Happy Monday, February 20, 2023, church!

Sisters and brothers,

Happy Monday to all! Yesterday we praised our great and faithful God, the only God and Ruler of all there is. Then from James 3, we learned the difference between earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom. Earthly wisdom centers around me-my comfort, my pleasures, and getting what I want. Earthly wisdom is manipulative and desires for me and my team to win and you and your team to lose. Heavenly wisdom centers around glorifying God, bringing His people together, and building up others. The question for all of us is: which wisdom is guiding us? All of us can sometimes see both in our lives. We can be like Peter who one moment boldly confesses faith in Jesus as the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Then in the next moment when Jesus tells the apostles He will face the cross, we can have a worldly wisdom which does not deny self or accept hardships and sacrifice. The worldly wisdom does not understand suffering is a part of following Jesus. All of us need to lose our own personal agendas, deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Jesus. Heavenly wisdom glorifies God, brings His people together, and builds others up. Which wisdom, Godly or earthly, is guiding you today?

Please keep praying for Kathy McElmurry; Remember to keep praying continually for each other. 

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church