STAY STRONG IN YOUR FAITH!

Good day dear friends. Our two chapters today are full of history and full of today's news. For as you read or have read in the chapters assigned for next week's sermon, you discover some historical occurrences. Here is the study guide with links to those Biblical chapters online: Tuesday: Genesis 16, 17 are to be read. We find that both Abraham and Sarah waver in their faith. How is your faith shaken by doubting? How do you “shoo” off doubt?
These are links to chapters 16 and 17:http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?new=1&word=gen+16&section=0&version=nrs&language=en
http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=Genesis+17&section=0&version=nrs&new=1&oq=&NavBook=ge&NavGo=16&NavCurrentChapter=16
God had promised Abraham many children. Yet, the promise came one day and the fulfillment was long in coming. The first of these two chapters opens with a declaration that Sarai (Sarah later) had borne no children for Abraham. She was in her late eighties and while many at that age and now younger are planning a move to Florida, she was still very much involved in being a part of God's plan where she was. She knew God's promise but her faith wavered as did Abraham. "How in the world is God going to act in such old people such as ourselves?" was her question, and the answer Sarai thought was in letting her husband have their Egyptian slave-girl as his wife, thinking that through any conception that might occur, "they" would have an heir. We don't read any hesitation to consent on the old man's part. He marries his slave and through her they conceive a child. The attitude on the slave-girl's part changes almost immediately towards Sarai. The Bible says she looked on her with contempt. And any change in attitude towards someone, especially someone who used to work for you, is not welcome, and this was the case with Sarai and Hagar. It became so unbearable that Sarai ran off Hagar. While on her escape, an angel of the Lord appears to her and shares some interesting things about her son to be: "Now you have conceived and shall bear a son; you shall call him Ishmael, for the Lord has given heed to your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild ass of a man, with his hand against everyone, and everyone's hand against him; and he shall live at odds with all his kin." Now read this carefully, Ishmael is the father of the people known today as Arabs. Abraham is the common father of the Arabs and the, can you guess? Yes, Jews. Read that verse again and tell me the angel was wrong.
Chapter 17 is a fulfillment of the promise and more, as in this chapter we find God wanting to be Abraham's God and ordering them to have on their body, the sign of the covenant, circumcision.
What have you been worried about lately? Have you asked God in prayer for this particular situation? Has your faith wavered as you wait? Did you try taking things into your own hands to come up with a solution on your own?
The lesson for today is to trust God and wait for God. Yes, we do have to do our part, but sometimes our part is just to wait.
PRAYER: God of all things, give me patience today. Along with that the wisdom to know what I should do. If it be Your will just to wait, so be it. I love and trust You. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.

WHEN IN DOUBT, PRAY IT OUT!

A young Englishman worked hard to book passage on a ship bound for America. He had tried several times to find rewarding and lasting work and could not provide for himself, and with what little money he had saved and borrowing a significant amount from his uncle, he boarded a ship for the United States. His mother had given him a loaf of bread and some hard cheese for the trip and he knew it wouldn't last for the entire two week crossing. He ate very little when the dinner bell would ring for guests to make their way into the dining room, peeking every now and again to see the scrumptious meals the others were enjoying. He imagined the bites of bread and cheese to be just like that that was being served inside. One day another fellow caught him eating bread and cheese and asked him why he had never joined them inside for the meals. The man replied he had only paid for the ticket of passage; the other fellow said, "Don't you know your ticket includes the meals?"
This is how so many approach the reading of God's word. It contains so many blessings and joys and we carry on our lives empty of its blessings because we think we can't understand it or we don't have time for it. We certainly make time to eat! Why can't we make time to nourish ourselves on the word of God?
We started a yearlong journey of faith into reading the whole Bible. Yesterday our sermon was called, "The Muddle of The Story" and we focused on Genesis 3:1-8, and saw we humans came to muddle the perfectness of God's story.
Today, we're getting ahead for next week's sermon by studying the University of the Way's study guide: Monday: Read Genesis 14 & 15. Can you recall a time when what seemed impossible, you “believed the Lord?” Say more about that.
To read Genesis 14 online click here: http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?new=1&word=gen+14§ion=0&version=nrs&language=en
To read Genesis 15 online click here:http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=Genesis+14§ion=0&version=nrs&new=1&oq=&NavBook=ge&NavGo=14&NavNextChapter=%3E%3E&NavCurrentChapter=14
We've all faced things or situations where it seemed impossible. My father and mother had faith that all five of use could complete our college education. It was a given that when we finished high school we would go to college. There were no ands, ifs or buts, just go. It seemed easier said than done. My dad was the only one working outside of the home, and to obtain a college education would require money. But what may have seemed impossible for me, did not to God. I was blessed with a pastor who had attended Lon Morris College, and who knew that I could attend there and work my way through there by working on-campus. I applied, was visited by one of LMC's college instructors in Sociology,and I decided that was where I was to go. The pastor, The Rev. Guillermo Chavez, had arranged for me to receive a preministerial scholarship that included my working in the kitchen as a dishwasher, but to me that was great! I worked hard (not only in the dishwashing department, but in my job of studying) and in my second year was nominated by the school to receive a Ford Foundation scholarship which I received that allowed me to complete my education at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. God made this possible.
What are you facing that seems impossible? The story you will read in the two chapters involve great challenges, including unexpected, unexplainable biological ones, yet for God nothing is impossible.
PRAYER: God of all possibilities, grant me faith to trust You in all things. When something seems impossible give me faith and wisdom, and in all things, Your will be done. Amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

WE SHALL WANDER NO LONGER

Good day dear friends.
We shall wander no longer was our theme for Sunday, with the idea of home being that when we enter a loving, trusting relationship with God, we're home! We've discussed several passages in scripture that have talked about that and today we're going to the last book of the Bible.
Here is a passage from Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." 5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6 Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children. (NRSV)
It has always been God's desire to "dwell" or to have a "home" with humanity. We saw that in Genesis as part of the creation, placing the man and the woman in the garden to have a full relationship with them. It was our disobedience that took us away from that, and we find the rest of the story to be one of humans trying to get close to God, then falling away, they cry out to the Lord, the Lord God sends a prophet with a message of reconciliation, the people get close to God, they fall away, etc. It's a cycle. It is not until the opening of Matthew's Gospel that we find God acting with the final revelation, that of sending His son to bring ultimate reconciliation with God through the gift of salvation. And this sets in motion God's message that God wants us all home. Jesus shares with us in John 14 that He is preparing a place for us so that where He is, we will be also.
Is is a shock to read these words from Revelation 21? God creates a new heaven and a new earth. God prepares a new Jerusalem for a wedding, where Christ marries the Church. And this new home is where God wants us. God will wipe away every tear, there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying, nor pain. The perfectness of God's original intention is restored, as we will be restored. We will be home. Indeed, Jesus is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
For now our home is in our daily walk with God. Do we will our lives in ways that show we love and trust God? Do we help others know that God loves and cares for us all and desires us home with Him? That's our purpose and our mission, and with God's help we can carry that out.
PRAYER: God of the eternal home, help us to be at home with you in our spiritual walk with You. Let my life show to others that You want everyone to come home. Let me be faithful in sharing You. I pray this in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.

