BLESSED ARE THE MEEK

Good day dear friends.

We continue our prayers for the needs of those around us and for
those personal needs. God is gracious and loving and hears and
answers all prayers. Not always like we'd like, but there is no
such thing as an unanswered prayer.

We continue our study of boldness as a mark of a disciple. Here is
our study guide for today:

Tuesday: In Matthew 5:5 we find the interesting teaching by Jesus
regarding, "the meek." Does this not contradict boldness? Didn't
Jesus teach us to be "meek?" Try to find a definition of the
word "meek" that does justice to it. HINT: It doesn't mean
being "mouselike." The answer only thru email!

The NIV version of that passage:
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

Most people think of one who is meek is also a floor mat, in other
words, one who gets stepped on all the time. Yet the original
meaning for the word as used by Jesus meant, "Blessed (or happy) are
those who know when to keep their temper or know when to be angry
for the right reasons." It in learning this that I realized what
Jesus meant. Jesus doesn't want Christians to be timid or
mouselike, Jesus wants those who are His believers to control their
temper when it best serves God's purpose but also who get angry when
it is the right thing to do. Another source says that being meek
means being godly even in the face of oppression. For us to have
boldness as a mark means to know we are guided by God and sometimes
we are guided to speak up on behalf of those who cannot speak up for
themselves or to speak out against injustice. In our recent history
as a nation we have seen different issues that have necessitated our
speaking up as Christians to bring about the needed social change.
Of course there will be Christians on both sides of any given issue,
but the call from Jesus is to remain godly and obedient to His
leading.

Where do you believe God is leading you to be bold? How are you
being meek? Are you being too quiet about injustice and
oppression? Has evil, injustice, and oppression kept you quiet when
you should be screaming out for "the freedom and power God gives you
to resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they
present themselves"? (UMH, Service of Baptism). We may not have
been baptized under these exact words, but our children have. Are
we going to stay true to the vows we've taken on their behalf?

PRAYER: God of love and justice, speak to our hearts about where
You would have us be bold and how we would be meek. As we face
evil, injustice, and oppression, help us to speak Your words
concerning that which we feel led to proclaim and share. We pray in
Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day.

e.v.

BEING BOLD FOR THE LORD

Good day dear friends.

We are praying for those in the path of Hurricane Katrina. Thank God is it no longer a Category 5 storm, but it is still a fierce storm approaching New Orleans with wind speeds of 150. Pray for those who stayed behind. Pray for those security and safety personnel who are on the alert.

We studied boldness as one of the marks of a disciple. My definition not written down, that you must think about is that boldness if timidity's first cousin once removed. Boldness is that conviction that tells us that Christ goes with us and empowers us for those opporunities in which we can give witness to our faith. Here is our study guide for today:

Monday: Read the passage from yesterday again. Notice the words used by the council to describe the actions the disciples were taking: “power,” “authority,” “name?” Notice the reply of the disciples. Also take note of their determination to keep obeying God rather than the authority of the council.

The passage was from the book of Acts 4:5-20:

Acts 4:5 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11 This Jesus is “the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. 14 When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another. 16 They said, “What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it. 17 But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; 20 for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

I had started to use the passage from Acts 2, the coming of The Holy Spirit and Peter's preaching as an example of boldness, but as I read further into this book I came across this passage thst has always impressed me. Peter and John, filled with the Holy Spirit come across a man in need and heal him. The man had been born lame and forced to beg every day at the entrance of The Temple, but this day he received what he really needed and never expected, his wholeness. This healing pleased the man and his family, but it angered the members of the Jewish Council and Peter and John are arrested and dragged to stand trial for this good deed. It was the Holy Spirit that gave these two men the words they needed to explain who they were and Whose they were.

Being bold for the Lord is having the courage to share your faith with those who need to hear it. And as we discussed yesterday it comes with our knowing the Holy Spirit is with us and if we are truly "companions of Jesus," that relationship allows us to know when, where, and what to share. Being a bold disciple does not necessarily mean one is called to do things on what others might call a grand scale, but it will be an important event. It may be simply taking a step right where we are, doing what we should have done all along, to share our faith in Jesus Christ. It could be with our spouse or with our children, a co-worker, a boss, a friend, etc. God knows and we will know if we trust God.

Peter and John trusted God and were blessed by Him. They shared their faith with all who would listen and do things that only those who were in relationship could do. God blessed them with words in a situation when it could have been worse and even impressed the council of educated men, that these "ordinary, uneducated" men were companions of Jesus.

Imagine the blessings that will be ours if we walk with God and become bold for Him!

PRAYER: Come, Holy Spirit to dwell within me. Fill me with Your love and peace and guide me to service. Open my eyes to those opportunities to share Your love in ways that will bring glory to you. Let me be a bold disciple for You. I pray for those mentioned above who may be in harm's way as this storm approached. Bless and protect them is my prayer. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

BLESSINGS

Good day dear friends.

Nellie, Sarai, Eric, and I thank you all for the prayers, calls, gestures of love and concern, cards you shared with us during this difficult time. Sarai is doing better physically and she and Eric will need our prayers for inner healing. You all have been such a wonderful blessing to us.

During the time I spent with Sarai and Eric I checked in on my dad and he is undergoing an exam this morning to determine if he will undergo surgery to unclog his carotid artery on his left side. If he needs surgery it may be today, if dad gets his way, or in seven days if the doctor prevails in convincing him of the dangers of surgery with dad being on the type of meds he's on. Please hold him in your prayers. Dad is in Memorial Hermann Southwest in Houston. He was in good spirits, joking with the doctor and all who came to see him.

Please continue to hold Ann Martin and her family in prayers. We celebrated a joyful graveside in Houston on Wednesday afternoon. We give thanks to the Lord for the wonderful gift that was Ralph.

With this email we can examine the study guides on perseverence:

Thursday: In the very last book of the Bible, The Book of Revelation 3:20 is a verse many of us learned as children. In it Jesus shares what He desires with us all: relationship! Read this verse as a verse of perseverence. Notice how it does not say that Jesus gives up and leaves. It is up to us to “open the door.” Can you open that door?

