A FATHER/MOTHER'S PRAYERS...

Good day dear friends.

As we pray this morning please lift up Mrs. Joy Moose of San Antonio. She just underwent bladder surgery and received a first round of chemo therapy during the surgery. Please pray for her healing.

We continue to study The Truth About Successful Families. At a
retreat I attended last week I heard Dr. Maxie Dunnam former
president of Asbury Seminary, say again what is true, "As goes the
seminary so goes the church; as goes the church so goes the
family." I just read a summation of a book called "Family and
Civilization" by Carl Zimmerman whose study of 3,000 years of family
structure says, "As goes the children, so goes the culture, as goes
the family, so goes society." Which brings us to an important
question, are you praying for your children? I believe there is
nothing more powerful and eternal than a parent showering his/her
children with prayer. I grew up in a home where prayer was
important. I was the first to leave for college and the looming
fear of the academic world and exams frightened me but I would time
my weekly call home to the night before exams. And as I would talk
with my mom and dad, usually dad had little to say, I would tell my
mom that I had an exam the next day and she would say I am praying
for you. Just hearing that may me know there was no way I could
fail. Yes, I studied and I was ready, but knowing that God's hand
was upon mine helped me calm my spirit and sooth my fears. Do your
children know the same feeling? Have you said to them, "I am
praying for you." Do they understand how prayer works and the
awesomeness of God behind our prayers?

A family that prays together, stays together, someone wrote. I
believe that. Life tosses too many storm clouds and rough seas
towards the home and we need the lifeline of prayer helping us
through. In the same way your children face sometimes greater
obstacles and temptations than we ever did, and it would bless them
to know that you are praying for them.

PRAYER: Loving God, cover my children with Your love and grace.
May the calm presence of Your Holy Spirit bless my children today.
May I know to say the words to them that I am praying, because I
believe in You and I trust You, for them. I pray this prayer in
Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

IS YOUR HOME A HAVEN?

Good day dear friends.

We continue our discussion on successful families.

There is a billboard that says, "The bus driver knows who your child has a crush on. Do you?" What a thing to read as you're driving along a busy interstate freeway! And it speaks about the importance of trust and communication within families. A lot of that depends on conversations you may have had about your family situation and how you view different parts of growing up and maturing. Have your views reflected an openness and love towards all or have you given yourself away in terms of what is accepted or isn't?

In the marriage ceremony there is a section on allowing your home to become a "haven." This is a place of refuge and rest. Is your home such a place to your family? Do family members look forward to coming home and for those who may live away is there a reluctance to leave? Of course, there may be other factors involved in that, such as the fully equipped room for your teenagers that allow them to spend countless hours in there without have to come up for air! It used to be that kids could be punished by being sent to their room. Today that is usally a great thing not a punishment. "Go to my room? The one with the home entertainment center, cell phone, internet access, Game Boy, microwave, telephone, mini-fridge, DVD player, CD burner? That room? Why, sure!" Does your home invite conversation and time together? Do you make time to watch programs together and discuss what you've seen? I confess I'm not a fan of Trading Spaces or other shows that my daughters watch. I'm not totatlly a fan of competition involving food, such as building an Elvis cake between teams (though they do get creative!), but watching such shows does allow me time to at least see my girls and what they're watching.

Sunday night in my God In Three Persons class, we talked about the Shema from Deut. 6:4, "4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD;" The rest deals with how the Shema was to be used: "5 and you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; 7 and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

For the Jew, family time meant worship time as well. God was the center of their time together and home worship was key to their identity and their purpose. Somehow, we've gotten away from that and we're relying on Sunday schools and Vacation Bible schools to do that. And they do do their job, but the entire work depends on the home nurturing the child in the Lord as well.

Is it too late to start? No. Show your children and your children's children the center of your life that God possesses. Show them how important God is and how His presence has allowed you to be different and loving. Allow that atmosphere of trust and communication start with how you pray together. Then sharing can take place. You may not know who is the focus of your child's crush but your child will know that when more meaningful relationships develop they can talk to you about it.

PRAYER: Bless my home today, O God. I know there are flaws in me and as a result flaws in my home, but help me to overcome these and help me to be more trusting and open to those around me. Bless my home to be that what You want it to be. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

Dear friends, those that were there know exactly what I'm talking about! We had a packed house and a packed gym for Gospel night. Next year we might just have to move to Strahan Auditorium for the event! A special thank you to all who bought tickets, came to worship; to the Wesley UMC Intergenerational Choir, Pastor Sylvester E. Chase, Jr. for his leadership and devotional message (You'll Never Find Another Love Like Christian Love!), to the Stewart Family for making the delicious real New Orleans gumbo (the Stewarts are evacuees from NO, but who have since joined us as real San Marcos Texans! and they made the gumbo for the evening), and the Mozambique team who coordinated everything. God was blessed as was God's family!

A special thank you to Pastor Leslie Tomlinson who preached at our worship services. She spoke on The Truth About Successful Families and I've not yet heard the tape nor have I seen a sermon insert but I'll follow the theme.

I did ask in the brochure about this series about how many of our dads came home from work wearing a suit and then changed into a cardigan sweater to be more comfortable, sat at a nice comfy chair, read the evening paper while Mom, dressed for church, prepared supper? The image I'm sharing, of course, was Ward and June Cleaver, the parents to Wally and Beaver, real name Teodore. The answer I know would be very few. The reality was and is a bit different. What was then more a table-centered family existence is now a clearing house for all sorts of things. I've heard many moms, mine included saying, I'm running a hotel, a cafe, a taxi service, a bank, a laundry, etc. Family time is almost nonexistent.

The truth about successful families in my opinion are those centered on Christ's love for each member and each member trying in his/her own way to share that same love towards each other. The great parable about families was the one Jesus shared about two brothers who didn't get along, were suspicious of each other, tried to play each other off the father and finally the younger of the two left. And he didn't leave poor. He took his share of the inheritance and spent it, according to the older brother "in a squanderous way of living." I'm sure the younger one made sure to email him about what he was up to and how he was spending dad's money. The story has the younger brother coming to his senses only after finding himself so poor he was hungry enough to eat the scraps of undesireable food fed to the hogs on the hog farm at which he now worked. The dad's compassionate love was the key to the story and Jesus used it to demonstrate God's compassionate love for us. The story ends with the older brother not wanting to be a part of the celebration for the young son's return, but the father says to the young man that he had never lost anything, in fact the dad tells him, "all that I have is yours," but understand the need to celebrate that this your brother who was dead is now alive.

How is it in your "family?" How do you want it to be? It may not be too late to try and make your family a "successful" one. It may require a lot of pain, work, tears, sweat and forgiveness, but with God's help and God's presence in your midst, it could happen. The place to start is with you and your heart. Do you have compassionate, forgiving love in your heart towards yourself and the other members of your family? How can you best show it?

PRAYER: God of compassionate love, begin Your good work in me. Help me to have that same sort of unconditional love toward myself so that I can begin to share it with those who matter most to me, my family. I thank you for each member and like me, I know they may not be perfect, but they are mine and they are Yours. Let me love them and begin to work towards having a family that reflects Your presence with us. I pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

DISCOURAGEMENT OR DISAPPOINTMENT? GOD IS STILL WITH US!

Thursday: Read Ephesians 5:21-33. This is some would say a “harsh” passage about marriage. How do you view it? What is the writer trying to get to you as you read this passage? Is there a single or double standard in this for husbands and wives? Why or why not? What is God using this passage to share with us?

From the NSRV:

21 Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Savior. 24 Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, 27 so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church. 33 Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband.

From The Message version: 21 Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another. 22 Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. 23 The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. 24 So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands. 25 Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church - a love marked by giving, not getting. 26 Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, 27 dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. 28 And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor - since they're already "one" in marriage. 29 No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That's how Christ treats us, the church, 30 since we are part of his body. 31 And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become "one flesh." 32 This is a huge mystery, and I don't pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. 33 And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.

This passage is about obedience and the faithful fulfillment of Christ's ministry. Paul is urging both members of the marriage to work together in a mutual understanding and support relationship, so that their work for Christ might be complete. Paul knew that trying to serve Christ is difficult. Any time anyone or any family seeks to serve the Lord, it seems almost deliberate that things come along that could easily discourage or disappoint us.

Here at a retreat I'm attending for the Board of Trustees of Asbury Seminary, we heard yesterday in two worship mediations, of two families and what they've suffered in recent years. One, the pastor of a church here in Florida, shared how he and his wife received word that their daughter was in a very serious traffic accident. It was touch and go for a long time. Their daughter had been married only a year and a half, had just started a teaching career, and on the first day of school someone plowed into her and left her almost dead. When she regained the ability to talk she told her husband he could leave if he wanted, and he said no, he had committed to her in sickness and in health. He quit his job and the two moved into the pastor's home so she could be helped by all members of the family. After a year, the two moved out on their own and they've since had a son. To this day she receives therapy. The pastor said, through it all, the most wonderful thing is God is with us.

The second pastor, an elderly retired college president and professor, shared his story of the last year of his married life. And he had traveled extensively thorughout his career and never imagined he wouldn't. Yet for one solid year, the last in his wife's life, the most exciting trip was to their mailbox out front near the street. And he said he couldn't have been happier during his life. All his wife expected from him, he said, was "to be." He also gave testimony to the power of knowing, God is with us.

Whatever your situation, whatever the trial or temptation, God is with you. Are you with God? Are you seeking, first as an individual, secondly as a couple or as a family, to serve Him? Again, there should be no double standard or difficulty in your own setting to discourage or disappoint you. Seek God in your midst to carry on with what God has expected of you.

PRAYER: God of all love, come and visit all marriages today. Come in a sweet, loving way to those who are struggling in either their commitment to each other or their commitment to You. Speak words of hope and presence, and may your Spirit guide each to fulfillment. We pray in Christ Jesus' precious name. Amen.

Have a great and glorious day.

e.v.

THE LOVE CHAPTER

Good day dear friends.

We continue our study of successful marriages. Here is our study guide for today:

Tuesday: Read the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians, verses 4-8a. Why do you suppose this passage is read at so many weddings? What sort of checklist could you develop from this passage that would bless your marriage or the marriage of someone you know?

Here is that text:

1 Corinthians 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends.

The Bible contains many references to love and this is the one that has a foundational checklist for all relationships. The writer is Paul and he is stressing his need to love God and God's people and for his readers to love in the same way. This passage came after a lengthy discourse on spiritual gifts and the way speaking in tongues had threatened to divide the early church and so Paul stresses that of all the gifts one could have and use for the glory of God, none matched the gift of love, and the importance to love one another as taught by Jesus.

However, in a marriage relationship these verses do serve a purpose. It shows how love works at getting along: One should posses Patience, kindness, support, humility, generosity, thoughtfulness, compassion, honesty, strength, forebearance, trust, hope and commitment. Could there be a better checklist?

PRAYER: God of love, speak lovingly to me today. Help the words of this verse speak new life to me and to with whom I am in relationship. Let me share the glory of Your love in my life. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGES

Good day dear friends.

Please remember to keep Kim Burke and family in your prayers. Tomorrow at our church we will host the funeral for Juanita Ladish. Juanita in recent days had joined Buda UMC and Pastor Mark Porterfield will be officiating in this funeral. The funeral is at 1 p.m.

We talked about "successful marriages" not perfect marriages yesterday. We stressed very clearly and some of you loudly, "There is NO such thing as a perfect marriage" unless you want to agree with Pastor Leslie's dad in his assessment that the perfect marriage is cake and ice cream, which made for an excellent prop. A successful marriage is one which is guided by God and the couples truly take seriously that the marriage covenant includes three parties especially the "party of the first part" who is God.

Here is our study guide for today.

Monday: Yesterday’s text is the basis for what many call the plan of God for marriage. What could you use to support or refute that claim? The passage also has God creating woman out of the man’s rib. What symbolism could you draw from that part of the body being the source of woman? What could be said about the words, “helpmeet,” or “companion” or “partner” in the different versions of the Bible? (v. 18)

Here is that text from yesterday, Genesis 2:22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken." 24 Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.

There was a poster from the 60s or 70s that had something to the effect of "God did not make woman from the foot to be stepped on or from ... etc... God made woman from the rib so that she could walk alongside the man..." I don't remember the exact wording but I do remember the point. From the rib, part of the rib cage that protects the most important organs in the body, comes this fair creature to walk alongside the man. Those who enjoy successful marriages will testifiy to the blessings that are ours in being married. We hear more of the jokers and critics that say marriage is an institution with no chance of parole or escape or that the leading cause of divorce is marriage; but if you truly seek to glorify God in your marriage you are blessed, your spouse is blessed, your children are blessed, your church is blessed, and society is blessed. We tend to joke about what a pain it is to be married or that we should discourage others from "making the same mistake," but truth be told, a successful, God-guided, God-powered marriage is the best thing for life.

Much can be said about the role of woman in a marriage through what we read earlier in the chapter about the rationale for having woman even created, but in truth God was setting forth the need for both the man and the woman to enter into this union to care for each other and to carry on the human race.

As long as parents are modeling in their own marriages the blessing that can be a successful marriage and love, shared by God and by both the husband and the wife, the future of marriage is secure. The children of such marriages will want that for themselves.

PRAYER: Visit, o God, the marriages of those we know and love. Visit the hearts, minds and spirits of those who are struggling in their relationships and bring to them Your presence of grace and love. We thank you for Your willingness to be involved in all aspects of our lives, including our marriages. So, come Lord Jesus, come. In Thy name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

THE SHEPHERD

Good day dear friends.

We continue to hold Juanita Ladish in our prayers. She is in the final stages of life and we pray for God's comfort be hers and her family in these days.

I ask prayers for two examination procedures that Nellie, my wife, is undergoing this afternoon.

As we continue to examine the Truth About Being a Christian here is today's study guide:

Thursday: Read Revelation 7:17. If the concept of what a shepherd does and is hasn’t become clear to you, realize that in this glimpse of Heaven there is a promise from God about what a shepherd will do and be. Read that passage with the knowledge of you’re wanting to be in that crowd when the shepherd does what he does. Ask God for faithfulness in your life towards God’s leading.

Here is that passage:

17 "for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

In the last book of the Bible it all ties together. The paradise relationship desired by God with us is completed. The image of He who would guide us during our time here is completed as we read in the above passage, with the awesomeness of He who was the Lamb is now the shepherd, "guiding us to springs of the water of life" and wiping "away every tear from (our) eyes."

The finality of all things, according to God's Word, is but the beginning of eternity. And from what is promised in the picture of eternity it's not a scary thing at all, in fact, it is the opposite; a desired presence with God where all our needs will be met. As the shepherd desire to guide and protect his flock to green pastures and springs of water, the book of Revelation closes it out by sharing this image.

While visiting with Juanita and her family present, we talked about grieving and mourning. While it is a very natural part of the healing process it is still a difficult one. We who have lost our moms talked about the places where it still hits us and we can't help but cry about the earthly loss we've suffered. The hurt is still real and with time becomes bearable, but does one ever truly on earth forget the presence of a dear loved one? The answer is no, but what bring healing and calm are the promises we find in our faith book, that God is a God of life and not of death. That in God we find eternal life lived in Him. Death is a part of a life lived in Christ that brings no end but passage into the realm of eternity. The shepherd who guides us here will guide us there. And as the Bible promises, that guidance will take us to springs of living water and a place where tears are no more.

