Unionville Baptist Church

06/15/2026

“Honoring the Father”

(Eph. 6:2) “Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise.”

What a wonderful holiday we have in “Father’s Day” and what a day we need to recognize too. Praise the Lord for those fathers who seek to remain faithful to their family and desire to train them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). Home is a huge part of the foundation of our nation's society. It is what separates our nation from all other nations. God ordained marriage and the home, so that parents, who are born-again believers, could train up their children in the ways of God (Prov. 22:6), and teach them how to serve the God who created them and provides all that they have from birth to death. But we are living in a time where our present generation has forgotten God’s faithfulness and where men do not want to commit to relationships with women to enter the bonds of marriage to father the family they are responsible.

The Bible teaches us as believers that the Ten Commandments are not the norm for New Testament living, but it doesn’t mean we can break them. Here, Paul reminds us of the commandment to honor our father and mother, and with this commandment comes a promise of a long life to those who choose to keep this commandment (Ex. 20:12). All the other commandments promise something if they are not kept, but do not promise anything if they are kept.

When we think of biblical examples, Samson and Absalom were two sons who failed to keep this commandment, and their lives were cut short. Samson, a judge, died when he was a young man. Absalom rebelled against his father, David and was killed.

A flagrant disregard of this divine law to honor father has in it the seeds of frustration, violence, and degradation. A violation of it will produce in the children of mischievous self-assertion and a bitter resentment of all authority. So, one of the preventions of juvenile delinquency is to honor the father and accept his headship in the family.

Disrespect, ingratitude and neglect toward father is a deadly force that destroys individual character, which in turn pulls down our whole social structure; for the family is the cornerstone of society. Affection, devotion, and respect to father are cardinal virtues, and a society divested of them cannot long survive.

Now for a little confession. A father deserves much more honor than we could appreciate when we were you. Youth have to grow up. Time is an effectual teacher. The years are wrought with strong opposition and staggering blows from a world that youth thinks is easy to conquer. Sons and daughters may not learn this until the father is either old or dead, but there is one thing for sure: they will learn.

And all the while, nature is planning a sure reversal of the order. By and by, those children will grow up and have children of their own, and the drama of parents and children will be re-enacted all over again.

We as fathers must be encouraged today not to listen to the world’s strategy but to trust the Word of God. The first lesson we must teach our children is to listen and respect authority. Once they have learned to listen and respect authority, they will be able to grow up and become a father/mother on their own to know how to raise their children properly. Because the victories of a Christian life are won in the home. If you will remember when Jesus was a boy, he went with Mary and Joseph into Nazareth, and the Bible says Jesus was “subject unto them” (Luke 2:51). Fathers, even in our best attempts, we must remember our children have a free will to do what they choose to do. But if we place Jesus before them daily as they are growing up (Deut. 6:4-7) and train them up in the way they should go, when they are old, they will not depart from it. But when we choose to allow them to make their own decisions and not to be fathers who lead our children through discipline, we see the lowest form of lawlessness that will occur in the last days: “disobedient to parents” (2 Tim. 3:2).

Father, I don’t know about you, but one thing that I determined to do when God blessed me with my two girls was not to allow them to make the same mistakes that I made in life. I was not going to allow them to be targets of Satan. Therefore, I did all that I could do to give them Jesus from the time they could understand, until the time they left home. That meant living Jesus out in my life before them, so that my two girls would know what true love was from a man. I can testify today that God has honored that! Both of my girls have been born-again. Both have found their prince of a husband, who I can say loves them almost as much as I love them. Ha. Ha. So, Father be encouraged, God is faithful to His promise to do exactly what He said He would do. If you want to see your children live long upon this earth, then start training them how to honor you as a Father and also start training yourself to live a life for Christ that can be honored!

We love you,

Preacher and Mrs. Wendy

06/15/2026

Good Morning All!

Ezra’s Prayer

“And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.” Ezra 9:5-8

The people had broken God’s law, and Ezra was deeply moved when he heard about it. When he began to pray and confess the sin of the people, he included himself in asking for God’s forgiveness. Ezra was taking responsibility upon himself for the failures of his fellow countrymen. His attitude was not one of piousness or self-righteousness. He genuinely wept before God and asked for God’s forgiveness. Ezra’s prayer sparked a revival of obedience among his people.

As Christians, we understand that God wants everyone to obey Him. When the people around us fail to follow the Lord, do we point our fingers in blame or do we go to God in prayer?

Have A Blessed Day!

06/14/2026

06/14/2026

“The Power of a Little Thing”

(James 3:5) “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”

It seems today we hear a lot about freedom of the press and freedom of speech. But all that freedom of speech means today is that folks are trying to brainwash you into their worldly thinking, and freedom of the press means they are trying to convince you of their liberal views. I would love for someone to grant us freedom of hearing. After all, God did give us two ears and one mouth. We need freedom of hearing as much if not more than we need freedom of speech.

