by J. Smith

   The month of March has moved quickly. Here we are approaching Palm Sunday and Easter week. At Olivet, the Ladies craft group had much participation in creating glittering key chains and veteran's quilts. This month schools let out for Spring Break, and many folks hit the road for the week - including our Pastor Chip and his family only to be snowed in North Georgia.
    Upcoming this next Sunday is Palm Sunday, and the service will focus on our Lord's final week before His work at the cross. The church will have a Palm Sunday fellowship following the morning worship along with an Easter egg hunt for the kids in the congregation. There will be no PM service that evening. Easter Sunday we will celebrate our risen Lord's victory in paying for our sins and justifying us before the Heavenly Father. The Olivet choir will sing their Easter musical, "The Resurrection Story" during the AM service. There will be no PM service that night.
    So, as you can tell it has been another busy month. The Facilities team has been keeping the church in order and will be assisting at Hobbs Middle soon with their upcoming projects.
   With all this happening here, then there are the international events with the USA, Israel and Iran. continue to pray protection and mercies over our troops and wisdom for our leaders, and that victory will be granted soon.
   With all of life's busyness, I think of a quote by missionary and author, Elisabeth Elliot, who said, "The devil has made it his business to monopolize on three elements: noise, hurry and crowds. He will not allow quietness."
   And I don't know about you, but I feel this way most days - hurried. To counter the noise, hurry and crowds for His disciples Jesus told them to come aside by themselves and rest. And Psalm 46:10 says to be still and know that He is God, for He will exalt Himself among the nations and in the earth.
   So when overwhelmed, rushed, pressed, and exhausted, I realize my neglect of my Savior, and make time to be still , pray or reach scripture. He tells me to cast my cares upon Him, and so I do. He knows what needs to be done each day, and He gladly carries my burdens and me. What a Great Savior!

The March business meeting had...
Old Business - None discussed
New Business - Annie Armstrong Goal set
Being no other business, the meeting came to an end.

by J. Smith
  The month of February has proven itself true in being a short month. Here we are on the verge of March at the end of the week. Throughout the course of this month, the pastor has continued his new series on 2 Peter – the Growth Epistle. Having wrapped up dealing with False Teachers, he will be heading into Chapter 3 regarding Christ’s Return. If interested in listening and not able to be in attend on Sunday mornings – all AM sermons are posted Monday to the church website: www.olivet.us/sundaysermons.html.
   The Pastor Search Committee is working towards finding the Full Time Pastor the Lord has for Olivet. Please be in prayer that the Lord would guide  and protect in this process.
   In more international news for the month the Winter Olympic Games have come and gone. I know some folks didn’t really get into watching the games, and I understand. I liked tuning in to watch some of the competitions – the skiing always amazes me as I never have been. One course the skier was speeding 75 mph down the hill. That could be frightening if you don’t know how to stop correctly. The speed skating competitions were interesting in seeing the speed but also stamina required. We even had an athlete from Crestview in women’s speed skating who won bronze for the USA. But one story of one young man who was an ice skater for the US stuck with me most, his parents were killed in the airline – helicopter crash over the Potomac a year ago. In the bio piece the network did on him, I learned he did ice skating coaching to children just as his parents did. He said that was therapy for him after their death. I could understand how it was a healthy therapy – he was having to think about others, and in doing so helped him through his grief.  I don’t know if he won any medals, but the night I watched he did a performance that was flawless, and he was proud of it dedicating it to his folks. I was happy for him.
  As believers we are striving for the prize and rewards of heaven. Hebrews 12:1 says, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”  Like the Olympians who had to put pleasures aside in order to train focused on the goal of competing in the Olympics with the ultimate goal of medaling, we too are to be focused on the goal of eternal rewards and winning souls for our Lord. And even when we blunder, our Lord is still able to use us just as He did the apostle Peter. Because our God can work all things together for good (Rom. 8:28) So, may we run well for our Lord and King Christ Jesus.
 

