2022 CHURCH THEME: “HOLD ON, HELP IS ON THE WAY!” MATTHEW 15:25 HOW TO HEAR FROM GOD 101 WARREN MOTT PARKWAY * HATTIESBURG, MS 39401 * 601-583-9243 EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: WWW.SHADYGROVE-CHURCH.ORG July 2023 Volume 4 Edition 7 1 Samuel 3:9: So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” I’ve heard Christians lament: “How can I hear from the Lord better?” I’m among them. I love God’s Word the Bible and we certainly “hear” much eternally valuable truth from His Scriptures. We realize that God in His Word does not describe every single situation and decision we will encounter in life. There are simply times when we need a direct word from God with details for a specific situation. I believe that the priest Eli spoke simple but important wisdom to Samuel (and to us) concerning how to hear from God. Let’s look at the three keys in Eli’s wise advice. 1) “Speak, LORD…” Develop an insistent desire in your heart to hear from the Lord. This is consistent with God’s desire to speak to us, to reveal Himself more and more to us: “Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3, NKJV). 2) “…Your Servant…” In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray to our heavenly Father: “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10, KJV). We are forever the servants of God, the doers of His will. That is the attitude to take towards Him in any prayer, any petition, any desire to hear from Him. 3) “…Is Listening” We’ve established that God desires to speak to us. We’ve seen that our response should be a “Speak, Lord” spoken to Him out of a servant's heart. But there’s a third key, and without it we'll never be consistently effective at hearing from God. And that key is: “Speak, Lord, your servant IS LISTENING.” In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, Jesus wrote letters to 7 churches. To all 7 the Lord said, “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” The Holy Spirit is willing to speak to us. Our part is: let’s be LISTENING. In Sum: “SPEAK, LORD, your SERVANT is LISTENING” I encourage you to memorize this great approach to God that we’ve taken from the Scripture. I’ll even suggest that you consider declaring it aloud at the start of every time you seek the Lord. My prediction is that the voice of God, which we long to hear will become increasingly clear to you. May God bless you as you seek Him and serve Him. Excerpted from: https://www.jimfeeney.org/hear-God-speak-Lord-servant-listening.html SPEAK LORD FOR YOUR SERVANT I S LISTENING 2023 CHURCH THEME: “TURN BACK TO GOD” 2 CHRONICLES 7:14 REV. DR. REGINALD WOULLARD, PASTOR SHADY GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH Inside this issue Page 2: Upcoming Events Page 3: Graduates Recognition Page 4: Remembering Events Page 5: Remembering Events Page 6: Remembering Events Page 7: 7 Ways To Hear God’s Voice Page 8: Birthday / Anniversary (July 1 - July 15) Page 9: Birthday / Anniversary (July 16 - July 31) Page 10: Ministry Spotlight Baptism / Baby Dedication Grand Slam Disciple Bible Trivia Page 11 Word Search Puzzle Page 12: Mental Wellness Welcome New Members Bible Trivia Answers Page 13: Word Search Puzzle Page 14: Sick / Shut-in / Bereaved Weekly Schedule Announcements
SGBC | 2 Upcoming Events At WE NEED YOU TO DONATE TO THE BACKPACK GIVEAWAY! There are several ways to contribute to make an impact into the lives of our children: You can give backpacks; You can give school supplies; or You can give a donation and someone will go and shop for you! Come for your blessing and invite someone! In-person (Dropbox, Cash, Check, Credit/Debit Cards) CASH APP ($sgbchburg) Online Giving (secure.accessacs.com/access/login.aspx) VENMO (@sgbchburg | PAYPAL ([email protected]) THE REV. DR. R.W. WOULLARD JR. SCHOLARSHIP FUND Last month we awarded two high school members the Rev. Dr. R.W. Woullard Jr. Scholarship. We are asking you to consider contributing monthly to this fund so we can continue to give to the future of our children. Your “My Gift To God’s Work” envelope has a line dedicated to the Scholarship Fund, please add this to your giving opportunity.
SGBC | 3 Remembering Events At PICTURES OF OUR GRADUATES WITH PASTOR, FIRST LADY & MINISTRY COORDINATOR Not pictured are Ian Dagons, Donavon Dahmer and Logan Wilson.
