Most of us are not very kind to ourselves. So, I am fairly convinced that when we only read this one verse, we hear it as an encouragement to believe that we are actually enough. We don’t need to look around and worry if others are better than us because God has already given us what we need. That’s an important message.
Mercy is more than a biblical concept; it is a life principle that can transform relationships and communities
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
When I think about all the things I’ve learned in my lifetime – countless hours spent in books, classrooms, seminars, and on-line courses – it’s obvious to me that I’ve forgotten most of it. I think that’s the nature of most of our learning. It unfortunately goes in one ear and out the other.
Did you set a New Year’s resolution or goal for yourself? How is it going? Have you had a set back? Are you still on track? No matter where you find yourself, the good news is that today is a new day and God is calling you to forget about mistakes made yesterday and look forward.
Where would we be without God’s faithful love in our lives? I know I can’t imagine my life without God’s love! God’s love is undeserved, eternal, unconditional, unfailing, patient, kind, loyal, merciful, compassionate, steadfast, generous, grace filled, and life giving. The psalmist in this psalm calls on us to meditate on God’s faithful love in our lives
Have you ever learned a new word and then all of a sudden it started showing up all the time? That’s a thing!
As I began reflecting on this passage, I looked at the background of the Book of Proverbs to clarify its purpose and origins. It is part of the wisdom literature in the Old Testament, and it is believed to have been written over centuries. Imagine the amazing amount of wisdom gathered from the time of King Solomon
Verse 7 of this chapter refers to our bodies as “clay pots” and the subsequent verses leading up to verse 18 speak about the things that happen to that body – we are harassed, we are knocked down. They speak to the fact that we carry Jesus’ death in our bodies so that his life may be seen through us – we are resilient, we are renewed every day by the Spirit, and we will have an eternal stockpile of glory one day.
Most people, when they get to Psalm 119, experience their eyes beginning to glaze over. If you did, I wouldn’t blame you. There are several whole books of the Bible shorter than this one psalm.
Paul told the Colossians to put to death such things as sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed. He told them to get rid of all the evil things such as anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language.
“GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT LIEUTENANT!” Many years later, I can still clearly hear these words (shouted, of course) from my Field Artillery Officer Basic Course Instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was reinforcing the importance of accurate, clear, and concise communication…
Together we can turn the nation’s largest weekend of football into the largest weekend of giving. Youth group members will be collecting monetary donations at each service this Sunday and will then send the donation to the Turning Point United Methodist Food Pantry in Trenton. Your generosity will be very much appreciated. The link below will take you to our PushPay system. You can select “Give One Time” then use the Fund Selector to choose “Souper Bowl of Caring.”
PEDAL for PROMISE – SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2019: Medford United Methodist is fielding a team for the Urban Promise fundraiser “Pedal for Promise.” This year the ride begins and ends at Valenzano Winery in Shamong. You can register to ride, make a donation to the team or register as a spectator to enjoy the party and cheer on our team.
Go to urbanpromiseusa.org/pedal for more information about the event, to donate, or to register as an individual. OR you can go directly to the TEAM MEDFORD UMC page at www.crowdrise.com/team-medford-umc.
Questions or need help? Speak with Pastor Kathleen, Wayne Richards, or Heidi and Mike Polhemus
