Texarkana SDB Youth, Texarkana, AR (2026)

07/26/2023

Praise ye the Lord.

Praise ye the Lord from the heavens:
praise him in the heights.
Praise ye him, all his angels:
praise ye him, all his hosts.
Praise ye him, sun and moon:
praise him, all ye stars of light.
Praise him, ye heavens of heavens,
and ye waters that be above the heavens.

Let them praise the name of the Lord:
for he commanded, and they were created.
He hath also stablished them for ever and ever:
he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

Praise the Lord from the earth,
ye dragons, and all deeps:
Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours;
stormy wind fulfilling his word:
Mountains, and all hills;
fruitful trees, and all cedars:
Beasts, and all cattle;
creeping things, and flying fowl:
Kings of the earth, and all people;
princes, and all judges of the earth:
Both young men, and maidens;
old men, and children:

Let them praise the name of the Lord:
for his name alone is excellent;
his glory is above the earth and heaven.
He also exalteth the horn of his people,
the praise of all his saints;
even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him.

Praise ye the Lord.

~Psalm 148

The psalmist went back to the beginning when all things were created. He started with the heavenly creation and moved on to the creations on earth, all while encouraging the creation to praise the Creator. Sometimes we need to take a step back and remind ourselves that we are all a part of God's creation. Every day, we see nature praising and bowing down to Him, yet we tend to forget about God and try to live our lives without Him. Take some time out of your day to look at God's creation and list a few reasons you have to praise Him.
-Ashea West

07/25/2023

And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon.

And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

~Luke 5:1-11

After experiencing this miracle, the disciples recognized the giver of the gift was greater than the gift itself. What they had worked so hard for, Jesus did in an instant. But the beauty was that Peter recognized a miracle had taken place and who Jesus was in that moment. The closer we get to Jesus, the more we realize our flaws and the areas where we need help. On the other hand, sometimes we focus more on the miracle than on the miracle worker. They recognized that the benefit would be to stick with Jesus rather than enjoy this temporary miracle. Let's not overlook the eternal gift from God for a temporary solution here on earth.
-Ashea West

07/24/2023

Surely there is a vein for the silver,
and a place for gold where they fine it.
Iron is taken out of the earth,
and brass is molten out of the stone.

But where shall wisdom be found?
and where is the place of understanding?
Man knoweth not the price thereof;
neither is it found in the land of the living.
The depth saith, It is not in me:
and the sea saith, It is not with me.
It cannot be gotten for gold,
neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir,
with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
The gold and the crystal cannot equal it:
and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls:
for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it,
neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

~Job 28:1-2, 12-19

Human beings are always on a quest to find the next best thing or the most valuable thing on earth. Job pointed out that we might know where to find different metals from the earth's core but went on to ask, "Where can wisdom be found?" It is not something that we can buy no matter how many riches we have. This was a part of Job's response to his friend Bildad. Like Job and his friends, we sometimes try to figure out all the intricacies of life with our limited understanding instead of seeking God, who is wisdom. If we want to find wisdom, we just need to seek God.
-Ashea West

07/23/2023

Doth not wisdom cry?
and understanding put forth her voice?
She standeth in the top of high places,
by the way in the places of the paths.
She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city,
at the coming in at the doors.
Unto you, O men, I call;
and my voice is to the sons of man.
O ye simple, understand wisdom:
and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things;
and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
For my mouth shall speak truth;
and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
They are all plain to him that understandeth,
and right to them that find knowledge.
Receive my instruction, and not silver;
and knowledge rather than choice gold.
For wisdom is better than rubies;
and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

I wisdom dwell with prudence,
and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

~Proverbs 8:1-12

The Cambridge dictionary defines wisdom as "the ability to use your knowledge and experience to make good decisions and judgments." In Proverbs, wisdom is personified as a woman calling to all who can hear. But it seems like no one is listening. Even today, how many people are willing to seek knowledge and experience in order to help them make better decisions? We want to have a quick fix to our problems--to listen to a 15 second video or podcast rather than seek out the solutions for ourselves. Wisdom is the most valuable thing you can have, and we all have access to it. Just ask the Giver of good gifts.
-Ashea West

07/22/2023

All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

I will open my mouth in parables;
I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

~Matthew 13:34-43

Jesus proceeded to explain in detail the parable told in verses 24-30. He explained who we are as Christians, how the devil works, what the angels' jobs are, and how the end will be. We all have a part to play in this journey called life, but at the end of it we all will reap our reward. As Christians it is not for us to try to do the job of the angels--which is to pluck out the weeds and cast them into the fire--but our job, which is to shine our light in this dark world. Our righteousness will be rewarded if we stay the course.
-Ashea West

07/21/2023

Happy Sabbath to all of our friends and family around the world! May you be blessed as you rest and worship our Lord on His holy day. Be a part of our weekly shout-out by sharing your greeting and location! 🙂 To learn more about Seventh Day Baptists click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA93EZGF-CU
To learn more about what we believe click here: http://seventhdaybaptist.org/about/statement-of-belief/
If you are close by, we would love for you to come and worship with us! Sabbath School at 10:00 am, Worship Service 11:00. Or you can join us live, right here on facebook!

