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.