PRAYER: Come, God of life to my life. Let me be guided by you even today into that path of life. Let me share words of life with those all around me. Help me to see all. Help me to love all. And when the day comes when I get invited home, guide me to the fullness of life without end. Be with those who are mourning and grieving even today. May the precious memories of those in Your presence stay with us and comfort us. We pray in the name of The Shepherd, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

ONLY SIX VERSES!

Good day dear friends.

We continue our study of The Truth About Being a Christian. Our text for Sunday was from John 10 where Jesus makes His declaration about being the good shepherd. And in keeping with that we have today's study guide:

Tuesday: Read the 23rd Psalm. Notice the faith the wrter places in God as his shepherd. Let each verse speak to you about how we should be trusting God more. Remember this psalm has shared quiet, strong faith in the lives of US Presidents, Generals, soldiers, sailors, doctors, nurses, teachers, workers, laborers, etc. How can this psalm come alive to you to speak to your life?

Here is this passage in both one of the oldest English versions, the King James, and one of the newest, The Message. And for educational fun, I also share it in the language in which I first learned it, Espanol, Reina Valera Version (Antiqua version)

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (King James Version)

1 God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing. 2 You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. 3 True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. 4 Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure. 5 You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. 6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life. (The Message Version)

Salmo 23 1JEHOVA es mi pastor; nada me faltará. 2 En lugares de delicados pastos me hará yacer: Junto á aguas de reposo me pastoreará. 3 Confortará mi alma; Guiárame por sendas de justicia por amor de su nombre. 4 Aunque ande en valle de sombra de muerte, No temeré mal alguno; porque tú estarás conmigo: Tu vara y tu cayado me infundirán aliento. 5 Aderezarás mesa delante de mí, en presencia de mis angustiadores: Ungiste mi cabeza con aceite: mi copa está rebosando. 6 Ciertamente el bien y la misericordia me seguirán todos los días de mi vida: Y en la casa de Jehová moraré por largos días.

Countless have been the times this passage has been read at besides in hospitals, hospices, emergency rooms, homes, etc. in the hope that it would bring comfort and peace to those hearing it. I would say that in every one of those cases it has brought comfort and peace to every single person who read it or requested it. The 23rd Psalm has only six verses, yet it is very easy to mix up the verses or to forget a key verse when trying to remember it from memory. A dear friend and mentor in ministry lay dying from cancer in a hospital and he never lost his sense of humor and thankfulness to God. He joked with Nellie and I that earlier his family had gathered to pray with him and to close one of his daughters said, "Let's say the 23rd Psalm together in Spanish," and you know what he asked, "They couldn't remember it all in the right order and I just had to laugh and we all laughed." Tht moment of laughter accomplished the same thing: Life is more precious when we realize just Who is in charge and what God can do. From the first verse until the last, like the Lord's Prayer, it is a prayer of dependence on God. It is also an affirmation of faith:

In God we believe Who can supply all things.
It is God with Whom we walk through all places, both good and bad, yet not even in the worst of places should we be afraid for God is with us.
And we affirm that God has all power and strength to see us through even through the darkest of places and situations.
And when our journey here is over, we shall rejoice and celebrate, and I'll be happy at home with God. Amen.

What more could we ask?

PRAYER: God, I affirm You in my life today. Let my thoughts, words and actions reflect an alive faith. Let others ask about what makes me so confident and happy. And drive shyness and fear away as I say, "The Lord is my shepherd." Amen.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Try memorizing the 23rd Psalm today. Only six verses.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

FROM THE PASTURE TO THE PALACE

Good day dear friends.

Yesterday we started a new sermon series on "The Truth About..." And the first one was the Truth About Being a Christian. We talked about the origin of the word "Christian" and how it comes from the city of Antioch from Acts 11:26. Those in Antioch were amazed at how believers lived and so called them "litte Christs," which is what the word literally means. We also talked about maturing our faith to living with sacredness, service, and sacrifice.

Here is today's study guide:

Monday: Please read again the passage from yesterday (John 10:7-14) and see there the common day reference Jesus used to compare people’s trust of Him. What little we know of shepherds and sheep, does this passage instruct you to know how Jesus really wants us to live? Keep in mind the complete trust that was placed on those who served as shepherds. They were expected to give their lives to protect the sheep. And the sheep once they knew the shepherd and his/her voice, knew to trust and follow him anywhere.

Here is that passage:
John 10:7 So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away--and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me."

We know so little of about our rural roots anymore. It used to be we could say most of us had some ties to someone in our family who had lived on a farm or ranch. Nellie's mom and my mom both worked as farm workers, and both of us had relatives that either owned or lived on farms and ranches. My grandfather ended his working days working on a huge ranch south of Kingsville, But we had no shepherds in our background. My friends who have served in the San Angelo District have stories about shepherds out there. Our study of shepherds show that a good shepherd makes him/herself known to the sheep. His voice is what helps them know who's taking care of them. And they know to trust him for he is the one who can lead them to the place where they can eat, drink, and rest. He is the one, especially in Jesus' day who would fight off any predator. King David when he would recount his story in the Psalms would remember how God had blessed him with victory over fierce animals and it was those pasture experiences that led him to the battleground with Goliath and later into the palace.

Jesus used this illustration of sheep to describe the care and protection that is ours if we turn ourselves over to God. Jesus' life was a life completely surrendered to God and God's will. Jesus knew He could trust God and instructs us to do the same. Come to know The Shepherd's voice. Let the shepherd speak lovingly and tenderly to you so that you may follow Him. Know, that like David, our "pasture" experiences will one day lead us to the "palace."

PRAYER: Loving Shepherd, speak to us with love today. Let us know where and how we can best serve You. We seek Your face and we want to know your voice. Let it be today that this happens. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

WHAT GREATER GIFT?

Good day dear friends.

Let us be in prayer for the families of the miners in Tallmansville, W. Virginia who tragically lost fathers, husbands, sons, friends in that mining accident. What a sad day for them all as first they heard good news about those believed to be alive then to be told three hours later that all but one of those was dead. May the Lord bring them comfort during this difficult time is our prayer.

Personal prayer of gratitude for the birthday of our son-in-law, Eric Cortez of Galveston, TX. May the Lord bless him with many more and continue to bring him protection in his daily life as a police officer in the city of Galveston. Happy Birthday, Eric!

We continue to celebrate the long awaited national title that the Longhorns bring back to the great state of Texas. We also continue our study of the gifts brought to us by God and the visit of the Magi to the Lord.

Thursday: Read Isaiah 53:4-9. This is a passage that references the prophecy concerning Jesus’ being offered as OUR sacrifice for OUR sins. Pray before reading this passage and let each of the verses sink into your soul as you read all that was expected of Jesus on that cross for you and me. How do you suppose the last gift touched Mary’s heart as she received this as a gift for a child? According to Matthew, she may not have had time to ponder much as they were warned to leave their country and to flee for Egypt. Matthew would later say this was a fulfillment of prophecy for God’s work through Jesus for the sake of all humanity. What are your thoughts?

Here is that passage from Isaiah:

4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 From arrest and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. {[8] Or away. Yet who of his generation considered that he was cut off from the land of the living for the transgression of my people, to whom the blow was due?} 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

That the magi brought myrrh must have confused Mary on that visit. But as she realized the way Jesus was touching lives, he was also upsetting others. She also had one occasion when she and her family (Jesus' brothers and sisters) felt it necessary to go and bring Jesus home. Jesus refused for He knew his purpose. Soon, Mary would know that purpose but as a loving mother she knew the difficulty in giving away her son to a mission that included that son's death. But in that death we came out the winners. We came out blessed. For our sins and infirmities, Jesus fulfilled Isaiah's words. Jesus came to redeem us! What greater gift could we want?

