IT'S OUR CHOICE!

Good day dear friends.

Here is our study guide for today:

John 10:10 comes in the midst of an interesting declaration Jesus is making about His “I Am” statements to the disciples. Please read that chapter and see how it speaks to your life.

Here is that chapter, it's only 42 verses long!
1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
19 At these words the Jews were again divided. 20 Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?" 21 But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"
22 Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. 24 The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one." 31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" 33 "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." 34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'? 35 If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came--and the Scripture cannot be broken-- 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? 37 Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. 38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."
39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. 40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed 41 and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true." 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.

John's gospel contains Jesus' famous "I Am's," which were declarations about Who He was and what He offered. His I Am's are promises that we can bank on. They all offer to us some spiritual hope and strength that without them we would be lost.

As you read the chapter did you jot down each of the promises? Notice how they lead us to that favorite verse of mine and many, verse 10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Ours is a promise of life after we see what "the thief" offers. His is not any promise of goodness, it's a certainty of personal destruction. It's our choice! What will you choose?

PRAYER: Loving Father, I choose life and its fullness for myself. I wish I could ask it for all of those under my care, but I know they must each make that decision. I pray that Your spirit would move among them to touch them and move them closer to making that decision for themselves. I ask forgiveness of my sins and those things that serve only to "steal, kill, and destroy" and ask again only for life beyond existing, life in abundance. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

SLAVES NO MORE!

Good day dear friends.

Here is our study guide for today:
tuesday Have you found yourself a “slave” to something? Jesus addressed slavery to sin in John 8:31ff. Jesus also said “the truth shall make you free.” Can the “truth” about your “slavery” make you free?

Here is that passage from John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" 34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word.

Sunday I also mentioned John 10:10 about Jesus' promise of the fulness of life, and that came after Jesus talked about "the thief" and how he has come to "steal, kill, and destroy." A logical order of those things in our lives that we know are harmful and that we should not be doing. I mentioned drug addiction, an addiction to smoking, alcoholism, etc. Those habits or vices steal from us the fullness of life; they can also kill and our death will destroy our families.

What is it that you know is harming your life? Jesus said that sin can enslave us but through His teachings, through His love, through our surrender to His will, we can become free. What a wonderful promise to add to the fullness of our lives. We are not meant to live as slaves, we're meant to live as free people.

PRAYER: Lord of Life, I thank You for the freedom and the fulllness of life we find in You and Your Son, Christ Jesus. Bring to my life that fullness that will bless You and Yours. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

NIC AT NIGHT CAME TO LIGHT

Good day dear friends.

Here is our study guide for today:

monday There’s been thousands of years discussion on the “new birth” offered to Nicodemus in John 3:1-8. Some have called it being “born again” others, “born anew,” and “born from above.” What do you call it and have you experienced it? Do you believe it is necessary for your spiritual life? Why or why not?

Here is that text: 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

I call Nic's encounter with Jesus a salvation experience. I truly believe Nicodemus became a "Christian" because he came to fullness of life because of that nighttime visit with Jesus. Evangelist Luis Palau tells of his nighttime experience as a youth at a camp where one of the adult leaders asked him at night about his relationship with Jesus and taught him the way to salvation. Reverend Jose Luis Palos, of the Rio Grande Conference and a mentor of mine, tells of the night at FUMC-Harlingen at a crusade were Sir Alan Walker of Australia was preaching and Joe came to a relationship with Jesus because of that night time encounter with the living Lord.
Being born again means having your spirit born from above. You give in to The Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide your every move and moment. You are no longer guided by the things of earth. You surrender your sins to the Lord, He removes them, and you truly become a new person.

Is being born again necessary? Can you give up breathing and still live? Yes, it is very necessary. It is a life-saving, life-changing experience. You'll be the better for it.

PRAYER: Loving God of love, I thank You for Jesus and for His invitation to me to be one of Your children. I pray that I might indeed be born anew to You and the things that are Yours. Help me to be in the world as one who knows and follows You. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

MIDWEEK PRAYER

Good day dear friends.

I thank God for safe travel as I returned home from Nashville, where we had a great training session for board of ordained ministry chairs and registrars.

Today is our midweek day of prayer and here is the study guide's recommendation for us: Our midweek day of prayer. Pray that any negativity in your might go into God’s hands and instead you would receive a positive spirit for life, for family, for work, for church, etc.

