Good day dear friends.
We continue to lift up God's notion of neighbors and how we should see each other, regardless of background or start in life, as neighbors.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Please read Colossians 3:11. In that short verse, what is Paul saying to the Christians in the church at Colossae? Why is Paul needed to address differences? Compare this to the story we find about Peter in Acts 10. Read that story and see what revelation God had for this staunch Jew. For one who once thought anything not-Jewish was “unclean” this vision has him have a change of heart and mind. Read it and apply it to your life.
Col. 3:11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!
We can back up to verse 8, "But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!" We see that Paul makes this unheard of declaration in the context of "renewal" in "knowledge according to the image of its creator." This indicates Paul's belief, which should be ours, that we cannot stay stagnant in our beliefs, especially towards others, that divisions do exist that can divide; instead Paul sees now as one who has been renewed and now, he who was an ardent Jew in all things, that there is no difference between Greeks and Jews, between those who are circumcised or uncircumised, barbarian or Scythians, slaves and free, but in Christ, we are all one. What a burden falls on those of us who make up the Church. If we are indeed one in Christ, we should live our lives in that way, seeking to build each other up, seeking to build up the Body of Christ.
In Acts 10 (full text will appear at the bottom of this email), we find Peter's encounter with Christ when he was summoned to visit a nonJew. Peter has a vision from the Lord that invites him to see beyond his upbringing and to see all as created by God. As a Jew, Peter had had a strict upbringing about not even sitting with Gentiles. To eat with one was to bring filth upon one. And in this encounter, God brings a new revelation about relationships especially those who believe in Christ.
How can you apply this to your life?
PRAYER: God of all people, bring that renewal Paul speaks of to all who read this. I stand in need of this renewal so that indeed Christ may be in me and as I live and work with those who profess Christ, we may together build up Christ's body. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Monday, May 29, 2006
WHAT PART OF LOVE CONTAINS "ISM?"
Good day dear friends. I hope this finds you having spent a safe and tranquil Memorial Day weekend.
We lift up prayers of thanksgiving for Caitlin's graduation this past Saturday from high school. She's the ninth graduate in two generations to finish high school on my side of the family (paternal side). Our second oldest daughter, Sarai, celebrated her birthday with us, as did Eric. Both were in church on Sunday.
The Rev. Gladys Kearney's funeral will be tomorrow, Tuesday, at 10 a.m. at Zoeller Funeral Home in New Braunfels. We pray God's comfort be with her family and friends during this time.
Yesterday we talked about who our neighbors are according to God's definition. This sermon (the 11 a.m. version) is available online.
Here is our study guide for this study:
Monday: Please read the three main passages from yesterday’s sermon. Find in there the message of loving others in the same way as God wants. Given the current issues being debated, why do such “ism’s” exist as racism, sexism, classism, etc? What would God have us do about all these divisions? What can you do on your part to better relations between all people?
The main passage came from The Good Samaritan, Luke 10:
From the New International Version (NIV): Luke 10:25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
The from Leviticus 19:33 "'When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. 34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.
And from Matthew 25:35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
We all have our definitions of neighbor. For many of us, it's easier and safer, to define neighbor as those who live next door to us. Usually, our neighbors will look exactly like us. They'll have the same economic resources, drive the same cars, wear the same clothes, and maybe our homes will look the same. It's usually safe to say, "That's my neighbor." Through the years we've had some good neighbors. We've also had not so good neighbors. When our first girls were born we lived in Edinburg, Texas, and we had the most wonderful neighbors to our right. We never met the neighbors on the left. They seemed to be invisible. The Ponce's were different. They were outgoing and friendly. They did so many nice things for us, we were blessed by them.
But Jesus defined neighbor in a wider scope. To him, those in need of mercy and assistance are our neighbors. And to many of us that definition goes beyond our comfort and safety zone. After all, the implication is that there are needs with those in need that stretch us beyond that which we are accustomed: nice perfume and cologne, "Downy fresh" clothes, "our" accent, etc. For God, everyone is our neighbor. And in God's eyes we should interact with them in that way. I believe God would have us put to death all the "isms" in the world. Racism is judging only those who are like us as our neighbors; everyone else is not. And so on. Ism cannot be found in love.
It's up to us to begin to live a life that looks beyond the things that divide us to the things that unite us. To stop looking at things that hurt us, or so we think, to things that can heal us. It's all about opening our arms for embracing each other instead of taking a defensive stance with arms and fists ready for combat.
PRAYER: God of love, come and change me. Put to death in me, those things that kill, steal, and destroy the fullness of life. Help me to see with Your eyes, understand things with the mind of Christ, and live like I should, guided by Your Holy Spirit. I pray this in the name of He who loves all, Jesus my Lord. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day! A safe and restful Memorial Day.
e.v.
We lift up prayers of thanksgiving for Caitlin's graduation this past Saturday from high school. She's the ninth graduate in two generations to finish high school on my side of the family (paternal side). Our second oldest daughter, Sarai, celebrated her birthday with us, as did Eric. Both were in church on Sunday.
The Rev. Gladys Kearney's funeral will be tomorrow, Tuesday, at 10 a.m. at Zoeller Funeral Home in New Braunfels. We pray God's comfort be with her family and friends during this time.
Yesterday we talked about who our neighbors are according to God's definition. This sermon (the 11 a.m. version) is available online.
Here is our study guide for this study:
Monday: Please read the three main passages from yesterday’s sermon. Find in there the message of loving others in the same way as God wants. Given the current issues being debated, why do such “ism’s” exist as racism, sexism, classism, etc? What would God have us do about all these divisions? What can you do on your part to better relations between all people?
The main passage came from The Good Samaritan, Luke 10:
From the New International Version (NIV): Luke 10:25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
The from Leviticus 19:33 "'When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. 34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.
And from Matthew 25:35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
We all have our definitions of neighbor. For many of us, it's easier and safer, to define neighbor as those who live next door to us. Usually, our neighbors will look exactly like us. They'll have the same economic resources, drive the same cars, wear the same clothes, and maybe our homes will look the same. It's usually safe to say, "That's my neighbor." Through the years we've had some good neighbors. We've also had not so good neighbors. When our first girls were born we lived in Edinburg, Texas, and we had the most wonderful neighbors to our right. We never met the neighbors on the left. They seemed to be invisible. The Ponce's were different. They were outgoing and friendly. They did so many nice things for us, we were blessed by them.
But Jesus defined neighbor in a wider scope. To him, those in need of mercy and assistance are our neighbors. And to many of us that definition goes beyond our comfort and safety zone. After all, the implication is that there are needs with those in need that stretch us beyond that which we are accustomed: nice perfume and cologne, "Downy fresh" clothes, "our" accent, etc. For God, everyone is our neighbor. And in God's eyes we should interact with them in that way. I believe God would have us put to death all the "isms" in the world. Racism is judging only those who are like us as our neighbors; everyone else is not. And so on. Ism cannot be found in love.
It's up to us to begin to live a life that looks beyond the things that divide us to the things that unite us. To stop looking at things that hurt us, or so we think, to things that can heal us. It's all about opening our arms for embracing each other instead of taking a defensive stance with arms and fists ready for combat.
PRAYER: God of love, come and change me. Put to death in me, those things that kill, steal, and destroy the fullness of life. Help me to see with Your eyes, understand things with the mind of Christ, and live like I should, guided by Your Holy Spirit. I pray this in the name of He who loves all, Jesus my Lord. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day! A safe and restful Memorial Day.
e.v.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
ABBA, FATHER!
Good day dear friends.
Please join me in praying for The Rev. Frank Alegria, senior pastor
of First UMC in Beaumont, TX, who underwent a biopsy yesterday. We
pray for healing for he, strength for his wife and family during
these days.
I still have not heard about any local arrangements for Rev. Gladys
Kearney. Once I find out I will let you know.
We continue to affirm that we are God's and here is our study guide
for today.
Thursday: Please turn to Romans 8:1-17. Read there the instructions
of Paul to the believers about living in "the Spirit" as opposed to
living in "the flesh." Make a list of those things that the Spirit
offers to us versus that which the flesh offers.
Here is that passage from the NRSV: Romans 8: 1 There is therefore
now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law
of sin and of death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by
the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of
sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4
so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the
things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set
their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 To set the mind on the
flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
7 For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to
God; it does not submit to God's law—indeed it cannot, 8 and those
who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the
flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to
him.
10 But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin,
the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him
who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ
from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his
Spirit that dwells in you. 12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are
debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if
you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit
you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all
who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did
not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have
received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16 it is
that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are
children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with
Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be
glorified with him.
Here is my list of what God offers:
1. No condemnation. No use living with the thought that we're
damned to hell, we're not - if we're living according the God's Holy
Spirit.
2. Freedom. We're free from the law of sin and death. Christ paid
the price and broke the chains.
3. The just requirement is fulfilled in us. Christ took care of
the requirements of the law; He set us free to follow His Spirit.
4. We set our minds on the things of the Spirit. As Paul says
later in verse 6, we set our minds on life and peace. No longer
should we be bogged down with thoughts of unrest and despair,
Christ's invitation to us is to enter into His fullness.
5. We have life through the Spirit. See what Jesus offered us in
John 10:10, "life in abundance," a fullness and joy of life as lived
through Him.
6. We can call God, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit gives witness that
we have been adopted as God's own children.
What an impressive list from God through Paul for us. May it speak
to us as to who we are and what God makes available to us. May we
no longer be guided or tied down to those things that are not of
God. May we seek to live our lives in the fullness of God's love in
a way that gives testimony to others about how wonderful God is.
PRAYER: Holy Father, we call you Abba. May our relationship reveal
to others that we indeed enjoy that closeness that allows us to call
you this dear term. We pray for those whom we have listed in our
public and private prayer lists. We pray for healing for our
brother Frank Alegria. We pray for comfort for the family members
of Gladys Kearney. And we thank you for Julie Lusby's healing. We
thank you for listening. And we praise you, in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Please join me in praying for The Rev. Frank Alegria, senior pastor
of First UMC in Beaumont, TX, who underwent a biopsy yesterday. We
pray for healing for he, strength for his wife and family during
these days.
I still have not heard about any local arrangements for Rev. Gladys
Kearney. Once I find out I will let you know.
We continue to affirm that we are God's and here is our study guide
for today.
Thursday: Please turn to Romans 8:1-17. Read there the instructions
of Paul to the believers about living in "the Spirit" as opposed to
living in "the flesh." Make a list of those things that the Spirit
offers to us versus that which the flesh offers.
