SALT AND LIGHT

Good day dear friends.

The report is that our sister Lee Sowell is in good spirits and recovering well from emergency knee surgery at CTMC (Rm 326). Pray for her complete recovery.

We spoke on "Being a Radioactive Christian" yesterday in terms of radiating our faith to others. Now more than ever the world has shown that folks are looking for spiritual answers except they're going in the wrong direction. Many are choosing Eastern religions, some are going to the occult, some to Satanism, others to things that offer spiritual "answers." While we as Christians respect their right to choose, we also have something to share given the right opportunity and setting. And the best way is simply by living out our faith in an attractive way.

Here is our study guide for today:

Monday: For today read the passage in Matthew from The Sermon on the Mount that talks about us being “salt” and “light.” (Matthew 5:13-16). What are your thoughts on what Jesus meant about our being both of these things? List as many uses of salt as you can. List as many uses for light as you can. Now apply these to your spiritual life.

13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.



Salt. Yesterday our children's ministry coordinator shared the children's sermon and she played a match game. Using the kids' imaginations she asked to think of something that "went" with whatever she would show. She pulled out a jar of peanut butter and of course several yelled out "jelly!" The next item was a Morton's salt container and the first little boy closest to her yelled, "pepper!" What household in our country doesn't have one of those salt containers? Yes, there are some where medical reasons have prompted doctors to tell so many of us no more salt and so there are no salt shakers on our tables. Most will say, "there's enough salt in foods, especially processed food, just enjoy that." If you've ever cooked a meal and have forgotten the salt you know that you might as well toss out the meal because sprinkling salt on a meal that should have had salt is not the same thing. I remember my first attempt to impress my bride I made supper and I thought I would show her how good I could make carne guisada and I put in the comino (cumin), pepper, onion, some garlic. And I forgot the salt. Wrong.

Jesus spoke to a crowd that knew the purposes of salt with flavor being one of them. A Christian who lives her/his life in a positive manner brings flavor to life. There is joy and excitement and folks around the Christian are usually blessed. Jesus also spoke to a crowd that knew salt was the preservative of the day. Until refrigeration became a household item, meats and other things were coated with salt to preserve those food stuffs until they could be cooked. A Christian grounded in his/her faith lives their life in a way that preserves the goodness of Christ's teachings; others will want to know more. And lastly, salt was used as insulation. Using the ovens of the day salt was poured around the oven to help make the heat uniform and allow for breads and other items baked in the oven to cook better. Once the salt lost its purpose it was tossed out. Our faith can be the proper insulation to situations where without it we would lose hope or perish.

Light? Light brings vision and clarity in situations where it is needed. Without light we can't see what we're doing and we may lose our way.

How can you apply these to your daily life? Being a radiant Christian is a positive thing. If we share Christ's love with others just by our living we don't need words. But we should be open to opportunities where we could share a word of hope or peace and offer words of invitation to folks that we know need them.

Reflect on your life and how best you can be salt and light to others.

PRAYER: Lord, please share with me today how I can best serve You. Let me be truly salt and light to a world needing flavor and direction. I pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.



Have a great and blessed day!



e.v.

GOD IS THE GIVER OF ALL GIFTS

Good day dear friends. Okay, our congratulations to the White Sox and prayers for the Astros. They did make it to the World Series and that was a first. On to basketball...

Our prayers of comfort for the family of Ted Lowman, brother of Al, who died in Houston. His service will be on Friday at 2 p.m. here at First UMC.

Our thanks and prayers for Dr. Jeffery Greenway and his ministry. We were richly blessed by his messages during the Sowell Lectures. May the Lord continue to bless him and his family and the seminary.

He spoke on our spiritual gifts and how this is the generation that could see a revival like no other generation or to put it in his words, "for the first time in 1,700 years." He spoke of his belief that the scriptural curtain was going to be moved back and allow us to see and understand things like no other generation. One of the texts for one of his messages came from 1 Corinthians 12. Here is that passage:

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

I loved Dr. Greenway's illustration of Christmas morning at his house. Jeff and Beth have three children and to stretch their Christmas experience they place just a few gifts under the tree and then leave notes on the tree with clues on how to find their other gifts. This makes Christmas morning last three to four hours. Once all are gathered, they view (and compare) gifts. Sometimes the counting of notes makes them wonder why one child got more notes than the other. The parents will explain they all got the same monetary amount in gifts, it just worked out differently in terms of the quantity of gifts.

God is the giver of all gifts. God has given you a special gift, maybe more. Do you know what it is and how to use it? It may not be one of the ones listed above, but it still is a valuable gift worthy to be used in God's work. Keep in mind God has given you and me these gifts for the common good. The key is the connection one has with God and how we seek to stay connected and stay effective for the work of God. Through daily prayer and Bible study one learns more and is strengthened more to do the things God would have us do.

Don't fall for the thinking that comes that tells you, "You have no gifts." You do. Don't fall for believing that your gift isn't as "good" as someone else's. It is. And certainly don't fall for believing that God can't use you, God can and will!

Discover your gift. Display your gift. Deliver with your gift!

PRAYER: God of all gifts, I thank you for the spiritual gift you have shared with me. I pray that today I would discover more fully what it is you can do with my life to bless Your people. Let me not be led down the path of doubt and temptation thinking I am of no value to you, because You have said otherwise. I love You and I seek to serve You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

LIFE IN ABUNDANCE IS OURS!

Good day dear friends, OH, WHAT A FEELING! You will pardon my ranting and raving but you have to feel for the boy who in 1965 moved from Kingsville to Houston. I was among those first to see a baseball game played indoors at the 8th Wonder of the World! Right next door was still standing an equally impressive Colt .45 Stadium (kiddies, that was the name of the Houston team before they became the Astros). So, thank you God for the pennant; off to the big dance, let's win it all!

Our continued prayers for those of the church family who are ill. Pastor Leslie and I visited with Louise Pollard who is now under hospice care. Of the six new members we received Sunday, one is a resident at Care Inn of San Marcos, Evelyn Vroman whom we received by way of transfer from Cleveland, TN.

We continue our study of What We Have to Offer through our faith and we receive this as our study guide for today:

Thursday: Read again John 10:10. What does Jesus promise to do for us? What is the greatest part of that blessing for you and your life? I love the part where Jesus shows His strength over what Satan offers and says, He has come to bring us life and that how? Abundantly! Abundant life is ours if we allow Jesus to share it with us.

Here is that text in the NRSV:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Jesus' promise is to bring us life, with a capital L. His mission from God was to renew the relationship between God and God's creation. God used His Son to bring us new understandings of God's love and purpose for our lives. For too long the established religion was more about ritual and tradition and upholding those than it was about reaching people and sharing with them words of life. How easy it was for Jesus to say, "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy." (v. 10). A life lived outside of God falls easily into these three categories: Fullness of life has been stolen from you; if you stay away you will die spiritually then eternally; and everything else that could have been used for good falls into disarray and is destroyed.

Have you stopped recently to consider the difference between living and living in abundance? It's about the same as eating versus feasting. There are some meals meant just to be eaten; then there are those which are made for us to feast. It's like having a Thanksgiving meal every meal. It's the same with living versus living in abundance. It is knowing and accepting God is with us and we live our lives with that sense of rich blessing upon our lives. It gives us a new attitude, a new perspective, a new joy towards life even in the midst of whatever it is we face. Sometimes, if we look up, we can see over our problems and challenges, to the hope and peace that Christ meant to share with you and me.

PRAYER: Gracious God of abundant life, come now to my heart and place in it that life that Jesus promised. Help me to see beyond the pain and problems of right now to the peace and hope that is mine once I take You by the hand and walk with You. Thank you for all the blessings that are mine that have come from Your hand. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

HOUSTON, WE GOT A PENNANT!!

What a sweet headline to read in the online edition of the Houston Chronicle! Since 1965 I've been waiting, some of you longer. For the first time in their 44 year history, the Houston Astros are going to the big dance!! Yes, I cried some tears, this was LONG overdue! Much celebrating in my heart going on right now! I told the staff this morning the 'Stros were going to "pound the Cards, 17-1" I was close! Off by 12, but I'll take it!!!!

THE HOUSTON ASTROS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!

HOW TO BEST SHARE YOUR FAITH? PRAY ABOUT IT!