Here is that text most of us learned as children in the same version, King James: 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man (one) hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Here is the NRSV: 3:20 "Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me."

I remember learning this verse in that tiny church of Kingsville, Texas, thinking El Buen Pastor Methodist Church (it became "United" in 1968) offered the best life there was! And to learn verses about Jesus was the icing. And this one just shouted out to me because, after all, I had seen the "picture." It's the one most everyone has seen. Painted by Walter Sallman, many have noticed the handle is on the inside. Hmm. Could it mean, the next move is ours? That WE have to open the door? Jesus wants and offers to have a relationship with us. It is up to us to accept and to open the door. I can think of no better relationship.

While driving to Galveston early Wednesday morning, several called and one dear friend, Jeff Greenway called to pray as we drove. I put the phone and speakerphone and Nellie and I were blessed as we drove knowing you all were praying right where you were and a friend with whom I enjoy a great relationship was sharing his words of comfort with us. Even better was knowing Jesus himself went with us and held us as we cried and as we struggled with this event.

Can you open the door? The handle's on the inside!

Let's combine our prayer with the study guide for today:

Friday: This is our day of prayer. Let us be in prayer for the Lord to touch our lives in a way that will strengthen us. May His strength bring us hope. For a prayer reference read Romans 5:1-5 in NIV version. May God speak to us about our lives and grant us the faith to be perseverant. Use Saturday to prepare for Sunday. Be in prayer about inviting folks to come visit us during September. See you in church Sunday!

Here is that verse in NIV (New International Version): 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.


PRAYER: Dear Father may today be a day of overcoming! May we overcome all that has kept us from accepting a deep, true, loving relationship with You. Help us today to claim the promise that is ours as disciples, that we can persevere! Let us give thanks and rejoice even in the midst of suffering, for through suffering we receive, as Your Word proclaims, perseverance and from that we get character and from character, we receive hope and we affirm what Paul said, "hope does not disappoint us, because YOU have poured out Your love into our hearts by Your Holy Spirit, Who is ours. Come into all hearts today that pray this prayer. Let us take and open the handle is that ours to open! In Jesus' name! Amen.

May the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus be yours today and always!

Have a blessed day!

e.v.

IS GOD PERSISTENT IN HIS CALL TOWARDS US?

Good day dear friends.

In our prayer time today lift up Lyndee Ward, who underwent a successful outpatient surgery and is home recovering. She is doing well.

Here is today's study guide for us as we continue to study perseverence as a mark of a disciple.

Tuesday: In 1 Samuel 3 we find the story of the boy Samuel and his call from God. Read the entire chapter and see how God perseveres in His call to us. How many times did God call Samuel? What were Samuel’s first two responses? What has God asked of you? How have you responded? Do you think that God gives up asking?

Here is that text in NSRV:

1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called, "Samuel! Samuel!" F30 and he said, "Here I am!" 5 and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. 6 The Lord called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." 11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. 12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever." 15 Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16 But Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." He said, "Here I am." 17 Eli said, "What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you." 18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, "It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him." 19 As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord. 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

God is persistent, no doubt about it. We're the ones God has trouble with. In this call to ministry, God calls Samuel not once or twice, not yet just three times, but four times. Samuel was but a boy. You will remember his story, he was the son his mother had pleaded for. This had been her prayer for a long time and God finally answered and his mother was so thankful she promised the boy to God's fulltime service. And so it was that once he was born and weaned, he was taken to Eli the priest and there the boy began his ministry. But God wanted to Samuel for a deeper ministry and this God's visits to the boy in the night. God knew Samuel by name and called him. The boy only thought to believe it was Eli calling and so for three times went to the old man and presented himself. Eli finally perceieved it was God calling so he told the boy how to respond and on that fourth call, Samuel responded and God began working with him.

This begs the question, what has God asked of you? Have you responded with a yes? An interesting thing about our United Methodist seminaries is that the median age of seminaries is in the early 50s. If you talk to some of these seminarians they will tell you that God had a hold of their lives early on, but because of their own desires or fears did not respond positively to the call. Many went on to successful careers, raised their families, and finally realized that they had been running with God. And that's a normal response. It's scary to have God after you! One never knows exactly to what we're being called. I've shared my story often enough: God had made a mistake in calling this shy, overweight, doubtful guy. God could have done better calling some of my friends in the MYF. Yet, I believed I could not serve God any better than in ordained ministry. I finally said yes (this is happening in the 11th grade). But once I got to seminary I dropped out and was hired for what would have been a successful career in the telecommunications business. Yet, I knew deep down that I would never be satisfied if I kept running from God, and after about a year making more money than I needed, I returned to God's call to ministry.

Please know that God calls us all into ministry but not all of it is the ordained or diaconal ministry. It is the priesthood of all believers. It is to serve God in whatever you do. You could be a businessperson and still be a minister with your life and interactions with others. You could be a doctor or lawyer, steel mill worker, and still be ministering to the spiritual needs of others. In fact, if you want your church to grow, be a minister where you are right now! I thank God for Open House month for it is a chance for all of us to invite folks to come to our churches. This leads you to respond positively to God and the call God has upon your life.

God won't give up wanting you and your service. How long can you run?

PRAYER: God of eternal, unfailing love, speak to me right now. Let me hear clearly Your call upon my life. Let me be able to say, here I am, use me, Lord. Let me be indeed a part of that ministry we all the priesthood of all believers. I pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and special day!

e.v.

ENVELOPED BY GOD'S LOVE

Good day dear friends.

Yesterday we reached sermon eight in this series about Discipleship. We studied the mark of being perseverant, that is never giving up, staying committed to our purpose to Christ Jesus in spite of obstacles or discouragement. Our text yesterday was from Luke 18:1-8, the Parable of the Unjust Judge and how we are encouraged to "pray always and not to lose heart." (v.1) Given the week we had in the life of the church family, it was most fitting. God never tires of hearing from us and we should never believe we tire God by our constant praying. Persevering is staying the course, keeping the faith and trusting God every step of the way.

Here is our study guide for today:

Monday: Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9. This is “The Shema” the declaration of faith for the people of God (Jews). How does it tie into perseverence? The part about teaching your children, does it not stress the need to teach them to persevere?

Here is that text in King James Version:

6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Perseverance is tied into our attitude about life. Some folks naturally get up and keep going after getting knocked down. Some folks get knocked down and they stay down, hoping that someone might see them and help them up. Those who are prone to do the latter but who learn about having faith, know that God can pick us up even when life knocks us down. And so with that attitude of hope they face whatever may come their way and know they're not alone.

The Shema was a teaching, simple in form, but powerful in content so that the people of Israel could have that attitude in all they were about to face as they formed their nation. Notice what it teaches: love is important. Loving God is of the utmost importance. Notice how we are to love God: With every aspect of our life. No area of our life is to be left out of that love we should have for God. In fact, it goes on, the love of God should be what fills your heart and your heart should be so full that you naturally will teach it to your children.

Yesterday in my sermon I talked about the concert our youngest was "forced" to attend because Mom and Dad did. Our three oldest are, because of birth and upbringing, Beatles fans. Dad became one in 1964 and has owned recordings of theirs in almost every format possible, yes even eight-track (for you younger reader, please Google 'eight tracks' and see if the internet can explain that device that I was sure was going to catch on and stay in all US-made cars. As our girls grew up and asked questions about this British group, Dad would excitedly tell them what he knew about the group and the song in question. If they paid attention they know a lot about the Fab Four. Can you imagine how much your kids would know if you hold excitement and love for God as well?

Loving God is the essence of perseverence. It's involved in your talking, walking, laying down (resting) and waking up. It should envelope you and define you. And with that type of faith you will never give up no matter what obstacles or discouragement you face.

PRAYER: Gracious God, constant is Your love for us, may that love be that which completely fills my heart and envelopes my whole life. Let every part of my being be about You and how much You love me. Let me stay the course of this life journey with You regardless of the obstacles or discouragements I may feel. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

HOW DO YOU SMELL? SWEET OR FOUL?

Good day dear friends.

Correction on Ralph Miller, correction name is Martin. And on Gerry Garrison is Harrison. These computers!... ;)

Our brother Jim Ford is facing surgery possibly Friday if all goes well with some tests to be done early that morning. Please keep Jim and family in your prayers.

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

Thursday: If we look in Philippians 4:18, we find another reference to sacrifice. Today’s passage deals with fragrance and that which is pleasing to God. Is your life a “sweet-smelling sacrifice” offered up to God? If not, what’s holding you back? Today can be the day you ask God to turn your life around and make you pure.

18 I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

To be a sacrifice you must be pure. To be a "sweet-smelling" or "fragrant offering," you must be pure. To possess this fragrance we should possess the presence of God in our lives in a way that pleases God and invites others to wonder or inquire about what it is we have. That's one of the greatest opportunities a disciple can have, is an invitation to share what we have from God.

Yesterday, our University Ministry Coordinator, Matthew Kacal organized a Freshman move-in effort at the university. The staff, dressed in our FUMC shirts, went over to help parents of freshmen move their children in. It was a time to witness without words, what we possess. Instead of feeling tired or stressed, all of the staff felt energized by what we were able to share. Being the parent of three who have moved in to a dorm, I could only imagine what it was like for these parents to enjoy the assistance. It was a "fragrant offering" (and no snide remarks about how we may have smelled towards the end of the day!)

What's holding you back from being this fragrant offering for the Lord? What have we not asked for to help us become the folks that God wants us to be? Could today be the day when we make a personal decision to become pure?

PRAYER: Gracious God of life and love, come to me right now that I might become the person You want. Let my life truly be a fragrant offering to You and to those who do not yet know You. Let my life count in this way. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

CAN WE BE A LIVING SACRIFICE FOR GOD TODAY?

Good day dear friends.

Let us be in prayer for those who started school yesterday, those
who may start today, or the ones who start tomorrow. May God bless
our nation with a wonderful school year, free from violence and
hatred.

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

Tuesday: Let us read Romans 12:1 and see what that says about
purity. Remember that a sacrifice involved a "clean" or "pure"
animal to be offered up to God. If we are to be God's sacrifice,
how then should we live?

Here is that text:

12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies
of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and
acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

To be a sacrifice is to be free from blemish. To be free from
blemish is to be pure. Paul in this letter to his readers of the
church in Rome is appealing for them, with God's help, to "present
(their) bodies as a living sacrifice." For Paul, the Jewish rites
and rituals did not have the same meaning once he encountered
Christ, but rather than tossing them out as worthless, he began to
see these are meaningful in Christ. Circumcision was important if
it was the cirucmcision of the heart. And here the offering of a
sacrifice was important if it was a "living sacrifice." The idea of
someone or something dying had been taken care of once and for all
in Christ Jesus. But as we worship God, Paul says, we should be the
living sacrifice. Let our lives be those who reflect and live out
the presence of God's mercy.

Purity is not a desired end; purity is a daily journey with Christ.
To reflect His purity begins and ends spiritually. We enter
Christ's presence through prayer and we stay there as we live our
life in prayer each moment of each day. And purity is something
that we can reflect if we trust God and allow God to bless us in
that.

PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus. As I start my day in prayer and worship,
let me be truly a living sacrifice. Let me be Your lamb today, pure
and holy, without blemish. I can be that only by Your mercy, so
forgive me my sins, remove my transgressions, and cleanse me of my
iniquity. Let others be blessed by my worship of You throughout
this day. I pray in Your name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

CAN WE BE A LIVING SACRIFICE FOR GOD TODAY?

Good day dear friends.

Let us be in prayer for those who started school yesterday, those
who may start today, or the ones who start tomorrow. May God bless
our nation with a wonderful school year, free from violence and
hatred.

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

Tuesday: Let us read Romans 12:1 and see what that says about
purity. Remember that a sacrifice involved a "clean" or "pure"
animal to be offered up to God. If we are to be God's sacrifice,
how then should we live?

