Good day dear friends. We've come to the last day of 2004. At twelve midnight tonight we welcome the New Year 2005!
The newspapers, newsmagazines, the television shows have all given us a "wrap up" of the news and photos of this past year. What would we see if God allowed us a wrap up of this past year? What would God highlight as "newsworthy" in our lives? Would we be proud of most images or would some of them make us blush or worse?
There is no better way to close out the year than in prayer. For the study guide I had suggested that we use the beautiful and powerful words of the hym "O Little Town of Bethlehem” as a model for prayer. We still can but we can also write our own end of the year prayer/start of a New Year prayer.
Whatever you write, here is my prayer for us:
God of the ages, we've come to the close of how humanity marks calendar years. Joyous and tearful celebrations and remembrances will be ours as we stop to reflect on what this year has brought. Some of us bid farewell to loved ones as they've gone off to war; others as they've entered into the Church Triumphant. Some of us have bid welcome to new family members through births or through marriage. Some have bid farewell to spouses because of divorce or separation. Whatever the emotion let our spirits be comforted in the joy of knowing You are with us.
As we think about what tomorrow and the rest of this New Year holds, let us remember that it is You, dear Father, that holds tomorrow and more importantly, that holds us. Hold us tight, don't let us go. Let the words spoken through prophets and writers speak to us directly from You as we remember Jeremiah's sharing, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) Let us hold fast to that assurance that we have both hope and a future in you.
As we've thought about images from this past year, we've sinned against You and against others. Forgive us we pray. Wash us in the blood of the Lamb that atoned for us. And let that assurance of hope and a future be one that is blameless.
Bless us and use us. May this New Year be a year of growth in spirit and in service to You.
We love You and praise You in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great end of the year and in case I don't stay up until midnight, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Blessings!
e.v.
Friday, December 31, 2004
Thursday, December 30, 2004
God's Heart Was The First to Break
Good day dear friends.
As we being our time of devotion, let us do it in prayer.
PRAYER: God of all, we begin with silence and reflection. The majesty of yesterday's sunset is now the splendor of today's bright morning light. You are there and You are here. The joy of seeing loved ones is blended with images of those who are mourning the consequences of natural disasters. You are there and You are here. We praise You and we love You and we ask for Your blessing to be with us as we meditate upon Your word. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: We can’t pretend that the birth of Jesus was not without pain. The sadness of that wonderful birth was that the insecurities of the ruthless ruler, Herod, resulted in the murder of all male children two and younger. Herod, according to tradition murdered even his own children, especially his sons because of his fear that someone could more effectively rule than he. God’s fulfillment of prophecy comes with this tragic price paid by the mothers and fathers of the children born in that area, not because of God’s heartlessness but because of what Herod was all about. God’s heart broke with each of those innocent’s death and God’s own heart would break later when His own son would die on the cross. What do you suppose the magi knew about Jesus that Herod didn’t (Clue: What gifts did they bring?)
Sunday I preached two different sermons. The one mentioned on Monday in this email devotional was basically the one from eleven o'clock. The one at 8:30 was more a study on the passage from Matthew and how the Gospel very honestly shares the truth of the consequences of Herod's anger. It was our music director who called me and asked me the truly hard question: Why did God allow these murders?
A very good question. To try to answer it is to try to answer those "God only knows" questions that we have a list already compiled. I believe this was Paul's struggle too as he said, "Now I know only in part; then I will know fully." (1 Cor. 13:12 NRSV). As we talked we agreed there were maybe three reasons: First, God did warn them, they chose not to listen. Or God did "allow" this as something that happened as a result of their relationship or lack of relationship with Him. Or lastly, God's heart, as happens in the unexplainable, was the first to break.
Herod, as tradition tells us, was so insecure, he had many, including his own children, murdered. One tradition said that he had preordered the murder of the leading Jewish officials on the day that he died so that there would be at least some mourning and crying on the day of his death. If true, we get a picture of someone really sick. And it was his sickness that led his order to murder all children under the age of two and under.
The Rev. William Sloan Coffin, when pastoring Riverside Church in New York, lost his son Alex, in a storm and because Alex had been drinking. He drove off a pier and drowned. As people tried to console him, one well-intentioned lady said, "I just don't understand the will of God..." And this angered Rev. Coffin for it was not the will of God, he went on to say, that his son should drink. It was not the will of God for Alex to drink past the limit of what makes someone unable to function fully and it was not the will of God to make Alex drive while drunk. What Rev. Coffin did understand was that God's heart was the first to break.
We will one day know the why of the tragedy of the murder of the innocents. But could we not also say it was precisely why Jesus came to the world with His message? For it not to bring everyone into a full relationship of love with God, with neighbor and self? Did Jesus not die because of our sin?
The magi brought the gifts worthy of a king (gold), a high priest (frankincense) and burial (myrrh). Jesus fulfilled each as we proclaim Him our King, our High Priest who intercedes for us as we pray and live our lives, and He who died to pay for our sinfulness.
PRAYER: God speak to our hearts again those words of love. Let us love You more today than ever before. Let us love one another more than ever before. And let us love ourselves more than ever before. Put to death our doubt and insecurity about ourselves, so that our lives reflect only that we've been in Your presence. Let it be so today and always. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
As we being our time of devotion, let us do it in prayer.
PRAYER: God of all, we begin with silence and reflection. The majesty of yesterday's sunset is now the splendor of today's bright morning light. You are there and You are here. The joy of seeing loved ones is blended with images of those who are mourning the consequences of natural disasters. You are there and You are here. We praise You and we love You and we ask for Your blessing to be with us as we meditate upon Your word. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: We can’t pretend that the birth of Jesus was not without pain. The sadness of that wonderful birth was that the insecurities of the ruthless ruler, Herod, resulted in the murder of all male children two and younger. Herod, according to tradition murdered even his own children, especially his sons because of his fear that someone could more effectively rule than he. God’s fulfillment of prophecy comes with this tragic price paid by the mothers and fathers of the children born in that area, not because of God’s heartlessness but because of what Herod was all about. God’s heart broke with each of those innocent’s death and God’s own heart would break later when His own son would die on the cross. What do you suppose the magi knew about Jesus that Herod didn’t (Clue: What gifts did they bring?)
Sunday I preached two different sermons. The one mentioned on Monday in this email devotional was basically the one from eleven o'clock. The one at 8:30 was more a study on the passage from Matthew and how the Gospel very honestly shares the truth of the consequences of Herod's anger. It was our music director who called me and asked me the truly hard question: Why did God allow these murders?
A very good question. To try to answer it is to try to answer those "God only knows" questions that we have a list already compiled. I believe this was Paul's struggle too as he said, "Now I know only in part; then I will know fully." (1 Cor. 13:12 NRSV). As we talked we agreed there were maybe three reasons: First, God did warn them, they chose not to listen. Or God did "allow" this as something that happened as a result of their relationship or lack of relationship with Him. Or lastly, God's heart, as happens in the unexplainable, was the first to break.
Herod, as tradition tells us, was so insecure, he had many, including his own children, murdered. One tradition said that he had preordered the murder of the leading Jewish officials on the day that he died so that there would be at least some mourning and crying on the day of his death. If true, we get a picture of someone really sick. And it was his sickness that led his order to murder all children under the age of two and under.
The Rev. William Sloan Coffin, when pastoring Riverside Church in New York, lost his son Alex, in a storm and because Alex had been drinking. He drove off a pier and drowned. As people tried to console him, one well-intentioned lady said, "I just don't understand the will of God..." And this angered Rev. Coffin for it was not the will of God, he went on to say, that his son should drink. It was not the will of God for Alex to drink past the limit of what makes someone unable to function fully and it was not the will of God to make Alex drive while drunk. What Rev. Coffin did understand was that God's heart was the first to break.
We will one day know the why of the tragedy of the murder of the innocents. But could we not also say it was precisely why Jesus came to the world with His message? For it not to bring everyone into a full relationship of love with God, with neighbor and self? Did Jesus not die because of our sin?
The magi brought the gifts worthy of a king (gold), a high priest (frankincense) and burial (myrrh). Jesus fulfilled each as we proclaim Him our King, our High Priest who intercedes for us as we pray and live our lives, and He who died to pay for our sinfulness.
PRAYER: God speak to our hearts again those words of love. Let us love You more today than ever before. Let us love one another more than ever before. And let us love ourselves more than ever before. Put to death our doubt and insecurity about ourselves, so that our lives reflect only that we've been in Your presence. Let it be so today and always. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
A longtime dear friend, Jerry Morton, now from Chicago, Illinois. Tom and Jerry were both from Benton, Louisiana, who came to Lon Morris. Jerry was our RA on our wing on the second floor of our dorm.
