STRENGTH FOR TODAY, GREAT HOPE FOR TOMORRROW

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for the day:
Friday: 2 Kings 18, 19, 20Hezekiah was one of Judah’s best kings. How do you assess his strengths and his weaknesses?
King Hezekiah was a strong king because of his faith and obedience to God. He did what the northern kings never did and that was to rid the land of the false gods and practices to those gods. He even had the courage to destroy a historic and traditional artifact from Moses, and that was the serpent which had become a place of sacrifice, for which it was never intended. His weakness was understandable. Fear in the face of overwhelming odds, such as an enemy army camped against him. Hezekiah also feared painful death, as many of us would as well. Yet, over all, he was considered a good king.
We can be strong in our daily lives and in the facing of whatever foes may come against us: stress, anxiety, fear, co-workers, problems with family, etc., by loving, trusting and walking with God. Whenever we choose to believe God enough to take Him off the pages of the Bible and into our hearts, we will see the blessings that come with that. Does that mean we will never again see enemies rise up against us? No. We will still be challenged, but as we face each new challenge with a heart filled with God's Holy Spirit, we will be, as Paul said, "more than conquerors."
PRAYER: Loving God, I thank You for never failing me. I pray that today my faith would be blessed by the presence of Your Holy Spirit. May I be faithful in following Him and doing what You would have me do. Give me courage and strength to face what I face, and let me be more than a conqueror. I pray in Jesus' powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

CHOOSING REBELLIOUSNESS

Good day dear friends.
Here is a special prayer request from a dear friend in Mission, TX:
"Please pray for my mom and dad as they are in Houston at M. D. Anderson for another round of tests for the tumors in her liver. Back on April 26th my mom had surgery in Houston to remove the tumors but the Dr. was only able to remove the gall bladder and a piece of lower intestine. The Dr. says that no more major surgery is needed, yet the tumors are still there. These tumors are called carcinoid tumors and are slow growing, so we hope and pray that all will be well. My mom said that they met with Carlos Valverde ( I believe he is your uncle), on Tuesday 26th Both my parents are in good spirits and I consider this answered prayer. My mom is doing very well considering the major surgery, and has been going to church. So to that I say God is good all the time………All the time God is good! Take care brother and Peace be with you! Charlie Alaniz"
Here is our study guide for today:Thursday: 2 Kings 15, 16, 17Second Kings 17 reports the final fall of the Northern Kingdom, and tells us why. The explanation is not military or economical but spiritual. List and reflect on the reasons the writer gives for Israel’s fall.
The list is rather long, very much like our sins. Anytime we think we know more than God and seek to please ourselves instead of Him, we'll find ourselves in situations just like the Northern Kingdom. It's our choice! Why not choose that which gives life?
PRAYER: Loving God, help me to choose life today. I don't have to live and experience rebelliousness; I can learn from the accounts of those in Your Word that have chosen that. May I be the person You've called me to be. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

THE POWER OF GOD'S LOVE IN THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN

Good day dear friends.
As you begin your day with prayer, please remember Iris Blythe who is having spinal surgery in San Antonio this afternoon. Pleae also remember all who have asked prayer of us.
Here is our study guide for today:Wednesday: 2 Kings 12, 13, 14
Both Elijah and Elisha ministered primarily to the ten northern tribes, Israel, and to their rulers. Yet not one king of Israel is described as being good, or as pleasing the Lord. Ponder the incongruity of such powerful witnesses, yet such limited results. What do you think?
The truth about the kings of Israel is that they lived their lives as rebellious children of righteous parents. Through the ministry and teachings of Elijah and Elisah, they had the perfect example of a life lived in obedience and relationship with God, yet it counted for nothing for they were set to live their lives for themselves. Thank God not all families today are that way, but it does hurt good parents who try their hardest to raise their children in the way of the Lord, but find the children not believing or not choosing to live the way they know is God's way. Though he is not mentioned by name, we know he was alive and well and going against God, and I'm referring to Satan, God's perpetual enemey. God prepared Israel before entering the promised land that they were to encounter other gods and worship of these. God knew that some would be very attractive, especially those fertility religions that employed sexual expressions as part of their worship. These kings allowed and even encouraged these practices to continue even when they knew the one true God did not want these around.
The attraction of pleasures, especially those related to the flesh, are strong attractions away from God. To fall prey to these leads us away from God and God's wishes for our living right. The kings of Israel, sadly, were no exception. They saw the attraction and for whatever reason chose to live lives that would bring them their pleasure.
Does God ever give up on us? Thankfully, no. Should parents ever give up on their children? Parents should always lift up their children in prayer for God's leading and protection. Proverbs 22:6 speaks of training up (interesting choice of words!) our children in the ways of the Lord, and when they are old, they will not depart from it. (Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.) A parent should love his/her child(ren) enough to pray, to welcome, receive, encourage, and discipline them. We trust the Lord for His involvement and strength in the lives of all children.
PRAYER: Loving Father, help me to be a positive example of our relationship. Forgive me if I have failed You through the raising of my children and bless them even now. For those who are questioning You and Your love, bless them with the answer of amazing, unconditional love. For those who are rebelling and being influenced by forces greater than them, intervene with Your might and power. I believe that You are greater than anything or anyone, and for the sake of my child(ren), You can bring a victory. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