PRAYER: Loving God of all life, joy, and hope, fill my heart with those. As I pray I pray that all and anything negative in me might find a better home in those reaches of existence where no one lives. Fill me with life as I continue in the land of the living. Make me see things with Your eyes, that I might see the potential and power of Your presence in others, in me and in the things You've called me to do. Let me see my family with more love, beyond what I've considered faults or shortcomings. May they see the same in me. In my work, let me work as though life depended on what I do. If I am unhappy or uncertain as to where I should be in my vocation, speak to me and lead me to where I can best serve. For my church, may the Holy Spirit come and reign in every heart and soul. I pray for all pastors, including mine, that they might continue to follow You with faithfulness. This I ask in the Name of He who is life, Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

FROM THE DOUBT SPACE TO THE FAITH SPACE

Good day dear friends.

Yesterday I sent, or tried to send, the daily ConCafe via my phone but alas it is wandering somewhere in CyberSpace. Yahoogroups is hot on its trail but I am making no promises of its finding its way to you. I apologize for that.

Our theme for Sunday, yesterday (take my word for it!) and today was CNN, the Cranky Negative Naysayers that we sometimes find ourselves being. Sometimes that involves our doubt and for today we use this study guide:
Let’s remind ourselves why Thomas was called “the doubter.” You’ll find this in John 20:19-31.

Read that slowly and carefully.

Here is that text:

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, {Or [the Christ]} the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Would you have reacted differently? Thank history it was Thomas who was known as Doubting Thomas and not Doubting Eradio or Doubting Nellie or (fill in your name). The truth is that sometimes we do find ourselves doubting. It may not be a major crisis of faith but we ask, "How am I going to pay that bill?" or "Will this spot on the exam turn out to be cancer?" And it's quite normal to have those questions until we turn back to the Lord who promised to see us through all that we face.

PRAYER: Loving God lift me from the doubting space to the faith space. Let my faith help others today. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

OUR DAY OF SERVICE

Good day dear friends.

Today is our day of service. Here is the recommended service guide:

A day of service. Give of yourself to day. Be God’s voice to those who have not yet heard.

Have a blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

GOD OF LIFE

Good day dear friends.

Our thanks for your prayers for Arnie Burttschell as he continues to hold steady. Please continue to pray for Arnie, his wife, child and child-on-the-way.

Here is our study guide for today:

In Acts chapter 9 the story of Saul’s conversion says a lot about what God is able to do.

Remember who Saul was and who Paul became! Do you think God can do that in your life as well?

Here is a part of the Acts 9 passage: In Acts chapter 9 the story of Saul’s conversion says a lot about what God is able to do. Remember who Saul was and who Paul became! Do you think God can do that in your life as well?

Our theme this week has been on God's ability to have people come to know Him and His love. It is the duty and joy of every Christian to give witness to God and what God can do for one's life.

Imagine a life that's well-connected, successful, influential, and meaningful; then imagine having an encounter with the living God who challenges all that you've held sacred and special and reveals to you life, and life's greater meaning. Such was the case of Saul of Tarsus who has such an encounter in Acts 9.

God has incredible power to change those who ask. Sometimes, even in the case of Saul, even when you don't ask! God is a God of wonderful and awesome surprises! God will use us when we can serve Him by helping others come to a new understanding of God's saving love.

PRAYER: God of power and life, speak to my heart in ways that help me give witness to You. Help me share with others that which can bring true life to those who are lost. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

WALKING IN THE SHADOW OF GOD

Good day dear friends.

I thank you all for your prayers for Arnie Burtschell; Daryl saysArnie is in stable condition but worries remain about blood on thebrain, a punctured lung, two broken ribs. Arnie was a cyclist hit bya Suburban in Monterrey, California.

Also, I ask prayers for the family of Willie Rodriguez, a longtimemember of La Trinidad UMC in San Antonio. Willie died yesterday.

Here is our study guide from yesterday (Sorry I did not have time toshare a devotional): David had a faith about God's strength, power,and presence. Part of what we are called to do has a lot to do withthe way we respond. Where are you?

In Psalm 91 we find that faith mentioned, and honestly, most of thePsalms of songs of faith:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in theshadow of the Almighty, 2 will say to the LORD, "My refuge and myfortress; my God, in whom I trust." 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; 4 he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will findrefuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High yourhabitation, 10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near yourtent. 11 For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you inall your ways.

