September Theme – The Mind of Christ: Breaking Free From Earthly Thinking to Embrace Christ’s Mind
Happy birthday, Mae!
Today I thank God for the priceless gift you are—my faithful friend, steadfast partner in ministry, and gentle warrior of prayer. Your kindness softens hard days, your wisdom steadies our steps, and your joy makes our home a refuge. You love people like Jesus does—quietly, consistently, sacrificially—and because of that, lives are different and hearts are healed.
I’ve watched you carry burdens to the Lord, turn trials into testimonies, and pour grace into every room you enter. You embody Proverbs 31—“many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.” I am a better man because you walk beside me; our family is richer because you pour yourself out for us; our church feels the warmth of your servant heart.
May the Lord crown this year with fresh strength, deep peace, and overflowing joy. I love you more than words can hold. Happy birthday, my Mae—my blessing from God.
SUNDAY’S SERMON SUMMARY
The greatest battlefield you will ever step onto is not in a valley with swords drawn or nations clashing—it is in the quiet corridors of your own mind. Old wounds echo there, rejection repeats its harsh chorus, and failure tries to script your future. The enemy delights in planting seeds of deception: “You’ll never be free. You’re not enough. God has no plan for you.” Left unchallenged, those whispers grow into chains of fear, shame, and despair. Scripture warns us: “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). But God does not abandon His children to this inner war. He discerns every thought before it forms (Psalm 139:2) and arms us with His truth, commanding us to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). The victory is not in gritting our teeth or trying harder—it is in yielding. In the holy exchange of the cross, Christ replaces confusion with clarity, pride with humility, torment with peace. When Christ is enthroned in the mind, the enemy’s lies lose their grip, fear is unmasked, and hope springs alive. The battle is real, but it is not yours to lose—because the triumph is already secured in the Lord.
GO TO www.belmontbaptistchurch.com/sermons and listen to Sunday’s message.
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
Who Will Take Their Place?
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight… and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” — Hebrews 12:1
Joseph, Paul, Peter, David, Mary—all of them are gone, yet their stories live on. They laid down their lives so that God’s Word could stand unshaken. But now the question remains: who will take their place? The call is not just to admire their faith, but to step into our own race with the same focus, courage, and devotion.
The Unfinished Race
The heroes of faith were not running for their own glory—they ran for the kingdom of God, and their finish line is also our starting point. We are not called to copy their exact steps, but to continue the same race of faith. Just as a baton is passed in a relay, the testimony of their lives has been handed to us. If we drop it or remain idle, the mission stalls. Their witness urges us to keep moving, to lay aside distractions, and to endure with our eyes fixed on Christ.
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Faith
When we read about Joseph, Paul, or Mary, we sometimes think they were somehow different from us—stronger, holier, or braver. Yet Scripture is clear: they were people with weaknesses, failures, and fears. What set them apart was their faith and obedience. The Kingdom of God has always advanced through ordinary men and women who trusted an extraordinary God. That means there’s no excuse for us to shrink back. The same Spirit that empowered them dwells in us today.
The Cloud of Witnesses Still Speaks
The “great cloud of witnesses” is not passive. Their lives preach sermons that echo through the ages. Abel “being dead yet speaketh” (Hebrews 11:4). Paul’s letters continue to guide us. David’s psalms still comfort. Their voices call us to remember that life is short, eternity is real, and the crown of righteousness awaits those who finish faithfully. The question is not whether their race mattered—it did. The question is whether we will now rise up and take our place among them.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the faithful witnesses who ran before me. Thank You for their courage, endurance, and love for You. I confess that I often grow weary, distracted, and afraid. But today, I choose to step forward. Help me to run my race with patience, to cast aside the weights that hold me back, and to live as one who carries the baton of faith. May my life point others to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. In His name, Amen.
Challenge: Ask yourself: “Am I willing to take my place?” Then commit to one bold step of obedience this week that will impact others for Christ. Whether it’s sharing the Gospel, serving someone in need, or choosing holiness over compromise, let this be the week you step into the race.
FRIDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
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 – Knee Surgery Soon
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