I DECLARE BEFORE THE LORD...

Good morning dear friends! Again, our thanks for your prayers for our daughter and new grandbaby! Sarai Evangelina Cortez was born Saturday, February 24, 2007 by C-section. Mom, daughter, and dad are doing well as are the grandparents, Nellie and Eradio Valverde, and Kathy and Joe Cortez. The baby is beautiful! We are blessed and we praise God!
We talked about our journey home and we talked about what "home" really means. Home is where we feel love, accepted, and committed. We talked about God's desire for us to be at home with Him in our relationship with Him.
Here is our study guide for today, remembering that the Genesis reading assignments are to prepare us for Sunday's new sermon series THE GRAND SLAM, THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR!:Monday: (Read Genesis 1-3 in preparation for the Grand Slam.) Joshua 24:15 is a famous declaration made by Joshua. Please find and read that. What sort of declarations have you made about your family and home? What was the last spiritual decision you made for your family?
Here is that Joshua passage:15 Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
Joshua has gathered the people of God as they prepare to enter the promised land. He reminds them of the temptations that await them from their new neighbors, namely to follow other gods, but he makes a declaration for himself and his family, "but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." This is a strong declaration and one that he is making not only for himself but for his family as well. It was surely something he discussed with them and something he asked commitment from his family about: We will continue to serve the Lord. It was not easy to make this declaration before this group for they had not been the most faithful people. They were fickle and many were the times they deviated from God's path choosing instead their own.
What declaration have you made for your household? That you'll be a Colgate family forever? That only Cheer will wash your clothes? That you'll read only the Austin American Statesman no matter where in the country you live? While you may argue those are important declarations, what declaration have you made for the Lord? We will go to church every Sunday unless we're sick or out of town? We will be a family of prayer? We will tithe what we earn to the Lord? We will attend Sunday school and grow in our knowledge of God? We will give of our time to be in Christian service to this community? These are the ones that matter that help your family know who they are, as well as letting others know what matters for you. Not to mention that God wants these declarations not only made, but lived out.
It won't be easy and to make such a declaration may find you at odds with some of the members of your family. You may find yourself tempted by Satan to consider what you just declared to be foolish or dangerous. A declaration is a call to stand firm in the Lord, trusting Him for the decisions you make that will bless the Lord and you.
PRAYER: Come loving God into my household today. I declare to you that I will make declarations that bless You and my household. Help us all in the living of such. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
PS Please don't forget Doug Carson's funeral is today at 11 a.m. in our church. Please continue to pray for Sue, Amanda, and Jennifer.

WHAT'S GOD'S PLAN FOR YOUR MARRIAGE?

Good day dear friends.
We continue to affirm our faith that God wants our marriages to count. Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: Matthew 1:18-25 tells us the brief story of Joseph's disappointment in Mary before their actual marriage. Please read that and see what happensin "the rest of the story."
Here is that passage from Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
They're called the Holy Family by some. Joseph and Mary, parents to Jesus. It started out as a normal Jewish matrimonial process: Joseph was selected to be Mary's husband, and they took part in the betrothal ceremony, where Mary took Joseph's name, they returned home with their own families and for one year Mary had the option of calling off the wedding. Prior to this step, Joseph was the only one in the relationship that had that right, now Mary had it. The only way to call off the wedding from Joseph's side, was if Mary was found to be unfaithful to him. You can imagine his disappointment, if not anger, at finding out that Mary is now pregnant. "Joseph being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly." He was within his rights. The other option was to have Mary publically executed for her sin.
But God had other plans. God, in a dream, sends an angel to reveal His greater purpose for him and Mary. Joseph goes through with his marriage, and Jesus is born.
What plans does God have for your marriage? Are you waiting for a dream in which God will reveal it to you or do you know that your being married is part of God's plan in and of itself? In what ways are you glorifying God in your marriage? Do your friends and family know your marriage to be a holy one?
PRAYER: God of love and mercy, grant to me a holy marriage. Let my desires and actions be those that seek to do Your will and make known Your love. I pray in Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.

ASH WEDNESDAY, THE START OF OUR LENTEN JOURNEY!

Good day dear friends. Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of our Lenten Journey, a time of spiritual preparation for our welcoming the Risen Christ with new hearts on Resurrection (Easter) Sunday.
Our church will have come and go ashes from 11 until 1 p.m. Then at 7 a more formal worship led by our youth group. Both services will prove to be meaningful.
Here is one text for today from Matthew 6:1 "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5 "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.16 "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Here is also our prayer guide for today:
Wednesday: This is our day of prayer and purpose. With our having spent Sunday, yesterday and Monday studying abour marriage, use today as a day to pray purposefully for the married couples in our church. Pray that God would bless them, help them keep the SPARK alive in their relationship, and that God would use all marriages to inspire others about their own marriages.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

SEVEN YEARS SEEM LIKE A FEW DAYS!

