! He saved us from that lake that burns with fire and made us … one… with Him.

I don’t deserve His Blessings or His Love yet He draws me unto himself and puts arms of mercy around me. He lets me eat at His Table. I, who am the least in His Kingdom and yet I am so honored that He has called me and set me a place that I might eat at the “Kings Table” and rejoice in His Goodness and to bliss in the joy of His Divine Presence.

Truly, the mere mention of His Name is so sweet to my soul. And then, when I think of what he has done for me and that He has manifested His Great Love for little ole me, my cup is filled with rejoicing and Praise to His Lovely Name.

When I finished the spelling bee with Sharon, I left with a feeling of great happiness as my mind was upon the Lord and happily I spelled the word joy, J-O-Y, joy. For, oh my, what great joy there is, just to think upon the Lord.

~Our God is Great and Great to be Praised.~Neetcie Buell–July 18, 2019

UPDATE 2-20-2019: Sister Clayton didn’t lay in bathroom as long as reported, She was there in bathroom from early Sunday night until about 4:00 pm Monday which is plenty long enough. She was dehydrated which caused thoughts of heart but tests so far doesn’t indicate this. She has had an ECHO and also has a UTI infection. Plans are to get her in a Rehab facility for some physical therapy.

Sister Dorothy Clayton evidently fell in her bathroom and spent two days and nights before anyone found her yesterday, February 18, 2019. A window had to be removed to get into the house. She was first taken to New Albany and then transferred to Tupelo. Obviously she was in bad condition just because of lying there two days without drink or nourishment but it is thought it may be her heart again that is causing trouble.

RED SKIES AT NIGHT

When Lot was given a choice of pastures, he felt that fortune had come to him. And it may have seemed so great to the Israelites when they got their long-asked-for quails. And likewise to Jonah when he found a ship going to Tarshish–but they were all mistaken. The watered plains looked pleasant but they were right next to Sodom. The quails gave the Jews a horrible belly-ache. The ship threw Jonah into the deep where he gave a whale a horrible belly-ache. It’s not whether things are going our way, but rather, are they going God’s way. Coincidence is not always providence. The dice may roll favorably but the result may be a disaster. A storm may be lurking beyond blue skies but think on this: the storm just may be heaven-sent. That fierce wind may be blowing you the right direction. How can we know? Ask the Provider…ask the Disposer…and keep asking until you get an answer. If you do not have patience to keep asking then ask for patience. Better to know what’s right than to experience what went wrong.–Elder David Montgomery-Feb. 7, 2019

THE EXCELLENCY OF PATIENCE

The Lord will always execute the right judgment at the right time and in the right fashion. There is contentment in that, and if we are patient, even satisfaction. The problem is the waiting for it and who likes to do that? The late, great philosopher Thomas Petty wrote, “The waiting is the hardest part. Every day you see one more card. You take on faith, you take it to the heart but the waaaaiiiating is the hardest part.” When we are wronged, we want to lash out and get even but we really never do get even. The memories of the thing done against us linger and continue to cause us pain. Some wounds never heal and some scars get reopened time and again. That is the time to move forward and commend it to God. Vengeance belongs to Him and not to us. Let it go but let it go to Him…that is the only way you can let it go. Soon, you will see the evidence of God’s involvement, but if you’re wrapped up in retribution, you won’t see it. No contentment in that. A bitter you is the worst version of yourself.–By Elder David Montgomery–January 18, 2019

JOY MIXED WITH PAIN

It is sometimes the will of God that we should let ourselves be the object of kindness instead of the author of it. There are times when we need to let others bear our burdens and minister to us in our times of weakness. Let it happen so you can get to where you can minister and bear the burdens of others. When we see our aged parents who have toiled for us for so long, count it all joy to toil for them now for there will come a time when you will give anything to hear your mother’s voice one more time or to feel your father’s loving embrace again. But did you feel the love of cherished friends and family yesterday? Then be thankful. You may have spent yesterday at a hospital or a nursing home, but was there love amidst the pain? Then be thankful. Was there missing places at the dinner table? Then call to mind that those who have gone on had a better Christmas than any of us. Empty seats here below are occupied seats in Heaven. Soon we shall join them in the greatest gathering ever known. Unmingled joy is something we’ve never experienced but we will know it some wonderful day.–Elder David Montgomery–December 26, 2018