ENRICHING YOUR MARRIAGE

Good day dear friends.

Yesterday we continued our "Growing Great Families" series and we explored the topic, "Enriching Your Marriage," based on the passage from Colossians 3:12-17 which reads, "Colossians 3:12-17 12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Our study guide for today is as follows:

Monday: Re-read the Genesis 2 story of God and His plan for humans. Why would the man be “alone.” Re-read carefully the story of God bringing to the man the many animals. Which of those would come close to being man’s companion? What do you think of man’s poetry when he says, “At last.......”?

God's design for humanity models His own of desiring companionship and the human is made in the same way. His declaration in verse 18 of Genesis 2 states that, "It is not good that man should be alone." Loneliness is that which plagues so many, even those in relationships. As a pastor I've heard one or the other of the couples whose marriages are in trouble say, "I feel so alone." Companionship, that of walking, talking and sharing should be central to the marriage. In the Genesis story God creates all the animals and brings them to the man to have him name them. It was an exercise in exploration, having the man see and examine the animals, he was not only naming the animals but also realizing that none of them would be a good companion. Which of the animals would you like to be your companion? Which could provide the type of companionship that most humans need? The Genesis writer has the man exclaiming his poetic declaration of love and acceptance, "This at last is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh!" What a poem!

What poem have your "written" lately in your relationship? Not necessarily on a paper but in your expressions of love and appreciation for your wife or husband?

PRAYER: Gracious God, we thank you for the unexplainable gift of love. We thank you for Jesus who showed us the example of a sacrificial love and we pray it would be the model for all our relationships, but especially in our marriages and families. We pray that we would be led by You to help us enrich our marriages in all things. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

BIBLICAL PARENTING

Good day dear friends. Let us join together in prayer.

"Gracious God, we're thankful for this day. We hear the sound of rain and the rumbling of thunder in the distance. Even before we leave our homes, we know you're busy among us. Rain on us the steady fall of grace; rumble among the challenges we may face with your power. Assure us of your presence and grant us your peace. We pray in Christ's name. Amen.

Here is our study guide:

Thursday: Read Ephesians 6:1-9.

6:1 Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. 2 "Honor your father and mother" is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, 3 "so you will live well and have a long life." 4 Fathers, don't exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master. 5 Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. 6 Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. 7 And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. 8 Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free. 9 Masters, it's the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them. (The Message)

What is God’s word saying about parenting in these verses? How can you apply from that passage to your children? Make that a prayer for today and tomorrow.

Time Out vs. Spanking. Age-old debate. How hard is "too hard?" How soft is too soft? As Nellie and I have grown older and share conversation with our daughters they've revealed a lot about our discipline. We laugh about it now, worried then about how they would turn out, and if they would love us after each episode. One incident was when we sent two of them to a room to "think about what you did." One revealed that she went unwillingly with her sister and throught about what had happened. She said, "Hmm, she made me mad and I hit her. Not bad! That's what I needed to do! Okay, 'time to think' over!"

The word in God's word for today features the word "honor." As a teenager I had been taught in Sunday school and in church that we were supposed to "obey" our parents. There were times when I felt that "obeying" was not right and that I was in violation of God's word because I was sinning against God and my parents. Of course I know now as a parent they were right, but in the spirit of rebellion I questioned whether they could ever know anything. Honor is that word that says we should place the proper and upmost respect towards our parents. Honor seeks to share that respect in a visible way. The Commandment, as the writer says, is the first to come with a promise. And in this passage parents are urged to live a life that honors the child in the proper way. How you choose to define "Coming down hard" for your children is between you and God, but it should be done with love and respect. And you should definitely seek to have your children treat you the parents with that same love and respect.

PRAYER: Loving Father, we thank you for the honor of being your children. Let us love and respect you in all things especially in our relationship with those who are important to us. We pray that we would lead by example and show the light of Christ in us in all things and at all times. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a blessed day!

e.v.

Wednesday Study Guide

Wednesday: For our day of action, let’s write a letter to our parents. Whether living or dead, write out honestly how you as a child turned out. Praise your parents for what they tried to share that was positive and forgive those things that weren’t quite that good. Don’t mail the letter. Let the letter sink into your heart.

BEING A GOOD EXAMPLE?

Good day dear friends.

As we begin our day with prayer, let us pray for April McGill who is near death at CTMC in the ICU. She has been in the hospital since yesterday at 2:30 p.m. Her husband, Greg, is by her side and doctors don't give her long to live. April is 31 years old and they have three children under the age of 8.

We continue to study how we should seek to seed good values in our kids (and ourselves). Here is our study guide for today.

Tuesday: Yesterday we studied about how God did, today let’s go to chapter 4 of Genesis.

1 Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have produced a man with the help of the Lord." 2 Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it." 8 Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out to the field." And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" 10 And the Lord said, "What have you done? Listen; your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground! 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth." 13 Cain said to the Lord, "My punishment is greater than I can bear! 14 Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me." 15 Then the Lord said to him, "Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance." And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.


How did Adam and Eve do as parents? Were they any better than God?

Adam and Eve tried their best, according the story. It seems both of their children were instructed in reverence and worship of God, but it was the hardness of Cain's heart and his envy of the way God regarded Abel, that turned him not only away from God but towards hatred and anger, and sadly, to murder.

What is the definition of the word “fraticide?” What an ugly word and in such a lovely setting.

Fratecide means the murder between between brothers. How tragic is the human condition that two brothers did not get along to the point where one kills the other. The heartbreak for the parents we can only imagine, was probably more than they could have imagined. Just one generation outside of the Garden we find precisely what God had warned the parents about, occuring. The visit of murder on humanity by this act between brothers.

What are your thoughts about how these two boys turned out? Can you blame it on “boys will be boys?”

How are we doing? According to Jesus we kill when we think evil of each other. We need not pick up a knife or stone or gun, our very thoughts can kill someone in our hearts and minds. We can point our fingers at Adam and Eve or even Cain, but we've done no better when we let our anger get to us. In the example we seek to set for our children or grandchildren, let them see the presence of God's peace that helps us not anger for the slightest reason but to seek self-control.

PRAYER: Seed in us the presence of your peace. Let Your Holy Spirit come and guide us to being the example that blesses You and Your creation. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a blessed day!

e.v.

GOD AS PARENT

Good day dear friends. Yesterday we started a mini-series on Growing Great Families and the first sermon was called "Seeding Good Values in Your Kids." The text is a well-known one from Proverbs 22:6: Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray. So, this week the emphasis for our devotions will be on parenting, grandparenting, etc., trying to have a positive impact on the children with whom we are in contact.

For today here is our study guide:

Monday: Re-read the Genesis 3 story of God and His creatures.

Using The Message version of The Bible here is that passage:
1 The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?" 2 The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. 3 It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'" 4 The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. 5 God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."

6 When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it - she'd know everything! - she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. 7 Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on" - saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves. 8 When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from God.

9 God called to the Man: "Where are you?" 10 He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid."

11 God said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?" 12 The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." 13 God said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?" "The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate."

14 God told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, Cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. 15 I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel."

16 He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you."

17 He told the Man: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree That I commanded you not to eat from, 'Don't eat from this tree,' The very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground Will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you'll be working in pain all your life long. 18 The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you'll get your food the hard way, Planting and tilling and harvesting, 19 sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, Until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you'll end up dirt."

20 The Man, known as Adam, named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living.

21 God made leather clothing for Adam and his wife and dressed them.

22 God said, "The Man has become like one of us, capable of knowing everything, ranging from good to evil. What if he now should reach out and take fruit from the Tree-of-Life and eat, and live forever? Never - this cannot happen!" 23 So God expelled them from the Garden of Eden and sent them to work the ground, the same dirt out of which they'd been made. 24 He threw them out of the garden and stationed angel-cherubim and a revolving sword of fire east of it, guarding the path to the Tree-of-Life.

As a parent, God sought the best for Adam and Eve. What are your thoughts about how God “did?” Was God successful by human standards or did God fail? OR did God just do what He could and left it up to the free will of the “children.”

I think this first story shows a lot. With God's marvelous creation of these two humans, came free will and with that free will the tendency to want to disobey. And given the choice between doing what God wanted and what they wanted, guess which they chose? Aren't we no better most days? Overall, I affirm that God did "good." Re-read chapter one and see how the writer of that chapter inserts that in almost every sentence. "God saw all that He had made was good." We start out "good" but given freedom to be on our own, we choose "bad."