Good day dear friends.
PRAYER REQUESTS:From Gordon Leeks of our church: A colleague of mine, Keller T. has suffered with extreme pain in his back for several years. He has asked for prayers for relief from this debilitating pain.Thanks,Gordon
Today in Texas it's TAKS Writing Day! Please be in prayer for 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 11th graders as they take this test and other tests in Spanish, writing, etc. There will be prayers in school today!
STUDY GUIDE:We continue to talk about making our marriages count and we have our study guide here:
Tuesday: Please find and read Genesis 29. It’s a great love story, but it has some interesting twists and turns. Read how this young man’s dream of getting married plays out.
Here is that passage from Genesis 29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the people of the east. 2 As he looked, he saw a well in the field and three flocks of sheep lying there beside it; for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well's mouth was large, 3 and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the mouth of the well. 4 Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where do you come from?" They said, "We are from Haran." 5 He said to them, "Do you know Laban son of Nahor?" They said, "We do." 6 He said to them, "Is it well with him?" "Yes," they replied, "and here is his daughter Rachel, coming with the sheep." 7 He said, "Look, it is still broad daylight; it is not time for the animals to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them." 8 But they said, "We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep." 9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them. 10 Now when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother's brother Laban, and the sheep of his mother's brother Laban, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of his mother's brother Laban. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and wept aloud. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's kinsman, and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father. 13 When Laban heard the news about his sister's son Jacob, he ran to meet him; he embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, 14 and Laban said to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh!" And he stayed with him a month. 15 Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?" 16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah's eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful. 18 Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel." 19 Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me." 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed." 22 So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast. 23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. 24 (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.) 25 When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?" 26 Laban said, "This is not done in our country giving the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years." 28 Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife. 29 (Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maid.) 30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He served Laban for another seven years. 31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. 32 Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben; for she said, "Because the Lord has looked on my affliction; surely now my husband will love me." 33 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also"; and she named him Simeon. 34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, "Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons"; therefore he was named Levi. 35 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "This time I will praise the Lord"; therefore she named him Judah; then she ceased bearing.
What a love story! Our hero, Jacob, bachelor wanderer, comes across the woman of his dreams. And in keeping with those times, a perfect woman because she was a cousin. (Yes, first cousin, for his mother's brother was Rachel's father - get a chart to plot this if you're not following it!). According to one website, it is now against the law to marry a first cousin in Texas. That as of September 1, 2005. Previously, it was legal; now you can go to jail.
Jacob sees Rachel, this woman of his dreams upon his arrival to the place where she watered the sheep. He meets his uncle, a great celebration takes place, then Jacob offers to work for him. The uncle asks him what would he like as a salary, and Jacob replies he would be very thankful to receive permission to marry Rachel. Uncle Laban said, work for me seven years and she's yours! Now keep in mind, if you read the passage, that Uncle Laban has two daughters; the oldest is Leah, and she has great eyes, great personality, makes her own clothes, great cook, stuff you hear before you go on a blind date; and Rachel, the more beautiful of the two. But Jacob is in love with Rachel and wants to marry her. And the Bible says that those seven years seemed like a few days. Remember those days in your marriage, or a relationship, when time flew?
The story has a twist. Uncle Laban, cannot give Rachel before Leah gets married, so he does the "right thing" for those parts, and gives her to Jacob. After the wedding feast where Jacob thinks he's marrying Rachel, he wakes up to find Leah in his bed! "Hold on Uncle Laban! This was not the deal we had!" Uncle Laban explains himself and says that after another week of work, he would receive Rachel and then Jacob would have to work another seven years for this second bride! Of course, I should point out that in Texas and all of our states, you can only have one wife at a time. It was allowed then, but not now. Yes, there are certain enclaves of Texas and Utah, where outlaw folks practice multiple partner marriages.
I said at the beginning this was a love story and it was, between Jacob and Rachel, but not Leah. If you read carefully his plight, she feels hated by Jacob, though she has given him three sons and Rachel none. The writer even says that "Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah." The point of the story is to give us the history behind Israel's early start of the twelve tribes. Rachel, Leah, and their two handmaids, become the mothers of Jacob's twelve sons.
The point I'm making is how love can influence a perspective about time and obligations. For Jacob to be in love, to work out his obligations to his father-in-law to be, it was nothing to work seven years. If we keep love alive in our relationships, especially our marriages, we have that same blessing. Sunday I spoke about kindness in a marriage. Kindness is thinking ahead of the needs and wants of your spouse, and meeting them. It's receiving a glass of water right at the time you're about to take your morning vitamins or meds. It's being handed a sweater when you're about to leave the house without knowing the weather. It's about having your favorite meal prepared without you having to ask. Kindness in love goes a long way.
PRAYER: Loving God of love, we thank you for the gift of love in each other. I pray that love would continue to give us a fresh perspective of life with attitudes that please You and help us. Let us be kind to one another, especially to those with whom we live. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

THIS AT LAST, BONE OF MY BONES FLESH OF MY FLESH!

Good day dear friends.
We concluded our Made to Count sermon series with a study of marriage called Making Your Marriage Count. We had taped two weeks ago, several couples and two individuals to share their secrets for long marriages. The video was shown in worship at all three worship services and everyone was blessed with the messages shown by the couples and the widow and widower.
Here is today's study guide: Genesis 2:18-25 tells us God's plan for humanity. Please read the study found there and make notes of all that happened to the first man. What was God's intention in verse 18? Why do you suppose God "toyed" with the man in the subsequent verses? What at last did the man discover? What was the man's declaration?
Here is that passage from 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. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.
God's intention for the man was that he "should not be alone." God declares that He will bring to the man "a helper." And in a comical way God brings to the man all of the creation, animals and birds. Out of all of those, none was found to be the suitable "helper." And here we should mention that helper is more than the word represents to many, not one who walks alongside doing things that the man doesn't want to do, though that is true in some marriages; helper in the original tongue was on a more equal footing as partner/companion. And no one was found among the dogs, cats, parrots, chimps, etc. to fill that role. God then does surgery. Taking a rib from the side of the man (and yes, men and women have the same number of ribs to this day: Men do not have one less!), and from that rib created the woman. It is at this point that man becomes poetic: "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." You can't see Tarzan saying as much; nor George of the Jungle. Adam felt the power of God in this new creature and recognized the purpose for the writer continues, "Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh."
Do you see the power of God in your relationships, especially your marriage, if you're married? Can you like the couple at Cana of Galilee from John 2, see that when Jesus is present, He can show His glory to your relationship and that stronger faith comes as a result? Too many problems in a marriage come when the couple do not rely on God or think God is either unable or uninterested in their wellbeing. Think again. God wants marriages to make it. Someone at the first service after my sermon told me, "Marriages are made in Heaven, but so are thunder and lightning!" I still believe marriages can be saved in Heaven, if we just ask.
PRAYER: God of marriage, come to visit all marriages today, especially mine. You know the challenges and the worries that we sometimes don't share with you, but let us share them right now. Come and show us your glory, we ask in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day, and a great and blessed marriage!
e.v.

THE BIG DECISIONS

Good day dear friends.
I apologize for not having ConCafes during the last couple of mornings. Tuesday morning found me early on the road to Kerrville for our "spring" board meeting of ordained ministry for our conference. Wednesday more of the same, home by evening.
I trust everyone had a nice Day of Love yesterday and you were able to show love and appreciation for those in your life. I hope you understood it is better to focus on the giving and serving aspect of love rather than just on the romance part. One of the morning papers, I believe it was USA Today had a great article on that, focusing on two couples who because of some medical and aging difficulties know that because of the romance that led to their marriage now the emphasis has shifted to giving and serving. One of the couples is old, she in a care home, he with her for all dinners during which time he feeds her. She no longer can communicate other than with some groans and moans that he knows exactly what she means; the other couple, he with a debilitating disease for which she must do more than her usual share of work and care for the household, but again a focus on giving and service.
We should live our Christian lives in the same way. Jesus mentions the Final Judgement as a decision God will make based on OUR decisions. We sometimes fail to understand we do have a loving God that wants all to be with Him for all eternity, it is us who make decisions to please ourselves that lead us away from Him. Jesus' statement about that decision comes from Matthew 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' 40 And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, "You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they also will answer, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' 45 Then he will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
"When you do it (feed, quench, welcome, clothe, visit, and care) for the least of these, you did it for me." Powerful words based on powerful decisions. To withhold from someone is to withhold from Christ Jesus Himself. What will you decide today?
PRAYER: Loving God, master of all creation, help me today to care for the least of these. Open my eyes, ears, heart and hands to care and share as I should. Not just to the ones I love but for everyone. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.

