Good day dear friends.
We continue to study Accountability in our relationship with God and what is involved in that.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: In Exodus 4:10-17 we find the classic “I don’t want to do this” encounter between God and Moses. Please read that passage and figure out where you would have stood had God called you to do something that didn’t seem that appealing or inviting. Or perhaps God has and you haven’t yet said yes. Why or Why not?
Here is that passage from Exodus 4:10 But Moses said to the Lord, "O my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor even now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." 11 Then the Lord said to him, "Who gives speech to mortals? Who makes them mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak." 13 But he said, "O my Lord, please send someone else." 14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, "What of your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he can speak fluently; even now he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you his heart will be glad. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do. 16 He indeed shall speak for you to the people; he shall serve as a mouth for you, and you shall serve as God for him. 17 Take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs."
Moses is another name for you and me. Why? Because you and I have been blessed by God, we've seen the greatness and power of God, and yet when God asks something of us, we are so more ready to say no than we are yes. Moses' excuse was that he had "never been eloquent." He said, "I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." Do you think Moses was saying, "God, this is your fault!"? No, not necessarily, but Moses was ready with the excuse for not doing what God was asking but God is quick to remind Moses that it is God who gives speech to the mortals and that God would be with him as he would go about doing the work of God. Yet, Moses says a second time, "O my Lord, please send someone else." Talk about pushing your luck! God, though, lovingly says, okay, we'll do this using your brother Aaron. God found a suitable way to make this work.
What has God called you to do? Why have you said no, if that's the case? God has all power to help us accomplish God's purposes for our lives and God's will. Why do we resist? How can we, in our relationship with God, not be accountable or reliable to the Lord as He may need us? Let today be the day of finally deciding, I will do God's will. I will go and do what God has asked of me, for I go not alone, but with the power and backing of God for my life.
PRAYER: Come, Lord God and make me obedient to You. Let me say Yes! to You and what You have asked of me. Let me seek ways to please You and bring others to know You. I ask this in Christ Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Friday, October 27, 2006
IN MY DADDY'S HOUSE
Good day dear friends.
Here is our prayer guide for today: Friday: This is our day of prayer. Let us join our hearts and minds and spirits in prayer for all Christian worship to be centered on Christ. Let us realize and know that worship is not about us, but about God and God’s amazing love as shown through Jesus Christ. Pick up the phone book and find in the yellow pages the church section and pray for churches by name! You’ll never know the wonderful blessings that will come to those for whom you pray!
I also offer this prayer based on Psalm 23 based on an incident yesterday in our office. A young man, though weathered by years of hard drinking, was at the end of his rope. His name will appear in our prayer list this Sunday and I ask we pray that he find the road to his Dad's house where he feels he is always welcome. He left for Tampa, Florida, in hopes his father would receive him and house him for a week or so while he investigates possible detox programs. So, when you see David Wells, you'll know a bit of his story and his need. Pray that God would indeed bless him with a new life as he and I prayed. Ask that God would help him leave behind the destructive life that he had lived for so long and that a new life in Christ, as we also pray he receive, might be real for him now and forever.
AT MY DADDY'S HOUSE I'M ALWAYS WELCOME.
Heaven Father, I thank You for always receiving me with open arms. In Your house you give me rest and all that I need so that I can be restored. I find newness and refreshing in you. I thank you because part of that refreshing comes in knowing you guide me. In Your house I know that I am never alone and no matter what I may face in this life I am never alone, You are with me! And not only are You with me, You possess all that I need to overcome what I face. Great feasting will be mine in Your house even in the face of those who have come against me. I thank you for not only embracing me but dressing me with Your goodness and love to go with me all the days of my life. And when this life is over, I will dwell in Your house forever. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Here is our prayer guide for today: Friday: This is our day of prayer. Let us join our hearts and minds and spirits in prayer for all Christian worship to be centered on Christ. Let us realize and know that worship is not about us, but about God and God’s amazing love as shown through Jesus Christ. Pick up the phone book and find in the yellow pages the church section and pray for churches by name! You’ll never know the wonderful blessings that will come to those for whom you pray!
I also offer this prayer based on Psalm 23 based on an incident yesterday in our office. A young man, though weathered by years of hard drinking, was at the end of his rope. His name will appear in our prayer list this Sunday and I ask we pray that he find the road to his Dad's house where he feels he is always welcome. He left for Tampa, Florida, in hopes his father would receive him and house him for a week or so while he investigates possible detox programs. So, when you see David Wells, you'll know a bit of his story and his need. Pray that God would indeed bless him with a new life as he and I prayed. Ask that God would help him leave behind the destructive life that he had lived for so long and that a new life in Christ, as we also pray he receive, might be real for him now and forever.
AT MY DADDY'S HOUSE I'M ALWAYS WELCOME.
Heaven Father, I thank You for always receiving me with open arms. In Your house you give me rest and all that I need so that I can be restored. I find newness and refreshing in you. I thank you because part of that refreshing comes in knowing you guide me. In Your house I know that I am never alone and no matter what I may face in this life I am never alone, You are with me! And not only are You with me, You possess all that I need to overcome what I face. Great feasting will be mine in Your house even in the face of those who have come against me. I thank you for not only embracing me but dressing me with Your goodness and love to go with me all the days of my life. And when this life is over, I will dwell in Your house forever. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
PROPER DRESS FOR WORSHIP
Good day dear friends.
We continue to affirm different styles of worship and the centrality of God in worship. If it were not for God, we would not have worship; we are but those who put on worship for God's glory. We can be and should be blessed by being active participants in it.
Here is our study guide for today: Thursday: Please find Galatians 6:11-16 and read there another difference in worship between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. How does this difference speak to you about your worship life? Does your worship of God depend on what others think of you and how you worship? If so, what has to change to keep this from being the case?
