Brownsboro F.U.M.C.
by The Elliots

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee youth's rite of passage?

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm.

The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removes his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

--Brother Ernest

Our Sunday school lesson Sunday was the impending Birth Announcement from Gabriel to two people, Zechariah and Mary, and their response. When Gabriel told Zechariah he would be a father his reaction was "I'm old," limiting God's power in his mind. Mary's was that of wonder, "How can that be?" Keep in mind she's 12-13 years old.

Zechariah was struck dumb/ deaf for his unbelief. He would not verbally rejoice or hear the rejoicing over his good news.

Mary had found favor in God's eyes and responded to Him with "Here I am, your servant."

In today's world how do we respond to God's message? He desires to have us respond to His needs. "I'm old, I'm poor, I'm useless. I have nothing to offer to you God," or "Here I am Lord, send me?

God bless. --Glenda