According to the weather, the chilly blue morning will turn hot today. Looking over the top of my monitor to the view outside, I see the northern farm waking and green, even after the dry summer. Sandhill cranes call and flutter occasionally bursting into flight only to dive back to our freshly planted wheat. Even with the loss of harvest, I delight in their chaotic voices and tumbling awkwardness when grounded. Ugly grey bodies on skinny stick legs with long rubbery necks, transform in flight to a corporation with bearing and seeming purpose.
This week our church has shown that grounded side, cawing and scratching for food, stealing the harvest before it is ready. Even as I write, a small flock of cranes take to the air, casting a strong shadow against a copse of tress bordering the farm. Flying low, they gather in numbers and take to the air. Their wings beat furiously for a moment, then they glide seeming to greet the day in confidence. Good morning.

For Hagerman Bible Study

Happy Memorial Day 28 May 2012

We will be helping pick up flags at the Hagerman Cemetery Monday evening. Come and Join us.
Also for devotions and thanksgivings tell me what you're reading this coming week and I'll try and link it here.
Thank you.

Next Monday, June 4th we will begin:

The Mind of Christ: The Transforming Power of Thinking His Thoughts by T. W. Hunt

For Children’s Church

First Presbyterian Church of Dexter 

27 May 2012

Symbol and Concept: The Flame of the Holy Spirit

Word: Pentecost

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes 11Cretans and Arabs — in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

And of course lots of singing and praying.

Parents and caregivers For the coming week:

1. Why was it important for God to send His Holy Spirit?
2. How does the Holy Spirit help us?
3. How does the Holy Spirit help with our prayers?
4. How is Pentecost considered the church's birthday?

For Monday’s Hagerman Bible Study 21 May, 2012

Reflections on kindness:

Slowly, I have realized that being kind and being nice are not the same. We may be nice and still be disingenuous. But being kind is an act of the heart taking little or no notice of the mind’s wiles.
Last fall, as our son Lonny entered middle school, he would frequently say, “That’s just mean, Mom.”
It always tickled me to have such perfect correction from an eleven year old. Usually Lonny was asking that I curb my savage bent for sarcasm, but more he would ask that I change my tune to one of grateful rejoicing. He likes me better as pleasant, if somewhat goofy, old-fashioned mom. Apparently, sarcasm isn’t a good look for me. Not necessarily nice-ness, but kindness should rule the day.

God’s kindness

This week God has shown great mercy to me, not so much answering a prayer for discernment, as revealing how the prayer was built without faith. It was a prayer to conquer a perceived enemy that was really no enemy, but simply another beggar.
I have been in this situation before, yelling at top volume, “I am someone of great importance. You don’t want to tangle with me.” Then, after making such a bold claim, I have set about to manipulate the situation to my advantage.
Many would call this simply playing the game. It’s how you get ahead, but it’s not. It’s how you drift from God.

Scriptures

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind.
Love does not envy,
is not boastful, is not conceited,
5 does not act improperly,
is not selfish, is not provoked,
and does not keep a record of wrongs.
6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness
but rejoices in the truth.
7 It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-19
12 Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we exhort you, brothers: warn those who are irresponsible, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.
16 Rejoice always!
17 Pray constantly.
18 Give thanks in everything,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Don’t stifle the Spirit.

Mark 10:42-45
42 Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them. 43 But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many.”

For this week's Study Read Ruth 2, Luke 9, and Psalm 103

More specifics follow

Ruth 2:8-13
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go and gather grain in another field, and don’t leave this one, but stay here close to my female servants. 9 See which field they are harvesting, and follow them. Haven’t I ordered the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.”
10 She bowed with her face to the ground and said to him, “Why are you so kind to notice me, although I am a foreigner?”
11 Boaz answered her, “Everything you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death has been fully reported to me: how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and how you came to a people you didn’t previously know. 12 May the Lord reward you for what you have done, and may you receive a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”
13 “My lord,” she said, “you have been so kind to me, for you have comforted and encouraged your slave, although I am not like one of your female servants.”

Reformation Study Bible
2:8–12 Events unfold quickly as Boaz accedes to the request and offers his protection and provision (vv. 8–9). Ruth acknowledges his favor to her, an undeserving “foreigner” (v. 10). Only then (vv. 11–12) does the narrative give some inkling of God’s providential working. Boaz has known already that Ruth is no ordinary foreigner. She has taken “refuge” under the “wings” of the Lord, and she will receive “a full reward” from Him (v. 12). Though a foreigner, Ruth’s loyalty to God will become a key element in God’s great plan of redemption. The plan will be worked out through David, the covenant king, and through Christ, David’s greater Son. The reward of Ruth’s faith far transcends local time and circumstances.

Matthew Henry's Commentary
Chapter 2

There is scarcely any chapter in all the sacred history that stoops so low as this to take cognizance of so mean a person as Ruth, a poor Moabitish widow, so mean an action as her gleaning corn in a neighbour’s field, and the minute circumstances thereof. But all this was in order to her being grafted into the line of Christ and taken in among his ancestors, that she might be a figure of the espousals of the Gentile church to Christ, Isa. 54:1. This makes the story remarkable; and many of the passages of it are instructive and very improvable. Here we have, I. Ruth’s humility and industry in gleaming corn, Providence directing her to Boaz’s field, Ruth 2:1-3. II. The great favour which Boaz showed to her in many instances, Ruth 2:4-16. III. The return of Ruth to her mother-in-law, Ruth 2:18-23.