Here is the passage from Galatians 6:11 See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. 14 May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! 16 As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
The earliest disagreement between Christians was about the holding to Jewish requirements before coming a Christian. In other words, should Christians become Jews first, then Christians? Or can one become a Christian without becoming a Jew? For us the answer is the latter, but for those being converted by Paul and others, who were Gentiles, they were being pressured by Jewish Christians to receive the sign of the covenant, which was circumcision. You know Paul's response for in verse 15 "For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything!" This follows what I said Sunday about the days when men and women wore hats to church and it was almost an unspoken requirement for admission into the church. Once hats were no longer an issue, the wearing of suits was. Men and boys were "expected" to wear a suit to church or they were not dressed properly and were considered poor or ill informed about "proper dress" for worship. An old email story made its way to my mailbox yesterday about a church wanting to start a ministry to university students but did not know how and it just so happened that a young man recently converted to Christianity wanted to worship there but did not know about "proper dress" and walked in with torn jeans, t-shirt, tennis shoes. He sought a place to sit and could not find one and just wandered up to the altar area and sat on the carpet. One of the older ushers and well-respected members of the church who walked with a cane, saw this and started making his way up the aisle with the tip tap of his cane marking his every step. Some folks just knew what he was going to do and sadly most agreed that this was necessary. To everyone's surprise, the old man reached the young man, and with all the effort it took him, made himself sit on the carpet next to the young man, hugged a welcome to him and sat with him so that the young man would not be alone. This was the message for the morning and one that all there would not soon forget.
How do you suppose you would react to something like this "out of the ordinary" in your "custom" of worship? Do you and your church welcome the ones not in "proper dress?" Do you yourself welcome these with outward expressions?
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for those who seek You even if they do not come in proper dress or know the established rituals of worship. Help me to welcome and love them, in the way You welcomed and loved me when I first came to You. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
We continue to affirm different styles of worship and the centrality of God in worship. If it were not for God, we would not have worship; we are but those who put on worship for God's glory. We can be and should be blessed by being active participants in it.
Here is our study guide for today: Thursday: Please find Galatians 6:11-16 and read there another difference in worship between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. How does this difference speak to you about your worship life? Does your worship of God depend on what others think of you and how you worship? If so, what has to change to keep this from being the case?
Here is the passage from Galatians 6:11 See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. 14 May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! 16 As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
The earliest disagreement between Christians was about the holding to Jewish requirements before coming a Christian. In other words, should Christians become Jews first, then Christians? Or can one become a Christian without becoming a Jew? For us the answer is the latter, but for those being converted by Paul and others, who were Gentiles, they were being pressured by Jewish Christians to receive the sign of the covenant, which was circumcision. You know Paul's response for in verse 15 "For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything!" This follows what I said Sunday about the days when men and women wore hats to church and it was almost an unspoken requirement for admission into the church. Once hats were no longer an issue, the wearing of suits was. Men and boys were "expected" to wear a suit to church or they were not dressed properly and were considered poor or ill informed about "proper dress" for worship. An old email story made its way to my mailbox yesterday about a church wanting to start a ministry to university students but did not know how and it just so happened that a young man recently converted to Christianity wanted to worship there but did not know about "proper dress" and walked in with torn jeans, t-shirt, tennis shoes. He sought a place to sit and could not find one and just wandered up to the altar area and sat on the carpet. One of the older ushers and well-respected members of the church who walked with a cane, saw this and started making his way up the aisle with the tip tap of his cane marking his every step. Some folks just knew what he was going to do and sadly most agreed that this was necessary. To everyone's surprise, the old man reached the young man, and with all the effort it took him, made himself sit on the carpet next to the young man, hugged a welcome to him and sat with him so that the young man would not be alone. This was the message for the morning and one that all there would not soon forget.
How do you suppose you would react to something like this "out of the ordinary" in your "custom" of worship? Do you and your church welcome the ones not in "proper dress?" Do you yourself welcome these with outward expressions?
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for those who seek You even if they do not come in proper dress or know the established rituals of worship. Help me to welcome and love them, in the way You welcomed and loved me when I first came to You. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
OUR DAY OF PRAYER AND PURPOSE
Good day dear friends.
Today is our day of prayer.
Here is our prayer guide for today: Wednesday: For our day of prayer and purpose, let us be in prayer for our worship lives. May our prayers today reflect true worship of God as we pray with all our heart, soul, and mind. May we lift up to the Lord true obedience and love. Your purpose today is to simply listen to God as God seeks to share with you that which you need as you worship Him.
Here is a Psalm of worship, Psalm 150, the last Psalm:
Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Dear God, keep me mindful of the true purpose of worship. It's about You and my praising You. I should praise You in church, in all the earth! I should praise You for Your mighty works, for Your work is unmeasurable as is Your greatness. Worship is about using all instruments that sound a song of praise, brass instruments, stringed instruments, tambourines and even dance! Worship is reverent in our hearts but on the outside it should be a loud noise of praise! I praise YOU! Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Today is our day of prayer.
Here is our prayer guide for today: Wednesday: For our day of prayer and purpose, let us be in prayer for our worship lives. May our prayers today reflect true worship of God as we pray with all our heart, soul, and mind. May we lift up to the Lord true obedience and love. Your purpose today is to simply listen to God as God seeks to share with you that which you need as you worship Him.
Here is a Psalm of worship, Psalm 150, the last Psalm:
Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Dear God, keep me mindful of the true purpose of worship. It's about You and my praising You. I should praise You in church, in all the earth! I should praise You for Your mighty works, for Your work is unmeasurable as is Your greatness. Worship is about using all instruments that sound a song of praise, brass instruments, stringed instruments, tambourines and even dance! Worship is reverent in our hearts but on the outside it should be a loud noise of praise! I praise YOU! Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
DOUBLE ISSUE: MONDAY AND TUESDAY!
Good day dear friends.
We ask for prayers for the Miller and Gomez families. Mr. Jim Miller, longtime member of Trinity UMC died on Saturday and will be buried Thursday at Ft. Sam Houston. His funeral is at 12:30 at Trinity in SA. Mrs. Rosario Gomez, widow of The Rev. Luis Gomez, died this week as well and she will be buried on Wednesday. Her funeral is at 11 a.m. at La Trinidad UMC in San Antonio.
We looked at Different Styles of Worship on Sunday based on 1 Cor. 11:2-34. (You can hear the 11 a.m. sermon online at www.fumcsm.org. Downloading the sermon takes a few minutes).
Here is out study guide for Monday: Monday: Different styles of worship occur throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, we find a story about how the first two sons offered up their sacrifices to the Lord. Please find that story in Gen. 4:1-5. If both sons were taught to worship God in the same way, why did one son offer up “an offering” and the other brought “fat portions from the firstborn of his flocks?” How does this apply to your worship life?
Here is that passage: Genesis 4:1 Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have produced a man with the help of the Lord." 2 Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
People worship in different ways. Even if they're taught the same thing, over the course of time, they will decide which way of worshiping God is best for them. The central thing is to keep in mind that it is always and everywhere, all about God and not ourselves. Worship is praising and thanking God, remembering Who God is and what God has done for us. Worship is putting God first in our lives all the time. Worship is made up of many components, all geared to give praise and thanks to God. Not one part of worship is more significant than the other nor should we do or give less in certain parts of worship just because we don't care for that part. In other words, you don't refrain from singing if you don't think singing is important nor do you keep from giving God's tithe if you don't think the Offering time is an important part of worship! Nor do you keep from listening to the sermon just because you came only to pray!
The difference in the passage show two brothers, raised the same, taught the same, with one giving the first and fattest, the other giving an afterthought offering. It is clear which brother was putting God first in his life. And in the same way God knows which of us is doing the same.
Start today putting God first!
Tuesday's Study Guide: Tuesday: In Exodus 32, there is an element of worship that we don’t discuss much and that is obedience. A large part of obedience is patience. In this story we read how some folks reacted, with little patience and even less obedience, to the coming of Moses to fulfill his worship obligations. What are your thoughts on this for your life? Do you seek God obediently and patiently?
The passage is a bit long and I'll leave it to use you to dust off your Bible and read that passage. It is the story of Moses going up to receive the Law from God and it took him longer than usual and the people down below got very impatient with him and decided to create a new god made of gold. I've often wondered who is the bigger, the Dallas Cowboys playing at 12 noon on a Sunday or God? You may laugh, but for some, the clock-watchers in our congregations, we know who is number one in their lives by the way they will either leave early or not even come to worship so they can watch the game. For those folks obedience to God isn't as important as obedience to televised football. They don't need a golden calf to worship, they've chosen one made of pigskin. Okay, I'm being a bit harsh (and no, I could care less that the game last night didn't go to Texas but to New York) I do want us to ask ourselves, how important is obedience and patience in our worship?
This past week the Austin District Men put on a gala of appreciation for clergy (and Oct is Clergy Appreciation Month) and the speaker from Nacogdoches, Mr. Gilbert Hanke, did a wonderful job of sharing personal stories of his appreciation for clergy and urged the laity present to show their appreciation as well. He even quoted Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell of his conference, whose church draws 12,000 to worship each Sunday, once was told by a church member, "I enjoyed worship only one thing I hated and that was that you did not sing my favorite hymn!" Rev. Caldwell replied, "I love you, but worship is not about your favorite hymn. And worship isn't even about you, it's about God!" How important it is to keep that in mind. Every Sunday that we are in worship, it's about God not us.
PRAYER: Come, loving God and be glorified in my heart and life today. Teach me obedience and patience, and let me do all I can to worship you in all ways and in all places. In Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
We ask for prayers for the Miller and Gomez families. Mr. Jim Miller, longtime member of Trinity UMC died on Saturday and will be buried Thursday at Ft. Sam Houston. His funeral is at 12:30 at Trinity in SA. Mrs. Rosario Gomez, widow of The Rev. Luis Gomez, died this week as well and she will be buried on Wednesday. Her funeral is at 11 a.m. at La Trinidad UMC in San Antonio.
We looked at Different Styles of Worship on Sunday based on 1 Cor. 11:2-34. (You can hear the 11 a.m. sermon online at www.fumcsm.org. Downloading the sermon takes a few minutes).
Here is out study guide for Monday: Monday: Different styles of worship occur throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, we find a story about how the first two sons offered up their sacrifices to the Lord. Please find that story in Gen. 4:1-5. If both sons were taught to worship God in the same way, why did one son offer up “an offering” and the other brought “fat portions from the firstborn of his flocks?” How does this apply to your worship life?
Here is that passage: Genesis 4:1 Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have produced a man with the help of the Lord." 2 Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
People worship in different ways. Even if they're taught the same thing, over the course of time, they will decide which way of worshiping God is best for them. The central thing is to keep in mind that it is always and everywhere, all about God and not ourselves. Worship is praising and thanking God, remembering Who God is and what God has done for us. Worship is putting God first in our lives all the time. Worship is made up of many components, all geared to give praise and thanks to God. Not one part of worship is more significant than the other nor should we do or give less in certain parts of worship just because we don't care for that part. In other words, you don't refrain from singing if you don't think singing is important nor do you keep from giving God's tithe if you don't think the Offering time is an important part of worship! Nor do you keep from listening to the sermon just because you came only to pray!
The difference in the passage show two brothers, raised the same, taught the same, with one giving the first and fattest, the other giving an afterthought offering. It is clear which brother was putting God first in his life. And in the same way God knows which of us is doing the same.
Start today putting God first!
Tuesday's Study Guide: Tuesday: In Exodus 32, there is an element of worship that we don’t discuss much and that is obedience. A large part of obedience is patience. In this story we read how some folks reacted, with little patience and even less obedience, to the coming of Moses to fulfill his worship obligations. What are your thoughts on this for your life? Do you seek God obediently and patiently?
