Gramling Methodist Church

06/02/2026

7:14 Prayer

Good morning Jesus! Your majesty and glory are ever before us lighting our path. Awakened a bit tired after a night on a cattle drive. Been watching too many westerns. But the oddest thing was a big DUI image kept appearing in my dream. OK, maybe a police drama or two between horses. Usually, a DUI charge makes for a bad day, but what if we were motoring daily under the influence of the Holy Spirit? Paul wrote: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:18-20 NIV). That is exactly the kind of DUI my heart has sought after for many years. A major part of my personal traumas have been the lack of Holy Spirit involvement. My life is much less complicated when Driving Under the Influence of the Holy Spirit. A good question to end each day would be: “could you be convicted of DUI for your days decisions and actions?” As this day unfolds, let every Saint be guilty of living and driving under the influence of Holy Spirit power. In Jesus Name, Amen!

06/01/2026

7:14 Prayer
Good morning Jesus. You are worthy of all praise and honor. Let this be a day where my life reflects Your glory and Grace.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, at the sound of that name every heart will leap for joy! Jesus, just to utter your name brings comfort and peace! More than ever we need to hear Your assurance and comfort. We need to be reminded often: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
(Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV).
When thinking of God’s peace the image below comes to mind. The Greenbriar River was a place of calm in my life for many years. Through all the chaos this world offers the Name of Jesus gives us great power. By His Name, we can see through the fog of tragedy and sing louder still in the profuse noise of a flailing crowd of lost humanity. “There is coming a day, When no heartaches shall come, No more clouds in the sky, No more tears to dim the eye, All is peace forever more
On that happy golden shore
What a day, glorious day that will be, What a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see
When I look upon His face
The One who saved me by His grace, When He takes me by the hand, And leads me to the Promised Land, What a day, glorious day that will be.” My heart leaps for joy to know we serve a God bigger than all our problems. Let us get up, get dressed for a day of ministry in this broken world. God’s Grace is available; go tell everybody you know in Jesus Name, Amen!

05/31/2026

7:14 Prayer

Good morning Jesus. You are high and lifted up in my heart as You lead me through this day. Jesus’ Words rang out in my heart this morning: “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32 NIV). My pastoral experience has proven this text true countless times. So many times in the church world we have replaced Jesus with well intentioned psychological pursuits. We try to reason out spiritual issues with a carnal nature that proves ineffective at providing hope and salvation for hurting people. Simply the Name of Jesus replaces despair with hope. We humans try to make it more complicated than it is as we attempt to put our education to use.
The cross of Jesus has unfathomable power to meet our needs. When we move away from the cross, we become an enemy of the cross. When our flesh is god,
when we set our minds on worldly pursuits, we are an enemy of the cross. When we water down the faith by compromising the truth we are an enemy of the cross. The cross is the place of death, death to my will that's apart from God’s will, my ways that are apart from Your ways. The cross is the place where I can say with the Apostle Paul: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NIV). Saints of God, our desire is to see our families and community give their heart to Jesus. Trust in Jesus for in Him is all truth. Paul says it best: “when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, 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 and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:21-24 NIV)
Trust in Jesus, not what you think will work best or what you think the Bible should say. And especially not what you would do if you were God. God gives us Grace to be a friend to Jesus and not an enemy of the cross. Let us live our lives lifting up Jesus to the world that the world will know abundant life. In Jesus Name, Amen!