PRAYER: Lord, for the many and wonderful gifts that are ours we thank You. We thank you for the gift of redemption, of having our sins removed and our infirmities cured in the life and ministry of Your Son, Jesus our Lord. May today be but the start of a life lived in gratitude and thanksgiving for all You do. May we do more for You is our prayer. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

PS Members of the charge conference, please don't forget that tonight at 7, Dr. Robert Hall will be with us to celebrate our year of ministry. Come with a joyful heart and ready for planning for a New Year! See you tonight!

WE'LL TAKE IT!

It wasn't the score I predicted and that score is registered in the
district office, but we'll take it. I'll admit there was a time when
UT was down 12 and there was under six minutes to play that for half a
second, if that long, I thought it was perhaps over. But then I
remembered that six minutes is a lot of time for a good football
team. And it came true. So, our thanks to God for a great game, for
an exciting game and we celebrate the end result!

So, our congratulations to the Longhorns and to the state of Texas for
our National Championship!

Sadly, I'm not even sleepy now, I'll sleep through the Charge
Conference later tonight!

Blessings!

e.v.

OUR DAY OF PRAYER

Good day dear friends. This is THE day! This is the day unlike any other days. The crime rates of two of the biggest states in the union will drop tonight. Would be muggers and burglars will drop what they planned to do to make their way to the television. This is the day there is NO major meeting scheduled in any rational church or synagogue. Even our choir met last night to rehearse for Sunday instead of tonight. Charge Conferences scheduled for tonight have caused death threats to persons in authority. This is the day years from now little Longhorns will ask, "Why is this night different from all the rest?" And mommies and daddys will answer (O Lord, hear our prayer!) "Because tonight the overrated USC Trojans got spanked by Texas, that's why!" For those of you living in smaller states I believe you have deduced what I am referring to. The number one and number two teams in the country meet tonight. With apologies to President Greenway and others from Pennsylvania, last night's game was impressive. Triple overtime and Penn pulled it out, that was good. It was a great battle for third place. Tonight is the deciding night for number one. Okay, enough for now. (More later?)

Here is our study guide for today:

Wednesday: For our day of prayer and purpose, let’s consider all we hope to accomplish for ourselves, our God, and our loved ones during this New Year. Many of us have made resolutions to ourselves about what it is we need to do better. Make this a part of your prayer life. If we involve God in our efforts and ask God’s help we will better accomplish our goals. Be in prayer for God’s church that we may strive to reach more people for the Kingdom of God in 2006!

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

A KINGLY HIGH PRIEST

A reconstruction of the garments worn by the high priest in Israel.

Good day dear friends.

We continue to visit with the gift from God through Jesus. Who received the greater gift? Jesus or the Magi?

Here is our study guide for today:

Tuesday: Read Acts 2:29-30 about the references to Jesus’ place on the throne of Israel. Peter, as he preaches this first Christian sermon, is covering all the bases for those present to hear about what God has done in and through Jesus Christ. Compare this to Hebrews 7:26-27 and Jesus’ role mentioned there. Are the first two gifts given by the Magi in accordance to these references?

Here are those two passages from Acts 2 and Hebrews 7:

29 "Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne

26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself.

The first gift was gold, that which is the required gift fit for a king. Peter in this sermon shares that even David knew that God would keep His promise of putting one of David's descendants on the throne, whom Peter believed was Jesus, king of the Jews. In the second passage, the writer of Hebrews is calling Jesus our high priest, but unlike other high priests whose duty it was to offer sacrifices daily, Jesus has paid them all. The second gift was the gift of frankincense.

In Jesus we find our king and our high priest. Jesus came to rule over our lives if we surrender to Him. In Jesus we also find He who gave Himself as our high priest, he who is the "bridge" between God and humanity. (Keep in mind the root word of priest is ponte, similar to the Spanish "puente" - bridge). Jesus is the high priest, but as the Hebrews writer said has paid our sins and does not need to offer any other sacrifice for He has offered Himself as our sacrifice.

PRAYER: Thank you dear God for Jesus and the great gift You've shared with us through Him. Let us surrender to Jesus so that He truly becomes our King. Let us pray in His name knowing Jesus intercedes for us. Make us more like Jesus this year is our prayer. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

WHO RECEIVED THE GREATER GIFT?

Good day dear friends and a Happy New Year to you all!

Those in worship yesterday will remember we studied the visit of the wise men to the Christ child. This was an early celebration of Epiphany before Friday's actual day. We talked about the wonder and awe that should be ours as we start a New Year. We will receive 364 new gifts of life and how we choose to receive them is up to us.

Here is our study guide for today:

Monday: Please read Numbers 24:17. What does this passage reference in relation to Sunday’s text? Now find Isaiah 60:3. What reference is this? Read please now Psalm 72:10-14. Again, what reference to these visitors can we find there? Finally, find Psalm 69:29 and read what it says there about Jesus’ visitors.

To continue our study of this visit from the East, I thought it would be interesting to see what Old Testament scriptures would speak to us about the coming birth of this special child. The first comes from Numbers 24:17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near— a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel. Of all the OT books, most people count (pun intended!) Numbers as perhaps the least favorite for it contains more of a census than anything else, yet from it we find this first reference to a star coming out of Jacob. The magi followed the Christmas star from their land to Bethlehem and as Matthew tells us it led them right to where the child was.

Matthew, as the author of what some call the Gospel for the Jews, emphasizes this visit as one by royalty thus our also calling the magi "The Three Kings." We find in this Isaiah passage this prophecy: "3 Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." This passage speaks of nations, and in keeping with the tradition of these magi being kings, it was believed each was from a different nation, and the "kings" reference further says what Matthew believed, to the side of where the child was came the kings.

The Psalmist in the 72nd Psalm verses 10-14 writes these words: "10 May the kings of Tar'shish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of She'ba and Se'ba bring gifts. 11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service. 12 For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. 13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. 14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight." This prophecy goes beyond just sharing about the visit by kings, this reference says they will bring gifts and also talks about what the child would offer the world, in this case a concern and salvation of the needy and the redemption of those who are being oppressed and treated violently.

The last reference in the Psalms comes from the 68th Psalm verse 29 this reference: "29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts." Again a reference to kings coming bearing gift to the Messiah.

I asked the children during children's time who received the greater gift? The child Jesus in the three gifts the magi brought to him or the magi in having experienced the child and the fulfillment of prophecy in this birth. I couldn't convince the children that the magi got the greater gift. Even after I started preaching to the adults I heard the voice answer me as I posed the questions to the adults, "Jesus!" We could argue the point but we won't. I still believe we received the greatest gift in God sharing His only Son with us during this time. And each day of this new year God will continue to offer His son to us as He who can walk and comfort us with the surprise that may come to us with each day. Life is lived better knowing that regardless of what tomorrow holds we know Who holds tomorrow. Let God hold you!

PRAYER: We thank you again loving God for the gift of this New Year and more importantly for the gift of Your Son Jesus. Let He be who walks with us each day so that whatever today may bring we can enjoy and/or face it together. We don't know what tomorrow holds but we know who holds tomorrow and that is You so please hold on to us tightly. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

**FOR MEMBERS OF FIRST UMC-SAN MARCOS: This coming Sunday we will be having a fellowship covered dish luncheon immediately after eleven o'clock worship sponsored by the Festival committee. This will be to help familiarize all of us to the second annual Festival for Christ in which we will raise money for our church bus. Please make plans to be present for this meal.

WHO RECEIVED THE GREATER GIFT?

Good day dear friends and a Happy New Year to you all!

Those in worship yesterday will remember we studied the visit of the wise men to the Christ child. This was an early celebration of Epiphany before Friday's actual day. We talked about the wonder and awe that should be ours as we start a New Year. We will receive 364 new gifts of life and how we choose to receive them is up to us.