The passage is a bit long and I'll leave it to use you to dust off your Bible and read that passage. It is the story of Moses going up to receive the Law from God and it took him longer than usual and the people down below got very impatient with him and decided to create a new god made of gold. I've often wondered who is the bigger, the Dallas Cowboys playing at 12 noon on a Sunday or God? You may laugh, but for some, the clock-watchers in our congregations, we know who is number one in their lives by the way they will either leave early or not even come to worship so they can watch the game. For those folks obedience to God isn't as important as obedience to televised football. They don't need a golden calf to worship, they've chosen one made of pigskin. Okay, I'm being a bit harsh (and no, I could care less that the game last night didn't go to Texas but to New York) I do want us to ask ourselves, how important is obedience and patience in our worship?
This past week the Austin District Men put on a gala of appreciation for clergy (and Oct is Clergy Appreciation Month) and the speaker from Nacogdoches, Mr. Gilbert Hanke, did a wonderful job of sharing personal stories of his appreciation for clergy and urged the laity present to show their appreciation as well. He even quoted Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell of his conference, whose church draws 12,000 to worship each Sunday, once was told by a church member, "I enjoyed worship only one thing I hated and that was that you did not sing my favorite hymn!" Rev. Caldwell replied, "I love you, but worship is not about your favorite hymn. And worship isn't even about you, it's about God!" How important it is to keep that in mind. Every Sunday that we are in worship, it's about God not us.
PRAYER: Come, loving God and be glorified in my heart and life today. Teach me obedience and patience, and let me do all I can to worship you in all ways and in all places. In Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Praying the Psalm
Good day dear friends.
Today is our day of prayer. For our prayer, let us pray Psalm 121: 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
Let's pray it this way: Dear God, as I begin this day I can sense things that I don't want to face or even think about. I see these as an enemy camped around me on the hillside. It is during these thoughts that I know where to answer my own question: Where will my help come from? From You! You who made heaven and earth! You are so vigilant you will not let my feet be tripped up, and You will neither slumber nor sleep. You, dear God, are my keeper. You are like the shade I need during the hottest point of the day or the coolest part of the night. You, dear God, keep me from evil and even protect my life. Stay with me Lord as I go out and come in, now and always. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Today is our day of prayer. For our prayer, let us pray Psalm 121: 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
Let's pray it this way: Dear God, as I begin this day I can sense things that I don't want to face or even think about. I see these as an enemy camped around me on the hillside. It is during these thoughts that I know where to answer my own question: Where will my help come from? From You! You who made heaven and earth! You are so vigilant you will not let my feet be tripped up, and You will neither slumber nor sleep. You, dear God, are my keeper. You are like the shade I need during the hottest point of the day or the coolest part of the night. You, dear God, keep me from evil and even protect my life. Stay with me Lord as I go out and come in, now and always. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
THE COMFORT OF A PSALM
Good day dear friends. Yes, there has been no ConCafes for this week. This week was a most difficult one for me and dear friends. I have travelled much, on Monday to San Antonio for a meeting, then to Atlanta on Tuesday. Wednesday found me too drained in more ways that one, to drive to Kerrville as I had planned, and so I have not had time to write a ConCafe.
This past Sunday we were blessed by the children of the church in their presentation of the message and worship. May God bless our children!
For today, let us be blessed by the words of this beautiful Psalm.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
In the midst of the challenges of life I find that in the Lord I have all that I need. The Lord is gracious and understanding towards me; in Him I can catch my breath and be restored. And do I need restoration! Lord, restore my soul: fill it to the brim with faith and hope, joy and peace. If I get dazed and confused, lead me on the right way. I walk to walk in the fullness of life in this life. And when those times come that I feel overwhelmed and weak, let me not be afraid; for it is during those times that I am aware of You being right beside me, strong and powerful as ever. Whatever or whoever would seek to overcome me will be saddened to see me feasting at the table of the Lord where I will be anointed as Yours, and the fullness of Your love will be with me. May the good and merciful of this life be with me every day. Let me seek to live in Your love today and all days, even to the end of the age. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
This past Sunday we were blessed by the children of the church in their presentation of the message and worship. May God bless our children!
For today, let us be blessed by the words of this beautiful Psalm.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
In the midst of the challenges of life I find that in the Lord I have all that I need. The Lord is gracious and understanding towards me; in Him I can catch my breath and be restored. And do I need restoration! Lord, restore my soul: fill it to the brim with faith and hope, joy and peace. If I get dazed and confused, lead me on the right way. I walk to walk in the fullness of life in this life. And when those times come that I feel overwhelmed and weak, let me not be afraid; for it is during those times that I am aware of You being right beside me, strong and powerful as ever. Whatever or whoever would seek to overcome me will be saddened to see me feasting at the table of the Lord where I will be anointed as Yours, and the fullness of Your love will be with me. May the good and merciful of this life be with me every day. Let me seek to live in Your love today and all days, even to the end of the age. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
DIFFERENT FAMILIES
Good day dear friends.
---------------------------PRAYER REQUESTS------------------------
As we being our day in prayer, please remember Sgt. Kevin Downs at Brooke Army Hospital as he is to have more surgery on Wednesday. He is in a lot of pain. Several church members have shared gifts, cards, and prayers for him and that is deeply appreciated.
Millie Nicholas is undergoing surgery today. Please hold her in prayer. This will be at CTMC.
Doris Connally underwent wrist and hip surgery yesterday at CTMC. I prayed with her early morning and I understand all went well.
From Kay Morton of Illinois we get this request: Please pray for the Northern Illinois Emmaus women's Walk #107 starting this Thursday, at which I'll be a musician. We started with only 2 pilgrims a few short weeks ago, and that number has grown to 28. Many last-minute changes have been made, 3 of them clergy. The other 2 musicians have health problems (1 of them MS), so we need all the prayers we can get.
For Keely Rowe and decisions she has to make; that God would guide her and bless her.
----------------------DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT----------------------------
For today's message, please read this passage from Ephesians 4:2 "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
One of the questions a lot of Christians ask, "If we're supposed to be all about love, why are there so many different churches?" That question came up during our Walk this weekend and I shared the joke that tells of the man rescued from a deserted island. The man had lived alone for the entire time on that island and when the rescuers came to the little island, they discovered three huts. "What are these huts?" they asked. He replied that the first was where he lived. "The second one was where I first went to church, then I got mad, and then I started going to this second church."
