Yesterday's sermon was on being real with God. From the text of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount where he says (6:1-6, 16-18) to beware of our practicing our piety before others to get our reward from them, the instruction is for us to have a genuine and real relationship with God. Play acting before God counts for nothing. God desires us to be honest with ourselves, with others, and especially with Him.
Here's our study guide for today:
Monday: It’s in the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:16 says, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Yet, the pages of the Bible, including the case against Jesus and later Paul, were filled with “false witness.” If one is to be “real” with God there is some need to be real with ourselves. Why are we sometimes not “real?” A seminary professor of mine would quote above the essay section of exams, Psalms 50:9 (his translation) “I will accept no bull,” as a way of stressing that he wanted the best from us and not just ramblings. The Lord said it first! Pray the words of the Psalm that comes after the above mentioned one: Psalm 51:10-12.
Here are the words from the psalmist in the above mentioned text, starting earlier with verse 9:
9 But why should I want your blue-ribbon bull, or more and more goats from your herds? 10 Every creature in the forest is mine, the wild animals on all the mountains. 11 I know every mountain bird by name; the scampering field mice are my friends. 12 If I get hungry, do you think I'd tell you? All creation and its bounty are mine. 13 Do you think I feast on venison? or drink draughts of goats' blood? 14 Spread for me a banquet of praise, serve High God a feast of kept promises, 15 And call for help when you're in trouble - I'll help you, and you'll honor me." (The Message)
God, our God, the awesome God of all the universe has everything at His command. What he wants more than anything else is a real relationship with us. Like I mentioned in the sermon back in the day when dating was still around, we can't fool God with accomplishments, attributes, or assets. God knows what we have, God wants who we are, not what we pretend to be.
Let today be a day of becoming honest with God and with ourselves.
PRAYER: God, thank you for sharing Jesus with us. Thank you for forgiving our sins and letting us be real with You. We pray that this would carry over into all areas of our lives. Let us be real with ourselves and in turn, real with others, especially those who love us. Bless those who are in need. And use us for blessing others as well. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day.
Blessings,
e.v.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
It's SUNDAY, Let Monday Come! But first....
Dear Lord, it's Sunday! This is Your day and for that we thank you. We praise You or should, if we can get out of bed. This was a day intended for singing, if we would only open our mouths. This was a day to get to Your house and enjoy the dinner of Your Word as we fellowship together, one with the other. Let us indeed love the other so we can love the one. Let the praises from Heaven fill our spirits right now. May we seek the splendor of Your radiance and joy as we hear your word, sing your praises and worship you through prayer and psalm.
Come, Lord Jesus, bring Your Holy Spirit into our lives! We praise you for this special gift of the present. And let us not fret about Monday or Tuesday or even Wednesday, for today is enough. Thank You! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus, bring Your Holy Spirit into our lives! We praise you for this special gift of the present. And let us not fret about Monday or Tuesday or even Wednesday, for today is enough. Thank You! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Friday, January 28, 2005
A Prayer for Today
Friday: For our day of prayer pray for those who suffer an unhealthy appetite for the things of the flesh. May the Lord who reigns in all areas of our lives come to live in a healthy way in our hearts that indeed we may be His as we seek Him in all things.
Gracious God, we live in a beautiful world. All your hands have created is good. We are the ones who distort and abuse of your creation and for that we ask forgiveness. We were created wonderfully. We were created in Your image. We were given wonderful appetites that have helped us stay alive, loved, and strong. But we ask forgiveness and help for those appetites that get out of control sometimes. Give us the mind of Christ so that we might have Your eyes, to appreciate and to understand, to cherish and honor, instead of lusting and wanting and using. We know now that Your son Jesus wanted us to respect one another and to see one another as brothers and sisters in Your love and not as objects to be desired and used. Our special prayer is for those who might be addicted to pornography that Your grace would break those bonds and bring them to a deeper appreciation of your creation. Bless us and let us be a blessing to you. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day today and a wonderful weekend. Please be in prayer for the junior high of our church who are going to their Midwinter Retreat in Leakey, Texas. We pray safe travel for all who are to be there this weekend.
Don't forget about being in worship this weekend! The week ahead just isn't the same without being in God's House!
Blessings!
e.v.
Gracious God, we live in a beautiful world. All your hands have created is good. We are the ones who distort and abuse of your creation and for that we ask forgiveness. We were created wonderfully. We were created in Your image. We were given wonderful appetites that have helped us stay alive, loved, and strong. But we ask forgiveness and help for those appetites that get out of control sometimes. Give us the mind of Christ so that we might have Your eyes, to appreciate and to understand, to cherish and honor, instead of lusting and wanting and using. We know now that Your son Jesus wanted us to respect one another and to see one another as brothers and sisters in Your love and not as objects to be desired and used. Our special prayer is for those who might be addicted to pornography that Your grace would break those bonds and bring them to a deeper appreciation of your creation. Bless us and let us be a blessing to you. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day today and a wonderful weekend. Please be in prayer for the junior high of our church who are going to their Midwinter Retreat in Leakey, Texas. We pray safe travel for all who are to be there this weekend.
Don't forget about being in worship this weekend! The week ahead just isn't the same without being in God's House!
Blessings!
e.v.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
The Temple of the Lord!
I can still remember hearing the verse from 1 Corinthians 6:19 when my Sunday school teacher talked about "the body being the Temple of the Lord." Wow, I thought, that's quite the responsibility! I have to make sure that if God is to be worshipped inside of me I have to make sure this place is clean!
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: Let us reread the passage from 1 Corinthians 6:13b-20. His comments are very honest and don’t pull any punches. Did you know the word for fornication is pornia from which the word pornography comes? Did Paul miss the mark in his teachings? Or was he right on the money?
Paul gets specific in his instructions to the Christians in Corinth and to us: If we are going to "clean house" we have to make sure we're not thinking like those early Christians that thought that being a Christian was a spiritual matter and that anything done to the body would not affect the spirit. Paul knew better and so should we. We do not and cannot separate the spirit from the body. It's a complete package and it was meant to glorify God. As you read the word in Greek for fornication (sexual sins) it is pornia from where we get pornography. We don't have to talk about how prevelent that stuff is today. You can't get online without getting some ad or link that would love us to visit a porno site. And porn is simply that which would lead us away from glorifying God and gratifying our own desire.
Let us seek ways to really make God feel at home in this "temple" that we carry around. If God is to be worshiped in this temple, we need for it to reflect that which is conducive for true worship. Need help in cleaning up? Call the Master, Jesus to come in.
PRAYER: Come in Lord Jesus and clean my heart. Let me leave behind that which seeks to drag me down and corrupt me. Let my heart, body and soul be the temple of the Lord. Let the windows of this temple radiate the light of Christ which shines within. We pray in His name. Amen.
Have a great day filled with blessings!
e.v.
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: Let us reread the passage from 1 Corinthians 6:13b-20. His comments are very honest and don’t pull any punches. Did you know the word for fornication is pornia from which the word pornography comes? Did Paul miss the mark in his teachings? Or was he right on the money?
Paul gets specific in his instructions to the Christians in Corinth and to us: If we are going to "clean house" we have to make sure we're not thinking like those early Christians that thought that being a Christian was a spiritual matter and that anything done to the body would not affect the spirit. Paul knew better and so should we. We do not and cannot separate the spirit from the body. It's a complete package and it was meant to glorify God. As you read the word in Greek for fornication (sexual sins) it is pornia from where we get pornography. We don't have to talk about how prevelent that stuff is today. You can't get online without getting some ad or link that would love us to visit a porno site. And porn is simply that which would lead us away from glorifying God and gratifying our own desire.
Let us seek ways to really make God feel at home in this "temple" that we carry around. If God is to be worshiped in this temple, we need for it to reflect that which is conducive for true worship. Need help in cleaning up? Call the Master, Jesus to come in.
PRAYER: Come in Lord Jesus and clean my heart. Let me leave behind that which seeks to drag me down and corrupt me. Let my heart, body and soul be the temple of the Lord. Let the windows of this temple radiate the light of Christ which shines within. We pray in His name. Amen.
Have a great day filled with blessings!
e.v.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Use The Mirror!
The Bible has been called the mirror of our soul. We can hold it up against ourselves and see just where we are, who we are, where we need to be and Whose we need to be.
For today here is our study guide:
Wednesday: Here’s our action for today. Study the state of your heart. Does it yearn for God and God’s heart? Or are you still sitting on your own throne of your heart ruling your life for your own pleasures? This is exactly what Jesus was preaching against. Examine your heart in a way that will bring fullness of life to you as you seek God to rule your life.
What does your heart desire? We've set goals for ourselves and tried to realize our dreams and that's not a bad thing in and of itself. But have we stopped to listen to God's leading to see where God would lead us? For many years I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but for the wrong reasons. This was back in the days when doctors made real money! ;) Way before HMOs and PPOs and other acronyms for "Making Insurance Money." It was in a slow, gradual way that I came to realize that talking about God and God's love was what made me happy. I yearned to be in church, Sunday school, youth group, etc. It was through those experiences that I heard God calling.
If your dreams and goals reflect a selfcenteredness, today is your day. This is the day to let go and let God. Let God rule your life with love, joy, and peace. Seek God's fulfillment for your life so that you will know that you're indeed serving Him. If you're out for conquests, let you be the first conquered by God. Let your heart yearn for the One the only one, who can bring you true fulfillment.
PRAYER: God of life, come into my heart to stay. Come in today, conquer me and my selfishness. Rule in my life with your love, joy, and peace. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
For today here is our study guide:
Wednesday: Here’s our action for today. Study the state of your heart. Does it yearn for God and God’s heart? Or are you still sitting on your own throne of your heart ruling your life for your own pleasures? This is exactly what Jesus was preaching against. Examine your heart in a way that will bring fullness of life to you as you seek God to rule your life.
What does your heart desire? We've set goals for ourselves and tried to realize our dreams and that's not a bad thing in and of itself. But have we stopped to listen to God's leading to see where God would lead us? For many years I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but for the wrong reasons. This was back in the days when doctors made real money! ;) Way before HMOs and PPOs and other acronyms for "Making Insurance Money." It was in a slow, gradual way that I came to realize that talking about God and God's love was what made me happy. I yearned to be in church, Sunday school, youth group, etc. It was through those experiences that I heard God calling.
If your dreams and goals reflect a selfcenteredness, today is your day. This is the day to let go and let God. Let God rule your life with love, joy, and peace. Seek God's fulfillment for your life so that you will know that you're indeed serving Him. If you're out for conquests, let you be the first conquered by God. Let your heart yearn for the One the only one, who can bring you true fulfillment.
PRAYER: God of life, come into my heart to stay. Come in today, conquer me and my selfishness. Rule in my life with your love, joy, and peace. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Gainfully Employed Saints?
Wesley's prayer says, "Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, Exalted for thee or brought low for thee."
As we continue to "Leave Desire Behind" let us see today's study guide recommendation:
Tuesday: The prayer above also say we should be “employed” by God. That means we should seek to be thinking about what God would have us do every moment we think about it. If we spend time away from God in doing nothing, that’s when temptation comes. Read Proverbs 6:20-35 and 7:1-27. Review the seven keys to overcoming temptation as were shared on Sunday. Are they present in these passages of Scripture?
Proverbs 6:20-35 basically reaffirms what Jesus and St. Paul said, temptation comes so easily and giving in costs so much. If we seek to be employed for the sake of the Lord our employment should make us stronger when it comes to temptation. The writer in Proverbs stresses to keep God's commands upon our hearts and to "tied them around your neck" and as a result "(v22) When you walk, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you." The author of Proverbs goes on to say that if you're caught, especially a man with the wife of a jealous man, you may even die. (I recommend you read both passages when you have a chance!)
How do you spend your "free time?" If you're a student, you've said, "What free time?" But you know if you have free time you should dedicate it to that subject which is causing you the most trouble. But that time between assignments and studying should be part of your devotional time, as it should be with us between work and home, or between phone calls, etc. Let us be employed for God. Let our mind be set on God alone and see if we don't get great strength when we need it.
PRAYER: God of all strength, put us to work in thinking about You and Your great love for us. Let me see how Your Kingdom could be blessed by what we do. When we get tempted, put us to work. Let us indeed be employed for You. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
Now get to work!
e.v.
As we continue to "Leave Desire Behind" let us see today's study guide recommendation:
Tuesday: The prayer above also say we should be “employed” by God. That means we should seek to be thinking about what God would have us do every moment we think about it. If we spend time away from God in doing nothing, that’s when temptation comes. Read Proverbs 6:20-35 and 7:1-27. Review the seven keys to overcoming temptation as were shared on Sunday. Are they present in these passages of Scripture?
Proverbs 6:20-35 basically reaffirms what Jesus and St. Paul said, temptation comes so easily and giving in costs so much. If we seek to be employed for the sake of the Lord our employment should make us stronger when it comes to temptation. The writer in Proverbs stresses to keep God's commands upon our hearts and to "tied them around your neck" and as a result "(v22) When you walk, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you." The author of Proverbs goes on to say that if you're caught, especially a man with the wife of a jealous man, you may even die. (I recommend you read both passages when you have a chance!)
How do you spend your "free time?" If you're a student, you've said, "What free time?" But you know if you have free time you should dedicate it to that subject which is causing you the most trouble. But that time between assignments and studying should be part of your devotional time, as it should be with us between work and home, or between phone calls, etc. Let us be employed for God. Let our mind be set on God alone and see if we don't get great strength when we need it.
PRAYER: God of all strength, put us to work in thinking about You and Your great love for us. Let me see how Your Kingdom could be blessed by what we do. When we get tempted, put us to work. Let us indeed be employed for You. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
Now get to work!
e.v.
Monday, January 24, 2005
Now I Belong to Jesus!
My dad has a wonderful singing voice that he used many times in worship with a courage I could never equal, he sang solos. One of the ones that brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it was "Ahora Soy de Cristo" (translated "Now I Belong to Jesus"). Those words to that old hymn relate closely to Wesley's Covenant prayer, a model of which follows:
A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition: “I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, Exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Thou art mine and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
Monday: Look at the above prayer. It’s been on this page now for three weeks. Have you made time to pray it? Look at Whose we are! We no longer belong to ourselves, we belong to God! And as such, we should seek to honor our God with our behavior that keeps us away from the evil that the world offers. What’s in your “heart” as Jesus said in the message yesterday?
I have included it in the sermon notes insert of our bulletin since the second Sunday of the New Year. We had a worship service on the first Wednesday based on Wesley's Covenant Service and I just wanted us to be aware of the words.
Yesterday's sermon from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount was on the passage about commiting adultery in our hearts if we even look on someone with lust. This prayer reminds us that if we are to follow Jesus' model of purity of heart, mind and deed, we have to know we belong to Him. We seek to honor He to Whom we belong.
What's in your heart this morning? If it's unpure, unclean, not Spiritually inspired, ask God to remove it so that we can live a life inspired by God.
PRAYER: God of love and life, we thank you for wanting us. Help us to know that we are Yours now and forever. You paid the price for us through Jesus Christ and we ask we may be a blessing to You. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Friends, as you continue your prayer life today remember the Cude family as we bid farewell to Willis Cude this morning at 10 a.m. Also, Saturday, the Donaldson family is having a graveside service for their mother and father at San Marcos City Cemetery. May God bring comfort to those who are hurting.
We celebrate the five new members we received yesterday at our first Coffee with the Pastor. We'll recognize these new members next Sunday at all three services.
We also thank all of you who came to the Gospel Night and Fish Fry! What an awesome night of praising God through music. If you couldn't make it you missed the tremendous message through music of Wesley UMC's Intergenerational Choir and the leading of their pastor, The Rev. Sylvester Chase. What a crowd gathered and what fellowship and food! Also, what delicious cakes were auctioned too! (If you happened to have bought that carrot cake, I'm available for coffee and cake any time! ;)
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition: “I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, Exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Thou art mine and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
Monday: Look at the above prayer. It’s been on this page now for three weeks. Have you made time to pray it? Look at Whose we are! We no longer belong to ourselves, we belong to God! And as such, we should seek to honor our God with our behavior that keeps us away from the evil that the world offers. What’s in your “heart” as Jesus said in the message yesterday?
I have included it in the sermon notes insert of our bulletin since the second Sunday of the New Year. We had a worship service on the first Wednesday based on Wesley's Covenant Service and I just wanted us to be aware of the words.
Yesterday's sermon from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount was on the passage about commiting adultery in our hearts if we even look on someone with lust. This prayer reminds us that if we are to follow Jesus' model of purity of heart, mind and deed, we have to know we belong to Him. We seek to honor He to Whom we belong.
What's in your heart this morning? If it's unpure, unclean, not Spiritually inspired, ask God to remove it so that we can live a life inspired by God.
PRAYER: God of love and life, we thank you for wanting us. Help us to know that we are Yours now and forever. You paid the price for us through Jesus Christ and we ask we may be a blessing to You. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Friends, as you continue your prayer life today remember the Cude family as we bid farewell to Willis Cude this morning at 10 a.m. Also, Saturday, the Donaldson family is having a graveside service for their mother and father at San Marcos City Cemetery. May God bring comfort to those who are hurting.
We celebrate the five new members we received yesterday at our first Coffee with the Pastor. We'll recognize these new members next Sunday at all three services.
We also thank all of you who came to the Gospel Night and Fish Fry! What an awesome night of praising God through music. If you couldn't make it you missed the tremendous message through music of Wesley UMC's Intergenerational Choir and the leading of their pastor, The Rev. Sylvester Chase. What a crowd gathered and what fellowship and food! Also, what delicious cakes were auctioned too! (If you happened to have bought that carrot cake, I'm available for coffee and cake any time! ;)
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Friday, January 21, 2005
Alma Mater does good by me...almost in all areas!
The pictures below this posting are from our trip to Jacksonville, Texas to leave Alfiado J. Franca to his new college, Lon Morris College, a United Methodist junior college. This is where I started my higher educational journey in 1971. Much of the campus has stayed the same, but overall signs of growth and financial commitment are evident. What has not changed is the wonderful spirit of love and warmth that I felt from almost everyone on campus when I set foot there as a student. The way they received Alf made me proud to tell all who worked there, "I graduated from here in 1973!" That opened a lot of doors, even after getting caught being in my old dorm without the access code! Oh, that changed since I was there. No longer is there a mandatory curfew for women, but now both sexes have to be in their rooms by 12 midnight or the codes don't work. A security guard has to let them in.
Alf will do well. Pray for him! Pray that the testing center found his test! That was the only disappointing thing of today, but if you've seen my office, you know those things happen!
Praise you Father for safe travel and for opening doors!!!
Alf will do well. Pray for him! Pray that the testing center found his test! That was the only disappointing thing of today, but if you've seen my office, you know those things happen!
Praise you Father for safe travel and for opening doors!!!
The former president's residence is now the Welcome Center. The Texas Conference recommends all churches to go this route and the college is no exception.
Posted by Hello
Posted by Hello
Inside Room 201. The dorm director spelled out all the don'ts! She was a nice and funny lady. Sherry is her name! She screamed down the hall in the manner she does not want residents screaming! Funny!
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Posted by Hello
Alfiado in front of Fair Hall where he will live in Room 201. No roommate for now! He and Jeremias did stack the beds to allow for more height on the bed.
Posted by Hello
Posted by Hello
Jay ponders the wall of the Learning Enrichment Center where brother Alfiado was taking his entrance exam.
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There's a bearcat! Fierce looking cartoon character! The back of a nice, I repeat NICE bus that having an awesome basketball team afford a school! The soccer team is also allowed to use it!
Posted by Hello
Posted by Hello
The College proudly flies the United Methodist, Lon Morris, State and US flags in front of the gym where Saturday the number one ranked Bearcats host Kilgore Jr. College. LMC has lost only one game in 17. Lance smells a national title! Go 'Cats!
Posted by Hello
Posted by Hello
This is Clark Hall, where Pastor E resided in the two years. We managed to follow some students in where the dorm director caught us. But Pastor E's magic words, "I lived here in '73" made her smile. We had a nice visit with her.
Posted by Hello
Posted by Hello
In the Dean's office as he explains to Alf he must take an entrance exam to determine in which classes to place him. "Is there a study guide?" asks Alfiado. "No," replies the dean, "your high school years were your study guide."
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Posted by Hello
The College is building a new administration building so for now the Academic Dean is in the Cafeteria! The entourage heading to see Dean John Ross.
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The Director of Housing assigning Alfiado to Fair Hall, which in my day was the girl's dorm, now a boy's dorm.
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LMC 3: There are only two classroom buildings for Lon Morris just as it was in 1971 thru 73 when Pastor Eddie was there. The building of the left is the Science building and the one on the right is the Liberal Arts building.
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Posted by Hello
LMC 2: Lance leading Alfiado to the Housing Office. He's trying to explain exactly what a "bearcat" is. He thinks it's the Chinese word for panda. Okay...
Posted by Hello
Posted by Hello
After our initial meeting with Admissions Staff, Lance walks us to the Director of Housing. The buildng in the background is the Library and the Technology Center
Posted by Hello
Posted by Hello
LOVE OUR ENEMIES?
Good day dear friends.
As we begin our time of devotion, let us lift up the family of Willis Cude who died yesterday. A wonderful Christian man, he will be missed by many. His funeral will be Monday in our church at 10 a.m. Burial will be at the Lockhart City Cemetery immediately afterward. Visitation will be at Penningtons on Sunday afternoon. Please call the church office for more information.
If you've called the church office in the last couple of days you may have noticed that Shirley is no longer with us. Due to some family concerns she had to leave us on Tuesday and we hope to find a replacement for her soon. Lydia Reynolds is temporarily filling in for us as administrative assistant.
As we continue to study forgiveness, let's ask this question: Have we learned to forgive the Vietnamese? The Japanese? The Germans? The Taliban?
Here is our study guide for today.
Friday: For this Friday, let us pray for our national enemies. Let us pray for those personal enemies, such as illness, poverty, distress, anxiety, despair, whatever seeks to rob us of the fullness of life. Pray for wisdom and understanding on how we can make a difference towards these enemies and in the lives of those we love who are being attacked by these.
As much as we as Americans believe we do good for the world, some countries and some individuals just hate us. They resent who we are and what we stand for. Some are willing to give their lives in taking American lives. These are not heroic acts in any sense of the word, these are acts of hatred. Yet, Jesus' words speak to us and our nation; we are to love even these people. We are even to pray for them.
So spend some time praying blessings upon those whose hearts against us are filled with hatred. Let God deal with them. Let peace from God fill their hearts and ours.
PRAYER: Gracious God of all people. It is so hard to follow Your teachings sometimes. Give us a heart like Yours so that we may indeed love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.
**DON'T FORGET!! Sunday, "Leaving Desire Behind" a sermon on Jesus' words in Matthew 5:27-30. Come and join in the worship of an awesome God who loves us so much. God is worthy of our praise! And no better place to praise than in God's house!!
***AND AND AND: Sunday night is our Gospel Night and Fish Fry starting at 5:30. We'll be starting with the "soul food" in the church, having a great time of music and praise then we'll move to the Activities Building for some great "body food." Tickets are still available by calling Sherry DeMarcay at the church.
Have a blessed day!
e.v.
As we begin our time of devotion, let us lift up the family of Willis Cude who died yesterday. A wonderful Christian man, he will be missed by many. His funeral will be Monday in our church at 10 a.m. Burial will be at the Lockhart City Cemetery immediately afterward. Visitation will be at Penningtons on Sunday afternoon. Please call the church office for more information.
If you've called the church office in the last couple of days you may have noticed that Shirley is no longer with us. Due to some family concerns she had to leave us on Tuesday and we hope to find a replacement for her soon. Lydia Reynolds is temporarily filling in for us as administrative assistant.
As we continue to study forgiveness, let's ask this question: Have we learned to forgive the Vietnamese? The Japanese? The Germans? The Taliban?
Here is our study guide for today.
Friday: For this Friday, let us pray for our national enemies. Let us pray for those personal enemies, such as illness, poverty, distress, anxiety, despair, whatever seeks to rob us of the fullness of life. Pray for wisdom and understanding on how we can make a difference towards these enemies and in the lives of those we love who are being attacked by these.
As much as we as Americans believe we do good for the world, some countries and some individuals just hate us. They resent who we are and what we stand for. Some are willing to give their lives in taking American lives. These are not heroic acts in any sense of the word, these are acts of hatred. Yet, Jesus' words speak to us and our nation; we are to love even these people. We are even to pray for them.
So spend some time praying blessings upon those whose hearts against us are filled with hatred. Let God deal with them. Let peace from God fill their hearts and ours.
PRAYER: Gracious God of all people. It is so hard to follow Your teachings sometimes. Give us a heart like Yours so that we may indeed love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.
**DON'T FORGET!! Sunday, "Leaving Desire Behind" a sermon on Jesus' words in Matthew 5:27-30. Come and join in the worship of an awesome God who loves us so much. God is worthy of our praise! And no better place to praise than in God's house!!
***AND AND AND: Sunday night is our Gospel Night and Fish Fry starting at 5:30. We'll be starting with the "soul food" in the church, having a great time of music and praise then we'll move to the Activities Building for some great "body food." Tickets are still available by calling Sherry DeMarcay at the church.
Have a blessed day!
e.v.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
got betrayed?
Good day dear friends.
Nan J. Mitchell who a few years ago was a member of our church and a longtime educator in this area, will have her funeral today at 2 p.m. at Pennington's. Please hold her family in your prayers. Nan was 97 years old.
Here is our study guide recommendation for today:
Thursday: Let us read Luke 22. Jesus has spent three years with his disciples. He know his end is coming and worse, he knows that one of them is to betray him. Read especially verses 47 and 48. Do you think there was ever any anger or hatred toward Judas by Jesus? Why or why not? What would you have done?
Here are those two verses in Luke 22: 47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; 48 but Jesus said to him, "Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?"
We know Jesus was capable of anger as we saw in the Temple at the start of his last week on earth. When Jesus spoke about the meek he was using a word that justifies anger at the right time. However, I think he felt sadness that Judas still chose to do what he felt was best in betraying Jesus. Is sadness as bad as anger? It can be, but I believe Jesus kept loving Judas. The harder question, what would we have done? Besides saying, "I can't believe you're doing this to me," this is a difficult question. Betrayal goes directly against trust and commitment. Betrayal usually goes right into the betrayal's heart as saying I need to do this for me and I don't care what harm it may bring the other person.
What must you do today to enter into the fullness of life as promised by Jesus? Is forgiveness a part of agenda? Should it be?
PRAYER: Gracious loving God, love me today as I need to love others. Forgive me today as I need to forgive others. And let me be the person I need to be so that the fullness of life can be mine and my life can bless the lives of others. Let me be a blessing today! I pray in He who blesses me, Jesus my Lord. Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
Nan J. Mitchell who a few years ago was a member of our church and a longtime educator in this area, will have her funeral today at 2 p.m. at Pennington's. Please hold her family in your prayers. Nan was 97 years old.
Here is our study guide recommendation for today:
Thursday: Let us read Luke 22. Jesus has spent three years with his disciples. He know his end is coming and worse, he knows that one of them is to betray him. Read especially verses 47 and 48. Do you think there was ever any anger or hatred toward Judas by Jesus? Why or why not? What would you have done?
Here are those two verses in Luke 22: 47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; 48 but Jesus said to him, "Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?"
We know Jesus was capable of anger as we saw in the Temple at the start of his last week on earth. When Jesus spoke about the meek he was using a word that justifies anger at the right time. However, I think he felt sadness that Judas still chose to do what he felt was best in betraying Jesus. Is sadness as bad as anger? It can be, but I believe Jesus kept loving Judas. The harder question, what would we have done? Besides saying, "I can't believe you're doing this to me," this is a difficult question. Betrayal goes directly against trust and commitment. Betrayal usually goes right into the betrayal's heart as saying I need to do this for me and I don't care what harm it may bring the other person.
What must you do today to enter into the fullness of life as promised by Jesus? Is forgiveness a part of agenda? Should it be?
PRAYER: Gracious loving God, love me today as I need to love others. Forgive me today as I need to forgive others. And let me be the person I need to be so that the fullness of life can be mine and my life can bless the lives of others. Let me be a blessing today! I pray in He who blesses me, Jesus my Lord. Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Write a letter
Good day dear friends,
As we pray lift up Phyllis Gaddi, Kathy Snyder, and Shirley Schultz
in your prayers. Also for the family of Nan Thompson who passed
away at age 97. Her funeral is Thursday at Pennington's at 2 p.m.
Here's our study guide:
Wednesday: Here's our action for today. Write a letter to someone
you may have harmed. This letter will not be mailed, unless you
wish it to be, but as yesterday we showed mercy, let us today ask
for mercy. If that person is now with the Lord, write a letter and
trust that good will come of this action. Even if that person does
not forgive you, you have asked and you have shown mercy.
Have a great day!
e.v.
As we pray lift up Phyllis Gaddi, Kathy Snyder, and Shirley Schultz
in your prayers. Also for the family of Nan Thompson who passed
away at age 97. Her funeral is Thursday at Pennington's at 2 p.m.
Here's our study guide:
Wednesday: Here's our action for today. Write a letter to someone
you may have harmed. This letter will not be mailed, unless you
wish it to be, but as yesterday we showed mercy, let us today ask
for mercy. If that person is now with the Lord, write a letter and
trust that good will come of this action. Even if that person does
not forgive you, you have asked and you have shown mercy.
Have a great day!
e.v.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Love Your Enemies, Pray for Those Who Don't Pray for You
Who are your enemies? Some would say the everyday threat of a terrorist attack; others, the person(s) who don't like us at work, the ones who seek us harm, etc. In recalling the words of the Psalmist in Psalam 121, he wrote, "I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from?" Some have said that Israel always had enemies surrounding them. To look up at the hills was to see an army waiting for the right time to attack and to ask where does my help come from is a statement saying that God should hurry up and come save us!
Here is our study guide for today.
Tuesday: The Bible speaks often about “enemies.” Yet, many today claim we have no enemies in our personal life. But there may be those who don’t care for us. In your mind you may remember those who have wished you harm or evil. Let this day be a day of forgiveness, where all debts against you are forgiven. Remember Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.” Let this be a day of jubilee as the Biblical year of all debts being forgiven.
What a day this could be if we would let go and let God in terms of our enemies whoever or whatever they may be. We run the risk of being paralyzed in one spot if we just sit and fret about things or persons that might harm us. The Israelites also had a great idea from God of having a year of jubilee, the seventh year when all debts were forgiven and great rejoicing would come. Let joy come today as you turn over to God all who have trespassed against you.
PRAYER: God of jubilee, we turn over to you those who seek to harm us. We pray blessing upon blessing on them and we seek to be a blessing to You. We pray in the name of He who is our blessing today and all days, Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Here is our study guide for today.
Tuesday: The Bible speaks often about “enemies.” Yet, many today claim we have no enemies in our personal life. But there may be those who don’t care for us. In your mind you may remember those who have wished you harm or evil. Let this day be a day of forgiveness, where all debts against you are forgiven. Remember Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.” Let this be a day of jubilee as the Biblical year of all debts being forgiven.
What a day this could be if we would let go and let God in terms of our enemies whoever or whatever they may be. We run the risk of being paralyzed in one spot if we just sit and fret about things or persons that might harm us. The Israelites also had a great idea from God of having a year of jubilee, the seventh year when all debts were forgiven and great rejoicing would come. Let joy come today as you turn over to God all who have trespassed against you.
PRAYER: God of jubilee, we turn over to you those who seek to harm us. We pray blessing upon blessing on them and we seek to be a blessing to You. We pray in the name of He who is our blessing today and all days, Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Monday, January 17, 2005
My letter to Martin Luther King
Dear Martin,
This is your day. It is a bitter cold one here in San Marcos and we're awaiting the installation of a new water heater in the parsonage.
I write to celebrate that much has been done thanks to your leadership efforts and we celebrate the positive strides we as Americans have made in terms of civil rights. Much has been done and there is still much to do.
I normally don't write to you as Bishop Woodie White has done for so many years. I just read his 2004 letter to you and I note the joy and sadness in his voice as he celebrates God's call on his life into ordained ministry and as he retired from active ministry.
I share the sadness in my life as pastor and father at an incident that happened in a United Methodist church in another Texas city. Our daughters Carli and Caitlin went to church with their brother-in-law Eric. It was the first Sunday in this New Year and thus a Communion Sunday. They were running late and went to the same UM church where no one has bothered to welcome or talk to Eric and our daughter SaraÃ. They have found a more loving congregation in Texas City, but being a bit farther than their home when they run late they worship here. On this Communion Sunday, at a table we call the Lord and announce it is for everyone, Carli and Caitlin waited for a long time to be served. They knelt and saw the minister staring at them but they were not served in what they said seemed like twenty minutes. When a man knelt next to them they were finally served. After a sermon on forgiveness, my anger has turned to sadness. It helped to share this incident with my church counil at our spiritual retreat. The congregation at First UMC has welcomed Nellie and our girls with so much love that I pinch myself from time to time but celebrate the love of the Lord in our midst.
Martin, thank you again for your leadership. I know your absence from your children was their ultimate sacrifice paid for the good of humankind in our country. They have done quite well in their maturity and in the way they have carried on in the legacy you left them. I pray that next year we can report that even in some congregations some improvements to welcoming ALL will be celebrated.
Rest in peace.
Eradio Valverde, Jr.
This is your day. It is a bitter cold one here in San Marcos and we're awaiting the installation of a new water heater in the parsonage.
I write to celebrate that much has been done thanks to your leadership efforts and we celebrate the positive strides we as Americans have made in terms of civil rights. Much has been done and there is still much to do.
I normally don't write to you as Bishop Woodie White has done for so many years. I just read his 2004 letter to you and I note the joy and sadness in his voice as he celebrates God's call on his life into ordained ministry and as he retired from active ministry.
I share the sadness in my life as pastor and father at an incident that happened in a United Methodist church in another Texas city. Our daughters Carli and Caitlin went to church with their brother-in-law Eric. It was the first Sunday in this New Year and thus a Communion Sunday. They were running late and went to the same UM church where no one has bothered to welcome or talk to Eric and our daughter SaraÃ. They have found a more loving congregation in Texas City, but being a bit farther than their home when they run late they worship here. On this Communion Sunday, at a table we call the Lord and announce it is for everyone, Carli and Caitlin waited for a long time to be served. They knelt and saw the minister staring at them but they were not served in what they said seemed like twenty minutes. When a man knelt next to them they were finally served. After a sermon on forgiveness, my anger has turned to sadness. It helped to share this incident with my church counil at our spiritual retreat. The congregation at First UMC has welcomed Nellie and our girls with so much love that I pinch myself from time to time but celebrate the love of the Lord in our midst.
Martin, thank you again for your leadership. I know your absence from your children was their ultimate sacrifice paid for the good of humankind in our country. They have done quite well in their maturity and in the way they have carried on in the legacy you left them. I pray that next year we can report that even in some congregations some improvements to welcoming ALL will be celebrated.
Rest in peace.
Eradio Valverde, Jr.
Learning Quantum Physics in Russian Part I
Yesterday the sermon was on forgiveness. The title was "Learn How to Forgive." I stated that for some to learn to forgive was the same as learning Quantum Physics in Russian for most Americans. However, if we remember that forgiveness is ours first from God, it should become easy to forgive. The sermon was based on Matthew 5: 38-45.
The pressing questions about forgiveness: What good does it do to hold a grudge? What benefit to our bodies is holding a grudge? The answer is simple: It does NO good to hold a grudge and we receive NO benefit to our bodies in holding a grudge and staying angry. In fact we stress our bodies and get sick as a result.
Here's our study guide for today.
Monday: Learning how to forgive is vital to our daily lives. Yet, we know it’s not always an easy thing to do. For today let us see a situation where agape, God’s love, helps in a situation where only the love of God could make a difference. In 1 Samuel, we find that King Saul should have had his firstborn, Jonathan, become the king of Israel, and Jonathan knew it should have been his birthright, but God chose David. Saul hated David, no question about that. But Jonathan who should have hated David, loved him “as his own soul” (1 Sam 18:1) Can you understand how it was God moving in that young man’s life that made him love when he should have hated?
If we believe we're entitled to something we will speak up if not fight for it. I don't think most of us would have liked the idea of having someone take your place to something you had believed was yours by birth. Imagine not being king/queen because the throne would now be someone else's. The thing to remember is the role of God in the lives of David and Jonathan. God had at one time been central to Saul's life as well. Yet because of his own disobedience, Saul wandered away from God and lost the throne not only for himself but for his entire family. David, because of his faithfulness, was given the throne.
If God is central in our lives as God should be, then God's peace allows us to have the "peace that passeth understanding" in all things. And with God central in our lives, forgiveness becomes a way of life. Not always an easy thing, but a necessary thing.
PRAYER: God of peace and power, become central in my life again today. Share with me your peace, that peace that surpasses all understanding so that I might be what you want me to be. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a blessed day in the Lord
e.v.
The pressing questions about forgiveness: What good does it do to hold a grudge? What benefit to our bodies is holding a grudge? The answer is simple: It does NO good to hold a grudge and we receive NO benefit to our bodies in holding a grudge and staying angry. In fact we stress our bodies and get sick as a result.
Here's our study guide for today.
Monday: Learning how to forgive is vital to our daily lives. Yet, we know it’s not always an easy thing to do. For today let us see a situation where agape, God’s love, helps in a situation where only the love of God could make a difference. In 1 Samuel, we find that King Saul should have had his firstborn, Jonathan, become the king of Israel, and Jonathan knew it should have been his birthright, but God chose David. Saul hated David, no question about that. But Jonathan who should have hated David, loved him “as his own soul” (1 Sam 18:1) Can you understand how it was God moving in that young man’s life that made him love when he should have hated?
If we believe we're entitled to something we will speak up if not fight for it. I don't think most of us would have liked the idea of having someone take your place to something you had believed was yours by birth. Imagine not being king/queen because the throne would now be someone else's. The thing to remember is the role of God in the lives of David and Jonathan. God had at one time been central to Saul's life as well. Yet because of his own disobedience, Saul wandered away from God and lost the throne not only for himself but for his entire family. David, because of his faithfulness, was given the throne.
If God is central in our lives as God should be, then God's peace allows us to have the "peace that passeth understanding" in all things. And with God central in our lives, forgiveness becomes a way of life. Not always an easy thing, but a necessary thing.
PRAYER: God of peace and power, become central in my life again today. Share with me your peace, that peace that surpasses all understanding so that I might be what you want me to be. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a blessed day in the Lord
e.v.
Friday, January 14, 2005
Homework?
Good Friday everyone!
Let's begin with prayer. "Lord, we pause on the last day of the work week for some, the start for others, thankful for all You have provided. We are so thankful for Your word. Let it speak to us today that which we should hear. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Here is the study guide recommendation for today:
Friday: For this Friday, I’m going to invite you to read all of Matthew 5. It doesn’t end with verse 12, it goes on. See what God’s word holds for you as you meditate on all Jesus shared in this important and powerful Sermon on the Mount.
Let each word speak to us today as we read this chapter. It's not that long but each word does provide power and grace:
1 And seeing great masses of people he went up into the mountain; and when he was seated his disciples came to him. 2 And with these words he gave them teaching, saying,
3 Happy are the poor in spirit: for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 4 Happy are those who are sad: for they will be comforted. 5 Happy are the gentle: for the earth will be their heritage. 6 Happy are those whose heart's desire is for righteousness: for they will have their desire. 7 Happy are those who have mercy: for they will be given mercy. 8 Happy are the clean in heart: for they will see God. 9 Happy are the peacemakers: for they will be named sons of God. 10 Happy are those who are attacked on account of righteousness: for the kingdom of heaven will be theirs. 11 Happy are you when men give you a bad name, and are cruel to you, and say all evil things against you falsely, because of me. 12 Be glad and full of joy; for great is your reward in heaven: for so were the prophets attacked who were before you.
13 You are the salt of the earth; but if its taste goes from the salt, how will you make it salt again? it is then good for nothing but to be put out and crushed under foot by men. 14 You are the light of the world. A town put on a hill may be seen by all. 15 And a burning light is not put under a vessel, but on its table; so that its rays may be shining on all who are in the house. 16 Even so let your light be shining before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
17 Let there be no thought that I have come to put an end to the law or the prophets. I have not come for destruction, but to make complete. 18 Truly I say to you, Till heaven and earth come to an end, not the smallest letter or part of a letter will in any way be taken from the law, till all things are done. 19 Whoever then goes against the smallest of these laws, teaching men to do the same, will be named least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who keeps the laws, teaching others to keep them, will be named great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, If your righteousness is not greater than the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never go into the kingdom of heaven.
21 You have knowledge that it was said in old times, You may not put to death; and, Whoever puts to death will be in danger of being judged: 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be in danger of being judged; and he who says to his brother, Raca, will be in danger from the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, You foolish one, will be in danger of the hell of fire. 23 If then you are making an offering at the altar and there it comes to your mind that your brother has something against you, 24 While your offering is still before the altar, first go and make peace with your brother, then come and make your offering. 25 Come to an agreement quickly with him who has a cause against you at law, while you are with him on the way, for fear that he may give you up to the judge and the judge may give you to the police and you may be put into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, You will not come out from there till you have made payment of the very last farthing.
27 You have knowledge that it was said, You may not have connection with another man's wife: 28 But I say to you that everyone whose eyes are turned on a woman with desire has had connection with her in his heart. 29 And if your right eye is a cause of trouble to you, take it out and put it away from you; because it is better to undergo the loss of one part, than for all your body to go into hell. 30 And if your right hand is a cause of trouble to you, let it be cut off and put it away from you; because it is better to undergo the loss of one part, than for all your body to go into hell. 31 Again, it was said, Whoever puts away his wife has to give her a statement in writing for this purpose: 32 But I say to you that everyone who puts away his wife for any other cause but the loss of her virtue, makes her false to her husband; and whoever takes her as his wife after she is put away, is no true husband to her.
33 Again, you have knowledge that it was said in old times, Do not take false oaths, but give effect to your oaths to the Lord: 34 But I say to you, Take no oaths at all: not by the heaven, because it is the seat of God; 35 Or by the earth, because it is the resting-place for his foot; or by Jerusalem, because it is the town of the great King. 36 You may not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. 37 But let your words be simply, Yes or No: and whatever is more than these is of the Evil One.
38 You have knowledge that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say to you, Do not make use of force against an evil man; but to him who gives you a blow on the right side of your face let the left be turned. 40 And if any man goes to law with you and takes away your coat, do not keep back your robe from him. 41 And whoever makes you go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who comes with a request, and keep not your property from him who would for a time make use of it.
43 You have knowledge that it was said, Have love for your neighbour, and hate for him who is against you: 44 But I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you; 45 So that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven; for his sun gives light to the evil and to the good, and he sends rain on the upright man and on the sinner. 46 For if you have love for those who have love for you, what credit is it to you? do not the tax-farmers the same? 47 And if you say, Good day, to your brothers only, what do you do more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same? 48 Be then complete in righteousness, even as your Father in heaven is complete.
PRAYER; Lord, again we thank you for this word. Let is sink deep down into our spirits to make us be your children. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day, weekend (see all who are interested at the leadership retreat in the Activities Building!), and see you in church!
Blessings!
e.v.
Let's begin with prayer. "Lord, we pause on the last day of the work week for some, the start for others, thankful for all You have provided. We are so thankful for Your word. Let it speak to us today that which we should hear. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Here is the study guide recommendation for today:
Friday: For this Friday, I’m going to invite you to read all of Matthew 5. It doesn’t end with verse 12, it goes on. See what God’s word holds for you as you meditate on all Jesus shared in this important and powerful Sermon on the Mount.
Let each word speak to us today as we read this chapter. It's not that long but each word does provide power and grace:
1 And seeing great masses of people he went up into the mountain; and when he was seated his disciples came to him. 2 And with these words he gave them teaching, saying,
3 Happy are the poor in spirit: for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 4 Happy are those who are sad: for they will be comforted. 5 Happy are the gentle: for the earth will be their heritage. 6 Happy are those whose heart's desire is for righteousness: for they will have their desire. 7 Happy are those who have mercy: for they will be given mercy. 8 Happy are the clean in heart: for they will see God. 9 Happy are the peacemakers: for they will be named sons of God. 10 Happy are those who are attacked on account of righteousness: for the kingdom of heaven will be theirs. 11 Happy are you when men give you a bad name, and are cruel to you, and say all evil things against you falsely, because of me. 12 Be glad and full of joy; for great is your reward in heaven: for so were the prophets attacked who were before you.
13 You are the salt of the earth; but if its taste goes from the salt, how will you make it salt again? it is then good for nothing but to be put out and crushed under foot by men. 14 You are the light of the world. A town put on a hill may be seen by all. 15 And a burning light is not put under a vessel, but on its table; so that its rays may be shining on all who are in the house. 16 Even so let your light be shining before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
17 Let there be no thought that I have come to put an end to the law or the prophets. I have not come for destruction, but to make complete. 18 Truly I say to you, Till heaven and earth come to an end, not the smallest letter or part of a letter will in any way be taken from the law, till all things are done. 19 Whoever then goes against the smallest of these laws, teaching men to do the same, will be named least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who keeps the laws, teaching others to keep them, will be named great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, If your righteousness is not greater than the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never go into the kingdom of heaven.
21 You have knowledge that it was said in old times, You may not put to death; and, Whoever puts to death will be in danger of being judged: 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be in danger of being judged; and he who says to his brother, Raca, will be in danger from the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, You foolish one, will be in danger of the hell of fire. 23 If then you are making an offering at the altar and there it comes to your mind that your brother has something against you, 24 While your offering is still before the altar, first go and make peace with your brother, then come and make your offering. 25 Come to an agreement quickly with him who has a cause against you at law, while you are with him on the way, for fear that he may give you up to the judge and the judge may give you to the police and you may be put into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, You will not come out from there till you have made payment of the very last farthing.
27 You have knowledge that it was said, You may not have connection with another man's wife: 28 But I say to you that everyone whose eyes are turned on a woman with desire has had connection with her in his heart. 29 And if your right eye is a cause of trouble to you, take it out and put it away from you; because it is better to undergo the loss of one part, than for all your body to go into hell. 30 And if your right hand is a cause of trouble to you, let it be cut off and put it away from you; because it is better to undergo the loss of one part, than for all your body to go into hell. 31 Again, it was said, Whoever puts away his wife has to give her a statement in writing for this purpose: 32 But I say to you that everyone who puts away his wife for any other cause but the loss of her virtue, makes her false to her husband; and whoever takes her as his wife after she is put away, is no true husband to her.
33 Again, you have knowledge that it was said in old times, Do not take false oaths, but give effect to your oaths to the Lord: 34 But I say to you, Take no oaths at all: not by the heaven, because it is the seat of God; 35 Or by the earth, because it is the resting-place for his foot; or by Jerusalem, because it is the town of the great King. 36 You may not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. 37 But let your words be simply, Yes or No: and whatever is more than these is of the Evil One.
38 You have knowledge that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say to you, Do not make use of force against an evil man; but to him who gives you a blow on the right side of your face let the left be turned. 40 And if any man goes to law with you and takes away your coat, do not keep back your robe from him. 41 And whoever makes you go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who comes with a request, and keep not your property from him who would for a time make use of it.
43 You have knowledge that it was said, Have love for your neighbour, and hate for him who is against you: 44 But I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you; 45 So that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven; for his sun gives light to the evil and to the good, and he sends rain on the upright man and on the sinner. 46 For if you have love for those who have love for you, what credit is it to you? do not the tax-farmers the same? 47 And if you say, Good day, to your brothers only, what do you do more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same? 48 Be then complete in righteousness, even as your Father in heaven is complete.
PRAYER; Lord, again we thank you for this word. Let is sink deep down into our spirits to make us be your children. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day, weekend (see all who are interested at the leadership retreat in the Activities Building!), and see you in church!
Blessings!
e.v.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
The Closer You are to God, The More You're Wanted Back...
Good day dear friends.
Today is Thursday. Lots to do, where to begin? Begin with prayer.
PRAYER: Gracious God, we thank you for this day and for the things that keep us employed. Allow us to employ our time for you and for yours. Keep us steady in spite of what seeks to unseat or rock our path. We pray in the name of Jesus our Lord, our Rock and our Strength. Amen.
Here is the study guide for today. I'll share verse 11 of Matthew 5 first:
11 "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account." NRSV. The Message says it this way: "Not only that - count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable."
Thursday: Think about the times you’ve been tempted to or have spoken negatively about someone. Think now on verse 11 from Matthew 5. Why do you suppose this was so important for Jesus to include in his Sermon on the Mount.
I wish I could say I had never spoken negatively about someone. I doubt if there is a reader among us that could honestly say the same thing. We harm and maim sometimes with our words. Sometimes without thinking, sometimes quite deliberatly. Either way the harm is done. Jesus knew that as people came to know and love Him they would be attacked. My mom would say, "the closer you get to God the more the devil wants you back." And we know the devil never sleeps and finds ways to attack. Regardless of what the other person may say is driving comments or criticisms about us, the harm gets done. As much as we want thick skins to handle that, all of us who have a pulse and blood running through our veins have feelings. We get knocked down but with God's help we can get up again.
If you've said something negative about someone, please pray and ask for forgiveness and seek to build up that person. If something negative has been said against you, pray and ask for strength to continue on knowing that we need to be close to God in spite of all that may come our way.
PRAYER: God of strength, rain down that strength on us right now. We seek to be thick skinned but we need your arms lovingly around us so that we can feel You pulling us up whenever we get knocked down. Praise You, Lord! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day! Build up!
Blessings!
e.v.
Today is Thursday. Lots to do, where to begin? Begin with prayer.
PRAYER: Gracious God, we thank you for this day and for the things that keep us employed. Allow us to employ our time for you and for yours. Keep us steady in spite of what seeks to unseat or rock our path. We pray in the name of Jesus our Lord, our Rock and our Strength. Amen.
Here is the study guide for today. I'll share verse 11 of Matthew 5 first:
11 "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account." NRSV. The Message says it this way: "Not only that - count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable."
Thursday: Think about the times you’ve been tempted to or have spoken negatively about someone. Think now on verse 11 from Matthew 5. Why do you suppose this was so important for Jesus to include in his Sermon on the Mount.
I wish I could say I had never spoken negatively about someone. I doubt if there is a reader among us that could honestly say the same thing. We harm and maim sometimes with our words. Sometimes without thinking, sometimes quite deliberatly. Either way the harm is done. Jesus knew that as people came to know and love Him they would be attacked. My mom would say, "the closer you get to God the more the devil wants you back." And we know the devil never sleeps and finds ways to attack. Regardless of what the other person may say is driving comments or criticisms about us, the harm gets done. As much as we want thick skins to handle that, all of us who have a pulse and blood running through our veins have feelings. We get knocked down but with God's help we can get up again.
If you've said something negative about someone, please pray and ask for forgiveness and seek to build up that person. If something negative has been said against you, pray and ask for strength to continue on knowing that we need to be close to God in spite of all that may come our way.
PRAYER: God of strength, rain down that strength on us right now. We seek to be thick skinned but we need your arms lovingly around us so that we can feel You pulling us up whenever we get knocked down. Praise You, Lord! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day! Build up!
Blessings!
e.v.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
To BE someone POSITIVE, DO something GOOD!
Good Wednesday dear friends!
Yesterday in Houston, Nellie and I had lunch with John C. Maxwell, the "Dean" of modern leadership, New York Times best selling author, and founder and president of Injoy Stewardship services. He presented us with his new book, "Winning with People," and one of his associates presented us with his new book "Stewardship of Life." You'll be hearing more about this later on.
Here is our study guide recommendation for today, but we'll begin with prayer.
Gracious loving God, show us today what it means to truly be yours. Help us to love others in ways that show Your love to us all. We pray we move beyond the restrictions of our comfort zones. Let us see what we perceive to be risks to be the wrapping of a wonderful gift that awaits us. Bless and protect us as we pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Wednesday: Here’s our action for today. Do something positive for someone without warning. And if you get caught, explain that your BE attitude is to BE happy and to BE positive about life because of I AM (God). If you can’t think of a setting where to do this, you haven’t really tried! Place a quarter or two in a pay phone. If someone in front of you at the grocery store has only an item or two, offer to pay for it. Giving is a great BE attitude adjuster!
A lot of what goes into a BE attitude is a DO posture. We can think positively all we want and find we're still seated on our couch or desk chair. BE-ing means DO-ing and that's what we're asked today, do something. The above is but a short list of what you know you could do that shows the positiveness in you!
Make it a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
To catch up on all previous ConCafes go to http://theuniversityoftheway.blogspot.com. Thanks for sharing ConCafe with others!
Yesterday in Houston, Nellie and I had lunch with John C. Maxwell, the "Dean" of modern leadership, New York Times best selling author, and founder and president of Injoy Stewardship services. He presented us with his new book, "Winning with People," and one of his associates presented us with his new book "Stewardship of Life." You'll be hearing more about this later on.
Here is our study guide recommendation for today, but we'll begin with prayer.
Gracious loving God, show us today what it means to truly be yours. Help us to love others in ways that show Your love to us all. We pray we move beyond the restrictions of our comfort zones. Let us see what we perceive to be risks to be the wrapping of a wonderful gift that awaits us. Bless and protect us as we pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Wednesday: Here’s our action for today. Do something positive for someone without warning. And if you get caught, explain that your BE attitude is to BE happy and to BE positive about life because of I AM (God). If you can’t think of a setting where to do this, you haven’t really tried! Place a quarter or two in a pay phone. If someone in front of you at the grocery store has only an item or two, offer to pay for it. Giving is a great BE attitude adjuster!
A lot of what goes into a BE attitude is a DO posture. We can think positively all we want and find we're still seated on our couch or desk chair. BE-ing means DO-ing and that's what we're asked today, do something. The above is but a short list of what you know you could do that shows the positiveness in you!
Make it a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
To catch up on all previous ConCafes go to http://theuniversityoftheway.blogspot.com. Thanks for sharing ConCafe with others!
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
TO BE OR NOT TO BE? That is the question. What is your FINAL answer?
We continue our study of fullness of life as offered to us through Jesus Christ. John 10:10 is the verse for today, "A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." (The Message).
So the question from today's study guide is this:
Tuesday: How is it with your attitude about life? Are you “be-ing” or “not-ing?” One of the saddest things one can see in life is to see people give up. A story on the Internet making the rounds tells of a 92 yr old blind widow, who as she’s being escorted into her new room in the nursing home says, “I love it!” The nurse says, “You’ve not seen it, how can you love it?” The old woman replies, “Seeing it has nothing to do with it. Being happy is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged; it’s how I arrange my mind.” How’s your mind arranged towards life? What did Jesus share in His Word yesterday that could help you?
To be or not to be? That IS the question, but HOW we answer depends on our relationship with Jesus. Got life?
PRAYER: Dear Giver of Life, give us life to the fullest. Speak to us through all we experience today those words of life, love, hope, and joy. Let our lives speak clearly to all. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Go out and shine for the Lord!
Blessings!
e.v.
So the question from today's study guide is this:
Tuesday: How is it with your attitude about life? Are you “be-ing” or “not-ing?” One of the saddest things one can see in life is to see people give up. A story on the Internet making the rounds tells of a 92 yr old blind widow, who as she’s being escorted into her new room in the nursing home says, “I love it!” The nurse says, “You’ve not seen it, how can you love it?” The old woman replies, “Seeing it has nothing to do with it. Being happy is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged; it’s how I arrange my mind.” How’s your mind arranged towards life? What did Jesus share in His Word yesterday that could help you?
To be or not to be? That IS the question, but HOW we answer depends on our relationship with Jesus. Got life?
PRAYER: Dear Giver of Life, give us life to the fullest. Speak to us through all we experience today those words of life, love, hope, and joy. Let our lives speak clearly to all. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Go out and shine for the Lord!
Blessings!
e.v.
Monday, January 10, 2005
Happy Children or Good Children?
Yesterday we started a series of sermons on Jesus' Sermon on The
Mount. Using the Beatitudes as the starting point I stressed these
are the "BE" Attitudes. Realizing that the word "beatitude" is an
outdated word seldom used unless referring to this particular
passage of Scripture. Jesus wanted all who heard the sermon to
realize the fullness of life available to all who would enter into
God's Kingdom. What an amazing starting point for this wonderful
sermon. The sermon begins by Jesus sharing what God has to offer us
and the rest of the sermon deals with what we have to offer God in
the change of our living. The sermon series is therefore
entitled "Doing the Unexpected," because what Jesus shares as this
new lifestyle is different from what the world expects.
Let's start this new journey with prayer.
PRAYER: God of love and fullness of life, we thank you for this day
and all that the day may hold. We pray you hold us as we seek to be
faithful in all things. Help us to set aside any and all things
that may have caused us to sin or block the fullness of your love.
Let us know you can and will remove these if we ask. We pray in
Jesus's name. Amen.
Monday: Do you want your children to be happy or good? Anthony
Campolo, famous author and lecturer, asked that question once. He
said he was tired of hearing so many parents say, "I just want my
children to be happy." He said, "I prefer my children to be good,
happiness will follow." As you re-read the "be" attitudes from
yesterdays sermon, can you not see Jesus wants you to be good? And
being good will lead to your happiness. Of the be-attitudes which
one spoke most to your heart? Why? List those reasons in a place
where you will refer to it often.
Our attitude towards life influences our children. And sadly too many of us from time to time think that our biggest responsibility to our kids is to provide everything and every opportunity to make them happy. We hope their choices for an education or a career prepare them to be happy. As I mentioned above, some parents know better. Happiness is important, but not as important as being and doing what is right in God's eyes. Discipline towards that is important. Anthony Campolo once spoke at a family event where I also was a speaker and his whole talk was on helping us know that what is best for our kids is for us to teach them how to be good. Happiness will follow.
The Sermon on the Mount is like that. The "blessed are" phrases in the Beatitudes are invitations, not "happy bestowers" upon listeners and readers. The Lord was inviting all in to God's Kingdom. Jesus also shared what He knew God would offer us, then would come what we needed to offer God.
Reread the Beatitudes and see which one speaks most to you where you are today. Journal your thoughts in a place where it will speak to you often.
PRAYER; God of peace and joy, speak to us again through Your word. Let us know what is best for us and your children. Remind us gently of our responsibility to teach your worship and peace to them so that Christ and His love will be real in their lives. Let Jesus be real to me. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a blessed day!
e.v.
Mount. Using the Beatitudes as the starting point I stressed these
are the "BE" Attitudes. Realizing that the word "beatitude" is an
outdated word seldom used unless referring to this particular
passage of Scripture. Jesus wanted all who heard the sermon to
realize the fullness of life available to all who would enter into
God's Kingdom. What an amazing starting point for this wonderful
sermon. The sermon begins by Jesus sharing what God has to offer us
and the rest of the sermon deals with what we have to offer God in
the change of our living. The sermon series is therefore
entitled "Doing the Unexpected," because what Jesus shares as this
new lifestyle is different from what the world expects.
Let's start this new journey with prayer.
PRAYER: God of love and fullness of life, we thank you for this day
and all that the day may hold. We pray you hold us as we seek to be
faithful in all things. Help us to set aside any and all things
that may have caused us to sin or block the fullness of your love.
Let us know you can and will remove these if we ask. We pray in
Jesus's name. Amen.
Monday: Do you want your children to be happy or good? Anthony
Campolo, famous author and lecturer, asked that question once. He
said he was tired of hearing so many parents say, "I just want my
children to be happy." He said, "I prefer my children to be good,
happiness will follow." As you re-read the "be" attitudes from
yesterdays sermon, can you not see Jesus wants you to be good? And
being good will lead to your happiness. Of the be-attitudes which
one spoke most to your heart? Why? List those reasons in a place
where you will refer to it often.
Our attitude towards life influences our children. And sadly too many of us from time to time think that our biggest responsibility to our kids is to provide everything and every opportunity to make them happy. We hope their choices for an education or a career prepare them to be happy. As I mentioned above, some parents know better. Happiness is important, but not as important as being and doing what is right in God's eyes. Discipline towards that is important. Anthony Campolo once spoke at a family event where I also was a speaker and his whole talk was on helping us know that what is best for our kids is for us to teach them how to be good. Happiness will follow.
The Sermon on the Mount is like that. The "blessed are" phrases in the Beatitudes are invitations, not "happy bestowers" upon listeners and readers. The Lord was inviting all in to God's Kingdom. Jesus also shared what He knew God would offer us, then would come what we needed to offer God.
Reread the Beatitudes and see which one speaks most to you where you are today. Journal your thoughts in a place where it will speak to you often.
PRAYER; God of peace and joy, speak to us again through Your word. Let us know what is best for us and your children. Remind us gently of our responsibility to teach your worship and peace to them so that Christ and His love will be real in their lives. Let Jesus be real to me. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a blessed day!
e.v.
Friday, January 07, 2005
A Day for Special Prayer
Dear friends,
Let us spend this day in prayer. This being still part of the first of the New Year, several in our church and in many UM churches have prayed Wesley's Covenant Prayer. I am sharing that here so that we may pray it today and again Sunday and again as often as you wish.
Each word is important and shows the spirit of this man we credit with founding The United Methodist Church.
“I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, Exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Thou art mine and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen."
To whom do I belong? I belong to God. Whom do I serve? I serve God. God decides where I go and ranks me where He would. I offer myself to serve and suffer. I offer myself to serve in a worthwhile way or to be set aside for God. God may exalt me or make bring me low, God is still praised! God may make me full (and not Taco Bell!) or I may be empty, either way God is to be praised. If I should possess all things or even if I have nothing, God gets the credit and glory. I freely and lovingly give all that I possess to God's pleasure and disposal. And the promise I prayed in the above prayer to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit shows that He is mine and I am His. And it's been heard in the hallways and ballrooms of Heaven; they've approved it and I should live it out here for the glory of God.
Have a great day!
Blessings,
e.v.
Let us spend this day in prayer. This being still part of the first of the New Year, several in our church and in many UM churches have prayed Wesley's Covenant Prayer. I am sharing that here so that we may pray it today and again Sunday and again as often as you wish.
Each word is important and shows the spirit of this man we credit with founding The United Methodist Church.
“I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, Exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Thou art mine and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen."
To whom do I belong? I belong to God. Whom do I serve? I serve God. God decides where I go and ranks me where He would. I offer myself to serve and suffer. I offer myself to serve in a worthwhile way or to be set aside for God. God may exalt me or make bring me low, God is still praised! God may make me full (and not Taco Bell!) or I may be empty, either way God is to be praised. If I should possess all things or even if I have nothing, God gets the credit and glory. I freely and lovingly give all that I possess to God's pleasure and disposal. And the promise I prayed in the above prayer to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit shows that He is mine and I am His. And it's been heard in the hallways and ballrooms of Heaven; they've approved it and I should live it out here for the glory of God.
Have a great day!
Blessings,
e.v.
Thursday, January 06, 2005
God Relates to Us Through Christ Jesus
Gracious Father, we thank you for this day and all the promises it holds. Guide us to a deeper understanding of your will for our lives. Be with needs shared with us. We pray for Collin Curl for his recovery after this tragic accident. Bless Wes and his family, Lord, as they seek comfort and peace. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
FYI: Collin Curl is Wes Curl's 19 year old son who while working in a sheet metal company lost his hand in an accident. Wes was rushed to BAMC in San Antonio where he underwent surgery to try and reattach the hand. Please hold Collin and Wes in your prayers.
Here is today's text which is the one recommended by the Lectionary for this Sunday. It comes from Matthew 3:
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
John the Baptist couldn't understand it. And perhaps you might not understand it. But Jesus presented himself for baptism to show how much he relates to you and me. He who was without sin, and John knew that, comes to the Jordan and despite John's protests says, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Jesus was being obedient to His Father. He knew that in receiving what we now call one of our sacraments, he would be fulfilling that which needed to be done and that people would see that Jesus was not detached and aloof from us. He was one of us, with a difference, He came from the Father to show us how we too could be in relationship with God.
Let this be a day when you realize just how much love your Heavenly Father has for you. Don't seek to run from that love, just let that love overtake and overwhelm you. For your good. And for your Father's glory.
PRAYER: Thank you Lord Jesus, for relating to us. Thank you for being born for us, for living among us, for dying for us, and for showing us just how much power Your Father has over sin and death. Indeed, this can be a day of new beginnings! In Your name we pray. Amen.
Have a great day in the Lord!
Blessings!
e.v.
FYI: Collin Curl is Wes Curl's 19 year old son who while working in a sheet metal company lost his hand in an accident. Wes was rushed to BAMC in San Antonio where he underwent surgery to try and reattach the hand. Please hold Collin and Wes in your prayers.
Here is today's text which is the one recommended by the Lectionary for this Sunday. It comes from Matthew 3:
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
John the Baptist couldn't understand it. And perhaps you might not understand it. But Jesus presented himself for baptism to show how much he relates to you and me. He who was without sin, and John knew that, comes to the Jordan and despite John's protests says, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Jesus was being obedient to His Father. He knew that in receiving what we now call one of our sacraments, he would be fulfilling that which needed to be done and that people would see that Jesus was not detached and aloof from us. He was one of us, with a difference, He came from the Father to show us how we too could be in relationship with God.
Let this be a day when you realize just how much love your Heavenly Father has for you. Don't seek to run from that love, just let that love overtake and overwhelm you. For your good. And for your Father's glory.
PRAYER: Thank you Lord Jesus, for relating to us. Thank you for being born for us, for living among us, for dying for us, and for showing us just how much power Your Father has over sin and death. Indeed, this can be a day of new beginnings! In Your name we pray. Amen.
Have a great day in the Lord!
Blessings!
e.v.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
GOD SHOWS NO PARTIALITY!
God of all people, allow us to open our eyes to see as You see, with no partiality and no bias. Let us accept one another as You invite and accept us. This day brings more anxiety and worry about challenges and needs, but speak to us a message of love and hope. We pray a special blessing on families whose loved ones are about to be deployed to Iraq. We ask a blessing on all who are involved, especially children and normal citizens. Bring peace dear Father to all the earth. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Good day dear friends,
Tonight we start Wonderful Wednesdays again with our first Wed of the Month Meal and worship. The meal begins at 5:30 and worship is at six. Tonight's focus in worship will be on starting the New Year in the Lord. Everyone in the San Marcos area is invited.
Here is the recommended New Testament text for this week as we celebrate Jesus and His baptism.
From Acts 10:
34 Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
In seminary I took a course affectionately known as "Super Bible." It was a long course that spanned the whole academic year covering all of the Old Testament and New Testament. It was taught by two professors. And one of the requirements was to be assigned a text from the Bible to be reviewed in person with the two professors. No pressure. My text was from Acts. Chapter ten. The review went well as the professors did all the talking about this very powerful and important passage.
The early part of the chapter tells the story of a devout Gentile believer and giver. He believed in the Jewish faith. He had not yet heard the message of Jesus and in a vision is directed to learn more from Peter the disciple. THe way God works, God sends a similar vision to Peter, who in his trying to be a faithful Jewish Christian, was still adhering strictly to the belief that nonJews were unclean. Long story short: God shows no partiality. God invites all. Through Christ we receive forgiveness of sins and a welcome into God's Kingdom.
What are we doing that is different from that? Can we say that we have stopped showing partiality towards those different from us? Given our national mentality towards terrorism we're acting out of suspicion towards those different from us. We're far from where God would have us be.
What can we do? Where does it start?
It can start with me and with you. Reread the passage above and ask God to make us like God in knowing no difference and knowing no hatred.