Here is our study guide for today:

Monday: Please read Numbers 24:17. What does this passage reference in relation to Sunday’s text? Now find Isaiah 60:3. What reference is this? Read please now Psalm 72:10-14. Again, what reference to these visitors can we find there? Finally, find Psalm 69:29 and read what it says there about Jesus’ visitors.

To continue our study of this visit from the East, I thought it would be interesting to see what Old Testament scriptures would speak to us about the coming birth of this special child. The first comes from Numbers 24:17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near— a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel. Of all the OT books, most people count (pun intended!) Numbers as perhaps the least favorite for it contains more of a census than anything else, yet from it we find this first reference to a star coming out of Jacob. The magi followed the Christmas star from their land to Bethlehem and as Matthew tells us it led them right to where the child was.

Matthew, as the author of what some call the Gospel for the Jews, emphasizes this visit as one by royalty thus our also calling the magi "The Three Kings." We find in this Isaiah passage this prophecy: "3 Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." This passage speaks of nations, and in keeping with the tradition of these magi being kings, it was believed each was from a different nation, and the "kings" reference further says what Matthew believed, to the side of where the child was came the kings.

The Psalmist in the 72nd Psalm verses 10-14 writes these words: "10 May the kings of Tar'shish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of She'ba and Se'ba bring gifts. 11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service. 12 For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. 13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. 14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight." This prophecy goes beyond just sharing about the visit by kings, this reference says they will bring gifts and also talks about what the child would offer the world, in this case a concern and salvation of the needy and the redemption of those who are being oppressed and treated violently.

The last reference in the Psalms comes from the 68th Psalm verse 29 this reference: "29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts." Again a reference to kings coming bearing gift to the Messiah.

I asked the children during children's time who received the greater gift? The child Jesus in the three gifts the magi brought to him or the magi in having experienced the child and the fulfillment of prophecy in this birth. I couldn't convince the children that the magi got the greater gift. Even after I started preaching to the adults I heard the voice answer me as I posed the questions to the adults, "Jesus!" We could argue the point but we won't. I still believe we received the greatest gift in God sharing His only Son with us during this time. And each day of this new year God will continue to offer His son to us as He who can walk and comfort us with the surprise that may come to us with each day. Life is lived better knowing that regardless of what tomorrow holds we know Who holds tomorrow. Let God hold you!

PRAYER: We thank you again loving God for the gift of this New Year and more importantly for the gift of Your Son Jesus. Let He be who walks with us each day so that whatever today may bring we can enjoy and/or face it together. We don't know what tomorrow holds but we know who holds tomorrow and that is You so please hold on to us tightly. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

**FOR MEMBERS OF FIRST UMC-SAN MARCOS: This coming Sunday we will be having a fellowship covered dish luncheon immediately after eleven o'clock worship sponsored by the Festival committee. This will be to help familiarize all of us to the second annual Festival for Christ in which we will raise money for our church bus. Please make plans to be present for this meal.

WE MADE IT!

Good day dear friends.

There we are! We made it! On page 107 of the January, 2006 Texas Monthly. Well, we do find ourselves twice in the Bum Steer Awards, but our town is mentioned! For those of you not native to the state or who do not know about Texas Monthly or the BSA, TM is a thick monthly shopping catalogue with some articles thrown in from time to time. And the Bum Steer Awards is their way of poking fun of those missteps, misquotes, dumb moves, etc. that occurred in our fair state during the past year. The caption usually is a further slap of the content of the BSA entry. Ours reads, "We Always Said It Was Hell to Live in San Marcos." (their choice of words not mine). And the graphic is one of flames over the city limit sign and a rose growing out over the sign. The entry says, "Members of the clergy in San Marcos appealed to the U. S. Postal Service to change the city's major zip code, 78666, stating their concern that, according to the Book of Revelation, the last three digits had satanic connotations." I don't remember being a part of that delegation or meeting. The second entry is on the same page, where a photo of the two presidential Bushes and first lady Laura are shown, the little Bush and Mrs. Bush holding up the hook 'em horns hand sign and the entry reads, "Norwegian commentators expressed shock when President and Mrs. Bush flashed hook 'em signs to the University of Texas Longhorn Band during Bush's inaugural parade, because they interpreted the gesture as a satanic salute." The caption reads, "The Eyes of San Marcos Are Upon You." LOL. That's "Laughing Out Loud" for the nouveau net browsers.

I have to admit I used to tease Reverend Bill Henderson when he was senior pastor here at FUMC. He asked me to send him something and when he told me his zip code I said, "that's easy to remember, 7-8-Beast!" He laughed and said it was a good one. A former staff member would say, "7-8-Satan!"

The reference comes from an interesting chapter in a very complex and interesting book, The Book of Revelation, the closing book of our Bible. The chapter refers to a "beast" coming out of the earth. Here is that whole chapter for your reference:

And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads; and on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads were blasphemous names. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And the dragon gave it his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have received a death-blow, but its mortal wound had been healed. In amazement the whole earth followed the beast. 4 They worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?" 5 The beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. It was given authority over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slaughtered. 9 Let anyone who has an ear listen: 10 If you are to be taken captive, into captivity you go; if you kill with the sword, with the sword you must be killed. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. 11 Then I saw another beast that rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of all; 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to perform on behalf of the beast, it deceives the inhabitants of earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet lived; 15 and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast could even speak and cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell who does not have the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let anyone with understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person. Its number is six hundred sixty-six.

The beast in question has two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. It has the same authority as the first beast and it makes all of the inhabitants of earth worship the first beast who although had a mortal wound had been healed. It performs great signs even making fire come down from heaven to earth. It deceives the inhabitants of earth even making them make icons for worship of this first beast. Those who did not obey and worship this beast were killed. All had to be marked with a sign on the right hand or forehead with this mark of the number of the beast (666).

Actually, I think the 666 is the price of stamps the US Postal Service will be charging in a few years. What this message is intended to tell us varies from scholar to scholar and televangelist to televangelist. Some have referred this past to the Roman Empire and the way it dealt with believers during those reigns of emperors opposed to the Way. Others have said this is yet to come when the earth will lose all true believers to the Rapture, who are to be taken up into Heaven, leaving the marginal and nonbelievers behind who are to endure this test of obedience to God or the beast.

I personally believe the best solution is to be ready at all times to go before the Lord. You and I don't know the hour of our death and most of us want to be pleasantly surprised if not taken in our sleep. But a life lived in Christ Jesus eager to meet him in our service to others and in our dealings with others is the best and only way to live. Do I believe Jesus is coming back? Yes! When? Send me $29.95 and I'll tell you! (just joking!) No one knows, Jesus said, but after sharing that He would return He did talk about what we needed to do in the meantime: Clothe, feed, quench, visit, love, do for others (See Matthew 25-26). We've got so much to do for Jesus' sake we'll never die!

PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus to the busy-ness of my life and make me be busy for You! Let me seek to show You to others as I imitate You in my love and actions for others. I pray that You would let me see this is more important, to be in service to you and helping meet the needs of others than it is to be concerned about our zip code. Let the mark on my right hand be that of love and the mark on my forehead be that of Your knowledge and presence in my life. I pray in Your name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

HOW FORWARDS HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE!

Good day dear friends.

I have a dear friend who invented the internet. Well, he could have. He was the first person I knew who owned modern enough computer equipment to have invented the internet. It helped that his wife was the computer guru for the school district where we both lived some years back. He's a minister of the Presbyterian persuasion. So, with the latest and greatest gadgets and the money to acquire them, he soon had what had to be a 60 inch color monitor that sat directly in front of one of the first rear projection televisions hooked up to the first disc players that featured record-album sized discs. He had, I believe, The Blues Brothers and Saturday Night Fever on those discs. Keep in mind the personal computer is a relatively new thing. If you graduated from high school in the 60s or 70s, you did not have one at home waiting to help you research and write your essays and papers. I can almost bet money that this friend of mine was the first person to send me a Forward. Little did I or you know back then how these forwards would impact your life. Heck, we didn't know they would help our spiritual life!

Well, it was this friend that sent me this forward and I will just highlight the spiritual effects he mentions in this forward to me:

"As another year will shortly be a memory, my heartfelt appreciation goes out to all of you who have taken the time and trouble to send me "forwards" over the past 12 months. Thank you for making me feel safe, secure, blessed, and wealthy.

"Special thanks to whoever sent me the one about rat crap in the glue on envelopes 'cause I now have to go get a wet towel every time I need to seal an envelope.

Also, I scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason. Because of your concern, I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer drink Pepsi, or Dr Pepper, since the people who make these products are atheists who won't put "Under God" on their cans.

I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.

I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS.

I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone might drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

I no longer receive packages from, nor send packages by UPS, or FedEx, since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.

I no longer answer the phone, because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda, Singapore, and Uzbekistan.

" no longer worry about my soul, because at last count I have 363,214 angels looking out for me.

Thanks to you, I have learned that God only answers my prayers if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

I no longer have any savings, because I gave it to a sick girl who is about to die in the hospital (for the 1,387,258th time)

I no longer have any money at all - but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special email program.

Yes, I want to thank you so much for looking out for me that I will now return the favor!

If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 7 minutes, a large pigeon with a wicked case of diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 PM (EDT) this afternoon. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of mine's next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician."

Yes, he is a pastor. And a funny one.

We sometimes treat the Bible as a forward. We can take it or leave it. Sadly, I heard (and now I'm sounding like a forward) that yesterday in a city near here some 'students' were having a "smut for smut" trade - if you brought in your Bible you would get a free men's magazine (whose name I won't honor by evening mentioning it) of the pornographic persausion. This is exactly the time of year we need such campaigns and attitudes towards the personal, love letter from God to you and me sent in the form of the baby whose birth we celebrate Sunday.

My prayer is that our attitude towards God be a special one, not only today and during this season but always. May we realize that Christmas was God's answer to our personal needs. No, it's not a plea from the widow of a multimillionaire financial officer of some obscure country who only needs your personal bank account so that she can deposit her husband's money in it; this is God saying, "I will personally deposit in your heart my love."

PRAYER: Come, God of love and share Your love with me. Let me enjoy it everyday as I realize how much You cared by sending Jesus for me. It is in his name that I pray. Amen.

Have a great day! And forward this to 144,000 (that's biblical counting) of your closest friends.....

Blessings,

e.v.

SO, WHERE'S THE SNOW?

Good day dear friends.

We thank you for your prayers. Carli arrived safely home from Granada, Spain almost on time! Her plane was delayed due to weather in London but she was on the right flight at the right time (not that there was ever any doubt! Okay, just a wee bit!) Thank you also for your prayers for my preaching at The Woodlands UMC in The Woodlands, Texas (north of that hamlet, Houston). The people there were very nice and I enjoyed visiting with my friend, Dr. Ed Robb, senior pastor of the church.

As we pray today please remember to lift up the Kingsbury family. Sally will be remembered today at 4 p.m. in New Braunfels at Oakwood Baptist Church. Please pray for her mom and dad, Leonard and Corrinda Mueller. This has been a most difficult time for them.

Devotional Thought:

Psalm 147:16 God gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. 17 He hurls down hail like crumbs— who can stand before his cold?

We left for Galveston on Saturday afternoon. We left after hearing on Friday night the weather forecasters saying that by Monday night we would have freezing rain with the chance of snow on Tuesday! Now, most of you will remember that last year snow did come to Texas. It snowed on S. Padre Island, it snowed on Galveston island. It even snowed in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas where folks made snow angels and small snowmen. But do you remember where it did NOT snow? It did not snow here! Relatives in Houston and the Valley calling and emailing pictures of their snow days, folks here in San Marcos just smiling and grinning and saying, great, thanks, so glad to hear it... All the while thinking, where's our snow? Are we that sinful that God chose to leave us out of the snow storm? Right now most of us are saying forget snow, how about some rain?

Now I like snow. It's good to see for the first time and enjoy all that it brings, but I've lived in Denver where after a day snow loses its appeal. I remember that first snow where it actually stayed on the ground and I remember thinking this is great, I need to drive around all of Denver to see what it looks like. I got in my little four speed manual transmission powered car and decided to take a look around Denver. I drove from my apartment high atop a hill down to the first four-way stop. I thought this is so pretty! And as I'm about five yards from the stop sign applied by brakes. Now when it snows there's usually a slick surface to the streets which would be ice. And when you're doing down hill it's a good idea to start applying your brakes high atop the hill and pray that no one is at the four way stop thinking they have the right of way. I thank God no one was there to hit nor to see my small car make its way up someone's lawn. Thank God that lawn stopped the Texas-licensed plated car! Did I learn my lesson? Of course not! I wasn't married then. I didn't have the luxury of an experienced commentator reminding me of how to drive (and I do appreciate that very much, dear!) I decided it might be safer to drive on Interstate 25. So up the entrance ramp I go and I notice not too many folks taking advantage of this wonderful snow weather! Where is everyone? Don't they like snow too? Their loss, I thought! Well as this Texan approached the first overpass, the car decides to turn the Mazda into the Mad Tea Cup ride at DisneyWorld. I spun around about four or five times on that bridge and all without hitting the guardrail or falling off the bridge. Did I learn then? Yes, thank God. I said, I now know where everyone is. They're in the warmth and comfort of their own home, enjoying the snow from their window.

God is an awesome God. God has all power in all things even in nature. We sometimes don't understand how and why God works in some things but all the more reason to trust Him more. We need to realize that when we come up against something as powerful as nature we are limited beings whose trust and hope is in God and not in ourselves.

PRAYER: Thank you dear God for the gift of this precious day. Thank you for the wonderful blessings that are ours that have come from Your loving hand. Help us to enjoy this day just as it is. We do pray that those dependent on rain would find soon a relief and solution to that which they face. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

THE ROLE OF THE COMFORTER

Good day dear friends. Our prayers are with Mr. Houston Marney as he undergoes a heart cath this morning. Also for those facing unemployment or job changes during this holiday season. Also, for Connie Webb, former member of our church, who will visiting the city and Sights and Sounds, our city's Christmas event, was struck by a car. Reports are that she has left ICU and is doing much better than expected. Prayers for those whose loved ones are battling cancer.

Here is our study guide:

Thursday: Read Romans 8:18-27. This passage speaks of the “sufferings of this present age” which we know to mean those things addressed by Isaiah’s prophetic words. Read this passage and find what God’s message to you is found there. Read and enjoy those verses that proclaim the deliverance and freedom we find in Christ Jesus.

Here is that passage from NRSV: 8:18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

God knows our sufferings. God is with us. However you define or whatever it is that you're experiencing as a suffering, you are not alone, God is with you. In this powerful passage that I recommend in its entirety, Paul is addressing very serious sufferings by the early Church. Convinced that Christ would come back in their lifetime, many believed in Him. Yet as time passed, persecution and prosecution against the church began and many began to lose their lives and their loved ones. These were the greatest sufferings one could imagine experiencing for the sake of the Lord. Paul writes these words of personal faith because he himself had suffered (and would suffer even death) for the sake of Jesus.

