The First United Methodist Church Dubai

07/09/2026

TODAY’S REFLECTION
September 7, 2026, Monday

THE MESSAGES PARENTS SEND
Rev. B**g De Castro, OSL

Read 1 Samuel 20:30-34, NIV
“Saul's anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, "You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don't I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you?” – 1 Samuel 20:30

When someone asks, "What do you do?" the reply frequently includes a job title. But anyone who is raising or interacting with children has a role far more important than ordinary career duties.

Parents are communicators. Yet unlike conference speakers, moms and dads don't get to preplan their entire message. Everything we do and say—especially that which happens "off the cuff"—teaches our kids. Think about your childhood days. What did your parents do that illustrated their priorities, beliefs, and passions?

Even without speaking, we send messages by our body language, interests, kindnesses, absence or presence, silence… Add words to the mix, and we have a recipe for remarkable impact, whether positive or negative.

Inevitably, our children will be greatly affected by what we communicate and how they interpret it. Be conscious of the way each young one processes information—sometimes our intended message becomes skewed by their understanding. What an incredible responsibility we've been given. No wonder wise parents rely on God's help.

Only troubled parents—like the angry, jealous King Saul in today's passage—would ever set out to hurt their children. But in our busyness, or from past woundedness, we might just be sending damaging messages.

What are you communicating to your kids? Ask yourself: What do my actions point to as priorities in my life? Do my children sense a hunger in my heart for God's direction, counsel, and sustenance? Above all, would they know how to have a thriving relationship with Jesus Christ by watching my life?

PRAYER
Deas God, our Heavenly Father, as I reflect on Jonathan's courage and integrity, I am reminded that doing what is right is not always easy, especially when it disappoints those we love. As a parent, my deepest desire is not simply for my children to succeed, but for them to walk in truth, compassion, and obedience to You.

Lord, help my children choose what is right over what is popular, and what is faithful over what is convenient. Give them the courage Jonathan showed, even when they face misunderstanding or opposition. May they always remember that they are deeply loved, not only by their parents but by You.

And if there is one message I could send them every day, it would be this: Stay close to God, honor others, and never be afraid to stand for what is good and true. The Lord will guide your path. In Jesus' name, Amen. 🙏🙏🙏

06/09/2026

06/09/2026

Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost, Year A / Communion Sunday / Church Education Month
Sermon Theme: "Love Boldly: Learning Christ, Living Christ, Leading Others to Chris"
Sermon Series: "Love Boldy Through Reconciliation"
Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20

06/09/2026

SERMON THEME: Bearing Fruits for His Glory
Sermon series: Rooted in Christ​
John 15:1–5; Colossians 2:6–7

06/09/2026

TODAY’S REFLECTION
September 6, 2026, Sunday

RESPONDING TO CLOSED DOORS
Rev. B**g De Castro, OSL

Read Genesis 16, NIV
‘“She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me.”’ – Genesis 16:13

God answers prayer in one of three ways: "yes," "no," or "yes, but not yet." This last reply seems to be the most dreaded sometimes even more than an outright "no." However, patience is an important biblical principle, which Scripture stresses repeatedly in stories, Psalms, and epistles.

Waiting on the Lord to unlock a door is always wiser than attempting to pry it open ourselves, even when the delay has been long. After God promised him a son (Gen. 12:2), Abraham lived for 25 years with an answer of "not yet." After that quarter-century, the answer finally became "yes." But meanwhile, Abraham and Sarah hatched their own plan to get an heir Sarah's servant Hagar bore Ishmael. The couple may have convinced themselves they were "helping" God live up to His prophecy, but really they were disobeying. The consequences were disastrous. Bitterness and blame affected every member of the family (Gen. 16:4-6; 21:9-10). In addition, Ishmael's people lived in enmity with their neighbors, and that hostility persists in the Middle East today (Gen. 16:11-12; 25:18).

Our patience gives God time to prepare the opportunity on the other side of a closed door. Even if we can force our way by manipulating circumstances, we will not be happy with what we find there. No one in Abraham's camp was satisfied with the situation they created! We have contentment and joy only when we access God's will at the very moment He ordained. The blessings we find on the other side of an open door are well worth the wait.

