NOVEMBER THEME — Worship Is Your Most Powerful Weapon

TIME CHANGE – Set your clock BACK an hour before bed Saturday night!

SUNDAY’S SERMON SUMMARY

Today’s service reminded us that every day we stand at a crossroads — one path ruled by opinion, the other guided by revelation. Opinion speaks first, reacts fast, and grasps for control; revelation listens, responds, and bows in surrender. The difference determines whether we live in rest or wrestle in resistance. Uncrucified opinion divides hearts, turning prayer into performance, but when our minds yield to Christ (Philippians 2:5), His wisdom flows, His peace steadies, and His rest replaces our striving. We learned to test every thought by three questions: Is it Scriptural? Is it Spirit-born and peaceable? Is it shepherd-hearted toward people? Through Romans 12:1–2, we embraced the daily exchange—Present, Renew, Prove—and the rhythm of Pause, Pray, Preview, Proceed. Revelation doesn’t silence thought; it sanctifies it, transforming the noise of control into the quiet confidence of communion. Anchored in Philippians 4:6–9, we saw that thanksgiving turns pressure into peace, guarding our hearts starves suspicion and feeds truth, and practicing truth daily turns reflex into rest. Like Jehoshaphat, who sent singers before soldiers, we chose worship over worry and communion over control. Together, we made commitments of peace—the Shalom Minute (pausing three times a day to say, “Jesus, You govern this house”), the Marriage Delay & Pray Rule (wait, then pray one verse together), and the 72-Hour Opinion Fast (replace criticism with intercession). We built house altars on Exodus 14:14—“The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” Where opinion dies, communion begins; where the mind bows, Christ reigns; and where His peace governs, the war within finally ends.

GO TO www.belmontbaptistchurch.com/sermons and listen to Sunday’s message.

Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart

The Beauty of Broken Instruments

“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9

The Melody of Surrender

A master violinist once played a concert using an old, scarred violin worth only a few dollars. The music was stunning—rich, pure, alive. When he finished, he broke the violin and picked up his priceless Stradivarius. The melody was the same, but this time, the sound carried a depth that only surrender could release.

That’s how grace works. The beauty isn’t in the instrument—it’s in the hands of the One who plays it. When God holds your life, even your cracks become conduits of His glory. You don’t have to sound perfect; you just have to be yielded. Control silences His song; surrender lets Him play.

Your scars don’t disqualify you—they amplify His grace. God never asked for polished performers; He asked for surrendered vessels. What you see as “too damaged to use” may be the very place His Spirit plans to pour out the richest sound.

The Symphony of Weakness

Paul learned this truth in the crucible of pain. His “thorn in the flesh” wasn’t an obstacle—it was an opportunity. God didn’t remove it; He redeemed it. The thorn became the microphone through which grace was amplified.

Every weakness in your life is an instrument in God’s orchestra. Your struggles keep you dependent, your pain keeps you compassionate, and your humility keeps you in tune with His Spirit. Without those things, we might play louder—but never purer.

Grace transforms broken instruments into sacred ones. The same hands that allow the breaking are the hands that know how to tune the heart until it sings again. God’s strength doesn’t erase weakness; it fills it until even your pain begins to praise.

The Harmony of Healing

When a violin cracks, the wood must be pressed, glued, and restrained before it can vibrate again. Healing is never instant—it’s intentional. God’s repair process may feel like restriction, but it’s restoration. He’s reassembling the soundboard of your soul.

If you’ve been through heartache, disappointment, or failure, don’t hide it from Him. Hand Him your silence, your sorrow, your shattered strings. Let Him retune what life detuned. The same breath that spoke galaxies into motion can make your life sing again.

When God plays through broken instruments, the world hears music it can’t explain—a melody of mercy, a harmony of hope, and a rhythm of redemption that points back to the Master.

Paul discovered that weakness is not a punishment but a platform. His limitations became the very stage upon which the power of God performed its greatest concert.

Prayer: Master Musician, play through me. Take the broken places of my life and make them sing of Your grace. Let my flaws become the strings of testimony and my pain the soundboard of Your mercy. I release control and welcome Your melody. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Challenge: Write this truth somewhere you’ll see it often: “My brokenness makes room for His beauty.” Every time you see it, pause and thank God for not wasting your weakness. Then whisper this prayer: “Lord, keep me tuned to Your touch.”

FRIDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS

Betty Hammock

Cheryl Knight’s Brother

Don Franklin’s Daughter, Darlene

Jean Partee’s Sister

Kathryn Rains  

Kay Woodson

Kim McClain’s Daughter, Amanda

Deon Lotter

Doris Loyd

Mike Bryan

Mike Hollinhead

Nancy Brown – Rehab

The Barksdale Family – Bobbi Jackson’s Brother In Law Passed Away

Allysa Elliott

Amy Garner’s Dad

Annette Ford

Andrea Nix– Friend of the Shelnutt’s

Angela Bryan’s Sister

Ann Stanley  

Carol Lawhead – Park Place Rehab in Monroe

Danny Jarrard   

Darlene Wiggins

Debbie Foskey 

Doris Loyd

Dr. and Mrs. Davis

Eric Magnusson’s Mother

Eric Ward

Friend of Linda Hodge

Gayle Sparks

George & Linda Alexander 

James Burnette

Jessica Headrick  

John McClain’s Mother

June Cronan’s Sister

June Davis

Kailey Bateman

Kathryn Raines

Kim McClain’s Mother 

Kim’s Sisters – Ann & Brenda 

Lee Cronan

Lillianna Magnusson’s Mom

Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah 

Linda Mays      

Lonzo Christian 

Lori Blount’s Mother

Mary Williams

Mary Williamson – Dana Jackson’s Mom

Mrs. Franklin 

Nora Allison

Ron And Johnnie Barry – Friends Of Ashton & Glenda Bateman

Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA

Scott Lanier 

Scotty Nix

Sheila Simmons  

Stephanie Seivers – Friend of the Shellnutts

Steve Michaels

Tom Witcher