Here is that passage from the NRSV: Romans 8: 1 There is therefore
now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law
of sin and of death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by
the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of
sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4
so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the
things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set
their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 To set the mind on the
flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
7 For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to
God; it does not submit to God's law—indeed it cannot, 8 and those
who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the
flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to
him.
10 But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin,
the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him
who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ
from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his
Spirit that dwells in you. 12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are
debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if
you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit
you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all
who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did
not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have
received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16 it is
that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are
children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with
Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be
glorified with him.
Here is my list of what God offers:
1. No condemnation. No use living with the thought that we're
damned to hell, we're not - if we're living according the God's Holy
Spirit.
2. Freedom. We're free from the law of sin and death. Christ paid
the price and broke the chains.
3. The just requirement is fulfilled in us. Christ took care of
the requirements of the law; He set us free to follow His Spirit.
4. We set our minds on the things of the Spirit. As Paul says
later in verse 6, we set our minds on life and peace. No longer
should we be bogged down with thoughts of unrest and despair,
Christ's invitation to us is to enter into His fullness.
5. We have life through the Spirit. See what Jesus offered us in
John 10:10, "life in abundance," a fullness and joy of life as lived
through Him.
6. We can call God, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit gives witness that
we have been adopted as God's own children.
What an impressive list from God through Paul for us. May it speak
to us as to who we are and what God makes available to us. May we
no longer be guided or tied down to those things that are not of
God. May we seek to live our lives in the fullness of God's love in
a way that gives testimony to others about how wonderful God is.
PRAYER: Holy Father, we call you Abba. May our relationship reveal
to others that we indeed enjoy that closeness that allows us to call
you this dear term. We pray for those whom we have listed in our
public and private prayer lists. We pray for healing for our
brother Frank Alegria. We pray for comfort for the family members
of Gladys Kearney. And we thank you for Julie Lusby's healing. We
thank you for listening. And we praise you, in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
OUR DAY OF PRAYER AND PURPOSE
Good day dear friends.
Good news for Parker Del Brown and his mommy, Jamie, and daddy, Eric. He gets to go home today with his mom. At least that's the plan from my visit with them last evening.
Julie Lusby undergoes surgery in a couple of hours at CTMC. Please hold Julie and husband Stephen in prayer.
This is our day of prayer and purpose. We seek not only to pray but to live out our prayer:
Wednesday: For our day of prayer and purpose, make a list of the questions you have about life. In it I’m sure you may have some unanswered ones about life and death. You may have lost something or someone in your past. As you list each one, offer it up as a prayer of thanksgiving to God. Yes, you read right, as a thanksgiving to God. Let God speak to your heart as you find that which came to you as a result of your loss. If it’s a loved one who no longer is with you, what have you received from God in terms of God speaking to you? Let the Lord bring you blessing upon blessing in this exercise. Please be in prayer for those who have lost loved ones and whose lives may have stopped. Pray that God bring meaning and purpose to them today and all days.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Good news for Parker Del Brown and his mommy, Jamie, and daddy, Eric. He gets to go home today with his mom. At least that's the plan from my visit with them last evening.
Julie Lusby undergoes surgery in a couple of hours at CTMC. Please hold Julie and husband Stephen in prayer.
This is our day of prayer and purpose. We seek not only to pray but to live out our prayer:
Wednesday: For our day of prayer and purpose, make a list of the questions you have about life. In it I’m sure you may have some unanswered ones about life and death. You may have lost something or someone in your past. As you list each one, offer it up as a prayer of thanksgiving to God. Yes, you read right, as a thanksgiving to God. Let God speak to your heart as you find that which came to you as a result of your loss. If it’s a loved one who no longer is with you, what have you received from God in terms of God speaking to you? Let the Lord bring you blessing upon blessing in this exercise. Please be in prayer for those who have lost loved ones and whose lives may have stopped. Pray that God bring meaning and purpose to them today and all days.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
GOD IS IN CONTROL!
Good day dear friends.
We continue to affirm that Who We Are is people of God. Made by God, shaped and formed by God, and led by God.
Here is our study guide:
Tuesday: Let us read the first chapter of the Book of Job. In it we will find the most oft-quoted verse (v.21). Read the entire chapter and place that verse in its context. Let God speak to your situation today as you marvel at all God has shared with you. Is God real in your life? Have you allowed God to speak to you about your purpose in your creation?
Here is that chapter of Job 1:1 There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and very many servants; so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.
4 His sons used to go and hold feasts in one another's houses in turn; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the feast days had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts." This is what Job always did.
6 One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the Lord, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." 8 The Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil." 9 Then Satan answered the Lord, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." 12 The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!" So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
13 One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother's house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you." 16 While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you." 17 While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you." 18 While he was still speaking, another came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you."
20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.
What a story! Although it may not seem like it after the fact, whenever we've faced some difficult situations we may have felt we were as bad off as Job. This man suffered much. The storyteller sets it up as a heavenly battle between God and the tempter, Satan.
What is your situation? What are you facing? Final exams? Medical results? Relationship problems? God is with you and God is in control. Again, this depends on your faith on whether God is real for you or not. More than likely God is real for you, but sometimes we live as if we're alone and helpless, and we really shouldn't. God can and does help us when we confide in Him and turn over our lives to Him.
Take time this day to find a quiet spot where just you and God can talk. Let God do the talking. Let God speak to your heart.
PRAYER: God of power and might, grace and love, speak to me today. I know sometimes I get overwhelmed at situations I face, but today I want to reflect on You and what You can help me do. Let me with joy receive that which You share so that my life can be blessed. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
We continue to affirm that Who We Are is people of God. Made by God, shaped and formed by God, and led by God.
Here is our study guide:
Tuesday: Let us read the first chapter of the Book of Job. In it we will find the most oft-quoted verse (v.21). Read the entire chapter and place that verse in its context. Let God speak to your situation today as you marvel at all God has shared with you. Is God real in your life? Have you allowed God to speak to you about your purpose in your creation?
Here is that chapter of Job 1:1 There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and very many servants; so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.
4 His sons used to go and hold feasts in one another's houses in turn; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the feast days had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts." This is what Job always did.
6 One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the Lord, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." 8 The Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil." 9 Then Satan answered the Lord, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." 12 The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!" So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
13 One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother's house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you." 16 While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you." 17 While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you." 18 While he was still speaking, another came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you."
20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.
What a story! Although it may not seem like it after the fact, whenever we've faced some difficult situations we may have felt we were as bad off as Job. This man suffered much. The storyteller sets it up as a heavenly battle between God and the tempter, Satan.
What is your situation? What are you facing? Final exams? Medical results? Relationship problems? God is with you and God is in control. Again, this depends on your faith on whether God is real for you or not. More than likely God is real for you, but sometimes we live as if we're alone and helpless, and we really shouldn't. God can and does help us when we confide in Him and turn over our lives to Him.
Take time this day to find a quiet spot where just you and God can talk. Let God do the talking. Let God speak to your heart.
PRAYER: God of power and might, grace and love, speak to me today. I know sometimes I get overwhelmed at situations I face, but today I want to reflect on You and what You can help me do. Let me with joy receive that which You share so that my life can be blessed. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Monday, May 22, 2006
LOST TOUCH? OR NEVER FELT THE TOUCH?
Good day dear friends.
What a wonderful Sunday we had yesterday! We received 12 new professing members through Confirmation and three of those had never been baptized and to the river we went for a wonderful and emotional sacrament. Afterwards we had a great lunch provided by Armando and Linda Contreras. Great brisket and hot dogs!
The sermon was on Who We Are, and how important it is to answer that question in the Lord. He offers to us fullness of life and all that we need to be blessed in our living. We'll study that more fully as we get into the word this week.
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: Read again Psalm 8 as your opening prayer for devotional time today. Then let’s go back to the very beginning. The first account of the creation of humans appears in Genesis 1:26-28. The second account is the more personal one with God’s touch upon the creatures. This one is found in Genesis 2:4b-25. Compare the two accounts. What do you read into each in terms of God’s intention and purpose in creating humanity in this way?
Use this as your devotional prayer starter: Psalm 8:1 O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; 4 what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals, that you care for them? 5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
As I mentioned in the sermon (which you can hear online at our church's webpage: www.fumcsm.org), there are two creation stories for humans in Genesis. The first one says from Gen. 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." 27 So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." The writer for this story shows humans, both male and female being made at the same time, both in the image of God.
Compare the version found in Gen. 2: 4b In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 5 when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up--for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground; 6 but a stream would rise from the earth, and water the whole face of the ground-- 7 then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. 8 And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 Out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river flows out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it divides and becomes four branches. 11 The name of the first is Pi'shon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Hav'ilah, where there is gold; 12 and the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is Gi'hon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die." 18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner." 19 So out of the ground the LORD God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man {Or [for Adam]} there was not found a helper as his partner. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, this one was taken." 24 Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.
Both stories affirm our creation by God. You can make the case that both stories show us we were wonderfully and awesomely made by a loving God. The second story from Genesis 2 shows us a touch from God that we need to be mindful of our entire life. God desires a relationship with us and is willing to touch us. God is an involved God. God is not some detached deity way off in outer space whose only concern is to see if we're going to mess up or not. God cares for us and that "touch" says God is right near us to hold us or pick us up if we need.
"Stay in touch" should be something we hear from God. It should also be something that we do.
PRAYER: God of love and God who touches lives, come and touch me today. Let me feel the embrace of love and strength around me as I prepare for this day. As I encounter joys, let me be blessed by them. As I encounter challenges that may bring less than joy, let me be a blessing in and through them. I can't do it alone, I need You. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
What a wonderful Sunday we had yesterday! We received 12 new professing members through Confirmation and three of those had never been baptized and to the river we went for a wonderful and emotional sacrament. Afterwards we had a great lunch provided by Armando and Linda Contreras. Great brisket and hot dogs!
The sermon was on Who We Are, and how important it is to answer that question in the Lord. He offers to us fullness of life and all that we need to be blessed in our living. We'll study that more fully as we get into the word this week.
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: Read again Psalm 8 as your opening prayer for devotional time today. Then let’s go back to the very beginning. The first account of the creation of humans appears in Genesis 1:26-28. The second account is the more personal one with God’s touch upon the creatures. This one is found in Genesis 2:4b-25. Compare the two accounts. What do you read into each in terms of God’s intention and purpose in creating humanity in this way?