Compare this to your family situation. How are you doing? How did you do as a “child”? How are you doing as a parent?

I believe most parents try their best as they should and never give up loving their children. But with that love should come the strong grounding of love and faith as illustrated by the use of the kite in both services. If a child were left to him or herself and allowed to be tossed about by the winds of life, it would never soar. The child would just be battered and bruised. Given a strong "holding" as the young man at 8:30 said, the kite can soar high!

If we weren't grounded as children in God's love and guidance, it's not too late. We can still seek that which daily reminds us of God's great love for us.

PRAYER: Gracious and loving God, we thank you for loving us. We thank you for our parents and their efforts to try to ground us in You. We pray a blessing on those who didn't or wouldn't try to share that with us, forgive them, love them and allow us to do the same. Our prayer is that you would be with new parents and young parents, that efforts to ground their children would be for Your honor and glory. And we pray for ourselves that this day and this word would serve to ground us and hold us. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

GIVING THANKS AND GETTING FREE!

Good day dear friends, join together in praising God for a new day. We celebrate the arrival of Mattison Graham Wingard, born yesterday in Austin to Kristin and James Wingard at St. David's Hospital. The baby is fine as is mom and dad.

Pray for this old man, having an old man's test this morning at 9 a.m.

Here is our study guide for today:

Friday: For our day of prayer, make a list of all that is precious to you that has no eternal value. Reflect honestly about how these things have come to mean something for you that in reality may have harmed you. Pray about becoming free from material urges to get as many “toys” as you can and see about how God would help you “store up treasure in heaven.” Pray for those who are in need this week. Pray that God would bless you in blessing them.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

MILLIONS OF MIRACLES!

Good day dear friends. Let us be in prayer for the arrival of Mattison Graham Wingard. She's due to arrive this morning in Austin to Kristin and James Wingard by C-section. We pray for a great day of celebration in the Wingard and Pennington households!

And yes, today is the first day of The Men's League, a study group starting at 12 noon in Room 129. Please use the entrances on either Hopkins Street or the courtyard or alley. Please avoid going through MDO as our kiddos have set schedules.

Here is our study guide for today:

Thursday: For today let’s read Mark 10:17-27.

17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: "You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.' " 20 He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth." 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 22 When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. 23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 26 They were greatly astounded and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible


While many think that Jesus was literally saying to sell all of one’s possessions, read that story and see what the fault(s) of this “rich young ruler” was/were.

Jesus knew the young man was “in love” with his possessions. But notice the story ends with Jesus being seen as having “loved him.” How does that change the story for you?

It is not a sin to have possessions or money. It becomes a sin when our money or possessions take the place of God in our lives or if we know our possessions are possessing us. Such was the case in the life of this rich young ruler and even for all eternity that is how most people identify him. But what a title. Most spend their lives trying to get the three things in this man's life: Stay young, be rich, and be powerful. This particular guy had it made by worldly standards. Who wouldn't trade places with him? But he lacked one thing and good thing he knew what it was, a relationship with God. Notice how even all the money and power that he had at his disposal couldn't bring him peace. There was a hole in his life and he knew that only God could fill it. And please notice it wasn't religion, for this guy "kept the law." It was about relationship with God. This rich young ruler had a relationship with his money, goods, connections, etc., but where it mattered most it just wasn't happening.

We've often wondered what happened to this young man. He went away sad, but "loved." He was probably confused by the harshness of Jesus' words, but what I believe Jesus was really saying was, "Do you love God more than your money?" or "Do you trust God enough to start over?" Some scholars have even speculated this young man later became Joseph of Arimathea (Mt 27:57)who provided the tomb for Jesus. At any rate, here is proof that a rich man can be a believer and follower of the Lord.

What about you? Do you trust God enough to start over? The joke growing up among us in high school was one we heard surely on tv, "I just started on my second million. I gave up on my first." Later, it was not about millions, it was about miracles. Simple, wonderful miracles such as love, birth, friendships, fellowship, worship.

