Good morning dear friends. We are supposed to be going through The Bible in 52 weeks, mas o menos, and now it will be mas. The Children's Sabbath allowed us a week to catch up with our readings and this coming Sunday we'll start our trek once again.
This weekend allowed Nellie and I time to visit Caty in Denton and on Sunday we visited her second favorite preacher, Dr. Tony Evans of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. Tony is a nationally heard radio preacher and Caty hears him on a regular basis. (I had to remind Caty her favorite preacher is available on-line at our website http://www.fumcsm.org/.)
The text for this particular Sunday was Matthews 5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship is a huge church. We had to park across the street, busy Camp Wisdom Drive in Oak Cliff. But even the Dallas police officers who help worshippers cross the street are nice and friendly. They act as greeters. Once inside the church we were greeted by all those wearing greeter badges. The ushers counted that we were three and sat us near the front, people gladly scooting down to allow us to sit on "their pews." We arrived at 10:50 a.m. and the music was already in session. It was Pastor and Wife Appreciation Sunday and did they shower them with gifts. Dr. Evans has been there for 31 years and the ministry is a result of God working through his vision for this particular area of Dallas.
Dr. Evans' sermon was the third in a series on The Beatitudes: How to Be Truly Blessed and this Sunday's was the one on meekness. Tony explained that being meek is not about being weak, it is about power under control. Among the many examples he used the NFL soup commercial was the most humorous, about how a huge, powerful man, who is paid to be as mean and tough as he can be, is told by his momma to sit down and eat soup. Tony said that man as he sits to eat his soup is no less mean, tough, fast, powerful than he is on the field, but his power is under control while he relates to his mother. In the same way we should seek to be under God's control to be blessed.
This does not mean we lose our individuality, nor do we lose anything, in fact, putting ourselves under God's authority and direction will bring us God's favor and blessing.
PRAYER: Slow me down enough Lord God, to realize how we need to be under Your authority and direction. Help me to be meek when I should. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
This weekend allowed Nellie and I time to visit Caty in Denton and on Sunday we visited her second favorite preacher, Dr. Tony Evans of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. Tony is a nationally heard radio preacher and Caty hears him on a regular basis. (I had to remind Caty her favorite preacher is available on-line at our website http://www.fumcsm.org/.)
The text for this particular Sunday was Matthews 5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship is a huge church. We had to park across the street, busy Camp Wisdom Drive in Oak Cliff. But even the Dallas police officers who help worshippers cross the street are nice and friendly. They act as greeters. Once inside the church we were greeted by all those wearing greeter badges. The ushers counted that we were three and sat us near the front, people gladly scooting down to allow us to sit on "their pews." We arrived at 10:50 a.m. and the music was already in session. It was Pastor and Wife Appreciation Sunday and did they shower them with gifts. Dr. Evans has been there for 31 years and the ministry is a result of God working through his vision for this particular area of Dallas.
Dr. Evans' sermon was the third in a series on The Beatitudes: How to Be Truly Blessed and this Sunday's was the one on meekness. Tony explained that being meek is not about being weak, it is about power under control. Among the many examples he used the NFL soup commercial was the most humorous, about how a huge, powerful man, who is paid to be as mean and tough as he can be, is told by his momma to sit down and eat soup. Tony said that man as he sits to eat his soup is no less mean, tough, fast, powerful than he is on the field, but his power is under control while he relates to his mother. In the same way we should seek to be under God's control to be blessed.
This does not mean we lose our individuality, nor do we lose anything, in fact, putting ourselves under God's authority and direction will bring us God's favor and blessing.
PRAYER: Slow me down enough Lord God, to realize how we need to be under Your authority and direction. Help me to be meek when I should. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