05/30/2026

7:14 Prayer

Good morning Jesus! Rested and ready to share Your Amazing Grace far and wide! Your glory shines like a noon day sun. I have often commented and thought about Jesus’ hidden years between 12 and 30 years old.
Perhaps the best information is found when Jesus was baptized. “And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11 NIV). For the hidden 18 years Jesus pleased God. Otherwise, the Bible is silent about these years. Typically, Jesus is referred to as a carpenter. But the Greek word describing Jesus's profession is “tekton.” English Bibles translated this as "carpenter," but the word actually means a craftsman, artisan, or builder. It was a broad term that could apply to someone working with wood, metal, or stone.
Having travelled to Greece a few years ago, it was cheaper to buy marble than wood. Wood was a scarce commodity in first century Israel. Most homes were built with stone. A “tekton” wasn't just a carpenter. He was also a master builder and stonemason who spent his days doing backbreaking work in the dirt and the heat.
Before Jesus ever began public ministry, He probably hewed many a stone for foundations. Jesus understood the labor and work involved with a physical foundation. 18 years of slow tedious work prepared Jesus for the work ahead. Therefore, when Jesus mentions a solid foundation, (ref: Matthew 7:24), or the need to estimate the cost of a building before starting to build, (ref: Luke 14:28), they were not just metaphors for Jesus, but professional experience. Most of us have experienced times when we feel stuck in a meaningless existence. Our work and career do not reflect our purpose. With 20/20 hindsight, it is easy to see how God prepared me in the dark of a coal mine to move toward pastoral ministry. So, don’t underestimate the value of the hidden years. The seemingly mundane work you are doing is not a distraction from your calling. It is the exact place God is shaping a builder. In Jesus Name, Amen!

05/29/2026

7:14 Prayer

Good morning Jesus! Like the full moon observed today, may we reflect Your glory and Grace from the Son of the universe. Reading Leviticus 16 and the rituals of Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement.
“When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.” (Leviticus 16:20-22 NIV). The "Az**el" (scapegoat) wasn't just sent away; it was a visual representation of separation. The goal wasn't just to forgive the sin, but to move it so far away that it could never find its way back. We witness the ultimate “scapegoat” when
Jesus was led outside the city walls to be crucified, He was fulfilling the pattern of the scapegoat. Jesus was led to Golgotha, or the place of the skull. Perhaps, bones were visible on this hill from the many executions done here.
Jesus carried the "weight" into the desolate places so we could walk back into the Holy Place. Jesus took our burden and walked the line. Jesus is seeking to remove you from the consequences of your sin. Far too many of us know about forgiveness but live as though sin is sitting next to us. Jesus’ work on the cross didn't just “overlook" your sins: He sent them into the wilderness where they cannot return. God, through Jesus has separated you from your past sins as far as the East is from the West, therefore, lets stop going back reclaiming our old life. Let the scapegoat move ever further away from our lives. Your sinful past has been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb of God. In Jesus Name, Amen!

05/28/2026

7:14 Prayer

Good morning Jesus. Your glory is ever about us revealing Your beauty. We often mention having a new body like unto the Son of Man. Especially significant, since our bodies have degenerated due to age, illness, or accident in most cases. When Jesus appeared to His frightened disciples behind a locked door John records: “After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:20 NIV). After the resurrection, Jesus kept His scars. He could have had a perfect, unblemished body, yet He chose to carry the marks of His pain into eternity.
We spend our lives trying to hide our wounds, thinking they disqualify us from being used by God. But in God’s Kingdom, scars aren't signs of defeat; they are proof of a battle won. Jesus used His wounds to turn Thomas's doubt into wonder. “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:27 NIV). It is in your broken parts that God’s glory and Grace shine the brightest. God doesn't just heal your past; He transforms it into something useful and glorious. The biggest scar and broken parts of our lives can be the most powerful place of ministry.
Instead of hiding our scars but put them in the hand of our Heavenly Father where they can lead lost souls home. In Jesus Name, Amen!

