I am a fan of the TV show “Survivor”. I like the many intricate games they play, the islands where the show is shot, and Jeff Probst’s continuous commentary. As I was watching tonight, it hit me like a ton of bricks how the show emphasizes that one must be a great liar to have a chance of winning. They repeatedly refer to deceit and lying as the only way to make a good “alliance” with the other players. These players are their fellow teammates, as all the contestants are assigned to a “tribe”. So, the point is to decide whom you can trust and to whom you must lie, to increase your chances of winning. Eventually, those supposed ties will be broken, which is a necessity to win the prize money. And they will be broken by lying, the very thing the contestants have been encouraged to do. Personally, I could never be a contestant on this show. Ignoring entirely that I am neither young enough nor athletic enough to be chosen, I also will not lie, especially just to win a contest. “Thou shalt not bear false witness” is the ninth commandment. (Exodus 20:16 and Deuteronomy 5:20). It has a legal tinge to it, as “bearing false witness” is thought to refer to testifying under oath. Most theologians feel that the core of the commandment, however, refers to telling the truth in any situation. There is no way that intentionally lying to win money is good. And yes, I understand that it is just a game. My concern is that not all viewers have the age and experience to make this distinction. I think it is unfortunate that other ways to win the contest are not presented. Lying is a sin, so insisting that the contestants commit a sin to win is just wrong. I am pretty sure that “Oh well, it’s just a game” would not hold up before the Almighty. And that is really the only thing that matters.

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

I was working on a craft project at our dining table last night, and I saw the most amazing sight. Our dining room adjoins the living room, and I looked up and through a slit in the living room blinds, I saw a part of the sunset. As I rounded the table, more of the sunset appeared through that small slit, that one little blind just a tad out of place. By now I was hooked and lunged toward the back door to get a better look. And believe me, fellow church members, what I saw did not disappoint me. The vision before me – this perfect, glorious sunset – was stunning. The vibrant colors of orange, pink, medium blue from the surrounding sky, with streaks of pink and purple, made me catch my breath. It is so obvious that our natural world, with ABSOLUTELY NOTHING DONE BY MAN – is more impressive than any piece of art found in any museum. And it is completely free! We can see these gorgeous sunsets every single day, completely free of charge, for no other reason other than Our Creator loves us. He loves us despite our numerous shortcomings, failings, lack of appreciation for all He has given us, lack of faith, repeatedly disappointing Him, etc. He is the best Father anyone could ever have, and lucky little us, HE IS OUR FATHER! So tonight, open your blinds, step outside, and see the gift to all of us from God. And for another treat, do the same thing tomorrow morning. Just look in the opposite direction. Our God thought of everything!

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

For those of you who have not heard this story, the Arizpe household has had a miracle! An absolute astounding miracle of epic proportions! This miracle occurred to my husband, Joe, who has been legally blind for a little over 25 years. He had to take early retirement, because he could no longer drive, as required by the USPS. His issues began when he had two retinal detachments about two months apart, followed by double vision, glaucoma, and chromic iritis. About a month ago, he could perceive a change in his vision, so we followed up with his regular ophthalmologist and retinal specialist. After loads of tests, nothing new was discovered, so he was told to follow the ever popular “wait and see” plan. Hubby didn’t care for this idea, and wanted to try just getting prescription glasses, which he has not worn these past 25 years. The doctor was very nice, and had carefully reviewed his records, and she just said “Well, let’s take a look.” As she did a very thorough eye exam, she was able to correct his vision to 20/50! He burst into tears, as his prior vision was 20/400. He is now wearing his new glasses, and when we are out, he will read signage to me, including the house numbers on the front of our home, which he has not seen since we moved in. It is shocking and marvelous, not to mention over whelming. God’s blessings come at their appointed time, their very perfect and surprising time, and his life, as well as ours together, is forever changed. God ALWAYS answers prayers. So, I wanted to share this amazing gift with my church family. God is so very good.

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

There are several benefits to being confined to one’s home for several days. Recently, I had this opportunity, as did most of you, and this is what I learned. First, puppies LOVE the snow and ice. Our puppy, Carlos, is now house-broken, so I worried about his little cold paws. He was not worried. Second, blowing bubbles with your dogs is a great thing. Not only do they enjoy it and get exercise chasing those pesky bubbles, but it is really relaxing watching those colorful circles of soapy water and air just float away. Catching them again is a fun skill to acquire, which I fortunately still had from my long-ago childhood. Puppy Carlos could not quite grasp how I did that, but I could see the admiration in his little brown puppy eyes. Third, you can improve your cooking skills and try some new recipes, a use of my time highly appreciated by Hubby. But by far the main benefit of enforced time off is just the time to appreciate one’s blessings. It was not lost on me that my family has a warm home. I prayed regularly for those not so blessed. And when we could not have all the regular normal church activities, it was only because of the dangerous weather. It was not because someone was threatening to shoot us or hurt our church family. Nothing like it is in some countries, where attending church can be downright scary. My church is where my soul is fed, where I worship with like-minded Christians, and where I find love, trust, and support. My God is everywhere, and how He manages that is a great mystery to us all. But I walk by faith and not by sight, so mysteries do not bother me. My God is in charge, you and I are not, so sleep comes easy. PTL!

