Lamentations 3:21-32, "This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.    It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.   They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.   The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.    The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.     It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.    It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.    He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.    He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.    He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.    For the Lord will not cast off for ever: but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies."

Last week's Sunday School lesson's topic was "Free To Celebrate!   According to the Macmillan Dictionary to celebrate means to do something enjoyable in order to show that an occasion or event is special.  How many milestones in our life do you celebrate?   Many people only mark their birthdays and anniversaries.   It's important that you celebrate all of your milestones and major accomplishments also though.   Celebrating gives us a sense of achievement, and it's a great way of rewarding ourselves for a job that we attempted to do well.   Why is celebrating underrated?  Celebrating is something special!    Then, there are some people that seem to celebrate anything at the drop of the hat, but these people really just want an excuse to party!   Do I have any witnesses in the house?   They're not celebrating anything in particular; they just like to eat!   To truly celebrate, you have to have a good reason.   You better know what you shouting about!   Otherwise, it's just a party.   A celebration has to be about something special!  Piney Hill, I want you to know that today is a sad day for me, but it is also something special, worthy of celebration!   I celebrate what God has done; what we have done, here through our short brief ministry here.   I celebrate what Piney Hill has done for me and what God has done here at Piney Hill in our tenure!   Every day, even this day is worthy of celebration!

So today, on this last Sunday officially as your pastor, I would like to talk to you on the subject, "A New Day With Some Sadness And Joy!"

Deuteronomy 28:1-14, "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: and all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.   Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.   Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.  Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.   Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.   The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.    The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.    The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways.    And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee.    And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee.    The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.    And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: and thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them."

Over 20 years ago in January 2002, I was invited to speak at Layman's Revival at Grace Baptist Church and God gave me a message "God is speaking to you - Are you listening?"  I spoke of the song that "Sugg Avery" sang in "Color Purple" "Maybe God is trying to tell you something".  The words of the song said: