The Pastor's Voice
July 201 6

FEELING TIRED OR DISCOURAGED?
HERE'S WHAT TO DO


"Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, the work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us! So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out."
Neh. 4:19-21 (NIV)


Discouragement is a disease unique to human beings, and it's universal -- eventually everyone gets it, including those in ministry. I have no doubt you've experienced discouragement at times, maybe many times. You might even be discouraged at this very moment. Even pastors are not exempt from discouragement.

Rick Warren identifies some key reasons or contributors to discouragement. As I reflect what is going on here at TBC
I think it is worth our noting:

#1 Cause - FATIGUE
When you are physically or emotionally exhausted, you are a prime candidate to be infected with discouragement.
- Burnout in office too long
- Stop burning the candle at both ends

#2 Cause - FRUSTRATION
When unfinished tasks pile up, it's natural to feel overwhelmed.
Unexpected interruptions may prevent you from accomplishing what you really need to do, and your frustration can easily produce discouragement.

#3 Cause - FAILURE
As chairs of committees and ministry leaders, sometimes your best laid plans fall apart, the project collapses --  no one shows up to the event. How do you react? This brings us to experience failure.  Failure contributes to discouragement.

When you are discouraged, it's very easy to complain and say everything is wrong. The truth is complaining is not so difficult.
You know what else is easy?
Doing nothing and not taking responsibility.

The church is under an attack, but we will make it through the storm if we remember this:

The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV: " And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him-a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

We need to come together.
WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES
to resolve the problem!

Avoid these pitfalls:

o  Attending Sunday School and leaving  before or  during morning worship
o Only coming to service when you are on duty to serve
o Sitting without participating in the service
o Being unfaithful in giving
o Spending little or no private time with the Lord
o Lack of Bible study

Take these actions:

o REST YOUR BODY
- Identify a personal Sabbath.

o Set a schedule for the work you do; do not let things pile up.
- Sundays should only be for preaching, worship, and those things that are absolutely necessary like making sure offering is tallied and secured.

o Help us establish an online presence:
 - Send texts to you friends and family, to
encourage them and invite them to church and
Bible Study
 - Post/share/repost information about our
services and events on social media
 - Visit our website often and share the link with
your networks
 - Friend us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

o Spend more time with me in prayer:
 - Wed and Friday -- at the church or where you are
o Spend time listening to Christian music
o Throughout the week, spend time thinking about the
Sunday sermons and Sunday School lessons - write down your reflections 
 
PRAY FOR PEACE 

My prayers and condolences are with the families of Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, the five police officers who have lost their lives, and the 7 who were injured in Dallas, TX. In the coming weeks we will experience the funerals of 7 who have been taken from us so suddenly. Stand with me as I stand with those families. 

I, like many of you must deal with many mixed emotions: anger, fear, sadness, and feelings of helplessness.  The recent horrific loss of life these past days has caused me to cry out to the Lord. I am also asking you to call on the Lord.  It is time to pray. We need unity and calm.  This is no easy task, but it is not impossible.  We are a people of faith and understand violence begets violence.

Only our faith will get us through this dark time in our lives.  The word of God says: "For thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8


Celebrating Celeste

Minister Ruthanne Darby has had the pleasure of teaching an exchange student from Johannesburg, South Africa in her Tuesday night Bible Study class for the past few months. Celeste Ndlovu is a 2016 graduate from Bunker Hill Community College's International Exchange Program with a degree in Business Management.  

"In prayer I told God my time was running out. I didn't want to leave Boston without meeting a Church Family," Celeste said.  She had been to 3 other churches but didn't feel welcome or get to know anyone on a personal level. Celeste went to Timothy in February and saw our First Lady directing the Senior Choir in her African attire.  During service that day Celeste met Minister Darby and was embraced warmly by her during our fellowship time. Celeste mentioned she wanted to join a Bible Study and was invited to Tuesday night class.  It was there Sis. Janice Watts also connected with her and began bringing her to Bible study each week.

Celeste is an awesome young lady. Please join me in praying for her and praising God for her!

Min. Darby and Celeste

"Praying Through the Desperate Times"
A Prayer Journal

Have you ever felt the sting of rejection or grieved the deep loss of a relationship that was there one day and gone the next? 
I want you to know I understand. I also know the difficulty of being in the place where you're no longer standing in that moment of being rejected, but you're not on the other side of it either.

I call it the desperate in-between. It's a place where your heart still feels incredibly raw. A place you may fear being stuck in forever.
But healing is possible. You aren't going to be stuck in this place of pain and rejection. I believe you are going to be strengthened by it and healed from it in Jesus' name!

Download this Prayer Journal comprised of pre-written prayers based on the powerful truths found in Psalm 91. 

I don't know what specific thing you're going through right now. But I do hope you'll use these ten simple prayers. His words bring life. And praying His Word will help you feel less desperate and more whole.


TIMOTHY BAPTIST CHURCH 

Rev. Dr. Larry Green Sr.
Rev. Edward Hardy
Rev. Johnnie C. Smith
Min.  Ruthanne Darby
Min. Troy Meade
     
35 Highland St.
Roxbury, MA 02119

Service Times
Sunday School |  9:30 a.m.        
Worship Service |  11 a.m.        
Weds. and Friday Prayer |  Noon        

We Enjoy Bible Study ( W.E.B.S.)
Monday | 6-7 p.m. | Rev. Green        
Tuesday |  6- 7 p.m. | Min. Darby        
Weds. | 7-8 p.m. | Deac. Grace    

Pastor's Monday Night Bible Study
Teleconference class is from 6- 7 p.m. weekly. 
Call  (641) 715-3670 and enter the code: 232434#