Use this as your devotional prayer starter: Psalm 8:1 O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; 4 what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals, that you care for them? 5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
As I mentioned in the sermon (which you can hear online at our church's webpage: www.fumcsm.org), there are two creation stories for humans in Genesis. The first one says from Gen. 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." 27 So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." The writer for this story shows humans, both male and female being made at the same time, both in the image of God.
Compare the version found in Gen. 2: 4b In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 5 when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up--for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground; 6 but a stream would rise from the earth, and water the whole face of the ground-- 7 then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. 8 And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 Out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river flows out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it divides and becomes four branches. 11 The name of the first is Pi'shon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Hav'ilah, where there is gold; 12 and the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is Gi'hon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die." 18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner." 19 So out of the ground the LORD God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man {Or [for Adam]} there was not found a helper as his partner. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, this one was taken." 24 Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.
Both stories affirm our creation by God. You can make the case that both stories show us we were wonderfully and awesomely made by a loving God. The second story from Genesis 2 shows us a touch from God that we need to be mindful of our entire life. God desires a relationship with us and is willing to touch us. God is an involved God. God is not some detached deity way off in outer space whose only concern is to see if we're going to mess up or not. God cares for us and that "touch" says God is right near us to hold us or pick us up if we need.
"Stay in touch" should be something we hear from God. It should also be something that we do.
PRAYER: God of love and God who touches lives, come and touch me today. Let me feel the embrace of love and strength around me as I prepare for this day. As I encounter joys, let me be blessed by them. As I encounter challenges that may bring less than joy, let me be a blessing in and through them. I can't do it alone, I need You. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Friday, May 19, 2006
OUR DAY OF PRAYER
Good day dear friends.
Today is our day of prayer and we pray for the following, as we use our prayer guide:
Friday: On this day of prayer, continue to pray for the lives of those for whom you prayed on Wednesday. Pray for God to move among all families, especially those where there is strife and the danger of divorce. Be a model for those who need to see Jesus in you!
Remember this coming Sunday at First UMC-San Marcos is Confirmation Sunday! We will be receiving twelve confirmands! And it doesn't just happen at the church, it starts there and continues on to Pecan Park Retreat Center where we will baptize three of the confirmands. Immediately after our worship service we will have a cookout and fellowship time! Everyone is welcome and invited!
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Today is our day of prayer and we pray for the following, as we use our prayer guide:
Friday: On this day of prayer, continue to pray for the lives of those for whom you prayed on Wednesday. Pray for God to move among all families, especially those where there is strife and the danger of divorce. Be a model for those who need to see Jesus in you!
Remember this coming Sunday at First UMC-San Marcos is Confirmation Sunday! We will be receiving twelve confirmands! And it doesn't just happen at the church, it starts there and continues on to Pecan Park Retreat Center where we will baptize three of the confirmands. Immediately after our worship service we will have a cookout and fellowship time! Everyone is welcome and invited!
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
THE CARE AND WELL-BEING OF OUR PARENTS
Good day dear friends.
We continue to affirm God's desire for us to honor and bless our parents based on Ephesians 6:1-4 as was the theme for Sunday, "Who Our Parents Were/Are." Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: In the Crucifixion of Jesus, while Jesus hangs on the cross, Jesus takes care of His mother with the exchange we find in John 19:25b-30. What do you suppose is going through Jesus’ mind as He knows about His pending death? What do you suppose was going through Mary as Jesus was presenting her to John the disciple?
Here is that passage: John 19: 25b Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clo'pas, and Mary Mag'dalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. 28 After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), "I am thirsty." 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
For many people the most frightening thing about death is the separation from loved ones. Most parents want to live long enough to make sure their children are all right, grown, living on their own. And most children, if they knew they were dying would want the same for their parents. This was the case for Jesus. While I mentioned on Sunday that at one point early in His ministry, Mary had been a bit too involved and even doubted His calling, at this point, Mary is very concerned about that which was happening to Jesus. The birth narratives mentioned Luke 2:35 the "piercing" of Mary's own soul by all that would happen to her son. And this was it. Jesus on the cross told "the disciple whom he loved" that Mary was now his mother and that this disciple was now her son. This was to assure that the two could care for each other.
We can only presume great sadness going through the hearts of both this beloved disciple and Mary. The sadness coming because of Jesus' imminent death, and touching that even at the point of death Jesus is thinking about others and not Himself.
The death of a parent is something one knows will happen one day, but one prefers not to think about it nor talk about it. But in a situation such as the one Jesus found Himself it was the only thing He could do. The care and well-being of His mother was very important to Him. We don't know what became of His brothers and sisters. They may have still been alive and interesting the belief that James, one of the twelve was Jesus' brother and begs the question why didn't Jesus present Mary to him? Obvious guesses is that of course Jesus knew what lay ahead for all, and Jesus trusted that the beloved disciple, whom we believe is John Mark, is the youngest, and would be around the longest and could better care for Mary.
To honor and bless our parents and those around us, is to put them first. To put them first is to care for their well-being and to make arrangements for them as they present themselves. This comes from a life lived with prayer and love; with a faith placed in God to direct and guide us escpecially in delicate matters such as our parents.
PRAYER: Come, loving Spirit to our hearts and minds. Let us know how to best care for the well-being of our loved ones, especially our parents. Help us to know that in all things, even the difficult things, You are with us and provide for us. Help us to provide for our loved ones, especially our parents. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
We continue to affirm God's desire for us to honor and bless our parents based on Ephesians 6:1-4 as was the theme for Sunday, "Who Our Parents Were/Are." Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: In the Crucifixion of Jesus, while Jesus hangs on the cross, Jesus takes care of His mother with the exchange we find in John 19:25b-30. What do you suppose is going through Jesus’ mind as He knows about His pending death? What do you suppose was going through Mary as Jesus was presenting her to John the disciple?
Here is that passage: John 19: 25b Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clo'pas, and Mary Mag'dalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. 28 After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), "I am thirsty." 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
For many people the most frightening thing about death is the separation from loved ones. Most parents want to live long enough to make sure their children are all right, grown, living on their own. And most children, if they knew they were dying would want the same for their parents. This was the case for Jesus. While I mentioned on Sunday that at one point early in His ministry, Mary had been a bit too involved and even doubted His calling, at this point, Mary is very concerned about that which was happening to Jesus. The birth narratives mentioned Luke 2:35 the "piercing" of Mary's own soul by all that would happen to her son. And this was it. Jesus on the cross told "the disciple whom he loved" that Mary was now his mother and that this disciple was now her son. This was to assure that the two could care for each other.
We can only presume great sadness going through the hearts of both this beloved disciple and Mary. The sadness coming because of Jesus' imminent death, and touching that even at the point of death Jesus is thinking about others and not Himself.
The death of a parent is something one knows will happen one day, but one prefers not to think about it nor talk about it. But in a situation such as the one Jesus found Himself it was the only thing He could do. The care and well-being of His mother was very important to Him. We don't know what became of His brothers and sisters. They may have still been alive and interesting the belief that James, one of the twelve was Jesus' brother and begs the question why didn't Jesus present Mary to him? Obvious guesses is that of course Jesus knew what lay ahead for all, and Jesus trusted that the beloved disciple, whom we believe is John Mark, is the youngest, and would be around the longest and could better care for Mary.
To honor and bless our parents and those around us, is to put them first. To put them first is to care for their well-being and to make arrangements for them as they present themselves. This comes from a life lived with prayer and love; with a faith placed in God to direct and guide us escpecially in delicate matters such as our parents.
PRAYER: Come, loving Spirit to our hearts and minds. Let us know how to best care for the well-being of our loved ones, especially our parents. Help us to know that in all things, even the difficult things, You are with us and provide for us. Help us to provide for our loved ones, especially our parents. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
OUR DAY OF PRAYER AND PURPOSE
Good day dear friends.
We continue to trust God to provide for us that which allows us to be God's example in all relationships, especially with and as, parents.
Here is our prayer guide for today:
Wednesday: For our day of prayer, let us be in prayer for all parents everywhere. Let us pray for our relationship with the children in our lives. Are we living a positive, role-model type life to better mentor them? If not, make this one of your prayer emphases for today. Pray for those who are struggling with their parents in relationship issues. Pray for those whose parents have aged to the point where they can no longer care for themselves and are making difficult decisions about that.Send cards of encouragement to those whom you feel need it during today and this week.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
We continue to trust God to provide for us that which allows us to be God's example in all relationships, especially with and as, parents.
Here is our prayer guide for today:
Wednesday: For our day of prayer, let us be in prayer for all parents everywhere. Let us pray for our relationship with the children in our lives. Are we living a positive, role-model type life to better mentor them? If not, make this one of your prayer emphases for today. Pray for those who are struggling with their parents in relationship issues. Pray for those whose parents have aged to the point where they can no longer care for themselves and are making difficult decisions about that.Send cards of encouragement to those whom you feel need it during today and this week.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
GOD OFFERS US FREEDOM!
Good day dear friends.
We continue to study that which affirms God's intentions for good relationships with our parents/children/others.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Let’s go back to the beginning. Paul’s passage yesterday in Ephesians comes from Exodus 20:12. Why do you suppose God would make the relationship between children and their parents such an important subject to merit being placed in the “Big Ten?” Again, ask yourself about your relationship with your parents. If you missed our service of reconciliation and blessing, today might be a good day to enter into a more positive relationship with them, even if they’re no longer with us.
Here is that verse: 12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you
A seminary professor that I know and love might say, "This commandment regarding parents comes between resting on the Sabbath and murder!" And indeed it does. It comes after those first commandments regarding our relationship with God. Those put the proper perspective on how we are to view, love, and trust God. The God commandments end with our being renewed and refreshed on the day of rest, known as the Sabbath. The human commandments, those that follow show us the proper perspective we should have towards each other, but they begin with this one that Paul said comes with a promise. If we honor our father and mother (see yesterday's ConCafe for our definition of "honor"), the promise is that we will live "long in the land that the Lord you God is giving you." The promise was first made to the people of Israel in the wilderness. A proper relationship with parents is essential at all times, but especially during difficult situations. One of the most difficult situations I ever encountered was the gift of going away to college. I looked forward to it, I was excited about it, but the reality hit me as that old Chevrolet drove away from the Lon Morris College campus. I was now alone. I have to admit I cried that first night in my bed missing my folks. I did well in college because I honored my mother and father and I would not hesitate to call them before major exams and ask them to pray for me. What an honor they shared with me as they prayed for me and that helped my study time and my exam time. I knew I really didn't have to ask for prayer for they were always praying for me, but it sure helped to tell them, "This Friday I have a big test in whatever." In the same way, Nellie and I rejoice when our girls call and ask us to pray. We're praying all the time for them, but when we know of a specific reason or date of an upcoming exam, our prayers are right there for them.
I mentioned that Sunday at the end of my sermon (which you can hear online at www.fumcsm.org) I invited folks to take a small card that we provided for them and to make the card their own. What I meant was that the card was already preprinted. It said on one side: Mother's Day 2006. The other side said, "Mom, I honor and bless you." Underneath that was a blank line. I invited folks to either love their mom through those words or to make peace with their mom, even if they were dead, through God; making those words of honor and bless, words of reconciliation and forgiveness. The only identifying mark they would make was to sign their first initial on that line. No full name, no last name, just their first initial of their first name. As led, they came to the altar and left those cards there. You can do something similar as needed in the privacy of your home. There is no need to carry around the past. Even if you had the world's worst mom and she's now dead, the memories of those incidents between she and you will trouble you until you die unless you leave them with God. "Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden" said the Lord and He meant it. We cast our anxieties and our hurts with God and God will take care of it. God offers us freedom. We need to take it.
If you're a parent and you're not doing the best job or didn't do such a good job with your kids, here's the good news. You can ask God to help you start over. My grandfather was a great example of that. It wasn't until he surrended to Jesus Christ that his life changed and he became a man of faith and prayer. I always loved him but it was sure easier to love and be inspired by a man whose faith and example was strong in the Lord. None of us are perfect, but through Christ we can be perfected in love.
What are you waiting for?
PRAYER: God of perfect love, come now and offer to me the freedom I need from my past. Help me to overcome any negative thoughts and hurts that I still carry from years ago. Give me the courage and the love to be the parent that I need to be to my children and to those around me. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
We continue to study that which affirms God's intentions for good relationships with our parents/children/others.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Let’s go back to the beginning. Paul’s passage yesterday in Ephesians comes from Exodus 20:12. Why do you suppose God would make the relationship between children and their parents such an important subject to merit being placed in the “Big Ten?” Again, ask yourself about your relationship with your parents. If you missed our service of reconciliation and blessing, today might be a good day to enter into a more positive relationship with them, even if they’re no longer with us.
Here is that verse: 12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you
A seminary professor that I know and love might say, "This commandment regarding parents comes between resting on the Sabbath and murder!" And indeed it does. It comes after those first commandments regarding our relationship with God. Those put the proper perspective on how we are to view, love, and trust God. The God commandments end with our being renewed and refreshed on the day of rest, known as the Sabbath. The human commandments, those that follow show us the proper perspective we should have towards each other, but they begin with this one that Paul said comes with a promise. If we honor our father and mother (see yesterday's ConCafe for our definition of "honor"), the promise is that we will live "long in the land that the Lord you God is giving you." The promise was first made to the people of Israel in the wilderness. A proper relationship with parents is essential at all times, but especially during difficult situations. One of the most difficult situations I ever encountered was the gift of going away to college. I looked forward to it, I was excited about it, but the reality hit me as that old Chevrolet drove away from the Lon Morris College campus. I was now alone. I have to admit I cried that first night in my bed missing my folks. I did well in college because I honored my mother and father and I would not hesitate to call them before major exams and ask them to pray for me. What an honor they shared with me as they prayed for me and that helped my study time and my exam time. I knew I really didn't have to ask for prayer for they were always praying for me, but it sure helped to tell them, "This Friday I have a big test in whatever." In the same way, Nellie and I rejoice when our girls call and ask us to pray. We're praying all the time for them, but when we know of a specific reason or date of an upcoming exam, our prayers are right there for them.
I mentioned that Sunday at the end of my sermon (which you can hear online at www.fumcsm.org) I invited folks to take a small card that we provided for them and to make the card their own. What I meant was that the card was already preprinted. It said on one side: Mother's Day 2006. The other side said, "Mom, I honor and bless you." Underneath that was a blank line. I invited folks to either love their mom through those words or to make peace with their mom, even if they were dead, through God; making those words of honor and bless, words of reconciliation and forgiveness. The only identifying mark they would make was to sign their first initial on that line. No full name, no last name, just their first initial of their first name. As led, they came to the altar and left those cards there. You can do something similar as needed in the privacy of your home. There is no need to carry around the past. Even if you had the world's worst mom and she's now dead, the memories of those incidents between she and you will trouble you until you die unless you leave them with God. "Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden" said the Lord and He meant it. We cast our anxieties and our hurts with God and God will take care of it. God offers us freedom. We need to take it.
If you're a parent and you're not doing the best job or didn't do such a good job with your kids, here's the good news. You can ask God to help you start over. My grandfather was a great example of that. It wasn't until he surrended to Jesus Christ that his life changed and he became a man of faith and prayer. I always loved him but it was sure easier to love and be inspired by a man whose faith and example was strong in the Lord. None of us are perfect, but through Christ we can be perfected in love.
What are you waiting for?
PRAYER: God of perfect love, come now and offer to me the freedom I need from my past. Help me to overcome any negative thoughts and hurts that I still carry from years ago. Give me the courage and the love to be the parent that I need to be to my children and to those around me. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Monday, May 15, 2006
TO OBEY AND HONOR
Good day dear friends. For those of you who have been praying for Pam Grout's father, here is an update from them. David and Pam Grout live and serve the UMC in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Pam's father, who lives in Lexington, was in a serious car accident:
"Dear family and friends,
I wish there was a word to give you on Geroge's staus right now but the fact is nothing has changed. He was to have surgery on Saturday at 10:00 AM. Because of emergencies and higher priority surgeries he was pushed back all day and never actually had the surgery. It looks like it won't happen now until Tuesday. Needless to say that was very frustrating and tiring for all.
George is in good spirits and his vital signs are all very good. So, they will try again in a few days and see what happens. UK Med Center is the trauma center for all of central KY so there is a never ending stream of critical situations. The same thing could happen on Tuesday!
Please keep George and Marie in your prayers. I will write again to update when there is news to share.
Blessings to all,
David"
Happy Belated Mother's Day to all the moms! We had a wonderful Sunday and our sermon was on "Who Our Parents Were/Are." We talked about what God expects and what we may have received or given from our parents or as parents ourselves. We had a service of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation at the end of the sermon.
We continue to discuss that as we study today's study guide:
Monday: Read again the passage from yesterday, Ephesians 6:1-4. Why do you suppose this passage was even written in the first place? Was there a need in this church to hear from Paul the instructions about how to live in relationships? Is there a need in your life to read those instructions to better live your life?
Here is that passage:
Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise: 3 “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” 4 And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
What church does not need to hear a sermon or a word about being more Christ-like? What church does not need to hear on a regular basis the message from God about how to act? In spite of what God shares through Sunday school lessons or sermons, not every one hears nor receives nor lives according to what is shared.
It is funny for me to read the two words used in those first two verses. When we had studied the Commandments and we came to the "Honor your father and mother" portion of them, our Sunday school teacher would automatically say, "This means to obey your parents!" No questions. Just straight Bible fact! One must obey one's parents. As children, that seemed easy enough. But as teenagers, knowing more than our parents, to obey them was another story! Why do what they say? Who wants to follow someone who seems to always say, "Do as I say, not as I do."? Where did they learn this phrase and what does it really mean other than, "I have complete power and authority over you and you must do what I say; and certainly do not copy my actions!"? Here the writer says in verse one to "obey." Then he quotes the Commandment of "Honor your father and your mother." Obedience and honor are not necessarily the same thing. Obedience means a willingness to follow and to do as commanded. As teenagers we had very little of that willingness and the "do-ing" part was seldom followed. We knew too much! Honor means to place in a category of respect that is special and elevated beyond others. To honor one's father and mother means to treasure them and realize who they are in our lives as special and meaningful.
To honor them means to appreciate them and to be thankful to them. I thank the Lord when that day of wisdom came to me and I repented of my "wisdom" and the judgment I had about the lack of wisdom on my parents' part. Honoring them became a more meaningful thing.
It's not easy to always be in a great relationship, even with our parents. As individuals we tend to have opinions that not every one shares. We have preconceived notions about almost any subject, especially parenting, and this may be the main cause of conflict between most parents and their adult children with children. It is so funny to see the shift come over those who had been stern but loving dads turn into mush when their first grandchild comes along. The same one who threatened to "spank my grandkids once they come along!" suddenly become the one who questions the need for having to raise our voice or hand to our children! "Why are you doing that to that poor baby?"
If we honor those with whom we are in relationship, we tend to enjoy a better time with them than with those we do not honor. Honor for me tends to include a provision for forgiveness and understanding including our willingness to forgive even when we know we were not at fault. In our closing service of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation, God led me to say that we may sometimes have to be the adult in those relationships with our parents or with older folks, just so that love and reonciliation may come. I've been surprised at the number of times I have said I am sorry to someone who was clearly at fault but only to have them immediately say, "No, I was the one at fault and I'm sorry." All it took was that first action on my part. And that's all it may take on yours.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank you for the model of sacrificial love we find in Jesus. We praise You for what you shared about how we should live, especially with those who have loved us and provided for us. Let me this day honor all so that all my relationships be a blessing to me. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
"Dear family and friends,
I wish there was a word to give you on Geroge's staus right now but the fact is nothing has changed. He was to have surgery on Saturday at 10:00 AM. Because of emergencies and higher priority surgeries he was pushed back all day and never actually had the surgery. It looks like it won't happen now until Tuesday. Needless to say that was very frustrating and tiring for all.
George is in good spirits and his vital signs are all very good. So, they will try again in a few days and see what happens. UK Med Center is the trauma center for all of central KY so there is a never ending stream of critical situations. The same thing could happen on Tuesday!
Please keep George and Marie in your prayers. I will write again to update when there is news to share.
Blessings to all,
David"
Happy Belated Mother's Day to all the moms! We had a wonderful Sunday and our sermon was on "Who Our Parents Were/Are." We talked about what God expects and what we may have received or given from our parents or as parents ourselves. We had a service of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation at the end of the sermon.
We continue to discuss that as we study today's study guide:
Monday: Read again the passage from yesterday, Ephesians 6:1-4. Why do you suppose this passage was even written in the first place? Was there a need in this church to hear from Paul the instructions about how to live in relationships? Is there a need in your life to read those instructions to better live your life?