DOING THE GOD THING

Good morning dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: 2 Kings 9, 10, 11These are bloody chapters! What lessons can be learned from them?
The readings for today bring back boyhood memories. As a child I remember reading or having read to me, passages about boy kings and I thought, at the time, that that must have been the world's greatest job. I knew nothing of all the pressures that might accompany such a title, but I thought that of being king might be a nice gig. And the first part of today's readings sound almost humorous, a "drive-by" anointing of Israel's next king. Elisha is ordered by God to anoint Jehu as the new king and so he sends one of the members of the "guild" or "company" of prophets to go and do the anointing. The Message's modern version makes it comical, "get him away from his companions and take him to a back room. Take your flask of oil and pour it over his head and say, 'God's word: I anoint you king over Israel.'" Then get the heck out of Dodge!
The rest of the reading is not so humorous. It was a sad and bloody time in Israel and Judah because of the unfaithfulness of the king. Exactly what God had warned them against becomes the matters that they followed and as a result suffered the consequences of idolatry, unfaithfulness, alienation of affection and attention to the one true God.
What lessons can we learn? Stay true to God even in your leaders are not. What God says is pure; His message is always pure, the messengers and kings or rulers might not always be, but God remains holy and pure. It is our task to follow God and God's Word, not our own interpretation or passion.
As the ruler in your realm of influence, are you being a good "king or queen" or are you less than what God wants you to be?
PRAYER: Loving Father, forgive me for those times I've chosen my own path and desires rather than Yours. Help me to be the best that I can especially around those who depend and learn from me. I ask this in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

UNWAVERING FAITH

Good day dear friends.
We rejoice in having received a new member yesterday during our Coffee with the Pastor. And speaking of new members, Steven Lawrence and his wife, Theresa, are new to our church (they joined last month), they have no family or friends yet, and Steve is in the hospital. He's in CTMC, Room 326 and could use a visit. I saw him yesterday afternoon, and he will be hospitalized another two or more days. If you have time and would like to make a new friend, please pay Steven and Theresa a visit.
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: 2 Kings 6, 7, 8
In some ways, Elisha is as irregular a personality as was his predecessor Elijah. What are the qualities that make him an effective prophet of God?
I highly recommend the readings assigned today, especially in The Message version. Interesting reading! You'll love the part that explains what you could buy during a famine in Israel. "Eighty shekels for a donkey's head!" And you'll also read about some terrible stuff that goes on during a famine.
As for Elisha being as irregular as Elijah, and I have to admit it sounds more like a commercial for Metamusil, both were quirky men, given to following their thinking; but both were men of God. Their faith never wavered. God was real. God was accessible. God answered their prayers. God blessed and protected them. Both were men loyal to the Lord and to their nation. They sought what God wanted for Israel and they knew it was in the best interest of all concerned to live their lives in ways that would please God, though few of the kings were so disposed.
How are we among friends, especially those who have little or no faith? Our youngest works in a place where a get-well card was purchased for one of their managers, and one of the employees refused to sign the card because the name of Jesus was on it. She became more a focus of prayer than one to be rejected or ridiculed. Not everyone will believe as us, and we may find we are ridiculed for our beliefs, but should we waver in our faith or abandon it altogether? No! We who love the Lord should seek to strengthen our faith.
PRAYEY: Loving God, I thank you for loving me, and I pray that today You would share with me wisdom to love and serve You. May my words and actions reflect my commitment to You. As I encounter people who need You direct me to ways that show how loving You are. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

