Join us in prayer
The members of the English Speaking United Methodist Church pray daily and weekly for one another and the world. If you would like to submit a prayer concern, send an email to Rev. Laura Trent at office@esumc.at . Please indicate whether you want your concern to remain confidential or if we can mention it in our Sunday worship service. Please also include us in your prayers.
Intercessory Prayer meets Thursday evenings at 18:00 at the church.
Luke 2:42 (December 08) (CEV) "So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David's hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David's family".
George Burns once said, 'Happiness is having a large, caring, close-knit family - in another city!'
Each and everyone on God's earth has a family and as such, the family we belong to is no accident.
Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV). God told Jeremiah, 'Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you [set you apart for a special purpose]'
The Message reads, "Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you:"
Our Lord Jesus came to us in a human form through a family which at times surprises us because His birth was not what is expected in terms of His heavenly Father. But He had a human family too; one that didn't always understand Him. Yes, He came to a troubled world, a world of war, political conflict, hurricanes, earthquakes, hunger, draught, poverty, racial strive but,God used His family to mould Him and move Him towards His destiny, right down to where He would be born. So Joseph also went up to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born' as in Luke 2:6 (NIV).
In looking at the words 'the time came', which indicates that there's no coincidence or confusion on God's calendar. He plans our lives right down to the minutest detail if we only permit and accept His instructions.
In Isaiah 46:11c "What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do." ( NIV). In looking at the life of Jesus, He likely became a carpenter because that was Joseph's trade and because of His obligations. He probably waited till He was thirty to begin public ministry. Taking a look in Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Which means God uses our families to prepare us for the assignment He's given us in life.
He has placed us there to shape us and make us more like Him so as our saviour Jesus; hopefully through godly role models and loving relationships. No matter in which family we have been born to, whether we're born into a dysfunctional, emotionally-distant family, He can still turn a (our) curse(s) into a blessing, because He loves us (Deuteronomy 23:5, NIV). There are times in life when sometimes we wish we'd been born into a different family. Jesus came throuth David's family beacuse the world is dark and troubled, yet His light and love penetrate the darkness and as followers what are we up to in the coming year.
From the Wikipedia:,
"This Little Light of Mine" is a gospel children's song written by Harry Dixon Loes (1895-1965) in about 1920. Loes, who studied at the Moody Bible Institute and the American Conservatory of Music, was a musical composer, and teacher, who wrote, and co-wrote, several other gospel songs. The song has since entered the folk tradition, first being collected by John Lomax in 1939. Often thought of as a Negro spiritual, it does not, however, appear in any collection of jubilee or plantation songs from the nineteenth century.
The song takes its theme from Mathew 5:16, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in the heaven:"
This little light o' mine, I'm goin' let it shine,
This little light o' mine, I'm goin' let it shine,
This little light o' mine, I'm goin' let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Genesis 37:3 (December 08)
(Amplified Bible) "O Lord, I have heard the report of You and was afraid. O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make [Yourself] known! In wrath [earnestly] remember love, pity, and mercy".
As all beginnings are wonderful, so also (should) are endings. A new baby is always one of the greatest joys in a family, so also when she or he grows to become an important person in the society. 30yrs ago ESUMC was started and it was such a great joy for the English speaking Christian community in Vienna, how is it today and how are we expecting it to go?
Most at times in life, in the middle is then that we need help or in the middle of the race that we need our second wind or in the middle of the battle that we need reinforcements. The question that comes up is, where are we today?
If one of the above mentioned scenarios is where we find ourselves, there should be no cause for alarm, for what the Lord has started will He surely bring to an end in His way and when we look in Isaiah 35:4 (NAS),: 'Say to those with anxious hearts, Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come... !' .
An elderly couple on their way home from a lifetime of missionary service in Africa, found themselves on the same ocean liner as President Roosevelt, who was returning from a big-game hunting expedition. They watched in awe at the fanfare surrounding him and his entourage. When the ship docked in New York a band was waiting to greet him, the Mayor was there to welcome him and the newspapers heralded his return. Meanwhile, the old missionary couple slipped quietly off the ship and found a cheap apartment.
They had no pension, they were in poor health and they were discouraged and fearful. The husband especially, couldn't seem to get over how President Roosevelt had received such acclaim while their decades of service seemed to have gone unnoticed. 'God isn't treating us fairly,' he complained to his wife. 'Why don't you pray about it?' she said. A short time later, she noticed a big change in his attitude.
'What happened?' she asked. He replied, 'The Lord put His hand on my shoulder and said to me, "Son, you're not home yet!' Hey, hang in there, the world's best days are now - ours are still ahead! As it was once said , "there are truths taught in God's house that we won't hear anywhere else. There we find a spiritual family to belong to, a faith to live by, and a focus that gets our eyes where they should be; on Christ!
Let us all together support the ESUMC for there is a lot to be done and may God be the glory. So, see you all in Church on Sunday!
Proverb 14:15 (November 08)
Proverbs 14:15 "A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps." (NIV)
The year will come to an end in 54 days and we will begin a new year, the question therefore is, "what are we up to"?
If we're still making the same mistakes at present that we made before, then we need to ask God for wisdom.
'The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out' (Proverbs 18:15 NIV). What we are in the present, was determined by the decisions "we might have made" in the past and if we want to change our future, then we've to learn to make better decisions.