Here is that passage:
Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise: 3 “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” 4 And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
What church does not need to hear a sermon or a word about being more Christ-like? What church does not need to hear on a regular basis the message from God about how to act? In spite of what God shares through Sunday school lessons or sermons, not every one hears nor receives nor lives according to what is shared.
It is funny for me to read the two words used in those first two verses. When we had studied the Commandments and we came to the "Honor your father and mother" portion of them, our Sunday school teacher would automatically say, "This means to obey your parents!" No questions. Just straight Bible fact! One must obey one's parents. As children, that seemed easy enough. But as teenagers, knowing more than our parents, to obey them was another story! Why do what they say? Who wants to follow someone who seems to always say, "Do as I say, not as I do."? Where did they learn this phrase and what does it really mean other than, "I have complete power and authority over you and you must do what I say; and certainly do not copy my actions!"? Here the writer says in verse one to "obey." Then he quotes the Commandment of "Honor your father and your mother." Obedience and honor are not necessarily the same thing. Obedience means a willingness to follow and to do as commanded. As teenagers we had very little of that willingness and the "do-ing" part was seldom followed. We knew too much! Honor means to place in a category of respect that is special and elevated beyond others. To honor one's father and mother means to treasure them and realize who they are in our lives as special and meaningful.
To honor them means to appreciate them and to be thankful to them. I thank the Lord when that day of wisdom came to me and I repented of my "wisdom" and the judgment I had about the lack of wisdom on my parents' part. Honoring them became a more meaningful thing.
It's not easy to always be in a great relationship, even with our parents. As individuals we tend to have opinions that not every one shares. We have preconceived notions about almost any subject, especially parenting, and this may be the main cause of conflict between most parents and their adult children with children. It is so funny to see the shift come over those who had been stern but loving dads turn into mush when their first grandchild comes along. The same one who threatened to "spank my grandkids once they come along!" suddenly become the one who questions the need for having to raise our voice or hand to our children! "Why are you doing that to that poor baby?"
If we honor those with whom we are in relationship, we tend to enjoy a better time with them than with those we do not honor. Honor for me tends to include a provision for forgiveness and understanding including our willingness to forgive even when we know we were not at fault. In our closing service of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation, God led me to say that we may sometimes have to be the adult in those relationships with our parents or with older folks, just so that love and reonciliation may come. I've been surprised at the number of times I have said I am sorry to someone who was clearly at fault but only to have them immediately say, "No, I was the one at fault and I'm sorry." All it took was that first action on my part. And that's all it may take on yours.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank you for the model of sacrificial love we find in Jesus. We praise You for what you shared about how we should live, especially with those who have loved us and provided for us. Let me this day honor all so that all my relationships be a blessing to me. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
AN INVITATION TO LIFE
Good day dear friends.
We continue to proclaim the presence of Jesus in our lives and He as God in our lives. Here is our study guide for The Truth About the Da Vinci Code:
Thursday: In the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38, we find there the declaration from the angel Gabriel to Mary. As he describes Jesus and Who He is to be, make that list be real to you and your life. If you’ve never had an encounter with Him as Lord and Savior, today may be that day when you ask Jesus to enter your life and to be the One to Whom you commit your life so that you find meaning and purpose for yourself and close family and friends.
Here is the passage from Luke 1: 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38 Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
Here's my list:
1. The favor of God is with those who obey and trust Him.
2. Jesus will be great.
3. Jesus will be called the Son of the Most High.
4. Jesus will receive the throne of his ancestor David.
5. Jesus will reign over the house of Jacob forever.
6. Jesus' kingdom will know no end.
7. The Holy Spirit can do anything, even those not explainable.
8. Jesus will be holy.
9. Jesus will be called the Son of God.
10. Even in the lives of those thought to be barren will be fruitful.
11. Nothing is impossible for God.
The encounter with the angel was an encoumter with the Most High. Mary, though as young as we believe her to be, had the faith to trust God and all that God offered to her for her life. Her willingness to be the mother of Jesus allowed Jesus to be born and to come as our Lord and Savior.
The invitation to us continues to be to trust God like never before. God offered His Son Jesus to be our Lord and Savior and through our asking, Jesus can be all these things and more for our lives.
As the study guide asks, if you've never had this encounter with Jesus, today is the right time, the perfect time to ask the Lord to come in and to live and reign in your life.
PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus, into my heart. Be Lord and Savior of my life. Turn me away from sin and death onto the path of everlasting life. Come, Holy Spirit, and guide me to paths of faithfulness. I ask these things in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
We continue to proclaim the presence of Jesus in our lives and He as God in our lives. Here is our study guide for The Truth About the Da Vinci Code:
Thursday: In the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38, we find there the declaration from the angel Gabriel to Mary. As he describes Jesus and Who He is to be, make that list be real to you and your life. If you’ve never had an encounter with Him as Lord and Savior, today may be that day when you ask Jesus to enter your life and to be the One to Whom you commit your life so that you find meaning and purpose for yourself and close family and friends.
Here is the passage from Luke 1: 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38 Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
Here's my list:
1. The favor of God is with those who obey and trust Him.
2. Jesus will be great.
3. Jesus will be called the Son of the Most High.
4. Jesus will receive the throne of his ancestor David.
5. Jesus will reign over the house of Jacob forever.
6. Jesus' kingdom will know no end.
7. The Holy Spirit can do anything, even those not explainable.
8. Jesus will be holy.
9. Jesus will be called the Son of God.
10. Even in the lives of those thought to be barren will be fruitful.
11. Nothing is impossible for God.
The encounter with the angel was an encoumter with the Most High. Mary, though as young as we believe her to be, had the faith to trust God and all that God offered to her for her life. Her willingness to be the mother of Jesus allowed Jesus to be born and to come as our Lord and Savior.
The invitation to us continues to be to trust God like never before. God offered His Son Jesus to be our Lord and Savior and through our asking, Jesus can be all these things and more for our lives.
As the study guide asks, if you've never had this encounter with Jesus, today is the right time, the perfect time to ask the Lord to come in and to live and reign in your life.
PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus, into my heart. Be Lord and Savior of my life. Turn me away from sin and death onto the path of everlasting life. Come, Holy Spirit, and guide me to paths of faithfulness. I ask these things in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
OKAY....
Good day dear friends.
My apologies for not sharing with you the past two days of ConCafe. It's only Wednesday, but already I've had one of those weeks. I had a full worship schedule on Sunday, complete with three sermons to preach, and three Communion celebrations. My associate pastor, Leslie Tomlinson and husband, Kit, expect the arrival of their first child, Luci True Tomlinson, at any moment! At our eleven o'clock while serving Communion I glanced over and saw she had sat down and that scared I think everyone in church! But she was just tired. At 2 p.m. I had a meeting in church. At 4 p.m. I had a district conference in north Austin. We left that meeting early to return home for our youth meeting, which was a very moving ceremony in which parents were asked to bless their graduating seniors, and there was not a dry eye in the house. Our youngest, Caitlin, is graduating from San Marcos High School on the 27th of this month! Late to bed on Sunday, up at 3:25 a.m. to catch a 6 a.m. flight to Lexington, Kentucky for my Asbury Seminary board meeting. I arrived late for my meeting and we worked well into the night (9:30 or so) and as tired as this old man I was, I hit the sack. Let me just say that I arrived at Austin with enough time to have written Monday's ConCafe. Austin for its claims of being a "silicon capital" of the nation, etc., and the home of "free wireless," blah blah, has NO FREE wireless at the airport. You must pay, and pay dearly, for accessing the internet. I don't travel enough to justify those charges. I might mention, little Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, a horse farming capital, has FREE WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS in all areas of the airport. Of course, I just landed at BGA and had no time to sit down and take advantage fo their FREE internet access. I first landed in DFW with a little time between flights and again, Texas' big banking center airport has NO FREE internet center, again with the "hot zone" and their "hot zone prices." Lexington has FREE internet access.
When I finally got to the dorm/motel that I stayed in, my room was sufficiently removed from the wireless signal that I had no internet access. Wilmore is not known for its strong signal of any nature, other than spiritual ones. There is barely, and you have to stand I think right under the John Wesley statue, holding his right hand with your left, and you get a faint cellular signal. Wilmore is not, as the locals (and these are usually the students and staff of the seminary) "the end of the world, but you can see it from here." San Marcoans would feel at home with the number of trains that rumble through it daily! Monday night in a strange bed does not help one sleep, tossed and turned, our meeting Tuesday started at 7:30 a.m.
So here it is Wednesday, I left the board meeting early to get home last night in time for our church council, which went well and is always delightful (compared to others). I thank the Lord for safe travel and for being home again.
I'll try to share just a capsule of each day's study guides. Sunday I preached "The Truth About the Da Vinci Code" given the movie starts in about 9 days. The sermon can be heard in its entirety on our church's webpage, fumcsm.org. Give it a moment or two to download. Let me say that I did read and enjoy the book very much. I didn't like the biblical and church commentaries that start on about page 230. Some of that stuff just made me laugh. I do want to stress again that the movie is going to give us Christians a wonderful opportunity to respond to our faith and help answer questions some who have no or little faith. Even Dan Brown wrote in the book that the things being discussed would not affect those Christians of strong faith. Yes, I'm going to see the movie.
Here are our study guides:
Monday: Please read Matthew 22:41-46. In this passage, Jesus is asks a question of the Pharisee as to how the Christ could be the son of David if he is called “Lord?” This passage helps us understand the divinity of Jesus. Jesus was fully man and fully God. Read Matt 22:28-34 and see what the demoniacs call Jesus. How did they know? What is your view of Jesus? Is Jesus God?
One of the claims the characters in Brown's book and movie will claim is that Jesus was not considered or made divine until the fourth century. It was at the Nicean Council (see the Nicean Creed in our hymnal to read the best result of that meeting), ordered by the emperor, to decide on matters of faith and the vote there declared Jesus to be divine. I call us back to the reading of the four gospels where people around Jesus during Jesus' day made the same claim. And Jesus was regarded and known to be God way before the idea of a council even entered anyone's head. Even the demons knew Jesus to be God (read the passage in Matthew 22!). It begs the question, how do evil spirits know and recognize the power of Jesus and we claim not to? And the one vote that will count in your life, is yours. Do you know Jesus to be YOUR God and Lord and Savior of your life?
Tuesday: Please read Matthew 27:50-56. In this passage there is a declaration made about Jesus by an interesting person. If this passage in this Gospel makes this declaration (among many), why do you suppose others think that Jesus was not divine? Have you had experiences with Jesus that have helped you understand the divinity of Jesus?
In this passage, it is the Roman centurion, on duty and "working" Jesus' execution, that makes the claim that Jesus is the Son of God. My favorite memory if that in one of the old Jesus movies, it was Ernest Borgnine, (Skipper of the PT 72 in McHale's Navy to me) who played the character, and says the words we read in Matthew. Being a boy I laughed at this radical change in characters. But the fact remains, it is our personal experiences with Jesus that help determine whether Jesus is God or not. No one can force you to believe Jesus is God. But if you're open and wanting to know Jesus and Jesus' love for you, you will. And the best way is to come to Jesus through your prayers.
Here is our prayer guide for today:
Wednesday: For our day of prayer and purpose, read a commentary or a book about the Bible that explores further evidence of Jesus’ divinity. As you pray, ask God to make Jesus more real for your life and the needs you may be having. Take home the prayer list on our bulletin and pray for each name out loud. Ask God to make Jesus real to those listed there. May God’s will be done for them and may Jesus’ love and grace be real too.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for all You provide. I thank You for the greatest gift shared with humanity, the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I pray that in all ways today I would know more the divinity of Your Son. I confess that Jesus is alive and is Your Son. I pray in His name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
Please don't forget tomorrow's Feast of Easter at 12 noon.
e.v.
My apologies for not sharing with you the past two days of ConCafe. It's only Wednesday, but already I've had one of those weeks. I had a full worship schedule on Sunday, complete with three sermons to preach, and three Communion celebrations. My associate pastor, Leslie Tomlinson and husband, Kit, expect the arrival of their first child, Luci True Tomlinson, at any moment! At our eleven o'clock while serving Communion I glanced over and saw she had sat down and that scared I think everyone in church! But she was just tired. At 2 p.m. I had a meeting in church. At 4 p.m. I had a district conference in north Austin. We left that meeting early to return home for our youth meeting, which was a very moving ceremony in which parents were asked to bless their graduating seniors, and there was not a dry eye in the house. Our youngest, Caitlin, is graduating from San Marcos High School on the 27th of this month! Late to bed on Sunday, up at 3:25 a.m. to catch a 6 a.m. flight to Lexington, Kentucky for my Asbury Seminary board meeting. I arrived late for my meeting and we worked well into the night (9:30 or so) and as tired as this old man I was, I hit the sack. Let me just say that I arrived at Austin with enough time to have written Monday's ConCafe. Austin for its claims of being a "silicon capital" of the nation, etc., and the home of "free wireless," blah blah, has NO FREE wireless at the airport. You must pay, and pay dearly, for accessing the internet. I don't travel enough to justify those charges. I might mention, little Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, a horse farming capital, has FREE WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS in all areas of the airport. Of course, I just landed at BGA and had no time to sit down and take advantage fo their FREE internet access. I first landed in DFW with a little time between flights and again, Texas' big banking center airport has NO FREE internet center, again with the "hot zone" and their "hot zone prices." Lexington has FREE internet access.
When I finally got to the dorm/motel that I stayed in, my room was sufficiently removed from the wireless signal that I had no internet access. Wilmore is not known for its strong signal of any nature, other than spiritual ones. There is barely, and you have to stand I think right under the John Wesley statue, holding his right hand with your left, and you get a faint cellular signal. Wilmore is not, as the locals (and these are usually the students and staff of the seminary) "the end of the world, but you can see it from here." San Marcoans would feel at home with the number of trains that rumble through it daily! Monday night in a strange bed does not help one sleep, tossed and turned, our meeting Tuesday started at 7:30 a.m.
So here it is Wednesday, I left the board meeting early to get home last night in time for our church council, which went well and is always delightful (compared to others). I thank the Lord for safe travel and for being home again.
I'll try to share just a capsule of each day's study guides. Sunday I preached "The Truth About the Da Vinci Code" given the movie starts in about 9 days. The sermon can be heard in its entirety on our church's webpage, fumcsm.org. Give it a moment or two to download. Let me say that I did read and enjoy the book very much. I didn't like the biblical and church commentaries that start on about page 230. Some of that stuff just made me laugh. I do want to stress again that the movie is going to give us Christians a wonderful opportunity to respond to our faith and help answer questions some who have no or little faith. Even Dan Brown wrote in the book that the things being discussed would not affect those Christians of strong faith. Yes, I'm going to see the movie.
Here are our study guides:
Monday: Please read Matthew 22:41-46. In this passage, Jesus is asks a question of the Pharisee as to how the Christ could be the son of David if he is called “Lord?” This passage helps us understand the divinity of Jesus. Jesus was fully man and fully God. Read Matt 22:28-34 and see what the demoniacs call Jesus. How did they know? What is your view of Jesus? Is Jesus God?
One of the claims the characters in Brown's book and movie will claim is that Jesus was not considered or made divine until the fourth century. It was at the Nicean Council (see the Nicean Creed in our hymnal to read the best result of that meeting), ordered by the emperor, to decide on matters of faith and the vote there declared Jesus to be divine. I call us back to the reading of the four gospels where people around Jesus during Jesus' day made the same claim. And Jesus was regarded and known to be God way before the idea of a council even entered anyone's head. Even the demons knew Jesus to be God (read the passage in Matthew 22!). It begs the question, how do evil spirits know and recognize the power of Jesus and we claim not to? And the one vote that will count in your life, is yours. Do you know Jesus to be YOUR God and Lord and Savior of your life?
Tuesday: Please read Matthew 27:50-56. In this passage there is a declaration made about Jesus by an interesting person. If this passage in this Gospel makes this declaration (among many), why do you suppose others think that Jesus was not divine? Have you had experiences with Jesus that have helped you understand the divinity of Jesus?
In this passage, it is the Roman centurion, on duty and "working" Jesus' execution, that makes the claim that Jesus is the Son of God. My favorite memory if that in one of the old Jesus movies, it was Ernest Borgnine, (Skipper of the PT 72 in McHale's Navy to me) who played the character, and says the words we read in Matthew. Being a boy I laughed at this radical change in characters. But the fact remains, it is our personal experiences with Jesus that help determine whether Jesus is God or not. No one can force you to believe Jesus is God. But if you're open and wanting to know Jesus and Jesus' love for you, you will. And the best way is to come to Jesus through your prayers.
Here is our prayer guide for today:
Wednesday: For our day of prayer and purpose, read a commentary or a book about the Bible that explores further evidence of Jesus’ divinity. As you pray, ask God to make Jesus more real for your life and the needs you may be having. Take home the prayer list on our bulletin and pray for each name out loud. Ask God to make Jesus real to those listed there. May God’s will be done for them and may Jesus’ love and grace be real too.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for all You provide. I thank You for the greatest gift shared with humanity, the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I pray that in all ways today I would know more the divinity of Your Son. I confess that Jesus is alive and is Your Son. I pray in His name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
Please don't forget tomorrow's Feast of Easter at 12 noon.
e.v.
Friday, May 05, 2006
OUR DAY OF PRAYER
Good day dear friends.
We continue to pray that God would open our minds to fully understand His word. Here is our prayer guide for today:
Friday: Today is our day of prayer. Let us be in prayer for God to move among His people as other things seek to close our minds and eyes to spiritual things. Let this day be a spiritual awakening day. Let God bring new life and renewed purpose to you! Use that energy to spread God’s love among the people of the earth.
Have a great and blessed day and a wonderful weekend.
e.v.
We continue to pray that God would open our minds to fully understand His word. Here is our prayer guide for today:
Friday: Today is our day of prayer. Let us be in prayer for God to move among His people as other things seek to close our minds and eyes to spiritual things. Let this day be a spiritual awakening day. Let God bring new life and renewed purpose to you! Use that energy to spread God’s love among the people of the earth.
Have a great and blessed day and a wonderful weekend.
e.v.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
CHANGES FOR MY LIFE
Good day dear friends.
Please don't forget our Feast of Easter worship today at noon in Lowman Chapel, followed by our physical "feast" in the Activity Building.
Please be in prayer for those families of the church who are "sharing" viruses and bugs. May the Lord bring healing to them all!
Here is our study guide for today as we continue to ask God to open our minds to understand:
Thursday: For today read Saul’s conversion story in Acts 9. Please note the change that came to his life, especially when his “eyes were opened.” Do you think a change like that is still possible today in a person’s life? Do you think you need a change or opening of your mind/eyes to God’s moving? If, as Hebrews 13:8 says, true, then yes, Jesus can change lives. Be open to God moving in your life.
Saul's conversion was completely unexpected. Saul had it made for his day and age. Young, powerful, well-educated, well-connected, and extremely religious. He was a Pharisee by training, though his work was more of a lawyer for that sect. He hated Christians in his love for God. Read that sentence again. He believed he was best serving God by hating those who believed in Jesus. In his zest for stopping this movement called "the Way," he obtained permission to arrest all Christians in Damascus. On his way there was when he was knocked off his "high horse" as it was, by the risen Christ. Called by name, Jesus asked Saul why he was doing what he was doing. Blinded by the light that appeared with Jesus, Saul was blind for three days while he prayed and fasted. This was something Saul had always done, but now it was done in the fear of the Lord and it was the Lord who opened his mind before his eyes, to see what God was going to do with his life.
Such changes still continue in the lives of people. Most of the time the person seeks Christ and finds him. Just this morning in our morning Emmaus reunion group, one of the members shared how he meet a carnival worker who stayed behind after one of the carnivals left town. Homeless, the man sought food. This brother bought him used clothes and secured for him a place to stay where he could shower and dress. This morning that man told this brother that he was returning home to Arkansas and he handed our brother (who is a pastor), an envelope and said, "This is my tithe." The man had been talking with this pastor in previous days as to how the Lord became real to him and had helped him change his life. We pray for this young man in his trip home that all will go in ways that bless him and God.
Are you open to God's leading? Does your life need changing? Do you need the power of the Lord to change a habit or pattern in your life? Then receive the Good News: Jesus Christ never changes. Jesus is the same as He was yesterday, He is the same today, and will remain the same forever.
PRAYER: God of power and might, please come to my heart and work in it the changes that need to be made. Let me be aware of those things that need to die in my life and let new life come to replace them. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Please don't forget our Feast of Easter worship today at noon in Lowman Chapel, followed by our physical "feast" in the Activity Building.
Please be in prayer for those families of the church who are "sharing" viruses and bugs. May the Lord bring healing to them all!
Here is our study guide for today as we continue to ask God to open our minds to understand:
Thursday: For today read Saul’s conversion story in Acts 9. Please note the change that came to his life, especially when his “eyes were opened.” Do you think a change like that is still possible today in a person’s life? Do you think you need a change or opening of your mind/eyes to God’s moving? If, as Hebrews 13:8 says, true, then yes, Jesus can change lives. Be open to God moving in your life.
Saul's conversion was completely unexpected. Saul had it made for his day and age. Young, powerful, well-educated, well-connected, and extremely religious. He was a Pharisee by training, though his work was more of a lawyer for that sect. He hated Christians in his love for God. Read that sentence again. He believed he was best serving God by hating those who believed in Jesus. In his zest for stopping this movement called "the Way," he obtained permission to arrest all Christians in Damascus. On his way there was when he was knocked off his "high horse" as it was, by the risen Christ. Called by name, Jesus asked Saul why he was doing what he was doing. Blinded by the light that appeared with Jesus, Saul was blind for three days while he prayed and fasted. This was something Saul had always done, but now it was done in the fear of the Lord and it was the Lord who opened his mind before his eyes, to see what God was going to do with his life.
Such changes still continue in the lives of people. Most of the time the person seeks Christ and finds him. Just this morning in our morning Emmaus reunion group, one of the members shared how he meet a carnival worker who stayed behind after one of the carnivals left town. Homeless, the man sought food. This brother bought him used clothes and secured for him a place to stay where he could shower and dress. This morning that man told this brother that he was returning home to Arkansas and he handed our brother (who is a pastor), an envelope and said, "This is my tithe." The man had been talking with this pastor in previous days as to how the Lord became real to him and had helped him change his life. We pray for this young man in his trip home that all will go in ways that bless him and God.
Are you open to God's leading? Does your life need changing? Do you need the power of the Lord to change a habit or pattern in your life? Then receive the Good News: Jesus Christ never changes. Jesus is the same as He was yesterday, He is the same today, and will remain the same forever.
PRAYER: God of power and might, please come to my heart and work in it the changes that need to be made. Let me be aware of those things that need to die in my life and let new life come to replace them. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Oh yes, Tuesday!
Good evening (or good morning)dear friends.
Here is our Tuesday study guide:
Tuesday: Read Luke 24:13-27. This is the famous Walk to Emmaus passage in which the risen Christ walks with the disciples. They don’t recognize Jesus until He “breaks bread” with them and then he opened the scriptures to them. Read this passage and see what wonderful things God can still do as we prayerfully study His word.
Here is that passage NRSV: 13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" 19 He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." 25 Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
And we scroll down to these verses: 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
It was through this "breaking of the bread" that the disciples realized with whom they were dining. The act of fellowship, of sharing bread, allowed the eyes of the disciples to have their eyes opened. They recognized Jesus and they shared how they felt their "hearts burning" within them while Jesus shared the scriptures with them.
God established the church to provide those fellowship and worship experiences in which God can open our eyes to recognize Jesus and to have our eyes opened in the reading of scriptures. While the church isn't the only place this can happen, it is a starting point. It becomes a wonderful experience for families to experience God's continued work in their midst and especially during situations of pain and hurt. These who were mourning the loss of their teacher, found the teacher in their midst after they shared in fellowship and worship. Their mourning turned to joy; their hopelessness turned to hope and faith. They realized the awesomeness of God and how God can still work in our midst and needs.
PRAYER: Gracious God, we thank You for the way you continue to work in our midst. Open our eyes to understand scripture and to find that which we need to serve You. Comfort those who mourn. Use us to bring hope and life to those who need it. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a restful night and a great day tomorrow!
e.v.
Here is our Tuesday study guide:
Tuesday: Read Luke 24:13-27. This is the famous Walk to Emmaus passage in which the risen Christ walks with the disciples. They don’t recognize Jesus until He “breaks bread” with them and then he opened the scriptures to them. Read this passage and see what wonderful things God can still do as we prayerfully study His word.
Here is that passage NRSV: 13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" 19 He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." 25 Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
And we scroll down to these verses: 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
It was through this "breaking of the bread" that the disciples realized with whom they were dining. The act of fellowship, of sharing bread, allowed the eyes of the disciples to have their eyes opened. They recognized Jesus and they shared how they felt their "hearts burning" within them while Jesus shared the scriptures with them.
God established the church to provide those fellowship and worship experiences in which God can open our eyes to recognize Jesus and to have our eyes opened in the reading of scriptures. While the church isn't the only place this can happen, it is a starting point. It becomes a wonderful experience for families to experience God's continued work in their midst and especially during situations of pain and hurt. These who were mourning the loss of their teacher, found the teacher in their midst after they shared in fellowship and worship. Their mourning turned to joy; their hopelessness turned to hope and faith. They realized the awesomeness of God and how God can still work in our midst and needs.
PRAYER: Gracious God, we thank You for the way you continue to work in our midst. Open our eyes to understand scripture and to find that which we need to serve You. Comfort those who mourn. Use us to bring hope and life to those who need it. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a restful night and a great day tomorrow!
e.v.
WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE?
Good day dear friends.
I am the grandson of immigrants. My mom's dad and I believe mom, were from Mexico. Yesterday I sent out no ConCafe in solidarity with those who were making their plight known to us. As a pastor of the Gospel I only want us to love one another and to show compassion to each other as those who believe and follow Christ. I listened very briefly to radio talk shows last evening and I heard anything but love and compassion. I heard ignorance and fear. We should not operate in that way. We as sons and daughters of the most High should live as those who have experienced mercy and should show same to others, especially the less fortunate.
On Sunday, we studied the passage from Luke that had the disciples receiving a visit from the risen Jesus and their reaction to this unexplainable thing. It wasn't until the Lord opened their minds did they understand what the scriptures had said to them. Our sermon was precisely on that subject and how much we may be missing out by not studying the Bible with prayerful, open minds.
Here's our study guide for today:
Monday: Open our minds to understand, indeed! Reread the passage from yesterday’s sermon. Then go to the Book of Acts, chapter 8, verses 26 through 40. What is the message of this story? With whom do you identify in this story? Why? What’s keeping you from fully understanding God’s word for your life?
Sunday's passage was from Luke 24:36b:Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
Today's passage: Acts 8:26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go toward the south {Or [go at noon]} to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Ga'za." (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Canda'ce, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isai'ah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to this chariot and join it." 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isai'ah. He asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 He replied, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth." 34 The eunuch asked Philip, "About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?" {Other ancient authorities add all or most of verse 37, And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azo'tus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesare'a.
With whom do you identify in this story? Two choices: Philip or the Ethiopian. Philip is a disciple, a believer, one who believed in Jesus and had his mind opened by Him. The Ethiopian wanted to believe and was reading passages from his Bible, a passage from Isaiah. The Ethiopian was reading aloud and Philip comes alongside him and hears him. Philip asks him if he understood what he was reading. The reply was no, because no one explained it to him. (He hadn't gone to church or Sundays school, in other words!) Philip takes advantage of the opportunity and proclaims the gospel of Jesus to him. The Ethiopian believed and requested baptism. Great story. More so, if it applies to you and your reading and understanding of the Bible.
The message of the story if that God can use us to help explain scripture to others or can use someone else to explain scripture to us. If we are willing and if we begin our study with prayer and an openness to the leading of God.
We can list 1,001 excuses for not understanding and most of those will center on the fact taht we're not praying and not making time to read God's word as we should. What's your excuse? How can God remove that from your life?
PRAYER: God of us all, shower me with love and compassion. Make me a person whose very life shows that I belong to You. Remove from my life that which keeps me from understanding all things. I pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
May the Lord bless you and keep you! Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
I am the grandson of immigrants. My mom's dad and I believe mom, were from Mexico. Yesterday I sent out no ConCafe in solidarity with those who were making their plight known to us. As a pastor of the Gospel I only want us to love one another and to show compassion to each other as those who believe and follow Christ. I listened very briefly to radio talk shows last evening and I heard anything but love and compassion. I heard ignorance and fear. We should not operate in that way. We as sons and daughters of the most High should live as those who have experienced mercy and should show same to others, especially the less fortunate.
On Sunday, we studied the passage from Luke that had the disciples receiving a visit from the risen Jesus and their reaction to this unexplainable thing. It wasn't until the Lord opened their minds did they understand what the scriptures had said to them. Our sermon was precisely on that subject and how much we may be missing out by not studying the Bible with prayerful, open minds.
Here's our study guide for today:
Monday: Open our minds to understand, indeed! Reread the passage from yesterday’s sermon. Then go to the Book of Acts, chapter 8, verses 26 through 40. What is the message of this story? With whom do you identify in this story? Why? What’s keeping you from fully understanding God’s word for your life?
Sunday's passage was from Luke 24:36b:Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
Today's passage: Acts 8:26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go toward the south {Or [go at noon]} to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Ga'za." (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Canda'ce, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isai'ah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to this chariot and join it." 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isai'ah. He asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 He replied, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth." 34 The eunuch asked Philip, "About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?" {Other ancient authorities add all or most of verse 37, And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azo'tus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesare'a.
With whom do you identify in this story? Two choices: Philip or the Ethiopian. Philip is a disciple, a believer, one who believed in Jesus and had his mind opened by Him. The Ethiopian wanted to believe and was reading passages from his Bible, a passage from Isaiah. The Ethiopian was reading aloud and Philip comes alongside him and hears him. Philip asks him if he understood what he was reading. The reply was no, because no one explained it to him. (He hadn't gone to church or Sundays school, in other words!) Philip takes advantage of the opportunity and proclaims the gospel of Jesus to him. The Ethiopian believed and requested baptism. Great story. More so, if it applies to you and your reading and understanding of the Bible.
The message of the story if that God can use us to help explain scripture to others or can use someone else to explain scripture to us. If we are willing and if we begin our study with prayer and an openness to the leading of God.
We can list 1,001 excuses for not understanding and most of those will center on the fact taht we're not praying and not making time to read God's word as we should. What's your excuse? How can God remove that from your life?
PRAYER: God of us all, shower me with love and compassion. Make me a person whose very life shows that I belong to You. Remove from my life that which keeps me from understanding all things. I pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
May the Lord bless you and keep you! Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE?
Good day dear friends.
I am the grandson of immigrants. My mom's dad and I believe mom, were from Mexico. Yesterday I sent out no ConCafe in solidarity with those who were making their plight known to us. As a pastor of the Gospel I only want us to love one another and to show compassion to each other as those who believe and follow Christ. I listened very briefly to radio talk shows last evening and I heard anything but love and compassion. I heard ignorance and fear. We should not operate in that way. We as sons and daughters of the most High should live as those who have experienced mercy and should show same to others, especially the less fortunate.
On Sunday, we studied the passage from Luke that had the disciples receiving a visit from the risen Jesus and their reaction to this unexplainable thing. It wasn't until the Lord opened their minds did they understand what the scriptures had said to them. Our sermon was precisely on that subject and how much we may be missing out by not studying the Bible with prayerful, open minds.
Here's our study guide for today:
Monday: Open our minds to understand, indeed! Reread the passage from yesterday’s sermon. Then go to the Book of Acts, chapter 8, verses 26 through 40. What is the message of this story? With whom do you identify in this story? Why? What’s keeping you from fully understanding God’s word for your life?
Sunday's passage was from Luke 24:36b:Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
Today's passage: Acts 8:26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go toward the south {Or [go at noon]} to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Ga'za." (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Canda'ce, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isai'ah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to this chariot and join it." 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isai'ah. He asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 He replied, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth." 34 The eunuch asked Philip, "About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?" {Other ancient authorities add all or most of verse 37, And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azo'tus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesare'a.
With whom do you identify in this story? Two choices: Philip or the Ethiopian. Philip is a disciple, a believer, one who believed in Jesus and had his mind opened by Him. The Ethiopian wanted to believe and was reading passages from his Bible, a passage from Isaiah. The Ethiopian was reading aloud and Philip comes alongside him and hears him. Philip asks him if he understood what he was reading. The reply was no, because no one explained it to him. (He hadn't gone to church or Sundays school, in other words!) Philip takes advantage of the opportunity and proclaims the gospel of Jesus to him. The Ethiopian believed and requested baptism. Great story. More so, if it applies to you and your reading and understanding of the Bible.
The message of the story if that God can use us to help explain scripture to others or can use someone else to explain scripture to us. If we are willing and if we begin our study with prayer and an openness to the leading of God.
We can list 1,001 excuses for not understanding and most of those will center on the fact taht we're not praying and not making time to read God's word as we should. What's your excuse? How can God remove that from your life?
PRAYER: God of us all, shower me with love and compassion. Make me a person whose very life shows that I belong to You. Remove from my life that which keeps me from understanding all things. I pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
May the Lord bless you and keep you! Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
I am the grandson of immigrants. My mom's dad and I believe mom, were from Mexico. Yesterday I sent out no ConCafe in solidarity with those who were making their plight known to us. As a pastor of the Gospel I only want us to love one another and to show compassion to each other as those who believe and follow Christ. I listened very briefly to radio talk shows last evening and I heard anything but love and compassion. I heard ignorance and fear. We should not operate in that way. We as sons and daughters of the most High should live as those who have experienced mercy and should show same to others, especially the less fortunate.
On Sunday, we studied the passage from Luke that had the disciples receiving a visit from the risen Jesus and their reaction to this unexplainable thing. It wasn't until the Lord opened their minds did they understand what the scriptures had said to them. Our sermon was precisely on that subject and how much we may be missing out by not studying the Bible with prayerful, open minds.
Here's our study guide for today:
Monday: Open our minds to understand, indeed! Reread the passage from yesterday’s sermon. Then go to the Book of Acts, chapter 8, verses 26 through 40. What is the message of this story? With whom do you identify in this story? Why? What’s keeping you from fully understanding God’s word for your life?
Sunday's passage was from Luke 24:36b:Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
Today's passage: Acts 8:26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go toward the south {Or [go at noon]} to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Ga'za." (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Canda'ce, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isai'ah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to this chariot and join it." 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isai'ah. He asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 He replied, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth." 34 The eunuch asked Philip, "About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?" {Other ancient authorities add all or most of verse 37, And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azo'tus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesare'a.
With whom do you identify in this story? Two choices: Philip or the Ethiopian. Philip is a disciple, a believer, one who believed in Jesus and had his mind opened by Him. The Ethiopian wanted to believe and was reading passages from his Bible, a passage from Isaiah. The Ethiopian was reading aloud and Philip comes alongside him and hears him. Philip asks him if he understood what he was reading. The reply was no, because no one explained it to him. (He hadn't gone to church or Sundays school, in other words!) Philip takes advantage of the opportunity and proclaims the gospel of Jesus to him. The Ethiopian believed and requested baptism. Great story. More so, if it applies to you and your reading and understanding of the Bible.
The message of the story if that God can use us to help explain scripture to others or can use someone else to explain scripture to us. If we are willing and if we begin our study with prayer and an openness to the leading of God.
We can list 1,001 excuses for not understanding and most of those will center on the fact taht we're not praying and not making time to read God's word as we should. What's your excuse? How can God remove that from your life?
PRAYER: God of us all, shower me with love and compassion. Make me a person whose very life shows that I belong to You. Remove from my life that which keeps me from understanding all things. I pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
May the Lord bless you and keep you! Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE?
Good day dear friends.
I am the grandson of immigrants. My mom's dad and I believe mom, were from Mexico. Yesterday I sent out no ConCafe in solidarity with those who were making their plight known to us. As a pastor of the Gospel I only want us to love one another and to show compassion to each other as those who believe and follow Christ. I listened very briefly to radio talk shows last evening and I heard anything but love and compassion. I heard ignorance and fear. We should not operate in that way. We as sons and daughters of the most High should live as those who have experienced mercy and should show same to others, especially the less fortunate.
On Sunday, we studied the passage from Luke that had the disciples receiving a visit from the risen Jesus and their reaction to this unexplainable thing. It wasn't until the Lord opened their minds did they understand what the scriptures had said to them. Our sermon was precisely on that subject and how much we may be missing out by not studying the Bible with prayerful, open minds.
Here's our study guide for today:
Monday: Open our minds to understand, indeed! Reread the passage from yesterday’s sermon. Then go to the Book of Acts, chapter 8, verses 26 through 40. What is the message of this story? With whom do you identify in this story? Why? What’s keeping you from fully understanding God’s word for your life?
Sunday's passage was from Luke 24:36b:Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
Today's passage: Acts 8:26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go toward the south {Or [go at noon]} to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Ga'za." (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Canda'ce, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isai'ah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to this chariot and join it." 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isai'ah. He asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 He replied, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth." 34 The eunuch asked Philip, "About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?" {Other ancient authorities add all or most of verse 37, And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azo'tus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesare'a.
With whom do you identify in this story? Two choices: Philip or the Ethiopian. Philip is a disciple, a believer, one who believed in Jesus and had his mind opened by Him. The Ethiopian wanted to believe and was reading passages from his Bible, a passage from Isaiah. The Ethiopian was reading aloud and Philip comes alongside him and hears him. Philip asks him if he understood what he was reading. The reply was no, because no one explained it to him. (He hadn't gone to church or Sundays school, in other words!) Philip takes advantage of the opportunity and proclaims the gospel of Jesus to him. The Ethiopian believed and requested baptism. Great story. More so, if it applies to you and your reading and understanding of the Bible.
The message of the story if that God can use us to help explain scripture to others or can use someone else to explain scripture to us. If we are willing and if we begin our study with prayer and an openness to the leading of God.
We can list 1,001 excuses for not understanding and most of those will center on the fact taht we're not praying and not making time to read God's word as we should. What's your excuse? How can God remove that from your life?
PRAYER: God of us all, shower me with love and compassion. Make me a person whose very life shows that I belong to You. Remove from my life that which keeps me from understanding all things. I pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
May the Lord bless you and keep you! Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
I am the grandson of immigrants. My mom's dad and I believe mom, were from Mexico. Yesterday I sent out no ConCafe in solidarity with those who were making their plight known to us. As a pastor of the Gospel I only want us to love one another and to show compassion to each other as those who believe and follow Christ. I listened very briefly to radio talk shows last evening and I heard anything but love and compassion. I heard ignorance and fear. We should not operate in that way. We as sons and daughters of the most High should live as those who have experienced mercy and should show same to others, especially the less fortunate.
On Sunday, we studied the passage from Luke that had the disciples receiving a visit from the risen Jesus and their reaction to this unexplainable thing. It wasn't until the Lord opened their minds did they understand what the scriptures had said to them. Our sermon was precisely on that subject and how much we may be missing out by not studying the Bible with prayerful, open minds.
Here's our study guide for today:
Monday: Open our minds to understand, indeed! Reread the passage from yesterday’s sermon. Then go to the Book of Acts, chapter 8, verses 26 through 40. What is the message of this story? With whom do you identify in this story? Why? What’s keeping you from fully understanding God’s word for your life?
Sunday's passage was from Luke 24:36b:Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
Today's passage: Acts 8:26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go toward the south {Or [go at noon]} to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Ga'za." (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Canda'ce, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isai'ah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to this chariot and join it." 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isai'ah. He asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 He replied, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth." 34 The eunuch asked Philip, "About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?" {Other ancient authorities add all or most of verse 37, And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azo'tus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesare'a.
With whom do you identify in this story? Two choices: Philip or the Ethiopian. Philip is a disciple, a believer, one who believed in Jesus and had his mind opened by Him. The Ethiopian wanted to believe and was reading passages from his Bible, a passage from Isaiah. The Ethiopian was reading aloud and Philip comes alongside him and hears him. Philip asks him if he understood what he was reading. The reply was no, because no one explained it to him. (He hadn't gone to church or Sundays school, in other words!) Philip takes advantage of the opportunity and proclaims the gospel of Jesus to him. The Ethiopian believed and requested baptism. Great story. More so, if it applies to you and your reading and understanding of the Bible.
The message of the story if that God can use us to help explain scripture to others or can use someone else to explain scripture to us. If we are willing and if we begin our study with prayer and an openness to the leading of God.
We can list 1,001 excuses for not understanding and most of those will center on the fact taht we're not praying and not making time to read God's word as we should. What's your excuse? How can God remove that from your life?
PRAYER: God of us all, shower me with love and compassion. Make me a person whose very life shows that I belong to You. Remove from my life that which keeps me from understanding all things. I pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
May the Lord bless you and keep you! Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
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