PRAYER
Dear God, our Heavenly Father, when a door closes and my plans do not unfold as I hoped, help me not to rush ahead as Abram and Sarai did. Teach me to trust Your timing instead of forcing my own solutions. Give me patience when I must wait, wisdom when I do not understand, and faith to believe that a closed door is not the end of Your plan for my life. Thank You for being the God who sees me, just as You saw Hagar in the wilderness. Remind me that even in disappointment, You are present, guiding my steps and working for my good. Help me respond with trust, obedience, and a willing heart, knowing that Your way is always better than my own.

In Jesus' name, Amen. 🙏🙏🙏

05/09/2026

Join us for a meaningful time of worship, fellowship, and spiritual growth at:

📍 St. John Hall, Holy Trinity Church
Oud Metha, Dubai, UAE

📅 06 September 2026
🕐 1:15 PM - 3:15 PM

Come and be inspired as we gather together in faith and fellowship. Everyone is welcome!

Love Boldly • Lead Courageously • Serve Joyfully

05/09/2026

TODAY’S REFLECTION
September 5, 2026, Saturday

God's Clear Instructions
Rev. B**g De Castro, OSL

Read Joshua 6, NIV
“March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” – Joshua 6:3-5

Joshua needed guidance as he faced one of the most crucial moments of his life. Because the Lord had promised him success in conquering Jericho, he knew the outcome of the battle, but as the day of combat approached, he needed a specific strategy for victory. What he heard the Lord say must have made his jaw drop.

Can you imagine the soldiers' thoughts as they carried out this bizarre battle strategy? In confusing times like this, it's good to remember three requirements for benefiting from God's instructions. We need:

• Faith to believe the Lord
• Courage to obey Him
• Patience to wait for His timing.

When God gives us clear instruction through His Word or His Spirit within us, our response shows how much we trust Him. If we truly believe Him and His promises, precise and complete obedience will follow. His victory in any area of struggle is available only to those who act upon His directions.

Submitting to the Lord's timing is also an essential part of obedience. What would have happened if the army decided to bypass God's plans for the first six days and skip straight to the seventh day's march around Jericho? They would have missed the victory.

How often do we beg the Lord for guidance, yet hesitate to obey when He finally gives it? Living by faith can seem like a huge risk when His instructions make no sense or require a lengthy wait. But knowing His eternal perspective and unlimited power can strengthen our resolve to obey.

PRAYER
Dear God, our Heavenly Father, what a wonderful display of faith we see in this historical account of Joshua's victory over Jericho. I pray that I may trust in You with all my heart and not lean on my own imaginations. I pray that I may follow Your leading and guidance and do only those things that I hear from You—even when things look dark and difficult. Thank You that You are a God who can be trusted, and thank You that every battle I face will not depend on my strength or ingenuity, but the battle is Yours and rests entirely on You and Your precious promises to me... Your blood-bought child. Thank You in Jesus' name, Amen. 🙏🙏🙏

04/09/2026

TODAY’S REFLECTION
September 4, 2026, Friday

JUNK FILES
Rev. B**g De Castro, OSL

Read Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Most of us know what happens when a computer becomes cluttered with junk files. Unnecessary data accumulates, storage fills up, and performance slows down. The solution is simple: remove what is no longer needed so the system can function as intended.

Our spiritual lives can become cluttered in much the same way. Hebrews 12:1 urges us to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us.” Not every weight is necessarily sinful, but anything that distracts us from following Christ can hinder our growth and effectiveness. Old resentments, unhealthy habits, needless worries, pride, and misplaced priorities can pile up like spiritual junk files.

The writer of Hebrews points us to the remedy: fixing our eyes on Jesus, "the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). When Christ becomes the focus of our hearts, He helps us identify what needs to be removed and gives us strength to run our race with endurance. A lighter heart runs faster and farther when it is centered on Him.

What “junk file” in your life is taking up space that belongs to Christ?