Where are you?

PRAYER: Gracious God, we thank you for loving us and sharing the miracle of Jesus with us. We praise you for the millions of things and blessings that truly count. We are rich when we are in relationship with you. Let this day be a day for those who need to start over, to do so. And as this day unfolds, let us see You working in wondrous ways among us as we seek to work for You. We pray a special prayer for Kristin and James and especially Mattison. May her arrival fill those hearts with joy, wonder and praise. In Jesus' name. Amen

Have a great day!

Blessings,

e.v.

FOR WHAT'S LEFT OF WEDNESDAY!

As we pray remember the needs of those who have asked of us prayer. A dear Christian man, Bob Herring, returned to the Lord this past Saturday and today his family bid his remains goodbye. Bob was a faithful, hardworking churchman, dedicated father, and loving husband. He gave of himself to all, especially Trinity United Methodist in San Antonio. We will miss him. Our prayers for Erna, his wife and for his children.

I'm still trying to get my computer back to full speed thus my delay. But here, for what little is left of Wednesday is our study guide.

DON'T FORGET TOMORROW AT 12 NOON, THE MEN'S LEAGUE GETS STARTED IN ROOM 129. PLEASE USE THE GLASS DOOR ENTRANCE IN OUR COURTYARD OR THE DOOR BETWEEN TWICE BLESSED AND THE FURNITURE STORE ON HOPKINS. Please bring a lunch and join us!

Wednesday: For our day of action, let’s see about storing up treasure in heaven. For today, pray about finding an area of Christian service in which you could personally get involved that would bring a blessing to someone in need. Think beyond your family and co-workers. Think about those less fortunate and those who really need something. Write down your prayer and as God answers your prayer, journal your thoughts about how God is leading you.

HOW IS YOUR LIFE PERSPECTIVE?

Good Tuesday everyone. Please spend time in prayer preparing to study and hear God's word for you today.

Here is our study guide for today:

Tuesday: Luke was a physician and a Gentile. Yet he came to faith in Jesus and his life changed. His viewpoint about life changed with that encounter. He shares stories he heard about Jesus’ teaching. Read one of these in this passage: Read Luke 12:13-21 and 32-34

12:13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." 16 Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, "What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' 18 Then he said, "I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' 20 But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."

Why do you suppose the man in this story is considered “foolish?” What do you suppose would have been, in Jesus’ opinion, a better use of “surplus crops?” Re-read verse 15. What does that say to you?


Read now Luke 16:19-31.

19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24 He called out, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' 25 But Abraham said, "Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' 27 He said, "Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' 29 Abraham replied, "They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' 30 He said, "No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31 He said to him, "If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "

How could the “rich man” stored up treasure in heaven?

How can we store up treasures in heaven?

PRAYER: Loving God, help us to focus on the things that matter to You. In turn, let them matter to us so we can see how You are blessed in our ministering to You and Yours. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great day!

Blessings,

e.v.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Happy day of love to all! Happy Valentine's Day!

There's still time to get to the church and get your loved one some chocolate covered strawberries! At 6:25 I got mine!

We continue to lift up prayers for those on our prayer list. An update from my dad, the doctors believe, based on test results that it was not a stroke but a weakness setting in from the first stroke. My dad told me he hadn't felt like eating in a couple of days and that certainly had something to do with it. He has food but he sometimes doesn't want to get to it. It's coming up on my mom's second anniversary of having been gone and I know that's weighing heavily on his heart. Pray for all who are feeling loneliness on this day.

Our sermon yesterday concluded our study on Jesus' Sermon on The Mount, focusing on Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus' words about possessions.

Here is that passage: 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; 23 but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

Monday: Re-read the passage from yesterday. What do you believe Jesus is commanding us to do? Can you think back to the first time you came to possess the thing you wanted most in your life? Where is that thing now? Is it still bringing you the happiness you thought it would? Think back to the time Jesus’ words became real for you and you began to seek the heavenly treasures. What have you added to your treasure in heaven in recent days? Weeks?