Posted by Hello
Posted by Hello
What the years can do! The then soon-to-be-wed Tom Carrington, first roommate at Lon Morris College for me way back in 1971! This photo taken Monday, Dec. 27th at First UMC in Lufkin, Texas at about 4:45 before the 5 o'clock wedding.
Posted by Hello
Posted by Hello
God asks, "What have you done for me lately?"
Dear friends, our prayers continue to be with those who were terribly affected by the tsunami in Asia. As the death toll rises so should our prayers for families and relief workers.
PRAYER: God of all people, we lift our hearts together for the healing and comfort of those who lost loved ones. We pray especially for those children whose parents cannot be located and for parents who have lost children. Bless those there already working and those who are on the way. Let the brokenhearted find peace in You. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Wednesday: Here’s our action for today. Reflect on the number of trips you have made on behalf of God. It could have been a mission trip or a youth trip. What was your experience like? What did it teach you about God and His love? What are your plans for this coming New Year in terms of a mission or service project trip? What would motivate you to leave your “comfort zone” to a place of risk and reward for God?
Those of us who belong to a church need not look far to find a situation or setting where we can serve. First Church is no exception. We offer so many mission opportunities that one can't help but find one where we can go and give of our time and love to help the less fortunate.
It's not too late to sign up for the Mozambique mission though there's lots going on already and you don't want to miss out on going on this trip. We can be doing other trips as well. It's just a matter of leaving our comfort zones to a place of risk and reward.
Have a great day in the Lord!
Blessings!
e.v.
PRAYER: God of all people, we lift our hearts together for the healing and comfort of those who lost loved ones. We pray especially for those children whose parents cannot be located and for parents who have lost children. Bless those there already working and those who are on the way. Let the brokenhearted find peace in You. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Wednesday: Here’s our action for today. Reflect on the number of trips you have made on behalf of God. It could have been a mission trip or a youth trip. What was your experience like? What did it teach you about God and His love? What are your plans for this coming New Year in terms of a mission or service project trip? What would motivate you to leave your “comfort zone” to a place of risk and reward for God?
Those of us who belong to a church need not look far to find a situation or setting where we can serve. First Church is no exception. We offer so many mission opportunities that one can't help but find one where we can go and give of our time and love to help the less fortunate.
It's not too late to sign up for the Mozambique mission though there's lots going on already and you don't want to miss out on going on this trip. We can be doing other trips as well. It's just a matter of leaving our comfort zones to a place of risk and reward.
Have a great day in the Lord!
Blessings!
e.v.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Can You Hear Me Now?
Good day dear friends.
As we pray this morning let us lift up the family of The Reverend Dr. Bill Hinson, retired pastor from First UMC Houston. Bill was a friend of mine as we both served on the Asbury Seminary board. We were together not too long ago for the Inaguration of President Jeff Greenway. Bill was a true man of God who loved Jesus and preached Him lovingly.
PRAYER: God of life we thank you for those precious lives that have blessed us. Among those we lift up the memory of Bill Hinson for his tireless service to You and Your people. Bring comfort and healing to his wife, children and grandchildren. Be with all today who mourn. We pray a special blessing on those who lost loves ones in the earthquakes in Asia. Be with those who are already there working to mend the area, but You are the only one who can mend hearts and spirits. Be with us as we seek meaning for our lives as we study Your word. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: How much do you know about angels? The urgent command to leave for Egypt was conveyed to Joseph by an angel. In your daily life, how have or do you hear from God? How would your spouse respond to your claim that God is asking you to leave something or do something? What would s/he say if you said, “An angel of the Lord told me....” What are your angel stories?
The Bible mentions angels as messengers and unseen workers of the Lord. The most oft quoted passage about angels comes from Psalm 91: "9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, 10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone." In fact, Satan quoted it to Jesus after our Lord's forty days of fasting. And in that same story as found in Matthew 4 it says that "angels came and waited" on Jesus. Angels are creatures of God. We see them performing worship tasks in Isaiah 6 and we heard about them in this week's passage warning Joseph and convincing him to marry Mary and we saw archangels preparing Mary and Zechariah for their heavenly tasks. It wasn't too long ago there was an almost national craze about angels and folks devoting themselves to icons and pins, posters, etc. about angels. The warning for some is that we cannot and should NOT worship the creation of God. The only one worthy of our worship is God.
The question for today is, how do you listen for God in your daily life? Is God's voice loud and clear? Some would say, "I've never heard God!" And these might be the same who don't take time to pray or read the Scriptures. God speaks through our prayer after we say Amen. God speaks through our reading of scriptures as we hear each word coming from God and speaking to our needs. Sometimes God uses US, yes us, to speak His word to some. Sometimes unexplainable things happen and if we just stop and pray and reflect we'll say, oh, I understand what God was saying! If we strive to be connected to God, God will connect with us and we'll hear his message to us.
As to what your spouse would say, that's your story.....
PRAYER: God speak to us in loud and loving ways so that we can know what it is we should be and do. Bless all who have read this message with a full and deeper meaning of Your love and purpose and speak to those who should read this. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
As we pray this morning let us lift up the family of The Reverend Dr. Bill Hinson, retired pastor from First UMC Houston. Bill was a friend of mine as we both served on the Asbury Seminary board. We were together not too long ago for the Inaguration of President Jeff Greenway. Bill was a true man of God who loved Jesus and preached Him lovingly.
PRAYER: God of life we thank you for those precious lives that have blessed us. Among those we lift up the memory of Bill Hinson for his tireless service to You and Your people. Bring comfort and healing to his wife, children and grandchildren. Be with all today who mourn. We pray a special blessing on those who lost loves ones in the earthquakes in Asia. Be with those who are already there working to mend the area, but You are the only one who can mend hearts and spirits. Be with us as we seek meaning for our lives as we study Your word. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: How much do you know about angels? The urgent command to leave for Egypt was conveyed to Joseph by an angel. In your daily life, how have or do you hear from God? How would your spouse respond to your claim that God is asking you to leave something or do something? What would s/he say if you said, “An angel of the Lord told me....” What are your angel stories?
The Bible mentions angels as messengers and unseen workers of the Lord. The most oft quoted passage about angels comes from Psalm 91: "9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, 10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone." In fact, Satan quoted it to Jesus after our Lord's forty days of fasting. And in that same story as found in Matthew 4 it says that "angels came and waited" on Jesus. Angels are creatures of God. We see them performing worship tasks in Isaiah 6 and we heard about them in this week's passage warning Joseph and convincing him to marry Mary and we saw archangels preparing Mary and Zechariah for their heavenly tasks. It wasn't too long ago there was an almost national craze about angels and folks devoting themselves to icons and pins, posters, etc. about angels. The warning for some is that we cannot and should NOT worship the creation of God. The only one worthy of our worship is God.
The question for today is, how do you listen for God in your daily life? Is God's voice loud and clear? Some would say, "I've never heard God!" And these might be the same who don't take time to pray or read the Scriptures. God speaks through our prayer after we say Amen. God speaks through our reading of scriptures as we hear each word coming from God and speaking to our needs. Sometimes God uses US, yes us, to speak His word to some. Sometimes unexplainable things happen and if we just stop and pray and reflect we'll say, oh, I understand what God was saying! If we strive to be connected to God, God will connect with us and we'll hear his message to us.
As to what your spouse would say, that's your story.....
PRAYER: God speak to us in loud and loving ways so that we can know what it is we should be and do. Bless all who have read this message with a full and deeper meaning of Your love and purpose and speak to those who should read this. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, December 27, 2004
God Goes With Us, Provides, and Protects!
Yesterday we studied the passage from Matthew 2:13-23 as we studied the aftereffects of Herod's wrath against "the child who has been born king of the Jews" (2:2). The angel of the Lord comes to warn the holy family and they flee to Egypt. God goes with them, provides for them and protects them. An upcoming book, "Jesus in Egypt" will chronicle traditions and legends about the time the family spent in Egypt. Our main point during worship were these four words, GOD IS WITH US.
Let us go to our study guide:
Monday: The sermon yesterday mentioned the first couple to leave a land. Compare the story of Abram and Sarai in their leaving their country with that of Joseph and Mary. What are the similarities and what are the differences? Which of these two journeys would you have preferred? Why?
The Abram/Sarai story is found in Genesis 12:1-20 and Joseph/Mary’s story is found in Matthew 2:13-23. Again, the question from yesterday applies today, where are you traveling and why? Are you serving God in your daily journeys?
12:1-20: 1 Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother's son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, 6. Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord. 9 And Abram journeyed on by stages toward the Negeb. 10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to reside there as an alien.
Interesting both families were in Egypt. Both were asked (some would say "ordered") to leave their families to an unknown place. One was to begin the promised race of God, the other to protect the Son of God. Neither journey was easy, but both had God with them. The journey of Abram and Sarai started a long journey to find the promised land of God. The journey of Joseph and Mary was to protect He who was born to bring us into the Kingdom of God.
Of both, we can say that God was with them. Of both, God provided and protected. Of the one I would have chosen I can't decide. Neither was easy. I shared my sojourns into Denver in the early 70s and my comical experiences with my trying to find Mexican food. A family seated on the front row was laughing the loudest and after church they told me they were from Colorado and when the first tried Mexican food they must have eaten at the same restaurant where they served corn chips (Fritos) and catsup! They couldn't stop laughing they said because their daughter born here in Texas was skeptic about "hot sauce" from Colorado. The daughter laughed when she discovered that it was the type of sauce that goes good with hash browns!
The main point is wherever we're journeying, God is with us. The "land" we're entering matters not, for God is with us. I said we could fill in the blank of whatever "land" it is that we find ourselves, despair, fear, doubt, financial worries, illness, the illness of a loved one, etc., etc. God is with us.
Keep those four words with you today: God is with me. And use them as the journey brings its challenges to you.
PRAYER: God of the journey stay with us. Give us hope, joy and courage. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
Let us go to our study guide:
Monday: The sermon yesterday mentioned the first couple to leave a land. Compare the story of Abram and Sarai in their leaving their country with that of Joseph and Mary. What are the similarities and what are the differences? Which of these two journeys would you have preferred? Why?
The Abram/Sarai story is found in Genesis 12:1-20 and Joseph/Mary’s story is found in Matthew 2:13-23. Again, the question from yesterday applies today, where are you traveling and why? Are you serving God in your daily journeys?
12:1-20: 1 Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother's son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, 6. Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord. 9 And Abram journeyed on by stages toward the Negeb. 10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to reside there as an alien.
Interesting both families were in Egypt. Both were asked (some would say "ordered") to leave their families to an unknown place. One was to begin the promised race of God, the other to protect the Son of God. Neither journey was easy, but both had God with them. The journey of Abram and Sarai started a long journey to find the promised land of God. The journey of Joseph and Mary was to protect He who was born to bring us into the Kingdom of God.
Of both, we can say that God was with them. Of both, God provided and protected. Of the one I would have chosen I can't decide. Neither was easy. I shared my sojourns into Denver in the early 70s and my comical experiences with my trying to find Mexican food. A family seated on the front row was laughing the loudest and after church they told me they were from Colorado and when the first tried Mexican food they must have eaten at the same restaurant where they served corn chips (Fritos) and catsup! They couldn't stop laughing they said because their daughter born here in Texas was skeptic about "hot sauce" from Colorado. The daughter laughed when she discovered that it was the type of sauce that goes good with hash browns!
The main point is wherever we're journeying, God is with us. The "land" we're entering matters not, for God is with us. I said we could fill in the blank of whatever "land" it is that we find ourselves, despair, fear, doubt, financial worries, illness, the illness of a loved one, etc., etc. God is with us.
Keep those four words with you today: God is with me. And use them as the journey brings its challenges to you.
PRAYER: God of the journey stay with us. Give us hope, joy and courage. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
Saturday, December 25, 2004
NEW SERMON SERIES COMING JAN 9, 2005
The other day Nellie and I were in an auto dealership's repair shop trying to get to the bottom of our Suburban's problem. The service writer was a nice young man who quickly caught on to my being a pastor and starting talking about his faith. He had come to the Lord and his life was different now. How different I would discover soon. He said he and his cousin were rabid Dallas Cowboy fans and had partnered in buying tickets together. His last tickets he said he was selling to his cousin because his pastor was preaching the last sermon in a series he was really enjoying. I thought wow, what a feeling to know that some Christians thrive on hearing the word of God and enjoying sermons on God's word.
Well, here's your chance to get in on a new series based on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Entitled, "Doing the Unexpected," the five sermons will center on Jesus' main points from that sermon. The first sermon begins Jan. 9th and it's called, "Learn the Be-Happy Attitudes." Please be in prayer for Pastor Rob and myself as we prepare these sermons. And don't be shy about inviting folks with you to our church. Let this New Year be a year of growth, first in our spiritual lives, secondly in the worship attendance of this church and a positive growth in our community.
Have a great rest of Christmas Day and we'll see you tomorrow in worship at 8:30 and 11:00 traditional worship services.
Blessings!
e.v.
Well, here's your chance to get in on a new series based on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Entitled, "Doing the Unexpected," the five sermons will center on Jesus' main points from that sermon. The first sermon begins Jan. 9th and it's called, "Learn the Be-Happy Attitudes." Please be in prayer for Pastor Rob and myself as we prepare these sermons. And don't be shy about inviting folks with you to our church. Let this New Year be a year of growth, first in our spiritual lives, secondly in the worship attendance of this church and a positive growth in our community.
Have a great rest of Christmas Day and we'll see you tomorrow in worship at 8:30 and 11:00 traditional worship services.
Blessings!
e.v.
The Christmas Story
LUKE 2:1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. NRSV
It was a glorious night last night in worship. It started at 4:30 with our glorious children's drama. Under the direction of Donna Thompson and many parents, and our Children's Coordinator, Katrina Allison, the kids put on a wonderful reenactment of the Christmas story. A large group of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. filled our sanctuary for this program. Then at 6 Pastor Rob led the worship of our first of three candlelights services. At 7:30 and at 11:00 I led the services of special music, candlelight and at eleven, Communion. A great crowd of members, friends, etc. filled our church as God filled our hearts with the message, "Come Home."
In my sermons I shared how we've answered the call of our moms or dads when it was time to quit playing outside and come home. Some answered the call of Uncle Sam to enter into his service, but on that special night when Christ was born, God called you and me to "come home." The message of Christmas is just that: Come home to God, to the fullness of his love.
On that night according to Luke, God spoke to the most common of folks, the shepherds, and invited them into the fullness of life. No more fear, enter into joy and receive the good news of God acting through his Son to receive our salvation.
Communion was made more special knowing that at the sacrament we again hear God, through Christ saying, "Come home!"
Don't forget tomorrow we have a regular worship schedule: 8:30, Sunday school at 9:30, and our two 11 o'clock worship services. My sermon at the 8:30 and 11 traditional service is "Even as Strangers in a Strange Land, God is with us."
So come home and worship God!
It was a glorious night last night in worship. It started at 4:30 with our glorious children's drama. Under the direction of Donna Thompson and many parents, and our Children's Coordinator, Katrina Allison, the kids put on a wonderful reenactment of the Christmas story. A large group of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. filled our sanctuary for this program. Then at 6 Pastor Rob led the worship of our first of three candlelights services. At 7:30 and at 11:00 I led the services of special music, candlelight and at eleven, Communion. A great crowd of members, friends, etc. filled our church as God filled our hearts with the message, "Come Home."
In my sermons I shared how we've answered the call of our moms or dads when it was time to quit playing outside and come home. Some answered the call of Uncle Sam to enter into his service, but on that special night when Christ was born, God called you and me to "come home." The message of Christmas is just that: Come home to God, to the fullness of his love.
On that night according to Luke, God spoke to the most common of folks, the shepherds, and invited them into the fullness of life. No more fear, enter into joy and receive the good news of God acting through his Son to receive our salvation.
Communion was made more special knowing that at the sacrament we again hear God, through Christ saying, "Come home!"
Don't forget tomorrow we have a regular worship schedule: 8:30, Sunday school at 9:30, and our two 11 o'clock worship services. My sermon at the 8:30 and 11 traditional service is "Even as Strangers in a Strange Land, God is with us."
So come home and worship God!
"Is this all I got?" Our oldest before opening gifts last night in the Valverde tradition of opening gifts on Christmas Eve after worship.She really didn't say that, but it shore is funny!
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Sunday, December 19, 2004
Nellie Maria Valverde, Admissions Counselor from Texas Lutheran University working on tamales, wearing a Trinity University t-shirt!
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Nellie and Caitlin making tamales. We had sent Carli on an errand and dad decided he HAD to take a picture to save this precious memory!
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The past revisits
Today was a very special Sunday. We worshipped the Lord through music as our choir did an awesome job presenting Handel's The Messiah. The closing always brings me to tears as we closed worship with the singing of The Hallelujah chorus. We came home and had a nice lunch. Nellie's doing a bit better but not well enough to leave the house.
Then our oldest, Nellie M., decided she wanted to do what her grandmothers did and went and bought all the ingredients for making tamales. The making of tamales is a Mexican American Christmas tradition and anyone who has ever been in a home where tamales are being made know that no one escapes taking part. Even this dad was not exempt. I helped spread the masa on the corn shucks and did a bit of taste-testing on the chicken (it was GOOD! Imagine Andy Griffith saying it from Mayberry!) At about 5:45 the first batch should be ready and if you're reading this here in San Marcos at the right time feel free to come by! (This will be the real test of who actually reads this blog!)
But this was special for both Nellie and I saw our moms in our daughters as all took part in making this special Christmas food. I remarked how incredibly smart our ancestors were in knowing you could raise corn, save the shuck, grind the corn into meal, make it into masa, re-use the shuck, and make a nice meal. The girls didn't know if I was making a joke or if I was being serious....sigh, the result of a humorous daddy.
But we thank you Lord for the special gifts of this day!
Then our oldest, Nellie M., decided she wanted to do what her grandmothers did and went and bought all the ingredients for making tamales. The making of tamales is a Mexican American Christmas tradition and anyone who has ever been in a home where tamales are being made know that no one escapes taking part. Even this dad was not exempt. I helped spread the masa on the corn shucks and did a bit of taste-testing on the chicken (it was GOOD! Imagine Andy Griffith saying it from Mayberry!) At about 5:45 the first batch should be ready and if you're reading this here in San Marcos at the right time feel free to come by! (This will be the real test of who actually reads this blog!)
But this was special for both Nellie and I saw our moms in our daughters as all took part in making this special Christmas food. I remarked how incredibly smart our ancestors were in knowing you could raise corn, save the shuck, grind the corn into meal, make it into masa, re-use the shuck, and make a nice meal. The girls didn't know if I was making a joke or if I was being serious....sigh, the result of a humorous daddy.
But we thank you Lord for the special gifts of this day!
Another Old, Old Story made new... Our oldest and youngest making tamales like their grandmothers.... memories of days gone by back by sights and smells.
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Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Advent, a time for encouragement so that we might have hope
Good day every one.
One of the suggested texts for this week comes from Romans 15:4-13.
Let us pray first: God of hope and love, help us fully understand Your plan for us during this time of Christmas. Speak clearly to our hearts. Let us set aside whatever is keeping us from fully receiving Your blessings for today. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Romans 15:4-13 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name"; 10 and again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people"; 11 and again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him"; 12 and again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope." 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The time of Advent is a time of preparation. While many already associate this time as a time for Christmas shopping, the lines at the mall and the discount stores tell us there is something more. Paul speaks of living in harmony with one another. The preparation many have in mind is that of getting everyone on their list a special something. Have you ever imagined what the first gift givers thought when they made their selection? That first Christmas or so tradition tells us, Jesus was visited by the magi. We don't know how many there were, although we believe, through tradition, there were at least three, for the first Christmas gifts were three. There was the gift of gold. This one associated with royalty and the perfect gift for an audience with a king. There was the gift of frankincense, a gift of service in the priesthood. And there was the last gift of myrrh, the ointment for the preparation of the dead for burial.
The symbolism of the gifts is important but so was the thought and desire behind the giving.
The giving of Jesus to us, to save us from our sins, was the first and best Christmas "gift." Think about the motive behind God's doing that for us.
With the gift of life in abundance and the promise of life eternal comes the gifts we need most now, encouragement and hope.
What are you facing that has you discouraged or troubled? Think and pray on Paul's words above. Receive encouragement and hope as God's precious gifts during this time.
PRAYER: God of encouragement and hope, grant to us that which allows us to receive that which we need most. Examine us and share with us that which we need. IN Christ's name. Amen.
Have a great Wednesday!
Blessings,
e.v.
One of the suggested texts for this week comes from Romans 15:4-13.
Let us pray first: God of hope and love, help us fully understand Your plan for us during this time of Christmas. Speak clearly to our hearts. Let us set aside whatever is keeping us from fully receiving Your blessings for today. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Romans 15:4-13 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name"; 10 and again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people"; 11 and again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him"; 12 and again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope." 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The time of Advent is a time of preparation. While many already associate this time as a time for Christmas shopping, the lines at the mall and the discount stores tell us there is something more. Paul speaks of living in harmony with one another. The preparation many have in mind is that of getting everyone on their list a special something. Have you ever imagined what the first gift givers thought when they made their selection? That first Christmas or so tradition tells us, Jesus was visited by the magi. We don't know how many there were, although we believe, through tradition, there were at least three, for the first Christmas gifts were three. There was the gift of gold. This one associated with royalty and the perfect gift for an audience with a king. There was the gift of frankincense, a gift of service in the priesthood. And there was the last gift of myrrh, the ointment for the preparation of the dead for burial.
The symbolism of the gifts is important but so was the thought and desire behind the giving.
The giving of Jesus to us, to save us from our sins, was the first and best Christmas "gift." Think about the motive behind God's doing that for us.
With the gift of life in abundance and the promise of life eternal comes the gifts we need most now, encouragement and hope.
What are you facing that has you discouraged or troubled? Think and pray on Paul's words above. Receive encouragement and hope as God's precious gifts during this time.
PRAYER: God of encouragement and hope, grant to us that which allows us to receive that which we need most. Examine us and share with us that which we need. IN Christ's name. Amen.
Have a great Wednesday!
Blessings,
e.v.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
GOSPEL IN THE AIR!
Good Tuesday dear friends.
A dear friend of mine sends out some very thoughtful and very powerful prayers each morning. I tease him on those mornings when they arrive late and he always has a nice reply. Today's prayer was thanking God for those stores and radio stations that during this time of year play those songs, even if motivated for profit, that share the Gospel message. His prayer today centered on our need to "come let us adore Him." And I said, "That's right!" So many stores and some radio stations, even dedicated channels on cable and satellite TV and radio dedicate themselves as "Holiday Music." But what we should realize is many of the songs are indeed Holy music.
Think about that as you turn to Soft Rock Favorites all the time playing your favorites as they have switched to 24/7 "holiday music" and listen to the Gospel, that's Good News to you and me, being "preached" over the airways. And speaking of airways, today's Upper Room biblical text is from Ephesians 2:1-10:
"You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God -- not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life."
Let "our way of life" be a joyous one, rejoicing in the fact that that little "song" being sung on our radio or TV, is about this very One who came to give us fullness of life.
PRAYER: Gracious God, we praise you and thank you for all you share. Keep us singing as we hear the songs of the holidays. Keep us mindful that most of those songs are indeed holy for they speak of Your wondrous act of Jesus Christ. Let us be raised with Christ today above the mire and challenges of work, doubt, illness, defeat, depression. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen
Have a great day!
e.v.
A dear friend of mine sends out some very thoughtful and very powerful prayers each morning. I tease him on those mornings when they arrive late and he always has a nice reply. Today's prayer was thanking God for those stores and radio stations that during this time of year play those songs, even if motivated for profit, that share the Gospel message. His prayer today centered on our need to "come let us adore Him." And I said, "That's right!" So many stores and some radio stations, even dedicated channels on cable and satellite TV and radio dedicate themselves as "Holiday Music." But what we should realize is many of the songs are indeed Holy music.
Think about that as you turn to Soft Rock Favorites all the time playing your favorites as they have switched to 24/7 "holiday music" and listen to the Gospel, that's Good News to you and me, being "preached" over the airways. And speaking of airways, today's Upper Room biblical text is from Ephesians 2:1-10:
"You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God -- not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life."
Let "our way of life" be a joyous one, rejoicing in the fact that that little "song" being sung on our radio or TV, is about this very One who came to give us fullness of life.
PRAYER: Gracious God, we praise you and thank you for all you share. Keep us singing as we hear the songs of the holidays. Keep us mindful that most of those songs are indeed holy for they speak of Your wondrous act of Jesus Christ. Let us be raised with Christ today above the mire and challenges of work, doubt, illness, defeat, depression. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen
Have a great day!
e.v.
Monday, December 13, 2004
The entire class of 22 who completed the Police Academy. Eric is fourth from left on the front row. It was an amazing class as never before in their history, had the number who enrolled completed the entire course! There was even a gentleman who had dropped out some years ago, said he would be back, and did come back and graduated! Our prayers for these new grads.
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He's Number One!
Nellie, Caitlin, and I, along with Eric's family, were in Galveston for his graduation from The College of The Mainland's Public Safety School (aka Police Academy). We were thrilled because Eric received the Academic Achievement Award for being number one in his class! Praise the Lord! There were some tense moments from Friday until his name was finally called. In fact, it's not like Eric not to eat well and Sunday lunch after church he hardly ate and this at his favorite restaurant! But as the director of the school read the requirements, etc., Sarai tensed up and finally the name was read and the usually calm and quiet father-in-law yelled the loudest. Sarai's hand immediately hits my knee, but she later said it was in relief. Congratulations to Eric upon this great achievement in his life.
Eric now awaits the start of the Galveston PD in-house academy, another four to six week training with his new department. Our prayers for a successful time there as well as a rewarding and safe career.
My thanks to the family at First UMC for understanding my absence.
e.v.
Eric now awaits the start of the Galveston PD in-house academy, another four to six week training with his new department. Our prayers for a successful time there as well as a rewarding and safe career.
My thanks to the family at First UMC for understanding my absence.
e.v.
!Feliz Navidad!
May this time of holiday spirit prepare us all for the true meaning of Christmas. May each song we sing or hear remind us of He who was born to answer earth's prayer. May God continue to answer our prayers with this in mind:
Peace on Earth, and let peace be ours in our hearts first.
Joy to the World, and let the joy begin in us.
Silent Night, and let us continue to find peaceful reflective times to hear God speak.
Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, and let us strive to be angels to others; and let us listen to God's leading so we can be so.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Nellie, the family and yours truly!
Mejor dicho: !Feliz Navidad! Y Prospero Ano Nuevo!
e.v.
Peace on Earth, and let peace be ours in our hearts first.
Joy to the World, and let the joy begin in us.
Silent Night, and let us continue to find peaceful reflective times to hear God speak.
Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, and let us strive to be angels to others; and let us listen to God's leading so we can be so.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Nellie, the family and yours truly!
Mejor dicho: !Feliz Navidad! Y Prospero Ano Nuevo!
e.v.
Friday, December 10, 2004
Our Day of Prayer
Friday: As we pray today,
Pray for yourself,
your family,
your friends,
and for the ministry of the Lord in your church.
Pray for all, beginning with the elderly.
Ask God’s blessings upon those whom you consider pillars of the church.
Pray then for the middle-aged folks. Thank God for their contributions to His work here among us.
Pray next for the young marrieds.
Pray for the parents of small children. Ask God’s blessings to be with them as they seek to model a life of Christ among these precious young.
Then pray for the youth,
the children,
the toddlers and infants of your church.
May God bring to rich fruition His work among us all!
Let this season of Advent prepare your church for an awesome and blessed Christmas!
Have a great Friday, an even better and safe weekend, and a glorious Sunday in God's house!
Blessings!
e.v.
Pray for yourself,
your family,
your friends,
and for the ministry of the Lord in your church.
Pray for all, beginning with the elderly.
Ask God’s blessings upon those whom you consider pillars of the church.
Pray then for the middle-aged folks. Thank God for their contributions to His work here among us.
Pray next for the young marrieds.
Pray for the parents of small children. Ask God’s blessings to be with them as they seek to model a life of Christ among these precious young.
Then pray for the youth,
the children,
the toddlers and infants of your church.
May God bring to rich fruition His work among us all!
Let this season of Advent prepare your church for an awesome and blessed Christmas!
Have a great Friday, an even better and safe weekend, and a glorious Sunday in God's house!
Blessings!
e.v.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
The Word of God Comes to Us!
Good Thursday everyone! I trust this finds all of us doing well and enjoying God's blessings for the start of this day.
As we begin our devotional time, let us lift up those concerns we are aware of that need God's attention.
Prayer: Gracious and loving God, we thank you for this day. The weekend is almost upon us and yet there is so much still to do. We feel the pressures of work and the holidays, but keep us mindful that in all, the calm and the stressed, You are there. Be with us now as we pray for insight on deeper understandings of Your presence and love. We pray in the name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: How different is Luke’s account of John’s ministry? Let’s go to that Gospel, chapter 3:1-22. Read that account of how John baptized so many and then see his reaction to Jesus’ request to be baptized by John. What are your thoughts about that encounter between the two?
Here is that text in the New Revised Standard version:
3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' " 7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." 10 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" 11 In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" 13 He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." 14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with F27 the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added to them all by shutting up John in prison. 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
"Great sermon, John!" While I doubt many said that to him, their response echoed that sentiment. And yet, John, like any messenger of God would point back to verse 2, where John would say, "God shared that message with me, I only shared what God shared with me." What a message! It met with a tremendous response as people felt the moving of God's Holy Spirit in their hearts as they heard God speaking to them like never before. Instead of hearing the cold, "don't do this, you're bad" sermons of the Pharisees, they heard an honest invitation to a relationship with God as they were called to turn away from their sins and to be the people God wanted them to be.
What shocked John about his ministry is the appearance of Jesus to the river. Among the crowd who needed to be baptized comes Jesus, whom John knew to be the special, anointed Son of God! And to have Jesus approach him and request baptism must have really been the scary point in this short ministry. Yet, it was the point where the convergence of the two ministries, where God sends a miraculous blessing to Jesus, the result of faithful obedience of both Jesus and John.
What motivates our responses to God? Are we open to the leading of God's word as it comes to us through our readings, prayers, or devotions? What wondrous things would we see if we learned to say yes to God on those opportunities that He shares so often with us all.
PRAYER: God of new opportunities to serve, let your word come afresh to us so that we may learn to serve you by being faitful in all things. Speak to us now. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a blessed Thursday!
e.v.
As we begin our devotional time, let us lift up those concerns we are aware of that need God's attention.
Prayer: Gracious and loving God, we thank you for this day. The weekend is almost upon us and yet there is so much still to do. We feel the pressures of work and the holidays, but keep us mindful that in all, the calm and the stressed, You are there. Be with us now as we pray for insight on deeper understandings of Your presence and love. We pray in the name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: How different is Luke’s account of John’s ministry? Let’s go to that Gospel, chapter 3:1-22. Read that account of how John baptized so many and then see his reaction to Jesus’ request to be baptized by John. What are your thoughts about that encounter between the two?
Here is that text in the New Revised Standard version:
3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' " 7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." 10 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" 11 In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" 13 He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." 14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with F27 the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added to them all by shutting up John in prison. 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
"Great sermon, John!" While I doubt many said that to him, their response echoed that sentiment. And yet, John, like any messenger of God would point back to verse 2, where John would say, "God shared that message with me, I only shared what God shared with me." What a message! It met with a tremendous response as people felt the moving of God's Holy Spirit in their hearts as they heard God speaking to them like never before. Instead of hearing the cold, "don't do this, you're bad" sermons of the Pharisees, they heard an honest invitation to a relationship with God as they were called to turn away from their sins and to be the people God wanted them to be.
What shocked John about his ministry is the appearance of Jesus to the river. Among the crowd who needed to be baptized comes Jesus, whom John knew to be the special, anointed Son of God! And to have Jesus approach him and request baptism must have really been the scary point in this short ministry. Yet, it was the point where the convergence of the two ministries, where God sends a miraculous blessing to Jesus, the result of faithful obedience of both Jesus and John.
What motivates our responses to God? Are we open to the leading of God's word as it comes to us through our readings, prayers, or devotions? What wondrous things would we see if we learned to say yes to God on those opportunities that He shares so often with us all.
PRAYER: God of new opportunities to serve, let your word come afresh to us so that we may learn to serve you by being faitful in all things. Speak to us now. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a blessed Thursday!
e.v.
Better Late than Never!
Dear friends,
We finally have new internet connections in our parsonage with Grande Communications based right here in San Marcos, TX! So, here is a belated but always timely Wednesday study guide:
Wednesday: If you’re able do something for the elderly. Visit a nursing home and share a good smile, gift, treat, or whatever God leads you to, with those who are confined there. As you walk, can you imagine them as Zechariah or Elizabeth?
Oh, and if you're still at the church, there was no meal or worship service tonight for Wonderful Wednesdays nor will there be for the rest of December. It'll start up again the 3rd Wed. of January 2005.
PARENTS OF BOYS FROM 1ST TO 5TH GRADE, don't forget our Cub Scout orientation meeting set for tomorrow in our Educational Building. We need as many parents as we can get to start our scouting ministry again.
Blessings to you!
e.v.
We finally have new internet connections in our parsonage with Grande Communications based right here in San Marcos, TX! So, here is a belated but always timely Wednesday study guide:
Wednesday: If you’re able do something for the elderly. Visit a nursing home and share a good smile, gift, treat, or whatever God leads you to, with those who are confined there. As you walk, can you imagine them as Zechariah or Elizabeth?
Oh, and if you're still at the church, there was no meal or worship service tonight for Wonderful Wednesdays nor will there be for the rest of December. It'll start up again the 3rd Wed. of January 2005.
PARENTS OF BOYS FROM 1ST TO 5TH GRADE, don't forget our Cub Scout orientation meeting set for tomorrow in our Educational Building. We need as many parents as we can get to start our scouting ministry again.
Blessings to you!
e.v.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
The Awesome God of Love and Life - in our lives!
Good Tuesday, dear friends. I'm sorry for the lateness of this email and posting coming to you but Time Warner Cable and I have parted ways. Even my OLD evalve@ix.netcom.com email address that I've had for almost ten years is no more. Customer Service and that done efficiently and personably is not a trait for which TW is known, at least not by me. I'll share a new email with you soon. For now, please use ev@fumcsm.org. The website is still up http://theuniversityoftheway.blogspot.com.
We continue looking at the life and ministry of John the Baptist and today we look at the spiritual awesomeness of his birth and birth announcement.
Let's begin our time with prayer.
"Gracious God of awesome births and amazing lives, be with us today as we seek Your face even in the midst of that which tries to overwhelm. Let us know that even in our lives You have been at work in awesome and amazing ways. Let that show in the way we treat others. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Even Mary, the mother of Jesus showed some reluctance to believe when she was visited by the angel Gabriel. As proof of what God can do, the angel sends her to visit her kinswoman, Elizabeth. Let’s read that story in Luke 1:39-80. This includes the birth of John the Baptist. Highlight in your Bible the things associated with John’s role as God’s messenger. How do those roles speak to you?
Here is the suggested text: (The Message version)
39 Mary didn't waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, 40 straight to Zachariah's house, and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and sang out exuberantly, You're so blessed among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed! 43 And why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me? 44 The moment the sound of your greeting entered my ears, The babe in my womb skipped like a lamb for sheer joy. 45 Blessed woman, who believed what God said, believed every word would come true! 46 And Mary said, I'm bursting with God-news; 47 I'm dancing the song of my Savior God. 48 God took one good look at me, and look what happened - I'm the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, 49 the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. 50 His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him. 51 He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts. 52 He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud. 53 The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold. 54 He embraced his chosen child, Israel; he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high. 55 It's exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now. 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her own home.
57 When Elizabeth was full-term in her pregnancy, she bore a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives, seeing that God had overwhelmed her with mercy, celebrated with her. 59 On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling him Zachariah after his father. 60 But his mother intervened: "No. He is to be called John." 61 "But," they said, "no one in your family is named that." 62 They used sign language to ask Zachariah what he wanted him named. 63 Asking for a tablet, Zachariah wrote, "His name is to be John." That took everyone by surprise. 64 Surprise followed surprise - Zachariah's mouth was now open, his tongue loose, and he was talking, praising God! 65 A deep, reverential fear settled over the neighborhood, and in all that Judean hill country people talked about nothing else. 66 Everyone who heard about it took it to heart, wondering, "What will become of this child? Clearly, God has his hand in this."
67 Then Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, 68 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he came and set his people free. 69 He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives, and in the very house of David his servant, 70 Just as he promised long ago through the preaching of his holy prophets: 71 Deliverance from our enemies and every hateful hand; 72 Mercy to our fathers, as he remembers to do what he said he'd do, 73 What he swore to our father Abraham - 74 a clean rescue from the enemy camp, So we can worship him without a care in the world, 75 made holy before him as long as we live. 76 And you, my child, "Prophet of the Highest," will go ahead of the Master to prepare his ways, 77 Present the offer of salvation to his people, the forgiveness of their sins. 78 Through the heartfelt mercies of our God, God's Sunrise will break in upon us, 79 Shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, Then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace. 80 The child grew up, healthy and spirited. He lived out in the desert until the day he made his prophetic debut in Israel.
We cannot blame Mary for her doubts. The word frightening seems like an appropriate word for this young woman who has been chosen to carry God's anointed. If you or I had been here we would have sought confirmation and comfort in our relatives. And since the angel shared that Elizabeth, the woman believed to be barren, is now with child, off to visit Elizabeth we would go.
What I want us to center on today is the role that John will play. What words jump out at us as we read and re-read the above passage? How could we see those things in our lives in our responsibility to share God's good news?
PRAYER: God of neverending love, speak to us anew in the reading of your word. Let us be the people we need to be to indeed share in proclaiming the message of Christ. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a blessed day!
e.v.
We continue looking at the life and ministry of John the Baptist and today we look at the spiritual awesomeness of his birth and birth announcement.
Let's begin our time with prayer.
"Gracious God of awesome births and amazing lives, be with us today as we seek Your face even in the midst of that which tries to overwhelm. Let us know that even in our lives You have been at work in awesome and amazing ways. Let that show in the way we treat others. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Even Mary, the mother of Jesus showed some reluctance to believe when she was visited by the angel Gabriel. As proof of what God can do, the angel sends her to visit her kinswoman, Elizabeth. Let’s read that story in Luke 1:39-80. This includes the birth of John the Baptist. Highlight in your Bible the things associated with John’s role as God’s messenger. How do those roles speak to you?
Here is the suggested text: (The Message version)
39 Mary didn't waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, 40 straight to Zachariah's house, and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and sang out exuberantly, You're so blessed among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed! 43 And why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me? 44 The moment the sound of your greeting entered my ears, The babe in my womb skipped like a lamb for sheer joy. 45 Blessed woman, who believed what God said, believed every word would come true! 46 And Mary said, I'm bursting with God-news; 47 I'm dancing the song of my Savior God. 48 God took one good look at me, and look what happened - I'm the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, 49 the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. 50 His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him. 51 He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts. 52 He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud. 53 The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold. 54 He embraced his chosen child, Israel; he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high. 55 It's exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now. 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her own home.
57 When Elizabeth was full-term in her pregnancy, she bore a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives, seeing that God had overwhelmed her with mercy, celebrated with her. 59 On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling him Zachariah after his father. 60 But his mother intervened: "No. He is to be called John." 61 "But," they said, "no one in your family is named that." 62 They used sign language to ask Zachariah what he wanted him named. 63 Asking for a tablet, Zachariah wrote, "His name is to be John." That took everyone by surprise. 64 Surprise followed surprise - Zachariah's mouth was now open, his tongue loose, and he was talking, praising God! 65 A deep, reverential fear settled over the neighborhood, and in all that Judean hill country people talked about nothing else. 66 Everyone who heard about it took it to heart, wondering, "What will become of this child? Clearly, God has his hand in this."
67 Then Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, 68 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he came and set his people free. 69 He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives, and in the very house of David his servant, 70 Just as he promised long ago through the preaching of his holy prophets: 71 Deliverance from our enemies and every hateful hand; 72 Mercy to our fathers, as he remembers to do what he said he'd do, 73 What he swore to our father Abraham - 74 a clean rescue from the enemy camp, So we can worship him without a care in the world, 75 made holy before him as long as we live. 76 And you, my child, "Prophet of the Highest," will go ahead of the Master to prepare his ways, 77 Present the offer of salvation to his people, the forgiveness of their sins. 78 Through the heartfelt mercies of our God, God's Sunrise will break in upon us, 79 Shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, Then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace. 80 The child grew up, healthy and spirited. He lived out in the desert until the day he made his prophetic debut in Israel.
We cannot blame Mary for her doubts. The word frightening seems like an appropriate word for this young woman who has been chosen to carry God's anointed. If you or I had been here we would have sought confirmation and comfort in our relatives. And since the angel shared that Elizabeth, the woman believed to be barren, is now with child, off to visit Elizabeth we would go.
What I want us to center on today is the role that John will play. What words jump out at us as we read and re-read the above passage? How could we see those things in our lives in our responsibility to share God's good news?
PRAYER: God of neverending love, speak to us anew in the reading of your word. Let us be the people we need to be to indeed share in proclaiming the message of Christ. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a blessed day!
e.v.
Monday, December 06, 2004
Living a God led life begins with prayer and patience
Good Monday dear friends.
Yesterday we studied the message of John the Baptist and his message of "Bath Time!" a call for all people to be washed clean of their sins and to enter into a relationship with God. We learned we cannot hide behind tradition or family ties. The old saying, "God has no grandchildren" come through John's message. God desires all of us to be sons and daughters. There are NO grandchildren, just those who choose to be left out.
As we enter into a time of devotion, please lift up your own prayers for the needs mentioned at church. Our brother Armando Contreras' cousin Shirley, was in a very bad auto accident with an 18-wheeler and her condition is critical in a hospital in Austin. Our prayers of comfort for Susan Cassidy on the loss of her husband on the day before Thanksgiving. Susan was our longtime waitress in San Antonio for our reunion group at Cracker Barrel and we would pray for her husband who suffered from heart problems. She knew we were there for prayer and asked us every week to pray for Bob. May the Lord comfort her and all service people today and all days.
Let's pray, "Giver of life and Receiver of those who are yours, grant your peace and comfort to those loved ones you've recently received into Your arms. Divine Physician, grant your healing touch to those whom we've mentioned who need Your touch. And for us as we meditate on Your word, please touch our souls and spirits to be faithful in all things to You. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen."
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: The life of John the Baptist is an interested God-led life. Even his birth was a miraculous one by human standards. Let’s review that special birth to very special parents as found in Luke 1:5-25. What would have you thought were you “the dad” or “the mom?” Write those thoughts down. Be honest, wouldn’t “impossible” be one of the words you would have used on either side of that special “birth-to-be?”
Here is the Luke text:
5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. 8 Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. 10 Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. 16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." 18 Zechariah said to the angel, "How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years." 19 The angel replied, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur." 21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was ended, he went to his home. 24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, 25 "This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people."
Elizabeth and Zechariah were well into having discounts at restaurants and hotels. Their AARP cards were upgraded to platinum status. Unlike their friends who had tons of photos of grandkids, helping make Eli and Zach's stock in Kodak go through the roof, they had no grandkids because they had no kids. And at their age, a condo in Florida might have sounded great, but they were still active in serving the Lord.
The Bible, being an honest book, shares their thoughts and feelings about what was going to happen. How would you have felt?
The verse that jumps out at me is the one that has Gabriel saying, "Your prayer has been heard." Uh, hello? I believe I prayed that pray some 70 years ago, when I was in my twenties! You remember the young, emphasis on YOUNG man, fresh out of seminary, assigned to First Jerusalem as associate pastor in charge of youth. I was the guy with dark hair, a full head of hair, I might add. I had energy and strength. That was me on my knees praying that prayer back then. And I prayed it often and for some long years, but after a while I just asked God to help me live a blameless life. Now, in my golden years you come to share these news?
I think I would have thought those things. I don't think I would have dared say that to an archangel. It was bad enough that doubt caused the mesenger to cause Zach to go mute for his unbelief, I can't begin to imagine what outright indignation towards him would have caused.
What would you have thought? Write those thoughts down. How have you felt towards those prayers you've thought were not answered which might turn out to be prayers answered long after you prayed them?
The good news from today's lesson: Nothing is impossible for God! Say that to yourself and share that with someone today in casual conversation, Nothing is impossible for God!
PRAYER: God of all things possible. Grant us your patience and peace as we seek to be your people today. For all answered prayers we praise you and thank you. Let us be someone's answered prayer today. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings,
e.v.
Yesterday we studied the message of John the Baptist and his message of "Bath Time!" a call for all people to be washed clean of their sins and to enter into a relationship with God. We learned we cannot hide behind tradition or family ties. The old saying, "God has no grandchildren" come through John's message. God desires all of us to be sons and daughters. There are NO grandchildren, just those who choose to be left out.
As we enter into a time of devotion, please lift up your own prayers for the needs mentioned at church. Our brother Armando Contreras' cousin Shirley, was in a very bad auto accident with an 18-wheeler and her condition is critical in a hospital in Austin. Our prayers of comfort for Susan Cassidy on the loss of her husband on the day before Thanksgiving. Susan was our longtime waitress in San Antonio for our reunion group at Cracker Barrel and we would pray for her husband who suffered from heart problems. She knew we were there for prayer and asked us every week to pray for Bob. May the Lord comfort her and all service people today and all days.
Let's pray, "Giver of life and Receiver of those who are yours, grant your peace and comfort to those loved ones you've recently received into Your arms. Divine Physician, grant your healing touch to those whom we've mentioned who need Your touch. And for us as we meditate on Your word, please touch our souls and spirits to be faithful in all things to You. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen."
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: The life of John the Baptist is an interested God-led life. Even his birth was a miraculous one by human standards. Let’s review that special birth to very special parents as found in Luke 1:5-25. What would have you thought were you “the dad” or “the mom?” Write those thoughts down. Be honest, wouldn’t “impossible” be one of the words you would have used on either side of that special “birth-to-be?”
Here is the Luke text:
5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. 8 Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. 10 Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. 16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." 18 Zechariah said to the angel, "How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years." 19 The angel replied, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur." 21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was ended, he went to his home. 24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, 25 "This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people."
Elizabeth and Zechariah were well into having discounts at restaurants and hotels. Their AARP cards were upgraded to platinum status. Unlike their friends who had tons of photos of grandkids, helping make Eli and Zach's stock in Kodak go through the roof, they had no grandkids because they had no kids. And at their age, a condo in Florida might have sounded great, but they were still active in serving the Lord.
The Bible, being an honest book, shares their thoughts and feelings about what was going to happen. How would you have felt?
The verse that jumps out at me is the one that has Gabriel saying, "Your prayer has been heard." Uh, hello? I believe I prayed that pray some 70 years ago, when I was in my twenties! You remember the young, emphasis on YOUNG man, fresh out of seminary, assigned to First Jerusalem as associate pastor in charge of youth. I was the guy with dark hair, a full head of hair, I might add. I had energy and strength. That was me on my knees praying that prayer back then. And I prayed it often and for some long years, but after a while I just asked God to help me live a blameless life. Now, in my golden years you come to share these news?
I think I would have thought those things. I don't think I would have dared say that to an archangel. It was bad enough that doubt caused the mesenger to cause Zach to go mute for his unbelief, I can't begin to imagine what outright indignation towards him would have caused.
What would you have thought? Write those thoughts down. How have you felt towards those prayers you've thought were not answered which might turn out to be prayers answered long after you prayed them?
The good news from today's lesson: Nothing is impossible for God! Say that to yourself and share that with someone today in casual conversation, Nothing is impossible for God!
PRAYER: God of all things possible. Grant us your patience and peace as we seek to be your people today. For all answered prayers we praise you and thank you. Let us be someone's answered prayer today. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings,
e.v.
Friday, December 03, 2004
A Day of Prayer and Reflection
Dear friends, this email comes a bit late in the day as this has been a day of travel for the missus and myself. We're in Dallas to watch the Neiman Marcus Adolphus Children's Christmas parade as our daughter Caitlin will be performing with the Diamond Line Dance Team of SMHS.
As we begin our evening prayer time, please remember The Rev. Jose Luis Palos in your prayers. Rev. Palos suffered a heart attack and was set to have bypass surgery earlier today at Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio. We ask prayer for his wife, Leonor as well. She has been battling cancer this year as well.
We pray for Tecla Cosgrove and family as she has lost her grandfather and was planning travel to Montgomery, Alabama.
God is good, all the time! And God has the last word in all things!
Here is our study guide for today:
Friday: This is our day of prayer and reflection. Review and reflect all that you studied during this week. Let your first week in The University Of THE WAY be one that blesses you as you mature and grow in your faith of the One who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Blessings! See you in church Sunday! Bring someone with you!
Have a great weekend!
Blessings!
e.v.
As we begin our evening prayer time, please remember The Rev. Jose Luis Palos in your prayers. Rev. Palos suffered a heart attack and was set to have bypass surgery earlier today at Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio. We ask prayer for his wife, Leonor as well. She has been battling cancer this year as well.
We pray for Tecla Cosgrove and family as she has lost her grandfather and was planning travel to Montgomery, Alabama.
God is good, all the time! And God has the last word in all things!
Here is our study guide for today:
Friday: This is our day of prayer and reflection. Review and reflect all that you studied during this week. Let your first week in The University Of THE WAY be one that blesses you as you mature and grow in your faith of the One who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Blessings! See you in church Sunday! Bring someone with you!
Have a great weekend!
Blessings!
e.v.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
A spiritual problem or spiritual victory?
Good day dear friends.
We begin our day with prayer.
Gracious God of all gifts. We thank you again, as we should every day and every time we think about, the wonderful and precious gifts You share with us. Help us to be honest with ourselves and You about the matter of financial giving to Your work here on the earth. May you bless all who read this, especially those who are challenged each day by worries about money. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Our text for today comes from the text I used Sunday for our sermon time: Romans 12:11-14, but we'll be focusing on verse 13.
First, let's read the study guide for today:
Thursday: Let’s be honest about our financial/stewardship life with God. The Stewardship campaign has concluded and most of you made a financial pledge to the work of the Lord here on the earth that requires money. Did you give in proportion to your income? Or are you giving the Lord a “tip.” Pray about what we studied Sunday in the Romans text. Look at verse 13 again in that chapter 12. As we’ve shared the many things God has done for us and our loved ones why do we try to “steal from God” as the book of Malachi reads? Look again at Malachi 3:7-10. What does the concluding chapter of the Old Testament have to say about our giving to God? What are you doing with your gifts?
Romans 12:11-14: Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. **13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.** 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
It was Monday morning and I was on our church's record program that tracks membership and all aspects of membership life, including giving. I was very discouraged to say the least. I knew we have a very serious spiritual problem facing us and I believe the whole church: Tithing. We have a church full of "tippers" that "tip" the Lord for good service now and then. We don't have that many who worship God with their givings. I saw very few who give sacrificially. And as I've shared with some, when moments of discouragement set in, God always sends a gentle message of encouragement and that morning was no exception. A knock on the door and God's messenger brought the message of encouragement to me. And the messenger and I talked about this and we believe we as Americans live beyond our means and find ourselves heavily in debt. That's a scary place to be, but it's not a place to say, "Well, I'm in debt and as a result I don't have to give until I can afford it." Scarier still would be to imagine God saying that to us! Paul knew the importance of giving and giving as a part of worship. Malachi also, closes out the Old Testament with a very strong word about tithing and quotes God as saying we are robbing Him!
Malachi 3:7-10 has these words: Ever since the days of your ancestors you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, "How shall we return?" 8 Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, "How are we robbing you?" In your tithes and offerings! 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me—the whole nation of you! 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.
I'll leave it to you and God to wonder and prayerfully resolves YOUR givings to Him and His work among us. What is your financial situation? Are you trusting God enough to give sacrificially? Or are you hiding behind debt and fear? I love verse 10 of that passage right above. GOd has some awfully BIG windows and once they're open, BIG windows bring BIG pourings of blessings. But they'll only come through our faithfulness.
PRAYER: God, lead us to faithfulness and trust. Let us face the truth in our financial lives right now. Let us learn about giving to You firstfruits and from our best, instead of leftovers if we can afford it. Let us know just how big those windows of heaven are by our being obedient to you. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen
Have a great day!
Blessings,
e.v.
We begin our day with prayer.
Gracious God of all gifts. We thank you again, as we should every day and every time we think about, the wonderful and precious gifts You share with us. Help us to be honest with ourselves and You about the matter of financial giving to Your work here on the earth. May you bless all who read this, especially those who are challenged each day by worries about money. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Our text for today comes from the text I used Sunday for our sermon time: Romans 12:11-14, but we'll be focusing on verse 13.
First, let's read the study guide for today:
Thursday: Let’s be honest about our financial/stewardship life with God. The Stewardship campaign has concluded and most of you made a financial pledge to the work of the Lord here on the earth that requires money. Did you give in proportion to your income? Or are you giving the Lord a “tip.” Pray about what we studied Sunday in the Romans text. Look at verse 13 again in that chapter 12. As we’ve shared the many things God has done for us and our loved ones why do we try to “steal from God” as the book of Malachi reads? Look again at Malachi 3:7-10. What does the concluding chapter of the Old Testament have to say about our giving to God? What are you doing with your gifts?
Romans 12:11-14: Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. **13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.** 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
It was Monday morning and I was on our church's record program that tracks membership and all aspects of membership life, including giving. I was very discouraged to say the least. I knew we have a very serious spiritual problem facing us and I believe the whole church: Tithing. We have a church full of "tippers" that "tip" the Lord for good service now and then. We don't have that many who worship God with their givings. I saw very few who give sacrificially. And as I've shared with some, when moments of discouragement set in, God always sends a gentle message of encouragement and that morning was no exception. A knock on the door and God's messenger brought the message of encouragement to me. And the messenger and I talked about this and we believe we as Americans live beyond our means and find ourselves heavily in debt. That's a scary place to be, but it's not a place to say, "Well, I'm in debt and as a result I don't have to give until I can afford it." Scarier still would be to imagine God saying that to us! Paul knew the importance of giving and giving as a part of worship. Malachi also, closes out the Old Testament with a very strong word about tithing and quotes God as saying we are robbing Him!
Malachi 3:7-10 has these words: Ever since the days of your ancestors you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, "How shall we return?" 8 Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, "How are we robbing you?" In your tithes and offerings! 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me—the whole nation of you! 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.
I'll leave it to you and God to wonder and prayerfully resolves YOUR givings to Him and His work among us. What is your financial situation? Are you trusting God enough to give sacrificially? Or are you hiding behind debt and fear? I love verse 10 of that passage right above. GOd has some awfully BIG windows and once they're open, BIG windows bring BIG pourings of blessings. But they'll only come through our faithfulness.
PRAYER: God, lead us to faithfulness and trust. Let us face the truth in our financial lives right now. Let us learn about giving to You firstfruits and from our best, instead of leftovers if we can afford it. Let us know just how big those windows of heaven are by our being obedient to you. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen
Have a great day!
Blessings,
e.v.
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Hope and Joy (Not a TV sitcom!)
Good Wednesday to you all. It's nice and cold in San Marcos town! Brrr! I trust all were warm last night and will remain so today.
Today is our action day and while sometimes the action doesn't take us far from our desks, here is what is recommended for today.
Let's begin with prayer: Gracious God of neverending action in our lives, let us take action today for the good. Help us to center on You and all that You have provided that is for our good. We pray for those for whom we've been praying. Bring healing, comfort, strength and needed blessings to them and us. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Wednesday: Here’s our action for today. Sit down with a clean sheet of paper and a pen or pencil. Clear your mind of all thoughts that could make you feel negative. Think on God. Now, let’s make a list of the things that have brought you hope in this last week. Write them down and beside each write the word “joy.” Now make the connection between “hope” and “joy.” What do you need to do to make that happen. Or is it something God has to do for your joy to be complete?
Hope and Faith is a sitcom and it has a catchy name for those of us who have those two gifts from the Spirit. But today we are encouraged to list those things/persons that brought us joy this past week. And after we list each person or action that brought us hope, we should write the word, "JOY." And then prayerfully connect the two. What person or action brought us hope and how is that joy?
If a connection has not yet been made, then pray about it! Let it be today when there can be a connection between the two.
If it is something God has to do for us to bring us that hope, let's reflect on the season of Advent. Whose birth are we soon to celebrate? HINT: December 25th. Was not His coming meant as an action of eternal hope?
Pray and reflect on these things!
Have a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
Today is our action day and while sometimes the action doesn't take us far from our desks, here is what is recommended for today.
Let's begin with prayer: Gracious God of neverending action in our lives, let us take action today for the good. Help us to center on You and all that You have provided that is for our good. We pray for those for whom we've been praying. Bring healing, comfort, strength and needed blessings to them and us. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Wednesday: Here’s our action for today. Sit down with a clean sheet of paper and a pen or pencil. Clear your mind of all thoughts that could make you feel negative. Think on God. Now, let’s make a list of the things that have brought you hope in this last week. Write them down and beside each write the word “joy.” Now make the connection between “hope” and “joy.” What do you need to do to make that happen. Or is it something God has to do for your joy to be complete?
Hope and Faith is a sitcom and it has a catchy name for those of us who have those two gifts from the Spirit. But today we are encouraged to list those things/persons that brought us joy this past week. And after we list each person or action that brought us hope, we should write the word, "JOY." And then prayerfully connect the two. What person or action brought us hope and how is that joy?
If a connection has not yet been made, then pray about it! Let it be today when there can be a connection between the two.
If it is something God has to do for us to bring us that hope, let's reflect on the season of Advent. Whose birth are we soon to celebrate? HINT: December 25th. Was not His coming meant as an action of eternal hope?
Pray and reflect on these things!
Have a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
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