Betty Owens Geary Luke 9:23-25, The Message “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?”   Reflection:  Most New Year’s resolutions last about a month. One study found that 80% of resolutions were abandoned in February; another that most were abandoned around [...]

Mike Mosby 1 Samuel 3: 1-10 3 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, [...]

Kristin Reynolds  Exodus 13:17-18 (NIV) “When Pharaoh let the people go , God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter.  For God said, “ If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.”  Reflection: We have all seen the stories and read the books written about elite athletes and their dedication to their craft and the endless hours spent training to be the [...]

Luke 18: 1 – 8 (Living Bible)  One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must keep praying until the answer comes. “There was a city judge,” he said, “a very godless man who had great contempt for everyone. A widow of that city came to him frequently to appeal for justice against a man who had harmed her. The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she got on his nerves. “‘I fear neither God nor man,’ he said to himself, ‘but this woman [...]

Galatians 5:22-25 NRSV 22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.  Reflection: This month is a time when making commitments and resolutions is fresh on the minds of many. There’s just something about crossing into a new year that is motivational. There’s hope for something new, something good. [...]

Sue Bellamy   Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He causes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He causes me to walk in paths of righteousness. Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.   Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil. Surely, goodness and mercy shall go before me all [...]

Catherine Washington, Lay Leader 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, ESV 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he [...]

Mary Martha Lappe, Member, Good Will Class   Psalm 96 Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. I’ve always been “a morning person.” The “early to bed, and early to rise” formula was taught me at an early age by a generation of farmers and gardeners who understood the value of making the most of cool mornings especially during hot summer months. As a teacher for over five decades, my schedule required me to embrace early [...]

Hebrews 10:23-25: Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.   Reflection: Texas is football country…can I get an Amen?! Now, I’m not exactly a dyed-in-the-wool football enthusiast, but I do my best to keep up. It’s nice that I can be a solo football fan, supporting my team from [...]