Scripture Nugget 6.28.2017 Scripture Read Psalms 75-77 Nugget Psalm 75:1-10 “We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks; your name is near. People tell of your wondrous deeds. At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity. When the earth totters, with all its inhabitants, it is I who keep its pillars steady. I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn; do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with insolent neck.’ For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up; but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed; he will pour a draught from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs. But I will rejoice forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.” Devotional Thought: God’s grace is always near and receivable, those who choose to receive, those whose lives are changed by God’s grace give thanks and praise; they rejoice! But there will be a time designated by God when the opportunity to choose is no longer available, at that time God alone will judge. Judgement will be dictated by holiness and righteousness; He will judge each according to holiness and righteousness as defined by God. The holy and righteous will be lifted up; the stiff-necked cut off. The holy and righteous will give thanks and praise, they will rejoice in the presence of God. The stiff necked, wicked will be looking for yet another chance. God is a God of grace and second chances, only God knows when the “cut-off” line will go in effect. Why wait? Receive God’s grace now, be reconciled with God now, grow in God’s grace no and forevermore. Live with confidence and assurance and be able to say, “I am saved, I am being saved, and I will be saved some more!”

Scripture Nugget 6.27.2017 Scripture Read 1 Kings 19-22 Nugget 1 Kings 22:14, 17, 19-23, 28 “But Micaiah said, ‘As the LORD lives, whatever the LORD says to me, that I will speak.’ ... Then Micaiah said, ‘I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd; and the LORD said, “These have no master; let each go home in peace.”’ ... Then Micaiah said, ‘Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, with all the host of heaven standing beside him to the right and to the left of him. And the LORD said, “Who will entice Ahab, so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?” Then one said one thing, and another said another, until a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying “I will entice him.” “How?” the LORD asked him. He replied, “I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.” Then the LORD said, “You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do it.” So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the LORD has decreed disaster for you.’ ... Micaiah said, ‘If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.’ And he said, ‘Hear, you peoples, all of you!’” Devotional Thought: Those God sends to be a prophetic voice have a tough task to accomplish. Those who become “prophetic voices” by ingratiating themselves to narcistic rulers, may in the short-run make life good fro themselves, but ultimately are ruined as are their prideful kings. Prophets of God, bring a message of truth from God, one that may cost them their earthly life. To stand firm in the message God sends them to speak requires Over-the-Horizon faith; absolute faith in God’s Over-the-Horizon promises. Those with itchy ears only want to hear that which makes them feel good about themselves; not the truth of God. It is relatively easy to manipulate one who discounts God and chooses to believe in self over God. Discern God’s prophets, who tell truth from those who feed your ego and tell you what you want to hear. Stand firm, pay attention, listen for, believe and follow the voice of God.

Scripture Nugget 6.26.2017 Scripture Read Leviticus 7-9 Nugget Leviticus 8:1-3, 6, 12, 30, 36; 9:22-24 “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Take Aaron and his sons with him, the vestments, the anointing oil, the bull of sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread; and assemble the whole congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting. ... Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward, and washed them with water. ... Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. ... He poured some on the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him.... Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his vestments, and also on his sons and their vestments. Thus he consecrated Aaron and his vestments, and also his sons and their vestments. ... Aaron and his sons did all the things that the LORD commanded through Moses. ... Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them; and he came down after sacrificing the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the offering of well-being. Moses and Aaron entered the tent of meeting, and then came out and blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.” Devotional Thought: Yesterday across the North Georgia Annual Conference, newly appointed preachers began new seasons of ministry in established congregations. Many of those services included a service of celebration, welcoming the new pastor and covenanting with God and each other to serve God and each other in the ministry of the Church. I am thankful that sacrificing bulls and goats and sprinkling blood was not required. I am thankful for Jesus Christ who is the One Sacrifice for all. I am thankful to enter this phase of life with the congregation of Kresge United Methodist Church. I pray that we will all recognize the presence of the glory of God and will respond appropriately in each instance.

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We welcome Rev. Ed Dickens today as our new Pastor. Welcome to the Kresge Family.