by J. Smith
   The month of January – the beginning of a new year- at Olivet has been quieter. But, it has provided a chance to plan for the coming year.  Around property the wait for the LED lights is over, as they are now installed and greatly illumine the parking lots at night. (However, it is affecting a neighbor behind us, so pray that we can find a remedy that will work.) Like last January, we awoke Sunday, Jan. 18 with a dusting of snow in Florida on the day the service emphasized the Sanctity of Life – both are miracles of God. Moving forward, the Pastor Search Committee has several candidates they are evaluating and hoping to speak with one. Please be in prayer for this that the Lord would have His way.
   As we are taking things day by day, it seems the world around us is growing more and more chaotic. By the looks of things 2 Tim. 3:13web  is coming to pass, “But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived.”
   Since I was a little girl, I have seen an exponential increase in lawlessness, but especially it has become visible and shameless in the last five years. For instance, I can sit at a stop light and see multiple cars blatantly run a red light – not scraping by on the tail end of a yellow but the light is red before their tires hit the intersection. There is no thought of other drivers just selfishness. It reminds me of what Jesus said in Matt. 24:12web, “Because iniquity (sin, wickedness, etc.) will be multiplied the love of many will grow cold.”  I believe we are seeing this begin to play out in our days. All one has to do is watch the evening or national news. Even Isaiah 5:20web is on full display too and God will deal with such people as He warns, “WOE to those who call evil good and good evil…”
   So with all this uncertainty and evil, what should our mindset be for 2026? According to scripture the Lord would have us loving, praying and looking up.
Matt. 5:44web –Jesus commands, “But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you.”  - You may wonder how do we love such hateful people? Because we know the bigger picture – eternity, and apart from Christ all men are doomed. So, we love knowing they don’t know who they belong to, and we pray that the Lord will remove the blinders.
  Why look up? Because Jesus is coming soon. Titus 2:13web – “We wait for our blessed hope- the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
   And you know, if you are looking for Him, there is even a reward – 2 Tim. 4:8, but I’ll let you look that up for yourself.  As we begin 2026, may we shine as lights in our dark world and love, pray and keep looking up.
 

by J. Smith

Here we are at the end of another year. How did we get here so fast?
This year has been one of transformation for Olivet - having gone through the Deep Dive and applied principles learned, the church is moving forward. We have focused on Reaching, Relating and Raising People to Jesus as is our mission statement. We have people active and pursuing ways of reach their communities for Christ. Our Benevolence has faithful volunteers in serving those in need monthly in Milton. Olivet has grown in attendance with more families with children joining the church and attending. And into the new year, the Pastor Search Committee will be more active in pursuing a new full-time senior pastor. Please continue in prayer for the Lord to lead and guide and push Olivet through the doors He has for us while shutting the doors we don't need to go through.
   Sunday, Dec. 21 was Olivet's Christmas Cantata - Sing We Now of Christmas. The Children's choir also participated with singing some carols in the service in celebration of Christ's first coming.
   Then for Christmas Eve and Christmas day, New Years Eve and New Years Day Olivet will have no services and the church office will be closed in honor of the holidays.
   It brings to mind a song I learned when listing to a Bing Crosby Christmas album, and it's called "Christmas is a Comin'" and I have grown to appreciate it as one of my favorites because it captures the spirit of generosity and blessing as Christ was generous and blessed us when we had nothing to offer Him. One line from the song goes, "Christmas is a comin' and the lights are on the tree. How about a turkey leg for poor ol' me. If you haven't got a turkey leg, a turkey wing will do. If you haven't got a turkey wing, then God bless you." and the chorus goes: "God bless you gentlemen, God bless you. If you haven't got a thing for me, may God bless you."
   And isn't that why we celebrate - at the appointed time, God the Father sent His Son into the world, to be Son of God and Son of Man - available to all. All who had nothing but sin and darkness to offer, and yet, He came to rescue and bless us. Do you and your loved ones know the blessing of Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? He came, was born in a barn and then 33 years later died upon a Roman cross to pay for our sins. He rose again the 3rd day victorious - the punishment paid. All He asks of us is repent and believe.
Merry Christmas!

