Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church

Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Pleasant Ridge Baptist, located just outside of Leavenworth IN, on Cape Sandy RD. on the way to Alton IN. has been serving God for over 150 years!

Join us on Sundays at 10:30 am.

06/17/2026

Wednesday's Word

Psalms 11:1 NLT I trust in the Lord for protection. So why do you say to me, "Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!...."

I read through this short chapter twice this morning and laughed out loud at this verse. First let's remember that David runs many years from Saul, then his own son rebelled against him and he fled again. David was God's annointed King, the Bible says David was a man after God's own heart, and yet he suffered persecution, God did not spare him testing through out his life. Vs 5 says the Lord examines (tests) both the righteous and the wicked. These fires of testing from God will either refine the righteous or destroy the wicked. See persecution is a oppurtunity to grow!
So why did I laugh out loud, well as picture some well dressed well intending advisors to King David with some bad news of revolt or rebellion advising him to mount up and run to the hills for safety, probably going on to say, don't worry we got this and we will send for you when it's all over and safe for you to return. Just how my mind works.....and here we have David's response;
" I trust in the Lord for protection." This is simply a great encouragement, and a one liner we need to tuck away, no matter who or what is crashing down around you, no matter who is telling you to run to safety, stand tall and proud and with a great calm and your best King David coolness, say, " I trust in the Lord for protection."
Be encouraged daily

06/10/2026

Wednesday's Word

Revelation 13:16-18 NLT
16)He required everyone-small and great, rich and poor, free and slave- to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. 17)And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name or the number representing his name. 18)Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of man. His number is 666.

We can focus on the mark if we want to and as tempting as that is, to spend time trying to solve the the number of the beast, the number of man, rather let's look at its purpose. It's purpose is to mark allegiance, to simply sort out the worshippers of the beast and this world, from the worshippers of God. Remember in chapter 7 the angel came with the seal of God to seal his servants. Just as God's seal marks us and secures our eternity, the mark of the beast will protect the worldly from the persecution of God's people in these last days, for Christians will be slaughtered in these days for their faith, they will be singled out, not able to be part of the world's economy. There is a time coming when a follower of Christ will have to choose not to take part in something so evil that it compromises everything they stand for and believe.
For a true Christian that time has already come, you say you are a Christian but do you carry the seal of the Holy Spirit, or the mark of the beast? Are you so different from the world that you stick out like a Corvette on a Kia lot? Do you feel out of place here on this earth like a married man made to share a restroom with just any woman? Do you get outraged when society protests protecting a child from a beast, I mean shouldn't they have shot the child, instead? After all, children are murdered daily in this country with no remorse or repercussion.
Folks lines are being crossed, and boundaries are being blurred, there is a line between good and evil, always has been, always will be, which side will you be found on? A choice must be made there is no neutral ground here, good and evil has not, will not, and can not, coexist!
For me I will gladly bear the persecution of this world, and carry the seal of the Holy Spirit, and the Truth of God's Word into a sin sick and perishing world!
Be encouraged daily

05/28/2026

1 Samuel 25:11 NLT "Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I've slaughtered for my Shearer's and give it to a band of outlaws who cone from who knows where?"

MY,MY, MY, did you guys see that as you read that verse? Read it again I'll wait.......... 4 my's and 1 I in this verse! There are lots of folks that do not want hear this, but here is the truth, everything that we "own" actually we don't. God places everything in our care, yeah i know either you go to work and earn your pay check or you receive some kind of compensation for some reason or another, and you purchase items which you then own, right? Wrong God gives you the ability to provide for yourself either through your hard work which he gives you the healh and strength to do, or the intelligence to be educated so that you can be provided for etc. The point is this, all things are simply placed in our care and we are stewards of God's stuff, it is dangerous for us to consider what God has placed in our care as ours! Folks God gives freely to us so that we may give freely to others! Let his blessings flow freely through you God blesses us all richly in some manner, do not dam it up to keep it but rather be a funnel and allow your riches , what ever they may be to flow from him to others!
Be encouraged daily

05/20/2026

Wednesday's Word

Psalm 69:1-3 NLT 1. Save me, Oh God, for the floodwaters are up to my neck. 2. Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can't find a foot hold. I am in deep water and the floods overwhelm me. 3. I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me.

David here is in a bad way, have you ever felt like life is just pulling you under? David expresses that he is physically exhausted from prayer asking for help, that he has shed so many tears his eyes are swollen and that in his pleading he has gone hoarse. But yet he still believes God is going to help him!
If you read on through vs12 you will see what is troubling David, christians pay attention David is beeing ridiculed, insulted, humiliated, scoffed at, made fun of, and the topic of the town gossip all because of his devotion to God. As Christ followers we often want to believe that God will shelter us from the storms in life when normally he doesn't as a matter of fact many times he sends us into the storm so that we may grow our faith in him. As David was suffering for living a godly life, we also can expect some sneers, scofs and laughs and as David we should bring them to God and let him deal with such things no matter how long he decides we are to deal with them. Jesus dealt with these very things into death so why should we expect anything different? It us in the storms of life we make the hardest decision, wether we will turn to our Lord and savior and wait on him or turn from him and turn to the very ones causing us the pain and distress. David continually turned to God...
‎13. But I keep praying to you, Lord, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with you sure salvation.
‎No matter how bad things got, Davids hope was in the Lord, he never lost sight of God's love, and knew that salvtion is sure! Where will you turn when the flood waters are up to your neck?
‎Be encouraged daily

05/13/2026

Wednesday's Word
1 Samuel 17:37b-39a NLT 37b) Saul finally consented, *Alright, go ahead," he said. "And may the Lord go with you!" 38) Then Saul gave David his own armor-a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. 39) David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. "I can't go in these," he protested to Saul, " I'm not used to them."...

I have to wonder how in the world a child like David could persaude a king like Saul to put the fate of Israel in his hands, considering Sauls attitude and outlook, and situation, I mean the deal on the table is if Goliath wins then Israel will be slaves to the Philistines, but if David wins then the Philistines will be slaves to Israel. This is a loose, loose for Saul the way I see it, if David wins then he defeats the giant that Saul was best suited to do battle with, if David is defeated then Saul should have known better than to send a child to do the King's job! Then this gets almost comical, can you picture this child trying to put on the armor made for the king? And not just the king but the scriptures told us that Saul stood head and shoulders above every one else.
A simple thought this morning, the armor and weapons that the world says we need to be battle ready will not fit the child of God! Just as in the case of David if we put on the things of the world looking for protection we will find ourselves weighed down, encumbered, and confined by them. Too many times we restrict ourselves with the things we look to for protection. In the New Testament book of Ephesians we are told what to put on as armor as the children of God, what to put on first and why we are to put it on. Things like TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, FAITH, SALVATION, and we are to use the WORD of God as our weapon of choice.
Folks no matter the enemy you face if you are a child of God he prepares you for battle not the world. Look at those words above, do they charaterize who you are? If they don't you are not ready for battle. These words describe true warriors, prepared for battle by the Lord! Are you battle ready, will you have victory, only in Jesus is true victory found!
Be encouraged daily

We are very blessed to be able to celebrate all of our mother's today, those that were there and those that were unable ...
05/10/2026

We are very blessed to be able to celebrate all of our mother's today, those that were there and those that were unable to attend.
Happy Mothers Day!

05/06/2026

Wednesday's Word

James 3:2 NLT
Indeed we all make mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

Why is the tongue so hard to control? It is only natural to want to defend ourselves when we find ourselves under a verbal attack. We all want to be accepted so we may be willing to use words to impress, and none of us like to feel inferior so we can use words to belittle others just to make ourselves feel a bit better about us. There are thousands of situations that we may find our selves in where we choose to tear some one else down just to build us up.
Obviously the best way to control your tongue is to simply not speak, unfortunately this really is not a option, so, before we speak maybe we should ask ourselves a few questions;
1)Is this true?
2)Is it necessary?
3)Is it kind?
This passage not only tells us that we all make mistakes, but that our speech is the bulk of our mistakes. So let's not use this passage to justify our foul, hateful, jealous, lying, and spiteful words, but to ask daily that God tame our tongues and give us a new vocabulary, to teach us to only speak the truth, love and kindness. After all the scripture says if "we" could, "we" can't but God can!!
Be encouraged daily

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04/29/2026

Wednesday's Word

Hebrews 11:32-34 NLT
32)How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33) By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34)quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.

Maybe you should read that passage again, really soak in how faith in God has changed lives and shaped history.
You know you don't need to read the bible to see great and amazing stories of faith in this world, if you open your eyes and ears somebody is telling or living a great story of their faith in God right this very minute. I was reminded of this as I was reading a comment that one of my F/B friends had written in response to a post and I quote "God is bigger than this book..." ( becareful what you say you just might end up in one of my morning posts) Now I only disagree with referring to the bible as a book, it feels like a book, and it looks like a book, but the bible is the very inspired word of God and I believe it should be referred to as such, that's my personal conviction, but I completely agree that God is so much bigger than the bible, we can find him anywhere we truly seek for him! If we can't find God outside the pages of the bible then we really aren't looking very hard.
So the question that we need to ask ourselves is; just what kind of story are we telling the world about our faith in God? Can the world see our walk with God through our daily faith in God? Does our life show the life changing miraculous power of faith?
It is by grace we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ! Have you begun to walk in faith?
Be encouraged daily

04/22/2026

Wednesday's Word

Hebrews 9:27-28 NLT
27) And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgement, 28) so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

Death is certain, but not the end. After death comes judgement, each and every one of us will pass From this life into eternity, and each of us will also stand before Christ to be judged. There will be two courtrooms on judgement day, one of condemnation, and one of commendation. The choices you make in this life on this earth will determine which you will enter. Jesus has paid all of our fines, and court costs all we have to do is acknowledge it and accept this. If we don't then we will have to stand trail with a fair and just God as judge. Jesus offers mercy and to settle out of court. Or you can ask for what you deserve in a "fair trial".
Jesus has already dealt with the issue of sin in our lives, we either accept his sacrifice as the truth or we don't. Either we thank him for giving his life for ours by giving our life to him or we don't. Either we are eagerly waiting his return or we are waiting to stand trial in the court of condemnation!
What are you waiting for, don't wait tomorrow may be too late, settle out of court today!
Be encouraged daily

04/15/2026

Wednesday's Word

Hebrews3:6 NLT
6)But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God's entire house. And we are God's house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.

These earthly bodies that God has given us are the temples, the very home of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, by faith he lives in us, and by the bonds of grace, and devotion we all are connected making us the entire house.
Our courage can only remain strong by a open and bold profession of the message of Christ, that Jesus is the Son of God, that he came in the flesh to this sinful world and laid down his life so that we may live! This is the message of our hope for all eternity! If you want to live in the security of God's house you must take the truth of the gospel message, believe on Christ Jesus, ask for forgiveness and be saved. May you be a walking, talking, living, breating temple of God!
Be encouraged daily

Address

Leavenworth, IN

Opening Hours

10:30am - 11:30am

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