TRUE FASTING

Good Lord's Day everyone. I trust this will find you preparing or already prepared to enter the Lord's House with thanksgiving and praise! Or relaxing after having spent the morning worshiping God and learning more about Him!
Here is our study guide for today:Sunday: Isaiah 58, 59, 60Isaiah 58 contains a powerful statement on fasting. Rewrite 58:6-7 in words to fit your time and place.
Prayer Time: Let us pray daily for God to stir the church so it will have a message for our time; and let us pray daily that our generation will be prepared to hear God’s word.
Here is the recommended passage in Today's NIV: 6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Fasting is taking our focus off physical nourishment and placing that same energy and attention to the spiritual. It is a way of saying to the Lord, I can live on Your word rather than just on food. It is an act of worship and humbleness, and one that is sadly overlooked by so many. Yet, Isaiah says the kind of fasting God wants is the kind that gives up oppressing others, to work for justice, overcoming those barriers and thinking that keeps others down and away from true fullness of life. True fasting involves a turning away from ourselves and looking towards others, and that includes our giving so that the hungry will have food, the homeless will find shelter, and the one needing clothes will be clothed. This is true fasting.
PRAYER: Loving God, I am so good about taking care of me that often I forget You have lovingly called me to care for others. Help me be a person of true fasting so that I can give and live as I should. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

A WHOLE AND COMPLETE LIFE

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today
Saturday: Isaiah 55, 56, 57How does Isaiah 55, addressed to Isreal, address us also?
God's promises to Isaiah are our promises as well. Seek God and you will be blessed. Seek your own way and you'll end up lost. Seek God and you will be satisfied and blessed. Seek your own way and you'll end up empty and still hungry.
God's main promise for His people is the same for us: A whole and complete life. It's ours for the asking. Why don't you ask? You've tried the rest, now try the best!
PRAYER: Loving God of life and the fullness of life, fill me today with You! Let me quit seeking that which does not satisfy. I ask it in Christ Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

THE HOLY CITY OF GOD

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today, but no telling when yahoogroups will get it to you!
Thursday: Isaiah 50, 51Again in Isaiah 51 Jerusalem is assured of restoration and of God’s care. Why was Jerusalem so important?
Jerusalem is the City of God. So named or called because of the place it has held for centuries as a holy city. The heyday of Jerusalem was when David made it the capital of Israel and it symbolized through Solomon's reign and building program, the greatness of the Jewish people. It was the major city of their faith, it reflected their military and political power, and it was a center of commerce. It was a city that said, "With God, all things are possible!" Think about what Jesus said about the great city and the image of a New Jerusalem we have in the last book of the Bible.
Jerusalem can also be a symbol of the ideal in our lives. A model of what can be if we trust wholly in God. For the people listening to Isaiah it was a call to repentance and restoration and for us the same. If your life is not as it should be, if you're not right with God, Jerusalem becomes that which should be and can be, if you trust in God.
PRAYER: Loving Father, may we all come to the holy city in our lives, where You reign as King and we serve You as subjects. Make my life whole and bring me closer to You, I pray in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

NEW IN THE LORD

Good day dear friends.
Yesterday's devotional I thought had been mailed out. Nellie asked me late last night if I had sent it and I said I had. And now that I'm way behind this morning, the first thing that pops up is that yesterday's message is "Awaiting Approval." Great. Sorry it's late.
Here is today's study guide:
Wednesday: Isaiah 46, 47, 48, 49Isaiah 49 speaks of the restoration of Jerusalem, which was fulfilled as the Jews returned from the Babylonian exile. To what degree might this passage be applied to later times, including our own day?
In all our dealings, both at home and at work, we are to be known as God's people. There should not be a compartment where we try to keep God or our godly living. All areas of our lives should reflect the glory of the Lord in us. Restoration speaks of making new what was once broken. In other words, in God's hands, all things can be made new. Listen to that, not "like new" which is always a gamble as you try to be something that has been "reconditioned" or "almost new." NEW! That's restoration. That's life in God's hands. All who ask to be made new are so made.
What's cracking up in your life today? Turn it over to God through prayer and faith and wait upon the Lord. You'll be amazed and blessed.
PRAYER: Lord, you better than anyone know what is cracking up and breaking down in my life. I turn those over to You and trust You. Make all my life NEW! I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

WHO'S THE REAL IDOL?

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Isaiah 43, 44, 45What are our modern equivalents to idolatry? In what fashion are we worshipers of idols?
When our parents were growing up, roughly 80% of the people in the US went to church every Sunday. During our childhood (the Boomers) that number was about 50%, our kids' generation only 30%, and it is feared that by the time our grandkids are adults that number will have dropped to 10%. That generation will know "Adam and Eve" as perhaps in the form of a joke. The names of Samson, Moses, Noah will not be common. And even sadder, the Name of Jesus may not be known as Lord and Savior. What does that say about modern equivalents to idiotry, I mean, idolatry? That some actually make themselves idols and cater only to their needs. Others make staying in bed on Sunday, or having fun on Sunday with their cars, boats, planes, etc. their idols. And anytime we place anyone or anything above God, we are indeed worshiping idols.
The people of Isaiah's time suffered what they did because they did not know God. They placed their faith in what their neighbors did, which was to buy an idol and place it in their home or in a neighborhood temple, and God told Isaiah to tell the people that they were wasting their time, for nothing comes of idol worship. Not even today.
Go back and reread the Ten Commandments and see what God says about Himself. Know that our God is a living God, and one who doesn't take second place to anyone or anything.
PRAYER: Loving God, let me make You number one in my life again today. Never let me be distracted by idols or the worship of anything or anyone other than You. Forgive me the sins of my past. I pray these things in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

OUR TRUST IN GOD

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: Isaiah 30, 31, 32Why did the prophet speak so vigorously against an alliance with Egypt? What spiritual factors were involved in such an alliance?
There are a myriad of ways to make decisions. Yet, two concern the Isaiah relates God being concerned and interested: Those decisions made with God in mind, and those made with us in mind. The two don't always intersect. And to make a decision to join in an alliance with Egypt truly went against God. Egypt was not known as one of the countries in which God was worshipped. Their history should have told them that the great showdown between Moses and Pharoah was really a showdown between a man who claimed to be a god, and the one true God. Moses represented God, and Pharoah represented his office which was believed to be Egypt's god. And we know who won that contest.
To make a decision to enter into a treaty with Egypt was go enter into a treaty with another god. And our God is a jealous God. We either trust God completely or we don't. There are no other gods in whom we can place our trust, especially in the sacred matter of our salvation.
Where does your trust lie? Are you walking with and trusting God or have you put your trust somewhere else?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you for my salvation through Your Son, Jesus. Help me to make decisions that reflect that commitment I have in You and that You have in me. Help me to tell others. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

PLEASING GOD

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Isaiah 24, 25, 26In what sense does Isaiah 24 refer to a specific, coming time, and in what sense is it a kind of general warning, intended to bring listeners and readers to repent?
The entrance question to join the early Methodist society was, "Are you willing to flee the coming wrath of God?" Quite a question! Very pointed. Some today would ask, what sort of question is that, or, I wouldn't join a group that asks such questions! Sadly, the Israelites thought much along those lines as well. They didn't care about angering God or that a result of that anger might bring destruction to them and their nation.
The passage from Isaiah 24 is indeed a general warning to all who hear it and receive it, to turn away from sin and towards God. The images the prophet is sharing are serious ones: "God's about to ravish the earth and leave it in ruins..." The list of who's to be included is simply everyone, no one will escape. Everyone has violated the covenant they had with God and they could care less.
This was mentioned in my sermon on Sunday; we think we're growing more sophisticated and mature, and we dismiss altar promises made yesterday as sentimental or emotional decisions that we can't accept today, we dismiss things we once saw as miracles as nothing special, and as Isaiah said in his first chapter, we've become dumber than the ox. At least the ox knows its owner. We've forgotten, and we find ourselves far from Him.
May we strive today to please God with our thoughts, words, and actions. May we seek to be a light to those still walking and living in darkness. May we offer God's love through our life.
PRAYER: Holy God, make me holy. Remind me of Your great love. Help me to seek ways to please You and glorify You. May my life be an example to others. I ask this in Christ Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

THE PEACE OF CHRIST

Good day dear friends.
Happy Labor Day to everyone! I hope you all enjoy a restful day, with safe travel either for you or your loved ones!
Here is today's study guide:
Monday: Isaiah 20, 21, 22, 23Make a list of countries referred to in these prophecies. What significance, if any, do you find in the list?
The names may have changed, but the ages-old conflicts continue. Egypt, Assyria, Israel, Tyre, etc., all in the same area, all with the same hatred towards each other. According to the Bible, these are all related. From the common ancestor, Abraham, came Ishmael, the father of the Arabs, and from Isaac, came the Jews. Separated at birth by anger, that anger continues to this day and it seems that nothing will ever bring peace to them.
Sadly, this carries over in our own families at time. Though we might not be separated by anger, sometimes hurt feelings and resentments last through years and a funeral or pending funeral brings out the worse in us, and what good does it do? We need the peace of Christ in our hearts and allow that to govern us, and we'll see the family, the community, the world, would all be better places.
PRAYER: Loving God of love, send me the peace of Christ so that I can be a person of love in all places, starting with my family. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

A POWERFUL REMNANT

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Friday: Isaiah 10, 11, 12The concept of a “remnant” is introduced in Isaiah 10. What is the significance of such an idea from a spiritual point of view?
A "remnant" in a spiritual point of view is that group of people who never lose faith and hold on to God when everyone else has given up. Or those who stay faithful to God when everyone else has decided to follow their own desires and ideas. For God to know that a remnant would remain, even in the midst of widespread desertion of the once faithful, meant a lot to Him. And it still means a lot to God for us who hold Him dear, to live our lives that shows that we are a remnant. Sadly, a remnant is a smaller piece of a greater whole, but it can be the most power piece in faith and spirit.
PRAYER: Loving God, help me to stay faithful to You as your remnant today. May my life give example to others. I ask this in Christ Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

THE PRESENCE OF PEACE

Good day dear friends.
We ask your prayers for John Schaeffer of our church who was to undergo a stomach procedure up in Austin. He has had a rough couple of months with health issues and we pray for his quick recovery. Pending the outcome of this test he might be home for the Labor Day weekend.
Also, prayers for Katrina, our Children's Ministry Coordinator. She is undergoing an exam this afternoon.
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: Isaiah 7, 8, 9Identify passages in this section that are often seen as prophecies about the coming Messiah. How do you understand them in this context?
All in God's time, and all according to God's plans, even when they don't make human sense. But if you think about it, in the context of human relationships and interactions, God's prophecy for the people of Israel comes when brothers/sisters are up against brothers/sisters. The tribes that have now become nations, who are directly related you would think would be supportive and loving towards each other, but they're not. And doesn't that happen when material possessions are involved?
God says to them/us, "I'm going to act in an unbelievable way: A virgin shall conceive. And she will bear a son and his name shall be Emanuel, which means 'God with us.'" It will take this incredible act in the midst of their warring to show that God still cares and is still involved in our lives. And later the Names of that child are shared that further our hope in God's majesty and might.
What will it take in your life for you to know God is still God and in control? God already fulfilled the prophecies through Jesus. Jesus doesn't have to be born again and again, except in your heart. Having the presence of Jesus in your heart will mean your having the peace of God in your life. What's holding you back?
PRAYER: God of unexplainable wonder and might, come into my heart again or for the first time today. Let me have the presence and peace of the Lord Jesus. I ask this in His Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

A LIVING SERMON

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Wednesday: Isaiah 4, 5, 6Isaiah 6, the story of Isaiah’s call is generally seen as the experience that shaped his ministry. What qualities in this experience would be especially significant in Isaiah’s thinking?
The ministry of Isaiah was forever shaped by this vision he had of God and God's heavenly court. As Isaiah is called into ministry, that of being a spokesperson for the Almighty, he gets to see God holy, exalted, and glorified. He sees the worship of God done by angels in their various rankings and order. This experience first made him realize how unclean and unworthy he was to go before God. His first thoughts were thoughts of death and how he deserved to die being now in the presence of pure holiness, but God, always merciful to those who admit their sin, has him cleansed. And it is after the cleansing that God asks who he can send to share His message and it is at that point that Isaiah says, "Here I am, send me!"
God continues to call people into the ministry. God uses several ways to do it, and many are called. I will always remember a night during the first month of my college years, when Dean Virgil Matthews, our sponsor for the preministerial association called all of us who happened to be "called" for a night together and at one point he said, "Take a good look around you. There are about thirty of you called by God into ministry, but only one or two of you will make it." I knew I was going to make it, not in arrogance, but in the certainty of my calling, but Dean Matthews was right. Maybe three of us that night actually went to seminary, finished, and then was ordained into God's ordained ministry. Isaish knew that whomever God calls, God will use, if that person is faithful in obeying, trusting and going as God directs. Isaiah knew that God would always be with him no matter what. Immediately Isaiah realizes the reality of his ministry would involve a very unpopular message to be shared and as a result people who not like him very much. But he was deeply loved by God.
Not everyone is called into ordained ministry, but all who love the Lord and have been baptized are called into ministry, that of sharing their faith story with others. People might not ever step foot inside a church, but as they live and work and play in your realm of influence, your actions may be the sermon that changes their lives forever. Love and trust God enough to say to someone today, "I love and trust God and God loves me. Do you want to know more?"
PRAYER: Loving God, I thank You for your love. As I go about my business or pleasure today, let me share Your love in my faith story. I know it doesn't have to be a verbal sermon, but let it be one that shares Your love. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

POPULAR MESSAGES?

Good day dear friends.
Please continue in prayer for Grace Hyatt. She suffered a stroke about a week ago, was paralyzed, then made a miraculous recovery. She is presently at Hays Nursing Facility and should be there two or three weeks. Eldrie Flowers is also there and was going home today. She suffered some complications following gall bladder surgery. Pray for Katrina Allison and her family as they travel to Plano for the funeral of one of her uncles.
Here is today's study guide:
Tuesday: Isaiah 1, 2, 3As you see the list of kings during whose reign Isaiah prophesied, how would you characterize the times in which he ministered?
It's never easy being a prophet of the Lord. A prophet was literally a "mouth piece" for God, one who spoke directly to the people from God. And the messages God shared were never easy ones to preach or easy ones to receive. The list of kings during which Isaiah lived show a list of those whose hearts were not God's hearts. They followed their own passions and desires and did what they wanted to do. Their ears were in tune with the times and not with God, so they didn't want to hear God's message. The prophet's messages were not popular, so they were not well received.
Is it easy being a Christian in today's world? Is it popular to stand for God and share what we believe God would have us say to the times today? If you did the readings that follow below (for those receiving ConCafe; others have to use their Bibles or go online to find the Isaiah passages), you'll see that the descriptions given about violence and lawlessness could very well be parts of the United States. It just seems people will do what they want to do and don't really care what God would have them do.
The more difficult question is: How are you living? Are you earnestly seeking God and what God would share with you or have you given in to follow what everyone else is doing? Again I say, it is not easy for us to follow the Lord nor is it the most popular thing to do. But we should seek to do what God would have us do.
PRAYER: Living God, speak to my heart about who I really amd and who I really need to be. Set me on the path that leads to the fullness of life that blesses You and Yours. I ask this in the Name of Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

A LOVE THAT KNOWS NO BOUNDS

Good day dear friends.
As you pray during your morning devotional, thank God for the joy of praying for others, even those you don't know. When I've been in situations where I've needed prayer, I didn't stop to think about who knew me or didn't as they prayed, I thanked God for all who were praying for me. That's the joy of prayer! Please remember Grace Hyatt, I understood from someone yesterday in church that she had had a stroke and was now in rehab at Hays Nursing Center.
Here is today's study guide:
Monday: Song of Solomon 7, 8Song of Solomon 8:7 is one of the loveliest descriptions of love to be found anywhere. List three instances, from your personal observation or reading, where such love has been demonstrated.
Some of us might better know Song of Solomon 8:7 in this version: "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If one offered for love all the wealth of one's house, it would be utterly scorned."
Getting close to the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the image of "many waters" and "floods" takes on a whole new meaning to this passage. But the writer was referring to the many waters and floods of sadness and challenges that come to relationships, especially with our spouses, and his (or her as it is "The Woman" speaking!) firm belief is that nothing can come up against true love and win. When one has found and enjoys true love, nothing can take it away. And in the same understanding, one who is in love will take nothing for that love, not money, material goods, riches, etc. One stays with/in love.
In the Katrina reference, when folks started leaving the flood ravaged areas of the Gulf Coast and came to places, love welcomed them and provided for them. I was so proud of how we made our gym look in the event we received any victims in our area. Having received only one family, the love of church members for these who were hurting, allowed them to receive a place to live, places of employment, even assistance to enter the university.
How is your love? Do you just love the ones who love you? Do you love just the ones you know? That's not true love as shown by Jesus' teaching. His very life was given "for the whole world," not just those whom Jesus knew. May we have that same kind of love for others.
PRAYER: Loving God, author of love, come and visit my heart with a generous portion of love. May I see beyond myself and my limitations to love others, even those whom I do not yet know. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

FULL CONTROL

Good day dear friends.
A special prayer to all parents dropping off their "babies" at college. One never gets used to the emotional rollercoaster of being excited that one's child is a college student and that s/he can't possibly be that old to be living away from Mom and Dad! Such is the situation from here in Denton. We're thankful to the Lord for opportunities of education and sad that we find ourselves without the delightful company of one's youngest daughter.
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: Job 42Do you interpret this closing summary of Job’s life literally or figuratively? Why?
The better question would be, did you follow the story and its implications? To me it didn't hit me until yesterday during the 11 o'clock sermon. Job was too busy countering his friends and hearing their negative assessments of him, that he didn't make the time to truly go to God. He spoke to God, more in a heated rant, but he never stopped to humbly approach God and worship God as he confessed his sins. Once he did that, God restored him.
This happens to us. If some crisis or challenge comes along it becomes much too easy to seek immediate relief and solutions before going to God. It can become too easy to be distracted by wellmeaning friends whose ideas and comments keep us from approaching the Lord. A good rule of thumb should be, go to God first, listen for what God may share and then with the Spirit's assistance, you can listen to what God may say through friends or others. But once you let God have full control you'll be in a better position to move forward the way God would have you move.
As humans, we can't help but think that Job was never fully restored; the loss of his first children can never be replaced by "new" children, though their presence and love can help in healing. The same could be said for longtime servants and workers.
Seek the fullness of life through Jesus Christ today. Seek the Lord today and share with Him all that you're going through and let Him take full control and guidance of your life.
PRAYER: Come, loving Spirit, and search me. Fill me with the fullness of life as Jesus intended for me. Let me be guided by You. Take control of my challenges and crises and be glorified. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

LIFE IS GOOD?

Good day dear friends.
We had a wonderful prayer and praise service last night. United As One, the praise band from El Buen Pastor came and blessed us with their music.
Today starting at 9:30 until noon, if you are free, we need volunteers to help incoming freshmen move into their dorms. This is a great form of evangelism and witness. Ice cold water will be provided for the volunteers as well as the joy of helping someone not expecting any help at all.
Also, today is the day Kit and Leslie travel back to Wilmore, KY for the memorial service of the young man killed in a traffic accident. This young man was active in Kit's youth group when he worked at Wilmore UMC. Pray for their safety and ministry.
Here is today's study guide:
Thursday: Job 29, 30, 31List the elements in Job’s life as he himself summarizes his case in these chapters
God took care of Job. God held a lamp as Job walked through darkness. God was Job's friend. Job still enjoyed his children. Life seemed easy when it was "going (his) way." Job enjoyed respect and honor from everyone in his city. Job stopped robbers, Job did things for others. Job lived a life of caring and loving for all people. Life was good.
Job even lists the things that he could have done, but didn't. He makes a list of those sins that consume and destroy people and families and he says he is blameless before God, yet the question remains, why did this bad happen to a good person?
Is God taking care of you? Is God holding a lamp as you walk through darkness? Would you consider God to be your friend? Are you enjoying your children and going out of your way to help others? Are you enjoying respect and honor from others? Are you spiritually clean and living a life above reproach? And still you face challenges and difficulties? Do you still love and trust God?
PRAYER: Loving God speak to my heart. Awaken me to the reality of faith and the need to live a life that blesses You and others. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

THE PLIGHT OF THE POOR

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Job 22, 23, 24In his suffering, Job seems to have become even more sensitive to the needs of the poor. Summarize his insights on the plight of the poor in Job 24.
Coming after the third attack by Eliphaz, in which he accuses Job of not caring for the poor, Job shows that he does indeed know of their plight. Job knows all the scenarios the poor must encounter: searching for food in alleyways like stray dogs, trying to get handouts through the kindness of strangers, shivering in the cold or suffering through the sweltering heat because of no shelter, this is the lot of the poor. Job also knows of their powerlessness, how they can easily lose what little they have including their nursing children.
Has that changed much from Job's day to now? No, the description given by Job is the same if you drive through certain parts of your town or city. The more important question, are you aware of the poor and what they suffer and need?
PRAYER: O God, Your Son Jesus said we would always have the poor, but this was not to dismiss them but to show that they need our attention and care. Make it so in our lives today. We pray in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: Job 19, 20, 21Job declares his hope in a redeemer - specifically, a kinsman -redeemer. What light do Leviticus 25:25 and Ruth 2:20 throw on the role of kinsman-redeemer?
There is nothing like a relative coming to the rescue in our time of need. Both the Leviticus and Ruth passages speak of those who care enough for kinfolk, they come to their rescue and share with them that which will see them through. In the same way, Job shares how his plight is so terrible, no one pays him any attention. One has to imagine that he was so hideous that even "street urchins" paid him no mind. He mentions that family and even house-guests have abandoned him. What a sad situation for this man.
Job deep down knows that his only hope is in God, though for now Job feels as if God has abandoned him and there is no possible solution for him, but God is still in control and we will see that come in later readings.
Whom can you count on that will not let you down? Thank God we all have (or should have) those on whom we can count. There are several that I know I can call at any hour of the day or night and they would respond. Yet, like most, I am one who seeks to solve my challenges as quickly as I can on my own. I don't like to bother people. Where I to find myself like Job then I would call on some to help me.
What would you do if you lost everything? Who would you call? What would that do to your faith and hope? Would you still believe God is in charge and in control or would you go through a period of doubt like Job? I think the honest answer is that we all would go through a period of questioning about our situation and the why behind it, and certainly the why did God permit this question as well. But the person of deep, true faith, would say ultimately, God is still God and God still loves me.
PRAYER: For this day I give you thanks, O God and I pray that I can be one who helps those in need see the light of hope beyond their situation. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

THE RULES OF LIFE

Good day dear friends. Today is the Lord's Day! Let us be in preparation to worship God! If you don't have a church home yet, please feel free to worship with us at First United Methodist Church at 8:30, 10:45 or 11:00, 129 W. Hutchison Street, San Marcos, TX.
I spoke with Athena Reiche prior to her entering for surgery yesterday morning. She was in good spirits and was going to have her gall bladder removed. Surgery went well and she was supposed to be home last evening.
Madeline West fell yesterday at 6 a.m. and broke her arm. She returned back to the hospital after a brief stay in her nursing home because she is unable to care for herself now.
Also, our congratulations to Melanie Roberts and Chris Cunningham who wed yesterday afternoon at 1 p.m. Melanie had been coming to FUMCSM for about two years, but the two will be moving to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where Chris has his home.
Please keep these two of our sisters and the new couple in your prayers.
Here is our study guide for today:
Sunday: Job 16, 17, 18To what degree is Bildad justified in his complaints against Job?
In today's reading, Job's question about "an Attorney" or someone to plead his case is a shadowing of Jesus that it makes us know the need for God to send His only begotten Son to come into the world for our sake (16:18-22). As for Bildad he feels the need to defend himself against what Job is saying. In his suffering and frustration Job knows his friends may have at first desired to help him, but no find themselves telling him what they believe to be the truth and Job receives these as only verbal attacks from those who should have come to comfort and console.
Bildad responds by saying that he and his friends feel like they're being treated as know-nothings, but argues that they know the "rules" of life, that God extinquishes the light of those who are wicked and it may just be that Job was really one of those all along. We know better, but Bildad does not.
Do you know the "rules" about life and do you freely share them with your friends? Do you not know that perhaps the real "rule" that your friends might be seeking is to know that "God rules" and "God is love" so that we should "love one another as God has loved us."
PRAYER: Help me, O God, to be a true friend to those in need. While it is tempting and easy to share what we believe to be the 'rules' of life, remind us of Your love and Your commandment for me to love others. I pray this in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

KEEPING THE LINE OPEN WITH GOD

Good day dear friends.
Please keep Athena Reiche in your prayers. Last night close to ten p.m. I got a call she was on her way to the hospital in Austin. I went to Seton on 38th but on my way there, was told she wasn't there and someone said it was at Seton Southwest, but was not there either. Reports were she was to have emergency surgery, but details are not known. Please pray for her and Hans and Elaine.
Here is our study guide for today:
Saturday: Job 13, 14, 15Summarize some of Job’s longings, as found in Job 13-14.
Job's longings were two: Stop the afflictions and address me directly so that I can answer you. It makes sense to ask God to first, stop with the pain! Enough is enough! I can't stand to suffer any longer and secondly, come and talk to me about why this is happening. Job had reached that point of anger that comes with all suffering. We all do. It's a natural part of the process. Elizabeth Kubler Ross wrote a book called "On Death and Dying" and in it she shares the results of her having studied the process of those who were told they were dying. Their loved ones also went through these alongside their dying loved ones:
Denial (this isn't happening to me!)
Anger (why is this happening to me?)
Bargaining (I promise I'll be a better person if...)
Depression (I don't care anymore)
Acceptance (I'm ready for whatever comes)
We find Job at the anger stage. Given all he had suffered and all he had lost, Job wanted answers and he wanted them directly from God.
We're not finished with Job's story, we just find him at this point where he wants to know more about what he has experienced. Please note the communication lines with God are still open. Some do find after suffering and crying alot for loved ones, that they can no longer pray, but St. Paul knew that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us "with groans and sigh," a language of prayer that only He can understand.
Keep the line open with God. God never hangs up on us.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for your listening and loving heart. As we face what we face, keep us mindful of Your presence and Your power to help us deal with all. Let us be used by You today to share with those who need a word of hope and encouragement. We pray in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

THE PATIENCE OF JOB?

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Friday: Job 10, 11, 12We often hear the phrase “the patience of Job,” though it is is not a biblical phrase. Describe characteristics of Job, negative and positive, you find in Job 10 and 12.
The lessons learned from Job about God is that God is big enough to take our anger and gripes. The lessons learned from Job is that we can try to make sense of suffering and pain and not really come up with much. The greater lesson is that we don't have to. Try as we might, God still holds us even when it seems we're free falling towards our end. What we've read here are the thoughts of Job brought into the open. "Did I say that out loud?" has become a comedy routine in movies and television, but it's true. Some things are best left inside; though Job brings them out.
The positive thing about Job is that he never stopped talking to God. He continued to be a man of prayer even in the midst of his suffering. And in his prayers, though some were negative, he holds God in God's perfect place: In control of all things. What troubles Job is what troubles us, can we make sense of what happens in life and should we hold God accountable always for the bad that may come our way?
PRAYER: Loving Father, let me this day seek You in all that comes my way. Let me walk towards You in faith and understanding. Help me to overcome the challenges in my life. I praise You and thank You for your love and the blessings that are mine because of You. I pray these things in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

CHRIST IN ALL THINGS

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: Job 7, 8, 9What is it that Job finds most difficult about his experience with God?
Job, like you and me, finds it hard to understand why bad things happen to us or others. We ask from time to time, where is God and why did God permit this to happen? Job very honestly does not understand. Job knows that in his heart he sought the Lord and to please Him in all that he did, yet he found himself losing everything and everyone. He even found himself suffering in his own body which brought the other suffering all the more closer, for to lose one loved one is too much, imagine losing them all and then having to suffer a disease of severe pain and itching.
Paul says we don't understand these things now, we just understand the presence and power of God. Paul himself was not immune from suffering or tribulation, yet he continued strong in his faith. Paul was different from Job in that Paul saw the risen Christ and was instructed by Him about his suffering and even his death. So, Paul was able to say, "If I live, I live for Christ, even in the midst of all suffering; and if I die, it's victory! I go to be with Him!"
How's your outlook? How has your faith shaped your outlook? I pray that in spite of what has come your way you would know to trust God and give God the last word in all things.
PRAYER: Loving God, come and speak to me in my situation right now. Give me the faith of Paul to trust You and be guided by You. I pray this in the Name of He present with us in all things, Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

IN THE GOOD AND IN THE BAD

Good day dear friends.
Our brother in Christ, Ed Teeter underwent a procedure to drain blood from his head yesterday afternoon at St. David's Hospital in Austin. I visited with him prior but have not heard how it went. Please keep Ed and Nancy and family in your prayers.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Job 1, 2, 3What are several indications of Job’s goodness?
In this version, we find the man Job as one to be "honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion." He was blessed and he knew it as he returned thanks to God for these blessings. He was also a man of prayer and worship, because after every party/celebration his children had, Job would offer up worship and forgiveness on the part of his children just in case "one of them sinned by defying God inwardly."
As he suffered loss, Job never lost faith. Even at the loss of all his children he was not angry with God. His own wife came and mocked him asking why he continued to be the way he was, when he could curse God and die. Not even that could shake Job's goodness.
How strong are we in our faith? What shakes us? What makes us give up on God? In the good and in the bad, we belong to God and should bless Him.
PRAYER: Loving God, let me bless and love you in the good and in the bad. Stand by me today and help me overcome all that comes my way. Let my life shine the goodness of Your love living in me. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

SUNSHINE AND LAUGHTER

Monday: Esther 7, 8, 9. 10Why do you think this book is traditionally such a favorite with the Jewish people?
Why would it not be? It's the story of a victory! A tremendous, albeit a most bloody one, victory over their enemies. In what starts as a simple story of adoption by an uncle for his neice, turns into a success story of that uncle becoming the second most powerful man in an empire that ranged in territory over a significant area. This uncle and his neice, who became the queen to this king, saved the lives of Jews "everywhere." In what becomes the celebration of the holiday "Purim", the Jews rememembered how their lives were spared by the intervention of the queen. You have to read today's reading which follows (or if you're reading this on one of the blogs, go to an online Bible, such as http://www.bible.com/ and do a search for Esther 7-10 or http://www.bible.crosswalk.com/.
Again, interestinly enough, the name of God does not appear, but clearly God's hand was upon those who cared for others and for saving lives from the hand of evil men. The title in the subject line comes from the reading in The Message version where after their victory over all their enemies, the Bible says, "it was all sunshine and laughter for the Jews."
Is it all "sunshine and laughter" in your life? It can be, if you do what God would have you do and you seek to please God!
PRAYER: Lord, if it appears that today is shaping up to be a day of gloom and weeping, help turn it to a day of sunshine and laughter. Let my actions reflect that in the lives of others, especially those who need it the most. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

GOOD JEWS

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Sunday: Esther 4, 5, 6What are the qualities in Mordecai and Esther that made them useful to the purposes of God?
Mordecai and Esther were Jews. They were good Jews. Not a racial thing, but a spiritual thing; they were people of faith. They prayed and believed in fasting and they turned to God in hopes that God would be with them and help them. They believed in confession and repentance. They also believed in getting people together to pray with them and that is exactly what they did when they faced their elimination. The second in command in this kingdom hated all Jews, but especially Mordecai. Haman is this man and he had offered to pay with his own money to have all the Jews eliminated. A mass worship/prayer service was held and there together they lifted up their voices together towards God for their great need.
They also knew they could use their talent and ability, and in this case, yes, beauty, for the good of all the Jews. Mordecai knew that if Esther could go and plead with the king the Jews might be spared.
It's a great story, but you have to keep reading....
PRAYER: Lord, help me to be more of a person of faith in all things. Help me to pray during the good as well as the bad. Let me trust You and glorify You. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

IS GOD MENTIONED IN YOUR LIFE?

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Saturday: Esther 1, 2, 3As Ahasuerus, Vashti, Esther, Mordecai, and Haman are introduced, one senses a mystery unfolding. What do you make of the fact that God isn’t mentioned?
Sometimes the most powerful pronouncement of the presence of God is not His mention, but his action in us. If you think about it, you can preach powerful sermons about God without even opening your mouth. I read just yesterday in the local paper about the founder of TOMS Shoes. Its founder was a third-place finisher in CBS' Amazing Race. He regretted having to rush through countries trying to win the million dollar prize, so after his turn on tv, he spent his own money to visit those countries he had rushed through. He fell in love with Argentina and noticed that the soccer teams used a simple, but comfortable canvas shoe. He also noticed that the majority of children didn't have shoes. So, he learned how to make the shoe, established a contract with shoe manufacturers down there and vowed that for every paif of shoes he sold, he would give one away. He arrived in Los Angeles with about 800 pairs of this new shoe and made a deal with a trendy store to sell them. A fashion writer with the LA Times bought a pair, wrote about it and many shoes were sold. Soon, he was back in Argentina with 5,000 pairs of shoes to give away. Now he does the same, working nine months of the year making and selling shoes, then he takes three months to give shoes away. This year he is taking a trip to South Africa to give away 40,000 shoes. God isn't mentioned once in this story nor do you expect it to be. The fact that he loves and cares for people enough is a strong message of God's presence in his life.
Does God get mentioned in your daily life? Not by name, but by deed? In the book of Esther, God is not once mentioned by name, but you know He's there. Keep reading. And oh yes, keep preaching!
PRAYER: God, be made real today in my life in the way I live. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

http://www.statesman.com/search/content/life/stories/style/08/02/0802coffee.html?COXnetJSessionIDbuild44=V3tfG0phS3GQR6d699PTDh25QnHxMqtQDzy41vCnTGrd6n22Tgdg!-1145148353&UrAuth=`NYNUOcNXUbTTUWUXUVUZT[UcUWUcUaUZU]UcUcTYWYWZV&urcm=y