PRAYER: Father, speak to us about love and about acceptance. Let us, like You, show no partiality. Let us live a life that invites and welcomes others into Your kingdom. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
Good day dear friends,
Tonight we start Wonderful Wednesdays again with our first Wed of the Month Meal and worship. The meal begins at 5:30 and worship is at six. Tonight's focus in worship will be on starting the New Year in the Lord. Everyone in the San Marcos area is invited.
Here is the recommended New Testament text for this week as we celebrate Jesus and His baptism.
From Acts 10:
34 Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
In seminary I took a course affectionately known as "Super Bible." It was a long course that spanned the whole academic year covering all of the Old Testament and New Testament. It was taught by two professors. And one of the requirements was to be assigned a text from the Bible to be reviewed in person with the two professors. No pressure. My text was from Acts. Chapter ten. The review went well as the professors did all the talking about this very powerful and important passage.
The early part of the chapter tells the story of a devout Gentile believer and giver. He believed in the Jewish faith. He had not yet heard the message of Jesus and in a vision is directed to learn more from Peter the disciple. THe way God works, God sends a similar vision to Peter, who in his trying to be a faithful Jewish Christian, was still adhering strictly to the belief that nonJews were unclean. Long story short: God shows no partiality. God invites all. Through Christ we receive forgiveness of sins and a welcome into God's Kingdom.
What are we doing that is different from that? Can we say that we have stopped showing partiality towards those different from us? Given our national mentality towards terrorism we're acting out of suspicion towards those different from us. We're far from where God would have us be.
What can we do? Where does it start?
It can start with me and with you. Reread the passage above and ask God to make us like God in knowing no difference and knowing no hatred.
PRAYER: Father, speak to us about love and about acceptance. Let us, like You, show no partiality. Let us live a life that invites and welcomes others into Your kingdom. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
The pulpit at one of Texas' oldest missions, Tejas Mission outside Alto, Texas in East Texas.
Posted by Hello
Posted by Hello
Here's Your Calling!
Good day dear friends.
Let us pray to the Lord as we start this day.
PRAYER: Gracious God of life, we thank you for today. We don't know yet what all we have to do or will be done for us or to us during these next hours, but we know we're not alone, for You are with us. We pray for a spirit of obedience to hear You as You direct us to faithfulness and service. We ask a blessing on those who return to school or to work after the long holiday weekend and break. Bless those who teach and those who supervise, bless those who work and study. We pray we might be a better people in all things and in all ways. Father, bless those who still have loved ones and family with them. May joy and peace reign in all hearts. And for those who travel today, may your traveling mercies be with them. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
42:1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. 5 Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who
walk in it: 6 I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8 I am the LORD, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. 9 See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
Did Isaiah know the words God placed in his heart to speak and write would one day describe God's own son? We know that Isaiah was a faithful prophet, who like most prophets spoke what God placed in their hearts not knowing whether the message would be received as a popular one or one that would cause riots. But God spoke through Isaiah the words that on the day of His baptism, Jesus heard. "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Jesus was familiar with the writings. How did Jesus feel upon hearing those words? We can only imagine He felt that here was a confirmation to all his mother had shared with him about who he was and Whose he was. She surely shared the visits of shepherds and magi with him and as he studied his lessons in his faith, told him of what God had said would be his mission and purpose.
Jesus in turn shared a purpose with you and me. He called us into discipleship so that we could continue his ministry of justice. The justice spoken here is the invitation God offers to all to be in relationship with Him. We are called to be covenant people, trusting God to be with us and asking God to help us stay with Him. His message is our message. The light of the world has come and we should be sharing that with others. Have you ever stopped to think that one of your coworkers may be "blind" to God? He or she may have 20/20 vision but lack the vision of God's love. There's your call for today. Sharing God's love in ways that invite people to want to be a part of all God offers.
PRAYER: God of invitation and call, speak to us about that special message of justice and light. Give us boldness and courage to share it with all people. Let us be your servants in all ways and in all places. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day today! Make it be a day of blessing for someone and you!
Blessings,
e.v.
Let us pray to the Lord as we start this day.
PRAYER: Gracious God of life, we thank you for today. We don't know yet what all we have to do or will be done for us or to us during these next hours, but we know we're not alone, for You are with us. We pray for a spirit of obedience to hear You as You direct us to faithfulness and service. We ask a blessing on those who return to school or to work after the long holiday weekend and break. Bless those who teach and those who supervise, bless those who work and study. We pray we might be a better people in all things and in all ways. Father, bless those who still have loved ones and family with them. May joy and peace reign in all hearts. And for those who travel today, may your traveling mercies be with them. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
42:1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. 5 Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who
walk in it: 6 I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8 I am the LORD, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. 9 See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
Did Isaiah know the words God placed in his heart to speak and write would one day describe God's own son? We know that Isaiah was a faithful prophet, who like most prophets spoke what God placed in their hearts not knowing whether the message would be received as a popular one or one that would cause riots. But God spoke through Isaiah the words that on the day of His baptism, Jesus heard. "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Jesus was familiar with the writings. How did Jesus feel upon hearing those words? We can only imagine He felt that here was a confirmation to all his mother had shared with him about who he was and Whose he was. She surely shared the visits of shepherds and magi with him and as he studied his lessons in his faith, told him of what God had said would be his mission and purpose.
Jesus in turn shared a purpose with you and me. He called us into discipleship so that we could continue his ministry of justice. The justice spoken here is the invitation God offers to all to be in relationship with Him. We are called to be covenant people, trusting God to be with us and asking God to help us stay with Him. His message is our message. The light of the world has come and we should be sharing that with others. Have you ever stopped to think that one of your coworkers may be "blind" to God? He or she may have 20/20 vision but lack the vision of God's love. There's your call for today. Sharing God's love in ways that invite people to want to be a part of all God offers.
PRAYER: God of invitation and call, speak to us about that special message of justice and light. Give us boldness and courage to share it with all people. Let us be your servants in all ways and in all places. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day today! Make it be a day of blessing for someone and you!
Blessings,
e.v.
Monday, January 03, 2005
God of the Awesome and God of the Common
It's the third day of the New Year. Are you still holding to any of the resolutions that you made? Or did you, some years ago, resolve to never resolve again?
Let's begin this day with prayer.
PRAYER: God of the morning, noon, evening, and night, thank you for this day. With so much on our hearts and minds we find it necessary to ask you to please help us center solely on you. In the forest of worries, let there be a path cleared by you to solitude and peace. May the darkness brought on by worry and concerns be lifted completely through the light of He who came to set us free. We pray in His name, Jesus the Lord. Amen.
The Psalm recommended for this week by the Lectionary is Psalm 29
"29:1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; worship the LORD in holy splendor. 3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over mighty waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. 8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, "Glory!" 10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. 11 May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!"
It's always fun to find a passage with a word that you either can't pronounce or don't quite know the meaning. Ascribe is one of those words. I can pronounce it all right, but its true meaning is what I searched. It means to give credit or attribute to. So in this Psalm, the writer is saying, "Let us give credit to God, for God having 'glory and strength.' Let us give credit to God just for the 'glory of his name' and let us praise him in 'holy splendor.'
What the writer is saying is this: As we ponder on God and who God is, we have to recognize how awesome God really is. Glory is that which we can't describe completely but it falls under the "awesome" understanding, meaning God is so wonderful, so strong, we can't explain it but we can sure enjoy it. It's as if the psalmist walking the freshness of the aftermath of a thunderstorm, inspired by what he saw and heard during that majestic show, says, God is awesome! He may be sitting on a hill looking over the at the floods that came as a result of this storm. The landscape now features fallen trees. The air fresh with the smell of wet dirt. And with the wonder and excitement of a child who has experienced quite a heavenly show says again, in the midst of all this, if God is our God, God's strength is ours as should be the peace that comes with knowing that!
I pray that we have no storms in our lives this year that don't point us back to God. May the strength of God be ours as we see things that we can only say, God is awesome!
PRAYER: God of the awesome and of the common, come to our lives with your strength and peace. Bring to us the joy of both. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings,
e.v.
Let's begin this day with prayer.
PRAYER: God of the morning, noon, evening, and night, thank you for this day. With so much on our hearts and minds we find it necessary to ask you to please help us center solely on you. In the forest of worries, let there be a path cleared by you to solitude and peace. May the darkness brought on by worry and concerns be lifted completely through the light of He who came to set us free. We pray in His name, Jesus the Lord. Amen.
The Psalm recommended for this week by the Lectionary is Psalm 29
"29:1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; worship the LORD in holy splendor. 3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over mighty waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. 8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, "Glory!" 10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. 11 May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!"
It's always fun to find a passage with a word that you either can't pronounce or don't quite know the meaning. Ascribe is one of those words. I can pronounce it all right, but its true meaning is what I searched. It means to give credit or attribute to. So in this Psalm, the writer is saying, "Let us give credit to God, for God having 'glory and strength.' Let us give credit to God just for the 'glory of his name' and let us praise him in 'holy splendor.'
What the writer is saying is this: As we ponder on God and who God is, we have to recognize how awesome God really is. Glory is that which we can't describe completely but it falls under the "awesome" understanding, meaning God is so wonderful, so strong, we can't explain it but we can sure enjoy it. It's as if the psalmist walking the freshness of the aftermath of a thunderstorm, inspired by what he saw and heard during that majestic show, says, God is awesome! He may be sitting on a hill looking over the at the floods that came as a result of this storm. The landscape now features fallen trees. The air fresh with the smell of wet dirt. And with the wonder and excitement of a child who has experienced quite a heavenly show says again, in the midst of all this, if God is our God, God's strength is ours as should be the peace that comes with knowing that!
I pray that we have no storms in our lives this year that don't point us back to God. May the strength of God be ours as we see things that we can only say, God is awesome!
PRAYER: God of the awesome and of the common, come to our lives with your strength and peace. Bring to us the joy of both. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings,
e.v.
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