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Friday, January 03 2025
Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! Can it be Friday already? The holidays sure have messed up our conception of days. But one thing for sure, very day can be a TGIF day as we thank God for His mercy grace, and forgiveness. Begin your day there--worshiping and overflowing with thanksgiving for all God is and has done for you! Every day we are forgiven! PTL! We are sinners saved by grace! PTL! God loves you so much that he made a way for you to be saved, made right, cleansed and ready for eternity with Him. Amen!
Good Morning Bold and Courageous, Carried By God, Faithful Ones of the Lord! Amen! What blessings we know and get to share because we are so loved and have stepped into His Love! Amen! With the short week, I have much on my Donald's Do List for today and gotta fly. But not before leaving you with some thoughts to ponder and pray through today. God is with you, knows you, calls you by name, loves you beyond measure and carries you when needed. he is our helper and friend and also our Potter that molds and shapes us and uses all kinds of sources for that end. He created us for such a time as this. he gifted and empowered us to change into Christ's image and to be change agents in this world. That all opened up on that cruel cross and became available to you at rebirth. What an awesome God we serve! he never leaves you nor forsakes you and walks with you through the darkest valley an celebrates with you on the highest mountains. PTL!
I've been seeing all these posts about people who couldn't wait to put 2024 behind them. Are you one of those who had a hard year? Well, in my mind, every year is hard, BUT GOD! We know that life will get progressively more vile, evil and dark, yet we know The Light of the World, the Prince of Peace, and our Help in times of trouble. We can and are enabled to choose joy always as we grow in trust that God knows, is with us and is in control. Sometimes we need to just stop and remember that. Sometimes we need the help of others to refocus. Sometimes we need to dig out those gratitude list and begin there and count our many blessings. Instead of focusing on the bad and hard things, what if we refocused to God and His multitude of blessings. Would your year end review be different? Joy to the World and Peace beyond understanding opened up when we received forgiveness and new life. We have something the world can never know because of our faith in Christ and His work for good on our behalf. Trust Him! Count your many blessings. And rejoice--again, I say rejoice, because you are able to choose joy and trust always! Amen!
Check out the devotionals bellow and refocus on god today as we continue our time of fasting and praying. God is right beside you with open arms and he is upholding you in His strong right hand. He has forgiven you and is working all things together for good! PTL! and Amen! What's God saying to you today and who are you processing that with and praying with. he has some teammates just for you and you for someone too. reach out share the love and receive it. You are very loved, redeemed and empowered children of our Savior and the King of the universe! Amen!
ODB:
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Fear woke me at 3 a.m. on the first day of the new year. The year ahead weighed heavily on me, overwhelming me with dread. Illness in the family had long wearied me, and now, thoughts of the future made me afraid. Will more bad things happen? I wondered.
Jesus’ disciples understood the fear of bad things happening. Even though their Master had prepared and reassured them the day before He died, they were still afraid. They fled when He was arrested (Matthew 26:56); Peter denied Him (John 18:15-17, 25-27), and they went into hiding (20:19). Their fear during the upheaval of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, as well as of persecution, led them to act contrary to His command to “take heart” and His promise, “I have overcome the world” (16:33).
But Christ’s death and resurrection proved His authority and power over life and death. He has the ultimate victory. Even though the sinful state of our world makes suffering a certainty, we can rest in the truth that all things are subject to the authority of our wise and loving God. Jesus’ presence is with us (16:32-33), just as it was with His disciples, who later confidently went on to share the gospel to the world. May God’s promise that He’s in control strengthen our hearts to trust Him in this new year and be courageous even when we don’t know what the future will bring.
By Karen Huang
REFLECT & PRAY
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What’s your response to difficulty, suffering, and trials? What would “taking heart” look like for you?
Thank You, Jesus, for helping me with my fears and for showing me how to live courageously.
Visit ODBU.org/OT315 for further study on suffering and trials from the book of Job.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In John 16, as Jesus addressed His disciples’ fears and the grief and suffering that would come during and after His death, it’s noteworthy that nowhere did He suggest they’d be rescued from experiencing fear and pain. As Christ faced death, they’d abandon Him in terror—“leave [Him] all alone” (John 16:32). The grief they’d experience from His death was unavoidable—they’d “weep and mourn while the world [rejoiced]” (v. 20).
Instead of a comfort based on escaping suffering, however, Jesus offered His disciples hope rooted in His resurrection (16:22). They couldn’t avoid the pain they’d experience, but because Christ has “overcome the world” (16:33), their suffering would be like that of childbirth—the pain wouldn’t be purposeless but would “turn to joy” (v. 20)—tremendous joy that “no one will take away” (v. 22).
Monica La Rose |
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Sarah Young
Upper Room: In Everything
In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. - Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)
When I was a child, I often saw Javan munia birds in rural rice fields. Farmers consider these birds pests because they eat the rice. Sometimes farmers shoot at the flock with air rifles. Interestingly, when the birds hear the shots, they panic and bump into each other or get stuck in tree branches, causing their own demise.
When sudden change happens, sometimes I’m just like those birds. I react poorly out of shock and panic, and I run into problems. Once when I heard a rumor, I reacted in panic — only to realize later that the rumor was incorrect. Likewise, often when I heard good news, I would get too excited and make snap judgments that I ultimately regretted.
Then I read Isaiah 30:15: “In quietness and trust is your strength.” Instead of putting panic and emotion first, I learned that it is better to remain calm and trust God. As Proverbs 19:2 says, “Hasty feet miss the way!” So I learned to be still, try to think clearly, and pray. I learned to trust that even if I stumbled, God would not allow me to fall.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, help us not to follow our panic but rather to trust you in all circumstances. Amen.
TWFYT
Friday, January 03 2025
Fast and Pray: We begin a season of fasting and pray from today through Sunday. How is the Holy Spirit leading you to fast and pray the next few days? Do it earnestly! Maybe fast a meal or two a day? Maybe fast TV or some activity for an hour or two per day? Maybe fast food for the next few days? However you are led to fast and pray, the purpose is to empty yourself of something for a time daily to focus on God in prayer, listening, surrendering, receiving, releasing and contemplating with God. The purpose for our Body is to seek God for His plans for us for 2025 and to offer the first part of the year to Him in surrender and worship and to open space for Him to speak an direct us to His perfect plans. Be still and know. Empty yourself and listen. What's He saying? What will you do about it? Who are you processing with? One other reason is to seek Him for me/us to discern how to start some small groups that He is leading us to start soon. Ask for wisdom to do what He desires with those He is preparing to partner together. Ask for Him to stir some leaders. Pray for wisdom and discernment for me to invite some in to a deeper training and equipping. Seek for His plans and for them to come to life as He stirs us to His new and perfect plans to keep St. Matts growing and producing disciples of Jesus. Thanks! Then let us commit to process together what we are hearing and God is planning. Who are your teammates? What are His plans for a few of you to go live and love like Jesus? Where are some new connection points that will lead us to the 30 we are praying for Him to send in 2025. How does He plan to bring us alive in '25? Seek first His Kingdom and righteousness and He will provide all we need and answer our prayers and direct pour steps. I'm praying for this to be a dynamic time with God as He continues to lead us to become a dynamic movement. Pray for revival for you, us, our area and the nation and for your part in His Good News Delivery Co. to come alive.
Maybe begin with these songs to help you release yourself and focus on God? Maybe use these the next few days to begin your time of fasting as you turn off the noise and focus on God? I know these have helped me to focus this morning.
Open: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA8VEKviMAE
Make Room: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxubPpU-iIA
Crowns Down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pogDXVoLGLU
Good Morning Church! I want to encourage you to earnestly pursue God the next few days (all year really). He has created you for such a time as this. He is calling you by name. He has redeemed you. You are custom made for His custom purposes and He has great plans for you and has gathered us as His Body for some special purposes as well. We are His agents of change and vessels of love. Seek Him as you offer yourself to Him to have His way with you. Then let's process this together and with maybe a small group of others and work on bringing to life His perfect plans. I'd suggest using the daily devotionals as you open your Bible and seek Him with open heart and listening ear. He longs to reveal Himself, His plans and fill you with His love and wisdom overflowing. Will you still yourself and seek Him? Please do! I can't wait to process this with you in the next few weeks and to begin some small group ministries that He will use to lead us to some new connection points and His perfect plans! Amen!
Father, we still ourselves and offer ourselves, our church, and this year to you. Come! Fill us. teach us. Stir us, Your Kingdom come and will be done in through and around me and us. We long to glorify you and be about You and Your business of loving people and making disciples. Here I am Lord! Teach me. Prepare me. Send me. Be glorified. Amen!
Friday, January 03 2025
Happy New Year! PTL for the promises and opportunities opened up for the year ahead as we walk with Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us to the new things He has prepared for each of us and us together! Amen! May we come alive in '25!
Good Morning Fellow Travelers! Spend some time as we enter into a season of fasting and prayer to empty yourself and invite the Holy Spirit full access to you, your choices, and resolve to follow Jesus. He made you for such a time as this and has great plans for you to discover and step into. he also has great plans for our church as we unite as His Body and allow Him to lead us to His perfect plans for the year ahead. It's a year of promise and faithfulness of God for us to embrace and earnestly pursue. May we commit ourselves, our Church and our choices for the year to God today. May we invite Him to come be our Lord, Shepherd and be determined to follow Him well. Amen!
Many blessings to you and yours for 2025! maybe begin with some time in our devos below! God loves you and has plans to prosper you. Trust Him and invite Him to come have His way! Amen
What's God saying to you and what will you do about it! Let us commit to earnestly follow Him to His best! And may we all know the love, joy and peace we have and have to share! Amen
UR: A New Beginning
If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
I glanced out my front window, and the street was quiet. It was just another day. Last night, however, was much different. We heard the whistle and pop of exploding fireworks, the cheers of excited children, and the shouting of jubilant well-wishers ushering in the New Year.
For many, the start of a new year is a time for resolutions, marking a new beginning and starting with a clean slate. We might give up a bad habit, begin a new exercise regimen, eat healthier foods, mend a broken relationship, or improve some other aspect of our daily life. We do this in the hope of having a happier, better, and more fulfilled life.
Every New Year’s Eve reminds me of my own new beginning in 1967 as a young teen. My new beginning wasn’t a resolution to change one or two undesirable traits but complete repentance, and it transformed my life. The Lord Jesus Christ did all the work. I became a new creation. What joy there is in serving Jesus!
While salvation is wonderful, it doesn’t stop there. As Christians we must continue to grow in faith. We must be diligent in reading and following God’s word. Let us be examples to those around us and glorify God with our lives.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to grow in relationship with you. May others see our good works and glorify your name. Amen.Sarah Young
TWFYT
ODB
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Most people have never heard of Kate Hankey, but she was a remarkable woman. A teacher, evangelist, school organizer, missionary, and poet, she faithfully served Jesus in 1800s England. In 1867, Kate contracted a serious illness. During her recovery, she penned a lengthy poem in two parts: “The Story Wanted” and “The Story Told.” The poem expresses in a very personal way her relationship with Jesus and the events of His life.