This week those verses beginning with verse 26 spoke to the heart of a dear church member whose daughter is facing death because of cancer. We sometimes reach those points where we're cried out or tired out or spiritually drained, and it is precisely at those moments that God's Holy "Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." The best prayers may be those that the Holy Spirit prays for us when we think we can't pray. Paul knew that those sighs of despair and hurt were precisely what God would use to bless us in our situation.

May this Advent journey continue to bless and strength us all. May the promise and hope of He born a baby on Christmas be ours now and forever.

PRAYER: Loving God, come into my heart today. Help those who need Your presence, especially those suffering so much they can no longer pray. May the words of Paul be the comfort needed by so many, that You're there and You understand even the sighs and groans uttered by us. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

GOD OF THE OPPRESSED

Good day dear friends. Please remember Pat Dentino in prayer as she undergoes surgery here in SM at the CTMC. Also, Bonnie Blayney of San Antonio undergoing cataract surgery today; may the Lord give her patience as she won't be able to read for a few weeks (no Internet!!). Also, Walker Neighbert may be released from Children's Hospital today. He still faces about four weeks of antibiotic treatment at home. Ryan Tyler Lewis was also mentioned yesterday as having to be taken to the hospital in SA with pneumonia and asthma. It was also his mom's (Tara) birthday.

We continue our Advent Study of "What the World Nees Now is Jesus." Here is our study guide for today:

Tuesday: Let’s visit Psalm 9:9. What do we find there concerning the oppressed? What is God’s interest in caring for the oppressed? There are some 42 verses of God’s concern for the oppressed throughout the Bible. The “Preacher” who we call the author of Ecclessiastes writes in 4:1, words about the oppressed. Who would you consider the oppressed today? Have you personally been oppressed? How were you delivered? What role do you see God playing in delivering the oppressed? How can you share that message with others.

Here are the two passages mentioned above:

Psalm 9:9: The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Eccl 4:1 Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed--with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power--with no one to comfort them.

I consider oppression one of the greatest sins humans can sin. Yesterday while reading and reflecting that thought occurred to me. We face an endless debate of this sin or that sin and we worry about which sin will cause a schism in our denomination, etc., but in very real ways, we're divided by systems in place that cause the oppression of some by others. We could also debate this without end, but let me just say, God holds a special place in His heart for the oppressed. As the Psalmist said, God "is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." Nellie, Caty, and I toured the Alhambra, a Moorish stronghold in Granada, Espana. During the peak days of the tourist season one can wait hours until you get inside. During the cold days of November the wait was about five minutes to purchase the tickets and walk the grounds of this amazing structure. It overlooks the city of Granada with some incredible views. It also peers out toward the Sierra Nevada, which were beautifully capped with snow when we were there. And for many years, this stronghold protected those inside. The location provided a view to see who might be coming against them. The walls provided the resistance against invading forces. And one could understand why for so long this stronghold was considered inpenetrable. The day came when the Spanish overcame it. But unlike those strongholds made by human hands, God's stronghold can never be overcome. And for those facing oppression no better place to seek comfort and hope than in the presence of God.

You and I have been oppressed in some ways and we've seen deliverance. There are those who don't yet share our hope and our call is to share that hope with them. Our message is God's message: God can set us free! God can see us through!

PRAYER: God of love and hope, thank you for being the God of the oppressed. Thank you for delivering us from those times we've either felt or truly have been oppressed. Help us to help those still in that place. Let the message of promise come to life today. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS JESUS!

Good day dear friends. We had a wonderful Lord's Day yesterday. At 11 we welcomed The Jim Cullum Band and they treated us to some wonderful Christmas music done jazz style and we were blessed. Jim is a very gracious guy who donated half of the proceeds from the sale of his CDs (actually he only recovers his cost) to the church. His presence brought back many memories of Christmases past.

At 8:30 we had our traditional service and yours truly shared an Advent message with the above title. Using the passage from Isaiah 61:1-11, we made the case for the world still having the same needs for Jesus. We also talked about God's neverending desire to be in relationship with us, desiring children, not grandchildren. I stressed how important Advent is as a time to receive Jesus as being real and our personal Lord and Savior and to stop keeping Him at arm's length as a good idea or concept. We need to keep Christ in Christmas in our hearts and homes and not be worried about retailers who have chosen not to use the word "Christmas" in their stores or ads. The real danger comes when we remove Christ from our hearts and homes. The same is true about prayer. We can still complain that we cannot pray in schools, but sadly, some kids don't pray at home.

Here is our study guide for today:

Monday: For today let’s go to the Psalms. In Psalm 34:18 what do we find there? Is there a connection between what God said in yesterday’s Isaiah passage and this one? Do you think God really cares about the brokenhearted? Now let’s go to Psalm 147:3. What does it say there? I ask again, do you believe God really cares for the brokenhearted? Why do you suppose this is?

Isaiah stresses God's promise to care for all who are hurting. The first verses of chapter 61 read, "61:1 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn." We hear God's concern for the brokenhearted. I asked if in 2,000 we had finally overcome heart break. The answer is no. For differing reasons we know brokenhearted people and every day brings a new crop of brokenhearted folk. Their plight is the Lord's delight. That's precisely what the Psalmist says in Psalm 34:18:

"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit."

Is there a connection between Isaiah and the Psalms? Yeah. It's the same God sharing His concern. It's the God of hope and life calling for those who find themselves far from hope and living in despair to come out of that situation and back into the fullness of life. Does God really care about the brokenhearted? Yes! God knows what thoughts go through the minds of those brokenhearted. Last Wednesday morning, Rev. Del Brown shared with the United Methodist Men at our monthly breakfast about the 22 year-old grandson of one of our retired UM pastors, who because of the breakup with a girl, committed suicide. The heart break of this young man led him to do something terrible. And his actions led to the heartbreak of his parents and grandparents and all of his family. "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted." The key is knowing and claiming that. When we're at our lowest, God is at His highest, and if we take hold of Him, He will lift us up.

The second Psalm for this morning says, "He (GOD) heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds."(147:3)

Again, God cares and heals the brokenhearted. God cared so much He sent Jesus, who identified with our hurts and pains. The One who cried at graveside for His friend, is the One who comforts us when we cry for our loved ones. The One who carried our hurts and shames, is the One who can lift us up.

Let the message of Advent be your personal message from God. God is with you and will lift you up. Receive that today!

PRAYER: Loving God, bring comfort and hope to the brokenhearted. comfort those who mourn. Bring the promise of a new, better day to those who think their world has ended today. Use me to share that message. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

A SEASON OF PEACE

Good day dear friends. A cold day here in Central Texas! The high today is expected to be 38 and San Marcos schools will open today at 10 a.m. This is something we Texans are not used to! We went to Wel-Mart last night and in the 20 minutes we were inside ice had formed on our vehicle! Please stay safe.

We continue our study of Advent, All Signs Point to Jesus!

Here is our study guide for today:

Thursday: Read John 14. This is an awesome chapter of Jesus’ love for His disciples and us, especially as He has revealed to them the need for His death. Notice there is nothing final in those words of promise and hope that the Lord offers to us. Note especially Jesus’ promise to “come again” in verse 3. If your “Point A” is centered on loss and sadness because of someone’s death, let the Lord loving speak to you through these words from Jesus in this chapter. If you’re already at “Point B” please be in prayer for those who are still languishing at Point A.

Here is that passage:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going." 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." 8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. 15 "If you love me, you will keep {Other ancient authorities read [me, keep]} my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, {Or [Helper]} to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in {Or [among]} you. 18 "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." 22 Judas (not Iscar'iot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. 25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, "I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.