Even within families we have the answer. Not everyone within a family will completely believe the same. And even within the Twelve Disciples there was never complete agreement, in fact after we answered or attempted to answer the question, one of the musicians said, "Different churches started when the two former blind men met each other. One said, 'Weren't you once blind?' 'Yes, I was,' replied the other. 'Did Jesus heal you?' 'Yes, how did he do it?' 'He spit on the ground, made some mud, applied it to my eyes and I was healed!' 'No! That's not the way I was healed! The right way is to just touch someone and they're healed in that way!' And so the two started different churches based on the way that they were healed.
The truth is there are different Christian churches with different doctrines and beliefs, but the underlying unity is the belief in Jesus Christ as the example of God's awesome love for us. We seek to serve Him and realize that different denominations are not in competition with each other, for the real enemy remains evil and anything that would seek to keep us from the fullness of life. We should pray for each other and seek to ask God to bless each other in the work to which we've been called.
In the same way, in our own churches, we've all been touched by God, perhaps not in the same way, but that does not keep us from being sisters and brothers to each other. Seek to find that which unites us and keeps us moving forward for the good of God's kingdom.
PRAYER: Loving God of one big family, we celebrate Your presence in our lives. Keep us focused on your love. Unite us in that same love. Bless our efforts to serve You. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
PS Tonight at 6:30 pm at Dripping Springs UMC, we're having our Welcome Back for the Fourth Day Pilgrims of Walk 1325. Everyone is invited!
---------------------------PRAYER REQUESTS------------------------
As we being our day in prayer, please remember Sgt. Kevin Downs at Brooke Army Hospital as he is to have more surgery on Wednesday. He is in a lot of pain. Several church members have shared gifts, cards, and prayers for him and that is deeply appreciated.
Millie Nicholas is undergoing surgery today. Please hold her in prayer. This will be at CTMC.
Doris Connally underwent wrist and hip surgery yesterday at CTMC. I prayed with her early morning and I understand all went well.
From Kay Morton of Illinois we get this request: Please pray for the Northern Illinois Emmaus women's Walk #107 starting this Thursday, at which I'll be a musician. We started with only 2 pilgrims a few short weeks ago, and that number has grown to 28. Many last-minute changes have been made, 3 of them clergy. The other 2 musicians have health problems (1 of them MS), so we need all the prayers we can get.
For Keely Rowe and decisions she has to make; that God would guide her and bless her.
----------------------DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT----------------------------
For today's message, please read this passage from Ephesians 4:2 "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
One of the questions a lot of Christians ask, "If we're supposed to be all about love, why are there so many different churches?" That question came up during our Walk this weekend and I shared the joke that tells of the man rescued from a deserted island. The man had lived alone for the entire time on that island and when the rescuers came to the little island, they discovered three huts. "What are these huts?" they asked. He replied that the first was where he lived. "The second one was where I first went to church, then I got mad, and then I started going to this second church."
Even within families we have the answer. Not everyone within a family will completely believe the same. And even within the Twelve Disciples there was never complete agreement, in fact after we answered or attempted to answer the question, one of the musicians said, "Different churches started when the two former blind men met each other. One said, 'Weren't you once blind?' 'Yes, I was,' replied the other. 'Did Jesus heal you?' 'Yes, how did he do it?' 'He spit on the ground, made some mud, applied it to my eyes and I was healed!' 'No! That's not the way I was healed! The right way is to just touch someone and they're healed in that way!' And so the two started different churches based on the way that they were healed.
The truth is there are different Christian churches with different doctrines and beliefs, but the underlying unity is the belief in Jesus Christ as the example of God's awesome love for us. We seek to serve Him and realize that different denominations are not in competition with each other, for the real enemy remains evil and anything that would seek to keep us from the fullness of life. We should pray for each other and seek to ask God to bless each other in the work to which we've been called.
In the same way, in our own churches, we've all been touched by God, perhaps not in the same way, but that does not keep us from being sisters and brothers to each other. Seek to find that which unites us and keeps us moving forward for the good of God's kingdom.
PRAYER: Loving God of one big family, we celebrate Your presence in our lives. Keep us focused on your love. Unite us in that same love. Bless our efforts to serve You. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
PS Tonight at 6:30 pm at Dripping Springs UMC, we're having our Welcome Back for the Fourth Day Pilgrims of Walk 1325. Everyone is invited!
Friday, October 06, 2006
A WEDDING WITH JESUS
Good day dear friends. I thank those of you who receive prayer requests for your prayers for Caitlin, Nellie, and I. Late Wednesday we got a call from our daughter up here in Denton, that she was having chest pains and had an elevated heart rate. She was taken to ER, mom and dad took off from home, arriving here at 2:50 am and thank God it was only a chest strain from her dancing. Caitlin is a dance major and most of her classes and nights are spent in rehearsals. There is nothing wrong with her heart or lungs and so we're praising God!
We've been talking about the state of marriage in the Corinth church and anytime we discuss marriage, John 2 comes up. There is not much known as that wedding, we don't know the couples' names, nor do we need them, but we do know that "Jesus graced a wedding at Cana of Galilee" as we say in our marriage ritual, and that at that wedding Jesus performed his first miracle that of turning water into wine.
What we can also say is that it was a wedding with Jesus present as I personally believe all weddings should. The presence of One who loves and showed sacrificial love for all should be an inspiration and model for those who marry and even for those who just attend a wedding ceremony. The clever church signs have showed, "You Invited Me to the Wedding, Now Invite Me to the Marriage - Jesus." It says a lot. The Upper Room reading for today also said a lot (www.upperroom.org/devotional). The recommended passage was also a Pauline epistle in Ephesians 5. The church at Ephesus also seemed to have a marriage "problem" this one having to do with lack of or falling out of love in their marriages. Paul has to tell the husband to "love your wives." With Jesus in your marriage, love should never be an issue. Love like Jesus loved you and amazing things will happen!
