Bethlehem Christian Church-Cedar Lake,TX

Join the Bethlehem Christian Church Family in wishing Pastor Bree’s First Assistant Sis. Martha Mae Petteway a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! She’s the first face you see every Sunday morning on our livestream!
We are truly grateful to have her!!! 🎂🩷

Bethlehem Christian Church Family

Good Morning BCC and CLT family and friends. Welcome to our Saturday Morning breakfast in the word again!

Today's breakfast is:

LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE NOW!

Ephesians 5: 16

“Make the most of every living and breathing moment because these are evil times.”

If you’re going to be fulfilled, you have to live your best life now which means YOU have to be there when YOU get there. Know where you are going and know how you got there when you get there.

Simply put, Don’t show up focused on the future or on the past, living in regrets. Come into TODAY. Live your best life now. The only time you really have is now. Yes, it’s good to have goals and vision, but you can’t be so focused on what’s next that you miss what you have right NOW. There are people who lost what they had by being so intent on going after what they wanted. They missed their child growing up and the joy of their relationship with their spouse. They came home, but they weren’t there. They were distracted, always planning for the future, and never came into the present. Stop worrying about what may happen or could happen and focus on the now!

Today’s Scripture says to make the most of THIS very moment. What are you doing with today? Are you embracing where you are, present and connected, or are you present and disengaged? Make up your mind that you ARE going to enjoy each moment, enjoy your family, enjoy the people with whom you work, and enjoy the beauty of creation.

Someone has said, “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present!” Time is among many things a gift. Each day that we live is a gift. Since we began and close each day with no promise of another, each day we are given is a gift.

Every day of life is a gift. Understanding that God is the giver of life, and that the length of our days are in His hands, we realize that time is a gift from God.

Time is something that is given to us by God. We work hard to expand and extend our time, but ultimately the number of our days is determined by God. Therefore, each day and every day is a gift from God; use your gift wisely and make the best of today because tomorrow is not promised!

With the gift of time comes responsibility. Each day has been given to us by God as a grant or trust. Time is something we are entrusted with. As the receivers of time, we are stewards of God’s gift.

James 4.14 “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

Proverbs 27:1 “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”
Live your best live Now!

Let's continue to pray for our sick and shut in members and friends; especially our super seniors.

Celebration of Life for Sister Annette Bess is Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 11:00 a.m., at Greater Mt. Zion (GMZ), on 521 in Brazoria, Texas.

BCC Sunday School begins at 8:30 a.m., each Sunday with Morning Worship following at 9:30 a.m. We also live stream on Facebook each Sunday!

Thank you for your support of this ministry.

God Bless you and good morning!

-Pastor Kenneth Bree, Sr.

Due to technology difficulties, we will not be streaming this morning.

Good Morning BCC and CLT family and friends. Welcome to our Saturday Morning breakfast in the word again!

Today we have for you a breakfast that is very healthy for you. I call it:

KNOWING MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE - PROVERBS 16: 9

"Within your heart you can make plans for your future, but the Lord chooses the steps you take to get there.”

We all go through disappointments because of things we do not understand. Many of us are disappointed, disgusted, and dismayed over the recent presidential election in the USA. We have a hard time processing how other convicted felons can't even vote let alone run for public office yet one who has 34 felony convictions can even be placed on the ballot not to mention be elected president! Yes, it is easy to get discouraged and lose our passion. But God won’t allow anything to happen that will keep you from your purpose. He’s already taken into account every bad break, every person who walked away, and every mistake you’ve made. We need to know that God knows how to deal with what is trying to deal you out. What we can’t see is how He’s working behind the scenes. Sometimes He closes a door so He can open a bigger door, or He’ll move someone out of your life because they’re limiting your growth. What feels like a disappointment is really His hand ordering your steps to get you to a new level.

Maybe you went through a loss, you’re discouraged, thinking that you’ve seen your best days. If you only knew what God was up to, that God has beauty for those ashes, that new doors are going to open and new friendships are coming; you would live from a place of peace, knowing that the best part of your life is still in front of you. No matter how hard it gets never allow your faith in God to waver. God is better than a president, senator, representative, or governor. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Congress cannot legislate Him, presidents can't veto him, no one can impeach Him and He will never resign. Just Know that God is right where He has always been and that's everywhere; so whatever you need, He is close enough and able to provide!

