O God, you are my God.
      I seek you, my soul thirsts for you;
            my flesh faints for you,
                  as in a dry and weary land
                  where there is no water.
      So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
            beholding your power and glory.
      Because your steadfast love is better than life,
            my lips will praise you.
      So I will bless you as long as I live;
            I will lift up my hands and call on your name. AMEN

(Hymnal #686, adapted from Psalm 63:1-4)

Scripture      Psalm 63:5-8

          "My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."

      Forgiving God,
            you do not deal with us according to our sins,
            nor repay us according to our iniquities.
      For as the heavens are high above the earth,
                  so great is your steadfast love toward those who fear you;
            as far as the east is from the west,
                  so far you remove our transgressions from us. AMEN

(Hymnal #694, adapted from Psalm 103:10-12)

Scripture       Luke 13:6-9

      In the 13^th chapter of Luke, Jesus was asked why certain people suffered. "Was it because they were worse sinners" than everyone else? Our Lord responded "No," which should put a halt to the "blame game" we can sometimes participate in, blaming those who suffer, instead of being "somebody" who, with God’s help, will do "something" about it.
      "No," Jesus said, we all need to repent, to turn to God. To help us understand how God gives everyone a second chance, Jesus then told this parable:

      "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ 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.’"

      God takes good care of his garden, wouldn’t you say? Are we doing the same?

      Yes, we are called by God to be "somebody" who believes enough to "walk the walk" and not just "talk the talk." Our special offering emphasis this month is Heifer Project International. If you wish to pass on the gift you have already received, to give a second chance to somebody else, please add your gift, in addition to your regular offering, in the plate as it is passed. Will the ushers come forward to serve?