All Scripture points to Jesus and tells His story. John begins his epistle reminding readers how they had personally experienced Jesus: “That which . . . we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim” (1 John 1:1). Because of our experience of Him, the apostle writes, we’re telling the Jesus story: “The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it” (v. 2). Later, John makes the fascinating comment, “The word of God lives in you” (2:14). In other words, the Jesus story is our story too. We’re called to tell the story of Christ in light of our own experience with Him.
This is what Kate Hankey did in her poem. Eventually, the two parts of her poem became these beloved hymns: “I Love to Tell the Story” and “Tell Me the Old, Old Story.” Perhaps we might, like Kate, find our own words and share our Jesus story with others—the unique way in which He loved us, came to us, and rescued us.
By Kenneth Petersen
REFLECT & PRAY
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What is your story with Jesus? How did He come to you and rescue you?
Dear Jesus, thank You for rescuing me and doing Your loving work in my life.
For further study, read Jesus Is in the Room.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Many scholars believe that the apostle John, the author of the gospel of John, also wrote the three letters that bear his name. He wrote 1 John to refute false teachers who taught that Jesus is neither God nor human and points to His incarnation to show His humanity: “[Jesus] was with the Father and has appeared to us” (1:2). John had personally heard, seen, and touched the man Jesus (vv. 1-3), demonstrating that Christ is a real human person.
To prove that Jesus is the preexistent creator God, John begins his letter with the words “that which was from the beginning” (v. 1), echoing Genesis 1:1 (“in the beginning God”) and John 1:1 (“in the beginning was the Word”). Jesus is “the Word of life” (1 John 1:1), who “spoke” life into every living thing (Genesis 1; John 1:1-2). He’s “the eternal life, which was with the Father” and He’s “[God’s] Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:2-3), the promised Messiah.
K. T. Sim |
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Friday, January 03 2025
Sarah Update below
Bread Day today 10-12
Good Morning Worshiping, Thankful, Praying, Faithful, Trusting, Moving Forward, Followers of Jesus! Amen! That is us and we are working on growing into these things earnestly. We are moving from what was through what is to the new things God has in store for us in 2025. We have worked on becoming the people we are created to be and doing more of what we are created to do as we seek to have more of Christ and His ways and less of ours come alive in and through us and we are praying this all comes alive in '25! Please Lord! Your Kingdom come and will be done in, through and around me and us! Amen! So what are your thankful for from this past year and what new things does God have planned for you? Are you willing to step out in faith and trust to receive them and allow Him to bring them alive in '25? Pray into that! Surrender, receive and seek to earnestly follow Him into His perfect plans for you and us! I'm praying for me, you and all of us to seek and follow well. Thanks Lord! come! Have Your way! Amen!
Check out the flow of this through my devotionals below. God laid these out just for me and for some of you as well. Then engage with the links to the Harvest Prayer stuff as we seek to become a House of prayer for the Nations and releasing God's plans and power in prayer in the year ahead. Start with the Upper Room's reminder to be grateful and use those gratitude lists often in praise of God and all He is doing and even to refocus when times are hard or we feel distant from Him. The rest of the devos flow to knowing peace, trusting the hand of God, trusting God's plans for you as He leads to new things we are waiting to come and step into, and then the reminder that we are not in this alone but a team of servants seeking and following together--spurring each other on to the new things God has for us! What a great year we have traveled through! PTL! And PTL for the good plans He has for us as we seek to come alive in '25! Then just worship!
Maybe begin by offering yourself to God with this prayer song. This song may be helpful throughout our fast time from the 2nd to the 5th. Make Room. Open yourself. Surrender and offer all of you to Him as He leads you to his best and perfect plans for you and us--His new things! Amen! Make room: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxubPpU-iIA
Be honest, open, and willing! God has some great new things instore that will come alive in '25! PTL!
Upper Room: A Grateful New Year
Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. - Psalm 106:1 (NIV)
I keep an old coffee can on my dining room table. Every day I write something I’m thankful for on a small slip of paper and place it in the can. This discipline of gratitude has become part of my spiritual practice. Sometimes I write down how God has answered a specific prayer request. Other times I record a simple pleasure, such as a phone call with a friend. By New Year’s Eve the can is so full I can hardly stuff another piece of paper in!
On New Year’s Day I empty the can and read through all these expressions of gratitude. By the time I’ve gone through all of them, I realize how much God blessed me over the past year. I can look forward to the new year with hope, trusting that God will continue to bless me. I just need to fix my attention on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy” (Phil. 4:8).
Today's Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for a new year and for the blessings of the year that has just passed. We thank you for this new year and trust you will be with us every day. Amen.
Sarah Young:
ODB:
In 1939, with the recent outbreak of war for Britain, King George VI sought in his Christmas Day radio broadcast to encourage citizens of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth to put their trust in God. Quoting a poem that his mother found precious, he said: “Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the Hand of God. / That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.” He didn’t know what the new year would bring, but he trusted God to “guide and uphold” them in the anxious days ahead.
The image of God’s hand appears in many places in the Bible, including in the book of Isaiah. Through this prophet, God called His people to trust that He as their Creator, “the first and . . . the last” (Isaiah 48:12), would remain involved with them. As He says, “My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens” (v. 13). They should put their trust in Him and not look to those less powerful. After all, He’s their “Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel” (v. 17).
Whatever we face as we look toward the new year, we can follow the encouragement of King George and the prophet Isaiah and place our hope and trust in God. Then, for us too, our peace will be like the river, our “well-being like the waves of the sea” (v. 18).
By Amy Boucher Pye
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As you consider the new year, what situations or relationships could you entrust to God? How does the image of His hand speak to you?
All-powerful God, You created the heavens and the earth and yet You cherish me. I place my trust in You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Isaiah warned that God would discipline the Israelites for their idolatrous unfaithfulness. He prophesied about one hundred years before the destruction of Jerusalem, their temple, and their seventy-year exile in Babylon (Isaiah 39:6-7; see Jeremiah 25:11-12). Isaiah also prophesied that God would bring His people back, restore them, and bless them (chs. 40-66). In Isaiah 48, the prophet affirmed that whatever God had purposed for His people, He would bring to pass. For He’s the only true, everlasting God—the almighty Creator who chose them to be His people (vv. 12-15). He’s also the “Redeemer” (v. 17) who will teach and guide them (vv. 18-19).
K. T. Sim |
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Chuck Swindoll
Joyce Meyer
TWFYT
Sarah Update:
Hi everyone,
We had a great day of worship on Sunday. It was so good and encouraging to so many praises that were shared by our brothers and sisters in Christ.......also hearing the ways God encouraged some of us to bring HOPE to some folks in need with the $50 we were using for our Christmas Blessing challenge.
Some of you also felt inspired to give to your money to The Kindness Project.
Many folks have been blessed by St Matthew's church family! May God continue to use us in reaching out to our community to share God's love and hope!
Here are some of the prayer needs/praises shared on Sunday:
Darlene Geiger has asked for prayer for her sister - she will be having a biopsy done and let's pray for the results to be negative.
Kay Paul - continue to keep her in prayer, for healing and strengthening. As we learn more we will let you know. Also keep her family in prayer also.
Kathy's 14 year old granddaughter has a heart condition. Her name is Sophia. We have been asked to pray for Sophia, that her medical team with be able to find ways to help her and that she will be able to physically be able to continue on with her activities that she enjoys.
Lori Rohrer - was in the ER due to being very dehydrated. She is doing better and is at home. Continued prayers for her healing and strengthening.
Kay (Karen's Mom) is asking for prayer for her friend Arlene, who is having upper respiratory problems and has been admitted to the hospital.
Gail L shared that she is praising God for how much better Houston is doing this month, compared to last month. He was able to spend some quality time with his family, during Christmas. In three weeks, they will meet with his medical team to discuss how things are coming along.
Kids Church update: Starting January 19th we are going to start the Armor of God series in Kids church. Each week, the kiddos will learn about a different part of the armor, and there will also be a craft to build the part of the armor that they learned about that week.
We want to encourage the kids to come each week so that they don't miss out on building their entire armor suit!
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Starting next week, many of our activities will start back up for the new year.
Tuesday Huddle at 10:00am starts up on January 14 - via Zoom
Coffee, Donuts, Conversations will be on January 8th from10 - 12pm
Clothing Closet will be opening back up on Saturday, January 18th from 10 - 1pm.
Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be on Sunday January 19th, following our worship service in the
sanctuary.
Our next 2 Peas in a Pod Brunch will be January 26th following worship.
Okay, I believe that's all the updates for now......hope you all have a good rest of your evening and a nice and safe New Year's Eve!
Blessings,
Sarah
Psalm 38:34 Put your HOPE in the Lord. Travel steadily along His path.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
You will see the wicked destroyed.
Friday, January 03 2025
Good Morning Overflowing Christ, Bold and Courageous, Givers! Amen! That is us! Maybe you need to pronounce that over you and us and receive it from the Lord and put it on, but most if not all of us are filled with Christ and all His love and ways to overflow and we are praying to be that more and more. Are you bold and courageous? You can be as you grow in trust and faith. That comes about as we see Christ at work and realize that God does always have our best at heart. Yesterday two Words of wisdom were pronounced to and over our Body. The first is the reminder and comes from the experience of a new member: "Love drives out all fear." So true! We've often discussed and reiterated yesterday the fact that we need to always stay focused on God in trust and as we grow in trust, perfect Love of God just overwhelms us and prepares us for whatever hard and fear causing things we face. PTL! Right? because as we dwell in Love and grow in trust no storm of life can lead us away from our focus on God and stepping in faith with Him. Yes love does cast out all fear. Dwell in His Love always! The other word from God ties to the Givers part pf the salutation for today. We discussed how our Body is populated with givers. And how God blesses us and as we go bless we are blessed back because we bless. It is an awesome cycle of God to step into as we give sacrificially and sow lavishly. He supplies all our needs and out of that supply we get to bless others. Freely given we freely give. The Word of God is that as we give we are seeing the results of being blessed back, stuffed down, shaken and filled to overflowing that come as a result of God's promise to all His givers. We discussed how this word pertains to tithing and God's call to test Him in giving and tithing sacrificially back to God to use to bless others. Now those blessings don't always come back in monetary results but we can trace the blessings we receive to our faithfulness to give as God has given and bless as we have been blessed. Amen!
Yesterday morning I was discussing with God about not sharing about giving and tithing very often from the pulpit. I rarely discuss that as I feel I would be preaching to the choir. You guys are givers. And many of us know the blessing of tithing and giving sacrificially and sowing lavishly back to God from what we have been given. God is blessings us! And I believe the church should tithe on the tithes and offerings we receive. Family Ministries does this quarterly and we have never had to do a fund raiser because God keeps blessing us back for our faithfulness. Talk to me sometime to hear the full story of God's faithfulness to tithers and givers. The two words tie together as well because many fear not having enough or lack if they were to tithe. But remember Love does cast out all fear and as we trust God and step out in faith we experience His faithfulness and provision that overflows as we give and sow sacrificially and lavishly. Try it! You will not be disappointed because God is faithful and He wants to bless you and as you trust and bless you will experience His blessings back. Amen!
The same principle applies to fasting and praying. We don't fast or pray to manipulate God but to draw close, release His blessings and get in step with Him. God has called us to give Him the first few days of 2025 back as we fast and pray and dedicate ourselves and the year to Him. We are to fast from the 2nd to the 5th as God leads you. Maybe a meal a day, maybe a full fast, may some TV time. Whatever God leads you to, dedicate it and yourself to Him as you empty yourself and fill up with Him to overflow. Try it! You will see God blessings coming and His ways coming alive in through and around you. Love casts out all fear! The blessings overflowing are coming and we will be coming alive in 2025. Trust God and offer all of you to Him and watch what He will do!
This is long but if you have time check out the devos below that remind us that we are God's creations made for such a time as this. he is leading you and us, His Church, to His best, even when it seems hard or we have to travel through that dark valley. He is always with us, molding us and working all things together for good. And He does have amazing things and great plans ahead as we trust, obey and follow! Watch and see those overflowing blessings that are on their way! Amen! What's God saying to you right now? What will you do about it? Who are your accountability partners? Seek first the Kingdom of God and all things needed will be add! Amen! Don't lean on your own understanding! Acknowledge God in ALL your ways and He will direct your steps! PTL!
Sarah Young
ODB
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Jim has been battling a motor neuron disease for more than a year. The neurons in his muscles are breaking down, and his muscles are wasting away. He’s lost his fine-motor skills and is losing his ability to control his limbs. He can no longer button his shirt or tie his shoelaces, and using a pair of chopsticks has become impossible. Jim struggles with his situation and asks, Why is God allowing this to happen? Why me?
He’s in good company with many other believers in Jesus who have brought their questions to God. In Psalm 13, David cries out, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” (vv. 1-2).
We too can take our confusion and questions to God. He understands when we cry out “How long?” and “Why?” His ultimate answer is given to us in Jesus and His triumph over sin and death.
As we look at the cross and the empty tomb, we gain confidence to trust in God’s “unfailing love” (v. 5) and rejoice in His salvation. Even in the darkest nights, we can “sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to [us]” (v. 6). Through our faith in Christ, He’s forgiven our sins, adopted us as His children, and is accomplishing His eternal good purpose in our lives.
By Poh Fang Chia
REFLECT & PRAY
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What questions do you need to bring to God? How has He shown His goodness to you, even in your darkest night?
Loving Father, thank You that You care for me. Please help me to trust that You’re making something beautiful of my life.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Psalm 13 is an urgent prayer for God’s aid (vv. 3-4) as well as a lament of the psalmist’s long period of suffering, which is experienced as if God is absent and hiding His face (v. 1). When the psalm asks, “How long?” (vv. 1-2), the point isn’t asking for a specific end date but lamenting how long something has been endured and urging God to end the long wait—to act and make things right. Yet despite Psalm 13’s intense desperation, it’s also a psalm of deep trust (vv. 5-6). Through our bond with a God who we know to be good and faithful, we have the confidence and trust to honestly voice our lament. The reformer Martin Luther called prayer like that expressed in Psalm 13 the “state in which hope despairs, and yet despair hopes at the same time.”
Monica La Rose |
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TWFYT
UR: Peace in the Storm
[Jesus] said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” - Matthew 8:26 (NRSVUE)
When I was in high school, I traveled back and forth between Germany and the United States by ship several times. Although the vast ocean seemed endless, I had total faith that the captain would bring us safely to the correct destination. Even on stormy nights, the ship stayed on course and safely rolled with the waves.
At times in my life, when it seems like I am being tossed around by waves of uncertainty and hardship, fear causes me to doubt God’s plan. But if I could trust the ship’s captain, how much more can I trust the Creator of the universe? Rather than fear, I want prayer to be my first response to trials. Fear can distract me from God’s promise to be with me through every storm.
When a storm developed as the disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee, they were afraid. They begged Jesus to help them, so he calmed the storm. Jesus asked them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Even in the face of severe storms, we can trust Jesus to carry us to the destination he has for us. When we surrender ourselves to Jesus, our faith can overcome our fears.
Today's Prayer
Lord Jesus, help us to remember that you are present with us during life’s storms. Give us faith to trust that you will carry us through. Amen.
Friday, January 03 2025
Today is a special day for me...23 years ago today, God saved a wretch like me and I was born again, forgiven, cleansed and made new. I was one way and in the blink of an eye another. Since then I have traveled the road of transformation that comes as I continue to draw close and follow Christ. What a blessing! Thanks Lord! Come have your way with me and continue to transform me more and more into Your image and move me to do the things I was created to do for Your glory! May I live, love, teach, lead and make disciples like Jesus! Come! Have Your way with me! Amen!
Good Morning Saved By Grace, Born Again in Christ Brothers and Sisters! Do you remember your born again story? Who might need to hear it? God has custom made us for such a time as this. He drew us and when we received Jesus as our personal Savior, we received the Holy Spirit in us, His gifts customized for us and empowerment to become the people we are created to be, doing what we are created to do. We are also gathered to His Body to unite and go love like Jesus and make disciples. Who are you in Christ? What are your purposes? That's what we want to work on in 2025 as we seek to come alive in '25 and bring new life alive to all those God is sending us to or to us. What's your part in His Good news Delivery Co.? Who are your teammates. We will be trying to figure all that out over then next few months. Ask God to draw you close, speak to your heart and direct your steps and pray for us to become His dynamic movement of disciple makers. Amen!
There are so many devotionals and things I thought I was to share today as I always go real deep in devotional quiet time on this day. Today we will discuss some of the plans God has for us during our worship time. It will sort of be a kick off for where He may be leading us into the New Year and a recounting of all His blessings in 2024. He does love you and has gathered us to go love well in His name and for His glory. That is really coming alive in and through and around us. PTL! Can you see it and sense His work coming to life? It is and we can rejoice that God is with us always and always working all things together for good. May we commit to trusting more and following earnestly into 2025 and beyond. Revival fires are lit! Let us fan them to flame and may an inferno of His love overwhelm our neighborhoods! Amen! And we all get to be part of that! How cool is that! I can't wait to see what He has for you, me and us in 2025 that's waiting to come to life!
God has spoken to me today and is speaking to some of you as you encounter Him through these devotionals below. Be still and know. Abide then thrive. he has perfect plans just for you and then for us united as His people on mission! Amen
UR: Rejoice and Give Thanks
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. - 1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV)
Since I was a child, I have attended Sunday school. I have always enjoyed it. In my youth, I embraced the opportunity to teach a preteen Sunday school class. For more than 40 years, my calling has been Christian education in different ministry areas of the church.
In July 2022, at 73 years old, I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. I can already feel the effects of the disease. But I have promised, by God’s incomparable grace, to continue to be in ministry as long as I am able.
The Lord has blessed me with long life, my family, and the fellowship of countless brothers and sisters in the Christian faith. As Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.” God has been my teacher throughout my life, and I will remain grateful to God until the very end.
Today's Prayer
Generous God, thank you for your many blessings and for giving us opportunities to serve. Lead us into your kingdom. Your will be done. Amen.CS:
SY
CS
ODB
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When I was a young boy in Ohio, we lived near several construction sites. Inspired by them, my friends and I gathered leftover scraps to build a fort. Borrowing tools from our parents, we hauled wood and spent days trying to make our material serve our purposes. It was fun, but our attempts were poor reflections of the well-constructed buildings around us. They didn’t last long.
In Genesis 11, we encounter a major building construction project. “Let us build ourselves a city,” said the people, “with a tower that reaches to the heavens” (v. 4). A big problem with this effort was that the people did it to “make a name for ourselves” (v. 4).
This has been a recurring issue for humans; we build monuments to ourselves and our achievements. Later in the biblical narrative, this story is contrasted with Solomon’s motivation for building God’s temple: “I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God” (1 Kings 5:5).
Solomon understood that what he built needed to point to God and not himself. This was such an important lesson that he even wrote a psalm about it. Psalm 127 opens with “unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain” (v. 1). Like my childhood fort-building, what we build will not last, but God’s name and what we do for Him has lasting significance.
By Matt Lucas
REFLECT & PRAY
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What are you building with your life? How is your life bringing honor to God?
Father, please forgive me for the times I’ve focused on myself and not on what You’re doing in the world.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The Hebrew word rendered “build/building” in Genesis 11 is banah (vv. 4, 5, 8). This term can refer to a physical building—whether rebuilding or establishing something—and metaphorically to building a family. Both usages occur in 2 Samuel 7 (see vv. 5, 7, 13, 27). Psalm 127:1 includes the word twice: “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” Daniel 4:30 includes the Aramaic counterpart to banah from Nebuchadnezzar: “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” In the New Testament “to build” is a metaphor for the work of Christ in establishing His church (see Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 2:19-22). Building plans that fail to consider Jesus as the master builder (see Hebrews 3:4) are subject to fail.
Arthur Jackson |
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JM
TWFYT
Friday, January 03 2025
Good Morning Abiding In Christ Co-Laborers! We are so blessed to know Christ, have His Spirit in us always to guide, help, lead, revive, reshape and empower us. We are blessed to be gathered together as His servants growing into our mission to know Him and make Him know as teammates, spurring each other on to the good works He has planned and covering each other in prayer. GO TEAM! As we spend time abiding in Christ and God's Word and Love, we grow and come to understand our next steps of faith, our needed repentance, our call to encourage, and our need to trust as we take that next step of faith. How cool is it that God helps us with all of this and wants to be with us and lead us to His best. his easy yoke is such a joy as we step more fully from our old nature to our new and from what was to what is and what can be. And we get to do all this as a team! We are truly blessed as we spend time abiding in Him and His Word, watch for God and join Him each day! Contemplate that and ask God what's the next step for you and us and who He wants you to co-labor with and do something about that. It will be so good and joyful as we keep working at becoming who we are created to be and doing what we are created and gathered to do! I love how God works and celebrate daily all He is doing in, through and around me, you and all of us! Yes, Rejoice!
Spend some time abiding in Him as you engage with or devotionals below and open your Bibles. Dwell in His love today and soak it up to share. Determine to seek, trust and follow God to His perfect plans for you and us and keep worshiping with great thanksgiving for who He is and all he is doing! He does have great plans for you and us that are coming to life as we grow in trust and the determination to choose joy always as we follow Him. Come! taste and see! he is kind and gentle and His yoke is easy. rest in Him today. be still and know. Exhale the junk and breathe in a fresh breath of the Spirit and then go love and love more like Jesus just as you are today. Then celebrate and share those stories of what God has and is doing. I can't wait to hear them!
Sarah Young
Charles Stanley
ODB:
John was devastated when he lost his job. Closer to the end of his career than the beginning, he knew it would be hard to start over somewhere new. He started praying for the right job. Then John updated his resume, read interview tips, and made a lot of phone calls. After weeks of applying, he accepted a new position with a great schedule and an easy commute. His faithful obedience and God’s provision had met at the perfect intersection.
A more dramatic instance of this occurred with Jochebed (Exodus 6:20) and her family during the time of Israel’s enslavement in Egypt. When Pharaoh decreed that all newborn Hebrew sons must be cast into the Nile (1:22), Jochebed must have been terrified. She couldn’t change the law, but there were some steps she could take to obey God and try to save her son. In faith, she hid him from the Egyptians. She made a little, watertight papyrus basket and “put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile” (2:3). God stepped in to miraculously preserve his life (vv. 5-10) and later used him to deliver all of Israel from slavery (3:10).
John and Jochebed took very different steps, but both stories are marked by faith-filled action. Fear can paralyze us. Even if the result isn’t what we expected or hoped for, faith empowers us to keep trusting in God’s goodness regardless of the outcome.
By Karen Pimpo
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When do you find yourself frozen in fear or worry? How can you faithfully take the next God-honoring step?
Dear God, please help me faithfully take each step on the path You have for me.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Scripture offers two reasons why Moses’ parents, Amram and Jochebed (Numbers 26:59), protected Moses. First, Jochebed saw that “he was a fine child” (Exodus 2:2); she saw something special in him. He’s described as “no ordinary child” (Acts 7:20; Hebrews 11:23). A second reason is that his parents “were not afraid of the king’s edict” (Hebrews 11:23). Like the two Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah (Exodus 1:15, 17), his parents feared God more than they feared Pharaoh. Hebrews 11:23 commends Amram and Jochebed as people of great faith.
K. T. Sim |
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TWFYT
Harvest
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December 28 - Prayer Is the Doorway
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After they fell to temptation, Adam and Eve were sent away from the beauty of the Garden, and their remaining days would be spent in the wearisome toil of their sin.
But God’s plan was not thwarted by Satan’s work and man’s sin. A promised One would come. His serpent-crushing, saving work was prophesied at the moment of their sin. And when He came, He would make a way for all to come again into the Father’s presence and know Him once again. To walk with Him; to hear His voice. To regain what once was lost. One day the door would open and the Garden fully restored … and the conversation would continue with no interruption. Unceasing prayer, unceasing love, unceasing joy.
This glorious walk with God is open now for us with all its riches. We can walk in the garden of His presence, in part, that we will one day experience fully in a new heaven and new earth. But for all who long for Him, He invites us now to come.
And the doorway is to simply pray.
Grace-filled Father, we adore You and worship You! You created us for Yourself…and in Your image! Through Jesus You are redeeming what was lost in the Garden of Eden. Thank You for not giving up on us and for making a way for Your people to enter into Your presence continually. We rejoice in knowing that the beauty of the Garden will one day be ours through the love and sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. May we never take for granted what You have done, what You are doing and what You will do as Your people seek Your face in prayer.
---Adapted from Simply Prayer by Bill Elliff. This book is available at prayershop.org.
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- Praise Jesus for the depth of his redeeming love, which sent him to the cross for you (Gal. 2:20).
- Thank him for dying on your behalf.
- Confess any lack of love you feel toward a brother or sister.
- Commit yourself to remaining in Jesus’ love by keeping his commandments (Jn. 15:10).
- Ask God to show his love to you in new ways today.
- Ask that the redeeming love of God will come gently to an unsaved person you know. Ask God to reveal a glimpse of his unconditional love through you.
Prayer Pointer
“Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies beyond the will of God.” —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) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. |
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Larry Paul News
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December 2024
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our family, friends, and partners,
Larry experienced shortness of breath and tightness in his chest at the beginning of December. His Doctor agreed to monitor it for a few days. It was getting worse so Larry went to the ER and, after 4 days in the ICU to monitor his heart as he underwent tests and took medicine, they determined he was suffering from an unstable angina, basically a clogged heart artery. He's home now and resting as he learns to adjust to his new diet. So far he's doing fine at home, he was even able to take our dog for short walks. Due to the Christmas holiday, Larry will meet with the Cardiologist in January to discuss the next steps in his treatment, which will probably include an angioplasty and stent in his artery. It was a scary time for all of us and we're still adjusting to our "new normal". Larry needs to rest and cannot drive, so Enol is taking on more and more responsibilities for our family. She needs to get Larry's medicine, shop, cook different meals for him, and take our boys out to be with their friends. It's a big adjustment for all of us and we continue to seek God's wisdom to manage the changes.
Larry was managing the maintenance, grounds, drivers, custodians, and security departments on campus, and they were able to keep the campus functioning and safe during the first semester. He helped design and bid out the work to start building a new parking lot on campus as well as gathering information and pricing for future projects including adding solar panels, replacing a roof on a High School building, and replacing 20+ year old air conditionings systems. We're not sure what he'll be able to do next semester as he continues to recover from his heart issue.
Richard and Brayden enjoyed their time at the ACSC volleyball tournament in Indonesia in October. The team played hard and finished in second place. We are so proud of all of them! They are now both on the varsity basketball team which is doing well in their local league. We're looking forward to going to Bangkok in February for ACSC's boys basketball tournament. They both continue to do well in their classes and Richard is applying to different universities in the US. He wants to study business with a focus in sports management. We are so proud of them, the fine young men they are becoming and the way they are adjusting to Larry's medical condition.
Enol is enjoying her time volunteering at Faith Academy's Elementary division and being part of the team Moms for the boys' athletic teams. We're not sure what she'll be able to do when the boys go back to school since she'll also need to take care of Larry during his recovery.
Praises
- Larry's good care at the hospital
- Richard and Brayden doing well at Faith Academy, both with schoolwork and athletics.
- Enol can volunteer at Faith Academy
- God's continued provision for our needs
Prayer Requests
- Larry's complete recovery from his heart condition
- Wisdom for Larry's doctors for his next steps
- Provision of the necessary funds for costs not covered by insurance
- Enol not to be overwhelmed taking care of Larry, our boys, and her family
- Enol's sister Zeny, complete recovery from stroke, and her financial needs
Thank you again for your continued prayers and support of our ministry at Faith Academy in the Philippines.
Larry, Enol, Richard, and Brayden |
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Honoring our senior volleyball players. When Larry's men are in charge of hanging the banners, Richard gets center stage!
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Picture with our boys after winning the Faith Academy Dan Landry tournament.
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| We are so proud of our ACSC boys volleyball team! |
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ACSC boys volleyball senior recognition
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Richard performing at the Faith Academy October concert
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Richard performing at the Faith Academy Christmas concert
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Financial Partnership
Mail a check to:
Wycliffe
PO Box 628200
Orlando, FL 32862-8200
www.wycliffe.org
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Friday, January 03 2025
Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! Just think and meditate and worship this morning as you think about that little baby in a manger that grew to the God/Man on the cross that took our sins and purged them and delivered us from eternity in Hell! How is the Holy Spirit leading you this morning as you contemplate God's great forgiving, patient love for you?
Sunday worship at 10 live in person and on Zoom. Be ready to share your stories of how God used the $50. He gave you to bless others. (Write them out if you need us to read them). We will examine all God has done in 2024 and prayerfully contemplate His plans for 2025. What's God saying to you? What are His plans for you and us? How are we doing? What might need some tweaking? What can we build on? God is revealing your part to this and maybe some ideas to spur us on to His best. Keep seeking and be prepared to share. God is on the move! Amen!
Good Morning Known, Redeemed, Loved, Sent to Love, Children of God! You are His custom made for such a time as this disciple and apostle--student who is sent to love and make disciples. Love as I have loved you is Jesus' command that we continue to work on. Thank God we are known and forgiven and helped to live like Christ more and to go love well! Often we can't imagine how or why God would wants to use some sinner like we are. Right? Who am I Lord that You are mindful of me is often a praising question I ask of our Father in heaven. Yet He is mindful, loving, forgiving and our Potter who molds us to fit our created purposes. Just trying to fathom all of this blows my mind. We have so much to be thankful about and so much to learn and put into action just as we are. He really does have good plans just for you, just as you are. And as we follow Him and do what we are created to do, we grow in Christ and more like Him and eventually will be able to live and love like Him. Please Lord, come! Have your way with me and us and lead us to Your perfect plans for today and eternity. Thanks! Amen!
This morning God really spoke to my heart as I extended my quiet time with Him and prayerfully meditated on His Word and my devotionals. Take some time to still yourself, open His Word prayerfully and maybe engage Him through the devotionals below. Then wrap up your time with the Harvest Prayer Connection blog. (Start there if you have limited time! It's another good one!) It really threads through these devos and speaks to your open and soft heart and will help you step into this day prayed up and ready for whatever God has in store for you. Rejoice for you are loved, known, redeemed and created for such a time as this and God is molding all things together for your and others good! PTL and Amen! Choose to live and love well, my friends! God is with you always and really does have great plans for you and us today and always! PTL! Thank God I'm Forgiven and being prepared and sent for such a time as this! Great fruit is budding!
Chuck Swindoll
Sarah Young
Charles Stanley
Upper Room: Unexpected Beauty
Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. - Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
After weeks of high temperatures followed by torrential rainfall, the sun rose on a calm, clear morning. The blue sky was sprinkled with white fluffy clouds. I decided to take a walk. Nestled among tall pines and pecan trees, our pond seemed like the perfect place to begin. The sounds of birdsong and splashing fish and turtles were a symphony of nature. The colorful flowers and deep, green grass created a soft blanket across the ground.
But the prettiest blooms around our pond were never planned. No expert gardener prepared the soil or planted the seeds. Most folks would call them weeds, but I don’t see it that way. I see a wonderful gift of unique and beautiful blooms.
We can enjoy many things in life that were never planned. Sometimes we walk paths we never thought we would. But just as the wildflowers bloomed and brought joy, the unexpected in our lives can bring a joy all its own. Even when we encounter the unforeseen, we can trust God to walk with us.
Today's Prayer
Gracious Father, help us to find the beauty in the midst of change and challenges. Thank you for your deep and abiding love and presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Word for You Today
Harvest blog:
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December 27 - The Hope of Glory
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Before you begin, meditate on this thought: Christ in me, the hope of glory.
Heavenly Father how grateful I am for Christ Jesus in whom all of Your fullness, the fullness of the Deity, lives in bodily form. Because of my faith in Him, I have been given “fullness in Christ” who is the head over every power and authority! Thank You for this great mystery—“Christ in me the hope of glory”! Thank You for the Holy Spirit, given to me as a deposit, a guarantee of what is to come!
And now Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I ask that you strengthen me to live as one who has died to my earthly nature, for my life is hidden with Christ in You. May I therefore set my heart on things above, not on earthly things, for surely Jesus, who is my life will soon appear. Make me ready Lord! Renew me in knowledge of You and remind me continually that Christ is all, and in all. (Pause and ask the Holy Spirit to show you what things have captured your heart and taken Christ’s place as Lord of All in your life.)
As one of Your chosen people, holy and dearly loved, may my life be clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Help me to forgive others as You Lord Jesus, have forgiven me. And may Your peace rule in my heart. (Pause and ask that greater evidence of the Holy Spirit would be seen in the way you live. Consider what areas of your life lack peace. Invite Jesus to rule over these. Ask Him to fill you with His peace.)
This day I ask You Wonderful Counselor, that You open my heart and mind that I might understand in a deeper way the great mystery that Christ lives in my heart by faith. Reveal to me I pray the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are found in Him.
Mighty God, as this truth lands on my heart and takes root, may I truly live and move and have my being in You alone. May Your power, the same power that raised Christ from the dead, that is in me, be lived out of life!
Everlasting Father may my trust in You increase as I walk in this great truth--that Christ is in me, the Holy Spirit is mine, and You will never leave me or forsake me.
Prince of Peace because You are in me, I ask that You guard my heart and mind and fill me with Your peace. For it is written that Your peace in not like what the world tries to give. This day I choose to not be troubled or afraid.
Father I ask that You renew my mind according to the truth of Your Word that because of Christ Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit, You are with me, You are for me, You are at work through me, and You are in me. May my life be continually transformed as I walk Your ways. In the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, Emmanuel, Amen.
(Colossians 2:9-10; Colossians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Colossians 3:1-15; Isaiah 9:6; Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 2:3; Ephesians 1:19-20; John 14:27; Matthew 1:23; Romans 8:31; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
--By Tiece L. King, author of the Pray the Word series: Pray the Word: 90 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word: 31 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word for Your Church. These resources are available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount
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Friday, January 03 2025
Good Morning Fruitful Branches of THE Vine! Amen! Today some of us need to get back to the reality of the work-a-day world and refocus back to producing fruit for our bosses. Some of us still have time off while others are retired. No matter which you are, you are still called to be producers of good and abundant fruit for the Lord. Check out and begin with Harvest Blogs this morning. God has created you, saved you, gifted and trained you for such a time as this and He has perfect and custom made plans for you to produce fruit that please Him. So be still, seek Him, receive His direction and empowerment to produce the fruit He has for you today.
Let us spend the rest of 2024 meditating on all God has done and seeking Him for what He has planned for us to come alive in '25. No matter what you are facing or celebrating, God knows and is with you and will use that to lead you to His best. Trust Him. Worship. Receive. And go produce that good fruit you are created and chosen to produce. Amen! I'm praying for you! God is with you! Rejoice, receive and follow well today! Amen!
Gotta Fly! Lots to do today! I have prayed for you and for me and for Go to make clear how He has planned to use you and me today! Seek and follow well, friends! Go live and love like Jesus! Amen
Harvest Blogs
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December 26 - Give Me Your Heart
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Before you begin, meditate on this thought: God has chosen to work through me.
Father how I thank You that because I have put my faith and trust in Christ, He has made me a new creation! The old has gone--the new has come! This great redemptive work is from You Father, through Christ, for me! My relationship with You has been made right and because of His finished work on the cross You do not hold my sin against me! Hallelujah! Praise Your holy name! (Pause and be thankful that Christ Jesus has saved you from your sin.)
Now Father I ask that You help me to understand what it means that because I am in Christ the message of reconciliation is lived out and proclaimed, through me! May I be found worthy of the name “Ambassador of Christ” and faithfully implore others to be reconciled to You.
The free gift of salvation through Jesus that alone can make us to be the “righteousness of God” is good news that most around me need desperately to hear. I ask that You capture my heart again I pray, with the joy of this great salvation in You and open my lips that I might praise You and proclaim with great joy, the gospel message. You are the God of all hope and I ask that I would overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit and continually be prepared to give the reason for the hope that I have in You.
This day I ask You Wonderful Counselor, that You open my heart and mind and give me ears to hear what You would say to me, what You would speak through me. Make me increasingly sensitive to Your voice and gentle promptings, and give me a willing, submissive spirit that I might obey.
Mighty God may Your power be evident through the way I live and conduct my life, that I would truly live and move and have my very being in You alone.
Everlasting Father may Your fatherly embrace and great love be expressed through my life. In my conversations and interactions with the world around me, be glorified I pray. May Jesus be seen through me in such loving ways that many are drawn to Him.
Prince of Peace in the midst of this chaotic fearful world, may the peace of Christ be spread through my life. Increase my trust and hope in You that I in turn might minister to those around me who are as sheep without a shepherd.
Give me Your heart. Your eyes. Your ears, O Lord. That in all things I might respond as Jesus would, and be a worthy ambassador of the gospel. In the name of Jesus, Emmanuel, I pray. Amen.
(2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Psalm 51:12,15; Romans 15:13; 1 Peter 3:15; Acts 17:28; Matthew 5:16)
--By Tiece L. King, author of the Pray the Word series: Pray the Word: 90 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word: 31 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word for Your Church. These resources are available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God as the one who makes it possible for you to bear much fruit (Jn. 15:5).
- Thank him for the promise of a great spiritual harvest in your life.
- Confess sins which stunt the development of spiritual fruit in your life.
- Commit yourself to daily devotional habits which will stimulate the growth of such fruit.
- Ask God to help you produce the kind of harvest which will give him the glory and praise.
- Ask God to pour out his blessing on his church throughout the world. Pray for fruitfulness among those who remain faithful to God and are firmly united to Jesus, the true vine.
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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) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. |
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Sarah Young
Charles Stanley
Upper room: A Global Connection
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. - Psalm 42:5 (NIV)
As Christians, it is easy to think that we must not feel despair, be anxious, or have fears. We must remain calm and happy; we must always be loving, wise, and grateful. We often think that the struggles and burdens we deal with are never a struggle for others. This can make us feel unworthy and alone with our unanswered questions.
However, in those very moments the two of us have encountered a message from Csendes Percek — the Hungarian edition of The Upper Room — in which someone from another part of the world has written about those same doubts and experiences. Csendes Percek is precious to us because we read stories about real life, not only about “perfect Christians” and happy endings. We can identify with the feelings of the writers, and sometimes a story completely reflects our own emotions and thoughts.
Most of the time we do not receive direct answers or solutions, but we do find compassion.
It is encouraging to know that people living in different cultures and places suffer the burdens of this world just like we do, and they still trust God.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, we give thanks for opportunities to experience your faithfulness. Thank you for the support you give to us and all our Christian friends around the world. Amen.
ODB
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The year 2022 was very special for my wife and me. That’s the year our granddaughter, Sophia Ashley, was born—the only granddaughter among our eight grandchildren. Sophia’s grandparents haven’t stopped smiling! When our son calls via video, the excitement gets ramped up even more. My wife and I may be in different rooms, but her joyful holler reveals that she’s getting a glimpse of Sophia. Seeing those we love from afar is now only a call or click away.
The ability to see the person we’re talking to on the phone is relatively new, but face time with God—prayer with a conscious awareness of being in His presence—is not. David’s prayer in Psalm 27—voiced in the midst of opposition that required assistance beyond the capability of the closest human allies (vv. 10-12)—includes these words: “My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming’ ” (v. 8 nlt).
Difficult times rightly compel us to “seek his face” (v. 8). But that’s not the only time we can or should be in face-to-face fellowship with the one in whose “presence is fullness of joy”; at His “right hand are pleasures forevermore” (16:11 nkjv). If you listen closely, at any time you may hear Him say, “Come and talk with me.”
By Arthur Jackson
REFLECT & PRAY
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At what time in your day do you find your heart most attuned to God? How can regular communion with Him prepare you for a “day of trouble”?
Heavenly Father, I praise You for the privilege of face time with You. Please help me to always be ready to spend time with You in prayer.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
David’s anxious prayer in the second half of Psalm 27 (vv. 7-12) must be read against his unwavering proclamation at the beginning of the psalm: “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life” (v. 1). David chooses to focus on God rather than on his difficult circumstances. He speaks of Him as his light, which guides him safely into God’s presence and goodness. God is also his salvation, delivering him from dangers and death. He’s his stronghold, providing a strong, fortified place for his refuge and security. Knowing who God is, David rhetorically asks, “Of whom shall I be afraid?” (v. 1). The psalmist needn’t fear, for God won’t abandon him. Rather, “the Lord will hold me close” (v. 10 nlt). David invites us to “be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (v. 14).
K. T. Sim |
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Friday, January 03 2025
Merry Christmas!
Good Morning Worshipers!
Today, as always, Immanuel--God is with us! My thought was to just be still and meditate on all the nuances of what that means today. So what does that mean to you? Who needs to hear that Good News? Praying for you and yours today to be filled with His Love, peace and Joy! Amen!
Here is the only devo I am sharing today because it is the same thoughts God gave to me to share. Be still and know, receive and go love like Jesus! Shalom!
Harvest
December 25 - Christmas Day!
Christmas Blessings from OneCry and Harvest Prayer!
Emmanuel
Before you begin, meditate on this thought: God is with me.
Heavenly Father thank You for coming near to me through Christ Jesus, for in Him all Your fullness lived in bodily form. He is Emmanuel, God with me. How grateful I am that because of His finished work at the cross and my faith in Him alone, I have relationship with You. You are with me and You will never leave me or forsake me. Hallelujah!
Thank You Father for the promises of Your Word that even when I pass through deep waters of trials and tribulation, it does not change who You are or alter Your presence with me. For even the hard and painful things You will work together for my good. (Pause and commit any present difficulties in your life to God and ask Him to use them to make you more like Jesus.)
I choose Lord, to not be fearful or dismayed by the raging storms of life all about me, for You are my God. In You I will be strong because You uphold me with Your righteous right hand. You are the Eternal God, my refuge, and I will rest in Your everlasting arms. Yes Father, I will rest secure in You all day long for You love me and You will not forsake me. (Pause and thank God for His presence with you in the midst of present circumstances. Ask Him to continue to go before you and to blanket you with His peace.)
This day I ask You, Wonderful Counselor, that You open my heart and mind to help me to live in such a way that it is apparent to me and those around me, that You are with me.
Mighty God, reveal Your presence in my everyday circumstances reminding me of Your continual nearness--every moment.