That is what James is dealing with: freedom of hearing according to God’s holy Word. James has a lot to say about the use and abuse of the tongue. Did you know that every word you speak God knows and records (Matthew 12:36). Knowing that the average person speaks about 12,000 to 16,000 words a day, that is a lot of words. The problem with freedom of speech is not only a problem in the world but also within the church. The problem within the church is called gossip. James teaches in Chapter 3 that God tests the believer's faith according to their tongue. James warned us in Chapter 1 this test was coming; “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain” (James 1:26). James also reminded us, “… let every man be swift to hear, sow to speak…” (James 1:19). There is a reason God gave us two ears, that we could hear twice as much as what we say.

The tongue is the most dangerous weapon in the world. Someone said, “It was a miracle in Balaam’s day when Balaam’s donkey spoke. But the miracle in our day is when the donkey remains silent!” Someone else made a wise statement: “it takes a baby two years to learn to talk and fifty years to learn to keep their mouth shut.”

Notice James reminds us how small the tongue is, and yet it can “boast great things”. In other words, what trouble it can get us into, what fires it can spark, but also, what lives it can change with the right words! The tongue is something that can either do much good or great evil. We choose how we use our tongues; we can either use our tongues to destroy people or to encourage them. James tells us in that this little member of our body can work like a bit in a horse's mouth (James 3:3). When we place a bit in a thousand-pound quarter horse, we can turn that horse any direction we want to go. He also tells us that the tongue is like a small rudder on a ship (James 3:4). The rudder is so small, compared to the size of the ship, yet that small rudder can move that huge ship, even in great winds of storms, wherever we want it to go. So, our tongues can control our whole life, especially if we don’t watch our tongue to control it.

So, in the same logic, we can say:

“How great a strife a little word ignites.”

“How great a liar a little fib commences.”

“How great a murderer a little hate kindles.”

“How great a wrath a little temper foments.”

“How great a fool a little riches can manifest.”

“How great a drunkard a little wine produces.”

“How great an apostacy a little error starts.”

“How great a destruction a little neglect effects.”

But also:

“How great a church a little beginning starts.”

“How great a movement a little vision awakens.”

“How great a person a little child becomes.”

“How great a lump a little leaven makes.”

“How great a friendship a little effort produces.”

“How great a joy a little smile gives.”

“How great an encouragement a little word provides.”

“How great an appreciation a little gift stirs.”

“How great a satisfaction a little good yields.”

“How great a beam a little candle throws.”

“How great a business a little planning begets.”

“How great an oak a little acorn becomes.”

Greatness is inherent in people, qualities, things, and circumstances, just as it is in an oak. I am little, and I know it, but with God’s help, I can be a powerful force. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13). Start today by realizing you have control of that little member in your mouth. Use it for the glory of God, as you choose to encourage someone and glorify God for His faithfulness in your life today.

We love you,

Preacher and Mrs. Wendy

06/12/2026

Good Morning All!

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
— Proverbs 3:5 (KJV)

Devotional Thought

Life often places us in situations where we cannot see the next step clearly. We want answers, direction, and certainty. Yet God never promised that we would understand everything. Instead, He calls us to trust Him.

Trusting the Lord means placing our confidence in His wisdom rather than our own. When circumstances are confusing, God’s plan is still perfect. When doors close, He is still guiding. When prayers seem unanswered, He is still working behind the scenes.

Many of God’s greatest servants walked by faith and not by sight. Abraham left his homeland without knowing where God would lead him. Moses stood before the Red Sea with no visible solution. David faced Goliath with confidence in God’s power. In every case, God proved Himself faithful.

Today, whatever burden or uncertainty you carry, remember that God’s understanding is unlimited, His love is unchanging, and His promises are sure. Trust Him with your heart, your family, your ministry, and your future.

Have A Blessed Day!

06/11/2026

06/11/2026

Good Morning All!

The Decree of Cyrus

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.” Ezra 1:1-3

The book of Ezra begins with a proclamation from Cyrus, the leader of the known world, to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem. The purpose of the temple was to encourage and facilitate the worship of God. Though God is omnipresent and we can worship Him anywhere and at any time, the physical existence of the temple served several purposes. Perhaps the greatest purpose of the temple being rebuilt was that it was prophesied that the Messiah would come to the temple. God was using Cyrus, a heathen king, to help prepare the way for the completion of His redemption plan. This truth further confirms our faith in the Lord Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ of God.

Have A Blessed Day!

06/10/2026

06/10/2026

Good Morning All!

No Fault in Him

“Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. John 19:4-6

Pilate told the crowd gathered outside his judgment hall three times that he found no fault in Jesus. Of course, he found no fault in Jesus because He was the perfect, sinless Son of God. There was no fault to be found in Him. The religious leaders found fault in Jesus because they did not believe that He was the Messiah. They were not convinced by the miracles they had seen Him perform, nor by the words that they had heard Him speak. They found fault in the very fact that He claimed to be the Son of God. It seems that few people that day felt the same as Pilate did. The religious leaders hated Jesus and wanted to get rid of Him. The disciples were disappointed in Jesus because they wanted Him to set up His kingdom and throw off the Roman government. Unfortunately, some Christians today could not truly say that they find no fault in Jesus. They blame the Lord for situations in their lives that make them feel uncomfortable. They blame Him because He has not answered their prayers. Are you blaming God for something in your life today, or can you say that you find no fault in Him at all?

Have A Blessed Day!