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

Recently, while in the process of putting up Christmas decorations, I came across an item that I had put away for the holidays and would now put back out on display. It is a 6-inch-long resin and wood sign with the word “FAITH” carved out of the top. Underneath the word is this phrase: “Faith is daring the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see.” Why I ever replaced it with anything else is quite beyond me. Those thirteen words mean so much to me – they are my credo. Scripture supports this belief multiple times, as in Hebrews 11:1, which says “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. In 2 Corinthians 5:7 we find these words: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” In my 74 years of life, I have learned not only the truth of this statement, but the reason it is mentioned in Scripture so often. Faith is the foundation of everything important, including things like individual salvation, and, of course, hope.

I also noticed something else among the décor items in our living room. We have a metal corner shelving unit which mostly contains my collection of small teapots. However, there are three small items, each hanging from a ribbon off a metal curlicue, containing the word “Hope”. One is made from colorful resin, one is on a plaster heart, and one is a very rustic circle, with two small birds and that one word. And this small corner of our home has all three of them, hanging there close together, not matching at all, except of course for the theme. During one of our course lessons in my Home Builders Sunday School class, we discussed the fact that hope is a by-product of faith. For if one has no foundational belief in God, how would they ever have any hope? Putting one’s hope in man is a slippery slope, based on, well, nothing. Now, I am not saying that it is unreasonable to trust other human beings. It is not. But real hope, the kind that encompasses one’s every thought, MUST be faith-based. Otherwise, the correct word to use is “wish”, not “hope”. And not all our dearest hopes come to fruition, at least not in the way we had wanted.

Which brings us full circle back to faith. Faith in God allows us to believe that whatever the outcome, it is what Our Heavenly Father deemed best. And He is the ONLY ONE who truly knows.

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

Promises Kept – Lesson #4
The Long Road to the Messiah and His Kingdom

Lesson Overview and Main Theme:
This lesson helps participants grasp the significance of the centuries-long wait for the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and sees how His arrival, anointing, and commissioning establishes a Kingdom that continues through His disciples today.  Many people live in a “right now” culture; this lesson helps them appreciate God’s long, intentional timeline.

Opening Prayer and Question:

1. What is something you waited a long time for?
2. How did that waiting shape your appreciation when it finally came?

Reading the Scriptures:

• Matthew 1:1-17
• Matthew 3:13-17
• Matthew 28:16-20

Lesson and Discussion questions:
3. MATTHEW 1:1–17
THE PROMISE PRESERVED OVER CENTURIES 

• Matthew’s genealogy traces God’s promise from Abraham through David to Jesus.
• It represents roughly 2,000 years of waiting—through exile, kingship, collapse, rebuilding, silence.
• Every name is a reminder that God’s plan never stops, even when it looks like nothing is happening.

1. What stands out to you in this genealogy?
2. What does this long list of generations reveal about God’s faithfulness?
3. How do you respond to the idea that God works through long periods of seeming silence?

• Jesus didn’t appear suddenly—He arrived at the perfect time after centuries of preparation. God’s promises may take time, but they never fail.

4. MATTHEW 3:13–17
THE MESSIAH REVEALED AND ANOINTED

• Jesus is baptized not because He needed repentance but to fulfill righteousness and identify with His people.
• God publicly affirms Him:

• Heaven opens
• The Spirit descends
• The Father speaks: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

• After centuries of waiting, God unmistakably reveals the Messiah.

1. Why do you think God chose this moment to reveal Jesus so clearly?
2. What does the Father’s declaration tell us about Jesus’ identity and mission?
3. How does this moment connect the Old Testament promises to Jesus’ ministry?

• God’s long-awaited Messiah is publicly revealed and empowered—the promise has become a person.

5. MATTHEW 28:16–20
THE KINGDOM COMMISSIONED

• The resurrected Jesus declares: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” This is the language of kingship.
• After thousands of years of waiting for the Messiah, His Kingdom is now advancing through His disciples.
• Jesus promises His presence: “I am with you always.”

1. What does Jesus’ claim of “all authority” reveal about His kingship?
2. How does the Great Commission show the global nature of Jesus’ Kingdom?
3. Why is His promise to be with us essential for fulfilling this mission?

• The promised Messiah now reigns as King, and His followers continue the mission of expanding His Kingdom.

6. BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

• God promised a Messiah across thousands of years.
• Jesus arrives exactly when God determined (Galatians 4:4).
• His baptism reveals Him publicly.
• His resurrection and commission establish His Kingdom through His people.
• The long wait leads to a global mission that is still unfolding today.

1. How does understanding the long wait for Christ deepen your appreciation of His Kingdom?
2. Where do you see yourself participating in the ongoing mission of Christ’s Kingdom?
3. What promise of God are you currently waiting on? How does this study encourage you?

Closing Prayer Time
Closing Thought
God’s promise of the Messiah took centuries to unfold, reminding us that His timing is perfect. As we wait on His promises, we can trust that the same faithful God is still at work in us today.

I was contemplating our large nativity scene, thinking about all the characters displayed. There were all three members of the Holy Family, three wisemen, a shepherd, an angel, and a sheep. And oh yes – there was a star. You know the one – you’ve heard the story. This bright star was what led those three wisemen and the shepherd to Bethlehem. And then my new-age English hit me: the star led those people to The Star, the little Baby Jesus. I don’t believe that I have ever paid too much attention to both meanings of the word “star”. The regular one is the kind of star that twinkles in the night sky, the kind you use a telescope to see, the kind that forms into constellations, etc. Then there is the kind of “star” that winds up on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the kind whose name becomes well-known by people who have never met them, the kind whose behavior can cause concern among the masses, the kind who become role models, whether they wanted to or not. So, the Bethlehem Star led the Wise men and Shepherds to the real “Star” of the show – the living, breathing Son of God. He does not have a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – He was not selected, as He was not “acting” at all. His behavior did cause concern among the masses, because He was kinder and more understanding than anyone they had ever met. And yes, the locals did indeed meet Jesus, as their faith and lives were His focus. He CHOSE to be the Star of this show – this heavenly birth – and He chose to walk the walk of the beloved Son of God. And He accomplished more in His 33 years of life than anyone else, ever. I do not find that surprising, since He is God and we clearly are not, but some folks do find this unsettling. But do not fear, dear friends, for this Baby Jesus was born
to offer all of us the gift of salvation, which is unattainable without His guidance. We may not yet understand every single bit of Scripture, which, personally, I do not find disturbing. All will be revealed in God’s time. Until that time arrives, remember that “we walk by faith and not by sight”. So, say your prayers, read Scripture, then go to sleep. All will be well.

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

Promises Kept – Lesson #3
God with Us – From the Temple to the Incarnation

Lesson Overview and Main Theme:
Throughout Scripture, God continually reveals His desire to dwell with His people. In the Old Testament, His presence was centered in the Tabernacle and the Temple—holy places where heaven and earth met. In the New Testament, God’s presence becomes personal and embodied in Jesus Christ, “Immanuel,” God with us. This study explores the shift from a place to a Person, and what that means for believers today.

Opening Prayer:

• Is it more important to worship God in a specific location or will any place do?
  • OR
• Can you feel God’s presence better in certain locations?

Reading the Scriptures:

• Matthew 1:18-25

Lesson and Discussion questions:
1. The Old Testament: God With Us through the Temple

• From the Garden of Eden forward, Scripture shows God’s intent to be near His people.
• After the Exodus, God commands the construction of the Tabernacle: “Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them” (Exod. 25:8).

• The permanent Temple in Jerusalem replaced the portable Tabernacle as the symbol of God’s dwelling.
• God’s glory filled the Temple (1 Kings 8:10–11), confirming His nearness.
• Yet access was limited:

• Only priests could enter the Holy Place.
• Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies—and only once a year.

• The Temple system revealed God’s desire to be with His people and the reality that sin separated them from His presence.
• Sacrifices, priests, and rituals were necessary to maintain fellowship.

2. The New Testament: God With Us through Christ (Matthew 1:18–25)

• Read Matthew 1:18–25 aloud.

• Matthew reveals something radical: God is coming not to a building, but as a person.

• Matthew identifies Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14.
• “Immanuel” is not just a title; it is a declaration of a new reality.
• God’s presence is no longer confined to the Temple but is now embodied in Jesus.

• God is approachable (John 1:14).
• God is physically present with His people.
• God’s presence is not restricted to one place or one people but is available to all who believe.

• He forgives sins directly (Mark 2:5).
• He declares His body the true Temple (John 2:19–21).
• At His death, the Temple veil is torn, symbolizing open access to God (Matt. 27:51).

Help participants see how Jesus fulfills everything the Temple symbolized—sacrifice, mediation, and God’s presence.

3. God With Us Today

• After Jesus' resurrection and ascension, God’s presence continues through the Spirit dwelling in believers (John 14:16–17; 1 Cor. 3:16).

• Believers now collectively and individually serve as God’s dwelling place.
• God is not distant. He is not confined to buildings. He lives with and within His people.

• We are never abandoned.
• We can approach God confidently.
• We are called to reflect His presence to the world.

Journal or share with a trusted person moments when you felt God’s nearness or needed the assurance of His presence.

Discussion Questions:

1. In the Old Testament system, what did the Temple communicate about God’s holiness and accessibility?
2. How does Jesus being “Immanuel” reshape our understanding of God’s nearness?
3. What differences do you see between God dwelling in the Temple and God dwelling in Christ?
4. How does the reality of God’s presence through the Holy Spirit comfort or challenge you today?
5. What changes when we understand ourselves as the “temple” of God's presence?

Closing Prayer Time

• Guide the group in a closing prayer, asking for the class to feel His presence.

Closing Thought

• In Jesus, God moved from dwelling in a building to dwelling among—and ultimately within—His people. Christ, our Immanuel, assures us that God is not distant but forever present with us.

Promises Kept – Lesson #2
Earthly Kings vs Christ the King

Lesson Overview and Main Theme:
Main Idea

• Earthly kings embody human desire, fear, and limitation.
• Christ embodies God’s heart, purpose, and salvation.
• Opening Prayer and Warm up Question:

Welcome

• “Can you think of a time people wanted a certain kind of leader—but it didn’t turn out as expected?”

Reading the Scriptures:

• 1 Samuel 8:4–9, 19–22
• 1 Samuel 16:1–13
• Matthew 2:1–12

Lesson and Discussion questions:
A. 1 Samuel 8:4–9, 19–22 — Israel Demands an Earthly King

• Israel wants a king "like all the other nations."
• Their request is rooted in fear, comparison, and distrust of God.
• God reveals the deeper issue:
• “They have rejected Me as their king.”
• God grants their request—even though it’s not His best for them.

• Driven by human desires
• Reflects cultural pressure
• Represents human strength and human limits
• Often brings burden rather than blessing

• When we chase human solutions over God’s leadership, we always settle for less.

1. Why did Israel want a king “like the other nations”?
2. Where do we see similar pressures in our lives today—wanting what others have rather than trusting God?

 
B. 1 Samuel 16:1–13 — God Chooses His King

• God first chooses the people’s King, Saul
• After Saul fails, God sends Samuel to choose the next king.
• Samuel assumes the impressive older brother is God’s choice, but God corrects him:
• “Man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
• David, the youngest and least likely, is God’s choice.
• The Spirit of the Lord comes upon David, empowering him for his calling.

• Selected by God, not human preference
• Chosen for heart, not appearance
• Marked by humility
• Empowered by the Holy Spirit

• God’s leadership flows from His heart, not human expectations.

1. How does the phrase “the Lord looks at the heart” challenge the way we evaluate leaders or people?
2. Why do you think God often chooses unexpected people to accomplish His purposes?

 
C. Matthew 2:1–12 — Christ, the True and Eternal King

• Jesus is born King—not appointed or elected.
• Gentile wise men recognize His kingship; Jerusalem’s leaders do not.
• King Herod represents earthly rulers who protect power through fear.
• The wise men worship Jesus, offering gifts symbolizing His royalty, deity, and sacrifice.
• God guides and protects His true King through divine means (the star; a dream; Angels).

• Born by divine promise
• Rules with eternal authority
• Welcomed with worship
• Brings salvation, not oppression
• Reigns in justice, humility, and peace

• Christ is the King every human heart truly needs.

1. What stands out to you about the way Jesus is recognized—and opposed—as King?
2. What do the wise men’s gifts reveal about Jesus’ identity and mission?

 
Application of Lesson:

• Identify an area where you rely more on human strength, systems, or leaders than on Christ.

• Pray for a heart like David’s—humble, obedient, trusting.

• Spend intentional time worshiping Jesus as King this week—through prayer, song, or surrender.

• “What decision am I facing where I need to follow Christ’s leadership instead of my own desires?”

Closing: Prayer Time

• Trusting God’s leadership
• Developing hearts that reflect His values
• Worshiping Christ as the true King
• Wisdom in choosing God’s way over human ways

   
Closing Thought

Promises Kept – Lesson #1
From Promise to Possession

Lesson Overview and Main Theme:

• This lesson explores the progression of God’s promise from Abraham to Joshua and helps to understand how God’s faithfulness encourages us today.
• God’s promises move from calling → waiting → obedience → fulfillment.

Opening Prayer and Warm up Question:

• “Have you ever waited a long time for something important? How did that process shape you?”

Reading the Scriptures:

• Genesis 12:1–9
• Genesis 15:12–16
• Joshua 1:1–9
• Joshua 11:16–23

Lesson and Discussion questions:
A. Genesis 12:1–9 — The Promise Given

• God’s relationship with Abram begins with a call.
• Abram must leave what is familiar before seeing the promise manifest.
• God promises land, descendants, and global blessing.

• God initiates His promises and invites us into trust.

1. What stands out to you about Abram’s initial call?
2. What might God be asking you to “leave behind” in order to trust Him more?

B. Genesis 15:12–16 — The Promise Clarified

• God seals His covenant with a formal ceremony—He alone passes between the pieces (unilateral covenant).
• God gives Abram the timeline: 400 years of affliction before the promise is fulfilled.
• Delay serves both divine timing and divine justice.

• God’s promises can involve long waiting and deep challenges, but His timing is always purposeful.

1. Why do you think God revealed the long waiting period to Abram?
2. How do you handle seasons when God’s promises seem delayed?

C. Joshua 1:1–9 — The Promise Reaffirmed to a New Generation

• After Moses’ death, God charges Joshua to lead Israel into Canaan.
• God restates the boundaries promised to Abraham.
• Strength and courage come through God’s presence and obedience to His Word.

• When God brings us to the edge of fulfillment, He calls us to courageous obedience.

1. What does courage look like in practical terms for a believer today?
2. How can God’s Word help us remain strong and faithful during uncertain seasons?

D. Joshua 11:16–23 — The Promise Fulfilled

• Joshua leads Israel to take control of the major areas of the land.
• This required years of persistence.
• God gives rest in the land—fulfillment of what began in Genesis 12.

• God is faithful—His promises are kept even across generations.

1. Why is it important that fulfillment took time, effort, and partnership with God?
2. Where can you see evidence of God fulfilling promises in your life or community?

 
Application of Lesson:

• Ask God where He is inviting you to trust Him more.

• Practice thankfulness daily; list ways God is still at work.

• Identify one area where God’s Word is urging a specific action, and commit to follow through.

• Share a testimony with someone to encourage their faith.

Closing:

• Trust when God calls us into the unknown
• Patience in seasons of waiting
• Strength & courage to obey God’s Word
• Gratitude for God’s faithfulness across generations

Closing Thought

I imagine most of you are familiar with the term “Oxymoron”, which Google defines as “A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction”. My favorite one is “jumbo shrimp”. Another fun term is “artificial intelligence” (AI) defined by Google as “The theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages.” My newest thought is that AI is an oxymoron. The definition itself admits that it is a computer system, which as we all know means it is created by man. Real intelligence, the kind that we all have, is a God-given gift. It gives me the willies to think that a computer will somehow oversee things that affect all of us. It is so difficult to talk to an AI-generated voice, as they have certain things that must be said for them to respond. I have not been trained in proper dialogue with a machine. Nor do I wish to be. I am an intelligent person, and I wish to converse with other intelligent people. And I KNOW they are out there! The human brain is an absolute marvel, one that no man-made computer system can compete with. You cannot explain anything to a machine. It has no sympathy, no empathy, no interest in understanding your problem. But the gift of speaking with a real person, a person who genuinely cares about your issue, is so very special. And a one-on-one conversation is simply the best. You can hear and see in their eyes that they care and want to listen. They will not transfer you to another line or put you on hold. And you will give them the same courtesy. That is because you are both human beings, created in the image of God, and thus have quite a lot in common. I have yet to meet a computer with whom I have something in common. There is a lot to be said for being REAL. Our
bodies are a wonderful creation by the One and Only Creator, as is the universe in which we live. AI may be here to stay, and I am probably going to have to adjust, but I will NEVER lose sight of the truth. We live in God’s world, and His guidelines are the ones that matter. I am sticking with Scripture, prayer, and my wonderful Christian community. And I am very comfortable with my decision.

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe. St. John’s Prayer Team

Recently, someone hurt a person that I love dearly. I did not tolerate it well. As it turns out, it is very hard to comfort someone you love when you are angry. If it so happens that your loved one is also angry…. well folks, this situation is not a formula for success. Meaningful, loving conversation goes out the window, and everyone loses. Only the anger wins. Sleepless nights and worry ensue, and your relationship with the one you care for begins to fray at the edges. How can this be true? If your anger, and that of your friend, was justifiable, how can the relationship be hurt if both of you are angry at the same person for the same reason? Well, I now know why. It is because your combined anger leaves no space for rational thought, kindness, and maybe even concern for the “bad guy”. Let me be clear: I am not referring to anything where a law was broken and/or someone was the victim of actual physical and emotional harm. I am referring to an incident involving hurt feelings. Most of us have experienced this first-hand, and as much as it hurts, it is so much worse if a friend or loved one is the person hurt. Anger, no matter how normal a reaction it is, serves no purpose. Rising blood pressure and pulse, along with an unattractively red face, has never yet solved a problem. If one can just take a breath, PRAY, try to focus on a solution, PRAY, consider the position of all involved, PRAY, then at least the possibility of a resolution exists. There are times when we all must play offense instead of defense. Jesus Christ showed us how when he cleared the temple of the evil moneychangers. For mere humans such as us, it is best to not react immediately. Wait a few days and allow your logical mind to function at its best. Then, with continuing prayer, move forward as an adult Christian with the mature response you have decided on. Remember: God never promised us an easy life. But He did give us the tool to handle life’s hurdles – PRAYER.

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

As you may or may not know, the Arizpe household has a new member. We adopted a puppy from Austin Pets Alive, and he weighed in at 3.82 pounds when we first got him and is now up to 5.86 pounds. We named him “Carlos”, and he has taught us quite a bit about happiness since he arrived. For instance, if one is truly excited to be fed dinner, this feeling is best shown by jumping up and down and twirling in circles in-between the jumps. He has also taught us that if one is tired, one should just lay down on the nearest human or new bestie, (in his case, our 4yo dog Savannah) and drift off to slumberland. No specific time is required: if you are tired, you take a nap. And should life throw you a hurdle, like Mom trying to prevent you from eating Savannah’s food, you quickly assess the situation, realize that she is much taller than you and cannot crawl under the chair, so you do so and voila! You end up right in front of Savannah’s food bowl, much to the chagrin of both Savannah and Mom. I keep thinking that as a human, I am much smarter than this tiny pup. As the days go by, I am learning that maybe that is not true. He is highly motivated by food and uses his small stature to outwit all of us. But boy, is he ever cute! He lays down on Hubby’s shoulder, puts his head up by his ear, and gently breathes, which Hubby finds just adorable. Savannah is smitten with him as well, and although he has only been here for a couple of weeks, we are all bonded now as a group. I remember that same feeling when my children were born: once they are a part of your life, it is so hard to imagine life without them. Cuteness ingratiates itself very well, it seems. And what a blessing that is for all! The sad thing is that there is a need for companies like Austin Pets Alive, as there is a surplus of unwanted animals. Conversely, the happy thing is that there are many nice people who are thrilled to adopt a pet, of any type or age, as people’s needs are different. An animal’s needs are different, too. It never is a “one size fits all” with an animal adoption. I think the world at large is like this: something needs to be fixed, and God hopes we see the problem and do our best to solve it. Maybe that is why there are so many problems in the worlds – if everything was perfect, we would never have an opportunity to “step up”. So today I thank my Heavenly Father for somehow guiding us to Carlos, whose joy for life is a daily reminder of the goodness of God. So, please feel free to jump and turn in circles before your dinner tonight. Both the cook and the Creator will appreciate it. Then, take a nap.

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

I had another article almost completed for this Musing, but God showed me that I needed to change it. So I deleted it, and I hope you can focus on this new one.

The Prayer Team received a request from a church member asking for prayer for his son, who lives in Hawaii. Normally, that would have a pretty high cool factor, but at this time, a tsunami was headed his way. He lives on higher ground than several of his friends and had opened his home to others in order that they might find safety in this perilous time. I can only imagine how terrifying that would be, for son and his friends, and for worried Dad in Texas. It seems our entire country has been hit with so many weather-related issues lately. This year has been a big one for disasters of all kinds. But they all have one thing in common, which is that Nature is simply not under mankind’s control. We may have learned how to forecast it, even though that is not always perfect. Probably because mankind is not ever perfect, no matter how hard we try. Perfection is a God-thing, not a mankind-thing. So, when nature goes wild, and our hearts pound with fear and trepidation, the only rational thing to do is pray. Pray sincerely, continuously, and humbly. Pray for safety, mercy, and knowledge to do the right things to help ourselves and our fellow man. And always acknowledge Our Heavenly Father as The One in charge, whose word is truth, and in whose hands all of our worries are held. Focus on the gift that is our faith.

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

This year, as well as last year, I enjoyed volunteering with the 3-5yo kiddos. Since my youngest grandchild is 16yo, I have not had the pleasure of dealing with little children for quite a while. May I share a secret with you? In general, this age group has not changed since my sons, now in their mid-40’s, were members of this age group. One thing is sure: if they ask you if you would like to know something, it will behoove you to say “yes”. One little fellow asked me if I knew the three things necessary to get to heaven. I was so impressed with the question. No one has ever asked me that before. Seeking personal enlightenment from this 5yo, I asked him to please share the answer with me. And I now will share it with you. The three things necessary to get to heaven are, in this order:

1. Believe in God
2. Do good things
3. Die

I bet you were not expecting that last one! But it is oh so very true! Only the dead make it into God’s kingdom. Heaven is the ultimate prize for achieving the first two on the list. Remember, #2 is a direct result of #1 – it does not, and cannot, stand alone. Out of the mouths of little children come profound truths. This sweet student of mine learned this piece of wisdom from his father – kudos to Dad! So, I now share it with you, via Maxwell.

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

For many years now, I have enjoyed jigsaw puzzles. Recently, I have been working on 3-D wooden-piece puzzles, which can be quite challenging. To start with, most of them do not have a border. The puzzle itself is the shape of a turtle, cocker spaniel, Christmas tree etc., the un-framed version of what you are putting together. The individual pieces can be quite small, and include shapes of actual things, like cats, dogs, and houses, instead of the regular puzzle shapes. Thus, they are put together by aligning the colors, more so than the sides, and hook-in or just lay adjacent to one another. I found them tricky at first, but now I enjoy the challenge. Recently, as I walked over to work on my current puzzle and stared at it from above, in a standing position, I noticed connections that I had not seen while working on it sitting down. The angle of looking at it from above gave me a clearer picture than the one I received looking at it flat, while sitting down. If you have ever looked out the window of a plane to see the sights below, you will have some concept of what I am referring to. Your entire perspective changes. The pieces were no longer a bit of a jumbled mess. Rather, I could now see more clearly how certain parts were to connect. I could not help but think of how God above looks down at us and sees us so much better than we see ourselves. It helped me understand a little better the fact that God sees the “big picture” of our world. We are not flat pieces lying around needing placement; we are part of a big, beautiful world, but are stuck seeing only what is near to us. The rest of humanity is out there, somewhere, but our view is limited to the area closest to us. God is not hindered by any such limitations. What He sees is infinitely more interesting and amazing than what we see, which is as it should be. Our job is two-fold. First, to do our very best to clarify the images before us, so that our vision of God’s world is not skewed. And second, to calmly leave what we cannot see or understand in the capable hands of Our Creator.

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, Chair of St. John’s Prayer Team

Recently, as I was pondering the behavior of someone else, I had a God-inspired thought: “You, Martha Nell Arizpe, are not responsible for someone else’s behavior. You have your own behavior to worry about.” PTL! What a HUGE gift! Not only was I not held responsible for another person’s choices, I was also freed from the sin of “gossip”. Yes folks, gossip is indeed a sin, closely tied to the Scriptural verse “Judge not lest ye be judged.” (Matthew 7:1) Now, do not become confused about what is gossip and what is merely sharing relevant information. As an example, if your Aunt Pearl took a trip to Spain, sharing that information with friends and family is fine. However, if you add a snippet stating that “Poor Aunt Pearl is an Old Maid, and now that she’s old, she has no prospects” is not only tacky, but also clearly unnecessary. (Plus, the validity of the statement is in question, for sure.) Speaking for myself, I have a very well-developed conscience. The Holy Spirit keeps busy in his efforts to keep me out of trouble. I always get a little “nudge” when I participate in gossip. I feel that is because I absolutely know better than to gossip. Alas, my humanity comes out, and try as I may, there are occasions when I slip up. I not only disappoint God, I disappoint myself. Please don’t become confused about proper topics of conversation among friends. As Christian adults, we should all be able to realize when a discussion about someone’s welfare turns into a gossip session. Talking amongst friends about solutions to help another friend in need is doing God’s work, if the focus stays on things that God would be happy to see us do. If it drifts over into judging this person’s behavior or choices, we have drifted over into another lane. Do your best to stay out of that lane.

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

High School graduation time is upon us! The babies are leaving the nest, because they are not babies anymore. The time has arrived for them to move forward, and work toward creating their own future. That thought is both a scary and exciting. There are many options to consider: college, technical school, the military, an “off year” to focus, immediate employment, etc. (That last one might be needed in order to even consider the other options.) Regardless of which path one chooses to follow, remember this concept: Take your faith with you wherever you go. As you make this transition, remember that the important things are already stored in your brain. My Dad always said that God intended our heads to be used for a higher purpose than a hat rack, and he was surely right. When my eldest son joined the Marine Corp, I offered him this tidbit of advice from the Woodstock era: Bloom where you are planted. Life may take you in many different directions but try to make the best of each situation. You may not be where you wanted to be, but possibly God needs you where you now are. Maybe someone there needs you? That thought is a bit daunting, and so I welcome all of you to adulthood, where LOTS of things are daunting. When my 25-year-old granddaughter must deal with a difficult situation, she says “Mimi, I sure had a hard time adulting today.” I have had days like that, and you will, too. (That sound you just heard was the bursting of your bubble.) I wish it was not true, but it is, which is why I mentioned earlier in this article that you must be sure to take your faith with you. Not everyone you meet will be Christian, so choose your friends wisely. When problems arise, I like to lean on my favorite Scripture, Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God.” It tells you what to do next, (be still), and what mindset to adopt (know that I am God). That should take care of things for you.

Blessings to Cody, Kelsey, and Angel,
You are forever welcomed here at St. John’s!

Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

Today we celebrate Mother’s Day. Becoming a mother is such a huge gift, as well as a huge responsibility. The initial years are spent focusing on things like sleeping through the night
(YIPPEE!), becoming potty-trained, learning to walk and talk, waving bye-bye, blowing kisses, etc. Then comes the toddler years where friendships first become a possibility and your little one must learn that other people have needs, too. Then school time comes along, as your darling navigates the halls of education with a backpack of Lunchables and piles of trepidation. Children must learn to sit still in class, stay in their assigned seats, raise their hand to ask a question, and be polite. These things must be learned in conjunction with learning arithmetic, spelling, grammar, etc. Their little heads must be overwhelmed at times. Next is middle school, and the onset of hormones, which, as we all know, are very bad things, however necessary they may be. Your lovely child develops skin problems, a bad attitude about nearly everything, lots of concern on what “other parents” allow their children to do, and the fine art of testing your patience. Assuming your family gets through this phase reasonably well, your next hurdle is high school. Prepare to leap high over these hurdles, my friends! Your darling daughter may become snarky and/or boy crazy, and your
brilliant boy seems to lose all reason when a cute girl says “hello”. Pairing up comes along, and the trick here is to be sure your child is friends with kids whose parents’ morals are like
yours. Church involvement, as well as involvement in school activities, is vital. Know the parents of the friends of your kids. If you expect them to keep you informed of their whereabouts, treat them respectfully and keep them informed of yours. College, the military, or trade school comes next, occasionally mingled with marriage. Keep praying that at least most of what you taught them remains, and trust in God for the rest. Stay in communication with God and encourage your children to pray. Because both of you need God.

If you remember that last line, you will be fine.

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

TV advertisements are just about to get the best of me. My sweet spouse laughs at me when I “talk back” to the TV. No one seems to grasp the meaning of the word “free”. Take, for instance, the phrase “free gift”. The gift mentioned is only available after certain items are purchased. Those “items” are the free gift. Hmmm. Also, the fun concept of “free shipping” seems to be a confusing point for the advertising community. Upon reading the fine print, the customer learns that what the large print giveth, the fine print taketh away. (Shipping is free ONLY if a certain amount of product is purchased.) Who do we believe? What is a person to do? Can the truth be found ANYWHERE? Fortunately for mankind, the only truth that matters really is free and available to all. Scripture, the actual word of God, has everything one needs to know to attain salvation. There is nothing that needs to be purchased, as the price to have the option of gaining heaven has been prepaid. And everything promised in the large print is still available after one reads the fine print. The words found in Scripture are always the same, despite attempts by misguided individuals to “fix” them to blend in with their modern, albeit sinful, ideas. Perhaps John Wesley said it best: “Man changes for Scripture. Scripture does not change for man.” And PTL for that! Where would we be without the truths which comprise the foundation of the Christian faith? Probably not in church celebrating Easter, the holiday which showcases all the effort that Our Creator went through to offer mankind the gift of salvation. This gift is “free” to us, should we choose to take advantage of it. Christ died a horrid death on the cross to pay the
price for our salvation centuries before we were ever born. Nothing is pending, no signatures or key codes need be applied for us to attain salvation. Should we be blessed enough to arrive before God at the pearly gates, He will not request anything further from us. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” is all we need to hear. It is all that matters.

Happy Easter to all,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

I have learned through my many years on the St. John’s Prayer Team that the commonality of humanity is “Everybody’s Got Something”. Each and every one of us will, at some point, suffer a trauma of some sort. With my medical background, I know that traumas can be physical as well as mental. Frequently, the most horrifying traumas are the ones that happen to someone we love. Most people certainly get knocked down when they receive a scary diagnosis, but then they rally and fight. Their loved ones, however, really have nothing to do but be supportive. While the patient is busy receiving out-patient therapies of different kinds and keeping their appointment calendar updated, their loving family members stand by and watch helplessly, wanting desperately TO DO SOMETHING! Our natural inclination is to attempt to fix whatever the problem might be, and it is beyond frustrating to realize that despite our best efforts, this particular problem is beyond our capability to repair. Or as my friend Nelson says, “above my pay grade”. Nelson’s wife, Trish, who happens to be my best friend, was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Both are sincere Christians, so despite their fears, they did the best thing anyone could do: they prayed. Fervently. Often. They asked others to pray. And pray we did, as our Prayer Team prayed mightily, along with their church and Bible Study group, for a good outcome. And that is exactly what they were blessed with. The malignancy was removed, and the adjoining tissue had no cancer cells, which means the cancer had not spread. Oh, Happy Day! I received this great news on my phone while driving back to work after lunch, and I was grateful and euphoric just like my friends! Interestingly, I knew I had an appointment that afternoon with the practice senior leader and that this person was upset with me. I endured that meeting with a huge smile on my face, which the senior leader found irritating. But nothing, absolutely nothing, could upset me on that glorious day when I learned that my beloved best friend was going to be fine. It sure is easy to decide which things matter and which things do not when your choices are so completely different. Just another example of God’s unfailing goodness. I know that not everyone gets a miracle – and who gets what is definitely above my paygrade – but on this day, we got one. I can easily imagine that also on this day, others received devastating news. The plan is the same: pray fervently and repeatedly, handing it all over to God. Your sanity will thank you, and the Lord appreciates the acknowledgment. Whatever outcome one receives, the key to dealing with it lies in prayer.

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

While engaging in some spring cleaning earlier in the week, I came across an old poem that I cut out of the Dallas Morning News several decades ago. It is a short poem, and the paper is discolored from the passage of time, but the words remain true. Coincidentally, or possibly not, we are now in Lent, the preparatory time prior to Easter. The poem, author unknown, is entitled “Forgiveness”. These are the words:

The friend who ran off with your wife,
Forgive him for his lust;
The chum who sold you phony stocks,
Forgive his breach of trust;
The pal who schemed behind your back,
Forgive his evil plot;
And when you’re done, forgive yourself
‘Cause you are all you’ve got.

There are several tricky things to forgive in these few lines. Then again, the Lord never promised that forgiveness was easy. Imagine all the awful stuff the Lord stands in judgement of. It makes my head hurt just to think about it. One of the things that I like most about this poem is that most of it pertains to the individual’s personal need to forgive others. The last two lines are the only ones related to personal forgiveness. I believe that it is impossible to forgive oneself until we confess our sins to our Lord. God, and God alone, has the final say-so regarding forgiveness. Probably because He knows our heart and minds, so He alone knows our sincerity. But once you sincerely confess your sins, they are forgiven. That is the whole point of Easter! When Christ forgives you, celebrate by forgiving yourself. It is a very big deal!

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

Having resided in Texas for my entire life, I have noticed an interesting trend. (If you have lived here for at least one year, you probably noticed it, too.) Texas weather is rather odd. This past week, we were in the midst of an arctic cold front. This coming week, it will be positively springlike. The old saying of “If you don’t like the weather, just wait a day” is oh-so-true in our fair state. It can be rather challenging for those of us who like to sort our clothes into seasonal categories. About the time you think it is safe to put your winter clothes away, Mother Nature grins and brings out the frigid temperatures. Surely can keep you on your toes! And what about the days when it is 70 when you put the kiddos on the bus but it will be 30 degrees by noon? How do you dress them? Shorts and a jacket? It can be a real conundrum. Weather always makes the news, good or bad. And while it is always interesting, it is definitely not reliable. I have actually been driving in the pouring rain and listening to the radio, when the weatherman announced that “There is only a 20% chance of rain today.” So, I began screaming to no one at all - “WE’RE HAVING A DOWNPOUR!” Neither the well-trained meteorologist nor Mother Nature can ALWAYS be trusted. So, what do we do? Whom can we trust? Bet you good folks all know the answer: we can always trust God. Now God is unlikely to share the proper forecast with each and every one of us. He expects us to listen to the meteorologist and plan accordingly. He also expects us to be good Scouts: BE PREPARED. As I have said in previous articles, God is NOT Santa Claus! It has never been His plan to handle all our problems for us. Why bother with the intricacies of a brain, and the specifics of various talents, if He was then going to just fix everything for us? We live in a beautifully imperfect world, created by a perfect God, and walk through life “by faith and not by sight”. Completely doable.

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

Like several other women in our congregation, I am learning how to crochet. These classes are the brainchild of Nancy Bewley, the chairperson for the Prayer Shawl Ministry. So not only do the participants learn a new skill, but the Prayer Shawl Ministry will also have more shawls in their coffers. It is a win-win situation for everyone. The information we are learning is new to most of the group, and one fun fact stood out for me: if you make a mistake, just pull the thread gently and the mistake goes away. You then have an opportunity to try again for the desired result. I could not help but think of just how great this fact is, because I know from personal experience that with many things in life, if you make a mistake, the best you can do is apologize. Often, you simply cannot repair the mistake. You do not get a do-over. You just feel sad/careless/stupid/ashamed, etc. Most of life’s errors cannot be repaired by simply “pulling a string”. The members of the crochet class are in a special position in this one respect. However, I know all these lovely ladies, so I know that each of them belongs to a larger group known as “mankind”. You know, the same group you are in. No magic strings in this group. And as we all know, mistakes come in varying degrees of importance. A crocheting mistake is minor, in this bigger realm of mankind. It is the major mistakes, the ones that break a commandment and are moved from the “mistake” column to the “sin” column, that are real issues for us all. While there is no little string to pull to make things right again, there is our connection with God, through prayer, that is ALWAYS available. God’s love for His children knows no bounds, and He surely loves a penitent heart.
So, when we do sin, our Heavenly Father will grant us forgiveness, just as He promised to do. What we want, and really need, is mercy, not justice. Justice can be harsh, even if well-deserved. God’s gift of merciful forgiveness, unlike crochet, has no strings attached at all. What a gift!

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team

PS: Crochet classes are held in the Horizon House from 1-2pm on Wednesdays. Contact Nancy Bewley for more information.

I did something really fun this week. I had lunch with an old friend at Laurie’s on the Square. This lady is someone I met after we moved to Georgetown, and we met while volunteering at Handcrafts Unlimited. She is a very talented seamstress, and also a retired RN, like me. She is a few years older than me but much wiser. I learn something from her every time we are together, which is not often enough, since we no longer volunteer at the same time. Hence our meeting for lunch. We did not solve the problems of the world, but I did gather insight into a few of my own. My friend also has the innate ability to put one at ease – she could give classes on how to de-escalate any situation. She is very soft-spoken, a trait I could surely use. When my mother taught school, she often would tell me that she lowered her voice intentionally, so the children had to be quiet to hear what she was saying. When I teach Sunday School, I must resort to ringing a bell! Clearly, I need another method. And silly me – my Heavenly Father put two strong women in my life, one as a child and another now as an adult – to show me the proper way to get the attention of a class, and somehow, I managed not to take note until the seventh decade of my life! Thank goodness my God is patient. Better late than never!

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team