Everlasting Father may Your faithful love be my constant buffer from the darkness of the world.
Prince of Peace calm my anxious heart with Your peaceful assurance that You are with me and will never leave me. In the name of Jesus, Emmanuel, I pray. Amen.
(Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:6-11; Joshua 1:5; Isaiah 43:2; Romans 8:28; Isaiah 41:10; 33:27; Deuteronomy 33:12; Hebrews 13:5; Isaiah 9:6; 7:14; Matthew 1:23)
--By Tiece L. King, author of the Pray the Word series: Pray the Word: 90 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word: 31 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word for Your Church. These resources are available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Friday, January 03 2025
Bread ministry today 10-12 then worship with communion (and on Zoom) at 4 followed by a quick meal for those who need one. rejoice!
Good Morning Children of Light and Love because Christ Lives in Us! Amen! Shine bright today and in the days ahead! He came to save you and be with you forever! PTL!
I had this idea of what God wanted me to share today and then I encountered the harvest prayer blogs. begin with those today. The harvest blog is about the prince of peace and then Kim's link to her blog is a great place to flow to worship today. Yes Immanuel! God is with us! Amen! If you still need some time to prepare your hearts and abide in the Vine, check out the devos God used to speak to my heart this morning. You are known, loved, cared for and are being prepared to go live and love more like Jesus. That all started in the manger and became available as the Holy Spirit drew you to saving faith in Christ. Pray some we know are drawn and receive that salvation which is our joy and know the love and peace of Jesus. He has plans for some we know and are praying for. Keep at it and keep inviting in. Tear down strongholds and hindrances and soften hearts as you pray. May revival and salvation come alive today and this week. Immanuel is wanting to be with you and all those you are praying for and inviting to come and see. Rejoice! Amen!
Harvest Blog:
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December 24 - Prince of Peace
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Before you begin, ask God to reveal to your heart the ways that the enemy has robbed you of the peace that is yours because of Christ. Confess these things to Him and ask Him to pour out on you His peace that passes all understanding. Ask Him to still the storms in your life and refocus your living.
I thank You Father, that Jesus Himself is my peace and that He has completely destroyed the barrier that separated me from You! How grateful I am that I have been reconciled to Him through His blood shed on the cross and now have peace with You.
Forgive me I pray, for the times that I do not cast my cares and anxieties onto You, but instead carry them myself and allow my heart to be weighed down and needlessly burdened. I ask that Your peace, which is beyond my ability to understand, guard my heart and my mind--cover me, because I am in Christ Jesus. I belong to You. Thank You Lord Jesus, for the peace that You give to me which is so very different than the fleeting attempts of the world to quiet my heart. Guard my heart by Your Holy Spirit, that I might not be afraid. Help me to learn to be still and know that You are God, to hear Your voice in the midst of the storms that I face saying “Peace, be still.” Keep me from fear and increase my faith. May my life be characterized by Your peace no matter what situation I might face, that You may be glorified in me and through me and receive the praise that is due Your name.
May I love Your Word that I might have great peace and not stumble.
May my mind be controlled by Your Holy Spirit and produce life and peace.
May Your strength and peace fill my life because I belong to You.
Lord Jesus, You are my Wonderful Counselor, You are Mighty God, the Everlasting Father incarnate and Prince of Peace! With You all things are possible. I invite You into the impossible situations of my life and ask that as I wait on You, You fill me with Your peace – for my hope is in You alone and I trust in Your great name.
(Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 1:20; Romans 5:1; 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:7; John 14:27; Psalm 46:10; Mark 4:35-41; Psalm 119:165; Romans 8:6; Psalm 29:11; Isaiah 53:6; Matthew 19:26)
--By Tiece L. King, author of the Pray the Word series: Pray the Word: 90 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word: 31 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word for Your Church. These resources are available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Focus on Jn. 15:1-17 for the next few days.
- Praise your Father, who is the gardener of your soul.
- Thank Jesus for being the true vine which nourishes and gives life to the branches.
- Confess moments when you’ve tried to sever your relationship to Jesus in some way.
- Commit yourself to welcoming God’s pruning in your life despite the pain it might bring.
- Ask God to make you more fruitful as you live for him.
- Ask that your fruit-bearing will be attractive to unsaved people you know. Pray that they will “taste [of that fruit] and see that the LORD is good” (Ps. 34:8).
Prayer Pointer
“God rules the world through the prayers of his people.” —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) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. |
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Kim's Blog: A Prayer to Emmanuel – God with Us!
Sarah Young:
Charles Stanley
Chuck Swnidoll
Joyce Meyer
Friday, January 03 2025
This Week:
Tuesday Christmas Eve:
Bread Ministry 10-12
Worship with Communion 4PM followed by brief meal for those who need one
Wed: Christmas Day! Immanuel! God is with us! PTL! Amen!
Good Morning Very Blessed Co-Laborers! God made us, saved us, gifted us, lives in us and loves through us! What joy we know and get to share as His love overflows from us. Think about that today as you prepare for that last sprint to get it all done before Christmas Day. God is with you and watch for how He may want to love through you today and prepare to join Him. Maybe you still have your $50. to invest in someone. Ask God to lead you. Pray for those that we have already blessed. Think and pray about someone God may want you to invite to worship with us on Tuesday. Then ask and invite. God has custom made and gifted you for such a time as this. PTL! I can't wait to hear the stories of how God has used us this season to bless many! God is sure on the move in our midst! PTL! Thanks you to all the servants at St. Matts! We truly are being blessed to go bless and then being blessed back as we go do it! PTL!
Yesterday Sarah reminded us all about love and how God is Love and Love lives in us to love through us. We've often discussed this. How is God/Love loving through you? How is Love helping you to do your part in God's Good News Delivery Co.? We will be discussing some of this in the weeks ahead as we continue to seek Him and follow Him to His best plans for you and us. Maybe start journaling all that He is doing the next few days to be prepared to share that. So many will be encouraged and led to glorify God as you share.
Today I wrap up my homebound visits, Lord willing. So many I have visited ask about all of you and say Hi. They are hearing stories of how God is moving and using us. Some are really struggling and could use some love and encouragement. Reach out as able. Some of us are facing a difficult Christmas season. Who is God bringing to mind for you to reach out and love on? Do it! Today I am just sharing two devos that are speaking to my and will to your heart. God is our provision and He fills us with Love and Light to share and He uses us to go live and love like Jesus. May today be a day filled with Christ, His Love and Light and may the and they be incarnated (brought to life) through you and us. God is writing some stories right now for us to live well and share. Dwell in His Love today and allow Him to come to life in and through you and then share those stories. We are God's love story, written in red. For God so loved you that he sent His Son. And His Son wants to love and love through you today. Rejoice and ask Him to use you well. Amen!
Harvest:
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December 23 - God Is For Me
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Before you begin, meditate on this thought: God is for me.
How I praise and thank You Father, for once I walked in darkness, but now I have seen the Light of Jesus! Thank You for giving Your one and only Son for me--He who had never sinned--for me, who sins continually. How can this be? There are no words that adequately express how thankful I am for what You have done for me!
For Your willingness to be born in human likeness and bear my punishment on the cross--Thank You Lord Jesus!
For removing my sin from me as far as the east is from the west and remembering it no more--Thank You Lord Jesus!
You are Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace and I celebrate and announce that You are the Christ, Messiah--Emmanuel!
Thank You Father for the gift of Jesus that expresses so lavishly, Your great love for me--that You are for me. If You would give me Jesus, is there anything for my good that You would withhold? If You are for me, is there anyone who can be against me? If You are for me is there anything that I should fear?
I ask Father that You give me a fresh glimpse of Your face as You cheer me on in this race that You have marked out for me, a fresh understanding of your great love for me from which I can never be separated. Spur me on by the Holy Spirit in my pilgrimage with You until I am truly able to live as “more than a conqueror”! In spite of trouble or hardship, remind me continually that Your love is holding me fast--that there is nothing--past, present or future that will ever separate me from Your immeasurable love expressed in Christ--nothing! Hallelujah!
This day I ask Wonderful Counselor that You open my mind to help me understand in a deeper way what it means that You are for me. Mighty God, reveal Your power in my life in such a way that strongholds are exposed and come crashing down! Everlasting Father embrace me with Your love and acceptance. Prince of Peace calm my anxious heart and reveal Yourself in the midst of the storms of my living, for You are for me, and nothing will separate me from You great love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Isaiah 9:2; John 3:16; Philippians 2:6-11; Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 9:6; Romans 8: 31-39; Hebrews 12:1)
--By Tiece L. King, author of the Pray the Word series: Pray the Word: 90 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word: 31 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word for Your Church. These resources are available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise “the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (Jas. 1:17).
- Thank God for remaining the same throughout all eternity (Ps. 102:27).
- Confess that sometimes you are not as consistent as you would like to be in your walk with God.
- Commit yourself to remaining true to that which does not change, the eternal God (2 Cor. 4:18).
- Ask God to glorify himself in your life.
- Pray that the stewardship of resources in your congregation will please God. Ask that members will be willing to give generously of their time and talents as well as their finances. Pray that they will experience joy in giving.
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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) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. |
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Sarah Young
ODB:
Gregory of Nazianzus and Basil of Caesarea were celebrated leaders in the fourth-century church and also close friends. They first met as philosophy students, and Gregory later said that they became like “two bodies with a single spirit.”
With their career paths so similar, rivalry could’ve arisen between Gregory and Basil. But Gregory explained that they avoided this temptation by making a life of faith, hope, and good deeds their “single ambition,” then “spurring each other on” to make the other more successful in this goal than themselves individually. As a result, both grew in faith and rose to high levels of leadership without rivalry.
The book of Hebrews is written to help us stay strong in faith (Hebrews 2:1), encouraging us to focus on “the hope we profess” and to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (10:23-24). While this command is given in the context of a congregation (v. 25), by applying it to their friendship, Gregory and Basil showed how friends can encourage each other to grow and avoid any “bitter root,” such as rivalry that might grow between them (12:15).
What if we made faith, hope, and good deeds the ambition of our own friendships, then encouraged our friends to become more successful in this goal than ourselves individually? The Holy Spirit is ready to help us do both.
By Sheridan Voysey
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What qualities do you see in Gregory and Basil’s friendship? How could you encourage your friends to grow in faith, hope, and good deeds?
Dear Jesus, please make my friendships rich in faith, hope, and good deeds.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The words priest/high priest occur nearly forty times in the book of Hebrews. The priestly ministry of Jesus comes into view in the earliest verses of the book: “After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:3). Accolades for Jesus as high priest include words like “merciful and faithful” (2:17) and “great” (4:14; 10:21). The chorus of praise in 7:26 is of note: “Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.” What are the implications for believers in Jesus that He occupies this role? The “therefore” and “let us” phrases help us. “Therefore, . . . since we have confidence . . . and since we have a great priest . . . let us draw near to God . . . let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess . . . let us consider how we may spur one another on” (10:19-24).
Arthur Jackson |
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Don 
Friday, January 03 2025
Week Ahead:
Sunday at 10 with new member installation followed by brunch at 11:30 (All welcome plenty of warm soup and fellowship!)
Sunday evening Christmas Concert at Revival Church 5PM (meets in our sanctuary) followed by a reception meal
Tuesday:
10-12 Bread Ministry
4PM Christmas Eve worship with communion followed by a quick meal for those that need one. Who are you inviting or bringing along?
Wed. For unto us a Savior has been born! Merry Christmas!
Reminders:
1. Don't forget to update your directory entries or add yours!
2. Don't forget to get your cards form the Christmas Mailbox in the lobby
3. Don't forget to pick up your giving envelopes at the back of the sanctuary
4. Sun Dec 29th is the deadline to use your $50. to bless the Kindness Project. If you haven't found someone to bless and want to give to the Kindness Project, put your $50. in an envelope marked for the Kindness Project and place in the offering plate. (We will send a check to them after the 29th)
5. Year end reports need to be submitted shortly
6. Our annual Congregational Meeting is Sun. Jan. 19th after worship in the sanctuary
7. PTL for 15 new members and some other new attendees in 2024! Begin praying for Him to double that in 2025! Who are your five that you are praying for?
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Good Morning Abiding in Christ, Up-Held in God's Hand, Purposeful Followers! Today is a great day to chill at home and abide in God's Word, Love and presence for a spell and to fill up with Hs love. Jesus came to incarnate God's Love and make a way for all to be forgiven and to dwell in God's love forever. Why not start or continue today to abide, receive, prepare and then go to love as He loves us. God created you for such a time as this and has allowed all you have experienced and learned to be prepared to fulfill your purpose which is to incarnate His love. That's put flesh on His love. And remember "love" is an action word. How might His purposes for you be fulfilled today as you abide in His love, fill up with His love and allow Him to love through you? That is really what Christmas is all about. Receiving and sharing God's love. He is Love and He lives in you to love through you! Amen! So how might that play out today and in the days ahead and who might He be partnering you with to go? Do you have a story to share of how God loved through you with our $50. Giving Challenge? I and others would love to hear those stories! Is God stirring you to partner with some of us in the New Year to go love more like Christ and incarnate Him and His love? Let's make some plans! All of us need to be sowing in prayer into what God has for us and for some of us, we need to begin planning to go. Spend some extra time this morning in God's presence and with your open Bibles and our devotionals below. What's he saying to you? What will you do about it! I'm praying for you and us to be guided by his Spirit to his perfect plans and that we all would have open hearts and moving feet to follow well. Amen!
Time to get out and play in the snow as I get ready to get our and about and allow God to bless through me today. How does he want to bless through you? Ask Him and do something about it! Go love as you have been loved! Amen!
Charles Stanley
Upper Room: Safe in God's Hands
Be still, and know that I am God! - Psalm 46:10 (NRSVUE)
When I was a child, every summer our family would rent a cabin on a lake for our vacation. I remember my father trying to teach me how to float in the water while we were there. Standing chest deep in the lake, he instructed me to lie on my back in the water in front of him while resting on his extended arms. Then he told me to relax as he slowly lowered his arms a few inches in the water below my body. And for a brief moment I was floating! But when I couldn’t feel the touch of his arms and fell slightly lower in the water, I started flailing about, trying to save myself from sinking — which ironically caused me to sink faster. But my father never left my side. He was right there to catch me if necessary. I simply needed to relax and trust him.
Whenever I find myself flailing about emotionally over some new frightening or overwhelming situation, I think of this experience and hear the words of our heavenly Father: “Be still, and know that I am God!” God, the Creator of all that exists, is right here with me — with all of us — loving, caring for, and protecting us. How comforting and reassuring it is to know that God will take care of us no matter what happens!
Today's Prayer
Gracious God, help us continually to be aware of your presence and to remember we face nothing alone. Amen.
Sarah Young
The Word for You Today
Friday, January 03 2025
Good Morning Very Loved Children of Light! Amen and PTL!
Begin your quiet time this morning with with Harvest Prayer's Connection blog as you prepare your hearts to worship. Then spend some time with God as you work your way through our devotionals for today below that. Sarah Young reminds us to come and rest in God's presence. During this busy season, it's best to begin from resting in God's presence and recharging to go through the day worshiping and following Jesus. Charles Stanley reminds us of the fact of Immanuel--God with us. He always is. PTL! He knows you and is calling you by name to draw close, abide in Him and follow Him today. He does have great custom made plans for you to discover as you step out in faith, trusting our Savior and Shepherd to lead you well. The Upper Room reminds us that we have the Light of the World living in us and that we are here to light up the world with His love. Our Daily Bread reminds us how tangible and knowable that love is and how His love in us spurs us on to love others as we love Him and He loves us. And The Word for You Today wraps up our time with the reminder to ask God to lead you to His plans and to desire what He desires and that includes loving as you have been loved. God loves you, is with you and desires to love through you. Will you receive and share that love after spending some time dwelling in it today? I'm praying for you and us to be His Light and Love as we learn to live and love more like Jesus--Immanuel! Amen!
Harvest
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December 22 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
The Radiance of God’s Glory
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Before you begin, quiet your heart and ask for a fresh revelation of God’s great Father--love for you.
Lord Jesus, how I thank You that although You are God, You did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but You made Yourself to be nothing and took on the very nature of a servant and were made in human likeness. Thank You for Your willingness to humble Yourself to the point of death on the cross for me! Lord Jesus, You are the radiance of God’s glory and exact representation of His being--the very image of the invisible God! You are the Everlasting Father incarnate!
Forgive me, for the times that I ascribe to You attributes of my earthly father, and help me by Your Spirit to see and understand Your true character. I ask You to renew my mind in this area, that everything that sets itself up against truly knowing You would be destroyed. And I acknowledge and confess with my mouth that . . .
• You are compassionate and gracious
• Your love endures forever, it never fails
• You are merciful
• You are faithful to all Your promises
• You are mighty to save and rejoice over me with singing!
Thank You for making me Your child and for the incredible privilege of calling You “Abba” (Daddy!). How can this be? Empower me by the Holy Spirit to understand what it means, in my daily living, that You delight in me, and may this revelation change how I approach You and express my heart to You. May I become as a little child and rest in Your great Fatherly love and care, for there is a longing in my heart for intimacy that only You can fulfill. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen. Philippians 2:6-8; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15; Isaiah 9:6
--By Tiece L. King, author of the Pray the Word series: Pray the Word: 90 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word: 31 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word for Your Church. These resources are available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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Sarah Young
Charles Stanley
Upper Room: Shining Christ's Light
Jesus spoke to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12 (CEB)
During the Christmas season, it is customary in my part of Nigeria for people to travel — sometimes from all over the world — to their respective villages. It is a time to visit our roots and spend time with family and friends.
One year I visited a cousin who lives in a rural community. We chatted outside late into the night. Electric lights illuminated the community and made it quite welcoming. Since we were in the tropics, we were surrounded by giant trees. The noises around us were like music to my ears. Bats, owls, and biting insects began to emerge. But while we were talking, the lights suddenly went out. The surrounding darkness was intense. I realized then what a difference light makes.
We started talking about the impact of light on a community. Eventually discussion turned to spiritual light and Christmas — how light came into the world through the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we celebrate Christmas, sometimes we gloss over its significance. The light of Christ changed the world; it is our duty as believers to keep it shining!
Today's Prayer
Dear God, make us light to the world, at Christmastime and all year long. May our lives bring glory to you. Amen.
ODB:
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As I sat next to my friend Margaret, who was lying in her hospital bed, I took in the bustle and activity of the other patients, medical staff, and visitors. A young woman sitting nearby with her ailing mother asked Margaret, “Who are all the people who keep visiting you?” She responded, “They’re members of my church family!” The young woman remarked that she’d never seen anything like it; she felt as if the many visitors were “like tangible love poured out.” Margaret replied, smiling, “It all comes down to our love of God through His Son Jesus Christ!”
In her response, Margaret echoed the disciple John, who in his final years wrote three letters brimming with love. In his first letter, he said, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16). That is, those who acknowledge “that Jesus is the Son of God” (v. 15) have God living in them through “his Spirit” (v. 13). How can we lovingly care for others? “We love because he first loved us” (v. 19).
Because of the gift of God’s love, visiting Margaret hadn’t felt like a hardship to me or others in our church. I received more than I gave, not only from Margaret, but through observing her gentle witness about her Savior, Jesus. How might God love others through you today?
By Amy Boucher Pye
REFLECT & PRAY
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When have you been surprised by someone noticing God’s love in your life? How does His love spur you on to serve others?
Loving God, I love because You first loved me. Please keep increasing my love so Your Spirit will shine through me.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The night before Jesus was betrayed, He commanded His followers to “love one another” (John 13:34) as He had loved them. Such sacrificial and unconditional love would be the irrefutable proof that they were truly His disciples (v. 35). The author of 1 John (traditionally believed to be the same John who wrote the fourth gospel), says that Christ’s disciples must “live as Jesus did” (2:6)—living a life of loving God and loving others. John reminds us that “God is love” and we must “rely on the love God has for us” (4:16). Reminiscent of the language of John 3:16, the author reminds us that God loves us in this way: “He sent his one and only Son into the world . . . as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:9-10). “He has given us of his Spirit” to help us live and love (v. 13).
K. T. Sim |
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TWFYT:
Friday, January 03 2025
It's Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! Get your praise on! Think about what this Christmas season is really all about...God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us and make a way for forgiveness and eternity dwelling in His loving presence and light. PTL! That should fill your morning with much praise and thanksgiving. Focusing on that will also help to redirect to Him and His love and prepare your hearts for His joy to flow through you today.
Good Morning Forgiven, Very Loved, ASSURED OF ETERNITY WITH OUR SAVIOR, FRIENDS! AMEN!
This is the day the Lord has made! We get to dwell in His love and peace as we worship! Amen! Today I am only sharing the Upper Room and allowing you space to populate your gratitude lists, use them and recount your many, many blessings to God. Yes, worship and rejoice for unto us a Savior has been given! PTL! What are you thankful about? Tell God and share your praise with some others today as you share the real reason for the season and the love and forgiveness you are so thankful for!
Pray for those we have blessed with our $50. gifts to sense God's love, glorify Him and share how He has blessed them. Pray for who to give to and to know it when God sends them if you haven't done so already. Pray for who to invite to Sunday worship and brunch or Christmas Eve worship and communion at 4. (Don't forget for those who need a meal that we will have one after Christmas Eve service as well) Immanuel--God is with us! PTL! Who needs to hear what that means to you today? I've already prayed for God inhabit your praise, to speak to your heart, direct your steps and use yu to glorify Him today. Start with some praise and worship and then Go and share the Good news of Jesus and His love! Shalom shalom!