Here is that text:

12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies
of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and
acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

To be a sacrifice is to be free from blemish. To be free from
blemish is to be pure. Paul in this letter to his readers of the
church in Rome is appealing for them, with God's help, to "present
(their) bodies as a living sacrifice." For Paul, the Jewish rites
and rituals did not have the same meaning once he encountered
Christ, but rather than tossing them out as worthless, he began to
see these are meaningful in Christ. Circumcision was important if
it was the cirucmcision of the heart. And here the offering of a
sacrifice was important if it was a "living sacrifice." The idea of
someone or something dying had been taken care of once and for all
in Christ Jesus. But as we worship God, Paul says, we should be the
living sacrifice. Let our lives be those who reflect and live out
the presence of God's mercy.

Purity is not a desired end; purity is a daily journey with Christ.
To reflect His purity begins and ends spiritually. We enter
Christ's presence through prayer and we stay there as we live our
life in prayer each moment of each day. And purity is something
that we can reflect if we trust God and allow God to bless us in
that.

PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus. As I start my day in prayer and worship,
let me be truly a living sacrifice. Let me be Your lamb today, pure
and holy, without blemish. I can be that only by Your mercy, so
forgive me my sins, remove my transgressions, and cleanse me of my
iniquity. Let others be blessed by my worship of You throughout
this day. I pray in Your name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

Prayer for a new school year....

It hit me this morning as we prayed in the car. This was the first day of the last year of our youngest daughter's public school education. After unmercilessly playing the song they've grown up with that has tortured their souls since Kindergarten days, 96 Tears made Dad cry. In fact, Journey's "Who's Crying Now" also helped, as did The Beatle's rendition of "Lonesome Tears In My Eyes" (BBC Sessions). Wow! Caty a senior in high school! The last blessing of birth for Nellie and I, born to us when we thought we knew all about raising daughters, here comes Cata! The older three were born when Dad served as a campus minister in Edinburg. (Actually Nellie our oldest was born while I served as pastor at First UMC in Rio Grande City, so from Feb. 1 until June of 1980, I was a local church pastor). Caitlin was born when I was serving as pastor of El Mesias UMC in Mission and we were living in an old house right behind the church. The church became her playground. In fact, Caitlin believed she owned the church and was the one most reluctant to move to a new home in another part of town some years later. "Who will take care of the church?" Jesus, of course!

Caitlin joins the ranks of those children who still go to school from late summer to early summer. I know other parts of the country are experimenting with year-round schooling, but we're still blessed with some time off in the summer. This summer we didn't take a vacation as we hope to take a week or so in November to travel to Spain to visit Carli who'll be there doing a semester of study in Grenada. As we say our goodbyes (and thank God's for some!) let us also pray for a wonderful and safe school year. It is sad to think that we feared some years ago the dangers of getting hit with a paper clip and rubber band; now we fear the violence that can lead to gun fire from kids raised on violence saturated video games and entertainment. May God bless and protect every teacher, staff, administrator and student on each of our campuses. May learning still be important.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today is the first day of school for some. Just another day of school for others. But we pray Your blessing and protection on all of the students and adults on our educational campuses that this year might be a year of blessing. May Your peace be seen in the ones who know You so that they might bring a blessing of peace to those who are troubled. May Your love be felt in the hearts of those who pray to You so that their love for others might bring an invitation to them to come to know and love You as well. May each teacher be reminded of that which led them to the classroom in the first place: A desire to make a difference in the lives of those who call her or him, teacher. May the burden of paper work and parental pressure not diminish that love for teaching. We know we are blessed to have schools that allow our children to learn. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.

PURITY AS A MARK OF A DISCIPLE

Good day dear friends.

A word of praise first! We received seven new members yesterday during our Coffee with the Pastor. Those will be shared in our newsletter and recognized next Sunday during all worship services. We thank God for these new brothers and sisters into our church family! Please be in prayer for next month's Open House month.

We studied purity as a mark of a disciple during our sermon yesterday. I preached at 8:30 and 10:30 and Pastor Leslie preached at 11. We met early in the week to pray and discuss this topic. We both agreed it is a difficult topic to preach and indeed at least a couple of people said it was a "squirm" sermon.

Purity is possessing a clean heart before the Lord in order to maintain God's vision, purpose and plan for our lives. And to have a clean heart, we must rely on Jesus to have Him cleanse us of our impurities. The text for the sermon was from Matthew 15:1-2, 10-20 where Jesus explains that what is in the heart is that which defiles, not having unclean hands.

Here is our study guide for today:

Monday: Read Psalm 51 and notice the different references to the cleansing the Psalmist says is ours. Notice verse 10 and the basis that inspired a popular Christian song. If you know it, sing it!

Here is that text in NRSV:

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment. 5 Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. 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. 11 Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased. 17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, 19 then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

You can read this Psalm as a prayer. As a prayer you're asking God to "blot out" "transgressions," "washing" of "inquities," and "cleansing of sins." What a chore for God! But God is up to the task, if we're up for the asking. Those three things are very similar but it shows the psalmist knew his offenses and wanted all the bases covered. For having broken God's law, for having committed injustice, for having been disobedient to God, he is asking God to come in and deal with those spots on his heart. It is a confession of guilt and a declaration of openness to receive God's justice whatever it may be. The writer goes on to make a declaration about even his birth, that he was born "guilty," having been such even at conception. This is to confess our complete and total dependence on God for our purity.

In the sermon yesterday we mentioned how important it is to have a pure heart so that we may have thoughts, words, and actions that reflect our desire to be pure. And this purity is to reflect God's presence in our lives, not to possess a holier than thou attitude or a self-righteousness that serves only to make us look better than someone else. We stressed that purity is that which will allow us to live our lives in a way that is a "sermon" to unbelievers and an "invitation" to the Christian life. Purity is that which will make this attractive to others. A life lived just like everyone else is not a sermon nor an invitation; if anything it serves to tell others that they're fine living in their sin.

Verse 10 is the basis of the popular song written by Chris Hillman, "Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me." If you know it, sing it. (I'll place the words at the bottom) If you can't sing, pray it!

Let today be the start of a week when we live our lives led by God into purity so that others will feel the presence of God within us and receive an invitation to a better way to live.

