SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK

Genesis 15: 4-6 - Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars- if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Abram was a man with much faith in God. He demonstrated his faith with his actions by being obedient when God commanded him to move, but it was his belief in God that made him right with God. We are often reminded that “Faith without works is dead,” (James 2:17) but works without faith is meaningless. We can attend church, serve on several boards in the church, do community service for those less fortunate, and even give our tithes to God, but if we do not have a relationship with God where we believe that God is who he says he is and that He will do everything he promises us, it is all for nothing. Please do not misunderstand, we do need to show our faith, but most of all we need to have faith. Faith is defined as, “Belief and trust in and loyalty to God.” Do we have belief and trust in and loyalty to God?

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your love, grace, and mercy. Lord, we do believe and trust in and have complete loyalty to you. Lord, we believe in the many blessings you have promised us and will stand in your love even when the world says we should turn away. We know you strengthen us when we are weak and we thank you now. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.

1 John 4:20 – Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.

We say we love God all the time, but love is more than we say. Loving God is more than coming to church on Sundays, Bible Study on Wednesdays, choir rehearsals, Sunday school, church conferences, and giving your tithes. Showing our love for God means to show our love for everyone. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus tells us how we treat other, is how we treat him. We have to treat everyone like we would a close relative (mother, father, grandparent, and siblings). When we truly love God, we never really meet a stranger, for all are his children. Feeding those who are hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, and providing shelter for the homeless are things we can do to show our love for our fellow man. We should also give comfort to those who are in distress. There are so many things we can do to show love for each other, and all are small easy things to do. If we remember to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, Matthew 22:39, we will show our true love for God.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your love, grace, and mercy. Lord, we apologize for not always treating our brothers and sisters as we should. Please forgive us for not loving others in the past. We commit ourselves today to express our true love to you, Lord. We will treat others as we treat ourselves. May your name receive the glory for our love. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.

Luke 15: 28-30 – Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!”

In the story of the prodigal son, the older brother is upset that his father celebrates the return of his younger brother who was disobedient to their father. The brother feels unappreciated since he has spent his whole life being obedient to his father and his father has not once celebrated how good a son he has been. We are like this brother at times in our lives. Some of us may have given our lives to God at an early age and have been obedient to Him and very active in our church, but our jealousy shows up when someone who has left the fold to follow the ways of the world returns to God and the church showers this person with all their attention. We may feel left out in these situations or just feel that this person coming to God is not that big of a deal. It is a big deal when someone decides to stop following the world and to take up their cross and follow Jesus. If we have this jealousy then we need to look closer to our relationship with God. This shows that the things we do are not because it is in our heart to do but that we do these things in order to gain approval or favor. In everything we do for God’s kingdom, we need to do it because it is in our hearts. In 1 Corinthians 13:4 it says, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Let your love for God show in all you do.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for your love, grace, and mercy. Lord, I profess my love for you today. Lord, I welcome all your children who seek your face into life. Let the light in me, which is my love for you, shine before man so that all may know that I love you because you first loved me. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. –Matthew 7:7-8

We often ask God to do so much for us, not thinking twice about some of the things that we ask for. I read Matthew 7:7,8--"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who ask receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." God gives us all of this just by asking. But you look at the news or open up a paper, and you see all of the things that He requires from us that we don't do. God commands us to love one another, not to commit murder, adultery, steal, give false testimony against your neighbor. There are 10 of these requirements that the LORD GOD requires from us. Can we really say that we have been deserving of all His giving? I am so glad that my GOD loves me unconditionally. I know that he has given me more than I deserve; that's why everyday I am working hard on those 10 requirements.

Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” –Matthew 18:21-22

Forgiveness is difficult for most of us because it is unfamiliar territory. It is so different from our self-centered mentality. It cuts against what we are accustomed to. If you speak in a harsh, derogatory manner, I will speak to you in the same way. We tend to think that if you if you have offended me in some way, either in word or deed, it is imperative that I retaliate and get you back! If you do me wrong I will do you wrong back. That’s our way, but you know that God’s ways are not our ways. We’ve got to get on our knees even when folks persecute us and revile us and say all manner of evil against us. As much as you want to get them back, put it in God’s hands. For me it is a matter of FAITH. If you say God healed you when you were sick, if you say God saved you in a perilous moment…all of this was because of you calling on the Lord and leaving those matters in the Lord’s hand!! When folks persecute you… leave it in God’s Hands! When folks talk about you…leave it in God’s hand! It’s a hard thing to do. You’ve been insulted, character even attacked, but in God’s hands…they will see it again... because you, me, we reap what we sow.

Forgiveness is difficult in the church often because one’s faith is on the line as well as one’s character.

Matthew 18 reminds us why forgiveness is important. We can’t inherit the kingdom if we do not practice forgiveness in our daily walk of faith. Each day we pray, “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,” but yet we hold stuff against folk. LEAVE IT IN GOD’S HAND. HE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU!!

"But his answer was: 'My grace is all you need for my power is greatest when you are weak.' I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses in order to feel the protection of Christ's power over me." --2 Corinthians 12:9 (from the Good News Bible)

I shall always remember these words because they helped my father, a Lutheran pastor, to survive and to keep his sanity through some very trying times.

I was born 77 years ago in Riga, Latvia. When I was 8 years old our country was invaded by the USSR. Under communist rule, my father's life was in constant danger--once he even had to hide in the woods to escape imprisonment. Some of our friends and family members were deported to labor camps in Siberia. Still, despite all of these hardships, my father never lost his faith.

We later spent several years as refugees in a displaced persons camp in Germany. Life was not always easy. At last we were so fortunate as to be able to immigrate to this country.

I am now a retired teacher, living in South Carolina. My American-born husband and I have been married for more than 50 years and we are grateful for the good life we have enjoyed. I often remind myself of the scripture my father cited so many times. As we are getting older, weakness and helplessness appear in different, though less dramatic, ways. I tire more easily, I am getting to be somewhat hard of hearing, and my memory is not as good as it used to be. I am grateful that I am still in good health and can use what strength I have to do some volunteer work. But I must remember the source of that strength: it comes from above.

Ruta Bly is a member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Columbia, South Carolina. She volunteers with Community CME Church's tutorial ministry.

"Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 'Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.'" --Esther 4:15-16

This scripture was recently used as Rev. Barnes' sermon text, and it really touched my spirit. He talked about how we must sometimes take bold stands in life--for our faith, for our families, for the things that are important to us. He preached that what we must do will sometimes be unpopular, sometimes against tradition, but it's still necessary. Just like Esther, God calls us to take drastic actions for the sake of His people.

This sermon rang in my ears for days afterwards, and I thought a lot about these verses. Sometimes it can be scary to do the right thing, to stand up for people who are oppressed, to go against tradition. We not only worry about losing our own status, but also about doing it alone. We don't like to be alone. We don't like to feel like we're the only ones out there, or that we're left out. Even though we know that God is with us, it's hard to go against the grain when it seems like everyone and everything is united against you. When you're standing or working alone, it's easy to get overwhelmed and think, "Maybe they're right and I'm wrong."

Thankfully, God never lets us stand on our own. Esther was afraid to put her life on the line for her people, but she overcame her fear. She realized that her life means nothing if those who are important to her are not cared for and protected. And while she felt like she was alone, she really wasn't. God had given her Mordecai and a tribe full of people who would stand with her. She asked them to fast with her and pray for clarity and guidance. She knew that she could not do it by herself--that while she may be the frontwoman, God was not going to let her do His work without support.

God calls each of us to do amazing things, however big or small. Some of us are called to teach Sunday school. Some of us are called to evangelize. Some of us are called to feed the hungry. No matter what we're called to do, there are always times when we feel like we're fighting an uphill battle, that God has called us to do something impossible--and do it alone. But God never leaves us alone. He's always with us. And He knows how to put the right support in place. God will not let His people--and His work--suffer. In a time and place plagued with such ills as chronic disease, drugs, poverty, imprisonment, and more, there's more than enough work for all of us to do. And we don't have to do it by ourselves.

These verses tell me to be content in all circumstances, in times of plenty and in times of want. They tell me that God has promised to sustain me. I don't believe it's true--I know it's true. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age eighteen, and I've suffered a lot. I had to learn how to adapt and do things differently, because daily activities caused so much pain. No, not playing ball or dancing--but simple tasks like getting dressed for work and personal grooming and opening jars or washing dishes. Day to day living was so difficult. I would get up two hours earlier to soak in a hot bath to loosen up and start my day.

Each year got easier. I learned how to compensate and use things to make life easier, like using a back scratcher to reach items and a zipper pull to reach the zipper on my dresses. Then I learned to buy clothes without zippers. I learned how to buy shirts and clothing that opened in the front. It dawned on me one day that I was not giving in to pain, but I was learning to cope with it. I didn't miss much work due to my limitations. Like a light bulb clicking on in my mind, I realized that it was not Pat adapting, but God was showing me how to overcome obstacles.

The more I did for others, the less I focused on my pain. I am never pain-free, but I never dwell on it, because I'm too busy doing things for God who truly strengthens me, and is supplying me with riches every day.

"O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good: because His mercy endureth forever." --Psalms 118:1

There are many reasons why we should give thanks unto the Lord. For His loving kindness, His protection and His grace. He continues to forgive us for our wrongdoings. Over and over again, but yet we refuse to give Him thanks.

We must take the time to give God the proper praise, for He is good and His mercy endures forever!

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead...As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead." --James 2:14-27, 26

Ten years ago the thought of me writing about the strength of my faith would have been laughable. That was because I misunderstood religion. Today, I have a different outlook and I owe a large part of that to Pastor Barnes and the exceptional members of Community CME. It’s not that I did not believe in God, because I did. I was simply skeptical of organized religion and the mouthpieces I saw on TV shouting the words of hate while claiming God was on their side. I have since learned that they are a small minority of radical religious zealots and that they do not speak for the Church.