PRAYER: God of love and grace, shower me with that love. I invite you to my life and to my marriage. Help me seek and serve You in all things. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
We've been talking about the state of marriage in the Corinth church and anytime we discuss marriage, John 2 comes up. There is not much known as that wedding, we don't know the couples' names, nor do we need them, but we do know that "Jesus graced a wedding at Cana of Galilee" as we say in our marriage ritual, and that at that wedding Jesus performed his first miracle that of turning water into wine.
What we can also say is that it was a wedding with Jesus present as I personally believe all weddings should. The presence of One who loves and showed sacrificial love for all should be an inspiration and model for those who marry and even for those who just attend a wedding ceremony. The clever church signs have showed, "You Invited Me to the Wedding, Now Invite Me to the Marriage - Jesus." It says a lot. The Upper Room reading for today also said a lot (www.upperroom.org/devotional). The recommended passage was also a Pauline epistle in Ephesians 5. The church at Ephesus also seemed to have a marriage "problem" this one having to do with lack of or falling out of love in their marriages. Paul has to tell the husband to "love your wives." With Jesus in your marriage, love should never be an issue. Love like Jesus loved you and amazing things will happen!
PRAYER: God of love and grace, shower me with that love. I invite you to my life and to my marriage. Help me seek and serve You in all things. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
OUR DAY OF PRAYER AND PURPOSE
Good day dear friends.
Let us be in prayer for married couples. Let us also lift up in prayer those considering marriage. May the Lord bless each matrimony with love, peace, joy, and compassion. May God bless those who are troubled in their marriage. Pray for the single and pray for those who have recently or still hurt from a divorce. For our purpose, call or write the couple that inspired you in your marriage. Let them know how their positive influence in their marriage helped you be where you are today.
Blessings,
e.v.
Let us be in prayer for married couples. Let us also lift up in prayer those considering marriage. May the Lord bless each matrimony with love, peace, joy, and compassion. May God bless those who are troubled in their marriage. Pray for the single and pray for those who have recently or still hurt from a divorce. For our purpose, call or write the couple that inspired you in your marriage. Let them know how their positive influence in their marriage helped you be where you are today.
Blessings,
e.v.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
OF ORIGINAL MARRIAGE
Good day dear friends.
Let's go back to the beginning in Genesis 2:18 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 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, for out of Man this one was taken." 24 Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Notice that it is loneliness that is addressed by God to God's Heavenly court as God says, "It is not good that the man should be alone." The garden was filled with beautiful plants and trees but nothing that came to close to being a living being such as the man, so God begins to form every animal and bird and brings them to the man to see what the man would name them. The man names the cattle, the birds; every animal of the field received a name, but out of all of those he found nothing to be the cure for loneliness. Did the man have a discussion with God? Did it go something like, "Thanks, Lord, for these animals. I really appreciate most of them, some scare me. I really like the dog and the dog seems to really like me, and that monkey seems so human, too bad it can't talk! But did you notice, Lord, that out of all of those there was not one of them that could be a companion for me?" "Yes, I did, let's see what I can do?" The Bible says that a deep sleep came over the man as induced by God and out of the man's own body brings out a rib and from the rib forms the creature called woman. And it is interesting to see that the man instantly knows who and what the woman is, for he become a poet proclaiming, "At last! Bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh!" And the man names her, "This one shall be woman for out of my flesh she was created!"
Then a ceremony of sorts takes place or at least blame on a ceremony is now related to that, for in that moment, the man who knew no father other than God, learns that a man shall leave his father and cleave to his wife and the two become one flesh. This ceremony we now call marriage and in it are to be found what God addressed in the creation of the fairer sex. Companionship, partnership, love, fellowship, a journey-partner, one to share in bone and flesh, together to continue the species. In its ideal state marriage fulfills what God intended for that first man. As Paul would address later, after Moses and Jesus, that not all marriages last. Not all marriages are those that bring fulfillment to either the man or the woman, and sadly sometimes those marriages end in divorce. I say sadly, for the initial intent of most marriages begins with love and an idealism for the future and something happens along the way, and what started at an altar with the best of intentions, ends in a courtroom with the signing of legal documents. Paul understood that sometimes due to violence or abuse, marriages should end. No one should stay in a relationship where there is harm or potential harm to the other. No one should endure a relationship where the fullness of each partner is not appreciated or valued. If, after prayerful counsel and exploration of other recourses nothing can repair the marriage, then the marriage ends.
It doesn't hurt most couples to revisit this first marriage. One can only begin to imagine the innocence and joy of the first two whom God married. It would also be good to visit John 2 and the couple who married at a wedding where Jesus and His disciples visited and Jesus performed his first miracle. Choose not to stay at an unhappy place; work to make the place happier and more like what you first intended when you married.
PRAYER: God of love, come and visit all marriages today. Bring to those where there is anger or resentment, that which heals and makes whole. Visit those marriages where violence is present and deliver the one who causes it and protect the one who receives it. Bless the marriage where there is sorrow and sadness over things not realized. Make us all like Your Son, Jesus. In Whose name we pray. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Let's go back to the beginning in Genesis 2:18 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 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, for out of Man this one was taken." 24 Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Notice that it is loneliness that is addressed by God to God's Heavenly court as God says, "It is not good that the man should be alone." The garden was filled with beautiful plants and trees but nothing that came to close to being a living being such as the man, so God begins to form every animal and bird and brings them to the man to see what the man would name them. The man names the cattle, the birds; every animal of the field received a name, but out of all of those he found nothing to be the cure for loneliness. Did the man have a discussion with God? Did it go something like, "Thanks, Lord, for these animals. I really appreciate most of them, some scare me. I really like the dog and the dog seems to really like me, and that monkey seems so human, too bad it can't talk! But did you notice, Lord, that out of all of those there was not one of them that could be a companion for me?" "Yes, I did, let's see what I can do?" The Bible says that a deep sleep came over the man as induced by God and out of the man's own body brings out a rib and from the rib forms the creature called woman. And it is interesting to see that the man instantly knows who and what the woman is, for he become a poet proclaiming, "At last! Bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh!" And the man names her, "This one shall be woman for out of my flesh she was created!"
Then a ceremony of sorts takes place or at least blame on a ceremony is now related to that, for in that moment, the man who knew no father other than God, learns that a man shall leave his father and cleave to his wife and the two become one flesh. This ceremony we now call marriage and in it are to be found what God addressed in the creation of the fairer sex. Companionship, partnership, love, fellowship, a journey-partner, one to share in bone and flesh, together to continue the species. In its ideal state marriage fulfills what God intended for that first man. As Paul would address later, after Moses and Jesus, that not all marriages last. Not all marriages are those that bring fulfillment to either the man or the woman, and sadly sometimes those marriages end in divorce. I say sadly, for the initial intent of most marriages begins with love and an idealism for the future and something happens along the way, and what started at an altar with the best of intentions, ends in a courtroom with the signing of legal documents. Paul understood that sometimes due to violence or abuse, marriages should end. No one should stay in a relationship where there is harm or potential harm to the other. No one should endure a relationship where the fullness of each partner is not appreciated or valued. If, after prayerful counsel and exploration of other recourses nothing can repair the marriage, then the marriage ends.
It doesn't hurt most couples to revisit this first marriage. One can only begin to imagine the innocence and joy of the first two whom God married. It would also be good to visit John 2 and the couple who married at a wedding where Jesus and His disciples visited and Jesus performed his first miracle. Choose not to stay at an unhappy place; work to make the place happier and more like what you first intended when you married.
PRAYER: God of love, come and visit all marriages today. Bring to those where there is anger or resentment, that which heals and makes whole. Visit those marriages where violence is present and deliver the one who causes it and protect the one who receives it. Bless the marriage where there is sorrow and sadness over things not realized. Make us all like Your Son, Jesus. In Whose name we pray. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Monday, October 02, 2006
OF MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
Good day dear friends.
Yesterday Pastor Leslie spoke on Marriage and Divorce from 1 Cor. 7:2-16. Here is that passage in the version known as The Message:
1 Cor. 7:First, Is it a good thing to have sexual relations? 2 Certainly - but only within a certain context. It's good for a man to have a wife, and for a woman to have a husband. Sexual drives are strong, but marriage is strong enough to contain them and provide for a balanced and fulfilling sexual life in a world of sexual disorder. 3 The marriage bed must be a place of mutuality - the husband seeking to satisfy his wife, the wife seeking to satisfy her husband. 4 Marriage is not a place to "stand up for your rights." Marriage is a decision to serve the other, whether in bed or out. 5 Abstaining from sex is permissible for a period of time if you both agree to it, and if it's for the purposes of prayer and fasting - but only for such times. Then come back together again. Satan has an ingenious way of tempting us when we least expect it. 6 I'm not, understand, commanding these periods of abstinence - only providing my best counsel if you should choose them. 7 Sometimes I wish everyone were single like me - a simpler life in many ways! But celibacy is not for everyone any more than marriage is. God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others. 8 I do, though, tell the unmarried and widows that singleness might well be the best thing for them, as it has been for me. 9 But if they can't manage their desires and emotions, they should by all means go ahead and get married. The difficulties of marriage are preferable by far to a sexually tortured life as a single. 10 And if you are married, stay married. This is the Master's command, not mine. 11 If a wife should leave her husband, she must either remain single or else come back and make things right with him. And a husband has no right to get rid of his wife. 12 For the rest of you who are in mixed marriages - Christian married to nonChristian - we have no explicit command from the Master. So this is what you must do. If you are a man with a wife who is not a believer but who still wants to live with you, hold on to her. 13 If you are a woman with a husband who is not a believer but he wants to live with you, hold on to him. 14 The unbelieving husband shares to an extent in the holiness of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is likewise touched by the holiness of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be left out; as it is, they also are included in the spiritual purposes of God. 15 On the other hand, if the unbelieving spouse walks out, you've got to let him or her go. You don't have to hold on desperately. God has called us to make the best of it, as peacefully as we can. 16 You never know, wife: The way you handle this might bring your husband not only back to you but to God. You never know, husband: The way you handle this might bring your wife not only back to you but to God.
Remember the sermon series is entitled, "First Century Christians with Twenty-First Century Problems," and does this text speak of the same thing we face today. The Corinth church was no different from any other church of today. There were married and unmarried people in the church. There were happily married people and there were married people. There were divorced people and there were people about to divorce. And the question was about sexual relations. Apparently, as it says in verse one, Paul received a letter from this church asking that question. The reason the question was being asked was certainly that people were having sexual relations both inside and outside the marriage covenant, and the church leaders said, "We've got to ask Paul about this!" and they did. Paul answers back by basically saying that sex, like money, and possessions and every other thing, is a spiritual matter. If done within the context of marriage it is a beautiful gift from God and it can be a spiritually rewarding blessing to the married couple. Done in any other context and it remains a physical act initiated and completed by physical urges, not spiritual ones. Paul sees having sexual relations within marriage as that which God ordained for all marriages.
The other part of the question may have asked, "Is it right for couples to abstain from sex for any reason?" This may have been asked by one of the marriage partners about their own relationship. For some reason one or the other of the spouses was not fulfilling his or her conjugal duty and may have given a spiritual reason for it. Paul knew that perhaps the real reason was not a spiritual one and so he instructs that if done for a spiritual reason such as fasting and prayer, that was okay, but only for a time. In verse five he says, "then come back together."
The other part of the letter containing questions for Paul may have asked about divorce. Since Moses' time, the issue of divorce was a touchy subject. Can anyone spiritually justify a divorce? And if so, when are those allowed and for what reasons? In the case of Corinth, it may have been that one of the two in a marriage became a believer and thus the reason for the question. It may have been a wife who becomes a follower of Jesus Christ and cannot convince her husband to become one as well. She attends worship alone and feels bad because her husband does not know the saving love of her Lord. She then begins to wonder if she should begin divorce proceedings against him and if doing so because of their spiritual differences would be allowed. In these cases Pauls says stay together. His thinking is that one never knows that perhaps in this relationship salvation might come both to the marriage and to the soul.