PRAYER: O God, like the Psalmist, we pray those words of that psalm. Blot, cleanse, wipe, whatever it takes to make us pure so that we may reflect Your holy presence within us. Let our lives today be a sermon and an invitation to holiness. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

Here is that song:

G D C G
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
D G
And renew a right spirit within me.
G D C G
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
G D G
And renew a right spirit within me.
C D G
Cast me not away from the presence O Lord
C D G G7
And take not thou Holy Spirit from me
C D G G/F# Em
Restore on to me the joy of life's salvation
C D G
And renew a right spirit within me
G D C G
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
D G
And renew a right spirit within me.
G D C G
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
G D G
And renew a right spirit within me.


SOLO

C D G
Cast me not away from the presence O Lord
C D G G7
And take not thou Holy Spirit from me
C D G G/F# Em
Restore on to me the joy of life's salvation
C D G Em
And renew a right spirit within me
C D G
And renew a right spirit within me

PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO LABOR AMONG US

Dear God, we thank you for this Your day. We pray a special blessing on all here and anywhere that labor among us as Your servants. It becomes so easy to think that this day is all about us and what we have to say and what we want; but it's not. This day is about praising You and worshiping You. We sometimes seek recognition about what we do, but again, today is a day to remember all You have done among us, for us, through us and even in spite of us. Do it again. And again. Bring Your grace and peace to us, that in all that we seek to do today, You would bring to us blessing upon blessing, grace upon grace. Bless our worship times, our Sunday school time, and our time together. Help us set aside past hurts, overlooked efforts, angers that we might have felt in Your house, whatever negative experience we might have had, and let us seek just Your love, joy and peace. We pray in Christ's precious name. Amen The above photos is the staff of First United Methodist Church-San Marcos, Texas. Seated (l to r) Pastor Leslie Tomlinson, Associate Pastor; Julie Lusby, Director of Adult Ministries; Sherry DeMarcay, Financial Secretary; Katrina Allison, Director of Children's Ministries; Standing: (l-r) Kit Tomlinson, Youth Minister; Shawn Claiborne, Assistant Mother Day Out preschool director; Lydia Reynolds, Secretary; Matthew Kacal, University Ministry Coordinator; Gia Walton, MDO Director; and Pastor Eradio (Eddie) Valverde

PRAYER FOR A PREGNANT WOMAN

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray out of excitement and fear, wonder and worry. I'm aware of the life coming to life inside of me and I pray all is going well for my son/daughter. I pray that even now Your hand would be upon his or her life, body and spirit. As I speak to my husband and family, let the baby hear words of hope, joy, and peace. Let the love that brought my husband and I together in holy matrimony be evident to our child in our conversations and our caresses. And speaking of my husband, give me peace and patience with him. I know he's as bewildered as I in this process. Let me love him and let me know of his love even as I feel different emotions towards him. One minute, Lord, I know him to be the greatest man in the world; others I wondered why his parents didn't kill him. I can't explain the feelings I get and why I sometimes find myself crying; did You, O God, go through this after You made us? Was it all worth it? I know the answer, it's YES! YES and YES! Let me find that YES in the midst of my NOs. May this day bring love to my child. And may I share it with others as well. I pray in the name of Your only child, Jesus my Lord. Amen.

DEAR JOHN,

Good day dear friends.

We continue looking at scriptural references to faithfulness. Here is today's study guide:

Thursday: Let us read 3 John 1-15. Read this as if it were a letter to you. How you respond to this letter? Why not sit down and write a letter back to John answering his directives?

Here is that passage in NSRV:

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. 3 I was overjoyed when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends, even though they are strangers to you; 6 they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God; 7 for they began their journey for the sake of Christ, accepting no support from non-believers. 8 Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth. 9 I have written something to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with those charges, he refuses to welcome the friends, and even prevents those who want to do so and expels them from the church. 11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Everyone has testified favorably about Demetrius, and so has the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true. 13 I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; 14 instead I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face. 15 Peace to you. The friends send you their greetings. Greet the friends there, each by name.

The author here defines faithfulness as "walking in the truth," which means the writer has heard reports of the person to whom he's writing, Gaius, is walking with Christ. The reports heard about this gentleman is that he practices what he's heard about being a follower of Christ even in the midst of a person from his church who does not like to practice hospitality to visiting Christians and even tried to prevent others from the fellowship from doing the same.

Faithfulness is knowing what is right and then doing it. Even if people around you contradict or even try to stop you. Faithfulness is also as he says later in verse 11, "imitating what is good."

If this letter had been addressed to you, how would you respond? Is it said of you that you are walking in the truth and imitating what is good? Or are you among those who not only don't walk in truth but try to prevent those who do?

Use today's text to help you reflect on your faithfulness or lack thereof, and make today a day of decision for truly doing what Christ would have you do as His disciple.

PRAYER; Come Holy God, to my life and touch me. Let me be honest about what I have and have not done. Forgive me for those times of unfaithfulness. Let me begin today anew in walking in the truth and seeking to imitate that which is right. I pray in Christ's name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

FAITHFULNESS IS SPEAKING UP WHEN OTHERS ARE SILENT

Good day dear friends.

Today is the day the shuttle is scheduled to land; recent reports say it was waved off Florida and should be landing in California later this morning. Our prayers for a safe landing.

Our prayers for those facing difficult decisions, especially about their health; our prayers of comfort for those who have lost loved ones. For Terry Estes and her family on the death of her father, Tom. Memorial services are pending at his church. Our prayers for those who travel.

We continue our look at faithfulness and how we can keep a positive attitude towards God in spite of situations that may not be the best for us.

Here is our study guide for today:

Tuesday: Last week we read Esther 1 and 2 as we studied courage. Read Esther 3 and 4 to find out about faithfulness. Read how the main characters find it easy to be faithful to their God when everyone else around them were ordered to follow another “god.” How easily are you influenced to stay or stray from our God? How can this change?

Like we did last week, we'll place the scripture passages at the end of the devotional for they are a bit lengthy. However, please make time to read them at your leisure.

The story of Esther comes down to these two chapters in helping the Jews to survive. As you read the story, you find that a hateful man, Haman, was made second highest ruler in the government of King Xerxes. Because of that position people were expected to bow down to him as if they were worshiping him. All except Mordacai, Esther's uncle and Haman's nemesis. As a result, Haman persuades the king to issue an edict that all Jews in the land should be killed. And as a gesture of good faith Haman said he would pay for it himself and deposits 375 tons of silver into the treasury. The edict is made public and every corner of the land had it in writing that all Jews were to die.

Mordacai finds out and rips his clothes and begins wearing sackcloth as a sign of his mourning towards this pending action. The action will take place in the 12th month and most of the action we're reading about is happening in the first month. Still, not much time for doing much except worrying about one's death. It all comes down to Esther and her position in the government and her access to the king. Yet, for Esther to simply go before the king is certain death, and to not go before the king is certain death for all Jews. The decision to act is a difficult one (her uncles says, "Who knows? Maybe you were made queen for just such a time as this." (v. 14 of chapter 4), and Esther realizes that it is one best reached by fasting and asks her uncle to tell all Jews to fast as she and her servants would also fast to see what could be done about this situation.

Faithfulness involves our knowing that sometimes we don't have an easy answer or path to take. This is where God comes in. We can pray and fast and await for God to share with us that which is best for whatever we are facing. Mordacai had the faith that help was on the way because he tells Esther, "If you persist in staying silent at a time like this, help and deliverance will arrive for the Jews from someplace else." But why wait and say like we do so many times, "If I don't do it somebody else will." Sadly in the case of the Holocaust the Jews did not have someone to step forward to save those who perished and that German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoller wrote these words:

"They came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unions, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one to speak up."

Faithfulness is receiving strength from God to do what is needed for the good of God's people.

Where is God calling you to speak today? It may be simply a word of hope. It may be a word of peace. A word of joy, strength, or comfort. God will also give you the courage you need to share that.

PRAYER: O God of words, speak clearly to my heart and soul about what I should say today to the one You may point out as needing to hear. Let me not keep silent as my brother or sister may already be deaf from the roar of silence in their life; use me to speak truth and life. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

FAITHFULNESS AS A MARK OF OUR DISCIPLESHIP

Good day dear friends.

We studied faithfulness as a mark of a disciple. I reminded the congregation that we're having this series because we are all guilty of not being the kind of disciples we've been called to be. If you can spot an empty seat around you during worship, we've not done our part. Faithfulness is that which allows us to respond to God's call. Faithfulness is an unwavering dedication to God in spite of adversity.

Here is our study guide for today:

Monday: Re-read the passages from yesterday. How would you have lived your life had you been the “unnamed girl” from this story? Is your life guided by the Holy Spirit? Can the “fruits” of the Spirit be seen in you? Which of these fruits troubles you the most?

Here are the passages from yesterday's sermon:

2 Kings 5: 1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. 2 Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” (NRSV)
Galatians 5:16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

The first passage features the unnamed girl who was faithful to her faith even though she found herself a slave, a victim of a war raid on her nation which carried her away from family and friends and made her a servant in the household of the man who led the raid. I gave away what most of us would have said had we been in this situtation: "I hope you die from this disease! May the chunks of your flesh fall from you and may you become so frightening even your family will be afraid to look at you, etc." That is not faithfulness. That is listening to the "flesh" as we read from the second passage. That is satisfying our own desires and not doing what God would have us do.

Faithfulness is maintaining a positive attitude towards life in spite of life-threatening situations. Faithfulness is knowing in Whom we believe who will be with us even if life does not treat us fairly.

Faithfulness is ours when we surrender to God's Holy Spirit. To live life faithful to God we realize we cannot do it alone, we need God's help.

As we prayerfully reflect this morning, how many of these "fruits" of the Spirit are seen in you? Ask the Lord to fill your cup; to lete you be a faithful disciple.

PRAYER: God of presence and power, be with me today. Let me be filled with Your Spirit so that my life might reflect that I've been in Your presence and that You are guiding me to live my life in a faithful way. Grant me Spirit thoughts when I have flesh desires. Grant me Spirit openings when I seem to be on the path of fleshy pleasure. I pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

A CHECKLIST FOR COURAGE

Good day dear friends:

We continue to study courage as a mark of Christ's disciple.

Here is our study guide for today:

Thursday: Let us read Hebrews 13:1-6. What do you read there that speaks to your heart and to your needs? What more can God share with you to have you become the person God wants?

Here is that text in The Message format:

Hebrews 13:1 Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. 2 Be ready with a meal or a bed when it's needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it! 3 Regard prisoners as if you were in prison with them. Look on victims of abuse as if what happened to them had happened to you. 4 Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex. 5 Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," 6 we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?

This particular version of the Bible is written in the form of a novel. You can read this passage in other versions and I would recommend that, to compare what the original language intended. Today's passage is presented in a way that explains clearly what a disciple should be willing to do:

1. Use love to stay on good terms with each others.

2. Be ready to give the hungry and the needy a helping hand. The author even says some of us "have extended hospitality to angels without knowing it."

3. Treat prisoners as if you had been one.

4. Treat victims of abuse as if you also had suffered abuse.

5. Honor marriage in a sacred way; keeping your vows.

6. Be thankful for the material goods you have; don't kill yourself wanting more.

7. Live your life in a courageous way knowing "God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," 6 we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?

Examine your life. Which of the above seven needs our attention? What does our life need to be the disciple Christ intends?

PRAYER: Thank you loving God for being always with me. Thank you for the passage from today that speaks of what I should be doing for You and Yours. Give me courage to live my life in a way that makes a positive difference in the world today. I pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

A CHECKLIST FOR COURAGE

Good day dear friends:

We continue to study courage as a mark of Christ's disciple.

Here is our study guide for today:

Thursday: Let us read Hebrews 13:1-6. What do you read there that speaks to your heart and to your needs? What more can God share with you to have you become the person God wants?

Here is that text in The Message format:

Hebrews 13:1 Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. 2 Be ready with a meal or a bed when it's needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it! 3 Regard prisoners as if you were in prison with them. Look on victims of abuse as if what happened to them had happened to you. 4 Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex. 5 Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," 6 we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?

This particular version of the Bible is written in the form of a novel. You can read this passage in other versions and I would recommend that, to compare what the original language intended. Today's passage is presented in a way that explains clearly what a disciple should be willing to do:

1. Use love to stay on good terms with each others.

2. Be ready to give the hungry and the needy a helping hand. The author even says some of us "have extended hospitality to angels without knowing it."