SGBC | 4 Remembering Events At YOUTH MOVIE NIGHT CHILDREN DAY TRIBUTE CHURCH SPRING CLEANING FATHER’S DAY RECOGNIZING OUR VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS
Remembering Events At VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS, CLASSES & ACTIVITIES SGBC | 5
Remembering Events At VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL CLASSES & ACTIVITIES SGBC | 6
SGBC | 7 Here are 7 ways how you can hear from God and recognize his voice regularly: 1. Recognize that God has created you for a close friendship with Himself. By design, the way you hear best from God is in the context of a friendship with Him. God intends for you to figure out His will freely and intelligently as you engage in regular conversations with Him. God’s will is to be personally present with you and speaking with you moment by moment as you go through life. Then you’ll grow to understand Him more and become more like His Son, Jesus. 2. Consider your motives for wanting to hear from God. Honestly reflect on why you want to hear from God. Is it because you’re truly open to whatever God has to say and committed to putting His guidance into action and fulfilling His purposes, even when doing so is challenging? Or is it for a selfish reason, such as wanting to feel righteous or comforted? Confess and repent of any wrong motives. Ask God to give you an openness to hear and respond faithfully to what He wants to tell you. 3. Make your goal more than just hearing God. While it’s important to hear from God, that shouldn’t be your ultimate goal. Instead, make your main goal to become a spiritually mature person in a close relationship with God. That’s the only way you’ll clearly and correctly hear what God has to say to you. 4. Know that you’re important to God, but be humble. Have the confidence that God is willing to speak to you just as powerfully as He did to the people in the Bible, because He values you just as much. However, don’t let pride creep into your soul, because you must be humble in order to faithfully receive and respond to the messages God has for you. 5. Don’t try to force God to tell you something. No matter how much you want to hear from God about something or how hard you may try to convince Him to speak to you, you’ll only hear from God when He chooses to communicate with you. Focus on developing a respectful relationship with God and wait for His timing to deliver messages to you. Also, if God chooses not to give you specific guidance about something you’ve prayed about and what you’re considering is within the Bible’s moral principles, you can confidently go ahead and make your own decision about what to do and be within God’s will. 6. Recognize that God communicates in many forms, but most often through your mind. God may choose any one of many different ways to communicate to you, according to what’s best at particular times and in particular circumstances. You may sometimes hear God’s message in dramatic ways, such as through angels, visions, or miraculous events. But more often, you’ll hear God speaking through your thoughts, and He will use ordinary practices such as reading the Bible, praying quietly, learning from circumstances, or seeking counsel from other Christians to reach out to you as you think about them. God will use dramatic means to get your attention when necessary, but His goal is for you to be so closely connected to Him that you’ll pay attention whenever He speaks to you. Usually, God speaks through what people have described as a “still, small voice” to encourage those He loves to choose to keep walking closely with Him through life. 7. Renew your mind. Since God often speaks to you through your mind and wants you to develop what the Bible calls the “mind of Christ” (the ability to make decisions as Jesus would), it’s crucial for you to follow the Bible’s urging in Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” As you invite the Holy Spirit to renew your mind every day, He will cleanse it from such dirt and clutter as false beliefs and attitudes, unhealthy feelings, and misguided plans. Then the Holy Spirit will replace all of that with true thoughts that reflect God’s purposes. Excerpted from: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spirituallife/how-to-hear-from-god-regularly.html | Whitney Hopler Crosswalk.com, Contributing Writer 7 WAYS TO HEAR GOD’S VOICE REGULARLY
8 Sedan Angry Keyanna Armstead Ford Barnes II Jonothan Barnes Sr. Travis Barnes Maria Benjamin Hosea Booth Anita Bourn Bria Braxton Kimberly Brown Tamika Bunch Hailey King Ja'niya Carter Bolivar Cherry Felecia Clanton Brajah Clark Jessica Cook Wyonona Crosby Dea. Ricky Crowell Shawana McArthur Janice Daniels Chasity Davis Ryanne Flanders Lee Ellis Cynthia Fairley Ciara Magee Tanathia Feazell Portia Fountain Kimberly Fox Amy Glory Shamikka Hayes Jacqueline HaynesJulian Reanna Henderson John Hinton II Lori Holliman Edna Hunt Keyara Johnson Don Johnson Senna Johnson Kerri Johnson-Jones Chilevin Jones Dee Jones Keylon Hammond Annie Jordan Kniok Knight Brigit Lee Tim Love Barbara Lowe Latesha Manzie Juma Martin Sonya Martin Ladonna McCann Brittanie Minor Andrew Mott Jr. Jaiden VanBuren Milton Moye Samantha Nelson Jamie Newby Charity Parker Santana Parks Barbara Payton Carla Rawls Linda Roberts Uniqua Sandifer Byronika Smith Stephanie Smith Lenise Stallings Jackie Stone Lemon Sullivan III Dyas Tate Sonnette Terry Mychal Thompson Kecia Thorne-Harris Fredrick Toy Alisha Tribble Demarcus Turner Daylyn Croom Harmoanie Wanzo Marcus White Derrick Williams John Williams Caylon May David Winters Jr. Carson Woullard Brittani Wynn Tate JULY 1ST—JULY 15TH SGBC | 8 JULY 1ST—JULY 15TH John Earl & Chandra Owens Larry Jr. & Vivian Steward Judge II & Chrystal Haynes Brown Corey & Twianna Abrams
Jaylen Adams Jarrius Adams Coray Allen Sanderrica Armstead Morissa Barnes Valencia Bourne-Hopkins Rickey Bradley Jr. John Brandon Harry Brister Lettie Burger Tamecia Fletcher-Burke Michael Fletcher Ronald Bush Alisha Campbell Julius Campbell Lauren Gates Terrell Carson Rev. Mary Carter Gwendolyn Chandler Myra Clayton Tamiko Cooley Otto Crawford Marvin Crockett Jaylah McClendon Aaliyah Decker Byron Dixon Kheston Dumas Donna Eaton Brandy Ellis-Sutton Lacresha Floyd Parker Woodland Angelica Allen Tiffany Gaddis Nathan Gaines Meilssa Gardner Amar Arrington Brianna Gholar Charles Gray III Tangela Gray Talyn Shaffer Jocole Green Justin Hardaway Brandon Harmon Charlene Hatch Donnicka Hayes Kaytlin Haynes Cameron Brown Herbert Turner III Valencia Hopkins Sapaletto Howze Renee Jackson Jamarcus Jefferson Anthony Jenkins Faye Johnson Dea. Adrain Jones Sr. Ariana Jones Deunka Jordan Bryson Comegys Brenda Kellen John Polion Jr. Adrian Lewis Milea Maye Luis McLain James McLemore Jr. Theodore Walker Jr. Jamarkis Nelson Chandra Owens Larisa Page Constance Parkman Julius Hinton Zipharius Rice Alexis Robinson Vickie Scott Gibria Leflore Dalvin Jordan Darrion Strickland Rikkian Johnson Towanna Sutton Joseph Thigpen Conchetta Thomas Dorothy Thomas Patricia Turner Victoria Virgess Kenneth Ward Donnie Westbrook Robert Davis Jr. Timothy White Laken Williamson Michael Wilson Tarsha Wilson Vanessa Wilson Khela Winters Patricia Wolfe Carolyn Woullard Yulanda Wright JULY 16TH—JULY 31ST SGBC | 99 JULY 16TH—JULY 31ST Cornell & Samantha Nelson Teddy & Anita Williams Jarrad & Coiya N. Henry Ben & Veronica Beach Johnny A. Jr. & Mamie Donyelle Henry
Sunday, July 30th is Holy Baptism, Baby Dedication and Grand Slam Disciple Recognition! If you would like to be baptized, please see Deborah Woullard or Sandra Thompson. If you would like to dedicate your baby, please see Maxine Coleman. Congratulations to Lt. Commander Myron L. Evans , USN, retired, his wife, Jackie and family. 1. `The wind bloweth where it listeth,` said Jesus to: 2. What "ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters"? 3. What was the name of the high priest's servant whose ear was cut off by Simon Peter? 4. What did a woman do to Jesus in the house of Simon the leper at Bethany? 5. In what city did Mary, Martha, and Lazarus live? 6. `Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days` of what king? 7. Which of the following disciples never saw a vision of the kingdom of God coming with power before they tasted of death? 8. What Pharisee gave a feast that Jesus attended? 9. What was the name of the angel of the Lord who appeared unto Zacharias? 10. Who ran to Jesus` empty tomb along with John? 11. Where did Mary bring her newborn son Jesus "when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished"? 12. Who asked Jesus if they could be permitted to call down fire from heaven upon the Samaritans? 13. Who rolled the stone closing Jesus` tomb? 14. Who said, ‘Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water’? 15. How old was Jesus when he tarried behind in Jerusalem after having attended the Passover feast with Mary and Joseph? https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/biblestudy/bible-trivia-questions.html (Answers on p. 12) SGBC | 10 If you need to complete your New Members Classes, please see Monique Crowell or John Brown . Sunday School - There’s A Class For You!