Good day dear friends. Dolly White underwent successful hip surgery
in San Antonio, let us thank the Lord for that. We continue to pray
for Louise Pollard whose breathing has changed and is now going into
hospice care at Hays Nursing Home.

For the family of Rev. Jose Velasquez, a retired Rio Grande Conference
pastor from San Antonio. A second career local pastor, he served as
Lay Leader at one of Bishop Martinez' first churches. Pray for his
family and for his funeral which is today.

Here is our study guide:

Wednesday: For our day of prayer and purpose, ask God for direction
on how to best share your faith with someone. I know you have someone
in mind for God may have placed that person there. How could your
life (actions, words) give evidence of your faith in Jesus Christ?
What special action of kindness could you do to bring attention or an
opportunity for you to share your faith?

CHECKLIST FOR PERSONAL EVANGELISM

Good day dear friends.

Let us be in prayer for Dolly White (Darryl's mom) undergoing hip surgery in San Antonio at the Nix Hospital. Also, for the Board of Ordained Ministry of our conference meeting at Mt. Wesley in Kerrville. And for the Astros. Lord, is it too much to ask?? I've only been a fan since 1964...

We continue our study of evangelism and what it is that we have to offer. Here is our study guide for today:

Tuesday: Read again the Romans 12 passage. Make this a checklist of what Paul is saying is ours if we commit our lives to Jesus Christ. Which ones are easy to check as those things we’re currently doing? Which ones have we left unchecked? What should we do about it?

Here is the Romans 12 passage: 9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Here is your checklist, please check those that are true in your life. No check means a NO response.

( ) Is my love genuine?
( ) Do I hate evil?
( ) Do I hold fast to what is good?
( ) Do I love others?
( ) Am I outdoing others in showing honor?
( ) Is my zeal (enthusiasm) lagging?
( ) Is my spirit ardent (i.e. do I "burn" for the things of God?)
( ) Am I serving the Lord?
( ) Do I rejoice in hope? (Astros aside)
( ) Am I patient in suffering? (Okay, Astros included)
( ) Do I persevere in prayer?
( ) Do I give to the needs of the saints (church, needy)
( ) Do I show hospitality to strangers?
( ) Do I bless those who persecute me?
( ) Do I refrain from cursing those who curse me? (Fingers included)
( ) Do I rejoice with those who rejoice?
( ) Do I weep with those who weep?
( ) Do I live in harmony with everyone (family included)?
( ) Do I think I'm better than others?
( ) Am I aware of those I think are beneath me?
( ) Do I think I know more than everyone else?
( ) Do I seek revenge (repay evil for evil)?
( ) Do I share water with the thirsty?
( ) Do I help feed the hungry?
( ) Do I seek to overcome evil with good?

What a checklist! It might profit us more to print this out and have it somewhere where it will remind us that as Christians we know a better way to live. That list above shows things that the world is not used to seeing. It reflects a lifestyle not seen in most competitive settings. It also reflects a life lived in prayer asking God to help us because left to ourselves we do the opposite of most of the things on that list.

PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus into my heart and fill it with Your love. Let me be the person that I've been called to be when I said yes to you. I can't do it alone. I need You. So I will trust You and walk with You this day. I pray in Your name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

GOD CAN USE YOU NOW!

Good day dear friends. We had a wonderful time in worship yesterday
talking about "What We Have to Offer," a sermon on evangelism and
how it is we do have exactly what the world needs: The merciful
love of God through Christ Jesus. Our primary text was John 10:7-10
and as we see in our study guide for today, Matthew 28:19-20.

We had Coffee with the Pastor and we welcomed six new members!
We're excited for our church and we ask your prayers for these
members.

Monday: Reread the Matthew passage from yesterday. What in
that “Great Commission” sticks out to you upon this first reading of
the day? Read it a second time and see if you see or sense
something else for your life. Where is God calling you to serve Him
right this minute? Are you able? Are you afraid? Read the verses
again one last time. Notice what Jesus promises at the very end.
Claim this for your life!

This is the Matthew passage:

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and
teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And
remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

To be commissioned means to be recognized and authorized to carry
out a particular work. For us as believers to have received the
Great Commission means we have marching orders to go and do as the
Lord said. The key word is the very first one: go. The New
Testament is filled with God calling folks and telling them to go.
Go is an action word. It means what it says, for us to not sit
around and wonder if indeed we were called or if God indeed intented
for it to be us that He called, it means go! Jesus gave this
initial order to the twelve but it is one we continue to receive as
our own, to share the good news of God's love through Christ with
all the world. The commission says we are to go to "all nations,"
not just ours or those who are allies with us, but ALL nations. We
are to offer them God's forgiveness as referenced in the "baptizing"
part of the commission, and we're to do it in the name of the triune
God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Ours is to be a teaching ministry as well. All that God offered us
through Christ is to be taught, and one of the greatest teachings is
that we find in verse 20: "I am with you always, to the end of the
age."

We stressed in the sermon that our call is to begin right now in
whatever setting we find God using us. We don't have to wait for a
mission trip or a service project; God can use us now. The person
sitting next to us in work or down the hall from our office, or
maybe next to us on the couch may be the person God has called us to
bring a word of hope and love. We start now!

How? Just by sharing what God has done for you. It doesn't require
an elaborate sermon or a fancy prayer, just a simple word of
sharing; "This is what helped me" or "this is what God did for me."

God is with you. We can do all things through Him who gives us
strength!

PRAYER: Use me now, dear God with those Whom you place in my path.
Let me share Your love and hope in a way that serves You. I pray in
the name of He Who gave Himself to us, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

WALKING IN THE PATH OF LIGHT

Good day dear friends.

We ask for prayer for our sister Billy Hardesty. She has the results of her biopsy and may face surgery soon. She will know by Friday the course her doctors want to take.

Pray today for our brother Jason Scull who is one of three finalists to do the LBJ sculpture for the university. We know that Jason would do a great job for Texas State.

We continue to study "This Little Light of Mine." Here is the study guide for today:

Thursday: Luke 1:67-80, in this Christmas story, a servant of the Lord makes a declaration about Jesus. Please read that passage and see what the servant had to say about Jesus being light. How is this still true for us today? Can we reflect or be the light as Jesus intended?

Here is that passage from NRSV:

67 And his father Zechari'ah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, 68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people, 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, 74 to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 through the tender mercy of our God, when the day shall dawn upon us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." 80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

To know and love Jesus is to walk in light. To seek to do His will is to seek to do the things of light. Before we knew Jesus we were the ones mentioned in verse 79. We sat "in darkness and in the shadow of death." We needed to be pulled out of there. We needed someone to guide "our feet into the way of peace." There is nothing that we need more than what Jesus offers to us. To know we are loved by God enough to receive mercy for our sinfulness and to know our path is well lit is awesome. To be walking in the way of peace is to walk with that assurance that we're covered by God and that makes for our lives to be peaceful.

Yesterday at our Rotary meeting, one of our members set up a Christmas tree, pulled out some gifts from the bags he had brought in, and one of the gifts was a beautiful ceramic musical Christmas tree that played some songs of the season. Yes, it's only October but it was meant to get the club thinking about our Christmas Gala and the good that comes from that fundraiser. But it got me thinking about Who Christmas is about, Jesus. Jesus makes everyday like Christmas. After all, God shared with us the greatest gift: He who would be born to lead us in the way of peace and pay with his own life the price that would lead us out of darkness and out of the shadow of death.

PRAYER: Come, Lord of light and life into my heart today. Let the feeling in my heart be that of Christmas. Thank you for all you do and will continue to do. Let my life reflect Your light to bring blessings to others. I pray in Your name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

DIVINE RISK

Good day dear friends.

We continue our study of "This Little Light of Mine."

Here is our study guide for today:

Tuesday: To be a light of the world means to be a blessing to others so that they will know about God. Please read Genesis 12:2-3. This is the initial call from God to the father of the faith, Abraham, and how he and his wife Sarah, were to be “a blessing” to “all peoples of earth.” How is your life being a blessing right now? How could you be more of a blessing? Is this where God is calling you to serve?

Genesis 12:2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

That initial call from God to Abraham and Sarah was a difficult one. It was an invitation to leave everything familiar and comfortable behind. It was to leave behind family, friends, loved ones. It was to take a divine risk. Yet, God was up front in sharing what would come of this risk. We just read it in the above verses: "great nation," "bless you," "great name," "you will be a blessing," "bless the ones who bless you and curse the ones who curse you," "all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

God knew that through obedient living, these two and those whom they would influence, would bring a blessing from God. To know and trust and have a relationship with God, is the blessing. And to raise up a family, then a community, finally a nation with that knowledge would be a world blessing.

God still calls us to take divine risks. Each day we're alive we are presented with opportunities to trust God and to take a risk in sharing a blessing. We're still called to be a blessing to those around us. Are we doing that?

Most times it doesn't take that much, it just takes trusting God when we take those divine risks. God will share with us exactly what we need to be a blessing.

Listen to God's call. Be ready to say yes.

PRAYER: God of blessing, bless my life in a way that I cannot help but be a blessing for you. Help me take a divine risk today. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE!

Good day every one.

We were so blessed yesterday in our two traditional services. Our children took part in our annual Children's Sabbath. They took over the entire service and did a great job. All the children shone by their participation, which was great given that our topic for that Sunday was "This Little Light of Mine." The text came from Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

Here is our study guide for today:

Monday: Jesus knew that knowing the relationship God offers us is too good a thing to hide. He spoke of those who are in relationship to God to be the light of the world. Reread Matthew 5:14-16 and see what Jesus is talking about. As we start to speak of evangelism and the sharing of our faith, stop to ponder exactly what we have to offer others, especially those in the dark. We can’t be quiet about the Light of the world!

The text comes in the setting known as The Sermon on the Mount. In it Jesus shared revolutionary new ways of living that fulfilled the law. Jesus spoke of God's love and entering into relationship with God and others in new and exciting ways. He spoke of how to deal with one another in ways some have termed, "upside down living." In this particular passage Jesus is offering hope, not just to the listener, but to the world. Jesus is saying, with your lives lived in a positive manner before God you will shine, you will stand out and you will be an invitation for others to follow. Remember that this comes after Jesus shares the first steps of a hopeful faith, those first verses we know as the Beatitudes.

For us today, to live as Christians, is to live a life different from others who don't know Christ's love. To live a Christian life is not a privilege of cutting lines, or getting special deals; it is a life of responsiblity. We are called to serve others and put others ahead of us. It is to share God's love even with those who don't love us or even anyone back. To be a Christian is to reflect Christ. In today's Upper Room devotional (www.upperroom.org/devotional) the writer shares his aha reaction to the discovery that his postal carrier was a Christian. He said he should have known that the way his postal carrier treated and cared for others was based on this love between him and God.

Can it be said about us that we have that love? Can our carrying the love of Christ be compared to light in this world? Have those walking in darkness seen the light of Christ that we are living?

PRAYER: God of love and light, come and help me be the light for others. Let my life be a blessing of direction for those lost. I can't do it alone, I need You. I pray this in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blesse day!

e.v.

JACK VALVERDE

It's been a rough month at our house. As I posted back in September, on the 19th, our cat Toby died, and this past Friday, the 7th of October, Jack joined Toby in eternal rest.

We'd had Jack since he was a baby. He was one of two up for adoption, his sister, Jill, had already been taken, and Jack with his huge beautiful eyes won our hearts. We'll never forget taking him to the vet and the vet telling us, "with male cats, once they're fixed they have have to stay active or otherwise they'll grow up really big!" And he did. He amazed all who would come to our house. They would all say how big he was (he got up to 27 lbs.) and how beautiful he was. He was very photogenic and loved posing for pictures.



Mister Jack was his own cat (person). He obeyed only two people in the house, Carli, his owner, and me. Carli could tell him, "Jack, pretty eyes," and he would he would blink his eyes. He and I just fought for the same recliner.

We had Jack from our days in Mission, Texas, and I remember he didn't care for that move. He rode in the front seat of our car obeying only Carli to stay still. He eventally got used to our parsonage in San Antonio and I don't believe he cared much for the move to San Marcos.




I think Toby's dying and Carli's leaving for Spain were more than he could handle. Once Carli was out of the house and then Toby leaving, he didn't eat any more. We tried to feed him yogurt, his favorite, and even then he didn't eat much. Caty remembers one stormy night in SA when she asked, "Lord, please send someone to protect me," and Jack jumped on the bed, lay on her pillow and slept besides her all night.

Jack was a special blessing to our family and we really love him and miss him. We've since added Princess Fiona to our household and she's got big shoes to fill.

Jack, enjoy your rest in the Lord and we pray to see you someday.

QUITE A VISIT

Good day dear friends.

Here is our study guide for today:

Thursday: 1 Kings 10:1-13 tells an interesting story of a visit from an important official to the King of Israel. Read this story and ponder the significance of this visit. This official comes with questions. Were they answered? This official also comes with gifts. Were these given? Why do you suppose this official was tempted to visit this King?

(NRSV)1 Kings 10:1 When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon (fame due to the name of the Lord), she came to test him with hard questions. 2 She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. 3 Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. 4 When the queen of Sheba had observed all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 5 the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his valets, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. 6 So she said to the king, "The report was true that I heard in my own land of your accomplishments and of your wisdom, 7 but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. Not even half had been told me; your wisdom and prosperity far surpass the report that I had heard. 8 Happy are your wives! Happy are these your servants, who continually attend you and hear your wisdom! 9 Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king to execute justice and righteousness." 10 Then she gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones; never again did spices come in such quantity as that which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 11 Moreover, the fleet of Hiram, which carried gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir a great quantity of almug wood and precious stones. 12 From the almug wood the king made supports for the house of the Lord, and for the king's house, lyres also and harps for the singers; no such almug wood has come or been seen to this day. 13 Meanwhile King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba every desire that she expressed, as well as what he gave her out of Solomon's royal bounty. Then she returned to her own land, with her servants.

King Solomon was quite the special king for Israel, but it was because of God. Read verse one again. When he ascended to the throne of Israel, God visited him and asked him what he would ask for, if he had his choice. Very similar to the game we played as children, "Man, if you could wish for anything in the world, what would you wish for?" Instead of long life, or riches, Solomon asked for wisdom with which to rule Israel. God was pleased with this answer and because of it promised him riches and honor all his life. (1 Kings 3). His wisdom was soon known throughout the world and this visit was by the Queen of Sheba who had questions she thought were too difficult to be answered by anybody and so she comes to see Solomon. Solomon has no problem answering the questions and in the end, both God and Solomon are blessed by this woman.

The grace of God was upon Solomon as it is upon us if we seek it. With this grace we can choose great things for ourselves or we can seek to bless God. As we continue in our stewardship season we must prayerfully make difficult decisions about what we are to give in terms of our money, our time, our talents, our presence. How will the grace of God assist you in making these decisions? As we've discussed Sunday we're free to what we want with what God has given to us but with grace we should desire to be a part of God's ministry as was evidenced by the churches in Macedonia.

Solomon's life serves as a model of one richly blessed because his heart's desire was to serve God and God's people. May we seek the same for our lives with what God has given us.

PRAYER:God of great and good gifts, visit me today with Your grace. May that grace be received in my heart in a way that I can bless You and Yours. I pray for all who seek to fight with You that You would lovingly speak to them in ways that bring honor and glory to Your name. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

ARE YOU A TRUE FRIEND?

Good day dear friends.

Here is our study guide for today:

Tuesday: In the story of Job we find that this man suffered what most of us would find the most unbearable sufferings of life. And what made matters worse was the “company” of his “friends.” Read Job 2:11-13 and compare their “response” to the grace response of the churches in Macedonia as found in Sunday’s text. What kind of friend are you? The kind that may be “present” but bring no “presents?” Or the kind who “begs” for the privilege of helping like the Macedonian Christians? (It’s not too late to change you know!)

2:11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all these troubles that had come upon him, each of them set out from his home—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to go and console and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him, and they raised their voices and wept aloud; they tore their robes and threw dust in the air upon their heads. 13 They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

In the story of Job we find a story of money and possessions. And where you find money and possessions in the Bible you also find the question of spiritual faithfulness. Job was a very wealthy man. The Bible paints him as a man blessed in all aspects of his life, and in fact, God knows him as a very faithful spiritual man in relationship with Him. If you reread the first chapter you find that Satan questions Job's faithfulness to God by raising the question that perhaps Job's positive relationship was the result of what Job had. You know the story, God allows Satan to take away all of what were considered his possessions including his children. God had said for Satan not to touch Job himself. Even upon losing his precious children and all that he owned, Job did not sin in his relationship with God. Satan again says that Job is faithful only because he himself has not been touched and again, God allows for Job to be afflicted and even then Job does not sin. But he does go into a period of reflection as to this state that he finds himself.