A Prayer for Today:

“Father, thank You that when things don’t go according to my plans, I can know that You ARE working behind the scenes and in charge of my steps. Thank You that You love me too much to leave me on my own. No matter how hard it gets you will never leave nor will you forsake your children. I believe that You will work all of these things together for my good. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Let's continue to pray for our sick and shut in members and friends; especially our super seniors.

Let us pray for Deacon Jessie Bess, whose wife Annette went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday after losing her battle with a lengthy illness. Celebration of life services are pending!

Keep Sister Vanessa Woodard, Sister Thelma Barnes, Sister Georgia Petteway, and Sister Ann Roberson in your prayers, all of which had loved ones to pass away recently.

Let us continue to keep Sister Uvon (Peaches) Jackson in our prayers who recently had major surgery and is recovering in the M.D. Anderson hospital.

BCC Sunday School begins at 8:30 a.m., each Sunday with Morning Worship following at 9:30 a.m. We also live stream on Facebook each Sunday!

Thank you for your support of this ministry.

God Bless you and good morning!
Pastor Kenneth Bree, Sr.

Bethlehem Christian Church
The Small Church With The Big Heart !

Good Morning BCC and CLT Family and Friends.
Welcome to our Saturday Morning Spiritual Breakfast in the word. Today we have a great breakfast for your spiritual well-being. Today's meal is:

LET IT GO
Luke 17: 1

He said to His disciples, “Offenses will certainly come.”

We all go through disappointments, betrayals, and unfair situations. It’s easy to hold on to the hurts, think about what someone said, relive the offense. We don’t realize how much that’s souring our attitude, draining our energy, and limiting our creativity. If you’re going to fulfill your destiny, you have to get good at LETTING THlNGS GO.

Jesus said that offenses WILL certainly come, not just might come. How you deal with offenses will determine whether you move forward and see the new things God has in store or whether you get stuck in bitterness.

Many people are living out of a wounded place over how they were raised, or a friend who walked away, or a business partner who cheated them. Instead of letting the hurt go, they relive it over and over. Then they wonder why they don’t have good relationships. It’s because they haven’t healed. Until you get well, that wound will hinder you wherever you go. When you let it go and forgive, you can see beauty for the ashes, healing, and freedom.

Stop harboring bitterness; let it go! Turn your problems over to Jesus and allow Him to fix it. The Bible says if you are smitten on one cheek, turn the other cheek to the one who smote you and Let it go. Vengeance is mine faith the lord!

Let us continue to pray for our sick and shut in members and friends especially our super seniors.

This is the final week of Pastor's Appreciation Month.
Hebrews 13: 7 says, "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God"!

A pastor can be walking through their own personal trauma while still preaching you into your triumph. So keep us pastors lifted in prayer.

We need it!

Thank you BCC for your undying support of me and my family. We love you! Thanks!

BCC Sunday School begins at 8:30 a.m., every Sunday Morning with Morning Worship following at 9:30 a.m.

We also live stream on Facebook each week!

Thank you for your support of this ministry!

God Bless You and Good Morning!😃
Pastor Kenneth Bree, Sr.

Good morning BCC and CLT Family and Friends. It's another day's journey and I am glad about it. I am so glad to be here!
Welcome to our Saturday Morning Spiritual breakfast. On today's menu we have a delicacy. I call it:

Relieving Stress the Shepherd’s Way
Psalm 23

Stress comes into our lives for many reasons. There isn’t enough money to pay the bills. There isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done. There aren’t answers for our health concerns. There are no guarantees that we will always be safe and avoid injury or difficulty. We are impulsive and say and do things we regret. We aren’t sure what the outcome of a meeting will be or if we will be considered for the promotion. Our children face pressures like bullying or pressure to fit in which causes them anxiety which in turn messes with us. Fear causes stress. Disappointment causes stress. Friendships and family life can be stressful. Deadlines, demands, and commitments about—there are a lot of reasons to stress.

Stress creates extra problems for us when we don’t deal with it well. We may suffer with headaches, the inability to sleep, sore neck and shoulder muscles. It can cause stomach aches, cause you to sweat, cause your skin to break out, your hair to fall out, cause you to gain weight, and to not think clearly. None of that sounds like fun. All of us can relate. Even Jesus dealt with stress.
We see proof of Jesus dealing with stress in Matthew 14:22-25. The scripture says, "22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake."
Here in this story we see that Jesus needed to get away and take time away to pray. Here is what I am learning about dealing with stress: Taking time to be alone with God will refresh you, but it will also prepare you for the storm that is likely ahead.

Jesus needed to recharge after an exhausting day of ministry. He had just fed five thousand people. Right before that, John the Baptist, His cousin had been beheaded. He was grieving. He was tired. He needed to draw away for rest, and He knew the place to go was to the Heavenly Father. But what I also want to point out is that when Jesus finished His prayer time, He headed right into a physical storm. Life doesn’t stop because we are grieving or tired or stressed. So, how do we deal with the stressful times in our lives? The 23rd Psalm can help us.

Let God be your Source.-“The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not be in want.”

God needs to be our “go to.” He needs to be the One you turn to, talk to, cry to. We have to look to Him for answers, for provision. He says He will take care of us. Philippians 4:19 tells us He will supply all of our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. He knows what we need. I believe that a lot of times that stress in our lives is the result of failed expectations. We expect people to be something for us that isn’t fair or realistic, and we expect perfection from ourselves which we can never deliver. Therefore, we live in constant disappointment and stress out over our failures or what the perceived failure of others to affirm us means. In both instances, I believe that deep down, what we are soliciting from others or ourselves through our performance isn’t support, encouragement, or help but affirmation. We think if people like us or invite us to the “happening” it means we’re special, valuable or worthwhile. Child of God, you are not defined by other people’s opinions. You aren’t defined by your performance. Your job doesn’t define you. Accomplishments and successes don’t spell out your worth. Your education isn’t what sets you apart as unique. If that is where you believe your worth comes from, you will be chasing the wind, you’ll be fatigued in your body, mind, and spirit and you will fall into depression and waste your life. When we base our worth and value on the opinion of others or on our ability to perform, we make an idol of ourselves and are always striving to put on a happy face or a show.

Let’s not get addicted to the applause, the approval or the appreciation of man, to the number of likes we can get on FB, or the number of followers we can acquire on Twitter. Let’s not run on flattery but on our faith in God’s love for us. God loves you regardless of your bank account and regardless of your performance. You didn’t earn it or deserve His love, but He thought you were worth dying for. Romans 5:8 says, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Before you ever thought about committing to Him, He committed to you. Wow! The God of the universe pursued you! Quit looking to others for esteem and approval. Make it your goal to please one person; God. Won’t that take some pressure off? Won’t that reduce some stress in your life? Nothing has ever been purchased at a higher price than you were. Jesus died for you. When God has attached that kind of value on your life, that kind of price on you and your potential, don’t look to anyone else to give you an estimate on what you’re worth.

Submit to God’s rest.-“He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.”

When we are tired, life’s challenges and our inabilities are magnified. Fatigue will add stress to our lives that won’t be profitable to us in any way. If you need to unload stress, you need to get some more sleep and some more time for relaxation and “down time.”
When we are tired and become run down, we are in danger of following anybody. Rest will keep us sharp so that we can hear the Lord when He speaks to us.
Rest makes our bodies more efficient which will enable us to do our work more efficiently. Yes, we have responsibilities. Yes, we have obligations, but one of the obligations has to be to ourselves. In order to be good stewards of the bodies God has given to us, we are going to have to build rest into our schedules. God may likely be telling some of you to take a nap!

God doesn't give rest only but also:

Give God total control-“He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

I love a guided tour. There is nothing better than “being along for the ride.” When someone leads you who has all of the information and knows where to go, and you just have to follow, that is like a “ahhhh” moment for me. There is no stress in following someone who knows the way and has the experience all planned out. Having a guide is a great thing.

