GREAT LEADERSHIP

Good day dear friends.
Here is today's study guide:
Tuesday: Nehemiah 4, 5, 6Describe Nehemiah’s approach to leadership as demonstrated in these three chapters.
Great leadership begins with prayer. Nehemiah was a great leader precisely because he was a man of prayer. A great leader knows that s/he can be guided only by listening to God. Nehemiah listened to God. Great leadership turns to God. Nehemiah had to turn to God several times during this important building campaign of the Temple Wall. Great leadership is not easily intimidated. Anytime a leader tries to fulfill God's calling or go in God's direction, there will be those who will criticize or condemn that work. A true leader will not listen to folly but to faith.
A great leader will take strategic steps. Though a leader should not listen to criticism in a way that harms progress, one can pick up what steps can be taken to protect the work of God that is being done. In Nehemiah's case, the things he heard had to do with the weaknesses of the Wall and how vulnerable it was to attack. Nehemiah took steps to protect the Wall and those working on it. He himself, took up a spear and it never left his side even at night.
A great leader will share. Nehemiah knew of the needs around his people while they worked, and so at his table, he sat those who were hungry and shared with them food. A great leader will cast a vision of commitment and sacrifice. To rebuild the Wall was no small feat, and to be a part of that building required people to rely on God. No income was coming in and some found themselves falling into indebtedness that involved selling relatives, even children, into slavery, to have food to eat. Nehemiah called all to stop usury (unusually high interest) in the tax being collected among themselves and to return all excess money to those who had given it.
A great leader prays for strength. Nehemiah overcame so much to accomplish the work of the Lord. And even when being taunted and challenged and threatened, he looked to the Lord for strength. We're not strong enough ourselves, our help has to come from the Lord.
We're all leaders in some area of our lives, whether we be a housewife, a parent, a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, there are those that look to us for leadership or influence, and we can learn from Nehemiah, how to be a better leader.
PRAYER: For those who look to me, O God, allow them to find in me a model of obedience and faithfulness. May I be the leader you've called me to be. And in those areas in which I am to follow, may I be the best follower I can. In Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

THE BLESSINGS OF PRAYER

Good day dear friends.Here is our study guide for today:Monday: Nehemiah 1, 2, 3Few books of the Bible make more frequent reference to prayer thanthe book of Nehemiah. See what insights on prayer you find in thefirst two chapters.Prayer is the natural place to go after crying. Nehemiah livesthat. Prayer is a way to stay connected to God. Nehemiah lives thatalso. Prayer is a way to know what God wants and to let God knowwhat you want and need. Nehemiah lived that as well. Prayer is goodfor the soul if you use it to confess your sins, which Nehemiah didnot only for himself but also for his ancestors. Prayer makes youright with God. Nehemiah was blessed by this.The story of Nehemiah is a story of great blessings that came toJerusalem because of his prayers and answered prayers. His workingas the cupbearer to the king gave him the king's ear and he was ableto ask, while praying under his breath, for permission to go andrebuild the famous city. The book of Nehemiah is about rebuildingand restoring. Its story can be applied to our lives as well.Learn from Nehemiah the blessings of prayer. Let prayer be thatwhich fuels your faith and life.PRAYER: God of living prayer, come to me as I pray. Listen to me,bless me and let me listen to You and be a blessing to You. I praythis in Jesus' name, amen.Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!e.v.

