I’m sure by now most of you should know how important prayer is to me. All week long, I kept thinking how our nation is spiraling downward out of control. In Ezra Chapter 1, we find where the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus King of Persia, causing him to make a proclamation throughout all his kingdom.

Also, we find in Daniel 9 that he confessed the sins of himself and his people’s sins, and he pleaded earnestly in prayer with God to release the Jews back to their homeland. Cyrus wasn’t a Jew, but God worked through him. This is where the power of prayer comes in. God, who is able to change our hearts, is also able to change the hearts of the leaders of this country, as well. He can use anyone to carry out his plans.

Christian love and sympathy are extended to the family and friends of Allen McCutcheon, Joe Kalinowski, Boyd Motes and Joe Hardin.

Just a reminder to continue your summer scripture memory program at New Center Baptist Church. At the end of the summer, there will be a pizza party and awards ceremony.

Happy anniversary wishes this week to Matt and April Dean on July 8 and Ricky and Dee Wright on July 13.

Happy birthday wishes to Baron Bates, Lynlee Dove and Donna Speakman on July 8; Tripp Brown;  Mark Carlson and Kandy Gibson on July 9; Justin Jones and Chris Spicer on July 10;  Beverly Spicer on July 11;  Bud Gibson, Buddy Posey, Tyde Borden, Solita Matthews and Jason Jenkins on July 12;  Ellie Cheuvront, Kylie Jones, Nicole Keeling, Wayne Brown and Chad Day on July 13;  Ann Heath, Tim Nelson and Jose Moral on July 14;  and Logan Merritt, Kenneth Selby, John Hawkins, Leaha Hensley and Anna Beth Ratje on July 15.