Does God Tempt?
By Rev. Matthew Smith
Every day we are tempted by countless things, much like the proverbial carrot dangling from a string. However, instead of a carrot, it’s the wants and desires of life, typically motivated by selfish pleasure. The Christian might try and justify saying, “But God wants me to be happy, and experience the pleasures of life.” And indeed, that would not be a completely false assertion, for God does desire us pleasure and happiness, but on His standards not ours. It took King Solomon countless hours to eventually discover that no human pursuit was sufficient in and of itself, but it seems that humanity is good at repeating the same mistakes over and over again and somehow blaming it on God, as if He keeps us in this cycle of brokenness. The story in the book of Judges is a clear picture that it’s not God but humanity that perpetuates the cycle. Even Job at one point blamed God for his misfortunes, and his wife was all convinced that it was God’s doing. So the question remains, does God tempt? The answer comes in James 1:13, “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.” So an emphatic no! God does not tempt us. He does test us but that’s a whole other thing. Rest assured that God always provides a way out of temptation and a safeguard for prevention. As followers of Christ it’s imperative to recognize that, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (Jas 1:17). In reality nothing is more desirable than the good gifts of God, and the best thing is they don’t change or lose value.
The more you recognize God’s gifts the greater satisfaction you have on this earth. This Sunday we both recognize and celebrate the gift of teaching as we bless our educators. We also recognize that learning is essential to growth and so we’ll bless tags that will be hung on backpacks. Lastly, we recognize that God’s Word is one of the greatest gifts we have and celebrate placing it in the hands of our 3 year olds and third graders. Tags and Bibles can be picked up following the service for those who attend or throughout the week between 8am and 12pm. This Sunday will also mark a milestone in the church as we will live stream for the first time to our website in addition to Facebook. You can view the service in HD at firstgilmer.org/watch-live, or by clicking the button below. From that same page you can register your attendance and give online as well. Continue to join me in prayer for our schools: faculty, staff, and students, both in-person and those participating in remote learning. I’m grateful for Mrs. Chandra, Children’s Director, for putting together a monthly prayer focus for our schools. You can view it on our social media channels or by downloading it in this newsletter.
Grace and Peace,
Matthew
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Going Live to Our Website |
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We are proud to present our newest feature to firstgilmer.org is the ability to watch our 10:00 am worship service live in high definition right from the website. This will allow a greater number of people to view our service right from the start, as Facebook sometimes has a delay. If you prefer Facebook, we will continue streaming to that platform as well. Thank you to all who have made this possible through donations to our Technology Fund! To watch live from our website, click either the picture or button above. |
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Current Sermon Series
It's summer time! Join us on a Summer Road Trip through the book of Genesis as we explore the places where it all began, and maybe learn a new thing or two. This Sunday we will see what happens when two wills collide and how God can transform you, from Genesis 32:22-31.
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This Sunday will be the annual Blessing of the Backpacks and Presentation of the Bibles. Things will be different this year.
Pastor Matt will be blessing the backpack tags during the service. You may pick yours up after the service or I will mail them to you next week.
This year we are starting something new, Bibles for our 3 year olds as well as Bibles for our 3rd graders. This year only we are including the 4 year olds. The Bibles will be on the altar during the service. The children will be recognized by name. After the service you may pick yours up at the altar, or drop by the church next week and pick it up outside the church office. I will not be mailing those.
I am praying for you and look forward to seeing you soon. Mrs. Chandra!
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Well folks, we have time for one last hurrah before the busyness of the fall season is upon us! Can you believe August is already here? We will have one last week-long Christian Crafters Camp from Monday, August 10 through Saturday, August 15. We will start at 1:00 p.m. (unless someone wants to start earlier). We have no set end time--it's just work, work, work until you're tired, out of supplies, have to be someplace else, or the sun rises again! Come one day, all six days, a few hours, all day long--whatever suits your schedule. Or just come by for a visit and see what we are up to!! We safely social distance ourselves in the CLC.
I've had a couple of people tell me that they'd love to come but don't know how to do any crafts. We'd all be willing to help you get started!! There are crocheters and knitters, seamstresses, scrapbookers-both traditional paper and digital, wreath makers, card makers, and plenty who dabble in a variety of arts. Y'all come!
Don't be sad about this being the last week! After this we will go back to our regular one weekend a month routine. You can join us then! Just check the newsletter/calendar for upcoming dates. Robin
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Reverend Smith’s sermon topic for August 9, is “Wrestling By the River” taken from Genesis 32: 22-31. The Prelude played by Bill Marshall, organist, and Annette Breazeale, pianist, is “I Am Thine, O Lord”. The opening hymn is “Come, Thou, Fount of Every Blessing”. The closing hymn is “O I Know the Lord’s Laid His Hands on Me.” The special music for the day is “I Won’t Let Go” by Miller and Zimmerman and will be sung by Stewart Kouba. The Postlude played by Bill Marshall is “Great Is the Lord”. Lyrics to the hymns and solo are included below for your reference as you are watching live streaming on Sunday or as you are preparing for Sunday morning’s worship.
What a joy Wednesday night, July 29, meeting with ALL of our Jubilation Bell ringers for a great “first-time-back rehearsal! Following bell rehearsal nine of us who are involved in Chancel Choir met while social-distancing for rehearsal in the Fellowship Hall. We met and distributed ourselves in the choir loft to “practice” our anthem for last Sunday’s worship. We are experimenting for safest returns to a full worship service. We will not be full-force, probably, for a while, but as long as we can stay distanced we will strive to “march onward”!
See you in Worship! In Christ’s love, Lora
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Here are words to Sunday’s hymns and Stewart’s solo for Sunday, August 9: |
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“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” (UMH 400)
Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above,
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love.
Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by thy help I’m come;
And I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger, interposed his precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.
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“O, I Know the Lord’s Laid His Hands on Me” (TFWS 2139)
Refrain: O, I know the Lord, I know the Lord, I know the Lord’s laid his hand on me. O, I know the Lord, I know the Lord, I know the Lord’s laid his hand on me.
1.Did ever you see the like before? I know the Lord’s laid his hand on me;
King Jesus preaching to the poor! I know the Lord’s laid his hand on me.
Refrain:
2.Some seek the Lord and don’t seek him right; I know the Lord’s laid his hand on me.
They fool all day and pray at night, I know the Lord’s laid his hand on me.
Refrain:
3.My Lord’s done just what he said, I know the Lord’s laid his hand on me.
He’s healed the sick and raised the dead; I know the Lord’s laid his hand on me.
Refrain:
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“I Won’t Let Go”/Miller
All my life, all this guilt, all this grief and shame,
All this night I won’t let go until I know your name.
Won’t let go, I won’t let go until you bless me Lord,
I won’t let go Till you reveal what you would have me do,
My Lord, my God I won’t let go of you, I won’t let go of you.
All this night, all my strength called on in this place,
I confess, now will you bless, let me see your face,
Won’t let go, I won’t let go.
I won’t let go until you bless me Lord.
I won’t let go Till you reveal what you would have me do,
My Lord, my God I won’t let go of you, I won’t let go of you.
Turn around, have you found God is always here,
Every day, every hour you must persevere.
Turn around, turn around God is saying:
“I won’t let go! I won’t let go,
You are my child, I won’t let go.
You are my own and I have shown, you are my child,
I won’t let go of you.
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First United Methodist Church offers grocery pickup and delivery to members of our church with compromised immune systems who do not need to come in contact with larger groups. Click the button below to order and prepay for your groceries from Brookshire’s in Gilmer, and we can have another church member pick it up for you and deliver it to your home. We can even leave it at your door if you need to have zero contact.
Before placing your order contact Dolly Robison at 903-931-2077 so that she can find a member available and a good time for them to pick up and deliver your groceries. You will also need the name of the pick up/delivery person so that you can put it with your order.
If you are a member and have free time and a car to help with the delivery service, please contact Dolly Robison at jtanddolly@yahoo.com to let her know you are available.
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For the time being, if you give by check, please mail it to FUMC at 105 N. Montgomery St., Gilmer, TX 75644, or to P.O. Box 1132, Gilmer, TX 75644. Online and text options are available as well.
To give online, click here (choose General Budget)
To give by text, text the amount + GIVEFUMC to 45777 (for example: $50 GIVEFUMC)
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New P.O. Box Option
Please use the P.O. Box for all your mail. We no longer will have mail delivered to 105 N. Montgomery St. Address as follows:
First United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 1132
Gilmer, TX 75644
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Pray For Our Friends
Judy Avery, Ceci Crombie, Kathy Daniels, Roy Helpenstill, Dr. David Jenkins,
Sue Lansdale, Sarah Monk, Steve Williams, Barbara Williams, Norma Hough, Aaron Dudley, Peggy Bledsoe, Paul David Williams, Janice Mullen, Lynn Davis, Billie (Pete) Thomas, Betty Wallace's nephew, Eddie Harter, Ed Orms, Tammy Orms,
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Connecting real people to a real relationship with JESUS
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