Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I invite you to a time of prayer in the midst of a day we will never forget. Pray with me—and each other—for the victims of today’s tragic shooting rampage in Connecticut. So many victims today: the innocents who were killed in this act of unreasoned violence, their families, their friends, their community, and the ones who were present at the school whose very souls have been gravely wounded. And also the victims beyond—Hope, Trust, and that intangible sense of security and comfort that died today.

But we also know that they were not alone, nor are we, and Hope was not mortally wounded today, because the One who IS our hope—lives. He lives to comfort, to sustain, to give the Promise of an eternal Tomorrow that is real and pure and forever, –and to receive His own when Evil appears to have gone on the rampage.

Today the world seems dark, indeed. It was to a world in Darkness that the Light came. The Light is still with us. I ask God to guide us today, as surely as He led the Wise Men, as lovingly as He guided Mary and Joseph. Guide us to His peace, and fill us with Him, so that we may offer it to a world in darkness.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Phyllis

You can see the links to the Youtube videos from each week and find the material posted there too!

We hope you learn more about Spiritual Gifts in general and more importantly learn about your own gifts and how you can best use them to serve God.

What:  “Managing Your Moods” Bible Study

When:  Wednesdays at Noon

Where:  Library

Facilitated by Joyce Stranathan.  Eat ahead of time or bring your sack lunch.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Don’t Lean on Your Understanding

The verse involves a positive–something you must do. But it also involves a negative–something you must not do. Don’t lean on your own understanding. Basically, the verse is telling us that we ought not to be self-reliant. We cannot pursue a course of action, a financial decision, a business move, a relationship, or an educational choice, simply based on our own understanding. It must be founded in our trust in God.

Self-reliance is such a deceptive trap. We begin to pride ourselves in something–our savvy, our looks, our intellect, our spirituality, our family, whatever. And when we do, it takes away our trust in the Lord. It has become trust in self. The result is a dangerous compromise that will lead to destruction.

Instead, Acknowledge God. In Everything.

The antidote to this self-reliance is found in the first command of the verse. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” Which is developed in the next verse: “In all your ways acknowledge him.” The word “acknowledge” isn’t merely a polite tip of the hat to the Man Upstairs, or a few words of grace over your meal, or even perfunctory attendance at church to let Him know we’re still cool with what He’s doing. It’s way more. It’s allowing Him access, control, command, and involvement in all your ways.

What’s the result of this? Will God ruin your life? Will he be a Sovereign Killjoy? Will He rob you of fun? The verse ends on a promise. What is it?

He will make your paths straight.

The promise is put in the form of a metaphor. What does it mean to have straight paths? Several things. First, paths lead toward an end–a destination, a goal. Thus, trusting God wholeheartedly in every area of life gives your life a sense of purpose and priority. Second, it indicates that there will be a clear understanding of where you are going and what you are doing. It makes daily decision-making an easier and less painful task. You realize you are trusting Him. He, in turn, is making your paths straight. Thus, the way ahead is more apparent. Third, “straight paths” suggests moral purity. It suggests a life that has less of sinful compromise and more of wholesome attitudes, actions, and behavior.

That’s the kind of life that God promises. It’s the kind of life that you can have. It begins with trust. It involves acknowledging God in every way.

Read Colossians 3:1-11

I routinely have lunch with a group of co-workers. One of them is passionate about the art of origami. He takes small pieces of paper, folds them carefully, and creates various figures. If the figures aren’t quite right, he takes them apart, consults the instruction manual, and starts over until the figure is perfect.

When another member of the group tried to reproduce an origami figure and couldn’t quite master it, he gave up. The advice of our friend was to be patient, to persevere, and to consult the manual — or simply to ask for help.

Thinking about this experience, I see a connection with the journey of Christians. When we began our faith journey, God’s grace was already at work. Spiritual development is a process, and we encounter difficulties and obstacles along the way. So we persevere with patience. We study the Bible, our instruction manual, learn from other believers, and ask God’s help through prayer. All along the way, God watches over us and helps us in the journey.

The Author  Maria M. Urdaz (Puerto Rico)

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