THE DAY OF LOVE

Happy Valentine's Day dear friends.
St. Paul said it best, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Share some love in Christ today!
e.v.

DO MY DECISIONS GLORIFY GOD?

Good day dear friends.
We studied "How to Make Decisions That Count" based on Deuteronomy
30:15 "See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and
destruction," in our services yesterday. Pastor Leslie preached at
the 8:30 and 11 o'clock services and yours truly preached at the
Contemporary service.
We make decisions everyday. Some are easier than others and some are
not so easy. When it comes to making what can be called life
decisions we truly know we must choose right or we suffer the
consequences of having made a bad decision. Pastor Leslie shared
from Rev. Rick Warren and his four C's of making decisions:
Criticism, Convenience, Circumstances, and Conviction. I shared how
John Wesley used his method of theological reflection as a basis for
making serious decisions: Scripture, tradition, reason, and
experience. The text mentioned above is Joshua speaking before the
people of God as they prepared to enter into the promised land.
Joshua knew the battle to possess the land would be theirs, but the
true battle would be against the new citizens and their beliefs in
other gods. Joshua puts it plainly: If you choose life, you're
choosing prosperity; if you choose any other way, yours will be death
and destruction. Isn't it that way with our decisions?
To use Wesley's method, a committed prayer and scripture reading
life, followed by prayerful reflection on our traditions, taking time
to reason out all options and consequences of our decisions, and
basing our decision on the experiences we've had in similar
situations will help us make the decisions that glorify God.
PRAYER: God, let me raise high the praises for Your name. May I
stay in relationship with You as I seek to hear You and Your gentle
guiding for my life. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.

WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?

Good day dear friends.
God wants us to win. Actually, God wants us to go beyond winning, to be "more than conquerors." Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: In the very back of your Bible, please find Revelation 20:7-10 where you find the final battle described in some detail. The interesting thing is that we can tell Satan, “We’ve read the Book and we know who wins! You don’t!” Read this story and decide if you’re on the winning side or not. If you’re not, today is your day of decision to get on the right side with God.
Here is that passage from Rev. 20:7 When the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, in order to gather them for battle; they are as numerous as the sands of the sea. 9 They marched up over the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from heaven and consumed them. 10 And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
The final battle. God wins. The pastor whom I succeeded here at First, told him that in his last year here he got a call from Universal Studios based in Austin. He was suspicious of there being a Universal Studios there, but he took the call and it was a representative from the movie company seeking permission to film inside our historic church. The scene would be a wrestling where Jesus and Satan would have the last wrestling match. And don't worry, the rep said, "Jesus wins!" We, of course, know that already. And no, permission was not given for such a movie to be made inside our sanctuary.
Why did John have this vision of this last battle? To show how powerful and cunning Satan is and will be up until the last day. Notice John writes that the deception will take place even to "the four corners of the earth" and people will still believe him and join his side. Sadly, many do not think they are on Satan's side, and we do our best in trying to keep folks from going that way, but there are those who still do not believe in God that they've decided already and they end up on Satan's side.
This apocalyptic vision shows that the end of Satan is coming. And the end of those who serve him and even fight for him is coming too. That end, as John saw it, is not a pretty one, and the end for all on that side will never come; that is to say their suffering and torment will be eternal.
We need to seek God and to serve God in all we do. We should be those who stand for life and its fullness in Jesus Christ, and try to encourage others to join us. And we do it because we know the consequences right here and now of living a life separated from Christ, and what's to make us think that end will be any different, if not worse? Let us seek today to help others find God's loving and saving grace.
PRAYER: Loving God, let me be on Your side today and all days. Let me bring others to know you and trust you. I ask this in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.

GOD'S WINNING WAYS

Good day dear friends.
We continue to affirm our faith in what Paul shared in Romans 8 that we are more than conquerors and that God wants us to win!
Here is today's study guide: Tuesday: The Psalmist knew where the power to win lay and that was in God. Please find Psalm 44:1-8 and read there what he has to say to us about winning in the Lord.
Here is that Psalm passage: 44:1 We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. 2 With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish. 3 It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. 4 You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. 5 Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. 6 I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; 7 but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. 8 In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.
What victory stories have you shared with your children or grandchildren? What victory stories of faith have you shared with them as well? Men who played football love to relive those days of scoring touchdowns and outstanding passes caught with one hand or balls hit out of the park. Women like to talk of their accomplishments in the classroom or strides they've made when others said they couldn't. But what has God done in your life that you should be sharing with others so that they too may be aware of what God can do? The Psalmist had a rich history of personal victories, but he also had shared in the collective memory of his ancestors on the victories God had done in their lives.
Center on verse 7: God gives us the victory over that which we face. It is in God that we will receive the victory stories we will one day be sharing with others. What is your biggest challenge today? Have you trusted God with this challenge? Read the Psalm again and let it be what God wants you to hear about what is before you.
PRAYER: Loving God, come and give to me the victory I need. Let this victory be that which I will one day soon share with others about how awesome You are. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

GRASSHOPPER FAITH?

Good day dear friends, we had a super Sunday (we can say that without being sued by the NFL, right?) with our worship services. We had a mini-hymnsing to affirm our faith, at 8:30 we celebrated a Baptism and being the first Sunday of the month we had the celebration of Holy Communion. At 11 o'clock we also threw out footballs and celebrated America's big day of football. The theme of the sermon was from Romans 8 called, "God Wants You To Win!"
Here is the study guide for today: Monday: We find in Numbers (You think you never find any good stuff in a book named Numbers??) 13:30-33 a story about faith and winning. Please find and read that passage to see what was involved and how attitude based on God’s altitude blessed those involved in this powerful story.
Here is that passage from Numbers 13:30 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it." 31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against this people, for they are stronger than we." 32 So they brought to the Israelites an unfavorable report of the land that they had spied out, saying, "The land that we have gone through as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people that we saw in it are of great size. 33 There we saw the Nephilim (the Anakites come from the Nephilim); and to ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them."
Your attitude determines your altitude. A well-known saying and a true assessment for life. In this familiar passage the Israelites have come to the place where they must fight to enter into the promised land. Keep in mind the Israelites had been walking with God, seeing God do incredible things and even heard God promise to them this new land yet the majority of the spies who went in to assess the situation in this new land came back with fear and doubt. They said they were going up against some huge people who made them look like grasshoppers. In other words, let's give up! Let's either surrender to them and become their slaves or turn back and return to the land where we were slaves before! What a choice! Yet we sometimes face those same decisions in our daily lives in the things we come up against. Do we face them and try to overcome them trusting God or do we surrender and head back? Do you have "Grasshopper Faith" or "More Than Conquerors" faith?
Our text for yesterday came from Romans 8:31-39 and our faith is an overcomers' faith. We can face all things and overcome all things with faith in God. God wants us to win for ours is a faith of neverending life and a life, if lived in Christ, filled with abundant joy.
PRAYER: God give me an overcomer's faith. Let me no longer see myself as a "grasshopper" but as one who can be more than a conqueror. I receive in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.

TRUE TREASURES

Good day dear friends. This has been a very hectic and busy week and I'm a bit behind in my writing for today.
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: Please find the most familiar and loved passage about children and Jesus as we find it in Mark 10:13-16. Praise God for the love of Jesus towards children and their lives. Let the verse speak to your heart. Ask the Lord to help you love children more!
Here is that passage from Mark 10:13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." 16 And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
Jesus loves children. It was no different during his earthly ministry days. We all know Jesus holds a special place in His heart for all, but especially the children. They're such precious gifts and Jesus realized that. Jesus knew that children are shaped by their parents and in this passage the parents who had heard and seen what Jesus could do, saw in Him something special and powerful and brought their children to Him so that a touch from Him would bring them a blessing. You can only imagine what blessing they were seeking, simply to have a man of God touch them would be blessing enough. Carli, my daughter and I, have started to really enjoy an English show called "Cash in the Attic," an equivalent to Antique Roadshow, but this show presents families with a financial goal and they have this expert go through their attics and other rooms to see if there are any items of value in them. Last night's episode was from Liverpool and the woman whose house was featured had a goal to give her son a nice wedding and to buy herself a nice dress and "big hat" to wear to the wedding. Being Liverpool you can imagine The Beatles treasures she had, including autographs from each of the moptops. She had a framed copy of John Lennon's first book, which she had handed to him to have signed during one of the lunchtime concerts The Beatles would put on at The Cavern. To her dismay, the signature was not John's but one of the road managers. But to those who love The Beatles, contact with them must have been something very special.
Multiply that by a billion and you get the specialness of having contact with Jesus. One of the things I want to find out is what happened to these children during their lives after their blessing by Jesus. I know the Lord forgave the disciples for their protective attitude keeping the children from coming to see Him, but I wonder what will happen to those who still refuse to allow children access to God? I know of several faith stories from this church of those who have, even in spite of having parents with little or no faith, come to full faith in Jesus and now bring their kids with them to worship.
May our desire be to bring as many of God's children to His house as we can. The doors are wide open. What we need are the strong arms and loving hands who will guide and walk with these children to bring them into this house. Will you help?
PRAYER: Loving God, come into my heart and use me to bring more of Your little ones to your house. Let me be a blessing. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

OUR DAY OF PRAYER AND PURPOSE

Good day dear friends.
As we pray let us be in prayer for Doug Carson, who was in and now out of the VA Hospital in San Antonio. Doug has been battling cancer and it's been quite a fight for him. He needs our prayers. Also, this morning at 11:30, Perry and Pat Heath will have a new grandbaby delivered by C-Section so please pray for a safe delivery and healthy baby. We continue to praise God for Luke (Luciano) Marazzo's recovery. His skin graft went well and he was set to do his first walking yesterday. He may be going home today or tomorrow and Friday will be when doctors assess the success of the graft. Leonard Moeller is recovering from hip surgery and should be in rehab soon.
We thank the Lord for last night's Prayer and Healing Service. Eric Brown provided music and we spent time at the altar asking God's power and presence in the lives of those who need healing. Join those present at church in your daily devotions this morning.
Here is our prayer guide for today:
Wednesday: This is our day of prayer and purpose. Please take time to appreciate the children around you. Make a list of those children who have blessed your life and lift those names up in prayer. Please pray now for those children that you know are suffering, hurting, hungry, thirsty, unwanted, abandoned, homeless, afflicted; and ask God to use you or your gifts to bless them and make them feel the love of the Lord.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

A MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD?

Good day dear friends.
Luciano (Luke) Marazzo was set to have a skin graft yesterday at either 1 or 3:15. The parents were very hopeful all would go well. I visited with them yesterday morning. Doug Carson was on his way to the VA hospital yesterday afternoon. Please hold these families in your prayers.DON'T FORGET OUR JAN PRAYER SERVICE OF HEALING TONIGHT AT 7 PM.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Psalm 103:17 is a verse that speaks to us even today. Please find that passage and see what instruction it offers to us.
Here is that Psalm: "But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children."
God's love is like a neverending spring of water. Springs have always fascinated me. When I attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX, and in the years after when our annual conference was held there, I had to visit the park on the San Gabriel River. It was in the park that there were springs feeding the river. The little pebbles around the springs would dance nonstop as the water gushed out. In the same way, but more powerfully so, God's love come gushing onto us. Steadfast and everlasting. But it comes to "those who fear him." Always a catch? No. Always a blessing! God's love means more to those who respect God and are aware of God. And the added blessing is that to those who respect and love God receive a blessing of righteousness for their children.
It makes sense. In a home where God is real and loved by the parents, the children learn by example. Usually these are homes where God is so real that He's treated as a member of the household. He is praised, He is loved, He is spoken to and about, He is invited to all family functions, especially family crises. And the children of that household grow to have that relationship. In those homes where God is forced upon the children and the children have yet to see Him real in that family, grow to question and doubt God is real and available. The solution? Make God real for you and God will become real for your family.
PRAYER: Living God, fall afresh on me today and all days. Let me see to make you a part of my life in all things. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

MAKING OUR KIDS COUNT

Good day dear friends. We continued our Made to Count sermon series with one called Making Your Kids Count, about how to instill in our children that which is most important namely their relationship with God. And with that in mind here is our study guide for today:
Monday: A very familiar Proverb is found in the Book of Proverbs 22:6. In it you will find an eternal truth. Please look it up and let it speak to your spirit as to what we should be doing with the children of the faith.
Here is that well-known proverb: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
A child is never too young to learn about God. Along with his or her crawling, walking, smiling, talking, he or she can learn about praying and the reality of God in your life and one day it will become real for them as well. Sadly, some folks believe teaching about God is for later years when a theological concept can be more realized. Yet, the simplicity of teaching something so theological profound as "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so..." will come back later as a tremendous blessing for your child(ren).
"We've lost control of our kids" one church member told me after the first service. And that thought stayed with me throughout the day. I mentioned kids shoving their way through stores with no thought of saying "Excuse me" or even a "May I please get by?" Some would argue this is not a spiritual matter, but I would beg to differ. Lack of respect for others is not healthy in any realm be it spiritual, emotional or physical.
We all have a stake in raising kids in the God way. We all have to share in affirming that children are God's investment in our future.
PRAYER: Loving Father, speak to my heart as I seek to speak to my children and the children around me. Make me a servant and an example of how my life counts in You. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

