STP (Study, Trust, Pray) for June 30, 2022

STP (Study, Trust, Pray) for June 30, 2022

Wash and Be Clean

“Naaman was general of the army under the king of Aram. He was important to his master, who held him in the highest esteem because it was by him that God had given victory to Aram: a truly great man, but afflicted with a grievous skin disease. It so happened that Aram, on one of its raiding expeditions against Israel, captured a young girl who became a maid to Naaman’s wife. One day she said to her mistress, ‘Oh, if only my master could meet the prophet of Samaria, he would be healed of his skin disease.’ ⁴ Naaman went straight to his master and reported what the girl from Israel had said. ⁵ ‘Well then, go,’ said the king of Aram. ‘And I’ll send a letter of introduction to the king of Israel.’ So he went off, taking with him about 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothes. ⁶ Naaman delivered the letter to the king of Israel. The letter read, ‘When you get this letter, you’ll know that I’ve personally sent my servant Naaman to you; heal him of his skin disease.’ ⁷ When the king of Israel read the letter, he was terribly upset, ripping his robe to pieces. He said, ‘Am I a god with the power to bring death or life that I get orders to heal this man from his disease? What’s going on here? That king’s trying to pick a fight, that’s what!’ ⁸ Elisha the man of God heard what had happened, that the king of Israel was so distressed that he’d ripped his robe to shreds. He sent word to the king, ‘Why are you so upset, ripping your robe like this? Send him to me so he’ll learn that there’s a prophet in Israel.’ ⁹ So Naaman with his horses and chariots arrived in style and stopped at Elisha’s door.

¹⁰ Elisha sent out a servant to meet him with this message: ‘Go to the River Jordan and immerse yourself seven times. Your skin will be healed and you’ll be as good as new.’ ^11-12 Naaman lost his temper. He spun around saying, ‘I thought he’d personally come out and meet me, call on the name of God, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and get rid of the disease. The Damascus rivers, Abana and Pharpar, are cleaner by far than any of the rivers in Israel. Why not bathe in them? I’d at least get clean.’ He stomped off, mad as a hornet. ¹³ But his servants caught up with him and said, ‘Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something hard and heroic, wouldn’t you have done it? So why not this simple “wash and be clean”?’ ¹⁴ So he did it. He went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, following the orders of the Holy Man. His skin was healed; it was like the skin of a little baby. He was as good as new.”—2 Kings 5:1-14 MSG

Today we have this week’s scripture that I’ll be using at Vesta from The Message Translation. This scripture is packed with idiosyncrasies or quirky happenings that needs to be looked at a little closer. Maybe it was part of God’s plan that Naaman would capture a servant girl in a raid on Israel that shared with his wife about the Prophet in Israel. When the king of Aram heard the news, he immediately sent Naaman with gifts to king of Israel to hopefully get healing for his favored servant. Unfortunately, the letter was difficult to understand and the response of the king of Israel was almost laughable. Then when Elisha, the Prophet of Israel, gave a simple command to “wash and be clean” Naaman was furious that more wasn’t demanded of him. Thankfully, his servants understood that faith in the God of Israel was all he needed.

Lord, strengthen our faith in you…Amen.

Vesta United Methodist Church Service; 9:00am Sunday; 8833 Highway 217, Charleston, AR…

Cecil United Methodist Church Service; 10:45am Sunday; Hwy 96 & 41, Cecil AR…

Today’s Memory Verse: “So he did it. He went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, following the orders of the Holy Man. His skin was healed; it was like the skin of a little baby. He was as good as new.”—2 Kings 5:14 MSG

Act in faith, blessings and prayers…

STP (Study, Trust, Pray) for June 29,2022

STP (Study, Trust, Pray) for June 29,2022

Following God

“So now: Fear God. Worship him in total commitment. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped on the far side of The River (the Euphrates) and in Egypt. You, worship God. ¹⁵ If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you’d rather serve—and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you’re now living. As for me and my family, we’ll worship God.”—Joshua 24:14-15 MSG

Today, we have the scripture I will be using at Cecil from The Message Translation. When I was 17 years old, I was asked to bring the message on Youth Sunday at the Marmaduke Methodist Church, one of the churches on my home charge. Over the years as a Lay Speaker and seven times as an appointed pastor I have stood in a church’s pulpit many times for the first time. Over the last 55 years it has not gotten any easier. As time has gone on, I’ve found that the first Sunday at a church should a time for the church to learn a little about the new pastor. Hopefully, the folks I pastor at my churches will agree with we that we are called to serve the Lord.

Lord, I ask you to bless the mission fields of Cecil and Vesta…Amen.

