Day 34: Romans 12:22

Romans 12:22  “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind.”

Renewing of the Mind, Relationships, Belief, Faith, and Focus

My relationship with Christ began this way: First was the renewing of the mind; second was a relationship; third was a belief; fourth was faith. When these four elements combined, it gave me focus. By staying focused, my belief became faith and faith became my hope. I also learned that being flesh and spirit, my beliefs, my relationships, my focus can change.

Hebrews 4: 15 “Our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses. When He lived on earth, He was tempted in every way that we are, but He did not sin.”

Psalm 23: 4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me. . .”    Amazing Grace

When my beliefs, relationships or focus change, my faith in God reaches out to save me from myself. My belief in faith proves/shows me that He alone can and does help me in these times.

Contributed by Roosevelt “Pops” Smith

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Day 33: Isaiah 50:6,7

Isaiah 50: 6, 7 (KJB): “I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed…” 

Lent will always remind us of the terrible suffering and gruesome physical torture and death that our sweet and gentle Redeemer had to endure in order to save us. I for one did not summon the necessary courage to watch Mel Gibson’s THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, I even had to politely return the DVD of this movie to a retired Lutheran pastor who presented it to Gloria and me as a Christmas gift. “Why wouldn’t you want to see the suffering that our Lord had to go through? You might end up loving Him more.” But I thought: you don’t have to be particularly enlightened to understand the description in the Holy Gospel of Mark, where we are told a whole Roman company (600 soldiers) took turns at lashing his back, setting a crown of thorns around his head, pulled out his beard, which made him bleed profusely, hitting him on the head with a long stick and repeatedly spitting on him. Besides mocking him, stripping him, and forcing him to carry a heavy wooden cross to Golgotha, they impaled his hands and feet with huge sharp nails. I don’t think I need more audiovisual materials to end up wailing for my dear Master and Savior. Read more…

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Matthew 28:19 & 20: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Luke 9:23: If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself & take up his cross daily & follow me.

Philippians 3:3 It is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.

What is a Christian?

What is a Christian?  In the Disciples class we have explored some patterns and ideas about Christianity in books like Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman and It Is Not about Me by Max Lucado. Some of the scriptural definitions of a Christian are here:

C hrist-like actions – be what you teach (Matthew 28:19 & 20)

H oly Spirit filled – slow to judge – quick to love (Philippians 3:3)

R eaches out to others – acceptance

 I  nfused by God’s grace – I was/am not sin free

S alvation accepted – by the grace of Christ for all (Luke 9:23)

T  ime spent in the Word – ask – seek, search

 I  nspired by the love of Jesus – follow instruction

A ctive prayer life – focus – faith

N eeds forgiveness; gives forgiveness – none of us is so right that we don’t make mistakes Read more…

Day 31: Luke 4:40

Luke 4:40: “After sunset all who had friends who were sick with various diseases brought them to Jesus; he placed his hands on every one of them and healed them all.”

My Precious Brother Norris 

I was the youngest of seven children: I was born July 6, 1924. Twins, Norris and Doris, had been born October 26, 1922. They were less than two years older than me. Also, Henry, Ione, Vera, and Dora were my older siblings. We grew up on a cotton farm which is now the Fort Hood reservation. We all worked very hard with our parents, Jeff and Maggie Allman.

My daddy would tell us, “Now pick that cotton clean so that there isn’t a burr or leaf left in it.”

When work was done, for fun we’d run and play and push each other on an axle with wagon wheels. We didn’t have the toys and games children have today. My brother, Norris and I would go to the movies when we could round up 10 cents each, the cost of the movie. We were close and loved each other so much. He was such a good and kind person. We’d go everywhere together. Norris became ill between 19 and 20 years of age. Read more…

Day 30: Romans 8:26-27

Romans 8: 26-27: 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

I’m fairly new to FUMC, but my first visit was truly inspirational. I had a lot weighing heavily on me and I grew tired searching for answers I wasn’t sure I’d ever find. I tried figuring things out on my own and prayed a lot too, but I wasn’t going anywhere. God was talking to me, but I wasn’t listening then. I live close to FUMC and drive by it a lot. Every time I saw it, I got this feeling that I should be there but never acted upon that. My weaknesses, such as uncertainty, kept me from going. Finally, I decided it was time for my family and me to attend a service when my husband was on a long field assignment. I had no idea what to expect but I took a deep breath, went with an open mind, and trusted God that this was the right place for us. Feeling the love within the congregation, hearing the beautiful music, and listening to the word of God caused an Read more…