2026 THEME — “SEEING LIFE FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE”
MARCH THEME: SEEING SCRIPTURE FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE
Precious church family, When headlines flash and tensions rise in the Middle East, it is easy for our hearts to feel unsettled. War reminds us how fragile peace can seem. But Scripture gently lifts our eyes higher than the noise of the nations. Psalm 46:1–2 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed…” The earth may shake. Governments may rage. But our refuge does not tremble. Psalm 2 reminds us that when “the heathen rage,” the Lord is not anxious in heaven. He is still sovereign. He is still ruling. Nothing unfolding in the Middle East has caught Him by surprise. Kings rise and fall — but Christ reigns. As believers, we do not respond with panic; we respond with prayer. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). We pray for protection over innocent families. We pray for restraint, wisdom, and mercy among leaders. And we pray that in shaking times, hearts would turn to the Prince of Peace. Remember this: prophecy is not given to frighten the church but to steady it. Jesus told us in Luke 21:28, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” We do not look down in fear — we look up in hope. If anxiety tries to creep in, guard your mind with truth. Turn off the noise if you must. Open your Bible. Sing. Pray. Anchor your heart in what does not move. The same God who has carried you through personal storms is Lord over global ones. Let us be calm. Let us be watchful. Let us be prayerful. And let us be a steady people in an unsteady world. I love you. I am praying for you.
SUNDAY’S SERVICE SUMMARY
This year has not been about reacting to events but about re-centering our hearts under God’s authority while the world feels unstable. As tensions rise in places like Iran and fear presses in, we are reminded that Scripture—not headlines—defines reality for the believer. In January we learned to see prayer differently, in February stewardship, and now in March we are learning to see the Word not as something to adjust, but as something that adjusts us. We turn from distraction and pride, choosing obedience, prayer for our leaders, and submission to God’s design. And when we sang “Break Thou the Bread of Life,” we were not asking for more information—we are asking for transformation that steadies our fear and anchors us in His truth.
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
You Are Starving While Surrounded by Bread
Amos 8:11, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.”
Amos warned of a coming famine — not of food, but of hearing the Word of the Lord. The tragedy in his day was scarcity. The tragedy in ours is saturation without hunger. We live in a generation with more access to Scripture than any in history. We own multiple Bibles. We carry apps. We stream sermons. We listen to podcasts. We have devotionals, study tools, and worship playlists at our fingertips. And yet many believers are spiritually thin. Not because God is withholding. Not because truth is unavailable. But because we are skimming instead of feeding. The famine today is not availability — it is appetite. And when appetite dies, decline follows quietly.
Access Is Not the Same as Appetite
We are surrounded by bread but rarely sit down to eat. Having a Bible on your shelf does not nourish you. Hearing a sermon in passing does not transform you. Scrolling past verses is not the same as chewing on them. Spiritual appetite is not measured by how much content you consume, but by how deeply truth penetrates. You can binge sermons and remain unchanged. You can quote verses and remain unmoved. You can post Scripture and never submit to it. Hunger is revealed by pursuit. When appetite fades, you begin to substitute inspiration for conviction. You prefer encouragement over correction. You want comfort without confrontation. But the Word of God was never designed to entertain you — it was designed to sustain you.
Skimming Produces Spiritual Weakness
If you skip meals physically, your body weakens. The same is true spiritually. When you skim Scripture for a quick thought instead of feeding deeply, discernment weakens. Decisions become emotional. Convictions soften. Stability becomes fragile. You may not notice the decline at first. Starvation rarely feels dramatic in the beginning. It feels subtle. Energy decreases. Focus fades. Strength diminishes. Unchecked, spiritual thinness leads to spiritual vulnerability. Temptation feels stronger. Fear feels louder. Culture feels persuasive. Not because God’s Word has lost power — but because you have stopped feeding on it.
Appetite Must Be Guarded and Grown
Appetite does not stay strong accidentally. It must be guarded. It must be cultivated. It must be prioritized. There was a time when the Word convicted you quickly. When a single verse stopped you in your tracks. When correction felt sharp but holy. When you changed something immediately because truth demanded it. Has that sensitivity faded? The honest question is not, “Do I read the Bible?” The honest question is, “Does the Bible read me?” When was the last time the Word exposed pride, adjusted your speech, redirected your decisions, or called you to repent — and you responded without delay? A healthy appetite responds to truth.
Imagine sitting at a banquet table filled with fresh bread — warm, abundant, freely available — but choosing to nibble crumbs while scrolling your phone. The food is not the problem. The table is not empty. The host is not stingy. The problem is distraction. Many believers live spiritually distracted at a feast. The famine today is not that God has stopped speaking. It is that we have stopped listening deeply. We are starving while surrounded by bread. We are thin while sitting at a feast. Access without appetite leads to decline. But hunger can be restored. If you sense weakness, do not blame scarcity. Return to the table. Sit longer. Chew slowly. Let conviction come. Let correction land. Let truth penetrate. Because when appetite returns, strength follows.
Warfare Prayer
Holy Spirit, restore my appetite for Your Word. Break every spirit of distraction that keeps me skimming instead of feeding. Silence the craving for entertainment that competes with truth. Expose spiritual laziness and reignite holy hunger. Remove dullness from my heart. Make me restless without Your Word. Let conviction return quickly and obedience follow immediately. I refuse to live thin while surrounded by bread. Strengthen me through truth. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
Daily Challenge
Today, set aside intentional time — not rushed, not multitasking — to read Scripture slowly. Choose one passage and sit with it. Ask: What is this revealing about God? What is this correcting in me? What must I change today? Do not skim. Feed. And let hunger grow again.
WEDNESDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Roy Roach
Paul Bateman
Baby Mary Marin – Home – A Miracle
Britany Smith ~ Breast Cancer
Jason Gibson
John McClain’s Mother
Phillip Roach – Linda & Luther’s Son – Cancer
Darlene Kelley – Cancer Treatment
Christopher Kelley
Don And Carol Franklin – Mae’s Uncle
Ed Franklin’s Son In Law – Heart Surgery
Gloria Young
Jean Partee
Sandra Mitchell
Tammy Shelnutt
Amy Garner’s Dad
Bentley Smith – Broken Leg
Carol Lawhead – Riverside in Conyers
Joni Oberhage
Linda Mays
Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA
Brando Echarte
Debbie Foskey
Don Franklin’s Daughter, Darlene, Son, David
Ed Adkins – Friend of Brian Edwards
Jake Jenkins
June Cronan
Jean Partee’s Sister
Kim McClain’s Daughter, Amanda
Deon Lotter
Doris Loyd
Nancy Brown
Annette Ford
Andrea Nix– Friend of the Shelnutt’s
Angela Bryan’s Sisters
Ann Stanley
Danny Jarrard
Darlene Wiggins
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Eric Magnusson’s Mother
Eric Ward
Friend of Linda Hodge
Gayle Sparks
James Burnette
Jessica Headrick
June Cronan’s Sister
June Davis
Kailey Bateman
Kim McClain’s Mother
Kim’s Sisters – Ann & Brenda
Lillianna Magnusson’s Mom
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
Scott Lanier
Scotty Nix
Stephanie Seivers – Friend of the Shelnutt’s
Steve Michaels
Tom Witcher