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The Citizen, 2018-07-19, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018. PAGE 17. From the Minister's Study Living in Christ should remove anxiety By Rev. Mark Royall Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary Church Contentment is the capacity to deal with my ever-changing circumstances in life without becoming anxious. I would highlight these last three words, "without becoming anxious". In the Bible we find a recipe where we can learn to be content, regardless of the circumstances in our life. In Philippians 4:6 it says, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done" The first ingredient in learning to become content according to this verse is to: 1. "Thank God for all He has done". This speaks to our worship of God where we focus on Him and give Him thanks. When you choose to focus on your fear, it begins to consume you. And really, you are worshipping your fear. You are saying to this uncertainty in life causing you to become anxious, "you control me", "you define me", "you get to tell me how to feel", "you tell me what to do". And I believe only God is worthy to have this place of worship in your life. Worship fear and you will become fearful. Worship God and you become godly. You will have His peace, His strength, you will reflect His character, because this is who you worship. Worship will get you through the roughest times in your life, because it shifts your focus from problem to problem -solver. The second ingredient according to our Bible verse is this, 2. "Tell God What You Need". I like what the "Preaching The Word Commentary" says about prayer, "Prayer is a spiritually real and vibrant activity by which we bring real needs to a real God who has real love for us and real answers to give us. " Jesus gives us this insight into prayer when He said, "And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for." (1 John 5:14-15). When I hear Jesus giving me this kind of insight to how prayer works, I say to myself, "Self, I want to learn and know what pleases God because this is the kind of prayer He answers" To learn what pleases God you must spend time with God. I do this by starting each day in His Word, the Bible. I may read a chapter but I don't rush through it, instead, I stop and ask God how what I am reading would apply to my life. I stop and listen to Him because God still speaks. I ask God, "What are you concerned about regarding my life?" The final ingredient follows the first two, 3. "I Pray About Everything". I pray prayers of thanksgiving to God (worship). Prayer combats worry by creating in BIA to approve associate members By Denny Scott The Citizen After six years in operation, the Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA) is close to being ready to accept associate memberships. For the past six years, the group has been talking about having associate memberships, or members from outside the area who pay into the organization. For one reason or another, however, the memberships have consistently failed to become a reality. Chair Karen Stewart, however, has made the memberships a priority for the group and, during its July 4 meeting, presented an application form that could signal the creation of the position. As a result of the application form and the fact that the BIA would be linking to associate members' websites through the BIA's own web presence, some debate occurred as to how selective the BIA should be with associate members. As a result of the discussion, the group decided to have the application process include an approval process so the board could Get information on Huron County attractions on the Stops Along The Way section of our website stopsalongtheway.ca decide which associate members would benefit the BIA and which they would prefer not to be involved with. Associate members have voting privileges at the annual general meeting and will be represented by one member on the BIA's executive. Stewart cautioned the group, however, that whether it's at the AGM or on the executive, members in the BIA catchment area must always outnumber representatives of organizations that are located outside the area. She said it wouldn't be an issue with the current executive, but it is something the board needs to be aware of as it already has a representative of local support groups, the Blyth ministerial and the Blyth Festival. Stewart's proposal was accepted with the change that associate members need to be approved by the executive. You re gnviteLl J( in ?Is 3 ?Corsi/1'p SUNDAYS Morning Service Evening Service 10:00 am 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 rY.u're Invited( ro come worsht p with us 1 Sunday, July 22 at 10:30 a.m. 650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School) Sunday School for children 4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service. Summer evening service 6:00 pm at various homes For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 HURON CHAPEL PRESENTS PauLs*POW RFUL PRE/G SIVE EVERY SUNDAY IN AUBURN @ 10am PLAN Life is full of choices and every choice you make will either take you in the progressive, life-giving direction God has planned for you or rob you of the opportunity to know the full life God intends for you to live. This Sunday: "The Choice To See Life Differently" huronchapel.com us a thankful heart. It is difficult to worry and become anxious while you are praising God, who is bigger than all our fear. Also, as mentioned above, I tell God what I need. Prayer combats worry by building trust. I have learned that anxiety and worry accomplish nothing. I have learned what it says in the Bible, "Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you" (1 Peter 5:7). I had to learn this at an early age. When I was seven, my father died. When I was ten, my mother was hit by a car while crossing the street to attend a church board meeting. She survived but was unable to work for some time. No work meant no money coming in. I remember powdered milk and puffed wheat becoming staples in our home. One day I happened upon my mother sitting at the kitchen table with numerous bills laid out in front of her. She began to cry because she didn't know how we would survive and get through. This was the first time I remember feeling fear regarding the future. This was the first time I realized the fragility of financial security. Today, in my weak moments, I can revert back to that ten -year-old boy and begin to worry about the temporary things of this world: Do I have enough to retire on when that day comes? What if I lose my job? What if I become sick and I am unable to work? This is when I fall back to Matthew 6 and listen again to the words of Jesus, "So don't worry about these things, saying, "What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?" These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need" Matthew 6:31-33 in BRUSSELS . �` United Church Join us July 22 at 9:30 am Worship leadership by pastors from Huron/Perth Meet us at our Hospitality Booth at "The Barn" every Friday from 2 to 6 pm Everyone Welcome The Regional Ministry of Hope Everyone Welcome! Trinity Anglican Church St. John's Anglican Church BLYTH BRUSSELS 0. 9:15 am Closed for the month of July MINISTRY OFFICE 519-357-4883 Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca The Regional Ministry of Hope COME WORSHIP WITH US! MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS We will be closed for the month of July Reopening for worship on August 5th Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Soup & More 2 - a free community meal held in Melville's basement, and made possible by the Brussels churches working together. Nursery care available 519-887-6687 Blyth United Church Est. 1875 Worship Service at 11:00 am Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 9:30 am - 2:00 pm blythunited @tcc.on.ca . Accessible ® Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches OFFICE: 519-523-4224