Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX

Well, have the ashes worn off yet.  It would have been a good picture to get of all the folks with the sign of the cross on their foreheads.  We had a good service at Wesley with a good fellowship meal before.  Jane’s King Ranch Chicken Casserole was a great way to end my fast for that day.   Speaking of fasting, have you?   It is a good way to keep your mind on your spiritual growth.  Jesus spoke highly of it and in this weeks lectionary reading He fasted for forty days.  Then satan came to tempt Him.  Forty days of fasting and prayer prepared our Lord for His temptation and when we dedicate a day of fasting and prayer to God we can be prepared too.  If health issues keep you from fasting (not eating) then fast from some Television time.  Use that time to focus on doing God’s will in your life by visiting someone sick, in the hospital, nursing home or home bound.  Perhaps you could visit someone in jail or prison.   Pray and fast over a broken relationship and see if God shows you the way to mend it.  Fasting is exampled by Jesus and is a good way for us to grow stronger.  Find a way that allows Him to speak to you.  You see, all He really wants is a relationship with you.

God’s Peace and Blessings,

Randy

All are invited to our Ash Wednesday Service.  Worship will start at 6pm sharp.  Hope you will come and join us in the beginning of Lent.  Lent is a time of renewing our spiritual walk with Jesus Christ through fasting, meditation, scripture reading and many other ways of renewing our focus on who our savior is.  While we should all be firm in our walk we all are going to slide some and Lent gives us an opportunity to refocus on our faith and how we are putting actions to the words we profess.  You cannot be a christian without doing the things that Jesus calls us to do.  Allow this 40 days of Lent to renew your walk and strengthen your resolve to always walk with Christ.

God’s Peace and Blessings to all,

Randy

Is the Sun setting with your eyes being darkened or is the Sun rising and bring light into your world.  Allow the light to shine, let it be Sonshine.

Our Bible Study at Wesley UMC reviewed John 9 this week.  Every chapter in the Gospel of John has been good but this one speaks so much to all of us today.  A blind man’s sight is returned.  Jesus heals him and allows the Jewish leadership to question the man who was blind and could now see.  The questions they ask show their disbelief and deepen his belief in Jesus as the son of God.  We could see his progression into one who is willing to testify to all that Jesus has done for him.

Have you been blind?  Are you in need of being healed of the inability to see?  So many in this world today are unable to see the way of peace and love that Jesus brought to our world.  They may not want to see something that can change the way of life that they hold on to.   Allow Jesus to touch your eyes, bring light into your world so that you can see the better way of a God and Savior that loves you more than you could know. 

Take the chance, have your eyes healed from blindness that keeps you from seeing who really is your savior.  Invite Jesus into your life, every part of your life.  Walking in the light of Jesus Christ gives you an opportunity to worship, work and play in a way that makes your life so much better.

Peace and blessings,

Randy

Don’t worry, be happy, happy that you know Jesus Christ as your savior.

Reading this scripture reminds me that it is one of our most important scriptures and tells us that we are to worship our God and nothing else in this world.  We cannot have anything more important in our lives than our God.   When we put God first in everything we do then our lives are much better.  Even worry is not to take our lives over and lead us down paths that move us away from our God.  Our Savior Jesus Christ tells us that birds of the air and lilies of the field don’t worry about tomorrow and what they will wear or eat.  Jesus is telling us to take care of today and whatever comes up tomorrow will be for taking care of tomorrow.   You see, Jesus is trying to make sure that we understand that working today on keeping God first in our life will be all the help we need for whatever issues/problems that may come up.  It makes a lot of sense to solve problems with guidance from Jesus and God.   Jesus will help us to keep unnecessary worry out of our lives as long as we are walking through our lives with His love in our hearts and always with Jesus on our minds.

God’s Peace and Blessings to all,

Randy

You remember the passage from John 8:1-11 where the Pharisees and scribes brought a woman accused of adultery in front of Jesus and asked Him what the punishment should be.  Remember that He wrote with His finger in the sand. 

What was Jesus writing?  Was He just doodling?  Was He stalling?   Was He writing something meaningful for those who were accusing the woman?  William Barlcay has some thoughts about this scripture and the question, just what was Jesus writing?

Come to the Bible Study for the answers.  We are doing a chapter by chapter study of the Gospel of John each Wednesday night.  We have a light snack supper at 5pm and Bible Study starts at 6pm.  Some good food and fellowship with a dose of Bible knowledge.  How could it get any better than that.  Come join us.  It will be fun.