At the urging of Pastor Barnes, I came to church on a Sunday in early March of 2004. It did not take me long to feel the warmth, love and acceptance of the members. It also did not seem to matter to the members that my skin was a little lighter than theirs because God does not judge based on skin color, and race should not be a determinant of faith. A little less than 2 months later I became a member. I credit this decision as one of the best ones in my life. I started attending nearly every Sunday and my amazement continued and my faith strengthened. It was with bittersweet emotion that I left South Carolina due to a job opportunity in Ohio. I was sad that I would be leaving members that meant so much to me and yet happy that I would get the chance to serve the members of a community in a different capacity. I worked with kids in Foster Care and the Juvenile Justice system and decided that I could do more to help this population with an advanced degree. I enrolled in the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and have continued my commitment to the people in my community. I am currently working as a 7^th grade math teacher in Harlem, NY while pursuing my degree full time. Even though I have lived away from my church for quite some time now, I feel as connected to it now as ever before. I pray everyday for strength and guidance so that I may be better able to serve others.

What I have learned most about religion is that it is not a tool for discrimination, intolerance and hate, although some still use it for these purposes. Being a Methodist means have a strong desire to help thy neighbor, to not judge others, and to be accepting and tolerant. These are the true values of Christianity, and the reason I feel so fortunate to be a member of Community CME Church. Thank you Community, for all you have done for me!

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hyprocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." --Matthew 6:5-15

The model prayer given by Jesus, known as "The Lord's Prayer," includes an appeal for healing.

When you appeal to "our father," you are appealing on the basis of all His name means, which includes "The Lord Thy Physician.

"Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," means there is no sickness or sin in heaven. We are to do God's will on earth as it is done in heaven, so we should fight sickness as well as sin.

The "bread" belongs to the children, or believers. Physical healing is part of the children's bread (Matthew 15:21-28).

The passage "Forgive our trespasses as we forgive others" speaks of spiritual healing.

"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" indicates that sickness should be resisted just as you would temptation.

"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever:" Praise is an important weapon in effecting spiritual victories. All this we have in Jesus.

"Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, "How are we robbing you?" In you tithes and offerings! You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me- the whole nation of you! Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessings." --Malachi 3:8-10

This one of my favorite scriptures because it shows to me how much our Father loves us. Like our earthly parents, God wants us to obey His word and do things that are pleasing in His sight. After God admonished us in verse eight for not bringing our tithes and offerings to Him, He tells us that being obedient will result in favor in His sight and an overflow of blessings. When I think about it, I can almost picture the Father beaming with pride when His children believe He will take care of them as He promised and are obedient to His word.

Tithing is one of the easiest ways to show faith to God although we don't always do it as we should. Many people are apprehensive about giving money to the church because they feel the ministers and officers will not use the money appropriately. In my studies of tithing in the Bible, I realized that our duty is to give our tithes and not worry how the tithes are used. God will bless us abundantly for this obedience.

"Count it all joy, my brethren, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." --James 1:2-4

I've always considered myself blessed throughout my life. I still have both of my parents, my family always encouraged me to excel, and we were stable. I never wanted for anything. We were the model Black American family; the only thing we were missing was the dog. When I moved to Columbia, I was in graduate school with no student loans and healthy; I had what I thought was the perfect life.

I will admit that I haven't had it as bad as some other people in the world, or even in my own family. But one by one, many of the blessings that I'd enjoyed as a "child" disappeared as I grew into "adulthood." Scholarships got yanked out from under me. The perfect health I'd thought would last forever declined. I discovered my father's drug and alcohol addictions, and had to cope with the fact that the same thing could happen to me. I started working in HIV prevention, and the stories I heard from my clients were enough to break anybody's heart three times over. All of a sudden, my life was no longer as safe and secure as I thought it was, and that terrified me.

That's when these verses took on a whole new meaning for me. Paul writes that we should count it all joy--consider it a blessing--when we go through our trials and tribulations. Why? Because if we didn't go through hardships, our faith wouldn't be as strong or mean as much. It's easy to believe in God's grace and mercy when everything goes our way; it's a lot harder to hold on to that faith when everything seems to be crumbling around us. But, when you can still praise God in the midst of your problems, that's when you really know He's real; that He will be the rod and staff that comforts you, that He will lead you and guide you along the way. Sometimes our praise is a sacrifice that we must offer, even when we don't feel like it. But when we offer that sacrifice of praise, He hears us, and He blesses us even in the midst of our problems. Maybe He'll deliver us from our circumstances, or maybe He'll give us the strength to keep going through the situation. Either way, I've learned how to look at these tough times as learning experiences that will help me grow in my faith and my knowledge of who God is and who He is to me.

So now, when I go through my low moments, I hold fast to the belief that God is right there with me, guiding me through the lesson like a teacher, helping me to grow in my faith and learn from the example of Jesus Christ. And as long as I do that, I know that God will meet me where I am, look beyond my faults and see my needs, and continue to bless me because I'm His child.

Storms will always be a part of life. But every storm gives us the chance to see a rainbow at the end. So long as I remember I'm a child of God, I'm going to keep looking past the dark clouds and the lightning. I'm going to search for the colors on the horizon. And I'm going to meet Jesus there, praising Him, with my notebook in hand, ready to take notes on what He's about to teach me.