A LOVING INVENTORY OF YOUR LIFE

Good day dear friends.
The Memorial Service for Gladys Chappell shall be on Saturday at La Vista Retirement Center, 1615 Redwood St. If you know Hugh and Toni, please make an effort to be with them. Gladys is Toni's sister and I know Toni would appreciate your presence with them. It's from 2 to 4.
Thursday: Ezra 1, 2, 3What is the significance of the statistics of people and livestock in Ezra 2?
It is to Cyrus' credit that an accounting not only of things, but of people as well, was made to show to the people and to God, that these were being returned home. It was within Cyrus' power and right, to do with these people and things as he wished, and obviously his wish was to show that he was aware of and in his way, believed in God, and wanted to be obedient to the leading of God's Spirit in the restoration of the worship to God. The divisions of people according to family and to responsibility show that Cyrus was aware of what all was involved in this massive project of restoration and rebuilding.
How well do you care for the things of God in your care? Let's start with your life. Are you pleasing the Lord with decisions you've made recently? How about your family? Are you caring for them in ways that are nurturing them towards God or not? How about your career? Are you serving Him and doing all you can to show Him you care about the vocation/career/job that you have? Are you the best at what you do? And if so, do you give God credit?
PRAYER: I am so blessed. And yet, I confess that not always have I followed You. Forgive me those times and let me start over, counting my blessings before You. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

IT'S OUR CHOICE: WHICH VOICE?

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Wednesday: 2 Chronicles 35, 36Ponder the failure of Judah’s last kings, and God’s employing a foreign king, Cyrus, to fulfill the divine purpose; what are your thoughts about these developments?
The farther you get from God the weaker you become. Never are you free, though, from the forces of temptation. We read about the final kings of Judah with sadness. Given their rich history of faith and the blessings that accompanied them, they come to decide they know what is best for them and choose accordingly. Their consequences were their own choice. Alienated from God and pursing false religion, they found themselves unguided, weak, and vunerable. Their main sin was to listen to their own inner voice rather than the voice of God. When our voice overpowers the voice of God we're headed for trouble. Trouble found the kings of Judah. In a strange development, the plight of the Judean kings was precisely what motivated a foreign king, Cyrus, to do what God had wanted all along: Bring God's people back to God.
The final pages of these kings is written with a history of defeat and humiliation. Precious material reminders of faith are confiscated by marauding armies and carried off, as are some of the people. The writer says it was a "sabbath rest of seventy years." That's a nice way of saying, we did nothing for seventy years and a nicer way of saying we were prisoners of a foreign king for seventy years and could do nothing even if we wanted to. And it takes Cyrus, a foreign king, to say to the people, return to God!
How is your history being written? Are you listening and being guided by God to faithfulness and righteousness? Or, are you like one of these final kings of Judah, seeking to please and serve only yourself? If you are, their lessons might just be your lessons as well: Humiliation and defeat in what could have been easy victories. The good news? You can return to God! God stands ready to receive all of us back into His loving arms, to love us, guide us, and bless us. All it takes is a time of silence and reflection about Who God is and what God offers.
PRAYER: Help me, O God, to blot out all the noise and distraction of my world so that I might be open to the joy and wonder of Yours. Let Your voice be that which guides me to great and pleasing decisions today and all days. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

WHAT ONE WORD DESCRIBES YOU?

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: 2 Chronicles 33, 34Choose one word to describe each of the three successive kings Manasseh, Amon, and Josiah.
This one is easy: Manasseh: repentant. Amon: nonrepentent. Josiah: leader. It also made me think, what one word describes you and me? How do people know us? I know it's difficult and perhaps unfair to try and summarize our lives in a word, but the day may come when someone may ask you of others, what do you remember best about them? And in the same way, your children or friends may be asked the same thing about you. What will they say?
We learn from these three kings that life presents to us temptations and opportunities that are not all from God. We can fall and we can fail. But what we do after we fall or fail is the important thing. Manasseh started out really evil and lived an evil life until he needed God's help and made a heartfelt, genuine repentance before the Lord. Amon just didn't care and lived an evil life and died the same way. Josiah started out good and got even better in his walk with God. He knew a great thing when he saw it and wanted it for his life and stuck with it, growing stronger in faith as he lived. What are you doing and how are you living?
PRAYER: Loving God of second chances, I confess of my temptations and failures, and I thank you for this new opportunity to accept You and be guided by You. Lead me to the fullness of life. Help me be an overcomer in all things, and more than a conqueror when it comes to my sin. I pray this in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord,
e.v.

