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Saturday, January 18 2025
We are aware of the impending snow storm that is predicted to start during worship or the congregational meeting tomorrow. At Noon today, the Support Team will make a decision regarding worship tomorrow. As of now we are leaning towards Zoom only worship due to potential treacherous travel. If that is the decision, the Congregational Meeting will move to before the Brunch next Sunday. So, watch for the decision around noon through this link and with One Call announcement.
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Good Morning Preparing, Readying, Followers of the Way! Oh Lord find us preparing and readying to follow Jesus and His way to bring revival and new life to our communities. May we become disciple making disciples of Jesus. Lead us, just as we are and grow us into our fullest created and gifted potentials. Your Kingdom come and will be done. Use us! Thank You! Amen!
This morning I finally had the time to have an extended time with the Lord. PTL! It has been a hectic and early week of allowing God to use me. I love when He does that and I have been praying, prepared and filled up before this busy season. But, I love my quiet time with the Lord that can extend to several hours each morning! How is your quiet time? Are you making space for God to speak, correct, fill and inform? Are you turning off the noise, being still, abiding in His Love daily? Try it, if not! Jesus got up early to get away with God and to spend time with Him in prayer, preparation, and to receive His daily marching orders. I want to be more like Jesus. Do you? It's awesome to sit at His feet daily and worship, pray and receive!
This morning God took me into some different devotionals to speak to my heart, inform me what to share with you and to affirm me. I love when that happens! Do you have a story of how God has done that for you? I'd love to hear it! We are Oaks of Righteous planted deep in Christ and His Living Word. We are watered with His Living Water. He is speaking to our hearts and calling us to break camp like the bishop reminded us last year when Joshua told the people to break camp, purify themselves and prepare to enter the Promised Land. You have a choice. Will you seek Him, listen, break camp and follow? The Promised Land lies ahead as God is calling us to come alive as disciple making disciples of Jesus and sent apostles to transform the world around us. I get all this from my quiet times and God begins all things with prayer and informs through quiet time with Him, just as he did with Jesus. So again, how's your quiet time and prayer life? What is God saying to you and what are you planning to do about it? Who are your partners? He has gathered us to prepare us and send us to transform the world. As we go, we are transformed more into the image of Christ and moving towards our created and gifted potential. We are poised to come alive in '25! What's your part? Pray into that. Discuss that with me and your partners. Pray some more and then follow the Holy Spirit step by step in faith! God's greater things and perfect plans for you and us are on the horizon! Great and lasting fruit is budding! Amen!
Lord, come! Have your way with me and lead our Body to its fullest potential in Christ. Unite us as you are One. May we have the faith to break camp and follow You step by step! Yes, Your Kingdom come and will be done! And prepare and use us well! bring in the harvest and raise up servants for it and from it! Lord, we are asking for at least 30 new servants that want to learn to walk in Your ways. We need you! Come! Thanks! Amen! And give us wisdom about gathering tomorrow. Thanks! Speak to us however we gather and lead us to Your perfect pans as we seek to come alive in '25. Amen
My Disciple Making devo from I to We:
Sarah Young
The Upper Room: Alone with God
If God is for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31 (NIV)
When I was 18 years old, I moved across the world. I left my small hometown for the city of Sydney, Australia. As I stepped off the plane, I felt afraid. “God, stay with me,” I prayed as I clenched my fists and looked up desperately to the sky. After a taxi ride that felt longer than it was, I set foot in my new home. The fear I had felt quickly turned into overbearing loneliness.
As I began to unpack, I pulled out my Bible. At the time, it seemed the only familiar sight in this strange, new country. Holding back tears, I decided to take a break from my unpacking and read God’s word, thinking it might comfort me. I came upon the story of Joshua leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. Sydney, Australia, was as new and unknown to me as the Promised Land was to Joshua. But God frequently reminded Joshua and the Israelites not to be afraid.
Once I finished reading, I felt a great sense of comfort. The Lord spoke to me through Joshua’s story, reminding me that I am never alone. Even when it seems that fear and loneliness are our only companions, God remains with us, holding us as we embark on any new adventure.
Today's Prayer
Ever-present God, help us remember that we are never alone because you are with us. Thank you for continuing to guide us each day. Amen.
Harvest:
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January 18 - The Holy Spirit Manifests Through Various Fruit
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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. The work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer changes things about that person. There is a constant battle between the desires of the flesh that are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit that are against the flesh (Galatians 5:22-23).
The Spirit not only gives us the ability to stop doing evil things, but if we yield our life to the work of the Spirit, He will produce in us great spiritual fruit.
Holy Spirit, please give me an increased awareness of how important it is in and for my life to die daily to self so that I can live according to Your counsel and not give in to the temptations of the world. Would You move in my life to reveal areas where I am lacking spiritual fruitfulness? Show me and my church community how to live in such a way that the fruit we bear gives great glory to God!
--Adapted with permission from The Summit Church (thesummitchurch.org) we are inviting you into 21 days of prayer and fasting at the beginning of this new year! Each day will focus on a different biblical attribute of the Holy Spirit.
The founding pastor of Summit Church is Bill Elliff, who is now the pastor Emeritus and serves on the Executive Leadership Team of OneCry (onecry.com). You can find one of Bill’s books, The Essential Presence at prayershop.org.
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- Praise the one who is able to do immeasurably more than all one can ask or imagine.
- Thank God for what he is doing in your life and in the church in response to prayer.
- Confess little asking and weak praying.
- Commit yourself to asking and expecting much in Jesus’ name.
- Claim the promise that Christ will come to you and make his home in your heart if you love him and trust him.
- Pray that the countries currently banning the Bible may soon rescind these bans so that their people may have free access to the Bible.
Prayer Pointer
“Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.” —Thomas Fuller
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com
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Saturday, January 18 2025
Good Morning! Quick blog
Jesus loves you and is calling you by name! I love you too! Spend some time with Him today and the two devos and harvest blog below. Praise Him for your salvation. Keep at His plans and don't grow weary. Good fruit is sprouting! PTL! What's he saying to you today? What will you do about it? Who are your partners? Talk to Him and allow Him to fill you and have Hs way with you today and always Amen! I'm praying! God has great plans for you, me and us together! Let us be abut His business and fulfilling our custom made parts. Amen!
UR: Light for Dark Days
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12 (NIV)
A few years ago, my family and I witnessed a solar eclipse. The sky grew dark, the birds stopped chirping, and the crickets came to life in the middle of the day. It was an eerie feeling. But it lasted only a few moments. If only other dark days could be so brief!
As the pastor of a church, I recently experienced a difficult situation with a church member. I felt discouraged and disillusioned hearing harsh words and criticisms.
While we can’t remove the hurt any more than we can stop the moon from blocking the sun, we can remember the truths surrounding both. During a solar eclipse, we know that the sun is still shining; therefore, we wait in faith for its reappearance.
When dark days come, we must remember that Christ still reigns, even if we can’t see it. Therefore, we wait in faith for his reappearance. But we don’t wait idly.
When darkness engulfs me, I turn to Jesus’ words in scripture. As I meditate, Jesus becomes brighter and brighter in my soul. His presence fills me, and in his presence, darkness flees and light shines. Jesus is not just the light of the world — he’s the light for our dark days.
Today's Prayer
Dear Father, help us to remember your promises when troubles and sorrows distract us from your presence. Amen.ODB
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Weary. That’s how Satya felt after nine months in his new job. As a believer in Jesus, he’d sought to follow God’s principles in the way he solved problems and directed the work. But people-related problems persisted, and little organizational progress seemed to have been made. He felt like throwing in the towel.
Perhaps, like Satya, you’re feeling tired. You know the good that you ought to do but simply feel too emotionally and physically drained to carry on. Take heart. The apostle Paul encourages us with these words: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). He uses the metaphor of a farmer. And, as any farmer knows, sowing is hard work.
Sowing to “please the Spirit” (v. 8) is hard work too. Believers in Jesus who seek to follow the Spirit’s lead and live a life that honors Him can grow faint and lose heart. But as we hang on to His promise, the harvest will come. We’ll “reap eternal life” (v. 8; see John 17:3)—a bumper crop of God’s blessing when Christ returns, and in this life, we’ll have the confidence and joy that come from knowing Him. We’ll reap at the proper time, a time determined not by seasons or the weather but by the will of a perfect God. Until the harvest comes, let’s keep sowing in God’s strength.
By Poh Fang Chia
REFLECT & PRAY
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What’s causing you to lose heart? How can you hang on to the promise that “at the proper time we will reap a harvest”?
Dear Father, please help me to not lose heart and to persevere in doing good.
For further study, read The Sword, the Son, and a Rest for God’s People.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The letter to the Galatians wasn’t written to a single church or city but to “the churches in Galatia” (1:2), a region of what was then known as Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). There’s been an ongoing debate regarding the exact location of the recipients of this letter. Some scholars say the letter was directed to northern Galatia. Others say it was directed to southern Galatia, where Paul planted churches (Acts 13-14). Although the letter’s specific destination is unclear, there’s no doubt about its message. Paul is challenging the Galatians to set aside the teaching of those who taught adherence to Moses’ law as a condition of salvation. It’s all about grace. Bill Crowder
Learn more about Paul’s letter to the Galatians.
Bill Crowder |
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Harvest
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January 17 - The Holy Spirit Unites Believers
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After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had (Acts 4:31-32).
The first-century church received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and was continually filled and equipped by the Spirit to be the kind of church God intended. One of the Holy Spirit’s roles is to bring unity to the hearts and minds of believers to accomplish God’s mission in His church. Unity is vital among God’s people and in our church today. The Spirit does not work among a church in disunity.
Oh Lord, unity is a huge thing on Your heart for Your people. May Your Holy Spirit fill every believer at my church with unity of heart and mind so that we have increased unity in our mission and vision. Convict us and correct us of anything that causes or breeds disunity in our midst.
--Adapted with permission from The Summit Church (thesummitchurch.org) we are inviting you into 21 days of prayer and fasting at the beginning of this new year! Each day will focus on a different biblical attribute of the Holy Spirit.
The founding pastor of Summit Church is Bill Elliff, who is now the pastor Emeritus and serves on the Executive Leadership Team of OneCry (onecry.com). You can find one of Bill’s books, The Essential Presence at prayershop.org.
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Saturday, January 18 2025
Sat: Clothing Closet 10-1
Sun: Worship 10 live in person and on Zoom with Children's Church (begin several weeks on armor of God) 11:30 Annual Congregational Meeting (Zoom and Sanctuary)
Note: There may not be a blog tomorrow depending on the departure time to take Kay to her hand surgery. (Could be as early as 5am) But God will still speak to you as your TGIF worship and draw close in prayer and study. You don't need me to lead your quiet time. I'm praying for God to speak to your heart always.
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Good Morning Known, Loved, Abiding in Love, Followers of Jesus! May that be you, me, and us and always! Thanks Lord! Life and even life in Christ is a journey full of ups and downs and often characterized as a roller coaster ride. Hang on! You can't get off a coaster until the end. Unfortunately we can choose to get of the Jesus journey whenever we want and many do when the steep and hard climbs come. But that doesn't have to be you or any of us. God is with us always. hard times are promised but so is His help in times of trouble. Often we grow most and become prepared as endure through, are stretched some and grow into the people we are created to be. may that be us Lord! Strengthen us. Carry us. Mold us. Make us usable and lead us to your perfect plans! Amen!
Check out the flow about this through the devotionals below. God is speaking to you. Some of you need these Words form Him today. Pray. Meditate. Seek. Listen. Process. And follow well! He has great plans for you and even through the hard things is with you and working all things together for good! PTL! Trust and know His peace and receive His help. You get to choose joy today and always. try it and follow well!
ODB:
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Mark was a promising young pastor. Then one morning his son, Owen, collapsed and died while kicking a ball with him. Mark was devastated and still grieves the loss. But through his pain he’s become a more compassionate pastor. I’ve mourned with Mark and wondered if his trial illustrates an insight A. W. Tozer noted: “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply.” I fear that’s true.
Then again, perhaps it’s not that simple. We learn about the complexity of God’s ways by observing the exodus of Israel. God led the young nation out of Egypt on an easy road, saying of Israel, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt” (Exodus 13:17). Yet a few verses later, God told Moses to double back so Pharaoh would rally his army and come out to fight (14:1-4). Pharaoh took the bait. The Israelites “were terrified and cried out to the Lord” (v. 10). Moses chided them, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (v. 14).
God uses both easy and hard paths to grow His people and bring Him glory. He promised, “I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord” (v. 4). So did Israel. So can we. God is building our faith through every test, whether easy or hard. When life is easy, rest in Him. When life is hard, let Him carry you.
By Mike Wittmer
REFLECT & PRAY
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How has pain contributed to your growth? Why do you think God uses both easy and hard tests?
Dear Jesus, You’re enough for every test.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
After Pharaoh set the Israelites free from slavery (Exodus 12:28-33), he immediately had a change of heart and summoned his elite army to recapture them (14:5-9). Although God had overwhelmingly demonstrated His great power through the ten plagues (chs. 7-11), the Israelites chose not to trust in Him. Terrified, they accused Moses of deceiving them and leading them into the wilderness to die (14:11-12). But Moses encouraged them not to be afraid, to be still, and to trust in God (vv. 13-14). He was faithful and saved them from Pharaoh’s army (vv. 21-23) and continued to provide for them during their forty years in the wilderness.
K. T. Sim |
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UR: Fear Not
The psalmist wrote, “I cry to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” - Psalm 57:2 (NRSVUE)
When I was 37 weeks pregnant with my only daughter, my doctor informed me that I would have to undergo a C-section. My oxygen levels had dropped; my baby was having trouble breathing and was not moving as much as expected. I had an ultrasound and was then moved to the operating room for emergency surgery.
I was puzzled — and petrified. My husband was not with me because I was with my parents. As I lay worried and afraid, my mother comforted me with these words: “Fear not.” She reminded me that the Lord God was with me and would never leave me. She also told me of God’s promise in Psalm 57:3 — that God who is faithful would surround me with love.
My mom’s words gave me strength. By holding on to God’s promise and blessings, I underwent my operation and received the biggest blessing of my life — my daughter. I will forever trust that no matter what the circumstance may be, my loving God is with me.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the love and blessings which you bestow on us and our families. Give us strength to trust in your love for us when challenges arise. Amen.
Joyce Meyer:
Sarah Young
TWFYT
Saturday, January 18 2025
Sarah Prayer update below
Bread today 10-12
Tonight 6-7:30 Dinner Huddle restart. All welcome!
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Good Morning Serving Purposeful Partners! This salutation comes from two of our devotionals this morning (below) that really speak into what God has been revealing and who we are and how we are growing as God's Body! Check them out prayerfully and share what you are hearing/sensing with Sarah, me or your partners.
I began my quiet time reviewing a report from the American Pastor's Network compiled by one of my LBC professors about the State of the Church 2024. For the first time in history less than 50% of Americans attend church and less than that regularly or as little more than consumers and not as servants of God. PTL that is not the case with our church! We are pretty healthy, populated with servants and growing! That is a BIG God thing worthy of much thanksgiving and praise. And yes, it's ok to pat ourselves on the back a bit and celebrate how we are growing to be the people we are created to be and more like Jesus and doing what we are created to do individually and as His Body! Yes Thanks Lord! We celebrate You and what You are doing in our midst and the servants You have raised up at St. Matts! Please continue your good work in, through and around us. Keep us serving purposefully, partnering together and going to make disciples of Jesus. May we continue to grow as Your Good News Delivery Company and do our custom made parts in that. Lead us to Your perfect plans and will. Thank You! Amen!
The report gives some ideas for where we should be heading from here for the Church to become relevant and thriving again. The first two are Pray. remember everything starts and prospers through prayer. For some of us our primary role in God's Good News Delivery Company is that of being a pray-er. Interceding for God to come, to lead and for His will to be done. Also, covering and protecting our servants. Praying for Him to lead us to those He is drawing and sending to us to lead to faith and His ways (even 30 new attendees this year). That leads to the second opportunity to focus on: making disciples. Jesus commissioned us to do so. Over the years the Church has lost drive, focus and direction to do so. It's time to refocus on the primary purpose of the church: growing God's Kingdom and making disciples. We are focused on that this year as we seek to bring it alive in '25. We are gifted, equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live and love more like Jesus and that includes making disciples of His and reproducing what He is doing. We need each other to do this well. Purposeful partners that serve God and others. We are on our way. PTL!
Something to keep in mind is that discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if He were you (me). How's you journey towards that going? Who can you partner with to earnestly pursue Jesus and His plans and way? That is our focus for this year. Join us! Soon we will begin some small groups exploring our spiritual gifts and how to partner together to grow God's Church and encourage and pray for each other. Please consider joining us! Watch for details in the next few weeks for some opportunities to join a small group to process and plan and enact your gifts.
The closing thoughts from the report is that the Church needs to change and adapt to the times to connect to new people and families who have little or no connection to God. It involves going back to things the Church used to do to make reproducing disciples and to raise up prayer. God's always doing something new and He is leading us to His old things done in new ways as we seek Him and partner together to make disciples of Jesus. As we do, His Kingdom will come and flourish again and we will become His dynamic movement led by pastors and laity with a burning passion for God and missionary zeal to reach the lost. Amen! It's really time to stop being God's Church in name only and to step more fully into our roles as His Good News Delivery Company that makes reproducing disciples of Jesus in the way He and the early church did. Are you ready? I am and am praying earnestly for God to draw us and lead us and for revival to come. Come and see what He has planned for you and us! And keep praying for His Kingdom is at hand! Revival is around the corner as we and other churches earnestly pursue God and His new things for us! PTL! I am really excited to witness and celebrate all He is about to do as we humble ourselves, trust and obey!
UR: Choosing to Serve
Jesus said, “Who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” - Luke 22:27 (NRSVUE)
As I grew older, playing guitar, which had been my passion since the age of 13, fell by the wayside. When I was younger, I played in bands and would “rock out” nearly every night. But I stopped having time for the hobby, and ultimately I lost touch with the instrument altogether.
A few years ago, when I was 61, a friend who played with our church’s contemporary praise team approached me and asked if I would be interested in joining. I was nervous. Could I play anymore? If so, would I be good enough?
I took a chance and attended a rehearsal. I held back, lowered my volume, and waited to see if I could add to the music. The group was welcoming, patient, and kind. They supported me, and eventually I became a member.
I now have a better understanding of what Paul meant when he wrote, “There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.” What we bring to the church is not as important as simply bringing something. God can speak through whatever we bring.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the gifts you give to each of us and for the opportunity to serve alongside others. Amen.
The Word for You Today:
Good evening, everyone!
I have several updates that are in need of our prayers:
Dean received a request for prayer from a friend: Jaydyn is struggling with understanding God's love and other personal things in her life. May we lift her up in our prayers that she will see and understand how much she is cared for.
Another prayer request from Dean - Lindsay's sister was involved in a hit and run on Saturday night. She is in the hospital with internal bleeding, shrapnel in her forehead and eye. She is currently stable but still has a long road of recovery ahead of her
Prayers for the assistant chief of Coopersburg and his family. Last night the family's home burned. The family is safe
but their home is in bad shape.
Church family members - there are several of our church family members that are dealing with the Nonovirus, RSV, COVID and sinus infections. Please keep each other in your prayers.
Kay Behle will be having carpal tunnel surgery on Friday. Prayers for healing and for the surgical team that will be caring for her.
Tomorrow is Bread Ministry day - pray for those that will enter our doors!
Sunday is our Congregational meeting
Welp, everyone, stay warm over the next few days!! If anyone is in need of our prayer support, let me know and I will make sure that it gets out to our warriors.
Blessings,
Sarah
Saturday, January 18 2025
Good Morning Friends! I have blood work shortly so have to fly. Jesus loves you and so do I! he's calling you by name to come and walk with Him in His ways. He's given you His Spirit and co-laborers to travel with in your journey to become more like Jesus and to grow into the greater things He has planed for you. So rejoice. Relax in His presence. Woship. Listen. Receive. Team up. Follow well. I'm praying for you.
Here are a few devos to guide your quiet time. he really loves you! He is with you. Be still and know then walk and go with Him today.
See you at Zoom Huddle at 10! Shalom!
ODB
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For years, fitness experts have stressed the importance of running for cardiovascular health. But recent scientific studies have demonstrated that daily walking also has a range of health benefits. According to the US National Institute of Health, “Adults who took 8,000 or more steps a day had a reduced risk of death over the following decade than those who walked only 4,000 steps a day.” Walking is good for us.
Throughout the story of the Bible, walking is used as a metaphor for communing with God. In Genesis 3, we’re told how God walked with Adam and Eve “in the cool of the day” (v. 8). Genesis 5 shares the story of Enoch, who “walked faithfully with God 300 years” (v. 22). One day Enoch’s regular time spent with his Creator led to him being taken directly to be with God (v. 24). In Genesis 17, God invited Abram to “walk before” Him as He renewed His covenant with him (v. 1). And Jacob, near the end of his life, described God as his shepherd and spoke of his ancestors who had “walked faithfully” (48:15). In the New Testament, Paul instructed us to “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16).
Like Enoch and the patriarchs in Genesis, we can walk with God daily. We do so by surrendering our lives to Jesus and being guided by the Holy Spirit. That’s the path to true health.
How’s your walk?
By Matt Lucas
REFLECT & PRAY
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How would you describe “walking with God”? Today, as you reflect on Scripture, how will you follow and obey it?
Father, please forgive me when I’ve chosen not to walk with You but pursued my own agenda. Help me keep in step with You.
Visit ODBU.org/NT050 to learn more about walking by the Spirit.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The metaphor of walking with God is a prominent theme in the Bible. Walking describes a life of obedience and submission to His instruction. Genesis 5 says that “Enoch walked faithfully with God” (vv. 22, 24). This imagery is also used throughout the book of Deuteronomy to remind Israel to follow the law by walking in it (5:33; 8:6; 10:12; 11:22; 19:9; 26:17; 28:9; 30:16). In chapter 6, we see the explicit origin of this idea. Verses 4-9 are referred to as the Shema, which means “hear,” the first word in this section of Scripture: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (v. 4). In the Shema, Israel is encouraged to make God’s law central to everything they do. Observant Jews today still recite this prayer daily. Other examples of walking imagery appear in the Psalms (see 1, 15, 119, 128) and in the New Testament (see Colossians 3:7; 1 John 1:7; 2 John 1:6).
Matt Lucas |
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UR: How Does God see you
You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. - 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
I have struggled with speaking highly of myself. I always felt I was not good enough, even from a young age — not good enough to be successful, to fit in, to be appreciated, even to be loved. Most of these thoughts came from other people’s opinions of me. But why do we think who we are depends on what others say about us?
Do we ever think about what God thinks of us? Do we believe in what God sees in us? God has already made it clear in scripture who we are. Today’s quoted scripture reminds us that we are “a chosen people.” It’s up to us to believe and embrace that truth.
God chooses us out of unconditional love — not our social status or physical appearance. Understanding who we are in God’s heart allows us to appreciate, accept, and love ourselves, as well as those around us.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, help us always to know that our identity can be found in you. Remind us that we are your beloved and cherished people. Amen.
Sarah Young
TWFYT
Saturday, January 18 2025
Good Morning Spirit-Filled, Spirit-Led, Purposeful Followers of Jesus! I thought God was leading me to a blog this morning that I asked Him to write. And He is. However, I always check the Harvest Connection blog before writing the blog. And, well, today gave me a fresh word for me, you and us! PTL! He is always speaking, guiding, and will redirect as we stay open, listening and available for Him to do so. And such is the case today. My devotionals may flow from the Connection Blog? We'll see, but lets start with that as they discuss the Holy Spirit's gifting and equipping believers. Lord, Come! Speak! Lead us to Your perfect plans. Thank You for Your love, gifting, equipping and empowering Spirit in us! Your Kingdom come and will be done today (and always) as we spend some time with you and seek your plans to follow. Speak to our hearts today! Thanks! Amen!
So most of you know that God has had me fixated on a few things for several years that He wants to bring alive through you and our Body of believers. Mainly that we are all custom made, custom gifted and placed where He wants us to be His hands and feet for such a time as this. We even discussed this yesterday a bit. He knew you before you were formed in the womb. All the days of your life are written in His book. He has custom plans just for you and they are age and circumstance appropriate for each day of your journey to become more like Jesus and growing into your fullest potential in Christ. And Jesus is the key! He draws us and as we come to faith, we receive His Holy Spirit as a sign and seal of our faith, The Holy Spirit brings custom gifts to each of us in alignment with who we are created to be and Christ's plans for us. The Holy Spirit trains us, guides us, corrects us and works at transforming us into Christ's Image. He equips, empowers and enables us to be about who we are created to be and what we are created to do. How cool is that! That's Jesus' easy yoke as we come to Him and stop striving in our own strength but allow Him to have His way with us and use us for His glory. I have found such rest for my soul, joy and peace as I still myself, die to self and allow Him to lead. He does have great plans for me, you and us as His gifted, gathered, empowered and sent people! Amen!
We have moved from the Become Me in '23 and Become More in '24 challenges where we worked on becoming who we are created to be and then doing more of what we are created to do as we say less of me and more of Christ. He has now led us to the Come Alive in '25 Challenge. What's that? That is letting go and letting God lead us to true life in Christ and allowing Him to use us to bring life to a dead world around us. Revival and new life are on the horizon as we cooperate with his Spirit and follow Jesus well. Are you in? Talk to me or Sarah about next steps in your journey. May we Come Alive in '25!
I believe God is leading us to explore our spiritual gifts and learn how to step more fully into them this year. Gifts are given to help you become who you are created to be and do what you are created to do. That is building God's Church, encouraging and spurring each other on and to bring new life to outsiders and help them become disciples of Jesus. As we do this better and more we will become that dynamic movement of God that the bishop has challenged us to become. We are God's Good News Delivery Company. We need each other to do our parts. Soon we will begin discovery and training opportunities with spiritual gifts and our God given roles. I expect several groups doing this over the next month or so and then learning throughout '25 and beyond how to utilize the gifts we have been given and use them to fulfill our created purposes as His team of purposeful followers. I will not force anyone into this discovery and learning opportunity. It's up to you to seek God and see if He is leading you to that. I'd think He wants that for many of us. Reach out to me and let me know of your interest and we will try to schedule some trainings that fit your schedules. Know this, God wants to bring you and our church alive in '25 and this is the next step for that to happen.
Now, pray and invite the Holy Spirit in, spend some time with God and the Connection blog and see what He is saying to you. He does have great things ahead for you as we work together to grow into our fuller potential and God's greater things! PTL! What a great adventure lies ahead! And know this, I believe as we remain humble and seeking, He will lead us to at least 30 new people this year. Who is He leading you to? Who are you gathering, processing and serving with? Let us commit wholeheartedly to seek God, His plans and to allow His Spirit to teach us and lead us to some great and lasting fruit! Amen!
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January 13 - The Holy Spirit Gives Gifts and Equips for Ministry
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Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have (1 Corinthians 12:1, 4, 7, 11).
One of the marks of God on a believer is that through the power of the Holy Spirit He gives spiritual gifts to strengthen them and the church. There are different kinds of gifts and God decides what gifts to give, when to give them, and how they will be used. These gifts are driven by the power of the Holy Spirit and manifested in the lives of ordinary believers. The Holy Spirit uses these gifts to strengthen the faith of the individual believer, build up the church, and impact the lost as He sees fit. He gifts and equips all of us in different ways to facilitate any aspect of ministry needed for the advancement of His Kingdom.
Holy Spirit, would You enable every believer to see how You have uniquely gifted them and that You want to use these gifts in their lives? Reveal to our church how You are using these gifts to build up Your body, the church! Empower each believer to continually exercise these spiritual gifts for Your glory!
--Adapted with permission from The Summit Church (thesummitchurch.org) we are inviting you into 21 days of prayer and fasting at the beginning of this new year! Each day will focus on a different biblical attribute of the Holy Spirit.
The founding pastor of Summit Church is Bill Elliff, who is now the pastor Emeritus and serves on the Executive Leadership Team of OneCry (onecry.com). You can find one of Bill’s books, The Essential Presence at prayershop.org.
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I believe these devotionals flow from this:
Sarah Young
ODB:
Reflecting on why people tend to be entirely convinced they’re right—even when they’re not—author Julia Galef suggests that it has to do with a “soldier mindset”—where we’re focused on defending what we already believe against what we see as threats. Galef argues a more helpful mindset is that of a scout—someone focused not primarily on eliminating threats but on seeking the complete truth: comprehending “what’s really there as honestly and accurately as you can, even if it’s not pretty or convenient or pleasant.” People with this outlook have the humility to continually grow in understanding.
Galef’s insights bring to mind James’ encouragement that believers adopt a similar mindset—one where they’re “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19). Instead of being driven by knee-jerk reactions to others, James urges believers in Jesus to remember that human anger doesn’t lead to God’s righteousness (v. 20). Growth in wisdom is only possible through humble submission to His grace (v. 21; see Titus 2:11-14).
When we remember that each moment of our lives is dependent on God’s grace—not on us—we can let go of a need to always be right. And we can rely on His leading for how to live and care well for others (James 1:25-27).
By Monica La Rose
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What examples have you seen of a spirit of humble willingness to learn and change? How can you cultivate a willingness to learn from others?
Dear God, please help me to surrender the need to always be right in exchange for the gift of unending learning as I journey with You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
When James warns that believers in Jesus should be “slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (1:19-20), the context suggests he has in mind angry outbursts. Instead of lashing out at someone in anger, believers ought to be “quick to listen, slow to speak” (v. 19). Outbursts of anger fall short of “the righteousness that God desires” (v. 20). It’s impossible to aim at how God wishes us to live our lives if our tempers are leading our behavior. Instead, we ought to humbly depend on Him and His standards for a life of service (vv. 21, 25). James even goes so far as to say that “those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless” (v. 26).
Monica La Rose |
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Upper Room: Like A Mother
The Lord said, “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” - Isaiah 66:13 (NRSVUE)
My doctor told me I needed a medical procedure. I dreaded having it, and as the day came closer I became more and more afraid. On the day of the procedure, I wore a T-shirt that had belonged to my mother. Feeling its soft material on my shoulders and arms, I remembered how my mother used to put her arms around me. When I was a small child and not feeling well, she would rock me and sing to me.
As the doctor gave me the anesthesia, the memory of my mother comforting me reminded me that God also comforts us. I remembered scripture from the worship service that past Sunday: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.” I went to sleep feeling calm and peaceful as I once did in my mother’s arms.
Today's Prayer
O God, help us to turn to you for comfort when we are afraid. We pray as Jesus taught us, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matt. 6:9-13, NIV). Amen.
Joyce Meyer
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- Praise Jesus Christ for his grace and beauty.
- Thank God for reproducing the beauty of Christ’s character in you.
- Confess anything in your life which is displeasing to God.
- Commit yourself to pleasing him in every way.
- Ask God to help you live a life worthy of the Lord, to please him in everything you do, and to bear fruit in every good work (Col. 1:10).
- Pray that all God’s people will be able to stand against the principalities, powers, and the world rulers of darkness that seek to control the lives and destinies of people.
- Pray that they may put on the whole armor of God and may pray in the Spirit with all kinds of prayers and requests (Eph. 6:10-18).
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com |
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Saturday, January 18 2025
Busy restart week ahead!
Tues. Zoom Huddle 10-11
Wed: Bread 10-noon; Dinner Huddle 6-7:30
Sat. Clothing Closet 10-1
Sun: Congregational Meeting after worship and Children's Church beginning of several weeks of the Armor of God
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Good Morning Worshiping Co-Laborers! Amen! Prepare your hearts to worship in Spirit and Truth and to enter His courts with thanksgiving whether in person or on Zoom...Come! Let us worship! Amen. As we labor for the Lord and co-labor with each other we are worshiping God as we allow Him to transform us more into His image and our created purposes. We are His, known, loved, equipped, gathered and sent to glorify Him! Amen! He has great plans for you and us together! Let us commit to seeking Him, discovering our purposes and doing them for His glory! We are God's Good News Delivery Company and we are His gathered worshipers and co-laborers! Amen! Come let us worship!
As I prepare to share God's Word today from Matthew 2, I am and have been a bit troubled with some that is to be shared. There is some hard teachings today. But they are in God's Word. In the past I shied away from things like this, BUT GOD! Today, He wants me to share and us to discuss the killing of the innocents. Help us Lord! Help me! Open our hearts and minds to seek, listen and discover what you are teaching and then to apply what we are learning as we follow You. Thanks! Come! Speak! Teach! Thanks! Pray that I would handle God's Word well and that the Holy Spirit speak to you and through me. Thanks! I try to remember and remind myself often, that with obedience comes blessings! Please Lord! Speak, lead and use me well today.
Okay so what has God revealed this morning during my quiet time? Sarah Young reminds us to allow God to prepare us and that he will equip us for the journey of today and beyond as we humble ourselves before Him with hearts determined to follow always. Our Daily Bread reminds us that God will act and that His promises are true. Lean on those, not our own understanding, and allow Him to guide you and redeem those things that seem unfair in His perfect timing. We will never be able to fully grasp His wisdom and plans. All we are called to do is follow Him step by step in faith and trust that He will work all things together. Amen! And the Upper Room reminds us that God does and will lead us and work all things together as we trust and obey. Yes, with obedience comes blessings! May we be faithful and obedient and allowing Him to lead us through the long haul as we persevere in faith and follow well always. Amen! Today we will encounter several faithful ones that trust and follow God and see how He blessed their obedience and brought His will to life. May that be us--always! I'm praying for you and us and for God to lead us to His perfect plans as we allow Him to. Amen!
See you soon! We can know His peace, even in the unusual or very hard things. He is with us always and working all things together for your, our and all who will come good! PTL!
Sarah Young
ODB:
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A hardworking clerk, Erin always did her job well. But after she was accused of dishonesty, Erin was put on leave while being investigated. She felt like quitting in protest but was advised to wait it out. “Leaving suggests you’re guilty,” she was told. So Erin stayed, praying for God to give her justice. Sure enough, months later, she was cleared.
John Mark may have felt the same when Paul dropped him from the mission team. To be sure, the young man had left them earlier (Acts 15:37-38). But perhaps he’d regretted this and was hoping to be included this time. He must have felt unfairly judged by Paul; only Barnabas believed in him.
Years later, Paul would change his mind. “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry,” he said (2 Timothy 4:11). John Mark must have been relieved to have his reputation restored.
When we’re unfairly judged, may we remember that Jesus understands how we feel: He Himself was judged a sinner though He wasn’t, and He was treated worse than a common criminal though He was the Son of God. But He continued to do His Father’s will, knowing that He’d be vindicated and shown to be righteous. If you’ve been unfairly judged, don’t give up: God knows and will act in His time.
By Leslie Koh
REFLECT & PRAY
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What promises of God can you hold on to when you’re unfairly judged? How does Jesus’ example encourage you?
Father, only You know how I feel and what I’m going through. Please grant me the faith and patience to wait and to trust in You, for You’re a just God.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
“John, also called Mark” was a young believer in Jesus in Jerusalem, where his mother Mary hosted a church in her house (Acts 12:12). After handing over the famine relief money from the Antioch church to the Jerusalem church, Barnabas and Paul took Mark with them back to Antioch (v. 25). He became Paul’s missionary intern in his first missionary journey (13:5) but left the mission team halfway and returned to Jerusalem (v. 13). Paul viewed this as an unforgivable defection and failure (15:38). The apostle’s refusal to let Mark join the second missionary trip ended his cordial partnership with Barnabas (v. 39). Barnabas restored and nurtured his young cousin (Colossians 4:10) into faithfulness and fruitfulness (2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24). Because Peter called him “my son Mark” (1 Peter 5:13), scholars believe that he later came under the tutelage of Peter. Scholars also believe that Peter gave Mark the source materials to write the gospel bearing his name.
K. T. Sim |
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Upper Room: Let God
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. - Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
I was a Catholic seminarian for 10 years. It had always been my dream to serve God and the church as a priest. However, after finishing my studies, I was not ordained. I was asked to take a leave of absence and explore life outside the seminary.
Upon hearing that I would not be ordained, waves of anger toward God came crashing over me, and I experienced a crisis of faith. I spent many sleepless nights thinking about my situation. I had done well in my studies; I prayed fervently and attended Mass piously. I thought I knew God to be gentle, loving, and compassionate, and surely such a God would not take away my dream of becoming a priest.
When I sat down and reevaluated myself, I realized that all along I had taken my eventual ordination for granted and had not let God be God in my life. I had grabbed the reins and taken control without truly asking God to guide me.
The past years have been a great blessing and an opportunity for me to know God more fully. I may not understand God’s will, but I am now comforted by the truth that God is in charge of my life. I do not need to understand God’s thoughts and ways to rely on God’s will for me.
Today's Prayer
Lord God, we may not know what lies ahead for us, but we are assured of your promise that you will be with us every step of the journey. Amen.
Saturday, January 18 2025
Good Morning Preparing, Trusting, Worshipers of God! Why this word from God to pronounce over us today? Well, first of all we are children of God because of our faith in Jesus and we know He has custom plans for each of us and us as His Body. We are preparing our hearts to trust, obey, follow and worship. Everything we do for God and His lory is an act of worship. (Cleaning the church to praying for His Kingdom to come and will to be done, from trusting him and stepping out in faith to do what he has for you today. May we grow in trust as we prepare to follow and offer ourselves and all we do as an act of worship today and always! Amen!
I have to get out to shovel and clean off our cars as we prepare to go visit the grand babies shortly. So, remember you are very loved and washed white as snow. God loves you beyond measure and has great plans for you today and always. Step into those as you still yourself, worship, listen and follow today. I'm praying for you. Check out the couple of devos below as you sit at His feet and then engage in prayer and submission with the Harvest blogs. God really does love and you matter. Today is the day of the Lord's favor! Seek and follow Him into it today! Amen! Worship!
Sarah Young
Upper Room: With God's Blessings
Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor. - Nehemiah 1:11 (NIV)
A friend of mine recently went through a devastating divorce. Listening to her heartbreak, I felt sad and helpless. I was hundreds of miles away from her. What could I do? How could I help? I was overwhelmed and intimidated by the complexity of her need.
Nehemiah also faced a daunting task. When he heard that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and its gates destroyed by fire, he knew he needed to do something. He felt hopeless at first, but Nehemiah went on to lead and complete the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall. Nehemiah’s situation shows us that with God’s blessing the impossible becomes possible. God gave Nehemiah courage and guided him.
All of us experience daunting tasks that seem too big to conquer alone. It is normal to feel overwhelmed and unsure. But we are not alone; God is with us. In times of need, we can trust that God will give us the strength to endure. God equips us for what God has called us to do.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, help us to turn to you when we are faced with what feels impossible, trusting that you will give us strength. Amen.
The Word for You Today:
I to We Devo:
Harvest blogs:
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January 11 - The Holy Spirit Empowers To Witness
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But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you (1 Thessalonians 1:5).
The Holy Spirit is at work to get the Good News to people far from God. He is empowering believers to witness and then illuminating the truth of the message of Christ when we are faithful to share. The great news for the believer is that this isn’t something we have to work up, but we must simply cooperate with the Spirit already at work within us. This should give us confidence to open our mouths and proclaim the news of Christ because the Spirit is not just at work in us, but He is working in others and desires to give understanding to those who hear the message of Christ.
Holy Spirit, please teach me and empower me to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ effectively and powerfully. Put people in my path who desperately need You and give me the boldness I lack so that I can speak Your word with confidence!
--Adapted with permission from The Summit Church (thesummitchurch.org) we are inviting you into 21 days of prayer and fasting at the beginning of this new year! Each day will focus on a different biblical attribute of the Holy Spirit.
The founding pastor of Summit Church is Bill Elliff, who is now the pastor Emeritus and serves on the Executive Leadership Team of OneCry (onecry.com). You can find one of Bill’s books, Simply Prayer at prayershop.org.
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- Praise God for keeping his covenant promises to you.
- Give thanks that you have always been able to count on him in all circumstances.
- Confess any doubt you have had concerning God and his promises.
- Commit yourself to trusting the Lord and taking him at his word.
- Ask for his peace which transcends understanding to guard your heart and your mind in Jesus Christ.
- Pray that those who instruct within the church may be able to correctly handle the Word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15).
Prayer Pointer
“Embark upon no enterprise you cannot submit to the test of prayer.” —Anonymous
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com |
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Saturday, January 18 2025
Thank God I Am Forgiven Friday! You know the drill! begin with thanking God and worshiping for all the nuances of His love and forgiveness! What blessings we know as called by name, redeemed children of God in Christ!
NOTE: If you would like your year end giving statement please contact Debbie Siegfried:
siegfdeb@juno.com
Don't forget: Next Sunday the 19th is our annual congregational meeting after worship in the sanctuary. Your Support team approved the budget we will be presenting to you to vote on. (remember to vote you must be a member in good standing). The major budget discussion question we will face is your choice to retain and find a way to pay for our organist or not to. Patti's salary is equal to our budget deficit for 2025. (about $9000.) If we vote to retain her we will need tp come up with a way for you to pay her salary or to offset the deficit. Please pray into this and for our meeting next week.
Next we all of our regular ministries restart after the holiday break: Tues Zoom Huddle 10-11, Wed night dinner huddle 6-7:30, and Clothing Closet on Sat. 10-1.
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Good Morning Very Loved, Trusting, Led by the Spirit, Brothers and Sisters in Christ! Amen!
What's God whispering to you this morning as you humble yourself at His feet with open ears and hearts? He is always speaking life, even to things that appear as dead. He is always whispering His love over you and even corrects in love. He has great plans custom made for you that He will reveal and direct to one step of faith at a time. He is upholding you in His strong right hand, delivering you from sin, evil, addictions and sicknesses. Seek Him with all your heart and refocus to Him and His plans with praise and thanksgiving and open and humble hearts and ready hands and feet. Don't lean on your own understanding but acknowledge Him in all your ways and he will direct your steps. he does have plans to prosper and not harm and lead to a future and a hope. Be still and know then prepare and go into this day worshiped up, filled with love and ready to step into His purposes for you today. An rejoice for he is with you always! Amen! Thank God I am forgiven! Thank God He is calling me by name, redeeming things and loving on me and he is doing the same for you. Trust and obey! Walk in His love!
I'm going to allow you to engage your own way today and through your own devotional time. God is speaking to you and calling you by name. What's he saying? Who might you process that with? I'm pray ing you to hear and know and be strengthened in faith today and then for God to lead you to His perfect plans for you. Below are harvest's prayer starters. use them to launch you into a time of prayer and fellowship with our loving Father. then follow His Spirit prepared for today! Amen! rejoice! worship!
Harvest Prayer Starters
- Praise God for the depth of his wisdom and knowledge, and for his unsearchable judgments.
- Thank God for guiding and directing your ways.
- Confess any resistance on your part to do his will.
- Commit yourself to acknowledging him in all your ways (Prov. 3:5-6).
- Ask God for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better and have the eyes of your heart enlightened, to know the hope to which you are called, the riches of his glorious inheritance (Eph. 1:17-18).
- Pray for the Spirit of love in your church that believers may be one, even as the Father and Son are one, so that the world may believe that God sent Jesus Christ (Jn. 17:21).
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| Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. |
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Saturday, January 18 2025
Please pray for our Support team meeting tonight as we prepare for our Annual Congregational Meeting on the 19th. Pray for God to lead our leaders and us as His Body. May we be the best stewards of ALL His blessings while sowing lavishly and following well.
Many of our members have been or are sick. Please continue to pray for healing, deliverance and a covering over us all to stay healthy and of protection from evil.
Some are also enduring some physical things that need prayer and deliverance. Keep praying and reaching out to encourage. We need each other to travel through all season well.
Larry Paul had good news that the heart meds are working and he will not need angioplasty. PTL and keep praying for him to transition well back to work as He serves the Lord as one of our supported missionaries.
PTL for another amazing day of ministry and fellowship at our Bread Ministry Donut day. Many were served and much serving, prayer, fellowship and connections happened. Thank God for using us to bring some love to our neighbors. Pray those connections continue to lead people to God.
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Good Morning Faithfull Friends of God! Oh how He loves us and we Him! He has created us to love and be in relationship with Him and others and to be His vessels of love, hope and help. We are doing pretty good with that and we are a very united Body of Christ moving on mission with Him. We are doing what we can with what we've been given and allowing Him to grow us both individually and as His Body into our fuller potential and His greater things. PTL! We have reached this sweet spot of unity in purpose and mission and in donning His easy yoke to go plow in prayer and plant seeds of faith. We are harvesters as He sends in the harvest and we are becoming disciple makers for His glory. We are uniting in His love and growing as His Good News Delivery Company. We are learning and doing our age and circumstance appropriate Kingdom duties. Can you see that? It's true and we can unite around that and our hope in Christ to spur each other on and grow together into the new things He has for us. I am so excited to see where He will lead you and us this year and even believing in prayer with thanksgiving that He can send 30 new members this year and expand His territory through us. Amen! Keep praying into that and seeking your part with a determination to follow Him one step of faith after another. He really does have great plans for you and us and continues to nurture and encourage us, His faithful friends. PTL!
It seems like God has taken me down several tracks with my quiet time devotionals today, yet there may be a thread through them as well. For sure spend some time with the Harvest Prayer blogs at the end. Use the prayer starters to focus your prayers for you and us. Let's start with Psalm 63 from ODB and process that before God. Worship and remember how wonderful and ever-present He is. You are known, loved, heard and cared for always. Begin with some praise to help refocus.
Psalm 63:
Maybe that's all the further God will lead you today? It is a great place to start for sure as you remind yourself and God of His love for you and how He holds you close and carries you through. ODB reminds us of His love and care always and how praise worthy He is. We discussed the other day about loving as we love ourselves done well begins with loving ourselves as God loves us. Check out TWFYT and their reminder to see yourself as valuable. This is not a prideful thing but seeing yourself as God does and receiving His love and help because in His eyes, you are worthy and valuable and He does have perfect plans for you, even today, for just as you are right now. As you trust and allow Him and yourself to love you, you will begin to grow and then flourish in his hands of love. Amen! Chuck Swindoll reminds us that we do matter and God does have perfect, custom plans for each of us and then as His Body. We all matter and we all have our parts to perform for His glory. Do you know yours? Ask Him and then process with someone. Pray for some small groups we will be starting soon to discover and learn how to use our spiritual gifts. (If you are being stirred to this, talk to pastor Don). Sarah Young has a wonderful word from God for you today: God is with you and for you and will lead you to His best if you allow Him. Joyce Meyer reminds us that receiving God's deliverance and healing is a choice. Jesus asked, "Do you want to be healed?" God loves you unconditionally and wants to lead you to His best. The question is, do you want that too? If so, open your heart and mind and ask the Holy Spirit to help you receive and respond well. He knows what you need. Are you open to that? Speaking of that, the Upper Room reminds us that sometimes that healing comes as we forgive and His help comes as we die to self and want to love as we have been loved. It can be easy to point fingers. But remember when you do there may be some fingers pointing back at you. Often the thing we despise most in another is the thing we are guilty of as well. Ask God to show you how to love like Him and as you have been loved. After all, none of us are or ever can be worthy of His love, forgiveness or saving grace, yet He does love and forgive. How can we help others who have gone astray or we don't like to know God's love? Pray into that. As believers and even as pastors and leaders, we are often challenged with this. We need to be discerning and wanting to help, but also wise not to allow the yeast of sin to get a foothold and grow in us or another. Church discipline is always intended for restoration someday. God has forgiven, redeemed and helps us correct. How might He be calling us to do so for another--even trouble makers and divisive ones. Sometimes they may even believe they are right and we are all wrong. Let us always seek shalom and restoration and to love as we have been loved. Remember, this life in Christ is a journey that begins with loving God and wanting to live for Him in His ways and then to love others as we love ourselves. For all of that we need God and His love, wisdom, discernment and help. Keep praying for us to represent Him well and to live and love more like Jesus. Amen! Love you all! Sarah and I are always available if you have a problem or need to process something and so is our PRC. Let us resolve to always stay united and moving in Christ for God's glory. Then all other things will fall into place. Amen! There is no greater love is this...a willingness to lay ones life down for another. We are pretty good and growing in that. Amen! May we always seek to live and love more and more like Jesus!
ODB:
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After another unexpected health setback, I joined my husband and others during a retreat in the mountains. I trudged up the wooden staircase that led to the tiny church on the top of a hill. Alone in the dark, I stopped to rest on a splintered step. “Help me, Lord,” I whispered as the music began. I walked slowly until I stepped into the small room. I breathed through the lingering pain, grateful that God hears us in the wilderness!
Some of the most intimate moments of worshiping God recorded in Scripture took place in the wilderness. While hiding in the Desert of Judah and most likely on the run from his son Absalom, King David sang: “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you” (Psalm 63:1). Having experienced God’s power and glory, David deemed God’s love as “better than life” (v. 3), and it was the reason he committed to a lifetime of worship—even while in the wilderness (vv. 2-6). He said, “Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me” (vv. 7-8).
Like David, regardless of our circumstances or the fierceness of those standing against us, we can demonstrate confidence in God by praising Him (v. 11). Though we’ll suffer, sometimes by no fault of our own, we can trust that God’s love is always better than life.
By Xochitl Dixon
REFLECT & PRAY
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How can knowing God loves you help when you’re feeling attacked or defeated? When has praising Him strengthened your faith during hard times?
My God, Your love is better than life!
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
David wrote seventy-five psalms, seventy-three of which bear his name. Acts 4:25 confirms he also wrote Psalm 2 and Hebrews 4:7 confirms he wrote Psalm 95.
Psalm 63 includes a note about its historical background. We’re told that David penned it “when he was in the Desert of Judah.” On several occasions, David retreated into the wilderness when he was fleeing from Saul (see 1 Samuel 23:14-15; 24:1) and also when his own son Absalom rebelled to usurp his throne (see 2 Samuel 15:13-30). When he wrote Psalm 63, he was probably fleeing from Absalom because David refers to himself as “the king” (v. 11), and he wasn’t yet king when Saul pursued him.
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TWFYT:
Chuck Swindoll
Sarah Young
Joyce Meyer
Upper Room: It's Not Fair
Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” - Matthew 5:44 (NIV)
“I can’t believe how much trouble that woman is causing,” I complained to my husband. “She tries to get her finger in everything and is such a gossip, stirring up trouble wherever she goes.”
My husband listened carefully to what I was saying and generally agreed with me. But he asked me to consider something. He pointed out that Jesus loved her just as much as he loved me. That just blew my mind. How unfair! I thought. I was behaving well, and she wasn’t.
I prefer my husband to be supportive by always taking my side. I don’t like it when he’s reasonable and makes sense, requiring me to course-correct! He did give me a little help, though, by suggesting that I pray for eyes to see that woman as God does. Slowly, I began to open up to the idea. God began to show me that she was created in the divine image, just as I was. That alone is worthy of my respect.
Jesus challenges us to love those who are difficult to love. It’s easy to love those who agree with us. But God has called us to a higher standard. While we were still sinners, God loved us anyway. I remain a work in progress. With God by my side through prayer, I am learning that all persons are worthy of my respect.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, thank you for loving us. Help us to see everyone as worthy of love and respect. Amen.
Harvest Prayer:
January 9 - The Holy Spirit Can Be Resisted, Grieved and Quenched
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You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you (Acts 7:51).
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).
Do not quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
When we study the Holy Spirit in Scripture much of the focus is on what the Holy Spirit does in us, and rightly so. For the blessings, power, and benefits the Holy Spirit supplies to the believer are immeasurable and vital for the Christian life. But is there anything we can do to the Holy Spirit? The short and unfortunate answer is, yes. In Scripture we see that we can resist the Spirit through disobedience. We can grieve the Spirit by how we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we can quench the Spirit by despising His gifts and activity. While we cannot make the Holy Spirit do anything, we can cooperate with Him in what He desires to do. We can as Paul would say, “Keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25). Let us be a people who do not oppose when the Spirit moves but choose to cooperate when He works.
Holy Spirit, please give me discernment to know Your perfect will and the desire to cooperate with You in God’s mission on earth. Show me any areas where I may be resisting, grieving, or quenching You! Please give me every spiritual gift I need today to accomplish Your purpose and will.
--Adapted with permission from The Summit Church we are inviting you into 21 days of prayer and fasting at the beginning of this new year! Each day will focus on a different biblical attribute of the Holy Spirit.
The founding pastor of The Summit Church is Bill Elliff, who is now the pastor Emeritus and serves on the Executive Leadership Team of OneCry (onecry.com). You can find one of Bill’s books, Prayer with No Intermission at prayershop.org.
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- Praise God that he knows everything in every age.
- Give thanks that he knows you by name and that you matter to him.
- Confess any attempt to conceal things from God.
- Commit yourself to openness and honesty before God. Invite him to search your heart and life (Ps. 139:23-24).
- Ask to be protected from the evil one and kept from a spirit of worldliness.
- Since faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Rom. 10:15-17), pray that your unsaved friends, neighbors, and relatives will hear the Word and respond in faith.
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com
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Saturday, January 18 2025
Today is Donut Day at the Bread Ministry 10-Noon. Come and see what God is up to and pray for Him to use you and us to connect others to God.
Good Morning Known, Redeemed Children of God! I had my pastors huddle this morning and slept in until right before that so I only have time to develop and share one thought this morning and that is you are know and redeemed by God. PTL! Check out Our Daily Bread below discussing Jesus our forerunner. You know since He rose victorious from the grave and overcame death for us, no one every remains in the grave. In the blink of an eye we are in His presence in paradise or in torment. We get to choose which. He became death for us. PTL! We discussed Sunday how He was our firstborn in that He put on His resurrection body and stepped into eternity as our Lord and Savior. He is the Way--the only way to eternity in His presence. Worship Him! Draw near and abide in His love today and always. Share this Good News with others too. Contemplate and celebrate all thius means to you and those you love. We have been saved by grace and all who come to Jesus have that same opportunity. Our job is to become more like Him and to show others the way. We are His Good News Delivery Company and we all have a part to play. We are created to love and for such a time as this! God loves you and has great plans for you. PTL! Process that with someone today and pray and then go share His love. I'm praying for you and our church to become His dynamic movement doing just that. Cone and join he party! Amen!
Remember there is someone only you can enter into their world and reach for Christ. Ask God to show you who and the Way. Amen!
ODB:
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To improve her sign language skills, Leisa immersed herself in the world of the Deaf. Soon she learned the problems they face. The Deaf are awkwardly ignored by hearing people, expected to lip-read flawlessly, and routinely get passed over for promotions at work. Most public events go uninterpreted.
Leisa’s signing steadily improved to the point where she felt at home with the Deaf. At a party, a Deaf person was surprised to learn Leisa could hear. Before Leisa could respond, another friend signed, “She has a Deaf heart.” The key had been Leisa’s willingness to live in their world.
Leisa didn’t “condescend” to be with the Deaf. Except for her hearing, she was like them. But Jesus did stoop to reach all of us—to live in our world. He “was made lower than the angels for a little while” (Hebrews 2:9). Christ “shared in [our] humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil” (v. 14). In doing so, He freed “those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (v. 15). More than that, He was “fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God” (v. 17).
Whatever we face, Jesus knows and understands. He hears our heart. He’s with us in every way.
By Tim Gustafson
REFLECT & PRAY
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What does it mean to you that Jesus has experienced the same hardships you face? How might you step into someone else’s world for a while?
Thank You, Father, for the gift of Your Son, who brings me into Your family.
For further study, read Walk with Me: Traveling with Jesus and Others on Life’s Road.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Why does Hebrews 2:10 say that Jesus was made “perfect”? As God in human flesh, wasn’t He perfect already? According to scholar Marvin R. Vincent, the Greek word translated “perfect,” teleioō, literally means “to carry to the goal” and possesses the connotative meaning of “consummation.” The idea is that Christ was made “complete” by His suffering and death. He understands in the fullest way possible what we face in this difficult world. This provides us with a greater understanding of His words from the cross: “It is finished” (John 19:30). He’d completed the mission His Father gave Him to do.
Tim Gustafson |
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Saturday, January 18 2025
Good Morning Friends! I love you and so does God. He loves better than me but I try to love as commanded by Jesus, "Love as I have loved you..." That is agape love, sacrificial love, putting others first love, dying to self love and I think we can all struggle with that. The Greatest Commandment as identified by Jesus is our goal in life: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength and love your neighbor as you love yourself." We say we love God and others and often do so pretty well, but, do we love ourselves? And I don't mean in a vain way but in the way that God loves us. This is a word from God to some of you today: "Be still in my presence and know how much I love you always and no matter what! I have created you for my love and to love and be in relationship with Me and others. I have and am calling you by name. You are mine! I have redeemed you and will continue to as you come to me in humility and repentance. Nothing will ever separate you from my love--NOTHING! I am Love and I love you and my love lives in you. Be still and know. Come to me weary child and find rest for your soul. You are mine and I have and will forgive you and not remember and my love never ends. You can't fully fathom or measure my love for you but I would have sent my Son to save you even of you were the only one on earth. Come and abide in my love today and know my peace beyond understanding. Come! And know this, you are created for such a time as this, just as you are to go love as I have loved you. Receive my love and go share it as I love you and love through you. I am with you always. I really love you!" WOW! Meditate on that! I asked God to write this blog and He used my fingers to speak to your and my heart. What Love!
This morning has been an amazing and deep time for me dwelling in God's love and wisdom. Thanks Lord! There's so much I want to share and yet, maybe, what I have shared is enough. Dwell in His love this morning (always too). Receive His forgiving, healing, restoring love today and know His peace. Some help to focus on God and begin your day abiding in His love come from our devotionals below. As I finished my quiet time I encountered Harvest Prayer's Kim's blog. Please engage God with praying through that. She summarized what I have been feeling and praying for me, you and us. We are very loved and sent to love. We are gathered as God's Good News Delivery Company and we all have our parts to play. That all comes to life as we abide in His love and allow Him to lead us always. May this be so Lord! Come! Inhabit our praises. Refocus us as we count our many blessings and help us to love as we have been loved--even ourselves! Thank You for loving, healing and using me! Thank You for Your patient love! Come! Fill me to overflowing with Your love. Amen!
I'm putting Our Daily Bread at the end and asking you to pray through this and maybe read and prepare Matthew 2 for Sunday. Yesterday I went deep in with the part where Herod had all the babies killed in Bethlehem in hopes of eliminating Jesus. He failed in that but not in causing deep grief for many. Job and His loss came to mind as I pondered and am preparing to share God's heart in response to what many non-believers and atheist's often ask, "How could a loving God allow evil or kill people?" This is a question we all need to wrestle through and overcome to stay rooted deep in Jesus and God's love. God is Love. He loves you. And yes evil is in this world and filtered through His hands. Yet He is Love. Contemplate His response to Job and ask for wisdom and His heart to minister to those who are devastated by loss. And determine in your heart to always keep your heart fixed on the God, who is love, no matter what evil you may face in the future. Also ask God to redeem your loss and use you to go love as you have been loved. Someone needs you and God's love. Help Lord! Amen! And pray for me as I wrestle with this and prepare for Sunday. Thanks! Check out the link in ODB about suffering: https://odbu.org/topic/ca211-01-lecture/?utm_source=Digital&utm_medium=ODB+Email%2C+app%2C+website&utm_campaign=2025+Jan+7th+ODB+Insight+-+Ten+Reasons+Suffering
But start first with praise and worship and abiding in Love! I'm praying for you right now!
Sarah Young
TWFYT:
UR: Garden of Grace
Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit.” - John 15:5 (NRSVUE)
One of my favorite memories is of my dad sitting on a fresh bed of pine straw in the middle of his rose garden. With an unlit pipe in his mouth, he would spend hours clipping, spraying, and caring for his rose bushes. He grew the most beautiful fragrant roses imaginable. Dad loved to take them to work and put them on all the office desks. He also spread them throughout our house. I remember the rich fragrance of roses throughout our home, and every time I smell a rose, I think of Dad.
The problem with rose gardening is that rose stems have thorns. Every now and then Dad got pricked, and then he might say something I won’t repeat here. Still, he continued to love and care for his roses.
Through our scripture passage I understand Christ as the gardener in our lives. For me, the fruit is God’s grace growing within us and also allowing us to make a difference in the lives of others. Yet, like rose stems, our lives have thorns. Sometimes thorns prick me pretty good, and sometimes my thorns prick others as well. I find I need some time each day to focus on God’s grace in Christ. Jesus invites us to abide in his love, and I hope we can all find our own unique ways to do that each and every day.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, thank you for caring for us with the attentiveness of a gardener. Help us to abide in your love so that we may show grace to others. Amen.
Harvest Kim's Blog
PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR by Kim Butts
I have been prayerfully reflecting upon this past year and looking ahead to what God is holding in His heart for me in this new year. His faithfulness emerges so clearly out of the difficult places of the past season of my life. Psalm 86:11 begins, “Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness…” The way of Christ was to rely fully upon His Father for all things…nothing He did or said was apart from His Father. I’ve done plenty of things apart from God over the past few months, relying on my own ideas, strengths and wits rather than yielding myself fully and completely to the purposes of God so that He can show Himself faithful in the midst of all of my everyday circumstances. Fortunately for me…and I imagine for all of us, God is not only faithful, but also forgiving! “If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you” (Psalm 130:3-4).
Our Father is faithful and forgiving. His faithfulness can be fully relied upon as we seek to learn His ways, as Jesus did. In the midst of difficulty, struggle, pain, loss, grief, joy, victory, transition or celebration – God is present. As I mentioned, there have been multiple times this past year when my record of wrongs – things done or left undone – needed to be submitted to God so that I could once again serve Him with reverence. How grateful I am that God is faithful to forgive me when I confess things that must grieve His heart. Renewed determination to be more like Christ this year has gripped me anew. I am focused on walking more carefully in the steps of Jesus day by day, keeping my eyes fixed upon the Faithful One.
Here is my prayer as I head into this New Year with a new resolve to be the person He has called me to be, the servant He desires me to be, and the child He loves no matter how many times I mess up: Teach me Your way, Lord, so that I may continually rely on Your faithfulness from moment to moment. Help me to keep short accounts with You whenever I fail to extend the love of Jesus to others, or when I find myself in weak moments that cause my heart to turn away from complete obedience to Your word and Your ways. Give me the strength to press into Your heart for lost people and nations, and to cry out to You for spiritual awakening, beginning in my own heart! Thank You, Father, for Your faithful, loving-kindness towards me so that I may serve You with reverence. May I be more faithful in this New Year to be Jesus to those I encounter, so that nothing I do or say strays from Your kingdom purposes. I ask this in the Name above ALL Names! Amen!
ODB:
Kenny stood before the congregation he’d left years before after he’d lost faith in God. He shared that his belief had been restored. How? God had touched his heart through the beauty and design he saw in creation. Kenny was in awe of Him once more through the witness of God’s general revelation seen in the natural world, and he now embraced the wisdom found in the special revelation of Scripture. After sharing his story, Kenny stepped into the tank of water at the front of the sanctuary. His father, tears of joy in his eyes, baptized him based on his faith in Jesus.
After he’d lost much in life, Job’s faith had also been shaken. He said, “I cry to you, O God, but you don’t answer. I stand before you, but you don’t even look” (Job 30:20 nlt). God “spoke to Job out of the storm” (38:1), declaring that it wasn’t about Him not seeing Job but that Job’s vision needed to be expanded as he considered God’s amazing, intricate creation. The “earth’s foundation” and the “morning stars” (vv. 4, 7) and all the creatures, plants, and waters found between (vv. 8-41), pointed to the one whom Job could trust—the God of amazing love and power. Job responded by saying, “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you” (42:5).
When doubts threaten your faith in Christ, consider the magnificence of God’s creation. He reveals Himself in it if we only have eyes to see.
By Tom Felten
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How has God revealed Himself in creation? How are awe of God and faith in Him linked?
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Job’s friends insisted that his suffering was caused by his sins (Job 3-37). Job relentlessly defended his innocence and sought his vindication from God (23:1-7). Instead of answering his questions, however, God asked Job a series of questions pertaining to His creation (chs. 38-41). Instead of providing an explanation as to why He permitted evil and suffering in this world, God revealed His character.
Job didn’t need to fully understand God’s ways, for no man can (Isaiah 55:8-9). He only needed to humble himself, seek to know God deeply, and trust Him wholeheartedly. His suffering taught him to run to God as the only sure place of refuge—the safest place to go for comfort, sustenance, and strength (Job 42:2-6). Job wasn’t given a reason for suffering, but he discovered that when life comes out short, God is enough (see Psalm 23:1, 4).
Find out more about why we believe in a God who allows suffering.
K. T. Sim |
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Don 
Rev. Don Kerns
72 Sunset Hill Rd
Saturday, January 18 2025
Good Morning Washed-White-As-Snow Bloggers! I love snowy mornings like this as they always remind me of God's amazing grace, loving mercy and sacrificial forgiveness! Yes, by God's grace, we are washed white as snow! PTL! and Amen! It's sometimes hard to believe that He would love me so much as to make a way to be forgiven and allowed into His presence. But it's true! What love we know and get to share! Start there with your worship today and this week. Amazing grace how sweet the sound...and reality! PTL!
This morning began with an awakening from the dogs and then them waking Karen early. This allowed God to redeem this time by allowing us to share a couples devotional we were going to start yesterday. I love beginning the day with God, Karen, Love and yeah, even sometimes dogs! Then it started to snow while I was engaged in my own quiet time in my prayer closet and Karen the same in her quiet space. God has been speaking as I stilled myself at Jesus' feet for a spell. That respite has continued for three hours and has led me through a great time with Karen, God and now to sharing what I heard with you. Isn't God great and loving and ever-present!
So where has He led today? As always there is a thread through my devotionals that I use and it is a thread that some of you are to process as well. Do you realize how intimately God is involved with your life and with our church Body? He is always speaking and directing. He uses us just as He created us and has gathered us to encourage each other, build up His Church and to team up to go love and make disciples like Jesus. I often contemplate that Good News Delivery Company idea that God led me to develop and I continue to allow Him to tweak. We are gathered for His purposes and we all matter. We all have custom made roles to play according to how we are created, custom gifted, and according to our season in life and circumstances. Thinking about that should lead to the idea of Jesus' promised easy yoke for all who come to Him. It leads me to worship, praise and deeper exploration of what He has for us now and next? As always during a new year, I tend to spend more time exploring, asking, listening and receiving from God what His plans are and then for how to plan, who is included and what are the next baby steps for some of you, me and some of us together. How does He want to use each of us to move towards our fuller potential in His Good News Delivery Co.? I know He wants to develop some new small groups and ministries in the next few weeks/months and I continue to seek Him for who, what, where and when. Please pray into this and ask How He may want you to partner with some to move to the fuller potential and greater things He has for you and your team and our Body. Then talk to me or Sarah and let's start pursuing this earnestly. This is the next step in becoming a dynamic movement and for coming alive in '25! Thanks Lord! Stir us. Lead us to dreams, visions and ideas and unite us in small groups and as a Body to keep seeking, discerning and following You well. Bring us alive in '25! Amen! Be earnest in your pursuit of Him and His plans and open and supple in His hands and watch what He will do!
So how does this thread through our devotionals below? See for yourself. Be still, humble and open as you engage with God prayerfully through them. He is speaking to you and may have a word for our Body or your small group as well. Thanks Lord! Expect the unexpected and start praying for BIG GOD things that may seem impossible for nothing is too hard or impossible for God! He is ABLE! Interesting to note that I thought I had plans laid out for our preaching calendar until Easter, BUT GOD. Two weeks ago He led me to change things. Yesterday we discussed Simeon and Anna and the people of faith God gathered that day to proclaim the Messiah had come and to prophesy some things. There were actually 5 gathered who were people filled with, touched and led by the Holy Spirit before the Holy Spirit was given to man. Simeon, Anna, Mary, Joseph and Jesus. Today two devos discuss he Epiphany or the coming of the wise men and next Sunday, instead of the plans I had, God has led to our discussing these events. (I was supple, God redirected and now affirmed to me that I was listening and chose to adjust from my plans to His. May we all be better at that!) The Holy Spirit comes to us as we step into faith in Jesus and He gifts, empowers, corrects and leads us to God's best. He leads us to go live and love more like Jesus and make disciples and teaches us to pray and fulfill our purposes in His Good News Delivery Co. PTL! Thank You Holy Spirit! Come and lead us to the best and perfect plans and our unique purposes and all for God's glory! Amen. We are united by God for His purposes and to reflect His love and light today! Let us be about His business as we take that Good News and His love to many! Come Lord! Have Your way with us and unite us in love and lead us to go love like You. Bring revival and new life alive all around us! Thanks! Amen!
Upper Room: The Unexpected
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. - Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)
The magi traveled far looking for “the one who has been born king of the Jews.” They sought him in Jerusalem, but King Herod sent them to Bethlehem where the chief priests and teachers of the law said the Messiah was to be born. There they found the baby Jesus, not in a palace but in a house, with his mother. Had I been one of them, I might have been disillusioned, but scripture gives no indication that they were disappointed by the humble scene.
When God’s answers are not what we expect, it can be disappointing. Our church experienced this during the long process of finding a new senior pastor. The church elders scheduled guest preachers for a couple of months and then arranged for an interim pastor to serve for a year while a search was conducted. But two weeks before the interim pastor was to arrive, he informed us that he would not be coming. We were back to square one!
This was not what we had expected, but it was a wonderful opportunity to practice trusting God. God’s answers may not be what we expect, but they are always perfect. Like the magi, we can receive them with joy.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for your awesome power and for your perfect, unexpected answers to our prayers. Amen.Sarah Evans:
Our Daily Bread:
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Phillips Brooks wrote the lyrics to the beloved carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem” after visiting Bethlehem. Brooks, pastor of a church in the United States, was so moved by his experience that he wrote this to his Sunday school students: “I remember . . . on Christmas Eve, when I was standing in the old church at Bethlehem, close to the spot where Jesus was born, when the whole church was ringing hour after hour with the splendid hymns of praise to God, how again and again it seemed as if I could hear voices that I knew well, telling each other of the ‘Wonderful Night’ of the Savior’s birth.”
In 1868, Brooks put his thoughts into a poem, and his church organist set it to music. The song spoke stillness and peace into the unsettling aftermath of the American Civil War: “O little town of Bethlehem / How still we see thee lie! / . . . The hopes and fears of all the years / Are met in thee tonight.”