We've all gone through phases of wanting and trying to acquire material things we wanted. A bicycle, a car, a particular toy, etc. And as I shared yesterday in the sermon those things soon either got lost, broken, stolen or disappeared. That's what Jesus was saying. What thing could possibly last as long as eternity? My dream car was that 1990 Chevy Suburban that died by the side of the road. As the Psalmist related and adjusted to this situation, "By the side of the road, we sat and wept." I don't know where that vehicle is today. It could be a salad bar in some strange restaurant or it could have been rebuilt and sold to benefit the American Cancer Society, who received the truck as a gift from us.

But to be honest, having bought that vehicle didn't bless me the way other important days and events in my life. My marriage, the birth of my children, preaching sermons that have helped people find the love of the Lord, etc. Jesus warns us from being possessed by possessions. We should seek to belong to God and live our lives in ways that reflect that. It becomes too easy to get caught up in so many pressures from society today, but if we focus on God through worship, prayers, and devotions, we can be free to live as the children of God.

PRAYER: Forgive us O God, for those times we've given ourselves over to things and not to You. Free us to be Yours in all things. Let us seek to be as Your Son, Jesus, wanted us to be. Let me through this time add a treasure in heaven. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Have a great day!

Blessings!

e.v.

Catching Up!

Good day dear friends, my computer is almost back up to "normal." I've lost all my documents, photos, fonts, etc. The moral of the story? Backup! Backup! Backup!

For prayers, please add my dad, E. M. Valverde to your prayers. He suffered a stroke early today and is being admitted to Houston Memorial Southwest Hospital. Nellie and I will be leaving in a bit to visit with him.

We praise God for marked improvement with Robin Brown, though not where she needs or wants to be. Our prayers continue with her.

We ask the Lord to comfort and be with Bob Herring and Linda Ancira in their final stages of life. May the Lord comfort their loved ones during this time.

Here is Wednesday's study guide recommendation:

Whom have you judged lately? Were you fair with that person? Did this occur "our in the open" or was it something you held in your mind? Revisit that judgment and see if this week's word from God hasn't changed your opinion. Can you do something within to change your opinion/judgment of that person? Ask God for help in doing that.

For Thursday:

Though the New Testament teaches that we should not judge, it also teaches that we should be aware of those who will act like Christians, but who will in fact deceive others. Here we are called upon to practice discernment. Read Matthew 7:15-23. How do we discern false prophets? How do we avoid using this passage as another way of casting dispersion upon those with whom we diagree? Will any Christian, either lay person, pastor, or leader, ever be 100% correct in every statement they make, every opinion they offer, and every conclusion they draw from scriptures? What is the fruit we should be bearing if we are in Christ? Read Matthew 22:34-40.

And for today, Friday:

The Epistle of James, portions of which we read last week, speaks about how we use our tongues to either bless or destory others. Read James 3:1-18:

"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, F14 for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4 Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, F15 and is itself set on fire by hell. 7For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8 but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, F18 yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

Re-read Jesus' words in Matthew 7:1-15

1 "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your neighbor, "Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.

Let us pray that God might help you to use your tongue for blessing and not tearing down of others.

PRAYER: Loving God, for those mentioned above who need Your touch and healing, be with them. For us who need to be forgiven, forgive us. Let us continue this wonderful journey of Lent in Your steps. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Issues of Truth and Falsehood

Good day dear friends. We begin with prayer asking God's comfort and blessing on a very special person who has been placed in hospice care in San Antonio. Mr. Bob Herring, an active layman from Trinity UMC, has been battling cancer for some months now and last word I have received is that he is now under hospice care. Bob is a very caring, committed man to the Lord Jesus and we pray the Lord bless Bog and his dear wife Erna. May the comfort of God be with their family too.

Tuesday: Let’s spend one last day considering the issues of truth and falsehood before turning tomorrow to Jesus’ words about criticism and judgment. Jeremiah the prophet gave the following statement some time prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. He is known for his passion, and his tears, shed on behalf of his people. Read Jeremiah 9:1-11. 9:1 O that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I might weep day and night for the slain of my poor people! 2 O that I had in the desert a traveler's lodging place, that I might leave my people and go away from them! For they are all adulterers, a band of traitors. 3 They bend their tongues like bows; they have grown strong in the land for falsehood, and not for truth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, says the LORD. 4 Beware of your neighbors, and put no trust in any of your kin; for all your kin are supplanters, and every neighbor goes around like a slanderer. 5 They all deceive their neighbors, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongues to speak lies; they commit iniquity and are too weary to repent. 6 Oppression upon oppression, deceit upon deceit! They refuse to know me, says the LORD. 7 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: I will now refine and test them, for what else can I do with my sinful people? {Or 8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceit through the mouth. They all speak friendly words to their neighbors, but inwardly are planning to lay an ambush. 9 Shall I not punish them for these things? says the LORD; and shall I not bring retribution on a nation such as this? 10 Take up weeping and wailing for the mountains, and a lamentation for the pastures of the wilderness, because they are laid waste so that no one passes through, and the lowing of cattle is not heard; both the birds of the air and the animals have fled and are gone. 11 I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a lair of jackals; and I will make the towns of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.

What is the sin of the people noted in this passage?

What is God’s response? Let’s turn to a great passage in the New Testament – read Ephesians 4:20-5:2.

20 That is not the way you learned Christ! 21 For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus. 22 You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not make room for the devil. 28 Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints.

Note the portions of this passage that have to do with sins committed with our lips.

Invite God to help you lay aside these sins.

PRAYER: O Lord, how easy it is to commit so many sins without really thinking and just opening our mouths. We pray asking for forgiveness for those times we have hurt someone special to us. May we seek to be guided by You so that we not offend. May we share blessings and life with our words. May we seek to build up and not tear down. We pray in the name of He who came to reconcile us to God and to each other, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

GUILTY OF SINFUL LIPS? GET OVER IT!

Good day dear friends. Happy Monday!

Our sermon yesterday was from Matthew 5:33-37; 7:1-5 and titled "Sinful Lips." Jesus shares what God wants: Us to be people of the truth, letting our words convey life, blessings, and truth, not words of death, despair and lies.

Monday: Today let’s take a look at the theme of the first passage of scripture from yesterday’s sermon, and consider how it applies to our lives. Read Matthew 5:33-37 (33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, "You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let your word be "Yes, Yes' or "No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one.)and look over your notes from Sunday’s message.

In what ways does this passage address a common problem with which we all wrestle?

How do you struggle with honesty? Do you fulfill your promises? Do you ever struggle with stretching, hiding, twisting, or bending the truth a bit?

Read Psalm 15. (15:1 O LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? 2 Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; 3 who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors; 4 in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honor those who fear the LORD; who stand by their oath even to their hurt; 5 who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved. )

Spend time in prayer inviting God to forgive any dishonesty that you have been guilty of and then pray aloud Psalm 51:6-10 (or sing it if you know the song!).

6 You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

LET OUR PRAYERS AND US, BE REAL!

Good morning dear friends. Have a great Friday, safe weekend, and a joyous Sunday in church!

Friday: Let us lift our prayers for all our relationships to be real, especially the one we have with God and ourselves. A three-legged stool cannot stand if even one leg is weak. Let this be a day for strengthening our relationship with God. Honestly examine yourself to see what God would reveal to you about your relationship to Him. Now, how’s your relationship with you? Are there any unreal spots that you need to work on? If the greatest commandment and the one right after that depends on our treating our neighbor as we treat ourselves, our treatment of ourselves needs to be real and really strong! Let this prayer refresh you! And renew you!

Have a blessed day!

e.v.

What Is God Doing In Your Life Today?

Great Thursday everyone! Let us be in devotion to the Lord as we read and hear His word in Acts 3:1-10:

3:1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Our study guide for today says, "The two disciples share their “realness” with the man who was begging. The man expected money from the two, but got something far more valuable in that exchange that took place. What are your thoughts on this 'miracle?' What are your thoughts about the miracle of Jesus with the blind man in John 9, especially when the authorities brought him before them to question him? Who was being real and who was being false?"

The man got exactly what he needed, if not necessarily what he asked or expected. He got back the precious gift of mobility. The same occurs in John 9 to a man born blind whom Jesus heals with mud. Two miracles that most would have celebrated but for some just two occasions to further stop the work of Jesus.

Who was being real in those stories? (Besides Jesus of course, He's always real!). Where would you have been in both of those settings?

Where are you now in the work of the divine in your life? Are you open to the leading of God to the real? Or have you "blinded" yourself to seeing the awesomeness of God?

PRAYER: Gracious Father, before it is too late, open our eyes. Let us see just where you are and what you are doing in our lives. Let us see You for Who you are and what you want us to be. Forgive us all of yesterday and give us joy for the living of today. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

BE REAL TODAY!

In continuing to "be real" in our relationship with God and with each other here is the suggested study guide:

Wednesday: For today, do something real for the person who means most to you in your life. (Notice I said person, not God). You decide what is “real” in terms of that person and seek ways to share that “realness” with them. Record your feelings and reactions to what the person says or responds to this realness in you.

What that means to you is up to you. If you don't have a clue as to what to do, talk to that person and ask, "What could I do today to be real for you?" It may be a simple as giving an unexpected hug, snuggling, an embrace, a kiss...You decide. You be real!

Have a blessed day!

e.v.

ARE WE REAL WITH GOD IN ALL THINGS?

Good Tuesday dear friends. I trust this finds you warm and dry as we awake here in San Marcos to more cold, rainy weather.

We continue to meditate on the Lord's call for us to be real with Him. For today a study in Acts 5 is interesting for it asks us if we're being real with God in all things. Here is the study guide.

Tuesday: In Acts 5:1-11 we find an interesting if not scary story of a married couple who belonged to “The Way.” Read that story and find out what their “un-real” act was. Why would God care about what we do that is “unreal?” Are you thankful that we don’t hear much of that happening now as we know that sometimes we’re unreal with God and ourselves?

The Message's version has it this way: 5:1 But a man named Ananias - his wife, Sapphira, conniving in this with him - sold a piece of land, 2 secretly kept part of the price for himself, and then brought the rest to the apostles and made an offering of it. 3 Peter said, "Ananias, how did Satan get you to lie to the Holy Spirit and secretly keep back part of the price of the field? 4 Before you sold it, it was all yours, and after you sold it, the money was yours to do with as you wished. So what got into you to pull a trick like this? You didn't lie to men but to God." 5 Ananias, when he heard those words, fell down dead. That put the fear of God into everyone who heard of it. 6 The younger men went right to work and wrapped him up, then carried him out and buried him. 7 Not more than three hours later, his wife, knowing nothing of what had happened, came in. 8 Peter said, "Tell me, were you given this price for your field?" "Yes," she said, "that price." 9 Peter responded, "What's going on here that you connived to conspire against the Spirit of the Master? The men who buried your husband are at the door, and you're next." 10 No sooner were the words out of his mouth than she also fell down, dead. When the young men returned they found her body. They carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 By this time the whole church and, in fact, everyone who heard of these things had a healthy respect for God. They knew God was not to be trifled with.

The moral of the story is to have a healthy respect for God, i.e. be real with God. The story is straightforward: People who entered into that first community knew they were to share all or nothing with God and with each other. Such was their faith that they were sharing all. They were not under any obligation to do this, but that was the vow they made. Had they wanted to keep all of their possessions they could have. That was their choice. They hadn't lost their free will. But this couple decides to portray themselves as holy in saying that they sold their land and gave all to God when indeed they kept a part for themselves. They lied about the price and went before God with this lie. The husband hearing that he had been found out dies. Did God kill him? Or did the guilt of his sin cause his heart to give out? The community takes the body out to be buried and when the wife returns she's unaware of what has happened to her husband and she too, is confronted with her lie. The ones who went to bury her husband come to find her body and more work ahead of them. Those who heard of this situation verse eleven tells us "had a healthy respect for God" and knew "God was not to be trifled with."

Are we real in all our dealings with God? Do we honestly think we can hide things from an all-knowing God? Does it do us any good to try and hide things from God? Doesn't the stress caused by guilt bother us physically? Isn't this one of the main points of Jesus' sermon, to be healthy in body, soul, and spirit?

What are you trying to hide?

PRAYER: All-knowing God, thank you for giving us this day to reflect on what we need to do to be real with You. Let us try to hide nothing from You or from even ourselves. Let us be real. Let us seek fulfillment in our relationship with You. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great day!

Blessings!

e.v.