THE MESS OF THE PAST

Good day dear friends. I trust we're all seeking to live as if we had a God-heart; guided by the Lord to be His servants.
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: Please find John 8:3-11. Here is the story of a woman caught in a dreadful act. We don’t know more about this woman only that something led her to a life that was not her potential. She was not living to God’s standards and Jesus’ compassion touched her and blessed her. Be blessed by this story!
3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, 4 they said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6 They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 She said, "No one, sir." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again."]
Jesus could see through the woman and knew her history. We do not. There could have been countless things happen in this woman's life as child, as a teenager, as a young adult that led to her making some unwise decisions for herself and her life. It may have been her seeking the approval of a man that led her to be "caught in adultery." And it was a very big, very serious offense and matter. The ones who brought her out said, "this woman has been caught in the very act of committing adultery." We don't know who caught them (for there was a man involved and we don't know where he is or what happened to him), but they were ready to deal with this woman and to offer her life in exchange for her sin. The penalty was death through stoning. They wanted to trap Jesus by quoting the Mosaic law. Jesus replies by writing on the ground. We don't know what He wrote, but they kept questioning Him and he calmly says, "Let anyone among you who is without sin to cast the first stone." (my version). He then wrote on the ground again. Some have said Jesus was writing the sins of each person there on the ground. I think that would have tired out his finger. The question about being sinless is what left them speechless and made them walk off one by one. Jesus spared the woman's life and set her free from all she had ever done. "Go and do not sin again."
It is a sin to live outside God's potential for your life. It is a sin to allow past mistakes or sins done against you to keep you from living life in the full abundance offered by the Lord to us. This woman was now free to go and live a life that did not require her to seek approval or affection or love through men in this way.
What's holding you back from living with a God-heart?
PRAYER: Erase, O Lord, the sins of my heart and the pain of the memories of things done and said against me. Let me rise above the mess of the past, to the promise of the potential that is mine in Christ Jesus. I pray in His name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.

IT'S NOT ABOUT BILLBOARDS!

Good day dear friends.
We continue to discover that in having a God heart we become builders and we discover the true potential God intended for us.
Here is our study guide: Tuesday: In the same book in chapter 6, the same powerful thinking continues about fullness of life. Please find verses 4-9. Read those prayerfully and allow the Lord to speak to your heart about what is truly important in life.
Here is that passage from Deut. 6: 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. 7 Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, 9 and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
The above passage is known as the Shema by the Jewish faith. It is the morning prayer every Jew should pray. It is a prayer of identification and affirmation. It reminds the person praying of who s/he is and who God is. Look at those verses again and see if you don't sense the importance of God in one's life. We affirm there is only one God. And this one God is our God and deserves our love with such intensity that we love Him with our heart, our soul, and our strength. In other words in every realm of our lives we should be loving God! And not only is it meant for our instruction, it is something that guides our living and should guide our children's living. Verse 7 says we should be teaching our children about God. Instruction about God does not start in Sunday school; it starts at home. Every person who believes in God should be a Sunday school teacher every day. In your home, in your travels, as we are about to go to sleep and as we arise. If you need help remembering, don't tie a string around your finger, bind these words as a sign on our hand, and another one as an emblem on our forehead. And if that's not enough, let your neighbors know as they enter your house and your property!
You know what they meant. If God is so important to you, no one will have any doubts about your faith. It will be evident in all ways of your life. It's not about billboards, it's about beliefs lived out in ways that make a positive difference in your life: how you treat yourself, your spouse, your children, your family, your loved ones. It goes beyond the cross necklaces, Emmaus bracelets, cross label pins, etc. Are you living your faith in a loving way?
PRAYER: Father, it is so much easier to put a display of faith on our person than it is to live it. Help me to realize that I am called to live my faith in a way that makes You have first place in my life. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

A GOD HEART

Good day dear friends.

Our sermon yesterday in our series MADE TO COUNT was on discovering our God potential through having a "God heart," meaning one centered and guided by God. We spoke of being "builders" of one another and of God's reign here on the earth.

Here is our study guide for today:

Monday: We’re so familiar with the Ten Commandments as found in Exodus. Did you know they were also in Deuteronomy 5 as well? Please find those and look carefully at the relationship involved in each. See how the fullness of life comes to those who accept and try to live out each of the Ten Commandments.

Here is that passage: Deut. 5:6 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 7 you shall have no other gods before me. 8 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me, 10 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. 11 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. 12 Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 14 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, or your son or your daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the resident alien in your towns, so that your male and female slave may rest as well as you. 15 Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day. 16 Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 17 You shall not murder. 18 Neither shall you commit adultery. 19 Neither shall you steal. 20 Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbor. 21 Neither shall you covet your neighbor's wife.

1. I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods before me. A declaration of relationship. God is ours and we are God's. In this relationship we are in first place with God and likewise we should have God first in our lives.

2. You shall not make for yourself an idol. Nothing irked God more than to see people making idols with their own hands and then bowing down to worship their own handiwork! God cannot be confined to one spot. God is everywhere and an idol or an earthly representation ties Him down.

3. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God. God's name is sacred and should not be defiled or made unclean by our brining God's name to our level to suit our purposes. God's name is meant to be worshipped and loved. To bring it down in any way is a sin.
4. Observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Set aside a day for God. And you. The Sabbath was a worship day and a day of rest. To observe the Sabbath means to keep that day as a day to go to God's house and worship Him and to set time to be restored for the coming week.

5. Honor your father and your mother. Remember the instruction and love given to you by your parents or those who raised you. Hold those memories and instructions in your heart. May your parents always hold a special place in your life. Do not disrespect nor profane the memory of them.

6. You shall not murder. Remember that life is a sacred gift from God. Do not take life away from anyone, including yourself. Seek to build up the life in others with kind words, acts, and thoughts.

7. You shall not commit adultery. If you are married, remember the vows of the covenant of marriage. Seek to hold on to your relationship and find ways for that relationship to grow. Disregard lust and passion and pleasure you think you might find in others.

8. Neither shall you steal. Respect other's property. If someone has something you would like to have, work hard to have it. Seek to have that which you need more than what you just want.

9. Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbor. Do not lie against others especially when you know a falsehood would bring harm or injury to someone else. Seek to affirm others and build them up.

10. Neither shall you covet your neighbor's wife. WIth a God heart you respect others as being children of the Most High and do not see them as potential objects of pleasure or lust.

God's commandments were meant to affirm life and the relationships that are positive and uplifting between God, us, and others. Seek to have the full potential of life by living a life guided by a God heart.