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help me recognize the weights and sins that are slowing my walk with You. Give me the courage to let go of anything that distracts me from Your will. Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, and keep my eyes fixed on You. Teach me to run faithfully with endurance each day. Amen. 🙏🙏🙏

03/09/2026

TODAY’S REFLECTION
September 3, 2026, Thursday

SEEING OBSTACLES THROUGH GOD'S EYES
Rev. B**g De Castro, OSL

Read Joshua 2, NIV
‘“They said to Joshua, “The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”’ – Joshua 2:24

Jericho was the first city that the Israelites needed to conquer in their quest for the land of Canaan. When Joshua sent a pair of spies to check it out, he probably didn't realize that he would receive a glimpse of God's impressive behind-the-scenes activity.

God wants us to look at every obstacle through the lens of His unlimited strength and resources. Anything that appears to block His plans is an opportunity for Him to demonstrate His sovereign power. Just because we don't see anything happening, that doesn't mean He's inactive.

Always remember that God is at work on the other side of our obstacles, arranging the details and bringing His plans to fruition. When the spies returned to Joshua, they reported that the people of Jericho were scared to death. Having heard about the Jews' deliverance from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea, they were gripped by fear of the Lord.

The stage was set for the conquest, yet by that point, Joshua had done nothing. Sometimes we think we need to be involved in the solution to our problem, but God is not limited with regard to whom or what He can use to accomplish His will. In this case, He worked in the hearts of the enemy by instilling demoralizing fear.

For Christians, great obstacles need not be reasons for discouragement. Although much of the Lord's activity is silent and invisible, we can be sure He is dynamically working out His will for our lives. When the pieces of His plan are in place, He will move us on to victory.

PRAYER
Dear God, our Heavenly Father, help me to take to heart the important lessons in the story of the two spies who came to Rahab’s home, whom she helped to escape from Jericho. Thank you that You are a God who uses everything to work toward the fulfilment of Your perfect plans and purposes, even when we fail to trust You as we ought. Thank You for Rahab’s example of faith in You, through her protection of the Israelite spies, but thank You also for the reminder that You never condone lying and other sins, even when the motive to do so is for the good of others. Help me maintain my faith in You, even when my circumstances appear impossible, for Your Word is true and Your promises never fail. I praise and thank You, in Jesus' holy name, Amen. 🙏🙏🙏

02/09/2026

TODAY’S REFLECTION
September 2, 2026, Wednesday

CHOOSING AN OBEDIENT LIFESTYLE
Rev. B**g De Castro, OSL

Read Romans 6:16-18, NIV
“Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

Though God is sovereign and omnipotent, many believers don't trust Him to guide them. Instead, they think about obedience on a case-by-case basis, evaluating how the consequences of various choices might affect their life. But the Lord desires followers whose lifestyle; is submissive in other words, people who've made a deliberate decision to surrender to His will in every circumstance.

When confronted with the idea of absolute submission, many of us are assaulted by anxious thoughts: What if the Lord wants me to do something I can't? Or, What if I don't want to do what He asks? We fear we wouldn't have the strength, wisdom, or faith to carry out commands He might give. And we'd be right if we relied upon our own resources. But if we commit to obedience, God equips us at the right moment to follow where He leads.

One obedient act prepares us for the next. Each step of faith shows us that God not only supplies the tools and preparation for doing His will; He also handles the consequences.

In spite of God's faithfulness, however, we will take a misstep every now and then. We're not alone. As Scripture shows, even saints' lives include occasional rebellious acts, because obedience is a learning process. Jesus rebuked Peter several times (Matt. 16:21-23; John 18:10-11; Mark 14:72). Yet He continued to train the disciple in righteousness.

Believers learn from both successes and failures how to live a lifestyle of commitment. But we must first decide to follow God regardless of the outcome. His sovereignty demands our obedience.

PRAYER
Dear God, our Heavenly Father, thank You for setting me free from the power of sin and for calling me to live in obedience to You. Help me remember that I become a servant of whatever I choose to follow. Guard my heart from anything that pulls me away from Your will, and teach me to gladly submit to Your truth.

Thank you for the grace that has changed my life and for the righteousness You have given through Christ. May my thoughts, words, and actions reflect a heart devoted to You. Strengthen me each day to walk in freedom, honor You in all I do, and joyfully obey Your Word. Amen. 🙏🙏🙏