Refuse Fear “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

If you want to stress out, just go ahead and research all of the possibilities for your situation. Get on the internet and google your health problem. I think Google may be the single biggest stress-producing thing on the planet. Let your mind dwell on the negative and all of the things that could happen. That will raise your blood pressure for sure.
Life is a series of battles. Accept that up front. Since we can’t change it, we have to purpose to move through our fears by walking into every battle with the conviction that God is with us. David faced a giant named Goliath. The Scripture doesn’t tell us David was afraid, but he had to be. It’s not that we can talk ourselves out of fear. It’s not that we can avoid the reality that in our humanness some things can cause worry or anxiety, but it’s that we don’t let fear, worry or anxiety keep us from moving towards victory. I Samuel 17:48 says that as the giant came towards David, David ran toward the battle line. He didn’t let fear paralyze him. He didn’t let anxiety or worry get him stuck. Instead, he moved forward with faith that if God was with him, the giant was already as good as dead. He didn’t have much in the way of physical weaponry with just a sling shot and a stone, but He had the Word of God and the assurance that God was with Him. That was more than enough.
You want to know what will cause stress? Doing nothing. Sitting still and hibernating in worry. Not exercising faith will build up stress in your body. Exercising faith gets us into forward motion. It gives us momentum whereas fear will paralyze you. Don’t be a victim of fear. Walk towards whatever you face, but do it while claiming that God is with you. Do it armed with the Word of God and Prayer. Faith isn’t the absence of fear, but it is trust that even though we are afraid and things look bad or impossible, we believe God will prevail and we will do what God asks of us despite how we feel about it.

Receive God’s Comfort- “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
�When we are stressed, we often look for comfort. We turn to comfort food, comforting TV programs or movies, or the comfort of our warm bed. Sometimes we even look to others to comfort us in an inappropriate way which is sin. Why not allow God to console and comfort us?
A shepherd’s rod was a weapon that a shepherd would use to kill attacking beasts. It is a symbol of protection. The Lord is going to protect us as we move through this life as long as we are in His care. If we are straying away into other pastures, we won’t be near His rod and staff. If you want to eliminate the stress in your life, move closer to the Shepherd.
The rod AND the staff give comfort. We know the rod is for protecting us, but what is the staff for? If we start to stray, God does have some tools to get us back on track. His staff also can prod us when it’s time to move on.
It comforts me to know that God has a plan for my life. It comforts me to know that the plan includes that I keep growing and when I need a little prodding, the Shepherd will use necessary means to get me up and moving. It brings me great comfort to experience this kind of love, care and commitment from God. If He didn’t care about my potential, my future, or my growth, He wouldn’t use those tools to move me on.

Relax Securely-“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

I love the picture the Psalmist paints here of a meal being prepared for us, of our head being anointed with oil and our lives being blessed to overflowing. I love sitting down to a prepared table. Anytime something is prepared for me, I love it. I feel so pampered. It doesn’t matter what is on the menu. If someone else prepares it, I can relax. The picture here is of a feast. God wants to spoil us. He wants to pamper us. He goes to some effort to create something special for us and while He is serving us whatever He has prepared with one hand, He is beating off our enemies with His rod with the other hand. What a mighty God we serve!
Having your head anointed with oil was a custom reserved for special guests back in that day and time. Perfumed oil was poured on the head of special and distinguished guests. Can you entertain the thought this morning that God wants to host you, spoil you, and nourish you? Isn’t it awesome to think about being taken care of by God? Oil was also applied to a sheep’s wounds. When the sheep would come in to rest, the shepherd would examine them. Wherever they were hurt, he would apply soothing oil. For those who were thirsty, He would make sure they were refreshed with as much water as they needed.

Rejoice in what is following you and in what awaits you- “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Do you realize you don’t have to wait until you reach heaven to experience God’s blessings? God wants to bless you right now.
And because I know that I can reduce my stress by walking with Him, I will stay in communion with Him every day of my life. And what is better than to know that Heaven awaits?
If you want to live with added stress, worry about what everyone else thinks. Let them be the ones who decide how valuable you are. Push yourself to the limit to perform no matter what.
If you want to live with added stress, burn the candle at both ends. Get up early and stay up late. Work every evening on your computer when you get home, stay glued to your phone, and run to accomplish as much as you can on the weekends.
If you want to live with added stress, be a control freak. Try to make God fit into your plans and ask Him to bless all that you’ve got planned.
If you want to live with added stress, dwell on all of the “could-be’s.” Let your mind go to the worst case scenario and stay there.