05/27/2026

7:14 Prayer
Good morning Jesus! We awaken to freshly rain-filled soil after a dry spell. Just as You nourish us daily with the life-giving water of Your Word.
Perhaps, one of the hardest things for a new believer to grasp is that following Jesus doesn't mean the storms stop. In fact, in most cases the storm gets more chaotic. Often panic edges into our thinking wondering about this faith thing. God should be providing still waters, right?After describing God’s eternal covenant in Hebrews 6, the chapter concludes: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.” (Hebrews 6:19-20a NIV). While fishing the Greenbrier River, we would float along till we caught or a fish would strike. Dropping the anchor allowed us to stay in the strong current for a time of catching. In fact, the most productive times was when the water was swirling. Jesus is the anchor of our soul, allowing us to be productive disciples especially when life is swirling around us. The anchor does not calm the wind or smooth out the waves, but allows us to stand in the midst.
The anchor does not change the environment but keeps the boat from drifting away from its place of production. God’s people are specifically called to enter the “rough seas” of people’s lives with the Gospel of Grace. The anchor is most useful when the storm is at its worst. When you feel tossed around today, don't focus on the swift current or the waves, but rely the depth of your Anchor. When we are tethered to an ever changing landscape of circumstances, instead of the anchor of God’s Word, we will tremble in fear. Our boat may rock and roll a little but you’re not going anywhere but where God leads. In Jesus Name, Amen!

05/26/2026

7:14 Prayer

Good morning Jesus. Like the recent rain, Your love and mercy shower us daily with Your Presence. Reading the 23rd Psalm today with a new insight. David wrote: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4 NKJV). We live our whole life in the shadow of death. One heartbeat from eternity, one breath missed and we leave this world. It is a perpetual battle in this world of chaos to simply live. The phrase “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me,” has always puzzled me. My experience with a rod was about discipline. Not exactly the warm fuzzy feeling of mom or dad’s embrace.
But in the ancient world, these were weapons. The Rod was a short, heavy club used to smash the skulls of wolves and lions. The Staff was a long pole with a crook to hook a sheep who had fallen into a crevice or wandered into danger. The shepherd's "comfort" isn't a soft fuzzy
feeling; it's the security of protection. The strength exhibited is closer to the day Jesus went on a rampage through the money changer tables in the temple. An image of Rambo comes to mind, rather than a soft spoken effeminate character. You are comforted because your Shepherd is armed and dangerous toward anything that tries to eat you, and He is big enough to pull you from the edge of a cliff or out of a deadly crevice of a sin-filled life. Comfort is knowing we serve a mighty God, full of power and might. He is capable of protecting His children in this broken world. Makes me want to shout, Hallelujah! In Jesus Name, Amen!

05/25/2026

7:14 Prayer

Good morning Jesus! A day to spread Your Grace and love far and wide. Your glory is ever before us leading the way. Reading the events around the Last Supper is a great blessing. As Jesus shared the bread and wine he said: “But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.” (Luke 22:21 NIV).
We can miss the significance of Jesus’ actions unless we understand the ancient mores of this culture. In sharing a meal-specifically
"breaking bread"—was a sacred act of covenant and protection. Once you ate from a man's table, you were under his peace. By allowing Judas to dip his bread into the same dish, Jesus wasn't just being polite; He was extending the highest form of grace to an enemy. Jesus served the man He knew would sell Him for silver. He washed the feet of the one who would soon walk to the chief priests. Communion was initiated at a table where betrayal was present, proving that the Table is not for the perfect, but for the needy. When presiding at a table to this day, all are invited who repent of their sin and seek to live in unity with others. Jesus broke the bread for the faithful and foe, to show us a new way the world doesn't know. Some will pull back from the Communion table because of feeling "unworthy" or because we've struggled with sin. If unworthy is the standard, not one person could receive and there would be no one to give it to them. But Jesus didn't wait for the disciples to be perfect to serve them; He served them in the midst of their confusion and even their betrayal. The Table isn't a reward for your good behavior; it's a refuge for your soul. If there was room for Judas at the first Table, there is certainly room for you at the communion table. To God be the glory! In Jesus Name, Amen!

05/24/2026

Sunday Worship, Pentecost, May 24, 2026: Pentecost: From Confusion to Reconciliation

The force of Sin that separates us has been conquered and we can be...