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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.”

 Philippians 4:6-7

I drive to Austin every day to work. I have a lot to be anxious about driving back and forth on I-35 every day.  There have been many days when traffic is bad or there has been a wreck, I have a lot to do at work, and my thoughts just go everywhere. 

Prayer: 

Our most gracious God, thank You for listening to our most trivial prayers and petitions and granting us Your wonderful peace. Amen.  

Contributed by Anne Hoel

God’s Plan

I knew from a very young age that “service” was my calling. I knew that because my mother and father both served willingly and selflessly. What I didn’t always realize was it was actually God’s plan all along. He continually put me in position to serve, not    necessarily to lead, but to serve. He also put me in position to grow, to mature to test my limits. 

Prayer:

Lord, I thank You for Your plan, I thank You for being beside us at all times. Be with each and every person who is a

part of this great congregation. May we glorify You each and every day. Amen.

Contributed by Glenn Morrison

 I was particularly interested in tracing Wesley’s steps in the city since on his second visit to Savannah we found he preached in what was going to be the first Methodist church in the American colonies and the first parochial school adjacent to it. His brother Charles kept busy writing hymns, teaching and serving as chief of staff for the governor of the Georgia colony.

 May our sense of identity as Christian Methodists be deepened in this sacred season of Lent.

Prayer:

Thank You Father for the missionary efforts of Methodist women around the world. Amen.

Contributed by Victor Orozco

What do YOU Believe?

Classmates in the Small Group Disciples II Sunday School class at 11:00 know that each year I select a word as a focal point of the year.  This year the word is BELIEVE. This word causes me to think about what I DO believe. The Apostles Creed immediately comes to mind.  I BELIEVE in God the Father, maker of heaven and earth… etc.  All too often I say things by rote memorization.  Recently at a Gideon/Auxiliary Small Testament sidewalk distribution a student asked me, “What do you believe?” Well, as a teacher, parent, and Christian I was      compelled to give a truthful, accurate answer to this young lady.

I believe I am a daughter of God by the power of His name.

John 1:12: “But as many, as receive him to them he gave power to become sons (and daughters) of God even to them that believe on HIS name.”

I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Acts 8:37: “…If thou believes with all thine heart, then Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

  I believe when I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and made my righteous confession that is salvation.

       Romans 10:9 -10: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is          made unto salvation.”

A small testament was given, and I asked if she had a church, Sunday School or a Good News Club at her school.  Her grandmother did, and she would talk with her. They did have a Good News Club after school, which she could check out. The APS in the front of the testament were shown where she could find help if she was afraid, or worried, or sad. Also the GPS was shown in the back of the testament, which is God’s Plan of Salvation.  I told her God Bless and sent her on her way.  The seeds were planted for her and clarified for me (in case I am asked at another time.) What do YOU believe? All people need to know the truth.

Prayer:

Dear God, continue to be with me and each of us as we are called to share what we believe with others.  May we tell the truth when asked about our faith, not only to share it with others but also to strengthen each and every one of us in our calling. Give me the words and strength to share when the opportunity arises to empower boldness  Amen.

Contributed by Roz Honchul

FREE GIFT with Purchase?

-Go to church

-Be baptized

-Be confirmed

-Attend Sunday School/ Bible Study

-Follow the rules

-Help people

-Listen to Christian music

-Wear cross jewelry

-Be superior because we do all these things

The list can go on and on of all the things we think we need to do to earn our way to heaven. These are all good things (except the being superior part), and we should do these things to please God. But guess what? You can NEVER earn your way to eternal SALVATION. It is a FREE GIFT from God. It is FREE; there is nothing you can   ever do to get it except believe in Jesus our Savior who God sent to take our punishment. He died and rose again for you so you could live!!! Isn’t that exciting and wonderful news? Jesus conquered death and the grave for you!

Now sometimes this is a hard concept to grasp. We are in a world where you have to earn stuff; nothing is free. This is true for the world, but God is not of the world, and His FREE GIFT is not of the world. God knows we are sinners, and there is no way  we could ever do enough, be it good works or outward signs to earn salvation. If it were up to us, no one would be saved. Praise God that He loves each and every one of us so much that He sent Jesus to save us. 

Prayer:

Dear friends in Christ, take the FREE GIFT. It is everlasting and you do not have to earn it! It is truly FREE when you believe in our Savior Jesus Christ. 

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Contributed by Laura Dungan

“Show me Your ways, O Lord: Teach me Your paths.” Psalms 25:4

My family’s Christmas Eve tradition began with my grandmother Dewald at her house and is still carried on today by each of the families she left behind. Since my mother has passed away, my family now meets at my brother’s house on Christmas Eve, and we share a meal and exchange presents.  Before we open gifts, we always read the Christmas Story from Luke 2, have a prayer, and sing a few Christmas songs.  My    father read the Christmas Story, my husband read it, and now my brother reads it.  As always, this year he chose one of Mother’s bibles to read from.  When he opened the Bible, he found a poem she used as a bookmark, and he shared it with us as our prayer.  We don’t know where or when she got it, but it was appropriate on Christmas Eve and seems appropriate to share as we approach this Easter season.  I have included it here exactly as my brother found it in its aged and decaying status.

Prayer: 

Dear Lord, May we always show You our love and our acceptance of Your love and grace by how we live and interact with   others.  Be with us as we strive to live better lives in Your name.  Amen.