It's in this setting that we find Job's "friends." The short passage assigned to us today lets us see just a bit of their nature and their relationship with Job. Their response to Job's need is not like that of brothers and sisters in the churches of Macedonia that we found in 2 Corinthians 8:1-15. When these "friends" heard of the plight of their friends who were wanting to do the will of God and all that was going on, they gave in incredible ways, begging even, to be a part of this ministry. Job's friends didn't beg to be a part of the suffering but did stay with him, we'll give them that, but if you've read this book of Job, you know they all come to the same conclusion, if God hasn't been faithful to you, why should you be faithful to God?

The churches of Macedonia could have easily said, if God wants that work to be done, why doesn't God provide the money? Sadly, we've heard similar things in our churches whenever a need outside our church is brought to our attention. Recently, though, we heard and saw great responses to the needs of evacuees from Katrina and Rita. And we praise God for that. But we come back to funding ministries both at home and abroad and what is our attitude? Are we being friends to God and to God's workers, like the brothers and sisters of Macedonia or are we like the friends of Job who sit there, shake our heads, say nothing and think, this what you're experiencing is terrible?

Again, it is the grace of God present in our lives that allows for our responses to our relationship to God and to assist in helping bring others to that same relationship. Is the grace of God present in your life in a way that allows you to beg to be a part of the ongoing ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ?

PRAYER: Loving God of grace, shower us with that grace. Let us receive it in ways that make us Your friends, Your servants, and truly worthy to be called Your children. We pray in the name of our one true friend, Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?

Good day dear friends. We welcome two new readers to ConCafe! Blessings to you! Thanks for joining!

Yesterday we celebrated God's grace. We saw how it moved churches in Macedonia to do incredible things. Our working definition for grace as covered in our sermon notes was "Grace is that indescribable, undeserved, yet free-flowing gift of God’s love to us." We further noted that "When received properly it allows a special return in us towards God in ways that are sometimes indescribable as well." Grace could then be said to be God's investment in us. Whatever return God gets from us depends on how we receive and use His grace. We'll keep that in mind as we study today's study guide:

Monday: Where in the Bible do we find the verse that asks, “What’s in it for me?” Matthew 19:27 is the closest we come to something like that. Please read the question and the response given this brother who asked the question. Do you ever feel like that? And how do you suppose God would answer you? Reread the passage from yesterday and see if these brothers and sisters felt that way.

There is no such verse in the Bible. Matthew 19:27 says, "Then Peter said in reply, "Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?" Peter is asking Jesus after hearing the exchange between Jesus and "the rich young ruler" as we've come to know him. The question of the young man to Jesus was what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus' response was textbook Sunday school, and the young man replied he had kept those teachings and then Jesus said to him to become unpossessed by his possessions. This was the hard thing and the young man went away sad. Jesus then said it would be easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. This made the disciples further ask, who then will make it into heaven? Jesus' reply was that for mortals this is impossible but for God all things are possible. Peter wanted to know, what then are we going to get for all that we've done?

The passage from yesterday was 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 and it deals with people who in spite of affliction and poverty respond with joy and an overflowing "wealth of generosity." It was not a matter of what's in it for me, it was a matter of saying, I want to give so that God and God's people can be blessed. It is normal at times to wonder what we get from our investments, especially emotional and spiritual ones. But ultimately the question is what is God getting from His investment in us? I would pray today we return 100 times to God what God has invested in us. Let us not think of ourselves and what we might be gaining from things but to share what God has already shared with us.

PRAYER: God of unlimited investments, invest in me again today, except today let the return be driven by Your grace in a way that will glorify You. Let me not think about what may be in it for me, instead let me prayerfully put me in everything that is about You. I pray in the name of He who gave Himself for me, Jesus my Lord. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.