EZRA'S MEDDLING AGAIN

Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: Nehemiah 9, 10On what basis did Ezra make his appeal to the people for repentance?
Ezra simply had to remind the people of all that God had done for them. The message was simple: We've messed up, we don't deserve God, yet God still loves us and has not abandoned us, why are we carrying on the way we are? We should be getting right with God!
Interestingly enough, that is my story and your story as well. God has done so much for us, and what have we done? Doubted, feared, wandered off, believed other things, done other things, haven't done the things we should; and it can be summed up the same way: We've messed up, we don't deserve God, yet God still loves us and has not abandoned us, why are we carrying on the way we are? We should be getting right with God.
Take a moment to think on your immediate spiritual past. What path have you followed? Is it a path of faithfulness and righteousness or has it been one of something opposite? If you're honest you know it's closer to the latter than the former. God calls us home. A home of love and protection, of grace and blessings, if we would just turn to Him. What's holding you back?
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for not giving up on me. Let me find my way home to You right now. Let my life witness to the peace and joy you have ready for me and others. I pray this in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!

Good day dear friends.
I just got back from our monthly United Methodist Men's breakfast. Always great fellowship and a great meal! Pastor Ryan, our new associate shared his faith story with us. Next month we'll have the new Texas State Football coach with us to share his story. And in October, Ross Compton will be our speaker as he shares his trip to Puebla with our medical mission trip. Please make plans to attend, it's the first Wednesday of every month at 6:30 a.m. Every man is invited!
Here is our study guide for today:
Wednesday: Nehemiah 7, 8Nehemiah 8:1-12 has so many insights on spirituality and on human psychology. What matters stand out for you?
When people are all ears, they tend to hear and receive what is being shared with them. In matters of spirituality, this passage of Neh. 8:1-12, the people were all ears to hearing the Word of God. As Ezra read from The Revelation of Moses, they began to feel their hearts stirred and they uttered their approval of what was being read, and they began to weep as their spirits were touched by the moving of God's Spirit among them. They wondered what they should do as a result of this movement of God's Spirit among them and they were told to celebrate! In other words, as you feel God moving among you and you're touched by it, what should you do? You celebrate! I believe this is why Sunday lunch is so important even to this day. If you've gone to worship, and you've been "all ears" and you've felt God speaking to you and moving among you, you should celebrate! You should do something special and make the presence of God continue among you.
If you're like me you remember or still celebrate, those Sunday lunches. In my childhood home it was a standard, it was a given, that every Sunday Mom would make fried chicken. And I remember where at a youth gathering we sang a new stanza to "I've got the joy, joy, joy down in my heart" where the stanza said, "I've got that chicken-eatin' Methodism down in my heart" and I thought, hmm, so that's why!?But it went beyond food, it was a great time to be together and enjoy each other and discuss what had been preached (or why we had misbehaved) during church. Nellie has continued the tradition in our own way, and our girls would say that Sundays to them were a roast of some kind with mashed potatoes. Again, it's not the food, it's the company and the celebration that comes with being together and being with God.
Sharing with those who don't have, as Nehemiah said to the people there should also say a word to us. True celebration is that which goes beyond who we are, what we look like, dress like, or talk like; it's a "we're all in this together." I remember the Rockets' first NBA championship. We happened to be in Houston that weekend when the players of Choke City became the heroes of Clutch City. During that last final game, coverage of the game switched to that infamous O.J. getaway in the white Bronco. We screamed bloody murder at the household, but soon enough the game was back on and the Rockets won the first of two championships. We were there for victory parade and the feeling among all who lined the city streets said, "we're all in this together!" Can't the same be said when we've been in God's presence? Can it not be carried over into that realm which matters most?
PRAYER: Loving God, we're all in this together with You. Help our hearing and receiving today and all days, especially on Your day, Sunday, be a call to celebrate with all, that we belong to You and to each other. We pray this in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

GREAT LEADERSHIP

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

THE BLESSINGS OF PRAYER

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

A LOVING INVENTORY OF YOUR LIFE

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

IT'S OUR CHOICE: WHICH VOICE?

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

WHAT ONE WORD DESCRIBES YOU?

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

CLEANING HOUSE

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

WHERE WOULD YOU BE BURIED?

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

A PERSON OF INFLUENCE

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

SING A SONG!

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

DEATH BY ATHLETE'S FOOT?

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

LEADERS AND RULERS OF INFLUENCE

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

YOUR HISTORY

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

Remembering a dear friend and servant of the Lord

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

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

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

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

A LIFE LIVED IN PRAYER

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

NAMES AND MORE NAMES!

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