Recently I was at the bedside of a man recovering from open heartsurgery and in the midst of his pain he asked if I could read to himfrom this Psalm. Tears of joy and comfort flowed from his eyes as heheard this reassuring words. Look again at all the words and focuson the strength and protection David felt God offers to allwho "dwell in the shelter of the Most High and abide in shadow of theAlmighty." Do you remember days of walking with your mom or dad,seeing their shadow on the ground and knowing that no one noranything could harm you because you were with them? The same andmore so is true as we walk in faith with God.

PRAYER: Loving God we thank You for always being with us. Guide us and strengthen us. Let us live a life of faith. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

A LIFE OF FULFILLMENT

Good day dear friends.

Here is our study guide for today:

Early in Matthew’s Gospel (4:9ff) Jesus said, “I will make you fisher of persons” to the disciples. This was part of His invitation to them. How would you have reacted to such an invitation?

It is never easy to say yes to God and God's invitation in our lives. A careful reading of the lives of the prophets and their positive response to God resulted in some incredibly difficult but fulfilling times for their lives. That's the benefit of saying yes to God, accepting a life of fulfillment and meaning. In yesterday's sermon I shared the Four Spiritual Laws and their use in years back and the first law said basically, "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life." That's an invitation or at least part of one. To say yes to God's love and God's plan for your life is to say yes to the beginning of a life filled with meaning and purpose.

An honest response to the question of how would we have reacted to an invitation would probably be one of skepticism. "You want me to do what? Right now?" Scholars believe the disciples reacted positively and almost immediately because they had already been exposed to the gospel through John. Some even say that these first disciples may have been among John the Baptist's disciples, thus an invitation from "the Master" was one they could not refuse. If that is true, then it follows that the more we know Jesus and seek to know Him, the easier it becomes to say yes to whatever invitation He may make of our lives.

The points I shared from John 21 and the Resurrection Fishing Story is that the disciples 1) looked to Jesus, 2) they listened to Jesus, 3) were led by Jesus and 4) saw the "fire" lit in anticipation of their success. The same is true for us. If we know and love Jesus, we will look, listen, be led and celebrate in our spirits with all that Jesus will offer to us.

PRAYER: Come, God of invitation to my life. Let me look to you. Let me listen to you and let me be led by you. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS

Good day dear friends.

Our thanks to the Lord for the great turnout yesterday at our first Men's Breakfast. We hadn't had one in years here at FUMC-Harlingen and this is one of the things that we needed to start again, so thank the Lord we had about twenty guys at the first one. Our next one is Sept 3rd and the menu will feature homemade tortillas, chorizo & egg, and bacon and egg entrees. All men over the age of 18 are invited!

Here is our study guide for today: In Matthew 9:27-31, we find yet another reference to a miraculous healing. Two blind men this time. Please read this and see what Jesus was doing and can still do for our spiritual blindness.

Here is that text: Matthew 9:As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you." 30 And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, "See that no one knows of this." 31 But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.

Our theme this week has been the light of the world and blindness to it. Today's story tells of two men without sight seeking healing from Jesus. Jesus' fame as a healer had spread throughout the region and as they heard him coming near, they cried out loudly. This, they figured, might be our only chance to receive healing. They followed Jesus into a house and Jesus asked them a question about their faith in Him, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They reply, "Yes, Lord." No mud this time, Jesus' touch upon their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you." They were no longer blind. And the interesting part is Jesus telling them to tell no one. And verse 31 says they did the opposite.

Jesus still opens the eyes of those in need. Our spiritual blindness to the way God can work around us, in us, through us, and in spite of us, helps us miss out on so much. Jesus can open your eyes. What a great message of hope that provided to these men in the Matthew story, and what a great message it can provide to those who need to hear that their spiritual blindness can be taken away.

PRAYER: Lord, open my eyes and let me see, glimpses of truth Thou hast for me; let me see the wonder of all You are doing and can do. Take away any blindness that I may have, and let me, like those grateful two, go and tell others. I pray in the Name of Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

THE NBC CHURCH

Good day dear friends.

This past Sunday we started a new sermon series called T.V. It stands for "Totally Visionary," and it's geared to help the Church remember what we're called to be. The entire series is based on the Gospel of John, and our plan was to hand out copies of the Gospel so that members could have them during the series and after the series pass it on to others who might not have yet read the Gospel. Being a "TV" series we decided we would "visit" channels and the first one we visited was "NBC." New Believing Christians is NBC for us, and the story of the blind man from chapter 9 served as our text. His healing and his interaction with his "church" allowed him to be among the first to say, "I believe," and become a believer in Christ. Think about all that he suffered:

He was born blind. As a result he could not work and so he had to beg to have a living. He may have become a nuisance to his neighbors and those who had to pass him by day after day.

