Carthage Nazarene

Friday Focus
​Darla and I attended a small Bible college. It seemed that all of the young men in the dorm came to me to ask who they should date. I often told them, “You have to date Darla Ann Patterson—she’s the best on the campus!” Then one day I found myself about to say it and realizing that I should be dating the best girl on campus!! We were married 10 months later!
​We had such a beautiful…and might I say, “perfect,” love story. We both loved Jesus. We both were dedicated to spending our lives in ministry. She begged me to marry her (just kidding!). We have been committed to each other, through thick and thin, in a marriage for almost 38 years!
​But the life and love of Hosea in the Old Testament was not so. God asked the prophet Hosea to marry a pr******te, who was broken, sinful and who ran from her relationship with her husband and her God. God wanted the prophet to marry her to show the Israelites what it looked like for Him to love and keep His covenant with the Israelites. It’s a pretty amazing picture of committed love—for both Hosea and the Israelites!
​I would encourage you to read chapters 1 and 3 of Hosea before you come to church Sunday. Ask God to show you how you are keeping your covenant with Him. Spend some time thanking God for His commitment to you.

Love you all!
Pastor Brent

I pray that you will understand and apply the truth of God’s Word when it says that He is “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness," (Exodus 34:6) and that’s good news for sinners everywhere.
Now, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, go in peace, for He has already gone before you.
FRIDAY FOCUS

​If I were to tell you to imagine a giraffe, you would immediately think of the long neck, the yellow spots and the legs that make him crazy tall.
​If I said imagine an elephant, it would be the thick grey skin, the trunk and perhaps the floppy ears that you would think of.
​But what would you think of if I asked you to consider what a believer in Jesus would look and act like? Humility, compassion, honesty, loving, generous, patient, serving--these are a few of the descriptive words that show that he or she is acting like a disciple of Christ. When we make the decision to become a follower of Jesus we can’t help by act differently because of what He has done in our lives.
​In chapter 3 of Jonah we see how Jonah acted differently because of his decision to repent and obey God to preach in Nineveh. But he wasn’t the only person(s) who changed. The Ninevites changed and the king changed because they decided to follow the one true Lord.
​I encourage you to read Jonah 3 and answer this question as you read: “Is there anything in my life that is not illustrating my decision to follow Jesus?”
​
Peace,
Pastor Brent

1

Sunday Morning Worship, September 27, 2026