07/21/2023

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

He said unto them, An enemy hath done this.

The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Matthew 13:24-33

A small amount of faith can have widespread impact. Like the yeast that causes the whole bread to rise or the small mustard seed that will grow into a large tree, a little goodness can do great wonders. This is why I believe that in this parable, the servant was told to leave the weeds among the plants. The good will always overcome the evil and in due time evil will be punished. Too often, we try to root up the weeds among the plants instead of focusing on planting our mustard seed or adding yeast to the dough. Let us continue to do good and watch God take care of the weeds.
-Ashea West

07/20/2023

Remember now thy Creator
in the days of thy youth,
while the evil days come not,
nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say,
I have no pleasure in them;
While the sun, or the light,
or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened,
nor the clouds return after the rain:
In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble,
and the strong men shall bow themselves,
and the grinders cease because they are few,
and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
And the doors shall be shut in the streets,
when the sound of the grinding is low,
and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird,
and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high,
and fears shall be in the way,
and the almond tree shall flourish,
and the grasshopper shall be a burden,
and desire shall fail:
because man goeth to his long home,
and the mourners go about the streets:

Or ever the silver cord be loosed,
or the golden bowl be broken,
or the pitcher be broken at the fountain,
or the wheel broken at the cistern.
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was:
and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher;
all is vanity.

And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. And further, by these, my son, be admonished:

Of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Let us hear
the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his commandments:
for this is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment,
with every secret thing,
whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

~Ecclesiastes 12

Solomon, one of the wisest men that lived, said that God is going to bring everything we do on earth into judgement. But before this, he told us to remember God while we are young. as young people, we not only have the time, but we also have the energy to serve God to the fullest. However, we often waste this time pursuing what the world has to offer instead. But there is coming a time when our eyes will grow dim, our bodies will return to the dust, and our spirits to heaven. When your deeds are brought into judgement, will God be pleased with your decisions? You still have time to change that.
-Ashea West

07/19/2023

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me;
even the night shall be light about me.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee;
but the night shineth as the day:
the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

For thou hast possessed my reins:
thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvellous are thy works;
and that my soul knoweth right well.
My substance was not hid from thee,
when I was made in secret,
and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect;
and in thy book all my members were written,
which in continuance were fashioned,
when as yet there was none of them.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!
how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them,
they are more in number than the sand:
when I awake, I am still with thee.

Search me, O God, and know my heart:
try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

~Psalm 139:11-18, 23-24

Have you ever played hide-and-seek in the dark? Even after giving your eyes sufficient time to adjust, you still cannot see anything. David knew that nothing could hide him from God's sovereign eyes. In the most fragile state--such as a fetus being developed in the womb--God sees it all. He formed us before anyone even knew we were alive. Now that we are out in the open, we have nothing to hide from God because He has been there since our conception. And that is why in the last two verses, the psalmist made a request for God to examine him and show him the flaws he still has.
-Ashea West

07/18/2023

This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare: Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

~2 Corinthians 13:1-10

I recently took the knowledge test for my driver's license. I thought I had studied well and practiced the correct questions, but I still failed. That meant I did not have sufficient knowledge with regard to the road rules to satisfy the state that I could drive safely. Paul had visited the Corinthians twice before and had even written letters, but here he needed to visit them yet again, because they still seem to have missed the mark. At times we think we have the knowledge we need, but during the test we realize where we are lacking. Are you in the faith? Or would you fail that test if it were given today?
-Ashea West

07/17/2023

Blessed is the man
that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord;
and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
his leaf also shall not wither;
and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so:
but are like the chaff
which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous:
but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

~Psalm 1

Water is essential to all living things. Without it they wither and become fruitless. The psalmist described the righteous man and what it means for him to be planted by the river. He does not walk with the wicked; he is not seated with the scornful; and he delights in the Law of God. In doing these things, the righteous will always prosper. He contrasted this to what happens to the wicked who do not follow in the ways of God. As we strive to be righteous, we can take comfort that God is watching over us. The wicked will have their reward.
-Ashea West

07/16/2023

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying,

The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.

And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

~Matthew 3:1-12

As prophesied by Isaiah, John the Baptist's purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah. Do you know what the God-ordained purpose is for your life? John had a duty to preach around him, but his message was undeniable. He was bold to speak the truth to everyone no matter their status. I believe our purpose as believers is to point others to Christ. We do not need to have a large platform, but everyone we come in contact with should learn a little more about God's gospel from us. Like John, let us unashamedly profess Christ so that others can be saved.
-Ashea West

Texarkana SDB Youth

07/26/2023

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