3. Treat prisoners as if you had been one.

4. Treat victims of abuse as if you also had suffered abuse.

5. Honor marriage in a sacred way; keeping your vows.

6. Be thankful for the material goods you have; don't kill yourself wanting more.

7. Live your life in a courageous way knowing "God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," 6 we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?

Examine your life. Which of the above seven needs our attention? What does our life need to be the disciple Christ intends?

PRAYER: Thank you loving God for being always with me. Thank you for the passage from today that speaks of what I should be doing for You and Yours. Give me courage to live my life in a way that makes a positive difference in the world today. I pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

COURAGE MEANS USING WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US FOR GOD'S GOOD

Good day dear friends.

We continue our study of courage and what it means to use what God has given us for God's glory.

Here is our study guide for today:

Tuesday: The reading for today may seem long, but it’s really not. Read Esther 1 and 2. If you’re pressed for time, read only chapter two. This is the story of how Esther, a Jewish girl, comes to be queen of another nation. Her courage is shown in later chapters when her power is that which saves the Jews from death. Courage is that which allows for God to place us even where we don’t want to be, to perhaps later do something for God’s people.

For today I will place the scripture passage at the bottom so you can read it at your leisure.

The first two chapters simply whet your appetite for the whole story. But here's what happens in chapter one. A foreign king, powerful and mighty decides to show off what he has. He decides to host a banguet for all who have served him well. This banquet is set to last six months. Keep in mind this is a different time and a different culture. It will be easy for the men to take one side and the women the other. Let's take God's side for the entire story. Chapter one deals with this big celebration of showing off all that King Xerxes had. And at the end of the six months, he decides to have a week long party. The order at the party was to let the wine flow and for all the guests, himself included, to enjoy the wine. At the end of the party, the king, "high on wine" as the text puts it, decides he wants to show off his queen, Queen Vashti. The queen had her reasons and decides not to show up for this party. This angers the king and the queen falls out of favor with the king. The king, in his anger consults his advisors who recommend the king replacing the queen. You'll have to read towards the end of chapter one to see what I was referring to in men taking one side and women the other.

Chapter two introduces us to the namesake of this book. It is the orphan niece of a Jewish man living in this capital city. The uncle, named Mordacai, sees an opportunity when words get out that the king will hold a beauty pagaent to select a new queen. Forget scholarships and year-long vistis to mall openings and a guest shot on Regis and Kelly, this prize was to become queen of a very powerful nation. An interesting note about this book, the name of God does not appear in it at all; though God's role is clearly implied in all this young woman was able to do for God's people.

God had blessed her with beauty and she would use it to protect and keep alive several people, especially the Jews. But in chapter two, she is used to share information about a plot with the king and saves his life.

Esther had courage to use all her God-given blessings for God's purpose. Courage is the ability to make a decision today not fully or perhaps not even knowing what may lie ahead. Courage tells us to trust God and to walk with God and to let God help us both today and all days. The picture may not be completely clear today of what lies ahead, but with God at our side we can still please and serve God today.

PRAYER: For all You have shared with me, I am thankful. I ask for the courage to say yes to Your calling to serve You and Your purposes for my life. I ask this in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

SCRIPTURE RESOURCE:

Esther 1 (The Message): 1 This is the story of something that happened in the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled from India to Ethiopia - 127 provinces in all. 2 King Xerxes ruled from his royal throne in the palace complex of Susa. 3 In the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers. The military brass of Persia and Media were also there, along with the princes and governors of the provinces. 4 For six months he put on exhibit the huge wealth of his empire and its stunningly beautiful royal splendors. 5 At the conclusion of the exhibit, the king threw a weeklong party for everyone living in Susa, the capital - important and unimportant alike. The party was in the garden courtyard of the king's summer house. 6 The courtyard was elaborately decorated with white and blue cotton curtains tied with linen and purple cords to silver rings on marble columns. Silver and gold couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and colored stones. 7 Drinks were served in gold chalices, each chalice one-of-a-kind. The royal wine flowed freely - a generous king! 8 The guests could drink as much as they liked - king's orders! - with waiters at their elbows to refill the drinks. 9 Meanwhile, Queen Vashti was throwing a separate party for women inside King Xerxes' royal palace.

10 On the seventh day of the party, the king, high on the wine, ordered the seven eunuchs who were his personal servants (Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas) 11 to bring him Queen Vashti resplendent in her royal crown. He wanted to show off her beauty to the guests and officials. She was extremely good-looking. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come, refused the summons delivered by the eunuchs. The king lost his temper. Seething with anger over her insolence, 13 the king called in his counselors, all experts in legal matters. It was the king's practice to consult his expert advisors. 14 Those closest to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven highest-ranking princes of Persia and Media, the inner circle with access to the king's ear. 15 He asked them what legal recourse they had against Queen Vashti for not obeying King Xerxes' summons delivered by the eunuchs. 16 Memucan spoke up in the council of the king and princes: "It's not only the king Queen Vashti has insulted, it's all of us, leaders and people alike in every last one of King Xerxes' provinces. 17 The word's going to get out: 'Did you hear the latest about Queen Vashti? King Xerxes ordered her to be brought before him and she wouldn't do it!' When the women hear it, they'll start treating their husbands with contempt. 18 The day the wives of the Persian and Mede officials get wind of the queen's insolence, they'll be out of control. Is that what we want, a country of angry women who don't know their place? 19 "So, if the king agrees, let him pronounce a royal ruling and have it recorded in the laws of the Persians and Medes so that it cannot be revoked, that Vashti is permanently banned from King Xerxes' presence. And then let the king give her royal position to a woman who knows her place. 20 When the king's ruling becomes public knowledge throughout the kingdom, extensive as it is, every woman, regardless of her social position, will show proper respect to her husband." 21 The king and the princes liked this. The king did what Memucan proposed. 22 He sent bulletins to every part of the kingdom, to each province in its own script, to each people in their own language: "Every man is master of his own house; whatever he says, goes."

Esther 2 (The Message) 1 Later, when King Xerxes' anger had cooled and he was having second thoughts about what Vashti had done and what he had ordered against her, 2 the king's young attendants stepped in and got the ball rolling: "Let's begin a search for beautiful young virgins for the king. 3 Let the king appoint officials in every province of his kingdom to bring every beautiful young virgin to the palace complex of Susa and to the harem run by Hegai, the king's eunuch who oversees the women; he will put them through their beauty treatments. 4 Then let the girl who best pleases the king be made queen in place of Vashti." The king liked this advice and took it. 5 Now there was a Jew who lived in the palace complex in Susa. His name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish - a Benjaminite. 6 His ancestors had been taken from Jerusalem with the exiles and carried off with King Jehoiachin of Judah by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon into exile. 7 Mordecai had reared his cousin Hadassah, otherwise known as Esther, since she had no father or mother. The girl had a good figure and a beautiful face. After her parents died, Mordecai had adopted her. 8 When the king's order had been publicly posted, many young girls were brought to the palace complex of Susa and given over to Hegai who was overseer of the women. Esther was among them. 9 Hegai liked Esther and took a special interest in her. Right off he started her beauty treatments, ordered special food, assigned her seven personal maids from the palace, and put her and her maids in the best rooms in the harem. 10 Esther didn't say anything about her family and racial background because Mordecai had told her not to. 11 Every day Mordecai strolled beside the court of the harem to find out how Esther was and get news of what she was doing. 12 Each girl's turn came to go in to King Xerxes after she had completed the twelve months of prescribed beauty treatments - six months' treatment with oil of myrrh followed by six months with perfumes and various cosmetics. 13 When it was time for the girl to go to the king, she was given whatever she wanted to take with her when she left the harem for the king's quarters. 14 She would go there in the evening; in the morning she would return to a second harem overseen by Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch in charge of the concubines. She never again went back to the king unless the king took a special liking to her and asked for her by name. 15 When it was Esther's turn to go to the king (Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had adopted her as his daughter), she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king's eunuch in charge of the harem, had recommended. Esther, just as she was, won the admiration of everyone who saw her. 16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal palace in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of the king's reign. 17 The king fell in love with Esther far more than with any of his other women or any of the other virgins - he was totally smitten by her. He placed a royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. 18 Then the king gave a great banquet for all his nobles and officials - "Esther's Banquet." He proclaimed a holiday for all the provinces and handed out gifts with royal generosity. 19 On one of the occasions when the virgins were being gathered together, Mordecai was sitting at the King's Gate. 20 All this time, Esther had kept her family background and race a secret as Mordecai had ordered; Esther still did what Mordecai told her, just as when she was being raised by him.

21 On this day, with Mordecai sitting at the King's Gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs who guarded the entrance, had it in for the king and were making plans to kill King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai learned of the plot and told Queen Esther, who then told King Xerxes, giving credit to Mordecai. When the thing was investigated and confirmed as true, the two men were hanged on a gallows. This was all written down in a logbook kept for the king's use.

COURAGE IS OURS. TAKE IT!

Good day dear friends.

Yesterday we reached sermon number five in the series, "The Marks of a Disciple," which was a sermon on courage. We studied briefly probably the most obvious courage story, that of David and his battle with Goliath, but we also studied some very powerful verses in 1 Samuel 22:1-2, where we see after being anointed as King, David faces the hatred of King Saul as well as having to keep battling the enemies of Israel. At Adullam, he meets up with four hundred willing soldiers who are 1) stressed out, 2) in debt, and 3) discontented! We asked the question, which was the greater challenge? Facing a nine-foot giant or having to captain over an army made up of soldiers like you and me. We proposed that these three challenges can be the "giants" in our life and we talked about how God is our source of courage. We ended the sermon with the passage from Romans 8 that speaks of our being "more than conquerors."

Let's continue to study courage as we see the study guide for this morning:

Monday: For today read from the Old Testament book of Ruth 1:1-18. Here is a story of great courage and love. One of the characters, in fact, the namesake of the book, had to make a great decision for her life. She chooses what I believe very few of us would choose, and that is to do the unexpected. What would you have done?

1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

6 Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had considered his people and given them food. 7 So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah. 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back each of you to your mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband." Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. 10 They said to her, "No, we will return with you to your people." 11 But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, 13 would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me." 14 Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 So she said, "See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." 16 But Ruth said, "Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die, I will die— there will I be buried. May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!" 18 When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

This is one of those Biblical stories where you just say wow. It is a very simple but powerful story. Famine drives a Jewish family out of Judah into Moab. This family is made up of the mother and father and two sons. They arrive in this land where the dad dies, the two sons take as wives two Moabite women. After ten years, the husbands die and the mother hears that God's favor is again upon Judah and starts to return. The two daughters-in-law follow her until she stops and has a very moving talk with them, urging them to return to their own homes and start life over. This is all Orpah needs to hear, though weeping, turns and goes back home. But it is Ruth who makes the famous declaration from verses 16 and 17: "Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die, I will die— there will I be buried."

This had to be one of those God-decisions; where it makes no sense right now, but later on, it becomes clear what God had in mind. This is obedience, but it is also a decision of courage. God had become real for Ruth and in trusting how she had seen God alive in Naomi, she had chosen to stay with her. Would you have chosen the same? What becomes of Ruth? Do we ever hear from her again?

In the very first book of the New Testament, in the very first chapter, fifth verse, we find her listed in the genealogy of Jesus. She is one of very few women mentioned in a Jewish lineage. She is a Moabite and she is greatgrandmother to King David, and later, to Jesus.

Does God have a plan and purpose for your life? Yes. Do you have the courage to answer and trust God? Great and wonderful things are in store for you as you listen for God's leading and trusting God, you can say, "here I am, I will follow."

From our sermon notes yesterday, here was our definition of courage: "Courage is that positive attitude of hope that allows one to face danger, fear, or challenges with confidence. Courage is facing scary things regardless of the outcome."

PRAYER: Lord, grant to me that which is from You, the courage to listen and trust You as I make my decisions for life. Let me not be afraid, but to walk humbly but boldly in Your presence. Lead me to faithfulness. I pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.