Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 January 12, 2014 Newsletter Number 447 Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor Brother Ronnie Henderson, Song Director Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com Web Site: www.sgmbaptist.com "Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty Years”

You Were Asked To Pray For: All of Our Military, Their Family’s & All the Civilian Workers in The Middle East, Zee Mink Fuller and Family, Her son’s Bryan Armstrong and Hunter Hackie, Daughter Shannon, and Brother Philip & Sondra Thornsberry, Johnnie Stephens, Alecia Stephens, and children, Junior Baldridge, Frankie Baldridge and daughter, Buckie Thompson, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry & Martha Mollette, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, Robert Riggs, Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn, Martha Gray, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie and Sarah Henderson, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Children, Ricky Henderson and Family, Jacie Henderson, Velma Hammond, Charles, Don Hammond and Families, Archie & Barbara Griffin, Bro. & Sister Bob Keller, Mary Ramsey, Donna Johnson, Fay Johnson, James and Luann Reynolds, Timothy and Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jerry Hughes, Sister Nita Bookout, Teresa Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, Pat Abercrombie, Donna Jones, Dale Trahan and Family, Ricky and Margaret McCoy, Brother David O’Neal, Tommy Walker and family, Diane Thomas, Gina Peel, James and Lynn Tomlin, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Robert, Megan Whitaker, Manual Seymour, Sr. Brother Jerry and Sister Jean Dodson, Brother Curtis Pugh, Brother Dan Sullivan and the work in Thailand, Brother Raul and the work in Romania, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.

Church News: We received word that Sister Linda Trahan who was a member at the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Silsbee, Texas has gone to be with the Lord. Sister Linda was a beloved friend in Christ to this church and the Pastor.

From Our Pastor: Ready To Be With The Lord!"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8 I hope and pray dear reader that you can truly say, "I am ready to be with the Lord". God has promised that death shall come to us all, some to eternal life and some to eternal destruction and punishment, but we are all promised death. I know that some people will do everything possible to stay alive but for me, I would just as assume be with the Lord. How can a Christian ever be happy in this world? Paul said he was in between the two, being here on this earth and being with the Lord and I can certainly empathize with his mind set. I know that God is in charge and He has set us all an appointed time for death but I do not fear my time. I see those who have gone before me and envy them because they no longer walk by faith but by sight, they no longer seek the Lord but are with Him, they no longer want; they have. I pray often that the Lord may return soon and take us from this world and join the brothers and sister who have gone before us. I would love to be called to the cloud and to join those beloved of the Lord Jesus Christ my beloved Saviour. I am ready and I hope that you are also ready to meet death. Death can come so suddenly and often comes without any notice. Once death has come, there is no more hope as we see in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, when the rich man died he open his eyes in hell with no chance of rescue. Luke 16:22 - 23 "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; (23.) And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." the rich man closed his eyes to this life only to open them in hell's torment. The rich man was not ready for death, are you? For the lost person the need is eternal life and that life is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ, for the saved person it is works needed, because when Jesus returns our judgment and crowns of righteousness comes with Him. Paul said, "We are confident..." That means (exercise courage) in remaining on this earth and doing the work that God has given me. While I look forward to being with the Lord and do envy those who have gone before me, I am content until the Lord calls me home. Please pray with me that the Lord will return soon and take us all home. I look so forward to hearing the last trumpet sound and then to hear the voice of Jesus calling us home. Therefore while I am at home on this earth I will continue to work for the Lord and looking for Jesus.

For Our Weekly Meditation: Words in Season"Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone!" Psalm 71:9 "Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God." Psalm 71:18 Aged believer! you feel your dependence upon God for support and support. If he should forsake you, if he should cast you off, you would indeed be helpless and hopeless! But you rejoice in the assurance that this can never be realized. You know that he will never leave you to bear up alone the pressure of your trials and infirmities; that he will never relax the grasp which enfolds you in his love. And therefore your prayer is rather the expression of confidence, than the apprehension of fear. You ask for that which he has promised, which you are certain he will grant — the continuance of his gracious aid. In youthful days, it may be, in healthful hours — you found that without him, you were weak and unprotected; and now in the time of old age, when your strength fails — you are more deeply conscious of your need of his help. Well, ask and you shall receive; cast your burden, cast yourself upon him, and he will sustain you. Fear not, for he is with you; be not dismayed, for he is your God; he will strengthen you; yes, he will help you; yes, he will uphold you with the right hand of his righteousness. These things will he do unto you, and will never forsake you. By: Anonymous Editor's added note: this will be an ongoing series for several weeks. This is aimed at our senior members and non-members. Many have failing health and I thought this might be a blessing to them. But let s all remember we are all getting older with the passing of each and day.

Wise Counsel for Preachers The year was 1768. A twenty-eight year old preacher by the name of Augustus Toplady, who wrote many of our best hymns, including "Rock of Ages", spent the afternoon in London with Mr. Brewer — an older, veteran Gospel preacher, whom he greatly admired and from whom he learned much. This is what Mr. Brewer said to the young Toplady, as Toplady later recorded in his diary: I cannot conclude without reminding you, my young brother, of some things that may be of use to you in the course of your ministry: 1. Preach Christ crucified, and dwell chiefly on the blessings resulting from His righteousness, atonement, and intercession. 2. Avoid all needless controversies in the pulpit; except it be when your subject necessarily requires it; or when the truths of God are likely to suffer by your silence. 3. When you ascend the pulpit, leave your learning behind you. Endeavor to preach more to the hearts of your people — than to their heads. 4. Do not affect too much oratory. Seek rather to profit your hearers — than to be admired by them. N.B. Christian ministers would do well to print out these four simple principles, tuck them in their Bibles, are refer to them every time they preach!