Luke 9:1-6
Summoning the Twelve, He gave them power and authority over all the demons, and power to heal diseases. 2 Then He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
3 “Take nothing for the road,” He told them, “no walking stick, no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don’t take an extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. 5 If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.
                           
9:5 shake off the dust from your feet. Strict Jews removed defiling dust from their feet when they returned from Gentile lands. The disciples’ action symbolically said that those who rejected the preachers did not belong to God’s people.

Matthew Henry's Commentary

1. What Christ directed them to do, in prosecution of this commission at this time, when they were not to go far or be out long. (1.) They must not be solicitous to recommend themselves to people’s esteem by their outward appearance. Now that they begin to set up for themselves, they must have no dress, nor study to make any other figure than what they made while they followed him: they must go as they were, and not change their clothes, or so much as put on a pair of new shoes. (2.) They must depend upon Providence, and the kindness of their friends, to furnish them with what was convenient for them. They must not take with them either bread or money, and yet believe they should not want. Christ would not have his disciples shy of receiving the kindnesses of their friends, but rather to expect them. Yet St. Paul saw cause not to go by this rule, when he laboured with his hands rather than be burdensome. (3.) They must not change their lodgings, as suspecting that those who entertained them were weary of them; they have no reason to be so, for the ark is a guest that always pays well for its entertainment: “Whatsoever house ye enter into there abide (Luke 9:4), that people may know where to find you, that your friends may know you are not backward to serve them, and your enemies may know you are not ashamed nor afraid to face them; there abide till you depart out of that city; stay with those you are used to.” (4.) They must put on authority, and speak warning to those who refused them as well as comfort to those that received them, Luke 9:5. “If there be any place that will not entertain you, if the magistrates deny you admission and threaten to treat you as vagrants, leave them, do not force yourselves upon them, nor run yourselves into danger among them, but at the same time bind them over to the judgment of God for it; shake off the dust of your feet for a testimony against them.” This will, as it were, be produced in evidence against them, that the messengers of the gospel had been among them, to make them a fair offer of grace and peace, for this dust they left behind there; so that when they perish at last in their infidelity this will lay and leave their blood upon their own heads. Shake off the dust of your feet, as much as to say you abandon their city, and will have no more to do with them.

See more of Matthew Henry’s Commentary under resources at BibleGateway.com

And finally
Psalm 103, here verses 11-14
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is His faithful love
toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed
our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
14 For He knows what we are made of,
remembering that we are dust.

Questions to think about

    How are kindness and nice-ness alike?
    How are they different?
    Why would Jesus ask his disciples to depend on or expect kindness?
    How tempted are we to re-pay kindness so the score will be even?
    Can we re-pay God?
   

For Children’s Church
20 May, 2012

Symbol: Scales of Justice
Word: Testimony
Concept: Court of Law

Shout and Prayer of Confession: (from Psalm 1)
    1 How happy is the man
    who does not follow the advice of the wicked,
    or take the path of sinners,
    or join a group of mockers!
    2 Instead, his delight is in the LORD's instruction,
    and he meditates on it day and night.

Scripture: 1 JOHN 5:9-13
9If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. 10Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 11And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Add in several songs and prayers.
Parents continue the worship by discussing God's righteousness.

• How does your child define testimony? 
• What is meant by telling the truth as opposed to lying? 
• How does a court work? 
• Why is this important to Christians?

For Hagerman Bible Study Monday the 14th May

Kindness, a fruit of the Spirit

Scripture passages, Titus 3:3-5, 2 Samuel 9:1-3 Psalm 109:16-29

Recently I have been blessed with a remarkable kindness. My sister-in-law Terry has been taking my son, Lonny to Community Band Practice with her. Taken on the face of things it seems a very small effort, but let me add it up:
        1) Band meets every Monday from 6:30 to 8:00, so every week she comes to our house and takes her whole evening for our son. Terry is an early riser and she is scarcely ever home before 9:00 Mondays by the time she drops Lonny off.
        2) We live twenty minutes out of the way so she can’t just go to band practice which is already a twenty minute drive, but must swing out to East Grand Plains to pick him up, adding close to forty minutes to her effort for the day.
        3) Lonny is twelve, a fun a happy young man, but very independent and a little difficult to manage, but Terry does well and patiently and it’s not like he can help with the driving or even return the favor.

This grace, a free and open gift, causes me to think about kindness and how it is so very Christian.

Kindness is the act or the state of being kind, being marked by good and charitable behavior, pleasant disposition, and concern for others. It is known as a virtue, and recognized as a value in many cultures and religions

Robert Louis Stevenson considered that 'the essence of love is kindness; and indeed it may best be defined as passionate kindness: kindness, so to speak, run mad and become importunate and violent.'

From Wikipedia under kindness

Matthew Henry speaks about Paul’s letter to Titus this way
The letter to Titus lays that challenge, among others, before us today. Much of the letter encourages rather ordinary believers, who occupy all walks of life, to consider their lives in every facet as an expression of the will of God. In fact, once life is considered in this way, the thought of "ordinariness" departs from Christian thinking about life. No matter what path God has given us to walk, we are intended to be a vital piece in God's missionary plan to reach the rest of the world. Each "piece" has meaning, each human life has inestimable value and usefulness to God, and this realization is a tremendous source of joy, satisfaction and peace. But to comprehend this, we may need to make some adjustments in the way we view life.

So what are those adjustments? Read all of Titus this week, but let’s pay particular attention to 3:3-5

Titus 3:3-5
3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love
for mankind appeared,
5 He saved us—
not by works of righteousness that we had done,
but according to His mercy,
through the washing of regeneration
and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Paul clarifies kindness God’s kindness, that it’s not earned, but according to His mercy.
If we shift to examples of earthling kindness as Stephen quotes one beggar telling another beggar where to find food, we find kindness in David’s actions towards Mephibosheth. For next week read all of 2 Samuel 9, but for now note David’s intention.

2 Samuel 9:1-3
9 David asked, “Is there anyone remaining from Saul’s family I can show kindness to because of Jonathan?” 2 There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
“I am your servant,” he replied.
3 So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family that I can show the kindness of God to?”
Ziba said to the king, “There is still Jonathan’s son who was injured in both feet.”

Now let’s turn to the Psalms
Psalm 109:16-29 first looks at one without kindness. It reads like someone who has no heart, no joy, no peace. Then the Psalm turns to beg God’s kindness.

Psalm 109:16-29
16 For he did not think to show kindness,
but pursued the afflicted, poor, and brokenhearted
in order to put them to death.
17 He loved cursing—let it fall on him;
he took no delight in blessing—let it be far from him.
18 He wore cursing like his coat—
let it enter his body like water
and go into his bones like oil.
19 Let it be like a robe he wraps around himself,
like a belt he always wears.
20 Let this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers,
to those who speak evil against me.

21 But You, Yahweh my Lord,
deal kindly with me because of Your name;
deliver me because of the goodness of Your faithful love.
22 For I am afflicted and needy;
my heart is wounded within me.
23 I fade away like a lengthening shadow;
I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak from fasting,
and my body is emaciated.
25 I have become an object of ridicule to my accusers;
when they see me, they shake their heads in scorn.

26 Help me, Lord my God;
save me according to Your faithful love
27 so they may know that this is Your hand
and that You, Lord, have done it.
28 Though they curse, You will bless.
When they rise up, they will be put to shame,
but Your servant will rejoice.
29 My accusers will be clothed with disgrace;
they will wear their shame like a cloak.

Matthew Henry's Commentary is as follows:
Chapter 109

Whether David penned this psalm when he was persecuted by Saul, or when his son Absalom rebelled against him, or upon occasion of some other trouble that was given him, is uncertain; and whether the particular enemy he prays against was Saul, or Doeg, or Ahithophel, or some other not mentioned in the story, we cannot determine; but it is certain that in penning it he had an eye to Christ, his sufferings and his persecutors, for that imprecation (Ps. 109:8) is applied to Judas, Acts 1:20. The rest of the prayers here against his enemies were the expressions, not of passion, but of the Spirit of prophecy. I. He lodges a complaint in the court of heaven of the malice and base ingratitude of his enemies and with it an appeal to the righteous God, Ps. 109:1-5. II. He prays against his enemies, and devotes them to destruction, Ps. 109:6-20. III. He prays for himself, that God would help and succour him in his low condition, Ps. 109:21-29. IV. He concludes with a joyful expectation that God would appear for him, Ps. 109:30, 31. In singing this psalm we must comfort ourselves with the believing foresight of the certain destruction of all the enemies of Christ and his church, and the certain salvation of all those that trust in God and keep close to him.

Questions for discussion:

1. Have you ever intentionally set out to deliver a kindness? What and when if you are willing to share?
2. How does God’s kindness show up in your life and or the lives of your family and church?
3. Can you think of a time when kindness was not welcome?
4. Are children kind?

For this week continue this study by reading all of Titus, 2 Samuel 9 and Psalm 109.
For next week We will study Ruth chapter 2, Luke 9 and Psalm 103
Thank you BEV

Children's Church for May 13th, 2012, ages 3 to 8 and helpers
Symbol: Fruit that will last
Word: Friend
Concept: The Name of Jesus

Shout and Prayer of Confession: (from Psalm 1)
    1 How happy is the man
    who does not follow the advice of the wicked,
    or take the path of sinners,
    or join a group of mockers!
    2 Instead, his delight is in the LORD's instruction,
    and he meditates on it day and night.

Scripture:
John15:12-17 12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”



and lots of praying and singing!!!

For parents and caregivers:
Discuss what makes a good friend and how to be a good friend using Jesus as our guide.
Discuss the fruits of the spirit, does that mean bananas? No... peace, love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Ask for an example of one of the fruits of the spirit each day.