CLEANING HOUSE

Good day dear friends.
Your prayers for a successful and wonderful Vacation Bible School (VBS) are in order. It begins today and we're excited about the kids that may show up for this important event!
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: 2 Chronicles 29, 30, 31, 32Summarize Hezekiah’s spiritual pilgrimage in three or four outline words.
Hezekiah went from cleaning (literally) house in the Temple, to cleaning house in the hearts and spirits of the people. His actions brought about a revival of joy and thanksgiving before the Lord. King Hezekiah wanted to renew the covenant with God and more importantly wanted to renew each heart before the Lord, which he did. The celebrations that followed showed a renewed commitment to God that didn't seem to end soon. It also brought about a great spirit of giving. People tithed like never before and they didn't know what to do with the excess! God rewarded the nation with safety and blessings. Even when the Assyrian king came with insults against the nation, they held fast to God and God won the victory for them over this challenge.
Hezekiah is noted only for having a period of arrogance but even that went away when he repented of it and humbled himself before God.
Has your spiritual house be cleaned lately? I mean, have you asked God to cleanse your heart, mind, and spirit so that God is free to live and reign in your life? This would be the logical start as it was for Hezekiah, to ask for a complete spiritual renewal. Make room for God, allow God to move in and allow God to reign in your life.
The blessings will be tremendous!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that many have been the times I've filled my spiritual house with other junk, dust, and filth. Please help me to clean house and to make room for You. Come in and fill my heart, mind, and spirit with Your presence. May the light of Your joy and love light up my life and the lives of others around me. I ask this in the name of Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

WHERE WOULD YOU BE BURIED?

Good day dear friends.
This is the day of the Lord! Let us remember the Lord has made this day and it was made to rejoice and praise His precious and holy name! So, make plans to be in God's House for worship!
Here are the study guides for yesterday and today:
Saturday: 2 Chronicles 25, 26As you read the story of Uzziah, Zechariah, and Azariah, what sense do you have of potential power jealousies between king and priest?
Sunday: 2 Chronicles 27, 28How do you explain the evil reign of Ahaz, following the righteous reign of his father Jotham?
Prayer Time: Nations and governments always need our prayers, but usually we’re inclined to pray too generally; here are specific persons and issues for which I will pray daily:
If the way you lived your life, from start to finish, determined where you were buried, where would you be buried? In modern terms most of us don't care where we'll be buried because as someone once said, "This is just the shell; the nut's gone!" But for the ancients, your place of burial was as much a matter of honor in death as it was in life. And this was especially true for the kings. If the king lived a worthy life in the eyes of God, he would be allowed to be buried among the other kings in a royal cemetery that signified honor.
But let's pretend for a moment, your children and/or relatives would have to determine where you would be buried based on how good you lived your life. And by that I mean, how much good did you do, how much love did you spread, did you obey and honor God, and did you make God real to others? Where would they place your body?
If you've been out in the open and have seen the news in the last few days you know that the last of the Harry Potter books has come out and most readers wanted to jump to the very last part of the book to see what happens to Harry and the other kids. Nellie and I were in WalMart and as much hoopla as the "Reserve Your Copy Now" got, there were stacks of brand new books just sitting there waiting for buyers. Of course it was way early on Saturday and the true Potterites had already bought and read the entire book and were now sleeping it off. But I went over to the book and where did I turn? To the very last page. And what did I learn? Ha ha, you have to read it for yourself! But what I'm trying to say is the end of our life, if it were important to determine burial, would have to be a great ending to a great life. And even if our burial may or may not matter to us, living a great life should matter to us as it matters to God.
Start with the end in mind, someone once wrote, and we should do that too. If our end means a reunion with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, then the days between then and now matter. Every day matters with Christ. Paul said, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is victory." What do you say?
PRAYER: Loving God, make my life count. Let me count on You and trust You and let me live my life in a way that tells others, especially my family and those around me, God matters! I ask this in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

A PERSON OF INFLUENCE

Good day dear friends.
Please remember in your prayers the family of Virginia Kinsey, a six-year resident of Hays Nursing Facility. Virginia was 92 years-old when called into the Lord's presence this week. Her graveside is this morning at City Cemetery at eleven a.m. Yours truly will be leading that farewell and worship service. Virginia is the mother of Rick Kinsey, one of my neighbors.
Here is our study guide for today:
Friday: 2 Chronicles 22, 23, 24Interpret the personality and character of King Joash with and without the influence of Jehoiada the priest.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Someone once wrote/said that. Someone else latter said, "for someone else." While the saying is used in love relationships, it wasnt' much different in the life of the king Joash. Hidden away to save his life when the Queen wanted to kill all the descendants of David's lineage, and brought to power by Jehoiada the priest, Joash ruled as a perfect man of God as long as Jehoiada was alive. It was easy to live a life of righteousness as long as the one who had taught him such a life was alive and able to share with him godly counsel. Joash did all that God expected and he lived a life that pleased God and blessed the nation.
But upon the death of Jehoiada, the influence of God also died. Joash went his own way, made his own decisions, sadly influenced by evil counsel, and soon the nation and the kingdom was abandoned by God. The nation was sacked by another smaller nation and Joash died in his own bed, finished off by his own servants.
Someone played a key role in your spiritual development. Who was it and where are they now? For most it may have been your parents or at least one of them. For others it may have been your grandmother and her wise counsel. And you can list your own influences. If that influence person is now in the presence of the Lord, have you lived up to what you were taught or do you find yourself doing your own thing? Chances are, your own thing will find you far from God and not blessed by Him. The story of Joash is your story and mine as well. The difference is that we can resolve to live our lives to please God as taught to us by that loved one. And if the loved one is now in Heaven our goal and hope is to one day see that person again in the presence of God. And the best way to realize that goal and hope, in fact, the only way, is to live a life that pleases the Lord and reflects our faith and commitment to what God has taught us.
PRAYER: Loving God, I thank you for the special someone in my life who some time ago, showed me how to live. Help me to stay on that path. If, for some reason, I find myself, far from there, guide me gently back. Help me to live fully in the embrace of Jesus, in Whose Name I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

SING A SONG!

Good day dear friends.
Our thanks for prayers lifted up for Caitlin, whose surgery went well. She's in some pain early this morning, but in good spirits. Nothing like having all four wisdom teeth removed!
Thanks to all who attended our monthly prayer service last night. Kit did an awesome job of showing the importance of silence in our prayer life. Thank you, Kit!
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: 2 Chronicles 19, 20, 21How do you explain Jehoshaphat’s reign being “right in the sight of the Lord” when so many elements were still wrong (2 Chronicles 20:31-33)?
Overall, Jehoshaphat, and this is a most difficult name to type!, was a man of prayer and faith. He had his major weaknesses, but his major strength was to go to God when he faced severe challenges, such as the approaching armies that wanted to defeat his kingdom. He thought of praising God even in the midst of the coming fight and even required the choir to march first in the battle. Many a pastor wants to say, "My choir kills," and in the good sense of doing such a great job that people enjoy them (as they do the choir of FUMC!), but in this case, the faith of Jehosahphat and the choir served as a postive and strong reminder that God was present, God was being praised, and that God would do the actual fighting for them. I give all honor to those men willing to a) be first in the line of battle, b) to be armed only with, I'm guessing, sheet music, and c) singing at the top of the lungs as they march into certain danger! That's a choir! But as you will read in the reading below or in your Bible, God confused the armies coming to attack Judah and they ended up attacking their own allies, then themselves, and killed every one of the enemy soldiers. The only thing Judah had to do was to spend three days picking up weapons, gold and silver, and other "loot" as the armies had left.
Can you personally praise God while facing the challenges of your life? Can you sing at the top of your lungs the praises of God even when you feel overwhelmed and outnumbered? You might be surprised, as you probably have been in past experiences, that God was (and is) with you, and you worried about nothing. At the end all you had to do was to pick up the blessings that God had prepared for you.
Such should be our faith. Sing praises to God. Show others the confidence you have in our God of all power and might. Know and show that God is with you and that God is taking care of all that which seems out of control or so scary you feel that certain defeat is coming your way. Then get ready to pick up the blessings!
PRAYER: Loving God, I praise you right now and I will praise you later. Let me praise you all day long. May my words form a song of faith and praise and may it be an invitation to others to know how loving and awesome you are! Help me to see with eyes of faith beyond this valley of tears and fear, to the valley of coming blessings, I pray in Jesus' powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

DEATH BY ATHLETE'S FOOT?

Good day dear friends.
I ask prayer for our daughter, Caitlin, who has her four wisdom teeth removed today.
Here is our study guide for today:
Wednesday: 2 Chronicles 16, 17, 18How do you explain the changes in Asa’s character in 2 Chronicles 16?
It happens to all of us. We're fine, we're trusting God and then we decide to do something without consulting God and doing what it is we think will please us and serve us best. That's what happened to King Asa. At first he started out fine, trusting God and walking with the Lord in all his daily life, basing his decisions on what God showed him. He had a wonderful pattern of life until his thirty-sixth year as King. It was during that year that his kingdom, Judah, is attacked by the kingdom of Israel and he panics. Instead of trusting God as he had done all his life, he turns to his neighbor and asks him for his help. Here was a king that was attacked, early in his reign, by an army of over one million Ethiopian soldiers! He turned to God during that attack and God routed them! Here now later in his career he faces a smaller army and panics. He trusts his neighbors and their strength rather than the strength of God. To make this story even more hilarious, King Asa gets a foot infection, and again, he doesn't ask God for healing, he turns to his doctors and dies. Could Asa have been the first person to die of athlete's foot?
Of course it was more serious than that we suspect, but the point remains the same. In Whom do you put your trust? If you've lived your life trusting God and seeing God bless and protect you, why would you turn away in your older years? One is supposed to grow wiser not sillier. God never changes and God never grows weaker. As we grow older and weaker, our trust and faith in God should grow stronger in the One who has helped us through many of life's most difficult challenges.
What are you facing today? What resources that you have are stronger than God? What should you do? Trust in Him!
PRAYER: God of all power and majesty and might, speak to my heart today. I thank You for all the victories that we have enjoyed during earlier years and I trust You for Your strength today in whatever I may be facing. Yours are all the victories in which we trust You. Receive this prayer of praise and honor, I lift it in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
PS Don't forget we have our monthly prayer service tonight at 6 p.m. in our sanctuary!

LEADERS AND RULERS OF INFLUENCE

Good Lord's Day everyone! I trust you are reading this as you and yours prepare to worship the Lord!
Here is our study guide for today:
Sunday: 1 Chronicles 16, 17, 18What do you know about David, as person and as ruler, from these three chapters?
When a person seeks to be a leader, s/he must first consecrate their lives before the Lord. David was such a leader and ruler. His life belonged to God and it showed. Yes, there were flaws in his character and spiritual life, but these chapters show the side of David as a successful and blessed ruler of Israel as guided by God.
His worship life was led by God and reflects a needed organization and delegation of power and responsiblities to all who were part of worship. His military life was also blessed; great were the victories of David over his enemies. His political life, closely tied to his military victories, show a man who entered into treaties with those who respected him and his nation. As a family man, David raised sons who were able to work for and under him. Yes, there was that one son, Absalom, but the Bible is an honest book. The sons who loved David, loved the Lord, and served both well.
We are all called to be leaders and rulers in our realms of life in which we have influence. There are or were, those under us, be they our children, now our grandchildren, nieces or nephews, younger siblings, etc. To be a positive influence in their lives we must live a life that shows that we love them and that we know that God loves us and we love Him. Our actions show reflect our commitment to God and our commitment to excellence in our lives for Him.
PRAYER: God of love, help me be the leader of influence you need me to be. Help me in those areas of life in which I have influence. I pray that my children and their children might see in me a person of faith and love. I ask this in Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
PS Don't forget our luncheon immediately after 11 o'clock worship!

YOUR HISTORY

Good day dear friends.
Here are the study guides for yesterday and today:
Friday: 1 Chronicles 10, 11, 12Chronicles covers essentially the same material covered in First and Second Kings, but it has its own points of emphasis. What hints do you have in 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 as to what they might be?
Saturday: 1 Chronicles 13, 14, 15The Chronicler gives us some details in 1 Chronicles 15:11-15 that are missing in 2 Samuel 6:12-13. What are they, and how are they significant?
As you can tell by now, the writer(s) of Chronicles is concerned with an accurate and truthful retelling of the nation's history. That includes the retelling of familiar king stories told from a more honest side. As the names implies, the books of 1 and 2 Kings was written with their authorization and with a bent towards making them look a little better than they were; details that made the king look less than royal may have been deleted or removed to show that their kings were the best. Chronicles tells us that these kings were, after all, just humans with warts and all. Yes, the books of Kings and Samuel, share some powerful things and that does not make them false, but Chronicles is the historian sharing history in a more forthcoming way.
Who will write our history? Usually our children, our family and our friends. An oral history may be maintained about who we were and what we did, what made others laugh or cry, and why were are or are not missed. Is it to late to re-write your history? NO! An emphatic no! You can ask the Lord to help you evaluate your history and help you be the person God meant for you to be all along. In prayer, through worship, discipleship, and in your relationships, begin to re-write who you are and what you mean to others.
Tomorrow in worship, we'll learn more about this and I trust you will make time to be in God's House to worship Him and be blessed by Him!
PRAYER: God of all history and God of our history, remold us, make us, like Thee divine. That's our prayer; to make us like You. Help us to love more, serve more, and give more. We pray this in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord and we'll see you in church tomorrow!
For those in the SM area: Don't forget, dads and men, we're having our second annual Bubba Crocker Bake-Off. Dads and men can show us their best pies and cakes, as well as enjoy our fried chicken luncheon right after the 11 o'clock worship service. Bring your favorite sides to share with the church and we'll have a great time in the Lord!
e.v.

Remembering a dear friend and servant of the Lord

The news of Sam Martinez' passing hit me hard. Sam was one of those guys who's always been around and secretly you think, he'll be here forever. I remember Sam when I was a child, always present at events we attended when we lived in Kingsville. I believe it was in Corpus Christi, where Sam lived at the time. I heard talk that Sam's Presbyterian Church had closed down and that congregation was coming to the United Methodist Church. Their loss was our gain. The congregation became El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church, the second Spanish-language UM church in Corpus. Sam learned quickly about servanthood through elected lay positions and became a master of those. He represented us at jurisdictional and general (national) conferences. He was elected to serve as a member of the General Board of Discipleship. In fact, while I was still a young pastor, Sam thought I needed to visit the Board at one of their meetings and so it was. I don't know how he secured the money, but the GBOD paid for my trip, and I was exposed to that sort of national ministry. Some years later, I myself, was elected to that same board as a clergy member where I served seven years.

Sam always had a vision for the church. He came to me with an idea to take college students and high school seniors to Washington, D.C., to visit the General Board of Church and Society. He explained the rationale and I wrote the proposal and we took a fantastic group of kids to DC, a group that included my oldest, Nellie. Sam was a gracious man. On the trip one young lady bought him a gift and signed it "To my good friend, Mister Garza!" Everyone moaned and tried to get after her for being so thoughtless, and Sam said, "No, that's fine. I'm Samuel Garza Martinez, so that's all right!" Sam was gracious. The trip was wonderful and our kids experienced much and learned much. Thanks to Sam.

Sam was always on the go. He died on the go. He loved his job because he was able to meet people and work with people all while traveling throughout the Valley and South Texas. It was on a business trip to Eagle Pass that he was called home. I mourn Sam and the loss this brings to the denomination. I mourn the loss that this brings to his family. Sam had seven children, not the five I knew; and many grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. I don't know if Sam still had to work at this age of 77 or if he just loved people so much he couldn't stay home and just sit. Sam was not like that.

I thank you, Lord, for Sam and his life and all that he meant to Your church, his family, and to me.

A LIFE LIVED IN PRAYER

Good day dear friends.
I have great sadness in my heart in the loss of a dear Christian brother. Mr. Samuel Martinez of Edinburg, Texas died unexpectedly on Sunday in Eagle Pass, Texas. Samuel, 77, was a tremendous lay person in our denomination. He was involved in all levels of the church and in the Rio Grande Conference when I say all levels, there are level galore: local church, sub-district, complete with meetings and committees, district, conference, jurisdiction, and general conference. Sam served in every capacity and he was a caring man. I've known Sam for many years and in my early years of ministry counted him as a mentor and spiritual friend. Samuel is survived by his widow, Gloria, and their five children and many grandchildren. His memorial service will be Thursday and burial on Friday in Edinburg. Please pray for the family in this terrible loss.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: 1 Chronicles 4, 5What was it about Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:9-10) that the Chronicler might have felt was praiseworthy?
Who can forget the small best-selling book, The Prayer of Jabez? It was this prayer that inspired Bruce H. Wilkerson to write this book on this prayer: (NIV) "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." The book tries to make the prayer seem more outwardly focused and says we can pray this prayer in asking for "territory" to mean influence. The Message's version below seems more inwardly, read selfish, than just influence: "Bless me, O bless me! Give me land, large tracts of land. And provide your personal protection—don't let evil hurt me." Well, it was what Jabez prayed for and the writer says, and God gave it to him! The poor guy started life with a bad name. Momma suffered much pain in childbirth so she named him, "O, the pain!" So she helped Jabez build character on the playground with his friends. What the writer considered praiseworthy is that Jabez was a man of prayer. Jabez sought to walk with God and God blessed him in ways that impressed the writer.
Is it wrong to ask God to bless us? No. In fact, only from God can come good blessings. Can we ask God to enlarge our influence? Yes. Is it wrong to ask God to give us "land, large tracts of land?" Why do you want it? What good would you do with it if God gives it to you? What are your motives?
The main thing to remember is to be a person of prayer. But keep prayer as a form of worship, not dictation. God is not our personal assistant just waiting to hear orders from us. Prayer is a way to enjoy God and God's presence with us. Prayer should be two-way conversation about life and the fullness of life, not a drive up to a drive-thru where we can place our order. I'm sure that Jabez prayed more than this one prayer for which he's known. But if asked, why are you so blessed, he answered, "I prayed and God gave it to me."
What are you praying for?
PRAYER: Loving God, I thank you for the gift of prayer. I praise You and worship You today in my prayer. I thank You for all the good that You have blessed me with and I pray for wisdom to know how I can bless You with what I have. As You give me more, let me love and praise You more. Let me give witness to what a life lived in prayer can be. I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

NAMES AND MORE NAMES!

Good day dear friends.
Our prayers for Leslie Tomlinson and her family on the loss of her aunt in Big Spring, Texas. I have no other details other than that Kit and she leave today for the funeral. Please pray for their safety and blessing.
Our sister, Beth Morrisette is undergoing eye surgery tomorrow. Please pray for a complete victory in that procedure.
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: 1 Chronicles 1, 2, 3In only a few cases in these lists is a name accompanied by some anecdote. Comment on several of the most interesting people.
My wife recently started doing our family geneaology. She has had free access to a limited time offer in some program that normally costs a bundle, and she has had access to US Census records. Where she once just had names of our relatives, in the census, we have an idea of what occupation they had when that particular census was taken. It adds a bit of knowledge and character to our families if we know a little about who they were and what they did, where they lived, and where they died. As we start the readings in 1 Chronicles, we discover the same thing. All the major players are listed there and when the writer nows where they lived, we are told. If the writer knows something, even negative about that person, we are told. And we get the idea of who these people were for good or bad.
As your children or grandchildren write your genealogy, what will be written about you besides where you lived and what you did? Will you be known as a person of prayer, of great faith, of obedience to the Lord or will your name be simply an entry in a lineage?
PRAYER: Make my life count, dear God, for you and for my family. I want to be known as one who loved and served You. I pray this in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.