Vesta United Methodist Church Service; 9:00am Sunday; 8833 Highway 217, Charleston, AR…

Cecil United Methodist Church Service; 10:45am Sunday; Hwy 96 & 41, Cecil AR…

Today’s Memory Verse: “If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you’d rather serve—and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you’re now living. As for me and my family, we’ll worship God.”—Joshua 24:15 MSG

Blessings and prayers…

STP (Study, Trust, Pray) for June 28, 2022

STP (Study, Trust, Pray) for June 28, 2022

Following God

“Now, therefore, revere the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt and serve the Lord. ¹⁵ Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living, but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”—Joshua 24:14-15 NRSV

My first full-time appointment as a pastor was in Calico Rock and after serving there eight years I was appointed to the Central Avenue, Batesville, church. As I neared the time of my last sermon at Calico, and some were asking why I had chosen to accept a new appointment I kept being drawn to these words of Joshua. As I studied and thought about it, I decided that this scripture would be an excellent scripture for my first message at Central Avenue also. Since that time, I have always used this scripture for my first message at a new appointment and the final message when I was leaving a church. It speaks to me because from the time I first accepted God’s call in my life I knew that God would have me where He needed me in spite of the Bishop and the Cabinet. When our District Superintendent, Blake Bradford, asked me to consider serving the Cecil church, I asked God for His direction. I look forward to my first Sunday at Cecil this Sunday morning at 10:45. If you’re in area, I invite you to join us at Cecil or at the Vesta church at 9:00am.

Lord, thank you for Your direction in our lives…Amen.

Vesta United Methodist Church Service; 9:00am Sunday; 8833 Highway 217, Charleston, AR…

Cecil United Methodist Church Service; 10:45am Sunday; Hwy 96 & 41, Cecil AR…

Today’s Memory Verse: “Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living, but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”—Joshua 24:15 NRSV

Serve the Lord your God, blessings and prayers…

STP (Study, Trust, Pray) for June 27, 2022

STP (Study, Trust, Pray) for June 27, 2022

Wash and Be Clean

“Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from a skin disease. ² Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. ³ She said to her mistress, ‘If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his skin disease.’ ⁴ So Naaman went in and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. ⁵ And the king of Aram said, ‘Go, then, and I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.’

He went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of garments. ⁶ He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, ‘When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you my servant Naaman, that you may cure him of his skin disease.’ ⁷ When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, ‘Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his skin disease? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.’ ⁸ But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, ‘Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.’ ⁹ So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and halted at the entrance of Elisha’s house. ¹⁰ Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, ‘Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.’ ¹¹ But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, ‘I thought that for me he would surely come out and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God and would wave his hand over the spot and cure the skin disease! ¹² Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?’ He turned and went away in a rage. ¹³ But his servants approached and said to him, ‘Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, “Wash, and be clean”?’ ¹⁴ So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.”—2 Kings 5:1-14 NRSV

Wednesday is the official moving day for United Methodist Pastors in Arkansas who are being sent to new appointments for the coming year. Before I entered the ministry and was part of the new pastor welcoming committee at the Dardanelle Church, we would often move the pastor leaving out in the morning and moving in the pastor coming in that afternoon. Most pastors today try to move a few days in advance to make it not quite so hectic. I’ve shared this with you because my appointment at the Cecil Church begins this Sunday. I normally use the same scripture at both of my churches but this week I will use this one from 2 Kings at Vesta and another one at Cecil that I’ll talk about tomorrow. In our scripture for today, Naaman felt like Elisha was not requiring him to do much to be healed. He didn’t realize that faith in the God of Israel was the only requirement for healing.

Strengthen our faith, Lord…Amen.

Vesta United Methodist Church Service; 9:00am Sunday; 8833 Highway 217, Charleston, AR…

Cecil United Methodist Church Service; 10:45am Sunday; Hwy 96 & 41, Cecil AR…

Today’s Memory Verse: “But his servants approached and said to him, ‘Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, “Wash, and be clean”?’”—2 Kings 5:13 NRSV

Have faith in the Living God, blessings and prayers…

STP (Study, Trust, Pray) for June 23, 2022

STP (Study, Trust, Pray) for June 23, 2022

A Double Share

“Just before God took Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on a walk out of Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here. God has sent me on an errand to Bethel.’ Elisha said, ‘Not on your life! I’m not letting you out of my sight!’ So they both went to Bethel. ⁶ Then Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here. God has sent me on an errand to the Jordan.’ Elisha said, ‘Not on your life! I’m not letting you out of my sight!’ And so the two of them went their way together. ⁷ Meanwhile, fifty men from the guild of prophets gathered some distance away while the two of them stood at the Jordan. ⁸ Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and hit the water with it. The river divided and the two men walked through on dry land. ⁹ When they reached the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘What can I do for you before I’m taken from you? Ask anything.’ Elisha said, ‘Your life repeated in my life. I want to be a holy man just like you.’ ¹⁰ ‘That’s a hard one!’ said Elijah. ‘But if you’re watching when I’m taken from you, you’ll get what you’ve asked for. But only if you’re watching.’ ^11-14 And so it happened. They were walking along and talking. Suddenly a chariot and horses of fire came between them and Elijah went up in a whirlwind to heaven. Elisha saw it all and shouted, ‘My father, my father! You—the chariot and cavalry of Israel!’ When he could no longer see anything, he grabbed his robe and ripped it to pieces. Then he picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him, returned to the shore of the Jordan, and stood there. He took Elijah’s cloak—all that was left of Elijah!—and hit the river with it, saying, ‘Now where is the God of Elijah? Where is he?’ When he struck the water, the river divided and Elisha walked through.”—2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 MSG

Today we’re looking at this week’s scripture from The Message Translation. I realize the title of our message this week is “A Double Portion” but I like the way The Message translates Verse 9, “Your life repeated in my life. I want to be a holy man just like you.” That is easier for us to understand as Elisha had been a loyal disciple of Elijah’s for some time. He wanted to be the same kind of man of God that he had seen Elijah be. That way we would all get a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. We should all look for men and women who influence us to be godlier and then, in turn, we will influence others. That is our calling to influence people to follow Christ.

Lord, help us to influence folks to follow Christ…Amen.

Vesta United Methodist Church Service; 9:00am Sunday; 8833 Highway 217, Charleston, AR…

Today’s Memory Verse: “When they reached the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘What can I do for you before I’m taken from you? Ask anything.’ Elisha said, ‘Your life repeated in my life. I want to be a holy man just like you.’”—2 Kings 2:9 MSG

Blessings and prayers…

STP Study Guide for June 22, 2022

STP Study Guide for June 22, 2022

A Double Portion

“Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. ² And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light. ³ Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. ⁴ Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will set up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ ⁵ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ ⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ ⁸ And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. ⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, ‘Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’ ¹⁰ And the disciples asked him, ‘Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ ¹¹ He replied, ‘Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things, ¹² but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands.’ ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.”—Matthew 17:1-13 NRSV

We’ve talked about Elijah and Elisha meandering around from town to town waiting for God to come and deliver Elijah to heaven. Elisha was loyal to Elijah, following him to the end, although Elijah had insisted that Elisha stay behind. They eventually crossed over the River Jordan into a mysterious region where they encountered God. In our scripture this morning, Jesus takes his most trusted disciples, Peter, John, and James, to a mysterious place (a high mountain.) There Jesus was transfigured before the disciples’ eyes and Elijah along with Moses appeared and spoke with Jesus. They also encountered God that day.

Thank You, Lord for sending, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus to teach us…Amen.

Vesta United Methodist Church Service; 9:00am Sunday; 8833 Highway 217, Charleston, AR…

Today’s Memory Verses: “And the disciples asked him, ‘Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ ¹¹ He replied, ‘Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things, ¹² but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands.’ ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.”—Matthew 17:1-13 NRSV

Blessings and prayers…

STP Study Guide for June 21, 2022

STP Study Guide for June 21, 2022

A Double Portion

“When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people. ¹⁵ Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, ¹⁶ the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing toward the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. ¹⁷ While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan.”—Joshua 3:14-17 NRSV

In our scripture this week from 2 Kings, we have Elijah and his disciple, Elisha, meandering around Israel while Elijah was waiting for God to take him to heaven. Elijah wanted to face God’s judgement alone but no matter how he tried to leave Elisha behind, he refused to stay. They eventually came to the River Jordan and Elijah rolled his mantle into a roll, touched the water with it, the water parted, and they walked across the Jordan River on dry land. It is reminiscent of the time in our scripture this morning from Joshua when the people crossed the Jordan on dry land on their way to conquer the Promised Land. In a way, Elijah was on his way to his promised land also.

Lord, we thank you for your promises…Amen.

Vesta United Methodist Church Service; 9:00am Sunday; 8833 Highway 217, Charleston, AR…

Today’s Memory Verse: “While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan.”—Joshua 3:14-17 NRSV

Blessings and prayers…

STP (Study, Trust, Pray) for June 20, 2022

STP (Study, Trust, Pray) for June 20, 2022

A Double Share

“Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. ² Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.’ But Elisha said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So they went down to Bethel. ⁶ Then Elijah said to him, ‘Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.’ But he said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So the two of them went on. ⁷ Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. ⁸ Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground. ⁹ When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’ Elisha said, ‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’ ¹⁰ He responded, ‘You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.’ ¹¹ As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. ¹² Elisha kept watching and crying out, ‘Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’ But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. ¹³ He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴ He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, ‘Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’ When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.”—2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 NRSV

Last week we looked at the Prophet Elijah’s troubles with King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel. Ahab and Jezebel were wicked leaders who turned their backs on God. They swore to kill Elijah, but Elijah ran from them and hid in the wilderness. During that time, out of fear and stress Elijah gave up and hid from God also. This week we have the account of the end of Elijah’s ministry on earth and the passing of the mantle to his disciple, Elisha. Elisha was loyal to God and to Elijah and he followed the prophet all the way. Elijah asked what he could do for him before he was taken away and Elisha asked that he receive a double portion of his spirit. It was a difficult ask because only God could grant his desire.

Lord, help us to be more like Elisha so that we might deserve a double portion…Amen.

Vesta United Methodist Church Service; 9:00am Sunday; 8833 Highway 217, Charleston, AR…

Today’s Memory Verse: “When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’ Elisha said, ‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’”—2 Kings 2:9 NRSV

May we deserve a double portion, blessings and prayers…

STP (Study, Trust, Pray) for June 16, 2022

STP (Study, Trust, Pray) for June 16, 2022

What Are You Doing Here?

“Ahab reported to Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, including the massacre of the prophets. Jezebel immediately sent a messenger to Elijah with her threat: ‘The gods will get you for this and I’ll get even with you! By this time tomorrow you’ll be as dead as any one of those prophets.’ ^3-5 When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for dear life to Beersheba, far in the south of Judah. He left his young servant there and then went on into the desert another day’s journey. He came to a lone broom bush and collapsed in its shade, wanting in the worst way to be done with it all—to just die: ‘Enough of this, God! Take my life—I’m ready to join my ancestors in the grave!’ Exhausted, he fell asleep under the lone broom bush. Suddenly an angel shook him awake and said, ‘Get up and eat!’ ⁶ He looked around and, to his surprise, right by his head were a loaf of bread baked on some coals and a jug of water. He ate the meal and went back to sleep.

⁷ The angel of God came back, shook him awake again, and said, ‘Get up and eat some more—you’ve got a long journey ahead of you.’ ^8-9 He got up, ate and drank his fill, and set out. Nourished by that meal, he walked forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep. Then the word of God came to him: ‘So Elijah, what are you doing here?’ ¹⁰ ‘I’ve been working my heart out for the God-of-the-Angel-Armies,’ said Elijah. ‘The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I’m the only one left, and now they’re trying to kill me.’ ^11-12 Then he was told, ‘Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.’ A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper. ^13-14 When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, ‘So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?’ Elijah said it again, ‘I’ve been working my heart out for God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I’m the only one left, and now they’re trying to kill me.’ ^15a God said, ‘Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus.’”—1 Kings 19:1-15a MSG

Today we have this week’s scripture from The Message Translation. Many of us mistakenly focus on the wind, earthquake, fire, and God’s gently and quiet whisper. It’s okay for us to be reminded that we need to listen to voice of God, wherever we hear it. But I think the important thing the writer wanted us to learn is that, because of his fear, Elijah was ignoring his prophetic duties. Too often we, who profess to be Christians, discover that we, too, are afraid to follow God’s call in our lives. We’re afraid to approach strangers or friends; we’re afraid that we won’t know the right words; we’re afraid of what people will think. When we ignore God’s call, He doesn’t give up on us. He’ll keep calling our name expecting us the hear His Word.

Help us Lord to follow Your call…Amen.

Vesta United Methodist Church Service; 9:00am Sunday; 8833 Highway 217, Charleston, AR…

Today’s Memory Verse: “When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, ‘So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?’”—1 Kings 19:13 MSG

Are you following God’s call, blessings and prayers…

STP Study Guide for June 15, 2022

STP Study Guide for June 15, 2022

What Are You Doing Here?

“Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. ² Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor. ³ The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. ⁴ The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. ⁵ The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. ⁶ He makes Lebanon skip like a calf and Sirion like a young wild ox. ⁷ The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. ⁸ The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. ⁹ The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl and strips the forest bare, and in his temple all say, ‘Glory!’ ¹⁰ The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. ¹¹ May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!”—Psalm 29 NRSV

In our scripture this week about Elijah desperately running for his life to escape the wrath of King Ahab and Jezebel when God found him hiding in the wilderness and asked, “what was he doing there?” God wanted to know why Elijah was not going about doing God’s work. Unfortunately, Elijah thought God had forsaken him. Elijah looked for God in the wind, the earthquake, and the fire but God was not there. It was only in the complete silence that Elijah heard the quiet voice of God. Our scripture today from the Psalms talks about how the ancient people of God looked to Him. We need to realize that we need to listen for the quiet voice of God in the silence of our lives.

Thank You God for being with us always…Amen.

Vesta United Methodist Church Service; 9:00am Sunday; 8833 Highway 217, Charleston, AR…

Today’s Memory Verse: “The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.”—Psalm 29:10 NRSV

Blessings and prayers…