This was Jesus' P.E.P (Pre-Eternity Promises) talk to the disciples. Jesus had revealed to them that He was to suffer much and die and the disciples reacted much as we would; so Jesus shares the words of this chapter. If ever there was a "Point B" it's found here. Jesus covers the essential. He begins by addressing the heart. Jesus knew the heart is troubled at the loss or thought of the loss of a loved one. He then shares about His Father's house and how it has many rooms (mansions in the KJV) for those who believe in Him. Jesus mentions that this place is being prepared for us and that His desire is to have us with Him, a continuation of the invitation of God to be in relationship with us. This is the eternal relationship God desires.

This time of year is especially difficult for so many who are grieving the loss of a significant person in their life. The coming holiday of Christmas is one that most do not like having to spend alone without that loved one. We pray that God's comfort be with those who are facing the first Christmas without a spouse or parent or family member. May these words of promise from the Lord be yours.

PRAYER: Come Holy Spirit with Your comfort to all who feel the pain of the season. Come to all of us and bring to us the hope that Jesus desired to share with us. Speak to us tenderly and give us your peace. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a blessed day!

e.v.

ORPHAN MOMENTS

Good day dear friends.

There is much celebration in our household, even in the midst of this intestinal bug that Nellie and I share, because Caitlin was accepted to Texas Woman's University in Denton. This is answered prayer for mom and dad as we have trusted the Lord to allow for us to provide a college education for the four and this is our baby now assured that come next fall she will be leaving for Denton. (That's mixed emotion for us!) Please keep Carli in prayer as she travels to Italy for some days there, and then returns to Espana to complete her last week there.

We continue to study the Advent message of "All the Signs Point to Jesus." Advent is our spiritual journey of awakening to the hope that is ours from God as found in Jesus. If we prepare during Advent, the full message and blessing of Christmas will truly be ours.

Here is our study guide for today:

Tuesday: Read how God’s love for us is so awesome. The passage from Isaiah on Sunday spoke to our hearts about God’s plan through Jesus. For today, read how Jesus speaks to the needs of His disciples and us in John 14:18-19. What are your impressions on reading those words from our Lord? Do you ever fell left “orphaned?” How could God be your loving, caring parent during those times?

Here is that passage from John 14:18-19:
18 "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.

Just a reminder about Sunday's Isaiah passage, it came from Isa. 40:1-11. God's love is awesome. If you stop and think about it, it makes no sense, how God could possibly love us after some of the blunders we commit! The story of Israel with their I love you God stance one day, the Leave us alone stance the other, is enough to make you think that God would have been well within reason to either destroy or dismiss them. But the messages that we now associate with Advent tell us, God never gives up on us, for God sent Jesus. For those twelve that got to walk with Jesus and hear and witness all that Jesus could do, to hear in this 14th chapter of John that Jesus was to suffer death and to go and "prepare a place," was a terrifying moment. Jesus captured their fears well by comforting them with the words found in 18 and 19 above. "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live."

I think we've all lived an "orphan" moment when we felt completely alone and helpless and thought we had nowhere to turn. We may have cried or worried more than we should, but in the midst of that turmoil came the quiet but strong presence of the Lord to reassure us that we are not orphans, God is with us. Advent is a time that prepares us for a birth. God provided Mary as the mother, Joseph as the father, with God being for all eternity the parent that really counts. Jesus was aware of that and shared that with the twelve and in turns shares it with us.

If you're going through an orphan moment, get out of your system all that is troubling you. Nothing wrong with a good cry or a yell. Please limit it to that. Don't do anything rash. But do pray. And do trust God. Know that His word is true. Even in orphaned moments, God is there. His love, peace, strength and comfort is ours. Christmas will allow us to say no only does the Christ child have loving parents, we do too!

PRAYER: Come, loving God into our moments of despair and loneliness. Come when we feel alone and helpless and bless us with that that Your Son offered to us, a Parent of love present with us always and everywhere. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

MOVING BEYOND POINT A

Good day and welcome back! Actually you all expressed your welcome backs to us yesterday in worship and we appreciated that. We had a great trip and had we not all caught some sort of bug upon arriving here we would have been fine yesterday! For those of you who didn't know, we took a ten day vacation to London, England, and Granada, Espana. Marvelous trip! It was great seeing Carli and she should be home on the 18th. Please keep her in your prayers.

Yesterday we continued our study of Advent with a sermon entitled, "All the Signs Point to Jesus!" And Advent is that spiritual journey that allows the wonder of Christmas to made full by allowing it to "come home" into our lives. As an illustration I shared how I had missed a Boy Scout camping trip while still a grade schooler in Kingsville. This trip had taken our troop to Mathis where the boys who attended got exposed to the deliciousness of persimmons. I had only heard about persimmons through Deputy Dawg or one of those 1950s cartoons. (I justed checked and one online source says that Musky used to get in trouble for stealing persimmons from the Sheriff's tree.). My friend could not describe the persimmon with enough detail. He used words like "juicy, delicious, wonderful," and he talked about how the fruit had just squirted everywhere and run down his face onto his uniform and his jeans. And for some forty-some odd years I took his word for it. Persimmons didn't grow in my neighborhood and the little grocery store where we shopped didn't have much beyond bananas, apples and oranges. And those times I happened to be in a fancy grocery store and saw them I just left them there. But one morning while in Granada, Nellie and I ate at the hotel's breakfast buffet. We had pretty much thought breakfast in Espana was a "tostada" which is a Subway 6-inch sub sized bread cut in half and toasted. You get to put butter or jam or both on it and eat it with coffee or tea. There were other versions but we didn't know of them until later. We thought a buffet might have more "American" fare like eggs, bacon, etc. This one was like a cold cut buffet with all kinds of cold cuts and cheeses, cereal, juices, and fruit. In the fruit platter there was a huge persimmon. I thought, "If this is included in the price I will at long last discover what a persimmon tastes like!" I asked the waitress if everything on the table was included in the price of the buffet and she said it was, so onto my tray comes this huge fruit. I didn't quite know how to eat it so I cut a piece for me to see if it wouldn't ruin my teeth by biting into it. And I discovered in 2005 what my friend had known since about 1963 or so. Advent is that journey of faith that brings into our lives that which has been "out there" for so long. Advent means preparing to taste, as the Psalmist says, "that the Lord is good."

So, here is today's study guide:

Monday: Please read Matthew 3:1-6. In this passage we find what many believers call the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in yesterday’s text. Read that passage and see how the messenger in Matthew can be compared to the messenger mentioned in Isaiah. Why do you supposed God needed to foretell His people of this need in their lives? As was covered in yesterday’s sermon, God knows that in our Point A there is a need. What is at your point A?

Here is the Matthew passage: 3:1
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' " 4 Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

We also talked about Advent being our realization that there is a Point B to our Point A's of faith. And in this passage we find what many believers hold as the fulfillment of Isaiah's text from yesterday (Isa 40:1-11). Could John the Baptist be the messenger with the message from Isaiah? Verse two declares that he is, and from verses three and four, John's dressed the part. More importantly, the coming of John as a messenger before Jesus' public ministry is important for the people to know that God has not abandoned them nor given up on them. God still desired relationship with them and in Jesus was making that invitation to them. God very much wanted people to move before their Point A's, their starting points of faith, to a realization or awakening point (Point B) for their lives.

What we find surrounding us at our Point A is what makes our journeying with God difficult. Doubt, worry, confusion, illness, fear, etc. all serve to keep us from venturing out with God. And Advent is that time that says God has, as Isaish foretold, "paid the price," and we should trust God.

What is at your Point A today? Are you standing still spiritually because of what you find surrounding you? Let God speak to you to let you know, everything's been taken care of. God has paid the price and God has made every low point high, and all the challenges of what seem to be mountains, low. It's your call!

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank you for being with us regardless of where we are. If we find ourselves stuck in a place spiritually right now, come and lovingly take us to where You would have us be. Let us not be overcome with fear and doubt about today or tomorrow but let us know all has been paid through Christ Jesus. For it is in His name that we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.