Bro. Bill Scroggs
Memorial Day
May 26, 2024
Memorial Day, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May, was formerly known as Decoration Day and originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the war. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who died while in the military service.
Many will celebrate the day off without giving a thought to the men and women who gave their lives to protect our country and others around the world to keep us free and safe. As each year passes, we are reminded that our peace and safety came with a price and that price continues to grow as the terrorists continue to show us how vulnerable our soldiers are and in turn how insecure it even makes our loved ones.
I am proud of the men and women in uniform serving our country and stepping up to answer the call as countless soldiers have in the past.
We are reminded of these words from Psalms 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” As we remember the ones who gave their lives, let us remember our creator who made us the country we have been. May we return to being a
nation whose God is The Lord.
Happy Mother’s Day!
May 12, 2024
What a special and inclusive time to celebrate. I mean there is no one alive who is here without a mother. We are blessed in our family to celebrate a new mother in our family tree, as well as others in our extended church family. Now both of our daughters have given us great grandchildren. What a blessing to see new generations and get to hold and cuddle them.
Most of us also have been blessed to have spiritual Moms who have prayed for us and mentored us into the Adults we have become.
The wise writer says in Proverbs 31:26: “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”
Pray for Godly mothers to help influence our next generations.
What Does It Look Like?
May 5, 2024
Everywhere you look we see things out of control and things not seeming to improve. Our world seems to have people in charge or usurping those in charge causing confusion. A big problem is that the squeaking wheel is getting the attention.
I don’t know if it is possible, but if we could just ignore the juveniles causing the problems, it could make the situation go away. I mean how much would disappear if it were not glorified by the media.
One way at least to restore our sanity is found in Philippians 4:8 that says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” And enjoy a blessed day!
I Would Like To Volunteer
April 28, 2024
One thing we seldom hear is someone saying, “I’d like to volunteer.” Many people became gun-shy while in the military or by listening to those who had been there saying, “Don’t volunteer for anything!” Then we hear someone every once in a while say, “I would like to volunteer— my brother.” Again this is a way of not committing ourselves, but someone else.
And once in a while you hear someone say, “If no one else will, I will do it.” That is not necessarily a volunteer effort, but a resort to the inevitable. After all if it has to be done… I’ll try. Then once in a great while we find someone wanting to give it a try to learn something new.
Another opportunity comes as we draw near to God and see Him as He is and understand He is the one calling us to a task. It is then we respond to Him in obedience as the writer of Isaiah 6:8 recorded this exchange, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: Who should I send? Who will go for Us? I said: Here I am. Send me.”
Why Did You?
April 21, 2024
When you look at the question above, you will have a different mental picture than anyone else. You will think of something possibly unknown to anyone else…unless the question is finished. My finish to the question is “Why did you praise The Lord this week?” Again, only you have the answer to that question for you.
Some praise The Lord for the warmer weather. Others for the rains we received this week. Some praise God for a good medical report and some are giving praise to The Lord for victories they had this week. Sometimes the victories may be huge and sometimes they can seem small. Your victory might seem small to me; however, to you it may have been a mountain.
To an addict or alcoholic, it may be minutes, hours, days, months, or years that they have been free from what has controlled their life for years or maybe decades. Every day we have a need to praise The Lord. The writer of Psalms 146:2 says, “While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.”
Are you still alive? Do you still have your faculties? Then, the question might be “If you didn’t, why didn’t you praise The Lord?”
Don’t Lose Focus
April 14, 2024
For the past week, month, year or longer many folks have expended many hours and energies and brain cells preparing for the 8th of April. Many gave up time, money, effort and some possibly sanity for the few hours of seeing the once in a lifetime event. The sad thing about the hubbub is that while worshipping the creation many will neglect the Creator, and look away toward the next shiny object that comes along.
The wise writer of Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork.”
Don’t miss the magnitude of the moments GOD gives us each day. Today we have just as much reason to enjoy GOD’s expressions of love all around us. “Rejoice in The LORD always and again I say rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4).
Unsearchable Greatness
April 7, 2024
Great is The Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. (Psalm 145:3) As I read
this psalm this week it caused me to think about greatness and what constitutes greatness. Some people are
known for one thing or the other, and some of us can accurately see there is nothing in us that could be called great.
In fact, the Bible tells us that there is none righteous at all. I find it interesting that wherever you look you can see something God has created for us to see. He has placed many sights, sounds, smells, and tastes here for us to enjoy. To look at a fingernail, or a hair and think how much detail was placed in each minute part of your body, makes you understand how puny our minds are to try to comprehend just how magnificent our awesome God is.
To say His greatness is unsearchable is not to say we should not look at His greatness, but it reminds us we will not ever be able to exhaust by searching all the attributes of His greatness.
Truly, God is Great and worthy to be praised! Let us praise Him.
I Am Blessed!
March 31, 2024
The wise writer of Proverbs 31:10 reminds us/me, “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” Today is my wife, Reta’s birthday. Out of kindness, she can tell you how many others she’s had…if she chooses. God has blessed us with so many wonderful years together.
I am grateful for the years we have enjoyed together. I am thankful for the children, grandchildren and the great-grandchildren GOD has blessed us with in these years. It was special to have most of our lineage with us for a few days last week to celebrate her birthday early.
She is such a blessing to me, and I am taking the advice of the writer of Ecclesiastes 9:9: “Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which e hath given thee under the sun.”
In addition to Reta’s birthday today we get to celebrate the resurrection of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ which means we will never perish but live eternally (John 3:16.).
A Most Important Week
March 24, 2024
As we approach the week of celebration Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection it is a time of reflection and introspection. It is a time for us to remember the path He walked and the purpose of all the pain and suffering that was put on Him in the process of paying for our sins.
While we are enjoying the beauty of the spring season, it is beauty in the center of the darkest time in the life of our Savior. But isn’t that crucifixion and time of resurrection? The sadness and pain Jesus endured brought forgiveness and victory over sin and death for us. The apostle Paul in Romans 5:8 told us, “But GOD commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Praise The LORD, He Arose!
Is It Spring?
March 17, 20264
This week we have seen the temperatures climbing into the seventies and some showers, and then we see the storms passing through our state. Flowers are blooming, and yards are starting to grow even if it is just our weeds greening up our lawns. If the storms and hail are not enough evidence of spring being right around the corner, just look at next week’s weather forecast.
At least two days this coming week are to be in the low thirties, possibly reaching the freezing level. While our weather is not always as predictable as we want it, Our GOD is faithful. As Deuteronomy 7:9 says, “Know therefore that the Lord thy GOD, the faithful GOD, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations.”
Thank GOD for His love and faithfulness.
Did You Notice?
March 10, 2024
A week or two ago I saw what I would call butter-cups, peeping out from nandinas in front of the church. I asked my sister, a Master Gardener, if these were Daffodils or Jonquils. Then the discussion grew into a lesson greater than I needed or desired. She pulled it up on Google and proceeded to tell me the finer points of each.
While I saw a couple of flowers, she saw the scientific category and other depths of the plant. What I saw was a couple of ‘buttercups’ blooming and doing what GOD had made them for, even in the midst of the shrubs or could have even been weeds. They were bringing beauty to the place where they were planted.
We do well to remember these words of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks for this is the will of GOD in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
It Takes a Village
March 3, 2024
In every community, church, even family, there are challenges and opportunities around every corner. Think about our church family. We have illness, loss of loved ones, injuries and celebrations going on at the same time. Sometimes all of the above occur at the same time, or one or more following each other. As life deals each of us our hand, we get to see how the spiritual gifts manifest themselves through the friends and families GOD has placed in our lives.
The trials we share strengthen us to be able to prepare us for the next opportunities. Trials in your life help encourage others as they face like trials. Bless you as you have walked with our family in both celebrations and trials.
Ephesians 4:16 reminds us, “The whole body is fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
Thank You!
February 18, 2o24
As we celebrated Dad’s 95th birthday this week and were once again reminded of how blessed we are to have you in our lives. We asked for help in getting 95 cards for his birthday and you responded in a mighty way. I believe First Baptist Church Petit Jean was the largest group represented in the cards.
He actually received more than 100 cards by the time they all came in and it was a blessing to see and hear him read and comment on each one. He was touched and appreciative of the friends of his children and folks he had worked with over the years. Thank you and Bless you for being a blessing to Dad and us.
I agree with these words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 1:3-5, “I thank my GOD upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.”
Thank you and may GOD bless you for your service to our family.
Living For Jesus
February 11, 2024
One of my favorite songs is Living For Jesus. It is a song that helps me to think about the need for us to remember that we are The King’s kids.
It reminds us to live as we should as ambassadors for Christ (2Corinthians 5:20). We are on display to those who know us and are watching us as a representative of who we are. It is important for us to remember not only who we are, but also ‘Whose’ we are and ‘Who’ we represent.
A major reason we must live for Jesus, to be true to our own selves and to live knowing we are the only Bible some folks will ever read.
Truly we must be “Living for Jesus.”
Just Think
January 28, 2024
What an interesting couple of weeks it has been. First, we got an ample supply of cold to set up the conditions for the snow to last. The snow hung on and stayed with us long enough that most were ready for both the cold and snow to disappear.
Then as the temperatures began to return to normal the rains began to fall. If the moisture was in the air as it was the week before, we would have had a terrible mess. Now after only a few days, we are all pretty much ready for the rain to go away. However, with all the opportunities, this is part of the beauty of living in an area where the climate is not so boring.
The apostle Paul encourages us to “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). That will allow us to as he said in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
Just think, tomorrow, this will change also…
Given Enough Time
January 21, 2024
Given enough time many things can happen. Given enough time most of us learned how to ride a bike. Given enough time most of us learned how to swim. Given enough time most of us learned how to read and write. Given enough time most of us settled down and got married. Sometimes the settling down had to be given a little more time for some of us, if we ever did.
Given enough time there are many things we can learn to do, but… there are some things for which there just isn’t enough time. Some of us will never have enough time to straighten up, and none of us will ever have enough time to get good enough to deserve the love GOD has given to each of us.
The writer of Galatians 4:4-7 reminds us that, “When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
Thank GOD, HE had enough time for us.
Are You Cool Enough?
January 14, 2024
This question is best asked when it is 90 degrees outside. It is a dumb question for what we are going to face in this coming week. I will bet there is not going to be anyone that will not be cool enough this week and probably be too cool/cold in the next few days.
When days for some reason or other do not go the way we desire, whether too hot or too cold or for any other external situation we must look up. The apostle Paul gives us this advice in Philippians 4:11-13, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
So… You betcha! Even I am cool enough.
What Makes You Feel Alive?
January 7, 2024
The title is a question that was part of a commercial that was on television as I prepared for this article. Since I only saw a portion of the ad, it sent my mind into a series of questions concerning the focus of this question.
Was is toothpaste? Was it deodorant? Was it a vacation destination? In reality, no matter how they try to sell it, external forces seldom bring joy to us and bring disappointment rather than the promised results.
Jesus gives us not a solution, but ‘the’ solution with these words in John 10:9-10, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
What a blessing when we come to God through Jesus (because He is the only way) we get to really live. Now that will make you feel alive!