FIRST STEPS OF FAITH

Good day dear friends. This is the Day of the Lord! Rejoice and be glad in it! Find your way to a worship place, like your church, to lift high the Name of the Lord!
Here is our study guide for today:
Sunday: 2 Kings 4, 5Compare the miracles received by the poor widow and by Naaman; what characteristics might they have in common?
PRAYER THEME FOR THE WEEK: Our times need some prophets. Here are some issues about which I will pray daily, because we need a prophet who can enunciate these concerns:
The poor widow faced the loss of her two children into slavery for debts incurred by her late husband. Naaman, noted general of a foreign king, was infected with a "dreaded skin disease" or leprosy, as some earlier versions call it. Both would require miracles. The widow needed her sons, not just for companionship but for their strength to provide for her and the household. The general needed his health to continue to serve his king. Money was not going to come easily or at all for the widow; and healing was not a doctor's visit away for Naaman. God would have to intervene. And God did, through Elisah. The obvious thing required of both was faith to carry out that part which would provide for their deliverance. The widow was asked to find jars and bowls in which to pour oil. Naaman was asked to go and bathe in the Jordan River seven times. The widow complied with no question and experienced the miracle of receiving enough oil to meet her indebtedness and to have money on which to survive. The general at first balked at what was asked of him thinking his country's rivers were cleaner, but it took the faith of one of his servants to tell him to comply with the request and perhaps he would be healed as he wanted.
These God-miracles required the faith to carry out something. Nothing was simply handed to them. What are you asking for that seems that it would be a miracle to receive, and what has God asked of you in return? That first step of obedient faith may be what is holding you back. Take that step with faith and gratitude, thanking God for what is coming your way!
PRAYER: Loving God of unexplainable things, help me to take that first step. Right now it seems so difficult or silly, but help me with faith, knowing that after this first step, I will see Your glory! I pray in faith, in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

A DOUBLE PORTION

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Saturday: 2 Kings 1, 2, 3What was Elisha’s secret in gaining the power that had marked the ministry of Elijah?
Elisha's secret was knowing that Elijah possessed God's Spirit in his life. All that Elijah did throughout his lifetime was because of that Spirit. And Elisha also knew the day when Elijah was going back "home." During that day Elisha followed the old man and would not let him out of his sight. Finally, Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted, and here was the secret fulfilled, Elisha said he wanted not only the spirit that Elijah had, he wanted a double portion of that spirit. It was not enough, or so it seemed to Elisha to just ask for the same spirit, he wanted double the amount, just to be safe.
In so many areas of our lives, we think we can get by with just enough, but how many of us in our spiritual lives would like to have twice what we have already or what someone we admire spiritually has? What would we do with such a spiritual power? Elisha, though a man of God, was still a man, and we read that one of the second things he does is to get rid of a gang of kids that were calling him names! Not a very spiritual thing, was it? It just shows we can sometimes abuse the good we get from God. Our prayer should be that we use what we have from God to glorify Him!
PRAYER: Come to us, dear God, and visit us with Your Spirit. Grant to us a double portion of what You will, but only to serve You and glorify and bless Your name. Let me be Your servant and a servant to Your people. I pray and ask this in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

HOW DO YOU RULE?

Good day dear friends.
An update on the Tillmas: I visited Redwood Springs and was told they move in tomorrow, Saturday. I did visit with Linda Stapper, Grace Hyatt, and Madeline West. These dear ladies need our prayers and a visit. Everyone is invited to visit them from time to time.
Here is our study guide for today:
Friday: 1 Kings 21, 22What does the story of Naboth imply about the difference between the conduct of royalty in Isreal and in Jezebel’s homeland?
We can presume that the royalty in Israel was more of a respecter of personal property than those of Jezebel's homeland, for when Naboth refused to sell or trade his vineyard, Ahab only sulked. Jezebel, when she saw him sulking and refusing to eat, orders him to "be the boss!" This, sadly, included the murder of Naboth.
How do we rule our kingdoms? With absolute power and authority or with love and respect. Do we always insist on our own way or do we seek to compromise and get along?
What lessons are you teaching those "under" you about how they will rule their kingdoms? Are your children learning positive life lessons from you or have you "cloned" them to be just like you?
PRAYER: Loving Father, we pray that we might be like You in those realms of influence and authority that we have. May we seek to be loving and compassionate to those who depend on us. We pray in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

