El Estero Presbyterian Church

​July Devotional - Dr. Wayne Shen

 

In June, we studied the sin of Pride with all the conflict, suffering and broken relationships that it causes. This led us to seek the blessings of humility, to learn what it means to be humble toward God, ourselves and others. In the process, we recognize, appreciate, and praise the Lord for the many humble servants in our family at El Estero. So many, by the grace and strength the Lord provides, serve the church relentlessly, never complaining and always with great joy.

As we enter July, we will discover the ministry of Jesus Himself to bring humility back to us, to set for us the ultimate example of humility. We will end this series with what it means to Walk Humbly with Our God, following the footsteps of our Lord Jesus.

After we finish our series on Pride & Humility, we will start our study of Sorrow & Joy. As believers of Jesus Christ, born again, we are said to be Saints. Yet, while we are stuck in this body of death, we are at the same time Sinners still. There will be times of distress, painful experiences, when nothing seems to go our way. All of us are human and prone to getting discouraged, struggle with inner turmoil, become overwhelmed and feeling distant from God. We will learn together how to evaluate the turmoil of our souls, overcome depression and helps others to as well. We will then learn together that the Joy of the Lord is our strength.

           

July 13th — “The Humility of Jesus” (Philippians 2:5-11)

                            Based upon “Humility: Beauty of Holiness” by Andrew Murray

July 20th —  “Walking Humbly with Our God” (Micah 6:8)

                            Based upon “Humility: Micah’s Message for Today” by CH Spurgeon

July 27th — “What Are You Downcast O My Soul?” (Psalm 42)

                            Based upon “Depression & the Christian” by A W Pink

August 10th — “Overcoming Depression” (work in progress)

August 17th — “Glad Tidings of Great Joy” (work in progress)

August 24th — “Joy in the midst of Sorrow” (work in progress)

August 31st — “The Joy of the Lord is our Strength” (work in progress)

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June 2025 Devotional - Dr. Wayne Shen

We are supposed to take pride in our country, our culture, our family, and ourselves. Yet, what is it that causes unrelenting wars in the world and conflicts in our country? Pride. What is it that causes hurtful conflicts in the church? Pride. What is it that causes irreconcilable conflicts in marriages? Pride. What is it that keeps a person from salvation? Pride. What keeps a person from seeking humility? Pride. 
     In June, we will take a look at Pride, the father of all sins. Then we will seek to learn the blessings of humility, what humility entails, and how Jesus brought humility back to us. In July, we will end the series with How to Walk Humbly with Our God. We have this promise in Scripture that if we are able to humble ourselves before our God, He will heal our nation, He will lift us up and He will exalt us. What a great promise to be able to claim!

        June 8th – “The Sin of Pride”
        June 15th – “A Humble Godly Father”
        June 22nd – “The Blessings of Humility”
        June 29th – “Humility toward God, Ourselves, Others”
        July 13th – “Walking Humbly with Our God”

 

May 2025 El Estero Devotional - Dr. Wayne Shen

 

We head into the months of May and June with a celebration at church May 4th for Lyle’s 88th birthday. He came from China to the US as a child all by himself without family. But God took care of him, kept him safe and provided a new family for him. We then celebrate Mother’s Day on May 11th and Father’s Day on June 15th. Honoring our father and our mother is one of the 10 commandments; the only commandment linked with a promise. For those of us who didn’t have the greatest parents, our Lord made this promise: My father and mother may abandon me, but the Lord will take care of me. (Psalm 27:10) Throughout His ministry, Jesus was encouraging his disciples to be family to one another. (Matthew 12:48-49, John 19:26-27) He gave His disciples the 11th commandment: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) One of the names of God is Yahweh Rapha, “the Lord our healer.” God is able to heal our relationship with Him, our relationship with family, and our relationship with those in God’s family… if Pride does not stand in the way.

 

February 2025

The Task of Rebuilding - Dr. Wayne Shen

Nehemiah was a Jew living in the capital of Persia. When he inquired about the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem, he was told that they were “in great distress and reproach, that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down.” This caused him great distress and he was determined to rebuild the walls, relying upon God’s power to do it. His first hurdle was to get the King’s permission. He prayed to God that He might give the King a compassionate heart. His prayer focused on God’s greatness, holiness, faithfulness and power to intervene. He inspired the Jews to work hard, utilizing their God given talents. They were met with intense criticism and opposition. But Nehemiah and the people of God remained steadfast, immovable and persisted in the difficult task God had called them to.

        In some ways our church is in great distress and reproach. If the situation has caused you to be Distressed and you are Determined to do something about it and willing to Depend upon God’s power to do it, God has called you to help rebuild the family of God at El Estero. Let us fervently pray that God will give the presbytery a compassionate heart to allow us a grace period to work on rebuilding. Let us ignore any criticism or opposition and be steadfast and immovable. Someone has said, “If you want to avoid criticism, all you have to do is do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” Let us not tear down but build up one another. Let us keep doing what God has called us to do.

        “The wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month of Elul, in fifty-two days. … This work had been accomplished with the help of our God.” (Nehemiah 6:15-16)

 

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January 2025

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Thoughts of a New Year - Dr. Wayne Shen

      When we are celebrating a New Year with family or friends, we often ask each other: What were the best events or memories of 2024? What are your goals for 2025? However, when we are alone contemplating, thoughts of struggles of the past year create anxiety over the unknown of another year.

        In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul encourages us with: “I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on.” Whether 2024 was a great year or a very difficult year, we need to leave that behind us and simply press on. We leave behind us past guilt, past grief, past grudges, and past glories. We press on.

        In James 4, James relates the story of a man who made great plans for the new year, but his plans did not pan out. In his planning, he left God out, when God is the only one who knows the future and holds the future in His hands. Knowing this, we still make plans but say “Deo Volente”, meaning “God willing”.

        To be honest, El Estero is facing a challenging new year with no pastor; people who have left in anger, discouragement, frustration, hurt, or fear; and uncertainty of what the Presbytery’s intentions are for the church. But the church is not the building or the finances, it is the people of God. And with the Lord Jesus as our shepherd, we will not be in want. He will lead us to green pastures and give us peace beside the still waters. He will restore our soul. Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil, for Jesus is with us. And if He is with us, who can be against us? Let us be family to one another, forgive one another, accept one another, encourage one another, and pray for one another. We will “press on”, Deo Volente.

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from Dr. Wayne Shen