Are We Growing Figs or Twigs?

March 3, 2013

Opening Hymns:
496 Sweet Hour of Prayer http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh496.sht

Scripture Reading:
Luke 13:1-9

13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ² Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? ³ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

⁶ Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. ⁷ So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
⁸ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Message:
How are we like the fig tree in the story that Jesus tells? I feel bad for the poor fig tree, it isn’t dead… In fact, I picture it much like any other non-fruit bearing tree. It is a beautiful tree with outstretched branches full of leaves. It is providing oxygen to the world along with all the other trees. So why is this poor fig tree getting picked on? If we cut down all the trees that didn’t bear fruit the world would be a much more desolate place. Why isn’t it enough that this tree is providing beauty and oxygen?

The fig tree in the parable is in a vineyard. Any gardener or farmer knows the importance of land availability. If a plant or tree isn’t bearing fruit that soil could be used for a different tree or plant. The problem with this poor little fig tree is that its purpose is higher than just providing beauty and oxygen… it is supposed to provide figs as well. The owner of the vineyard is not pleased because the land could be used for other things that are more fruitful.

Where do we fit in? Could it be that we, like the fig tree, are missing out on our purpose in life. Life can become busy… and at times we can become distracted by other things. We may be growing our leaves and extending our branches while the figs get neglected. At church we often pray for forgiveness for “what we have done, and what we have left undone.” Maybe some of the things we devote our time to are causing us to leave important things undone.

How do we spend our time? With the invention of the “smart phone” I feel my own intelligence dwindling. I spend more time playing chess and scrabble on my phone than I would care to admit. I also have the unnerving habit of continually checking facebook and my music writing site to see if anyone has tried to message me. Checking messages can be an okay thing to do, but probably does not need to be done hourly. This scripture makes me ponder. What am I leaving undone? Am I growing the twigs and not the figs?  

Time of Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, give us discernment to know what we should be doing in our lives. Help us to grow in the way that You would have us grow, so that when the time comes for harvest we will be fruitful for You. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
569 We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations  http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh569.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Do's and Don'ts

March 2, 2013

Opening Hymns:
Seek Ye First

Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 10:1-13

10 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. ² They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. ³ They all ate the same spiritual food ⁴ and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. ⁵ Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

⁶ Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. ⁷ Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”^{[a] 8} We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. ⁹ We should not test Christ,^[b] as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. ¹⁰ And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
¹¹ These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. ¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! ¹³ No temptation^[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted^[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,^[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Message:
In the musical Oliver, the little orphan Oliver lost when he was drawing straw to see who would go up and ask for more gruel. He went up and asked for more, and because of that he was punished. All the other orphans didn’t stand up for him, instead they turned on him. You can hear the children pondering beforehand “What happens when you ask for more?” and after the fact, “Oh, if it’s that bad we should never ask for more.” They learned from his mistake.

While poor Oliver didn’t really deserve to be punished, this instance is a reminder to us that we can learn and change our behavior based on the rewards and punishments of others who have certain behaviors. This is where the scripture today comes in. The Old Testament is full of examples of Do’s and Don’ts (mostly don’ts)…  We can study and learn from what people did in the bible. The bible teaches us to love God and to turn away from idols and sinning. Time and time again we see people falling into the trap of sin and temptation. The good news is that God will provide us a way out of temptation. God will provide a way for us to repent and keep from sinning. With God all things are possible.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for giving us the bible so that we can study and learn the “do’s and don’ts” that help keep us on Your path. Guide us down Your path and keep us from temptation. Let us learn from the mistakes of others, and let us also learn from the perfect actions of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
Sanctuary

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Cling to God

February 28, 2013

Opening Hymns:
101 From All That Dwell Below the Skies http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh101.sht

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 63:5-9

⁵ I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

⁶ On my bed I remember you;
    I think of you through the watches of the night.
⁷ Because you are my help,
    I sing in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ I cling to you;
    your right hand upholds me.

⁹ Those who want to kill me will be destroyed;
    they will go down to the depths of the earth.

Message:
We live in a hurting world. Children experiencing their parent’s death, and parent’s having to go through the loss of their child. There are illnesses, wars, and disasters. Through all of this we have someone that we can turn to. We have a God who we can “cling” to. “Cling”, this simple word creates in me a feeling of loving warmth and comfort. God wants to have a relationship with us so deep that we feel we can cling to Him during times of deepest troubles. Sadly, sometimes people cling to other things during their deepest hours. Whether it be drugs, gambling, alcohol, or material goods… clinging to these things can offer us some peace at the time. In the long run, however, they will in fact cause more hurt than good.

Regardless of our past and our current coping mechanisms God will always love us and will be there for us. We can set our hearts on Him, as the psalmist has, and “cling” to Him.  

Time of Prayer

Dearest Lord, let us cling to you when we face our deepest sorrows. Amen

 
The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
103 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh103.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God