TRUSTING GOD ALWAYS

Good day dear friends.
Our prayers for the staff of Redwood Spring nursing facility. I understand a 34 year old nurse died unexpectedly in her sleep and her death has caused great sadness among staff and residents alike. Yesterday the Tillmans were moved there. Please pray that God's comfort be with all who are mourning the loss of this young mother of two.
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: 1 Kings 19, 20Why would Elijah be so disheartened in the wake of such a great victory?
If I were writing this just to ministers of our denomination, I would say that Elijah was serving a terrible appointment. First Church Jerusalem was not the church it once was. It was lose if you do and lose if you don't. Anything and everything that this prophet tried to do or share from God was rejected. He personally was held in contempt. His "congregation" abandoned God and followed other teachings not of God (can this actually happen in a Christian church??). The victory mentioned here resulted in the death of all the prophets/teachers of the false gods. The victory was great for God, but the king and queen of Israel so hated God and his teachings and teacher, that this victory was seen as an afront to them and the queen ordered the death of the prophet. Who could have a "good day" knowing his very life was in danger?
Not everyone will be in agreement with what we say or do. Sometimes it will seem that the more we try to share God's teachings to someone, the more they turn against us or reject us. But we leave it to God and we trust God. The point is to stay faithful and true to what we know is of God. We leave the results and consequences to Him.
PRAYER: Loving God, strengthen my faith. Help me to do what You guide me to do for Your good and the good of your people. Help me to trust You always. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.

STAYING TRUE TO GOD

Good day dear friends.
I wish to all the dads out there a very happy and safe Father's Day!
Here is our study guide for today:1 Kings 10, 11We go from a declaration of Solomon's successes in 1 Kings 10, to his sade decline in 1 Kings 11. What several elements cause his departure from godliness?
A careful reading, even a casual reading of 1 Kings 11 gives us the answers. Solomon had a weakness for women. Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines! This as a result of his weakness and his taking wives and concubines from among those people that God had warned against. God knew that to fall in love with a woman outside of the faith would be a temptation to anyone, especially a man like Solomon, and it was. Solomon was in disobedience to God by marrying outside Israel and more so when he began to spend his money in building temples and shrines for the foreign and false gods. This angered God and caused Solomon to lose his godliness and his kingdom.
We have out temptations and distractions that can and sometimes do lead us away from God. It is only through trusting and believing God to stay away from them that we can be victorious over all other "gods."
PRAYER: Loving God, You are the only true God. There are things and people that cause us to think away from You, but we pray that we might receive from You the strength to not be led away into sin. Strengthen us this day into being your true people. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

PRAISING GOD IN ALL WE HAVE!

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:1 Kings 4, 5, 6What can we learn from the rather complete report of Solomon's building of the Temple?
I read this thinking, oh no, here comes a list of materials and dimensions and I won't be blessed by reading this. Wrong! What I learned is that Solomon was blessed by God with wisdom, organizational skills, dedication, and determination. Where his father, David, had not been able to build the House for the Lord, he was, and he took that responsibility very seriously. This, after all, was to be the symbolic Home for He who is everywhere. This home was to symbolize the holiest of holies, and a place where people could worship the Name of the Lord.
Do the reading! Read how each thing is a blessing from God. Think about your life and how every thing you possess has come from God's loving hands. Are you making room in all your things for God to be praised?
PRAYER: Loving God, I thank you for the "temples" you've shared with me. May each be a place where I am reminded of Your holiness and Your love. May Your power move among me and mine, so that we can always and everywhere praise You. In Jesus' name, amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

HOW DO YOU PRAY?