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12 1. Nicodemus, John 3:4-8 2. A herd of swine, Matthew 8:32 3. Malchus, John 18:10 4. Anoint him with oil, Matthew 26:6-7 5. Bethany, John 11:1 6. Herod, Matthew 2:1 7. Andrew, Mark 9:1-2 8. Simon, Luke 7:36-50 9. Gabriel, Luke 1:19 10. Peter, John 20:3-4 11. Jerusalem, Luke 2:22 12. James & John, Luke 9:52-54 13. Joseph, Matthew 27:59-60 14. Peter, Matthew 14:28 15. 12 Years Old, Luke 2:41-43 FIVE BIBLE VERSES FOR GOING BACK TO SCHOOL 1) Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation (Psalm 68:19). Learning is something that happens day after day. There can be good days and bad days. “I can’t make any sense of this math problem,” you might say or “How will I ever remember those vocabulary words?” Take heart. The Lord is present to bear us up, helping us study hard and apply ourselves. That good grade didn’t come from nowhere. 2) Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6). Haven’t we all had dreams of turning up for a test and discovering we studied the wrong thing or forgot to bring a pen or some such nightmare? Our anxieties are not unique. As the Apostle Paul says, when the worries descend, put them in prayer. 3) Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future (Proverbs 19:20). Even if I’m not a full-time student, I work hard at listening, whether it is a friend giving me advice or my wife offering insights on behavior. I want to be a fulltime student of life. Growing in wisdom; that is the back-to-school future. 4) And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21). God is the best teacher, wanting us to succeed. How though? What if we’re struggling with a paper we’re assigned to write or befuddled by a question in class? How do we move forward? As this verse makes clear, we’re meant to listen to that inner voice. It will guide us. I can think of times when I closed my eyes for a minute in the middle of a test and prayed. That inner voice was there. 5) “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock” (Matthew 7:24). It’s not just a matter of learning, but as these words of Jesus make clear, we’re supposed to act on what we learn. Not for nothing was Jesus referred to as “Rabbi” or “Teacher” by the disciples and his followers. What we learn in school can change our lives, leading us onward. Building a solid foundation; put your house on a rock. Written by: Rick Hamlin on www.guideposts.com Submitted by: Dr. Stacey Blalock Henry SGBC | 12 Mental Wellness Bailei Barnett Latoya Causey Anna Dillon Jayden Gandy Jayce Gandy Tyler Hicks Brandon Mitchell Bella Norwood James Norwood James Bretton Norwood Kaylyn Norwood Mildred Starks Angela Lewis Aydien Curry Margo Green Curtis Poole Teresa Poole Curtis Poole Jr. Christopher Poole Khaleah Weathersby Keytin Hinton Alisicia Hinton Charisma Phillips
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WEEKLY SCHEDULE 14 NURSING HOME BEREAVED HOME BOUND SICK SGBC | 14 SUNDAY Sunday School at 9:30 am Worship Service at 7:45 am and 10:45 am MONDAY Wise Encouragers 3rd Monday at 6 pm WEDNESDAY Adult Men’s Bible Study at 6 pm Brotherhood at 6 pm Sisterhood at 6 pm Adult and Youth Bible Study at 7 pm (Adult-Life Center; Youth-Sanctuary) SATURDAY Corporate Prayer at 8 am Join by dialing 720-740-9642 - access code 4402008 Boys2Men Ministry 2nd & 4th at 11 am Girl Scouts 2nd Week at 11 am Women In The Making 3rd Week at 11 am Iron Sharpeners 3rd Week at 10 am July 23rd is National Parents Day. Take this opportunity to show your parents the love and appreciation they deserve. ANNOUNCEMENTS Eva Foster Stephanie Ellis Reginald Woullard Jr. Monique Crosby Terry Harris Jackie Evans Leona Woullard Albert Barnett Josie Davis Darlene Dantzler Celia Grant Angela Thames Leroy Wolfe Vernon Dahmer Jr. Lue Dahmer Dorothy Dismuke Mary Dean Lee Kathy Wallace Joe Lee Jessica Hibbler Roscoe McDonald Sr. The SGBC Newsletter is a publication of the Shady Grove Baptist Church. It is published once a month on the 1st of each month. Contact us at [email protected]. Maxine Coleman, Editor Please be prayerful for our members in their time of bereavement! Pray for: The family of Dea. Ben Ellis. Dea. Ellis passed Sunday morning.