This Week:
Tue 10-11 Zoom Huddle. All welcome
Wed:
10-12 Bread Ministry
6-8 Chosen and Family Ministry Dinner Huddles. All welcome
Sat. 10-1 Clothing Closet
(Note: The Bread Ministry could use some help with a couple of helpers out of commission for at least a few weeks. If interested in assisting let Sarah or me know or contact Gail)
Sarah Prayer update below
Below that is Harvest Prayers blog praying for our first responders
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Good Morning Forgiven Much, Forgiving As We Have Been Forgiven, Good News Ambassadors! Hmmm...what's this all about Pastor Don? Glad you asked! Well I envisioned this morning's blog sharing some of what the Bishop shared yesterday about being Good News bringers--God's ambassadors. And I will sum up his message briefly, but God led me to something else to share this morning as some of you have talked to me about your struggle to forgive or to move on from some bitterness or another. Seems like God is wanting to speak into that this morning from our devotionals. Even as God's Good News Delivery Company, we will encounter hard to love people and those pushing back against God and us. Jesus even warned us that people will hate us because they first hated Him. Man, we sure see that coming to life around us today in these Divided States of America. How do we love the unlovable and bring Good News to those we, well, hate? Forgive us Lord! Help us to agape love like You and bring Good News of your forgiveness and love to others, even enemies. Help us to forgive and love like You. HELP! Amen!
The Bishop began his message talking about the false perceptions many have of evangelicals that flow from our devotion to God and His ways. I had to ask myself and work through the thoughts of, "Are you a finger pointing Pharisee?" and "Who is seeing you on that list of reason to avoid our church?" OUCH! Holy Spirit pinch here! The bishop's list of how the church, especially evangelicals, is viewed by the general public stung. We stand strong on God's Word and will continue to do so. (The Bishop affirmed that during brunch when he ministered to my mother-in-law after she discussed having to leave the Methodist church because they caved to itching ears and people wanting the Church to affirm them in their sin. He assured the EC will not cave to the ways of the world, but stand firm in Christ and on God's Word and Truth. (AMEN!)) Because we having taken the stance to remain true to God and His Word, the world will hate us and disregard God's Truth as fallacy and myths. They will belittle and avoid us too. How can we love and forgive these people? Help us Lord to love like You! Open our hearts and minds to live Christ. Thanks! Amen.
The bishop reminded us that our mission is all about love. We've discussed before how the Bible teaches the truth that God is Love. Love lives in us. Love wants to love through us. That kind of love is agape, sacrificial, dying to self love like God showed us. We have this Good News to share with the world and we are placed here for such a time as this to be God's ambassadors of Love and Good News that others can be forgiven and transformed just like wretches like us have been. He reminded us from 2 Cor. 5:11-21 that Love compels, convinces, and leads to be committed to be God's Ambassadors that bring His love and Good News to those who need it most and to those He is drawing. We are commissioned to go live and love like Jesus and to bring Him and His kind of love alive. That also means to forgive as we have been forgiven. Again, please help us Lord to love You and others well and make disciples like Jesus! Thanks! Amen!
We can do none of this without the help of God and we must rely on His Spirit to help us, prepare us and direct us. Come Holy Spirit! Have Your way with me! Amen! We are on a journey--a pilgrimage--to become like Jesus that will take our whole lifetime here on earth. We are being prepared for eternity and the Potter is reshaping us and forming us more and more into His image and to be able to serve our created purposes for such a time as this. Thanks Lord! I would like to suggest you just work through the devotionals below speaking into living, loving, forgiving and making disciples like Jesus and how to prepare yourself for healing and growing into Christlikeness. Seriously, we need others to help us in this journey and to hold us up, sometimes physically and always in prayer. Put on your new nature. Ask for help to shed the old and to become more like Jesus and to be bearers of His Good News in the way of Jesus. What's God saying to you right now? Who are you processing and praying with? I know God has a word for some of you today! Sarah and I are here for you and so are some of your friends. Seek first the Kingdom of God. Keep your focus on things above. Keep dying to self, taking up cross and following Jesus daily. He really does have some great custom made plans for you that will bring much joy and peace! PTL! Help us Lord to be Jesus, live Christ daily and agape love like You. Amen! We are Forgiven Much, Forgiving As We Have Been Forgiven, Good News Ambassadors--say it, pray it, believe it and live it!
Sarah Young:
Joyce Meyer:
Charles Stanley:
Our Daily Bread:
In college, I studied William Shakespeare’s writing for a semester. The class required a giant textbook containing everything Shakespeare had ever written. The book weighed several pounds, and I had to carry it for hours at a time. Lugging that weight around caused my back to hurt, and it eventually broke a metal fastener on my bookbag!
Some things are just too heavy for us to carry. Emotional baggage from past hurt, for example, can weigh us down with bitterness and hatred. But God wants us to have freedom through forgiving people and, when possible, reconciling with them (Colossians 3:13). The deeper the pain, the longer this may take. That’s okay. It took many years for Esau to forgive Jacob for stealing his birthright and blessing (Genesis 27:36).
When the two finally reunited, Esau graciously forgave his brother and even “embraced him” (33:4). Not a word was exchanged before they both burst into tears. Over time, Esau had let go of the anger that made him consider murder (27:41). And all those years gave Jacob the chance to see the magnitude of how he’d harmed his brother. He was humble and respectful throughout the reunion (33:8-11).
In the end, both brothers came to the place where neither required anything from the other (vv. 9, 15). It was enough to forgive and be forgiven and walk away free from the heavy baggage of the past.
By Jennifer Benson Schuldt
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What types of offenses are hardest for you to forgive? How does forgiving others reflect your relationship with your heavenly Father?
Dear God, please set me free from bitterness and anger.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Jacob and Esau were twins born to Isaac and Rebekah. Before their birth, God told Rebekah: “Two nations are in your womb . . . ; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). From Esau’s line sprang the Edomites (36:9), enemies of the Israelites. From Jacob, the younger, sprang the twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob convinced Esau to sell his birthright for a bowl of stew (25:29-34) and tricked his father into giving him the firstborn’s blessing that was due to Esau (27:1-29). Although they had a rocky relationship, we read of their reunion and Esau’s forgiveness in today’s text (33:1-9).
Alyson Kieda |
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The Upper Room: Hearing God's Voice
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me.” - John 10:14 (CEB)
When I was in middle school, my family had many chickens. One day, a mother hen went into the fields outside to feed her chicks, and a chick fell into a hole in the ground. When it became dark, the hen returned to our house with her other chicks, leaving the lone chick behind.
After some time, my father heard the chick crying, and he tried to retrieve it from the hole. But the little chick was afraid and did not respond to my father’s voice, so he could not get it out. When I saw what was happening, I brought the mother hen to the hole and she called out to the chick. On hearing its mother’s voice, the chick immediately came out of the hole.
Today, many years later, I still recall that evening. When the chick heard its mother’s voice, its fear vanished. In the same way, during difficult times we can listen for our heavenly Father’s voice. God can deliver us from any situation.
Today's Prayer
Heavenly Father, help us to listen for your voice and come to you in any situation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
The Word for You Today:
Sarah Update:
Hi everyone,
Those of you that joined us for worship, we had a great day of worship with Bishop Sizemore, and a delicious time at our brunch! Thank you to everyone that helped in making the day an awesome day of fellowship.
Here are some of the updates shared today:
Light in the Night - great success!! Over 800 walked through, and approximately 150 bibles were passed out and seeds planted.
Reid shared that a friend of his, Lauren had her baby today.....Mama and baby girl are doing well.
Mike Canfield shared that our prayers were answered for his father and his dogs. Someone who has the space and running yard has taken the dogs and his father has now moved into the assisted living facility and doing much better, as he is getting assistance with making sure he is getting the proper care. Yay God that dad is feeling better and a huge burden has been lifted off the family. Yay God!
Caleb hung out with the kids today during children's church. He did great! First time he was with other people that were not Mom, Grandma or Granddad. Great job Pastor Mike!!
Those in need of our prayers:
Darlene Skinner - recovering from knee surgery and therapy
Sue George - one of the volunteers of Bread/clothing ministry - had a stroke. She is home from the hospital and healing. Her memory and eyesight have been affected. Let's continue to pray for her healing and strengthening.
John Chobot has two more rounds of radiation, this week.
Continue to keep Diane H, Houstin L, and Donald L in our prayers as they have therapy, treatments and learn how to cope.
Carol (who has been attending from Bread Ministry) is having Surgery on her heart on November 25. May we all pray that it goes well, and for healing, and that God's peace will overwhelm Carol.
Dean Marks shared that his mother's brother passed away - Prayers for the family.
He is also asking for pray for much needed rain.
Kay (Karen Kerns' Mom) is having a nerve study on her hands on Thursday.... prayers for calmness of spirit and that the testing goes well.
Kay Paul is asking for continued prayers for her sister-in-law, Joanne who is dealing with cancer.
Jim Handfest has asked us to keep all the volunteers that have been assisting those that have been affected by the hurricanes in our prayers; for safety and that they may continue to be able to share hope and love.
Pray for the Support and Vision team as we meet next Thursday, to discuss what God has in store of us; and as we start the budget conversations.
Continue to pray for Israel - for peace all over the land - and for one another.
May we all continue to remember that we are to be committed to living as an ambassador of Jesus Christ.
Have a great week, church family!
Blessings,
Sarah
Harvest:
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