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:1 Kings 1, 2, 3We are always impressed by Solomon's request for wisdom. But specifically what personal factors are revealed in his prayer in 1 Kings 3:6-9?
There is a lot of drama in the first two chapters of today's reading. And it all leads up to Solomon taking the throne after David. It was not easy nor can we say it was not political, it was. Solomon's mother had to intervene as did priests and prophet. Once he was seated on the throne we see the kind of man Solomon was and desired to be: He was a thankful man, thanking God for allowing him to sit on the throne. He was a caring man, asking for wisdom to know how to best care for for the people of Israel. He was a wise man in asking for wisdom. This version of the Bible, the Message, shows that Solomon desired "a God-listening heart." This passage has always intrigued many for it's really the old, "If you had three wishes and you knew they would be granted (usually by a genie or some such); what would you wish for?" Solomon had God asking him what one wish he wanted, and Solomon chose wisdom. As a result of that God granted him both wealth and glory.
Through prayer we have this "wish" as well. How do you pray and what do you pray for? Do you follow the A.C.T.S. prayer model in your prayers or do you just compose a "to-do list" for God? The ACTS prayer model shows the basis of worshipful prayer: Adoration, you begin by adoring or worshiping God. God is worthy of our praise! The C is for our confession. Talking to God is a good time to let God know that you know what it is that you've done wrong that needs God's forgiveness for your life. The T is for thanksgiving. Notice again how Solomon thanked God for allowing him to be king. What are you thankful for? Have you told God that yet? And the S is Supplication. Here it is where one can tell God what it is that we need. It is also the point in the prayer where we lift up others that we know need God's blessing. And remember, when you say Amen, keep listening! It's God's turn!
PRAYER: Loving and listening God, I thank You for listening to my prayer. I worship You. I thank You for being my God. I praise Your name. I confess that I have not lived up to the standards of being a person worthy of being called Christian, so I repent of my sin and ask You to make me worthy. I thank You for all You always provide. All that I have has come from You. Blessed be Your name. I ask blessing upon blessing for those in my life who need them, especially the sick, the hurting, the dying, the lonely, the troubled, the prisoner, the orphan, the widow and widower. I ask blessings for my life. And I do all this, not by my merits, but by the merits of He who is my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

IN GOD WE TRUST

Good day dear friends.
Please remember we have our monthly prayer service tonight at 6 p.m. Great and wonderful things have been happening in our church because of these! Come and share your prayers with the needs of the people or come and bring concerns for which you need prayer. We'll be out no later than 6:45!
Here is our study guide for today:
2 Samuel 22, 23, 24Why do you think David decided to take a census, against the advice of his trusted general?
When is enough enough? I believe that was the thinking of David's general, Joab. Yet, there are two dynamics at work here: God is once again, angry at Israel and moves David to take the census. To take the census, David later confesses, is to know how many fighting men he had. Did he have enough? David also knows that he has replaced trust with statistics. This census comes after hearing that David's army is commanded by an elite group called "The Three." The description of these is that they are fearless, strong, outstanding officers, who place their lives on the line every time they are in battle and would do anything for David and Israel. Under the Three were The Thirty, another valiant group of warriors. The implication is that with this group of The Three and The Thirty, Israel was well commanded and David was well protected. And the other implication is that with such a strong presence of human leadership, there might have been a slight shift from spiritual trust in God to provide to self-reliance.
We must acknowledge God in all things. We must be thankful and trustful people. In all ways and in all things, acknowledge the Lord (Proverbs 3:6), is a teaching that holds true even today.
How often do you find yourself counting your money? Or your material possessions? How often do you think, this is not enough? Or good enough? Do you find yourself saying, I want more? The times you say, God, thank you for what I have and for providing this for me, are the times you are blessing God and being blessed for acknowledging your dependence on Him! It is too easy for us to say, you know, all that I have, I've gotten because of my hard work. Don't let that happen! Give thanks to God for what you have, because we know all things come from Him.
PRAYER: Loving God of all people and all things, out of Your generous hands have come the things that have blessed my life. Let me give you thanks and let me surrender to You today and all days, for I know that You provide all things. Thank you! I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Come and close out the day in prayer!
e.v.

GIVING OUR BEST TO GOD

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
2 Samuel 19, 20, 21Joab is the essence of a tough-minded military man, at least one modern novelist has written a biography of David around him. What qualities of character do you find in him?
These were trying times for David and Israel. The war between David and his son Absalom took a heavy emotional toll on David. This was evident upon news of Absalom's death. David could not and did not enjoy the victory. This affected the men who risked their lives following David as his soldiers. Joab, a perceptive man, knew this was demoralizing the troops and so in private had a confrontation with David. He basically said something that might have appalled Jesus, "What is this loving those who hate you?" The other possibly not, "And hating those who love you?" Joab tells David that his actions showed that his officers and soldiers meant nothing to him.
Joab was a loyal warrior. He loved David and never deserted him and was the sort of man that did not mind when he was no longer in command, he still fought against the king's enemies whom he perceived as the enemies of God's anointed. Joab was dedicated to his work and carried out all orders given to him by the king. Joab knew to use all the qualities God gave him in the line of work that he chose for himself.
What qualities has God given you and how will you use them? Do you possess loyalty towards God? Do you seek to carry out all God asks of you?
PRAYER: God of all people, I thank you for what you have shared with me. Let me be the person you want, by allowing me to realize and utilize the qualities and gifts you have shared with me. I seek to serve you with faithfulness. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

TROUBLED FAMILIES

Good day dear friends.
Prayer update: I visited with Doris Tillman yesterday afternoon and she appreciates our prayers and asks we continue to pray for her. She sees an eye specialist on Tuesday in San Antonio. She's not been eating well and is still very sad about having lost sight in her eye. Please continue to pray for Doris.
Here is our study guide for today:2 Samuel 16, 17, 18These chapters have to do especially with a series of intimate human relationships. What do they reveal about David the man?
My mother bought for me a picture book of the Bible when I was a child. It's an illustrated book with beautiful pictures of different stories of the Bible, and one of the most vivid pictures in my memory is that of the young man Absalom hanging by his hair in the tree. The biggest disagreements I ever had with my own father was about my hair. I've shared that for the first years of my life I always had the choice between a "GI" or a flattop haircut. The only different is the "fence" a flattop allows in the front and sometimes the sides. The Beatles didn't help matters any in the 60s. The picture in the Bible book illustrated one of the pitfalls of long hair!
In these readings today we see the picture of a loving and caring father. David's son hated him and wanted him dead so that he could take over as king, and in some sense already had, capturing Jerusalem and commanding the army of Israel, but as long as David was alive, Absalom knew that he could not truly be king, so he sought to kill him. Even in spite of being hunted down like an animal, David still worried about his son. The first chapter of today's reading shows a man who cares also about God and what God may be saying or doing even through bitter old men who cursed and threw rocks at him! David thought that this man who hated David, might just be speaking God's word towards him through the curses.
Even in the face of battle, David wanted nothing to happen to his son. Though the son wanted David completely defeated, humiliated, and dead, David wanted Absalom to be alive. The story ends as it does with Absalom hanging by his hair in this tree and David's longtime general, Joab takes three knives and stabs him in the heart, and then the rest of his soldiers cut what's left of Absalom's body, then throw the remains in a pit and cover it with rocks. The army of Israel realizes their leader is dead and all the soldiers return home, and the civil war is over.
David, unlike other men, does not rejoice at this victory; instead he weeps for the loss of his son. While he may have his kingdom and army back, it matters not, for his son is dead. We see this man as one who loved his children, and even if they didn't want the best for him, he wanted the best for them.
How do we react to troubled relationships with loved ones? Does it make you happy if someone in your family with whom you might be estranged suffers loss or setback? Or does the love you have for them go beyond that, and makes you weep and be sad for them? What does God want us to do as parents, siblings, children? I believe God wants us to never stop loving and praying and hoping for the best for our family members. May God also work to keep families in love with one another.
PRAYER: Loving God, make me the person that loves even in the midst of a troubled relationship. Touch my heart and the heart of those family members who might not want the best for me. Help us to love again. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

Ketchup Scriptures

Good day dear friends.
Prayer Update: Doris Tillman has limited sight in her left eye and sight in the other one as well. She is feeling a bit down. Those who know her are encouraged to pay her a visit at CTMC. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.
Here are the scriptures for this week, thus the "catch-up" scriptures' title in the subject line:
Monday: 1 Samuel 26, 27, 28
What explanation do you find - and don’t be too quick on this - for Saul’s contradictory and irrational conduct in these chapters?

Tuesday: 1 Samuel 29, 30, 31
Compare qualities of leadership and character as demonstrated by David and Saul in 1 Samuel 30-31

Wednesday: 2 Samuel 1, 2, 3
List several qualities of David’s character, negative or positive, that you find in his responses to people and to problems in these chapters.

Thursday: 2 Samuel 4, 5, 6
David’s dance for the return of the ark was obviously more than ritual or art; what place does sheer exuberance have in our worhsip?

