Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX

I have no idea what kind of flowers these are but I can tell you where they live at.  Jane and I were on the island of Ischia off the coast of Italy at the bay of Naples.  These flowers were growing, wild I think, just outside the apartment that Tracie was living in when we went to visit.

Looking through these pictures of Italy reminded me again of how beautiful this world is that God has given us.  No matter where I go I see a natural beauty provided by God.  Sometimes the effect of man’s life on the world leaves it scarred.  God has given nature the ability to reclaim and rebuild the beauty God intended.  God gives us this same ability.  When we trust in Him and the way of Jesus Christ we are able to survive the wounds and scars that our lives encounter.  When we trust in Him and the way of Jesus Christ we are able to reclaim and rebuild our lives.  In that rebuilding and reclamation we then are able to witness to God working in our lives to others who may be scarred with the trouble that they have realized in their lives.

Take time to be thankful.  There is a natural healing that will take place for physical injuries.  There is a spiritual and physical healing that takes place when we trust in God.  When we trust in God there is the opportunity for us to help others experience the physical and spiritual  healing that only He can bring.

See “1 Peter Chapter 1”.  Look it up on biblegateway.com

Have a blessed weekend and may God be with you in all you do, Pastor Randy

I won’t apologize for another sunset picture.  They are too beautiful to pass up.  This is another picture from Jeremy/Tracie in La Jolla California.

While this sunset is a beautiful picture, there are many beautiful scenes presented to us in the Gospels.  This weeks lectionary reading has a beautiful scene from Luke 7:36-8:3 where the woman anoints Jesus with oil and wipes his feet with her tears and her hair.  When I think about this woman who was known as a sinner and the courage she has to come into the presence of a group of men sitting at the dinner table, I am amazed at her boldness to come and do something for Jesus that is one of the most boldest, beautiful, confident, heart felt actions that she could possibly take to express her love and respect for Him.  She did something for Him that must have set everyone there back on their heals.  For her to do these types of things for Jesus at a gathering such as this, was an action that was unheard of and drew criticism.  Jesus recognized where her heart was and where the Pharisee’s heart was also.  

Jesus wants our hearts to be where this woman’s heart was and far from where the Pharisee’s heart was.   A humble heart that loves Jesus is exactly what God calls us to have.   Do you have a humble heart?   Do you worship Jesus without regard to what other people think?   Does your pride and self- serving interest keep you from reaching out to the Holy Spirit and following the path that God has set forth for you through the teachings of Jesus?  These are all questions we need to keep in front of us each and every day.  Give yourself a heart checkup each day while you reflect on the day.

Have a blessed and peace filled day,

Pastor Randy

Another California Sunset.  My daughter Tracie took this picture the day before her wedding which gave me cause to reflect on life. 

Sunsets are a reminder that days come and go.  At the end of the day when the sun is setting and you take a little time to reflect on the day you have just experienced I hope that your reflections are at least in part on the day being one that God has given you.  Reflect on the interactions you have had with others.  Did those interactions embody and embrace the teachings of Jesus Christ and His love for God, this world and it’s people?  While none of us get it right all the time, times like this beautiful sunset remind us whose we are and what our love for God and Jesus can mean to the world.  Reflection on our days can give us the motivation we need to move closer to being the disciples that Jesus calls us to be.

Have a blessed week and a wonderful summer. Remember our Bible Study on Acts begins Wednesday the 9th at 6pm.  Come and join us for prayer, study and a fellowship meal.

Pastor Randy

We are in Austin this weekend for another Niece’s graduation.  This week  my brother in law Terry’s daughter Alexis Johnson is graduating from Pflugerville High.  Alexis and her grandmother are in the picture.  Last week my sister Holly’s granddaughter graduated from LCM.  This is a wonderful time for the graduates.  It is a time that they have worked for and looked forward to for a long time.  Many graduates will move on to college, some will attend technical schools to learn a trade, some will go into the work force and start earning a living right away.  Some will make decisions that will not be in their own best interest or their families.   They will all make decisions based on the environment they grew up in and are currently living in.

Lets keep them all in our prayers to make good decisions that will bless them for the rest of their lives.  Lets pray that someone has influenced them with some thought patterns that Jesus Christ would have them think.  In fact lets go ahead and pray that we will do some thinking that Jesus Christ would have us do.  Lets pray that we will develop those thought patterns that keep us constantly in touch with our Lord and Savior.  When we, as devoted Christians, begin to develop how we think,  the influence we have on graduates and others will be more in line with our Christian values.

Our graduates have the rest of their life ahead of them.  They will be tempted to take shortcuts, drugs and alcohol, sexual perversions/diversions, take other risks to their own physical being and so much more this world/satan has to offer.  Lets make sure we offer them Christ and help them to see the way, the truth and the life of Jesus Christ in our own lives.

In the picture are Brandon Turner (nephew) and friend, Bryan Croaker, Melvin and Shon Turner (nephew). 

Jesus tells us that there is no greater love than a man who would give up his life for a friend.   Jesus had friends He would give up His life for.   The Disciples that Jesus chose were people He spent 3 years with.   He got to know them as friends as well as those He would depend upon to go out into the world and carry His message to the ends of the earth.   He did give up His life for these disciples as well as each one of us.   There is no greater love. 

 Today I spent a good part of the day with Melvin Croaker.   He turned 63 yesterday and Pam threw him a party.   Lots of family and friends were there celebrating his birthday and spending time with a friend.  Yes there were more than a few crawfish, shrimp and many other delicacies consumed.  It was good to see so many people there.  Children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends were all there to let Melvin know they love him.  Melvin is still in chemotherapy for cancer and is maintaining a good attitude with faith that he will be healed.  Our prayers are with you Melvin as well all those who are suffering with many different kinds of cancer.

 Our prayers are what Jesus calls us to do for those who we call friends.  Lets pray for those who are fighting against cancer, lets pray for all of the caregivers, doctors, nurses, wives, husbands, friends or anyone who cares for them. But most important of all lets claim a faith that says our God cares enough for us to be with us through all of our struggles as we all wait for the day we will meet the One who calls us friend.

In our study on “Beyond 30 Seconds” we were reminded of God’s Creation and His love for us. I ponder about reasons why we as God’s people lose sight of how beautiful this world is. How wonderful it is to look at your children when they are small and watch them grow into adults. How wonderful it is to see a sunset like this one I took on our trip to California. How wonderful it is to sit and watch it rain and know that God is feeding His creations. We need to work on our appreciation of and our love for this world He has given to us. Quit taking this wonderful creation for granted and start praising Him for all that He has given us. When we truly love our God we offer Him praise and thank Him by our Christian actions in His creation.