2 came forward for salvation on Sunday.
GO TO www.belmontbaptistchurch.com/sermons and listen to Sunday’s message.
LISTEN TO YOUR VOTE SPEAKING
I am your vote, small yet fierce, quiet yet capable of roaring into action when you choose to cast me. I carry your beliefs, your dreams, your hopes for a better tomorrow, all within a simple mark on a ballot. When you give me life, I am transformed into a voice that matters—a voice that speaks on behalf of your values, convictions, and vision for the world. I am not just a number; I am a declaration of what you believe should be and could be. When you cast me, I join others, creating a chorus of voices that cannot be ignored. Together, we become a force that moves mountains, inspires leaders, and reshapes communities. I can be the tie-breaker, the decider in a close race, the very difference between progress and standing still. I may seem like a drop in the ocean, but each drop together forms waves—waves that have the power to wash over systems, challenge injustices, and bring light to places that have long been dark.
But if left uncast, I fall silent. I become a missed opportunity, a light that could have shone, a pathway that remains unexplored. When you withhold me, you allow others to decide the future that you have to live in. I am left as a reminder of what could have been, a whisper that goes unheard, an influence that fades before it ever had a chance to begin.
Remember, I am your vote. I am small, yet mighty. I am humble, yet powerful. When you give me purpose, I become a legacy—a part of the fabric of history, woven together with countless others who dared to believe that they could make a difference. Cast me, and together we can build, challenge, and change the world for generations to come.
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
A LIFE OF SURRENDER
1 COR 2:2, “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
Paul’s life reveals a powerful truth about surrender.
Despite his scholarly background, his zeal as a Pharisee, and his once-esteemed position, Paul chose to abandon everything for the sake of Christ.
He traded his own wisdom and abilities for a single-minded focus: Jesus and His cross.
Paul’s journey reminds us that true freedom and purpose come only when we let go of our self-centered pursuits and surrender to God’s perfect will.
Consider Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane as another example of total surrender.
As He faced the cross, He prayed, “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).
Even in moments of overwhelming trial, Jesus yielded to the Father’s plan.
This act of surrender brought about salvation for all humanity—a powerful reminder that surrender often precedes God’s greatest work in our lives.
Just as Christ and Paul demonstrated, surrender is not a sign of weakness but of profound trust and strength in God’s sovereignty.
Imagine a seed in a gardener’s hand.
Until it’s planted in the soil and dies to its original form, it cannot produce new life.
Similarly, surrender is like being planted in God’s hands.
We let go of our original state—our old desires, control, and independence—and trust Him to bring forth growth, purpose, and new life.
The seed doesn’t resist or cling to its former self; it simply yields, knowing that something far greater awaits.
PRAYER
Father, I lay down my plans, my ambitions, and my fears at Your feet. Help me to trust You completely, even in the areas I find hard to release. Teach me to walk in faith, knowing that Your ways are higher than mine and Your plans for me are good. May I live each day in surrender, experiencing the freedom and purpose that come from following You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
APPLICATION
Ask yourself: What areas of your life are you still trying to control?
Is it your future, relationships, ambitions, schedule, or even unresolved hurts?
True surrender is the act of entrusting every part of our lives to God, confident that He knows what’s best for us.
Take a step of surrender today by praying about a specific area you’ve held onto tightly.
Invite God to take control, and commit to trusting Him fully in that area.
Surrender may feel challenging, but it opens the door to peace, purpose, and the transformative work of God in your life.
TUESDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Freddie May in passing of his Mom
Danny Jarrard
David Newby
Amy Garner’s Mom
Angela Bryan’s Sister
Ben Bruce
Carol Lawhead
Darlene Wiggins
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Donna Plunkett’s Brother in law
Donnie Butler’s Dad
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Ellen Boyd
Eric Magnusson’s Mother
Eric Ward
Faith Burnette
Friend of Linda Hodge
Gail Sparks
George & Linda Alexander
George Calhoon
James Burnette
James Parker
Joanie/Jeanie Mom
Jodi Bateman
John McClain’s Mother
June Cronan’s Sister
June Davis
Kailey Bateman
Kathryn Raines
Kim McClain
Kim McClain’s Mother
Krista Hilscher
Larry Barker
Lee Cronan
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Lonzo Christin
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary William’s Granddaughter
Mary Williams
Mary Williamson – Dana Jackson’s Mom
Marynell Ford
Matt Barron’s Mother
Maureen Brown
Michael Stanley
Nora Allison
Pastor Driskell
Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA
Sarah Parker
Scott Lanier
Steve Michaels
Tom Witcher