Friday: 2 Samuel 7, 8, 9
What is your understanding of the promise God makes to David in 2 Samuel 7?

Saturday: 2 Samuel 10, 11, 12
What lessons are to be learned (1) from David’s sin and (2) from his repentance?

Sunday: 2 Samuel 13, 14, 15
I think Absalom is the son most like his father David. What basis might I have for thinking so?

PRAYER THEME FOR THE WEEK: It is time to examine our hearts, to see what sin we hide or justify. This should be a hopeful, cleaning exercise, not a morbid one.

Remember you can read The Message version of these at http://www.bible.crosswalk.com/. Type in the scripture and select The Message version in the Version scroll-down section.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

WHO IS JESUS?

Good day dear friends.
Please keep Doris Tillman in your prayers as she is fighting a serious temporal artery infection that has caused the loss of vision in her left eye and doctors are fighting to keep vision in the right one. She is in CTMC and needs our prayers.
Here is our morning devotional (Classic ConCafe):
Matthew 16: 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, heasked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 Theyreplied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and stillothers, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 "But what about you?" heasked. "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are theChrist, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed areyou, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, butby my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and onthis rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will notovercome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever youloose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20 Then he warned hisdisciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
Having just returned from a wonderful Walk to Emmaus I am reminded ofmy first impressions of this retreat. A dear friend, Rev. JohnReynolds was the first person I knew to have attended this walk. Beinga friend I received an invitation to write him a letter. "Boy, is hegoing to be gone that long?" I wondered. And then I thought about Mt.Wesley. As a boy my summer was not complete without our weeklong RioGrande Conference youth assembly on those hallowed grounds. I rememberthe LONG walks from the patio area, past the girls' dormitory, to thetop of the cross. As a boy, those walks were fun. As a man, Ithought, that was not so much a walk as an ordeal! So, the first thingI asked John on his return, "How much walking did you do on that Walk?"John smiled and replied that there was no walking involved and theevent was beautiful. He told me it was filled with surprises and thatwas all he could tell me. Oh, he did tell me that I needed to go.Another dear friend, Rev. Bill Henderson also attended that Walk and hecalled to tell me the same thing. After postponing and rescheduling asmuch as I could get away with, I finally attended. I went kicking andscreaming. To make a very long story short, I almost screamed thewhole way over as I flew from Weslaco, TX, to Kerrville! I kepttelling Bill and John, who sat in the seats in front of me in thissix-seater plane, "It's the Flight to Egypt and the Walk to Emmaus!Haven't you read the subtitles in the Bible??" So, needless to say, myspiritual experience began on the way to the Walk. After I returned Icouldn't share with Nellie all that I had experienced. I didn't wantto spoil the surprises. I showed her my multicolored cross and toldher she needed to go. The Walk is a three-dayreligious retreat. It is meant to draw us nearer to Christ. It is not for everyone, but some do undergo some wonderful,lasting changes in their spirits. Ultimately it becomes a matter of"What do you say this experience is all about?" I would encouragethose of you who have pre-formed opinions of this retreat to go on one.Then see if your opinions remain the same.
Jesus experienced that too. He and his disciples went around Palestinepreaching the love of God and God's coming Kingdom. He said and didsome incredible things. People began to talk and to judge this man andhis followers. The disciples heard things and tried to understand justwhat it all meant. Finally, Jesus asks his disciples, "Who do peoplesay I am?" He knew. The disciples replied with the most commonanswers: Some believe you to be John the Baptist. A dead man, killedfor his convictions back from the dead to preach the same message.Others say you are Elijah. He was the prophet who never died. He rodeinto Heaven on a chariot of fire. He could just as easily come back inthe same way! Malachi closes out the Old Testament with that verypromise, that Moses and Elijah would return. Other people believedJesus to be Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, who loved Israel and God somuch that he cried because of the failed relationship between the two.Others say that Jesus was one of the prophets. Legendary men, ofextraordinary messages who died for God who might just as easily cometo life again for God too. The real question, Jesus said, is in ouranswering. Who do we say that Jesus is? Peter replies, "You are theChrist, the Son of the living God!" A true declaration and a blessing!Peter knew Jesus for who he was. Jesus replies to Peter that he isthe Rock and upon his faith he was to build his church. And thischurch would not be overcome by the powers of hell. Peter would begiven the keys to the kingdom of heaven, thus all the stories and jokesof Peter being the gatekeeper to heaven. Jesus gives Peter awesomepower both on earth and heaven.
The lesson to be learned is this. We will hear things about God and wewill believe we know some things about the Lord. But ultimately, thequestion remains, Who do we know the Lord to be? If we know Jesus tobe real, then he will be real not only in our heart but also in ourlives and in our relationships with others. If he isn't real and heremains a part of an "out there" experience or the experience ofsomeone else, then he'll never be real for us. Our own John Wesley wasable to go from the scared preacher on board a storm-tossed ship whoproclaimed that he knew Jesus to be the savior of the "world," to theperson who said, "I knew then that Jesus had died for my sins." Whereare you? I heard a wonderful thing this week that I'll share with you.You may have been separated from God for a long time and taken manysteps away from Him, but it only takes one step back to be back in theright relationship. Are you willing to take that step?
Prayer: Lord, let me take the first step back to be in your lovingarms. And may all steps after this one, be steps that are besidesyours as I make my way toward being with you forever. I pray in Jesus'Name, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

The miracle of caring and sharing

Good day dear friends.
While at our annual conference I share this early ConCafe:
13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to adeserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followedhim on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore, he saw a greatcrowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15 Whenit was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a desertedplace, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they maygo into the villages and buy food for themselves." 16 Jesus said tothem, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." 17They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." 18And he said, "Bring them here to me." 19 Then he ordered the crowdsto sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, helooked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them tothe disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And allate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the brokenpieces, twelve baskets full. 21 And those who ate were about fivethousand men, besides women and children.
Jesus tried as often as was possible to find a place where He could bealone with God. This was especially true in the days leading to Hiscrucifixion. Yet, everywhere Jesus went, so did the crowds. There wasno place to find quiet for prayer and reflection. And as we just readwhile trying to find this quiet Jesus finds Himself called on to sharesomething with the crowds. What Jesus shares is His compassion. Inthat compassion Jesus "cured their sick." The crowd lingers and wantsmore. When it is time for supper the disciples have a plan: send thepeople away! Jesus says, "you give them something to eat." Jesus hadcalled the disciples to do His will. And His will at this point was tohave them serve the people. The reply was that there was only fiveloaves of bread and two fish. Not exactly a catered affair. But Jesuscalls for them to bring forth that food and He takes the loaves and thefish, looks to heaven, and blesses and breaks the bread and they giveit to the disciples and they give to the crowd. Verse 20 says, "allate and were filled." What was left over were "twelve baskets full."The final count was "about five thousand men, besides women andchildren."
How did He do that? We get "stumped" by trying to explain how Jesuswas able to feed 5,000 men, "besides women and children," when in theprevious sentences Jesus "cured their sick." William Barclay in his"Daily Study Bible Series, The Gospel of Matthew, vol 2" says there arethree ways to see this. Number one. Take it at face value. It was amiracle. If you believe that, fine! Praise the Lord! The second way,some can see it as a sacrament according to Dr. Barclay. Those whobelieve this believe that the people present received only a morsel offood "and yet with that were strengthened for their journey and werecontent." Not a meal of physical proportions but rather the spiritualfood of Jesus. Barclay concludes, "If that be so, this is a miraclewhich is re-enacted every time we sit at the table of our Lord; forthere comes to us the spiritual food which sends us out to walk withfirmer feet and greater strength the way of life which leads to God."The third way is to see it perfectly natural and to know there reallyis a crowd. It is getting very late and they are very hungry. And thequestion is asked would have these many people taken off this late inthe day toward the lake without food? Wouldn't they have takensomething? Could they have also been very selfish? But it wasn'tuntil Jesus takes the bread he and his disciples have and then blessingit and sharing it with "an invitation and a smile." Before you knowit, everyone is sharing and there is more than enough to go around.Barclay says that if this is what happened, it was a "miracle of thechanging of selfish people into generous people at the touch of Christ.It was the miracle of the birth of love in grudging hearts. It wasthe miracle of changed men and women with something of Christ in themto banish their selfishness."
However you chose to believe this miracle, remember this: Jesus came tochange us and if Christ is with us we have our needs met. Sometimes inunexplainable ways.
Prayer: Lord of changed hearts, change mine. Let me see the miracle ofa life lived in You! I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.