Through the Grace of God, we could allow ourselves and be guide by the following 'principles' :
a) never make permanent decisions based on temporary circumstances. If we do, we might regret.
b) don't let our emotions blind us to reason. Pray, weigh things carefully and base our decisions on mature judgement
c) surround ourselves with sharp people and draw on their gifts, without being intimidated by their expertise
d) take the time to consider all options. What looks good to us today, may not look so good tomorrow
e) we can't fight successfully on every front, so let us choose our battles carefully. Simply stated: some things are not worth fighting for
f) take time to get all the facts; conjecture leads to crisis
g) consider the consequences of each action. Ask ourselves, 'Am I ready to handle this right now?'
h) make sure our expectations don't exceed our potential and our resources. Let us therefore be realistic. "If you can't count, don't apply for a job in the finance office. If you can't sing, don't cut an album. Focus on what God gifted you to do. That's where you'll succeed"
i) time is our most limited and valuable resource. Let us not waste it.
j) allow ourselves a 10% risk of being wrong, a 50% likelihood of betrayal, and a 100% commitment to trust God, go forward and survive it all.
(ref. ucb.co.uk)
Ephesians 5:15-20 (October 08)
Ephesians 5:15-20 'Be very careful, then, how you live'...................... (NIV)
In reading Ephesians chapter 5, and now vs. 15 as stated above, the Apostle Paul tries to gives us the formula for a happy, fulfilling life.
Let's again try and look at this chapter also from the King James versions.
(1) vs.15 'Walk circumspectly'. Looking up the word circumspect means 'to be disciplined in our thoughts, speech, actions and motives.'
or to walk exactly, diligently, or perfectly. Which means our wandering stage is over. It's time to enter the Promised Land, drive out the enemy and take what belongs to you. (2 Chronicle 20)
(2) vs 16 'Redeeming the time'. We are to make the most of every chance we get and no more wasting our lives on worthless diversions.
It is time to get serious! Beginning each day with prayer and thanksgiving accepting the gift of seeing God's glory.
We are to make the most of every opportunity. (Carpe Diem... Seize the opportunity)
(3) vs 17 'Understanding what the will of the Lord is' Looking at the two verses above and coming to the word 'understanding' means here
'to make sense of.' We have to be in the position to know that 'our steps are guarded, guided and governed by the Lord (Ps 37:23).
(NLT - New Living Translation)' Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do
(4) vs 18-19 'Be filled with the Spirit' In reading such words, we sometimes ask ourselves 'How?' In the Amplified Bible it reads 'but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit. We have to get ourselves deepened by having a great joy in God, to be caught in our relationship
with God and vs 19 tells us to 'Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs...making melody in your heart to the Lord'. We are to speak to ourselves and as such be filled with the spirit wherever we are by making melody in our hearts which therefore gives us the formula for a happy fulfilling life!
(ref. ucb.co.uk)
Matthew 11:20 (October 08)
Bible in Basic English: "Come to me, all you who are troubled and weighted down with care, and I will give you rest".
In considering the passage, there is a hymn from "The Faith We Sing" and below are the words. We are using this for our Sunday's Service. (Communion Sunday). If you know the tune sing it, but most important , considering the words, may be read it first before singing.
"ALL WHO HUNGER"
1. All who hunger, gather gladly; holy manna is our bread.
Come from wilderness and wandering. Here, in truth, we will be fed.
You who yearn for days of fullness, all around us is our food.
Taste and see the grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.
2. All who hunger, never strangers; seeker, be a welcome guest.
Come from restlessness and roaming. Here, in joy, we keep the feast.
We who once were lost and scattered in communion's love have stood.
Taste and see the grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.
3. All who hunger, sing together; Jesus Christ is living bread.
Come from loneliness and longing. Here, in peace, we have been led.
Blest are those who from this table live their lives in gratitude.
Taste and see the grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.
Romans 12:2 (October 08)
NLT: "Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect".
The Message: "Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you".
Looking at the passages above and reading Daniel 1:6-21 the passages tell us "Don't Let the World Squeeze You into its Mold".
The question therefore is "Do you feel like you no longer control your own life? Like life's running you instead of you running it?
If so, then that's because we're in the passenger's seat, conforming to people, events and circumstances. They're in the driver's seat, not us. Is it due to this that our frustration level is high and our contentment level is low. 'Don't let the world...squeeze you into its own mould.' If we're feeling 'squeezed,' we've have two options.:
(a) Let us remain a conformer or become a transformer. Either we choose to stay in the passenger seat or get behind the wheel.
As in Romans 12:2 (NKJV) The Bible says, 'Do not be conformed to this world'. Instead be transformed into the proactive, faith-driven person God meant us to be.
(b) Let us take charge of our lives by 'renewing our minds'. Instead of struggling to change the people and circumstances around us, we should change how we think and what we tell ourselves.
The Greek word for renewing means 'to align your thoughts with God's.' We should therefore abandon those self-defeating thoughts that tell us 'you're not, you can't, and you'll never be able to.'
God says: 'You are, you can and you certainly will be able to,' because of His indwelling power! John writes, 'This is the victory that conquers the world - our faith' (1 John 5:4 NCV). let us then go to God's Word and discover what He says about the things that intimidate and control us and then pull the plug on them.
The Word for us today is: 'Don't be afraid...I am your God. I will make you strong...I will support you' (Isaiah 41:10 NCV).
Let us Align our thoughts with God's thoughts and get into the driver's seat and take charge of our lives!
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