Matthew wrote of our Savior’s birth in Bethlehem in Matthew 2. When the “Magi from the east” (v. 1) followed the star to Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2), “they were overjoyed” to find Jesus (Matthew 2:10).
Today, as we celebrate Epiphany, we too need the glorious news of our Savior’s birth. As the hymn reminds us, He came to “cast out our sin and enter in” and “be born in us.” In Him, we find peace.
By Alyson Kieda
REFLECT & PRAY
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Where in your life do you need the peace the Savior offers? What aspect of Jesus’ story touches you most?
Dear Jesus, thank You for the hope and peace You’ve brought to me.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Matthew’s gospel emphasizes gentile (non-Jewish) inclusion into God’s redemption story. His genealogy, for example, highlights three gentile women—Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth (Matthew 1:3, 5). And Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, was previously married to a gentile, Uriah the Hittite (v. 6). In Matthew 2, gentiles—the magi (who may have been members of the Persian royal court)—come to worship Jesus (vv. 1-2). By highlighting gentile inclusion in Christ’s story, Matthew leads his readers to the good news that God’s redemption is for all people and His followers are called to “make disciples of all nations” (28:19).
Monica La Rose |
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The Word for You Today:
PrayerStarters
Saturday, January 18 2025
This Week:
Wed 10-12 Donut day at the Bread Ministry
Good Morning Worshipers! Let's get our worship on this morning! We remembered all God's blessings during 2024 and now look forward with expectation for all He has planned for each of us and us as His Body! Were some things hard, even very hard? Yes. Will that be the same in 2025? Yes. However we can and should still worship. praise and expect God to move in mighty and mysterious ways and even use the hard things to grow us, shape us and open the door for His loving presence, help and new things. Amen! So, get out those gratitude lists and let's worship and pray with expectation and thanksgiving! What are you thankful about? PTL! Prepare your hearts to come to worship in Spirit and Truth and enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise! Hallelujah!
This morning we are wrapping up our season of fasting and praying. The first thing I did was flip my Max Lucado calendar to find God speaking to my heart from this entry for today:
As one who is good at operating in my own strength and with a history (one that's being repented of) of forging ahead of God, I was reminded to whoa down, seek, listen, focus and follow the Holy Spirit at God's pace. I was reminded of my prayer to not be sent to a place where I could do things on my own, but one where I have to rely on God. He sent me to St. Matts. in response to that. As long as I stay attached to the Vine and focused and moving with God, things are great. He guides and provides. I am learning to go to that place first before over-reacting or running ahead and it is the perfect place to be. Fasting helps me to re-center and seek first His Kingdom and not lean on my own understanding. That is the perfect place to be: empty of self, seeking and dependent and moving with God in His strength. Thanks Lord! Are you connected to the Vine and moving or waiting with and on the Lord? He has perfect plans just for you and for us as His Body that come alive as we do. Be still and know, receive and follow well my friends in God's strength and timing. That is a goal for us as His Body as well. That is the only way to be about our Father's business and doing the things we are created, gifted and gathered to do well. Amen!
The rest of my devotionals flowed from that calendar reminder. Sarah Young reminds of the importance of deep fellowship and dependence on the Lord and the good fruit that comes from that. I can get very anxious waiting on the Lord and impatient as well. Chuck Swindoll reminded me that I often have to give all my junk thinking and anxiety to God. He is faithful to take that as His Word promises and bring peace. We can all struggle with feelings of inadequacy, especially because our best work and efforts come when we are weak and leaning on God. Joyce Meyer has a great quote to embrace and remember, "If you have done your best God will do the rest." We should all write that down and put it somewhere we will see it often. Are you doing the best you can with what you've been given? If so, PTL, relax and allow Him to lead you and provide as He guides. He knows the desires of your heart and the plans He has for you. Be still and know and let Him have His way with you and the situation. That is where trust and peace and joy can grow. He is able! Amen! TWFYT wraps up this session with the reminder that God is the answer and solution to any problem. Draw near to Him first or as soon as you realize that you need to refocus on Him. Then trust Him and allow Him to intervene and redeem the situation, you or whatever problem you perceive is happening. Nothing is too hard for our God! Amen! Draw near, worship, and trust Him. Then do what you can with what you've been given and He will lead you step by step to His better and greater things! Amen!
Today during my message we will encounter four people of deep faith. These four received the Holy Spirit and were guided by Him and His dreams and vision before the Holy Spirit was given to mankind as a result of faith in Jesus. We will look at Simeon and Anna and Mary and Joseph in Luke 2 today. We can know God and trust as they did for Him to answer. Often in unexpected ways. BUT GOD! He knows you, created you for such a time as this and is calling you by name to come to Him in faith and walk with Him one step of faith at a time. He really does redeem things and have great plans that flow even from the hardest of things. Trust Him and worship! Amen!
Sarah Young:
Chuck Swindoll
Joyce Meyer
TWFYT:
Saturday, January 18 2025
Tomorrow: We are colleting for Everlasting Life Ministries
Worship with Children's Church at 10
Wed. 1012 is our next donut day at the Bread Ministry. Come and see what God is doing through us!
Annual Congregational Meeting is Sun Jan. 19th after worship in the sanctuary and on Zoom. Remember you must be a member in good standing to vote. (Good Standing is when you attend worship regularly, give, and commune at least 2 of the 4 times a year with us.)
*Congregational reports will be distributed shortly to review before the meeting
Sunday Jan 26th is our next Two Peas in a Pod brunch. Look for sign up sheets or let Lori know you will attend. Brings some friends!
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Good Morning Fasting, Praying Servants of the Lord! We have two days left in our season of fasting and praying. What's God been doing in and through you during this time? He's been speaking and directing me and releasing some things in the heavenlies for sure! If you haven't spent any time fasting and praying, I'd like to encourage you to do so today and tomorrow. Maybe skip a meal or turn off TV for a half hour or hour and spend some extra time at Jesus' feet listening, receiving and releasing. We are fasting and praying to offer ourselves, our ministries and our church to God and to invite Him to be our Lord this year. We are seeking and praying for God to direct us to Come Alive in '25, for us to become a dynamic movement, for new connection points and ministry opportunities, for harvest workers, for some small groups to start and for His Kingdom to come and will to be done as He molds and shapes us for such a time as this! He has great plans for you and us as we draw close, invite Him in and allow Him to lead us. Amen!
Today I will list a few devos below for you to engage with or use your own Bibles and whatever for your drawing close to God and listening. The Upper Room reminds us to make room for Him. Sarah Young asks us to start a new habit of proclaiming (and out loud) our trust in God! TWFYT reminds us of the shaking that God is doing in you, around you and this nation for His purposes. Dry Bones are coming to life as His fresh breath of the Spirit moves about. And ODB reminds us that we are created to be givers--of self, time, talents, finances, as they are all gifts given by God to be used for His glory. We are learning to live sacrificially (agape love) and love lavishly (pour ourselves out for others) like Jesus. We receive our marching orders as we still ourselves, offer ourselves and earnestly follow His Spirit. Trust and obey as you receive. That's giving back to God what He's given. All we are asked to do is to do what we can with what we've been given in this season. Seek First His Kingdom and He will reveal, guide and provide all that's needed. Receive it and share it with love and in faith today! And this year! We will be His dynamic movement and we all have a part. What's yours? Ask Him as you empty yourself and open up to receive all He has for you and step out in faith and trust! Amen! I'm praying for you!
UR: Making Room
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. - Matthew 3:2 (NIV)
There’s something about the new year that feels full of hope and possibility. The anticipation of something new gives me the desire to clear out the clutter and create space — both physically and mentally — for what the year will bring.
John the Baptist was called to prepare Israel for the coming Messiah. He preached a message of repentance, urging people to turn their hearts toward God by clearing their lives of sin and making room to receive Christ. We, too, are called to prepare for Christ because God has work for us to do! We can prepare our hearts by repenting of our sin and giving our lives fully to God — clearing out the clutter that keeps us from following the Lord wholeheartedly.
If we want to see God at work in our lives, we must make room for God’s presence. What clutter do we need to clear from our habits, our schedules, or our hearts to create room for God’s Spirit to move in? God wants to begin something new in us, so let’s anticipate that gift by making room for it!
Today's Prayer
O God, show us what we need to clear from our lives to make more room for you. Amen.Sarah Young
TWFYT
ODB
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One year, the leaders of our congregation invited us to give gifts, in addition to our regular weekly offerings, to build a new gymnasium—a space we could use to minister to the families in our community. After prayerfully considering the medical expenses caused by living with a disability, I asked my husband, “Are you sure we can do this?” He nodded. “We’re not giving God anything that’s not already His,” he said. “He’ll provide all we need.” And He did! Over a decade later, our church family still has the privilege of serving Jesus by serving people in that facility.
In 1 Chronicles 29, King David showed the leaders of Israel his commitment to support his son Solomon as his God-chosen successor and the builder of the temple (vv. 1-5). Everyone followed suit, “gave willingly,” and “rejoiced” (vv. 6, 9). David praised God and declared that “everything in heaven and earth” belonged to Him (v. 11). He prayed: “Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you” (v. 16).
As we consider all God has done and given to us, specifically the gift of a personal relationship with Jesus, we can express our worship and show our gratitude and love by simply giving back to God, the Giver of all good things!
By Xochitl Dixon
REFLECT & PRAY
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How does acknowledging that all things belong to God change the way you view giving? How can expressing your gratitude through giving change you?
Loving God, thank You for being a generous and faithful provider.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
David gathered “all the officials of Israel” (1 Chronicles 28:1) to address the temple project (ch. 28; 29:1-9) and to crown Solomon as king (29:21-25). David provided large amounts of the kingdom’s resources and also gave “[his] personal treasures of gold and silver . . . over and above everything [he’d] provided” (v. 3). Following his example, the leaders also gave their resources “freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD” (v. 9). He then led the whole assembly in heartfelt worship—praising God and extolling His greatness, eternality, power, glory, and sovereignty (vv. 10-13). David humbly acknowledged that God owns everything! Whatever they gave back to Him was simply returning to Him what He’d generously given to them in the first place (vv. 14-16).
K. T. Sim |
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