But if you are ready to unload some stress: Recognize God as your source. Rest a while. Relinquish control. Refuse fear. Receive God’s comfort. Relax securely and rejoice in God’s blessings and in what awaits you. The psalmist says, " I will dwell in the house of the Lord always and forever. That's what relived my stress, knowing that one day I will leave this stressful world and go home with God to a stress free Heaven!

Let's continue praying for our sick and shut in members and friends. Especially our super Saints.

Let's continue to lift up the Smith, Woodard, Griggs, and Holloway families in prayer. They all will be saying see you later to family members who has gone to be with the lord.

The First Berean Baptist Church of Cedar Lane where the Rev J P Brinkley is pastor will celebrate its Home coming and Church Anniversary Sunday October 20, 2024 at 2:30 pm. Rev T F Bree Jr of The St. Mark Baptist Church of Bell Bottom is the guest speaker. Everyone is invited!

BCC Sunday School begins at 8:30 am each Sunday with morning worship following at 9:30 am. We live stream on Facebook each Sunday.

Thanks for your support!

God Bless you and Good Morning!!!

Pastor Kenneth Bree,Sr.

***
Funeral services for George "Woo" Woodard will be Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at New Fellowship Tabernacle Church, 600 Matthews Street Bay City, Texas.

Please keep the Smith/Woodard Family in your prayers.

October is National Pastor Appreciation Month!
We are blessed to have Pastor Kenneth Bree,Sr.

Thank you for all that you do not only for our church family but for everyone!

We love you!

Good morning BCC and CLT Family and Friends. It's another day's journey and I am glad about it. I am so glad to be here!

Welcome to our Saturday Morning Spiritual breakfast. On today's menu we have:

DON’T GIVE UP ON GOD

We all face challenges in life, and at times. It can feel like those challenges may just beat you. But you have to keep going don’t let the idea of quitting enter your mind, stay strong, and fight for what it is that you want. The people who win in life are the ones that don’t give up. Giving up on something teaches nothing. But trying something till the end of your capacity gives a lesson.

A lot of people gave up, many times in life, sometimes due to situations or circumstances and the other time due to people and their doing.

Has it, ever occurred to you that maybe things will not happen as promised or as expected because time is already running out. Know that it does not take God one day to do all that he has to do in your life. Be encouraged and don’t give up on God.

We must continually believe in God so we can receive from him. No situation is too big for God to handle. Your situation is not big enough for God to change his mind.

Whatever God has declared, it cannot be reversed. Unless God has not declared it. Then you can expect it not to come to pass. Surely if you do not give up on God, you will not be defeated. Psalms 7:9

In Luke 22:31 Jesus tells Peter, "Satan has asked to test you men like a farmer tests his wheat, O Simon, Simon I have prayed that you will not lose your faith, help your brothers be strong when you come back to me." It is only when your faith fails that you can be defeated. As long as you don’t give up on God, that which you believe God for will come to pass.

There are reasons why people give up on God and on life:

One reason people give up is day by day, people are loosing patience, they want dreams to come true the moment they dream them.

Another reason people give up is, whenever they face tough problems in life, they will blame God and ask why me? When they are happy they’ll never ask the same question, why me?

Another reason people give up is because they feel jealous of someone’s success and question God as to why He gave that person success.

Then some people give up on God and on life because of the scars of disappointment they have had in the past.

Psalm 103:2: Says "Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all his benefits." For you not to give up on God, you must remember all and not just some of his benefits.

Hold on to your faith. Do not be moved by what you see. We should never give up. Have faith and never stop fighting.

There can be so many times in life that it just seems better to just give up sometimes we are even told that it's easier to just give up, to stop trying. Even though the going gets rough, it's so important to remember that God is on your side and that He is for you. God tells us that not only is it important to never give up, but that it is important to fight.

Fight for relationships, fight for health, fight for your friends, fight for everything that is good and right and never stop trying.
God will provide us with the strength we need, no matter the situation and he will never put something in your life that you cannot handle.

2 Chronicle 15:7 says, "But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded". Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

1 Corinthians 16:13: – "Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong". God put you on this journey to success, He will never give up on you. God will give you a new way of doing things his way. – therefore since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we should never give up.

Regardless of our medical condition, we are being renewed every day, that is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. Prayer is the absolute best thing to keep you on tract.

Never give up on praise to God – Experiencing God’s power through praise. It is easy to praise God when the sun is shining, our children are making good grades in school and we have received a promotion at work. But when the storm clouds gather, the grades start to slip what happened to our faith. The last thing we feel like doing is praising God. Yet, this is the very time when we need to lift our voices to him in praise. When we praise God, we proclaim our faith in him. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 71: 14-15 "As for me, I will always have hope. I will praise you more and more, my mouth will tell of your righteousness of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure".

No matter what you are dealing with in your life don't allow it to shake your faith in God! When times get rough and just before you give up and throw in the towel and you hear God's voice saying, " Be still and know that I am God": Just remember, He didn't just come at that moment, He was there all the time!

Let's continue praying for our sick and shut in members and friends. Especially our super Saints.

Let's lift up sister Addie Smith and family in prayer. Sister Smith's son George Woodard III passed away this week.

The St. Mark Baptist Church of Bell Bottom where Rev. T.F. Bree Jr., is the pastor, invited all to come worship with them as they celebrate their Homecoming. Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Mark Bree of Greater St. Paul in Brazoria TX, and Bailey’s Chapel in Angleton, TX, is the special guest speaker.

October 20, 2024 will be Pink Out Sunday at BCC, wear pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness 🩷

BCC Sunday School begins at 8:30 a.m., each Sunday with morning worship following at 9:30 a.m. We live stream on Facebook each Sunday.

Thanks for your support!

God Bless you and Good Morning!!!
Pastor Kenneth Bree, Sr.

Bethlehem Christian Church

Good Morning BCC and CLT Family and Friends.

It's a beautiful day for a nourishing spiritual breakfast in the word. On today's menu is what I call:
PRAYING FOR YOUR LIFE.
PSALM 27

Have you ever been in a situation where you were literally praying for your life? I remember when I went through Hurricane Rita on the road alone. I was trying to go to Lufkin to safety and when I got there the storm came there to the hotel where I found lodging. As the wind knocked out the windows and ripped up sections of the roof, and as water poured into the lobby where several of us were standing and gathered at our feet, we really didn’t know if we were going to live or die. Being an ordained minister and pastor, I readily called a prayer meeting and we all begin to literally pray for our lives.

I literally prayed, “Lord, I know you have the power to fix this; if it's your will please spare our lives through this.

Well, David in this Psalm is praying for his life. We are not sure of the exact historical situation. Charles Spurgeon guesses it may have been when David was on the run from King Saul – pursued by enemies, shut out from the house of the Lord, separated from his parents, slandered by false witnesses – it all seems to fit. No matter what the situation, it was clearly a time of incredible crisis and stress, and David finds himself praying for his life.

Where do you go when life hits you with a crisis? Where do you turn when the going gets tough? Do you go to God? Do you pray in those situations? I hope so. But more importantly, how do you pray during a crisis? Many people are not prepared to pray in a crisis, especially if that is the only time that they pray. Their prayers are more cries of panic than anything else, very different from the attitude in prayer David models for us here in this Psalm.

In the Psalm before us we find a prayer of absolute trust and confidence in the midst of trial. So, let’s look at this Psalm together and see what we can learn from David about praying for your life.

1) Remember that the Lord is your strength

Look at verse 1. David begins by saying, “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” He claims God as his own. Notice his personal relationship with God: “my light, my salvation.” Is the Lord your light, your salvation? Do you know God in this intimate way? Light is that which dispels the darkness. In the Bible light can stand for life, God’s blessing, or God’s favor. The word for salvation here is “yeshua,” the Hebrew name for Jesus. It is a word that speaks of God’s ability to save and deliver from harm.

David says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?” If you were in the midst of a hurricane, and you were in a small mobile trailer, then you might have cause for concern. But if you were in an underground, concrete bomb shelter, then you would have nothing to worry about. Why? Because you would be in a strong place of protection. When God is the strength of your life, when the Lord Almighty is your stronghold, you also are in a strong place of protection. If God is for us who can be against us? David wasn’t afraid, because God was that strong place of protection for him.

So who or what is the strength of your life? What supports you, upholds you, sustains you through the daily struggles of life? Where do you look for your strength? David’s first secret to praying in a crisis was that God was very personal to him. He was David’s light and salvation, and the stronghold of his life. In times of crisis, remember that the Lord is your strength. Secondly;

2) Realize that your enemies will stumble and fall

Another reason David had confidence in prayer was the inevitable outcome of his enemies. Look at verse 2. “When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.” David describes his enemies in graphic terms. They are evil men; they advance against him; they are ready to devour his flesh. He pictures them as wild animals with no compassion or mercy. But when they attack him, David says “they will stumble and fall.” It’s one thing if your enemy stumbles and then keeps coming right at you. But David says they will not only stumble but they will stumble and fall. They will not succeed in their efforts against him.

The word “they” is emphatic in the Hebrew. “When they attack me, they will stumble and fall.” The stone they roll against David will roll back on them. The pit they dig for David they will fall into themselves. Why? Because they are evil men. They are not on God’s side, and therefore God is not on their side.

It is not necessarily a bad thing when evil men oppose you. Now, if godly people take a stand against you, that’s a different matter. John Wesley prayed, “Lord if I must contend, let it not be with thy people.” But we should not be surprised when the world hates believers. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” Evil men hated Jesus because they hated God. Evil men hate Christians because they hate Jesus. It goes all the way back to the garden where God said that there would be enmity or hatred between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. The wicked have always hated the godly. Thomas Watson wrote, “The thief hates the light, therefore he would blow it out.” When ungodly men oppose you, take heart. It means that you are probably doing something right. Besides, God will never side with evil. Therefore, realize that your enemies will stumble and fall.

3) Know that God is bigger than any problem you face

David says this is true no matter how large the threat. Look at verse 3: “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.”

Some people feel they can handle small problems; others feel they can handle fairly large problems. But we all reach a limit where our problems become bigger than us, bigger than what we can handle on our own. What then? David says if God is your stronghold, it doesn’t matter how great the problem gets. I don’t know many people who would be confident going up against an entire army. I certainly don’t know anyone who would remain confident if war broke out against him. Those are pretty tough odds to beat, but you know what? Never play the odds when you’re playing with God. David was confident in God no matter how great the threat he faced.

It doesn’t matter how large a problem you are facing in your life. God is bigger than your problems, and you can have full confidence in him. Now that doesn’t mean that everything will turn out the way you want it to. God in his wisdom may have different plans for you than you would choose. Christians suffer; they grieve; they are not immune to sickness and sorrow. Christians lose loved ones; they are imprisoned; their dreams sometimes come crashing down around them. But God is faithful, and he will bring you through whatever problems you face. In the long run, even death cannot hurt the child of God, for death simply ushers us into God’s presence.
The Bible assures us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the lord.

The person who trusts God is not threatened by the odds. What did David say in verse 3? “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.” Know that God is bigger than any problem you face.

Let us continue praying for our sick and shut in members and friends; especially our super seasoned saints.

Celebration of Life services for Kenneth Smith and Andray is today at 11:00 a.m. Kenneth Smith is at New Hope Baptist Church of Bay City where Dr. T.L. Richardson is pastor. Andray Brown is at New Fellowship Tabernacle Church of Bay City where Rev. A.H. Floyd is pastor. Let's pray for these families.

The month of October is Pastor Appreciation Month nationwide. Take a few minutes to let your pastor know you appreciate him. After all he watches for your soul which is by far your most prized possession!

Monday, October 7, 2024 is the last day to register to be eligible to vote in the 2024 election. If you have not registered please do so.

This could be the most important election of our times. Please go out and exercise your right. Thanks! I am pastor Kenneth Wayne Bree, Sr., and I approve this message.

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church of Bell Bottom and Pastor T.F. Bree, Jr. invites all to come share with them Oct 13, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., for their Church Anniversary/Homecoming. Pastor M.A. Bree, Sr., of Greater St. Paul Baptist Church of Brazoria, TX and Bailey Chapel Baptist Church of Angleton, TX, is the special guest speaker.

BCC Sunday School begins at 8:30 a.m., each Sunday Morning followed by Morning Worship at 9:30 a.m. We live stream on FB each week.

Thanks for your support!

God Bless You And Good Morning!
Pastor Kenneth Bree,Sr.