Scripture Nugget 6.25.2017 Scripture Read Ephesians 4-6 Nugget Ephesians 4:22-24 “You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Devotional Thought: “They came to Jesus and saw the demonic sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; .... (Mark 5:15) The demonic had been cleansed of the former way of life, was dressed physically, spiritually and mentally. He was at peace, resting in Jesus; well on his way to true righteousness and holiness. Praise be to God! Is there anything in your life that Jesus needs to send into the pigs to carry it away from you? Come out of the tombs, the places of death and darkness - confess it, ask for forgiveness and to be made whole. Then rest is the peace that passes all understanding.

Scripture Nugget 6.24.2017 Scripture Read Luke 13-14 Nugget Luke 13:3, 5, 8-9, 23b-25 “‘No, I tell you; but-unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.’ ... ‘No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.’ ... He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ... He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, “Lord, open to us,” then in reply he will say to you, “I do not know where you come from.”” Devotional Thought: God loves so much, God created the entirety of creation. His expectation is the entirety of creation will accept and return that love. To do so I/you/we must turn from any and everything that we put ahead of God. We must turn to God to be cultivated, to be “dunged”. Participating in the means of grace, (prayer, Bible study, worship, fasting, Communion, holy conferencing, acts of mercy) are ways for God’s grace to fertilize us, to help us grow spiritually with God. God is patient, God is merciful, God is grace but there are limits to God’s divine patience, at some point I/you/we will realize the reality of and nearness of God’s judgment. Why not repent, turn fully to God now; go ahead and enter the narrow door, freely and fully explore the house? The door may be narrow, but it is wide enough for all to enter, all who repent, who turn to Jesus. But there will be a time when the door closes .... the choice will be made, it will be too late. “Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Lk 3:9) “I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Lk: 5:32) “From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” (Matt 4:17) Repent, draw near, enter through the narrow open door or be cut down, chopped up and used for fire wood. The choice is ours to make. As a friend of mine likes to ask, “Whatcha gonna do?”

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Be sure to come see us this Sunday, June 25, as we welcome our new pastor Rev. Ed Dickens and his wife Cindy to our Kresge family! Breakfast at 9:30, Sunday School at 10:00, and worship at 10:55. Don't forget to bring your favorite dish and stay for lunch following worship! Kresge is a great place to call home!

Scripture Nugget 6.23.2017 Scripture Read Ezekiel 7-12 Nugget Ezekiel 11:14-21 “Then the word of the LORD came to me: Mortal, your kinsfolk, your own kin, your fellow exiles, the whole house of Israel, all of them, are those of whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘They have gone far from the LORD; to us this land is given for a possession.’ Therefore say: Thus says the Lord GOD: Though I removed them far away among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a little while in the countries where they have gone. Therefore say: Thus says the Lord GOD; I will gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. When they come there, they will remove from all its detestable things and all its abominations. I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, so that they may follow my statutes and keep my ordinance and obey them. Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, says the Lord GOD.” Devotional Thought: In our spiritual lives it is important to pay attention – pay attention to what God is doing, not what we hope God is doing or will do. The remnant left behind in Jerusalem has wrongly assumed God is pleased with them and left all for their use. When in fact, God left them to preserve Jerusalem so that those sent in exile may return. It is those is exile, those scattered about who God has given protection (v16) and promises to return (v17) and they will clean the place up (v18). When God brings them home He will begin a new creation; He will put love in their hearts – love for God and each other, uniting them with a new spirit. The remnant who remained were to prepare a place for the exiles to return, not “steal” what they left behind for themselves. Those who were scattered were expected to have a change of heart, to turn to God, with their new softened hearts. “Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” (v21) Let us be restored, renewed, redeemed by God’s grace. Let us continue in grace to perfection – pure love – entire sanctification. Pay attention to what God is really doing, not what we desire......

Ed

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Obituary for Ruth E. Fife at Lester C. Litesey Funeral Home 770-748-1241

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Suppertime before classes begin at Kresge UMC Vacation Bible School