Contributed by Phyllis Wheeler

Six days in the hospital. Six days out of my healthy life. I had gone through a “simple, non-invasive procedure,” but things went very wrong. A severe reaction to the anesthesia and pain medicine left me sick with nausea and a terrible headache. I couldn’t sleep without nightmares and hallucinations, nor could I drink or eat because of the nausea. I was dehydrated and fell into a trench of self pity and despair.  I wasn’t allowed to go home while the nausea remained, but there was nothing I could do.

I called on the Lord for help, and I cried bottles of tears. On the fourth day, I found Psalm 139 on my phone. “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to      understand.” I knew that God was there in that lonely room with me. I clung to the thought of His Hand resting on my head. A little while later, the friendly kitchen lady came to ask what I would like for dinner. This gal was a blessing all week. She would squat down against the wall and chat with me. Over and over again she would suggest something that might appeal to me. Poor thing—I probably made so many faces at her. Nothing sounded even remotely palatable.

But that day she said, “Miss Betty, how about some fresh fruit?” OH! A light bulb went off!! Of course!! When I was pregnant with both our sons, I discovered that if I carried a fresh peach and sniffed it, the nausea would ease for a moment. Silly, but it worked! I was so excited that this sweet woman had suggested fresh fruit!!! When my evening tray arrived, there it was, a small cup filled with fresh cantaloupe, pineapple and grapes. I reached for it, pulled off the lid and took a big whiff!! Heavenly! It took the awful scourge away for just a few seconds. I was so thankful for that sweet woman and her fresh fruit! I held that bowl next to me all night, and I received three gifts of those same fruit bowls the next day. I even ate some of the grapes and cantaloupe. It was the start back to health. I will never forget God’s amazing Hand of grace: a dear, sweet woman who cared for me, and a bowl of fresh fruit.

Prayer:

Dear Father, thank You for caring for us through thick and thin. Help us to remember that even when we are in the pit of despair, Your Hand of love and protection rests on our heads. Amen.

Contributed by Betty Phillips

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”

Psalm 32:8

Everyone has a turning point in his/her life.

While I was pregnant, I had pre-eclampsia, a condition that is common in many women when they are pregnant. The  only way to treat it was to have the baby. Well, I had the baby, yet my blood pressure did not go down. I was released five days after I gave birth, which was much longer than most new mothers.

The next morning, I woke up in severe pain at home and drove myself to the hospital. I had an aortic dissection. It’s a condition where your blood flow is so rapid, it builds up like a dam in your aorta and eventually it tears the aortic wall. John Ritter, of Three’s Company died of the very same thing. I spent several days in the ICU, was treated with medicine and thankfully did not have to have surgery.

Afterward, my whole perspective on life changed. God and my family became the center of my life. I wanted to be a better person and the person that God wanted me to be. JD, Hudson and I moved back home from Austin to be closer to our family, and I began a new career as a teacher and to serve others. God had a path for me, not one I had planned on for myself but one He planned for me. I always felt God’s presence  throughout this experience and truly believe He kept me here to make the world a better place and to enjoy my wonderful family. God gave me the best gift of all, being able to watch my son grow up.

Prayer:

Dear Lord,  May we always be mindful of the wonderful life You have given us and the wonderful people you have put in our path to enrich our lives.  Amen.

    Contributed by Tiffany Bralley

“For the word of God is living and active…”

Hebrews 4:12

We have a large bird feeder hanging from a tree limb in our backyard.  It is several years old, as the rust around its edges testifies.  I enjoy watching many species of birds coming to the feeder: brightly colored Cardinals who are fussy and chase other birds away; lots of white-wing doves who try to perch upon the feeder only to prefer to eat seed dropped upon the ground; the occasional Stellar’s Jay (Blue Jay) who is aggressive but only sticks around for a little while; numerous Chickadees and Wrens who constantly  fly from the nearby hedges to the feeder for a quick bite.  We keep our feeder filled with various kinds of bird seed: premium songbird, sunflower seeds, or just the economy seed mix.  When we forget to fill the feeder, the birds don’t come around as much.  I suppose they find nourishment elsewhere.

I think the feeder is like the Bible.  Like the bird feeder, the Word of God is available for anyone (no matter what kind of “bird” we are), anytime, no matter the circumstances, day or night.  It provides necessary spiritual “food” (no matter the kind of seed/translation) and never needs refilling.

When do we read and meditate on the Word of God?  Do we only read and meditate on the Holy Scriptures when it’s convenient in Sunday school or worship?  Only when we go to the “feeder” are we able to be nourished for our spiritual journey.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit Lord, help us to seek Your Word and make it living and active for us.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Contributed by Mike Hoel

“But Jesus did not say he would die; he only said,’If I want him to remain alive till I return, what is it to you?’”

How many times have we looked to another and wondered, “why do they have this or that?”  “Why do things seem to work out for them and not me?”  I think this piece of scripture covers that pretty well–what is it to you? Jesus is saying it is none of your business and to mind your own business.

Wow! This seems pretty harsh! As Christians if we are minding our business then we are listening and obeying God. Unfortunately, as Christians we are sinners, so we spend a lot of time worrying about others and not always in a loving way….. So when you stray from what business God has given you, do not be surprised if you get a gentle reminder to mind your own business. 

Prayer: