October 27, 2022
Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
1 John 2:1-8 and Matthew 22:37-38

I came across an old hymnal the other day and thought to myself; “I have enough hymnals, I don’t need to add another to my collection”, yet I was drawn to open it and was surprised that I was very familiar with the hymn-“All the way my Savior leads me” and I began to sing it which brought a smile to my face at a moment of fatigue and weariness. Isn’t it funny how something so simple can make you pause and think again about how blessed you are simply to know that the Lord is always with you?

Maybe you are in a season of doubt and wonder if God really does care about you and the world in which you live. Please allow me to share with you a note of encouragement. Jesus walked this earth during very troubled times. It must have been very discouraging for believers to even imagine that God was leading them, when all around they could see only trouble and despair. But that’s the beauty of the Gospel. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost not at an easy time but in the most difficult time. He came to teach us all how to get dressed in His righteousness alone, not in our own self-righteousness. When you and I get dressed, it probably means we are either going somewhere, or about to do something. Well, get dressed, because you are about to go somewhere and do something for the kingdom of God.

We read in 1 John 2:8; “Yet, I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining”.

I believe that the true light shines through people like you and me when we choose to follow Christ and do as He requires; “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-38).

I pray today you may be inspired to walk in the light of God’s Word and maybe you might want to sing this verse of another hymn I found today; “When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found; dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand”.

Let’s get dressed!

AMEN

October 12, 2022
Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
Exodus 20:17, Hebrews 13:5

I am writing from our dining room table where I can look out the windows, listen to the rain drizzle, the birds chirp, and see the leaves of the trees beginning to turn into a vast array of Fall colors. To say I am blessed would be an understatement, and at the same time I still want more. This is a very frustrating part of my faith walk with Christ. It is good to review the ten commandments from time to time, and today, I will look at number ten.

The word “covet” can be synonymous with the word “envy”. My Websters New Collegiate Dictionary defines covet: “To wish for enviously, a strong desire for what belongs to another…To have a strong desire for wealth or possessions”. Hebrews 13:5 reminds Christ followers to “keep your lives free of the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”. So, it would seem to be content would be the opposite of being envious. Makes sense, and yet, are you? Are you completely content? (I am asking myself the same question ). Honestly, the answer for me is no. I want to be, I long to be, I need to be completely content, but time and time again I find myself wishing for something different, something easier, something newer.

Pastor Mehl challenges me in the last chapter of his book The Ten(der) Commandments; “Contentment, I believe, is the bottom line of this commandment. God knows very well what happens to people when they are caught up in unbridled envy. What God really intends for us is that we would be contented…contented with who we are…contented with what we have…contented with Him” (pg.228). If you are facing a tough time, and wonder how this even applies to you, please know, that I too have experienced trying to make ends meet, even when I was working as hard as I could. That’s when my family and I experienced the “economics of Jesus”, a term I learned when I worked with Habitat for Humanity in Americus Georgia back in the early 80’s. It was there, as a single person, God trained me how to manage the resources I had and even learn to live on a $15.00 a week grocery budget. Sometimes, I had to ask for help, and sometimes, you might have to ask for help. The idea here, as with all God’s commands, is to trust him with all you have and all you are and watch Him grow you more and more into who He intends for you to be. I know I am a work in progress and I am learning, even right now, to trust Him more.

AMEN

October 5, 2022
Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
Exodus 20:16, Ephesians 4:22-25

First of all, I want to give thanks to God for the absolutely beautiful weather for the past several days. Where I reside, we have had clear starry nights and clear blue skies and crisp mornings. I also want to ask God to forgive me for the many times I have not appreciated what he has provided so; Thank you God for all you are and all you have done and all you will do.

One of the ways I am not as grateful as I should be, is when I am working with people who tend to make life difficult for me, whether intentionally or unintentionally. To be honest; I either say what is not helpful for building up the relationship, or I don’t say what needs to be said in order to build up the relationship. Today I am studying the 9th commandment: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor”, or as I have been teaching our young ones, “Don’t say bad things about other people”.

In Ephesians 4 the Apostle Paul is teaching the believers to be mindful that since they have come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, their lives are to reflect some major changes, one of which is to demonstrate unity where once there was division. I find it helpful today as I have witnessed more and more division between neighbors, congregants, family members, our government, and even denominational leaders and members. Many are wondering “What in the world is going on”? To that I can only say, we are part of a world that desperately needs Jesus. The good news is, God has provided and continues to guide us in the power of the Holy Spirit, if we will listen to him and obey him. So, I guess you could say the simple answer is in the little word “IF”.

Paul writes: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of living, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body”(Ephesians 4:22-25).

Here’s a thought for practical application today; Let’s try to be more mindful of what we are “Putting On”, is it a good attitude, one that glorifies God and builds up the body? Is there something that I keep dwelling on that consistently bursts out into words that doesn’t build up the body of Christ? (see Ephesians 4:29). Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you today how each conversation has something I need to put off in order to put on what is better.

AMEN

September 29, 2022
Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
Exodus 20:15, Psalm 119:143-144

“Thou shall not steal”. Seems pretty up front and practical at first look, and yet I have discovered lot’s of ways to steal. Not meaning any harm, or so I thought, but just believing that it didn’t mean that much to anyone. As a friend of mine would say, “Back up the train Loraine and take a second look”. Why would God deem it necessary to include this command among his top 10? Again, I see God’s practical application of his word and his love in this one as well as in all the others; “I want you to understand and believe that I am the One who will supply all your needs. I don’t want you to have to scheme, manipulate, and deceive to obtain things. For then what would you become? A schemer, a manipulator, and a deceiver. I don’t want you to feel responsible for securing your own future” (pg. 196 The Tender Commandments by Ron Mehl). Most of us, if we are honest, can probably account for times when we were young, and maybe even times when we were not so young, that we thought it ok to either take something that didn’t belong to us, or not return something we borrowed (I have a sledge hammer in my garage right now that needs to go back to it’s owner, thank you Lord, for the reminder ).

As followers of Christ, we are to be witnesses of our faith in all things. Things spoken, things unspoken, things we do, and things we don’t do. That would be a definition of life application for the faith we profess. And yet, we can find it easy to excuse away the practice of stealing. I know I had to learn early on that there are dire consequences for taking what does not belong to me. I will be forever grateful to my mother who was wise enough to allow me to see for myself that the balloons that I shoved up my sweater in the grocery check-out line were not mine, and when she asked me to bend down and pick up something that somehow landed on the floor, oops, out dropped the balloons. I bet you can guess what followed. My mother told me in front of the clerk that I should know better than to steal, and I owed the clerk, the store manager, and the next ten shoppers who came through the door and apology.

In practice for many today, that lesson was not learned early on. Taking office supplies, not paying back what we borrowed, not participating in the ministries of the churches we attend are all outward witnesses that perhaps we don’t really believe our God supplies all our needs. On that last one, Pastor Ron Mehl says this; “My mom always taught me that you’ll be able to do more with the 90 percent of what you have than if you withheld from the Lord and tried to spend the 100 percent. The reason people steal is because they’ve forgotten about God. He isn’t even part of the equation in their lives. Whatever they believe, or say they believe, they are practical atheists, living as though He did not exist” (pg. 207). In this troubled world, we sure could use more of God’s wisdom to guide and direct us. Psalm 119:143-144 says; “Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight. Your statues are forever right; give me understanding that I may live”.

Time for me to return that sledge hammer

AMEN

January 21, 2022
Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
Exodus 20:14, Proverbs 2:10-12

While working through the ten commandments in my sermons, I am now on #7; “You shall not commit adultery”. I am thankful for Jesus and his way to bring God’s law to life right where we are, just as he did for the people who would listen and follow him in the first century. You see, Jesus said; “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).

Adultery, like any other temptation, begins in the mind. God, in his mercy, has given us a fence to protect us in our decisions, the fence is his commandment. Some might believe that they don’t need to worry about this commandment because lust is not a problem for them. I would caution all of us, not to think so highly of ourselves that we lose touch with the state of our thinking and then find ourselves dealing with the consequences of those thoughts that suddenly became a behavior. Pastor Ron Mehl gave me the illustration of the fence in his book The Ten(der) Commandments; “Why should a rodeo cowboy [run to] a fence? Because the fence isn’t there to restrict and restrain the rider, it is there to restrain the bull.

That’s what God’s commandments do for us; they protect us. They put a barrier between us and that which would destroy us. They place a restraint on our flesh that wants what it wants at any cost” (pg. 172). We need to walk in God’s wisdom every step of every day and when we do, God gives us a promise; “Wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted” (Proverbs 2:10-12). This life sometimes feels like a rodeo to me; sometimes holding on for dear life, and sometimes running like crazy for find a safe place to just breathe. If you are feeling that way today, let me encourage you; take a moment right now and simply thank God for making you the way you are, and for his Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts, and then listen to him.

AMEN

September 14, 2022
Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
John 8:31-32

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’.”

Our text for today reminds followers of Jesus to “hold” to his teaching. To hold means to cling to, or to stay close to so as not to let go of what Jesus taught. He promises that if we “hold” to his teaching we will know the truth and because we know the truth we are set free. Free from lies we may have always believed about ourselves and others before. Free from anxiety, worry, doubt, fear, anything that keeps Christ followers from following him closely. I hope you will be inspired and encouraged by the following quote I found and have adjusted for this teaching. The original quote is from Pastor Ron Mehl, whose book; The Tender Commandments has helped me hold on to Jesus in these days of unrest. I call it Right Now! “No matter what has happened to us in the past, God is interested in our right now. He wants to change your heart and mine right now. Not tomorrow. He wants to walk with us and fellowship with us right now. Not later on, after ‘we get things straightened out.’ He wants to teach us and bless us right now. Not on some mythical future day when we’re more prepared or ‘have our act together.’ He wants to protect us from destructive thoughts and attitudes right now.” And right now if I settle this matter; whatever I feel hanging over me like a heavy, darkness, I can be a different person right now. I can be free from the darkness and free to walk with my Lord who will bless me in unimaginable ways, even right now!

AMEN

September 7, 2022
Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 4:26-27

This morning I was blessed by 5 minutes of prayer with Pastor Tony Alstott from Wesley Chapel UMC. He is faithful to daily bring me, via Facebook Live, to different locations to read scripture and pray as the scripture inspires him. Today’s scripture for this morning was Psalm 127, parts for this meditation today: “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain…Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him…” At the end of the reading and prayer he invites us to repeat the words from 1 Samuel 3:10; “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening”. He concluded this listening time with what God revealed to him; consider carefully the “To Do” list for the day. In other words; Unless the Lord builds your “To Do” list, you labor in vain. I couldn’t help but see how God was showing me a connection with my plans, my work, my family and the 5th commandment of God for today’s study.

Exodus 20:12 from NIV reads: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” How we choose to honor our parents, or not is a very personal thing. Some reading today have had a very difficult time with one or both parents, and may have come to the conclusion, that it is just best to not deal with them at all. Some reading today have experienced the death of their parents, like my husband and I, and you may be wondering how you are expected to honor them now. Some reading this meditation today are right in the midst of an unbelievably painful relationship with their parents, and yet God’s command is the same for all. Yes, this is very personal and very hard to obey. Be encouraged that our creator God, who knows all things, is not asking anyone to be a doormat, or allow abuse or neglect to continue. God is interested in your life and welfare and because of his love for you, God’s desire is that you honor/respect your parents not because they have always deserved it, but because you deserve to be free of unforgiveness, and bitterness which can lock up your life in the past, even if it is a very recent past.

Ephesians 4: 26-27 is a good reminder; “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry and do not give the devil a foothold.” There it is; not only for children and parents, but for all our relationships. When we choose not to forgive, we are giving the devil a foothold to climb all over our lives. In reality, we are most likely hurting ourselves more than the one we choose not to forgive. Forgiveness is powerful, and I believe only fully possible in relationship with Jesus Christ who gave himself for all to be set free. You are loved right where you are, and if you are the parent that the kids won’t forgive, simply ask the Lord to help you become more “bless-able” so that you can become a blessing, maybe this should be on your “To Do” list today.

AMEN!

August 18, 2022
Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
Exodus 20:1-6, Mathew 5:17-19

The essence of our focal passage today comes to us from Pastor Ron Mehl, as he writes in his book The Tender Commandments – Reflections on the Father’s love; “I am your God. I am your Redeemer: I have saved you and bought you for Myself. Please…don’t ever put anything in the place that belongs to me” (pg. 56-interpreting Exodus 20:1-6 for today). When it comes to our day to day living in relationship with God in Christ, the commandments are still very valid. It is recorded in Matthew 5:17 – 19, that he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill them and that “anyone who breaks one of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven”.

I understand that in fulfilling the commandments of God, Jesus provides for us a way to draw closer to God through a growing relationship with the Son. Still, we realize that we are not “there” yet, and while we navigate our way day to day, we come up against some idols that threaten to steal our relationship. What might some of these idols be? Pastor Mehl puts it this way; “Today, these gods of materialism, sexual indulgence, and personal power fill the very airwaves! The images and their deceptive offers go across the world by satellite, cable, internet, and slick four-colored printing. We are surrounded by more images than we have ever been in the history of the world…the whole object is to ‘capture’ as many people as possible…When it becomes the whole purpose of my life to chase one of those images, I have already slipped into idolatry. I have given it the best of my time, my talents, my treasures, and my energies. My very life is invested in it. That’s what a god is; when you worship a god, you basically surrender your life to it” (pg.59).

Now there’s a word, surrender. Perhaps the greatest challenge I have in my day to day walk with the Lord, is to constantly surrender my will to his, my desires to his desires for my life, my rights to his righteousness. If you find yourself being challenged in a similar way today, perhaps this part of a famous hymn my help you stay on course: “All to thee, my blesses Savior, I surrender all” (I Surrender All, #354 The United Methodist Hymnal).

AMEN!