by J.Smith

Autumn has arrived in Milton, Florida. The pumpkin patches are in full swing, and the people are getting lost in corn mazes at the north end of the county. The peanuts are being harvested and soon in November so will the cotton crops.
  At Olivet Baptist another busy month is almost complete. Over the passing days, Olivet has begun its promoting and collecting of shoe boxes for Samaritan's Purse: Operation Christmas Child. The goal for this year was to fill 50 boxes. So far, a good amount have been returned already. The final return date is Sunday, Nov. 16.
   Also, this month was the Annual Santa Rosa Baptist Associational meeting. This year it was held at Cora Baptist in Jay, Florida. Bro. Chip and his wife, Janet, Ms. Shirley P. and Mr. Kenneth T. attended as messengers representing Olivet.
   October has been a creative month for our ladies too. The new crafting group - Crafting for Jesus - has been meeting every Tuesday (except for the 2nd Tuesday as to not compete with the Ladies Morning Out). The ladies have been at work creating "quilted hugs" which is a quilted shawl for our home bound members, and pillowcase dresses to give away in some of the shoe boxes. Even this upcoming Monday, Oct. 27 the ladies will have another bracelet workshop beginning at 9:30 am in the Fellowship Hall. 
  Another item of interest was the baptism service that took place the last Sunday evening of September at one of our deacon's homes located on a cove on the Blackwater River. There several of our new members were baptized and some very unique photos were captured of the event. One that had people talking the most is this one highlighted here.  It was a favorite because of the sun ray coming down on the folks in the water being baptized giving the impression of how personally involved our Lord is in the lives of His people - and the fact of the matter is, He is.
   I Peter 5:7 ASV - Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He careth for you.
   Psalm 55:22a KJV - Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He will sustain thee.
Both of these verses show the Lord's personal involvement, but also our need to cast our cares. Casting, being as we living in fishing territory, is like casting a net. You release your net - you release your care to Him telling the Lord all that burdens you and why.  His word tells us if no one else seems to care - He Does. The Psalmist even testified that the Lord will sustain. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "Sustain" as to give support or relief to; to supply with nourishment; to keep up, to support the weight of; to buoy up; and etc.
   The God of the universe makes the promise to those who fear Him, He will help. He is willing to be involved, but how often do we truly cast our cares on Him and leave it with Him? He is ready and willing to aid us. He is everyday protecting, directing, providing  and seeing us through in many ways that we take for granted. As we head into the Thanksgiving season, we can be grateful for a compassionate Heavenly Lord who cares for us - individually.

by J. Smith
September has been a month of life changing proportions. Going into it, we never imagined how it would play out. Usually, it is a month full of storm worries and preparations, and yet, this month has been strangely calm by God's mercy and grace - at least weather-wise.
   However, another storm was brewing the second week in September. A spiritual battle storm that would reveal itself before a nation and the world.
    The demise of Mr. Charlie Kirk came abruptly causing shock and heartache to many- especially to those in the Christian community. Mr. Kirk was in the adversary's sight - the adversary who goes about like a roaring lion (I Peter 5:8). Why? One reason was because he was bold for Christ Jesus, and he encouraged others to be as well. Satan cannot stand that.
   Since Mr. Kirk's untimely passing, his faithful witness for his Savior has only been broadcast all the more. And like a young Egyptian statesman told his guilt sick, shepherd brothers - what you meant for evil God meant for good. That statesman was Joseph, Jacob's son. So, as in Joseph's case, it has been seen these past few weeks what was born out of evil and hate only caused the gospel and the life changing effects of Christ in one's life to be all the more proclaimed.
   Even after watching the memorial Sunday, Bro. Chip admitted he's never heard so many political figures proclaim Christ Jesus. And only by being filled with God's Holy Spirit could a grieving widow, Mrs. Kirk, have the strength to speak before myriads of souls and declare Jesus Christ who forgives, and because of His forgiveness, she could forgive the man who assassinated her husband. That was the Lord in His people on display for a viewing world to see.
   Are we living so closely to our Lord Jesus that we think like He wants when the tragedies of life are allowed to strike? (Even in Job we see that satan claimed Job's devotion was merely store bought but bring agony and he would curse and abandon God. God knew the character of Job, and that His man's faith was genuine and would prove satan wrong.)
   The days are short. Evil men will grow worse and worse according to scripture.  Jesus exhorts us to know He is coming soon and let no one detour you and take your crown by wrong teaching or lethargy for Him. (Rev. 3:11)
   Let us repent, believe and live for the Lord who died to save us from an eternity of torment meant for the devil, and may we be found faithful to hear Him say to us, "Well done good and faithful servant...Enter into the joy of your Lord." (Matt. 25.23).