PRAYER: Grant to me loving Father, a heart like Yours. Let me be guided to the fullness of life through You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

A WEEK OF SATURDAYS

Good day dear friends, from the land of Thawsville. We are finally seeing the end of the freezing weather and icicles and other sheets of ice are beginning to fall to the ground. It is still a beautiful sight, but after being inside for all these days, it seemed like each day was a Saturday. I kept thinking, "I'm not ready to preach tomorrow!" And I also wondered why certain shows that are not Saturday shows were on television.
But we've suffered enough and we continue our study of suffering with this study guide:
Thursday: Please find Matthew 26:36-46. In that pasage you will read about Jesus’ own suffering prior to His arrest. Please read it prayerfully. Let the words of the Lord comfort you. You may have been betrayed by a loved one(s) on whom you depended much. As the Lord said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do,” pray that for your life today.
Here is that passage from Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. 38 Then he said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me." 39 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want." 40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; F194 the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 42 Again he went away for the second time and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." 43 Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand."
There is perhaps nothing worse, than to need someone and to find them asleep. You and I may have been in those situations with a friend or loved one when we've asked them to be awake and the heaviness of sleep overcame them or us, and we were not able to be heard or to hear the pleas of someone. Such was the case with Jesus. His heart was heavy from all He had suffered and would suffer. One of His own disciples, after almost three years of ministry, had betrayed Him earlier that night. Now he leads the eleven to the Mount of Olives where He wants to spend time in prayer, leaves eight at a certain spot, climbs higher with his inner circle of Peter, James, and John and shares with them these words, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me." But did they? No. They fell asleep, leaving Jesus to be in agony by Himself. The only One to whom Jesus could always turn was His Father.
May we know we should be there for friends and loved ones when they need us. May we also know that when suffering becomes more than we can bear, God is always there for us, ready to listen and to lighten our load. God never lets us down. God sees us through.
PRAYER: Loving God, be with me now and always. Let me be a person with whom others can share. Be there for me always. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

GOD IN FIRST PLACE?

Good day dear friends. I trust this finds you all warm and safe!
We continue to affirm God's presence with us even through the suffering. Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: In the same book as yesterday in the very next chapter, Genesis 4:1-14, we find the first suffering caused by murder, a fratercide. Thankfully, the Bible spares us the details of Eve’s response to this murder. Please read those verses and let the Spirit speak to you.
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. 6 The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it." 8 Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out to the field." And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" 10 And the Lord said, "What have you done? Listen; your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground! 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth." 13 Cain said to the Lord, "My punishment is greater than I can bear! 14 Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me."
As with most familiar stories usually there is not much we can add. This is one of the saddest stories in the Bible. We find that after the Fall, Adam and Eve now living outside the Garden begin their new life. They are blessed with their first child, Cain, later with their second Abel. The two parents instructed them both with what they knew about God and the worship of God. I can almost guarantee they stress that God should be first in their lives and deserves our first and best. Yet, this instruction was taken by the oldest as "whatever," as some of our kids say when they don't truly believe what we have shared. The youngest took it to heart. When it came time to worship, they reflected their faith in their acts. God had favor on Abel and his willingness to put Him first, and no favor on Cain as he brought an afterthought offering. This angered Cain so much that the first murder recorded in the Bible occurs between brothers, a fratecide. What a terrible thing. Cain's decision to avenge his disfavor with God stayed with him the rest of his life. His decision led him to be separated from his parents and subsequent family for the rest of his life.
If we put God first in our lives and live our lives and make our decisions in that way, imagine the blessings that will be ours!
PRAYER: God, come into my heart and take first place. Let me be guided by You so that all my decisions will reflect Your love and peace living in me. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

WRONG CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES

Good day dear friends.
Part II of our MADE TO COUNT Sermon series dealt with "Through the
Suffering," and a study of the life of Job. The 8:30 sermon is
available online at www.fumcsm.org for you to hear if you wish.
Job's faith is a model for our faith when we feel pressed beyond
what we can take.
Here is today's study guide:
Monday: Does suffering come as a result of wrong choices? Read
Genesis 3:21-24. What events happen that one could label as
suffering in this passage?
Here is the Genesis passage 3:21 And the Lord God made garments of
skins for the man and for his wife, and clothed them. 22 Then the
Lord God said, "See, the man has become like one of us, knowing good
and evil; and now, he might reach out his hand and take also from
the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"— 23 therefore the Lord
God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from
which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man; and at the east of the
garden of Eden he placed the cherubim, and a sword flaming and
turning to guard the way to the tree of life.
In the creation story, Adam and Eve made a wrong choice. They chose
to disobey God and as a result everything changed. And in our lives
we sometimes make the choice of doing something we know is wrong but
justifying it in our irrational ways, we proceed and then wonder why
we got sick or lost a relationship or got thrown out on the streets.
In the creation story, the wrong choice resulted in 1) animals dying
to "make garments of skins for the man and the his wife." 2)
Getting thrown out of the Garden, 3) Work for the man and woman, and
4) access to the "tree of life" denied to them.
What wrong choices have you made? What have been the results? The
good news is that you don't have to stay there! You can walk away,
with the Lord's help, to the place you know God wants you. One
suffers as a result of wrong choices, but it is God who can comfort
us and help us out of our suffering.
PRAYER: Loving God of second and more chances, grant to us the
faith to know with your guidance we can make the right choice of
life and the fullness of life. Grant to those who suffer, hope and
deliverance. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Amen.
e.v.
PS Please stay warm!

CHOOSING WHAT COUNTS

Good day dear friends.
We continue to affirm that our lives were made to count and here is our study guide to help us Live a Life That Counts!
Thursday: 2 Timothy 4:7-8 speak of Paul’s final thoughts about the Christian faith and how he had lived it. Please find and read this passage and let it speak to your heart. Apply what you hear with your heart, to your life.
Here is that passage from 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Paul knew from day one what he was to suffer for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ and still he said yes. I often wonder how many of us, myself included, would truly give ourselves to the Lord knowing what lay ahead. Would foreknowledge of difficult days ahead keep you in bed, instead of going out and facing what you knew you had to face? Would foreknowledge of the struggles of being a Christian keep you from being one? Paul saw the risen Christ. A man who was supposed to have been dead some years before, now alive, and in glory, helped Paul know he had had a life, not death experience. His invitation to become a Christian from Christ was, like for us, an invitation to become a part of a life that never dies. Suffering may come, and that's a normal, natural thing, but we press on nonetheless. So, we read Paul saying he's been faithful: He's "fought the good fight," "finished the race," and "kept the faith." What lays ahead nothing but great things: a "crown of righteousness," in other words, the symbol of a life well-lived, a life lived in faithfulness, and a life that would not end with our earthly death.
Can you hear Paul speaking to you about what is truly important in this life? For Paul, being well-connected, and influential in this world, was not as important as being well-connected and influential for the Lord. Sunday, we said we can plot our life, but until we come to life in Christ, our lives will not count in the eyes of the Lord.
PRAYER: Loving God of all life, speak to my heart about what truly counts in Your eyes, and then let me live in that way. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

Sermon Guide

28 Made to Count: Discovering Your Potential (Mt 15:10-20)

February

4 (Super Bowl) Made to Count: God Wants You to Win! (Rom 8:31-39)