Is it any different today? Do married men and women attend worship alone? Do they feel bad about their spouses? You know the answer as well as I. But we leave it to God about what God can do in all cases. The real question is how are you dealing with your situation? If you're married, how is your marriage? If sex still a wonderful blessing or is an area for prayer and/or counseling? Don't be afraid to seek assistance if needed. Is it a medical issue? Seek a doctor's advice. If you're single, how are you handling singleness? Is sex "tormenting" you? Again, through prayer, spiritual guidance and any other assistance that you can seek, might be what saves your soul.
PRAYER: Come, wonderful God of good gifts and visit me today. Bring me wisdom, courage and counsel to what I face and need. Help me in my situation to be Your child, an example to others. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
Yesterday Pastor Leslie spoke on Marriage and Divorce from 1 Cor. 7:2-16. Here is that passage in the version known as The Message:
1 Cor. 7:First, Is it a good thing to have sexual relations? 2 Certainly - but only within a certain context. It's good for a man to have a wife, and for a woman to have a husband. Sexual drives are strong, but marriage is strong enough to contain them and provide for a balanced and fulfilling sexual life in a world of sexual disorder. 3 The marriage bed must be a place of mutuality - the husband seeking to satisfy his wife, the wife seeking to satisfy her husband. 4 Marriage is not a place to "stand up for your rights." Marriage is a decision to serve the other, whether in bed or out. 5 Abstaining from sex is permissible for a period of time if you both agree to it, and if it's for the purposes of prayer and fasting - but only for such times. Then come back together again. Satan has an ingenious way of tempting us when we least expect it. 6 I'm not, understand, commanding these periods of abstinence - only providing my best counsel if you should choose them. 7 Sometimes I wish everyone were single like me - a simpler life in many ways! But celibacy is not for everyone any more than marriage is. God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others. 8 I do, though, tell the unmarried and widows that singleness might well be the best thing for them, as it has been for me. 9 But if they can't manage their desires and emotions, they should by all means go ahead and get married. The difficulties of marriage are preferable by far to a sexually tortured life as a single. 10 And if you are married, stay married. This is the Master's command, not mine. 11 If a wife should leave her husband, she must either remain single or else come back and make things right with him. And a husband has no right to get rid of his wife. 12 For the rest of you who are in mixed marriages - Christian married to nonChristian - we have no explicit command from the Master. So this is what you must do. If you are a man with a wife who is not a believer but who still wants to live with you, hold on to her. 13 If you are a woman with a husband who is not a believer but he wants to live with you, hold on to him. 14 The unbelieving husband shares to an extent in the holiness of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is likewise touched by the holiness of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be left out; as it is, they also are included in the spiritual purposes of God. 15 On the other hand, if the unbelieving spouse walks out, you've got to let him or her go. You don't have to hold on desperately. God has called us to make the best of it, as peacefully as we can. 16 You never know, wife: The way you handle this might bring your husband not only back to you but to God. You never know, husband: The way you handle this might bring your wife not only back to you but to God.
Remember the sermon series is entitled, "First Century Christians with Twenty-First Century Problems," and does this text speak of the same thing we face today. The Corinth church was no different from any other church of today. There were married and unmarried people in the church. There were happily married people and there were married people. There were divorced people and there were people about to divorce. And the question was about sexual relations. Apparently, as it says in verse one, Paul received a letter from this church asking that question. The reason the question was being asked was certainly that people were having sexual relations both inside and outside the marriage covenant, and the church leaders said, "We've got to ask Paul about this!" and they did. Paul answers back by basically saying that sex, like money, and possessions and every other thing, is a spiritual matter. If done within the context of marriage it is a beautiful gift from God and it can be a spiritually rewarding blessing to the married couple. Done in any other context and it remains a physical act initiated and completed by physical urges, not spiritual ones. Paul sees having sexual relations within marriage as that which God ordained for all marriages.
The other part of the question may have asked, "Is it right for couples to abstain from sex for any reason?" This may have been asked by one of the marriage partners about their own relationship. For some reason one or the other of the spouses was not fulfilling his or her conjugal duty and may have given a spiritual reason for it. Paul knew that perhaps the real reason was not a spiritual one and so he instructs that if done for a spiritual reason such as fasting and prayer, that was okay, but only for a time. In verse five he says, "then come back together."
The other part of the letter containing questions for Paul may have asked about divorce. Since Moses' time, the issue of divorce was a touchy subject. Can anyone spiritually justify a divorce? And if so, when are those allowed and for what reasons? In the case of Corinth, it may have been that one of the two in a marriage became a believer and thus the reason for the question. It may have been a wife who becomes a follower of Jesus Christ and cannot convince her husband to become one as well. She attends worship alone and feels bad because her husband does not know the saving love of her Lord. She then begins to wonder if she should begin divorce proceedings against him and if doing so because of their spiritual differences would be allowed. In these cases Pauls says stay together. His thinking is that one never knows that perhaps in this relationship salvation might come both to the marriage and to the soul.
Is it any different today? Do married men and women attend worship alone? Do they feel bad about their spouses? You know the answer as well as I. But we leave it to God about what God can do in all cases. The real question is how are you dealing with your situation? If you're married, how is your marriage? If sex still a wonderful blessing or is an area for prayer and/or counseling? Don't be afraid to seek assistance if needed. Is it a medical issue? Seek a doctor's advice. If you're single, how are you handling singleness? Is sex "tormenting" you? Again, through prayer, spiritual guidance and any other assistance that you can seek, might be what saves your soul.
PRAYER: Come, wonderful God of good gifts and visit me today. Bring me wisdom, courage and counsel to what I face and need. Help me in my situation to be Your child, an example to others. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
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