He was healed by Jesus in an unusual way. Rather than just saying the word and having him healed, Jesus made a mud pack to place on his eyes, using his own spit. The mud then had to be washed in the Pool of Siloam, which means "Sent." His healing does not cause great widespread celebration to happen. The neighbors refuse to believe it happened, some even saying it was not the same man. His parents don't know what to do, and the "church" well, the leaders had their own opinions of what to do.

His healing caused him to lose his church. The man is brought before the synagogue to be declared healed. His healing had happened on a Sabbath, so that from the start puts the man's membership in the synagogue in jeopardy. The man is questioned, if you can call it that; more like he was put on trial. And this wasn't considered work on the Sabbath? His parents are brought to answer questions: Is this your son? Was he really born blind? How did he get healed? Finally, the church throws the man out.

No declaration of healing, no rejoicing in the community of faith, only the pink slip to leave once and for all. In fact, the man is ridiculed for being a disciple even though he was not yet one. The man in frustration does ask, "Do you want to be his disciples?" They reply they're disciples of Moses, through whom God spoke, but didn't know who sent Jesus. The man replies, "This man opened my eyes and you don't know who sent him?" In other words, if God was not with this man, how could he possibly do an impossible thing?

He joins the "new" church, the church of those who believe Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus visits the man after his ex-communication and asks him about his faith. The man replies that he will follow whoever healed him, Jesus said, that would be me, and the man believes and worships Him.

NBC is what the church should be about: Having programs, events, ministries, etc. where folks can come to Jesus Christ and start having a relationship with Him. I discovered at Jurisdictional Conference that First UMC-Harlingen, years ago, invited The Reverend (later Sir) Alan Walker, a noted Australian Methodist evangelist, to come and preach. It was during that revival event that a man who has had an impact on my life, The Reverend Jose Luis Palos of the Rio Grande Conference, came into faith with Jesus Christ.

A sad thing that I've heard over the years in churches that I've served is that many have had Jesus-encounters outside the UM church. That should not be. We are the heirs of a great revival, we are the heirs of a movement that started before this nation even started and we moved westward with the nation, providing Jesus, and education, and hospitals, and schools, and community centers and the like, all for sharing God's love in our land.

What to do? Look for Jesus in all that your church offers. If you don't already have a relationship with Jesus, get one! It is so simple: As you pray, and you can do this in silence, ask God to forgive you of your sins and say to God that you're turning away from those sins. Then invite Jesus into your heart and the relationship will begin.

PRAYER: Loving Father, I confess I am a sinner and I stand in the need of Your grace. Forgive me and give me strength to turn away from my sins. I invite Jesus into my heart as Lord and Savior and I want to walk with Him and have a relationship with Him. Let me give glory to you by the way that I walk with you. I ask this in Jesus Christ's precious Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

OUR DAY OF SERVICE

Good day dear friends.

Early this morning, Dr. Howard Yeargen of San Marcos suffered a stroke and died. Howard had taught in Kingsville at A&I and then made his way to Southwest Texas/Texas State University, and was very active at First UMC. Just two Sundays ago after Jurisdictional Conference, we saw Howard accompany his precious granddaughter in some musical presentations. Howard played piano and his granddaughter played the violin. It was a wonderful sight seeing grandpa and granddaughter praising God in that way. Howard had been battling cancer for some time.

Sam Martinez and his mother, Gloria, both underwent surgery yesterday. Gloria underwent emergency gall bladder surgery and Sam had a corrective procedure done. Both were to spend the night at the Renaissance Hospital in McAllen, TX.

Friday is our day of service. Witnessing has been our theme for the week and no better day than today to get out there and share something with someone about your faith. Ask God to guide you in where and how and don't be like Lucy in Peanuts; an old strip of Charles Shultz shows Lucy talking with Charlie Brown and she says, "I could be a great evangelist." Charlie asks how she knows and she replies that she convinced the boy behind her that her religion was better than his. "How did you do that?" Charlie innocently asks to which Lucy replied, "I hit him with my lunch box!"

Leave your lunch box at home and just let God use you in a way that shows the hope that is yours in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER: Loving God, bathe me in your light today. Let me go forth following Your lead and direction as I seek to share my faith. If necessary, give me the words I should use to share how I believe, but mostly use my actions to show that I have Your love, joy, and peace in my heart. Bless the Yeargan family and continue to bring Your healing touch to Sam and Gloria. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.