11 Made to Count: Making Your Kids Count

18 Made to Count: Making the Golden Years Count (Gen 23-25)

Job Passages

1 There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and very many servants; so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.
4 His sons used to go and hold feasts in one another's houses in turn; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the feast days had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts." This is what Job always did.
6 One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the Lord, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." 8 The Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil." 9 Then Satan answered the Lord, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." 12 The Lord said to Satan, F7 "Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!" So Satan F8 went out from the presence of the Lord.
13 One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother's house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you." 16 While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you." 17 While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you." 18 While he was still speaking, another came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you."
20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.
1 One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the Lord, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." 3 The Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason." 4 Then Satan answered the Lord, "Skin for skin! All that people have they will give to save their lives. 5 But stretch out your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face." 6 The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, he is in your power; only spare his life."
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 Job took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes. 9 Then his wife said to him, "Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God, and die." 10 But he said to her, "You speak as any foolish woman would speak. Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all these troubles that had come upon him, each of them set out from his home—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to go and console and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him, and they raised their voices and wept aloud; they tore their robes and threw dust in the air upon their heads. 13 They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great. 25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth;

JUSTICE, KINDNESS, AND HUMILITY

Good day dear friends. A meeting early this morning in San Antonio
kept me from sharing at an earlier hour.
Prayer Request: Howard Moon continues to be in a coma and may be
moved home to be under hospice care. Edna continues to need our
prayers. We also learned today that Audrey McElroy has been in the
hospital since Jan. 4th. Please keep Audrey and husband Bill in
your prayers.


Here is our study guide for today:


Tuesday: Please find Micah 6:8 and read what God desires in a life
that counts. Does this apply to the way you're living your life
now? What needs to change in your life for it to be better?


Here is the Micah passage from 6:8 He has told you, O mortal, what
is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and
to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?


A life that counts takes justice, kindness and humility seriously.
This means we put ourselves in a proper place by placing others and
their needs as important. The passage from Micah was speaking to
the people who had placed themselves first in any list of needs. The
Lord speaks to them and says that we must be men and women of justice,
treating other fairly and equally. We are to love kindness, putting
consideration of others as important, treating them with kindness,
gently tending to their wants and needs. And humilty sums it up.
We are who we are because of Whose we are. If we belong to God, then
we humble ourselves before the Lord and let our actions reflect that
very thing: God has made us to be who we are and our lives will count
when we place ourselves as being God's and as God's serving others.


PRAYER: Make us dear God, the people of justice, kindness, and
humility. Let our lives reflect that we count because we belong to
You. We pray in He who modeled His life after You, Jesus our Lord,
amen.

Have and great blessed day in the Lord.

e.v.

STUDY GUIDE

Tuesday: Please find Micah 6:8 and read what God desires in a life that counts. Does this apply to the way you’re living your life now? What needs to change in your life for it to be better?
Wednesday: This is our day of prayer and purpose. As we’ve heard in church, the Goals Committee has asked for us to have 2007 as The Year in Prayer. Please be in prayer to ask God to show you what true prayer is, for whom you should be praying, how to better worship Him as your pray, and to be a person who listens after you say, ‘Amen’ to your prayers. Listen!
Thursday: 2 Titus 4:7-8 speak of Paul’s final thoughts about the Christian faith and how he had lived it. Please find and read this passage and let it speak to your heart. Apply what you hear with your heart, to your life.
Friday: This is our day of prayer. Repeat your prayers of Wednesday today. But for today lift up concerns about the New Year . What did you resolve in your heart to do for God in this New Year? Have you kept it? If you didn’t resolve it, make "Being a better person in prayer" one of your top goals for your personal life!

RELIGIOUS OR RELATIONSHIP?

Good day dear friends. We had a tremendous evening of Gospel music last night in Kyle! What a beautiful theatre and setting for our annual celebration and fundraiser. If you missed it, you missed a blessing.

We started a new sermon series on MADE TO COUNT, sermons about living a life that counts. Yesterday's kick-off sermon was "Living a Life That Counts." This sermon, like most, if available online at http://www.fumcsm.org/, click on the sermon title). A life that counts is one open to the leading of God's Spirit and one who realizes that one has a heart to love and be loved. The biblical example was the life of the Apostle Paul. His life had two major chapters, the anti-Christian persecutor and the pro-Christ evangelist. You can read these in Acts 8 and 9.
Here is our study guide for today: Monday: Philippians 3:4b-8 relate more about the very interesting life of Paul. Read this passage and learn a little more about his life prior to his becoming a Christian. See how though a very religious man, he was not in relationship with God only with his traditions. What can be said about your life?

Here is that passage: Philippians 3:4b If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Paul's first part of his life had been plotted out. At an early part of his life he knew he wanted to serve God. He went the appropriate route and had his life goal of serving God planned out. In this passage he affirms his life and life choice by sharing his thoughts on his lineage. He was a circumcised Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, a "Hebrew born of Hebrews," a Pharisee. He goes on to show that he was a persecutor of the church and even blameless in the standard of measuring one's life against the law. But in coming to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior, he said, nothing else compares. His life only counted when he became a Christian and realized his mission and purpose in life was not to arrest and try Christians, but to spread the word of God in Christ.
One can see that being religious can be seen as something "nice," but as long as one is not in relationship with Christ one has gained nothing. I'm glad people come to church, but I want every Sunday worship experience to be one where one's relationship with Christ is strengthened. And if one doesn't have a relationship yet, I want that to be the place where one can begin.

I pray that in your life you can say, "I have a loving, trusting relationship with God!" And that my friend, is what counts!

Have a great day in the Lord!

e.v.

TO MAKE KNOWN, TO SHOW, TO REVEAL...EPIPHANY!

Good day, dear friends.

Today, January 6th is the Day of Epiphany, traditionally associated with the visit of the Magi to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel lesson about their visit is in Matthew and reads,

"1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6 "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.' " 7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

In some corners of the world shoes have been left outside doors expecting the main gifts of this holiday season. In some places the shoes are placed outside the main door of one's house; others the door to one's bedroom. And for many, the gifts are quite nice. Some, though, do report they just receive the same grass they left in them for the camels of the magi!

The gift was really ours. God acted on our behalf and sent the precious gift of an invitation to a better way to live. God having sent Jesus Christ was to invite us to a full relationship with Him.

The magi brought the gifts they were led to bring: gold, the gift for a king. Jesus is known as the King of kings; frankincense, (how we giggled as children thinking it was too close to frankinstein) the gift for a priest, whose burning of incense was to remind the people of God's presence. Jesus is the High Priest, He who intercedes for us; the 'bridge' between God and humans. The gift of myrrh. The gift that puzzled Mary but knew that it involved death. He who would die for the sins of the world, for your sins and mine. This was a symbolic gesture on the part of the magi; they did only what God instructed them.

They came from the East, nonJews obedient to God's leading, eager to know how the ancient prophecies they had studied would come true. That night in the Christ child they found out. Have you?

PRAYER: God of true light and love, make us know Jesus today and all days. Let us know Jesus came for all the earth. Help us to be a part of those who share that news with others, especially the ones who have not yet heard. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

See you in worship!

e.v.