Upper Room: Making A Choice
You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. - 1 Corinthians 6:20 (NIV)
One winter years ago, I was walking down our long driveway to check the mail. The driveway was covered in snow, and parts of it were icy. I could either walk in deeper snow, which would be more physically demanding, or I could walk in the tire tracks where the snow had been packed down.
After a short time of walking in deeper snow, I decided to walk in the tire tracks. While I could walk faster and more easily, I was also walking on an icy, slick path. It wasn’t long before I slipped, but thankfully I did not fall. I quickly decided to move back to the deeper snow. It would not be easier or faster, but it was the right choice.
The life that Jesus Christ calls us to can be like my walk down the driveway. Many times, the choice that is right and honors God is not easy, and the journey may be slow. Doing what is easier and faster is not always God’s will for us. But we honor God when we do what is right.
Today's Prayer
Heavenly Father, even when our path is slower and more difficult, may we honor you in all that we do. As Jesus taught us, we pray, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil” (Luke 11:2-4, KJV). Amen.
Friday, January 03 2025
Good Morning Restored, Refreshed, Resting in the Lord Friends! Amen! I'm pronouncing that salutation over Karen and me and all of you this morning. We are dog sitting for a friend and the dogs decided that 2:30 am was rise and shine time. Just what we needed during this busy season. Many of us have plates full of busyness during the hectic last rush to Christmas. We need to remember to pause, refresh, rest in the Lord and allow Him to restore our focus and direction and us. Think about it, in one week it will all be over! PTL! Yet many of us will need to return to work, stress, making up for lost time, etc. Isn't it better to determine to be still, rest in the Lord, focus on him and His plans and die to self and our self-imposed agendas of holiday craziness and allow Him to refresh and lead us? Next Thursday the truth of Immanuel will still be fact--God is with us. He always is! PTL! Doesn't it make sense to exhale all the anxiety of the season and give it to Him? Doesn't it make sense to be still and know that He is God, He is with us and His yoke is easy? He promises to bring rest to the weary. Receive it! Amen!
So before this last push towards all we think we need to get done before Christmas, why not stop, be still, release your agenda to the One who Cares for You, the One who has perfect plans for you for such a time as this and focus on that, and refresh in Him? Then ask Him to come be the Lord of your schedule and plans and to lead you beside the refreshing still waters and lush green pastures of His calming, refreshing, restoring presence. Where is your focus and priority today? How might you be ready to get at it refreshed and ready? Start with being still, turning off the noise and inviting God to come be the Lord of today. I think of Martin Luther who said that he had so much to do that he had to get up early to spend hours in God's presence to be ready for the day. Maybe you don't have hours, but you surely have a few minutes to be still, refresh in Him and invite Him to be the Lord of your choices for today. Then at the end of the day, you may not be so weary and anxious. Try it! Maybe even do what Jesus did in the storm...take a nap!
My agenda for today is to continue some homebound visitations, do some shopping and to invite and allow God to be my Lord and step director for His glory today. I know a nap may be required before I start. Funny how the dogs calmed down now that Karen and I have calmed ourselves in God's presence. We are trusting Him to bring His will and plans alive in and through us today and maybe even to be able to take a nap, trusting that He is working all things together for good. Amen! I'm praying for you. Below are a few of my devotionals that may thread through all of this or be included because God wants to speak to you through them as you prepare for the day ahead with Him as your Lord and Shepherd. Be still and know. Be refreshed then go in His grace and power for the plans He has for you today. They are plans for good! Amen! And don't forget to worship as you go! Rejoice! Be still, know, then go. Amen! I have prayed for you and we covet your prayers for us. Thanks! And may His peace beyond understanding overwhelm you right now! Shalom shalom!
ODB:
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It was 1968, and America was mired in a war with Vietnam, racial violence was exploding in cities, and two public figures had been assassinated. A year before, fire had taken the lives of three astronauts on the launchpad, and the idea of going to the moon seemed like a pipe dream. Nonetheless, Apollo 8 managed to launch a few days before Christmas.
It became the first manned mission to orbit the moon. The flight crew, Borman, Anders, and Lovell—all men of faith—broadcast a Christmas Eve message: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). At the time, it was the most watched TV event in the world, and millions shared the God’s-eye view of Earth in a now iconic photo. Frank Borman finished the reading: “And God saw that it was good” (v. 10).
Sometimes it’s hard to look at ourselves, all the hardships we’re mired in, and see anything that’s good. But we might return to the story of creation and see God’s view of us: “In the image of God he created them” (v. 27). Let’s pair that with another divine-eye view: “For God so loved the world” (John 3:16). Today, remember that God created you, sees the good despite the sin, and loves the you He created.
By Kenneth Petersen
REFLECT & PRAY
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What hardships and sins are you mired in today? What does it mean that you're created in the image of God?
Dear God, I'm struggling these days. Please help me to see what You see in me—You’re the God’s-eye view.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The word genesis means “origin” or “beginnings.” The book of Genesis is about beginnings: the beginning of the world, of God’s chosen people, and of His plan to save us. It begins: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (1:1). The gospel of John has a similar opening: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” (1:1-2). These verses reveal much about the world’s origin: The Word (Jesus) was with God in the beginning—and is God. Not only was Jesus with the Father and Spirit from the very beginning, He gave life and created all things (1:3; Genesis 1:2). In Genesis 1:3, God speaks light into the world; in John 1:4, we read that Jesus is “the light” (see also 8:12).
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Charles Stanley
Upper Room: Not Shaken
I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. - Psalm 3:4 (NIV)
I was first diagnosed with an anxiety disorder when I was 15. Sometimes anxiety strikes me like lightning, and I feel like I’m gasping for breath. My heart pounds, and I feel like electricity is coursing through my veins. My mind plays the same worries over and over again. What if I’m not good enough? What if people don’t like me? What if God is mad at me?
Today I’m in my thirties. Years of psychological treatment have improved my life immensely, but my anxious tendencies have never fully left me and likely never will. While I would never wish these moments of intense, painful worry on anyone, through them I have grown in my relationship with God. My connection to God feels more raw and real when I cry out to God in moments when I am powerless against my thoughts. When my coping mechanisms fail me, my Lord does not.
Psalm 3 inspires me to pour out my worries and lay them at God’s feet. God is not shaken by our worries. In the depths of our despair, God is a secure presence we can hold on to. We don’t have to pretend that everything is fine. God does not require pretty, upbeat prayers but can bear the weight of our heaviest burdens.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord God, thank you for hearing us when we call out to you. Help us to trust in your strength to sustain us through any trial. Amen.The Word for You Today
Friday, January 03 2025
Sarah Update below
What's your story for how God has used you with the Christmas Giving Challenge? How have you blessed another and how have you been blessed back. Be ready to share those stories. (Write them down if you need to and we can read them)
Good Morning Thankful In The Storm, Persevering In Faith, Resting In God Friends! Hmmm, is that you? Are you able to choose joy and trust God with what He has allowed you to endure. Are you able to see His hand upon you and carrying you through whatever He has allowed? Are you able to refocus to Him and understand and receive with thanksgiving whatever has come your way? And the opposite too...are you able to focus on and praise God for the good things as well and allow Him to use you to bring joy to others?
Any holiday can ne tough on some of those around us, maybe even ourselves as we remember some loss or endure a hardship. But we can learn to move through this season by choosing joy that comes from trusting God and receiving whatever with thanksgiving and focus on Him and His plans. Last week during vacation, our anniversary was on that very rainy Wednesday. We were driving from Alexandria VA to Gettysburg area in sometimes torrential rain. We could have grumbled but we were able to thank God that the rain came on a travel day, He led us on a less traveled path, there were no accidents and that it wasn't a crippling snow and ice storm as we traveled through the always tough DC/Baltimore traffic. Then I started to get sick on Thus and gave it to Karen by Sat. But what a blessing to be able to just be forced to be still, rest and heal when we got home. God knew we needed some rest before the craziness of the Holidays really kicked in and PTL we were able to get most of our Christmas shopping done during our vacation as well. And we got a new grandson Sat evening.
Now this may seem like some minor things compared to what you are enduring right now. But remember nothing is too big or too small for God nor beyond His reach. He is with you always, working all things together for good, and does allow things for a reason and maybe season to lead to His best. Are you able to quickly refocus on Him and His plans and receive with thanksgiving whatever He has allowed and look for the joy that comes from knowing it is for His good purposes. Yes, easy to say when we are not in the thick of it, but, a good reminder to be prepared to shift our focus and trust more quickly when the hard times come. God is for you and He loves you and nothing can separate you from Him or His love unless you allow it to lead you away. Maybe you need some help right now or God is bringing someone to mind to help. Do something about that!
Below are my devotionals for today that really thread through these thoughts and remind us that God is always good and trustworthy. he is with us always and sometimes His best for us leads us through some dark valleys and hard places. Choose to trust Him always and seek His help to choose joy. May He be with you in this season and strengthen you for the journey and may His love and presence overwhelm you today. Dare I say, Rejoice? I'm praying for you and we are here if you need a friend to walk with. Shalom!
Chuck Swindoll
Sarah Young
TWFYT
Joyce Meyer
ODB
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“I’ve got to declare an emergency. My pilot’s deceased.” Doug White nervously uttered those words to the control tower monitoring his flight. Minutes after takeoff, the pilot of the private plane Doug’s family had chartered suddenly passed away. Doug stepped into the cockpit with just three-month’s training in flying less sophisticated aircraft. He then carefully listened to controllers at a local airport who talked him through landing the plane. Later, Doug said, “[They] saved my family from an almost certain fiery death.”
We have one who alone can help us navigate the challenges in life. Moses, speaking to the Israelites, said, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you . . . . You must listen to him” (Deuteronomy 18:15). This promise pointed to a succession of prophets God provided for His people, but it also spoke of the Messiah. Both Peter and Stephen would later state that this ultimate prophet was Jesus (Acts 3:19-22; 7:37, 51-56). He alone came to tell us the loving and wise instructions of God (Deuteronomy 18:18).
During Christ’s life, God the Father said, “This is my Son . . . . Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7). To live wisely and avoid crashing and burning in this life, let’s listen to Jesus as He speaks through the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit. Listening to Him makes all the difference.
By Tom Felten
REFLECT & PRAY
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Why is it sometimes challenging to hear Christ’s voice in this world? How can you better follow His wise and loving words today?
Dear Jesus, please help me hear and obey Your voice.
For further study, read Unknown Caller: Recognizing Jesus and the Kingdom.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Two months after leaving Egypt, the Israelites assembled at the foot of Mount Sinai to receive God’s laws (Exodus 19:16-25). Trembling in fear after God revealed Himself in thunder, lightning, billowing smoke, and a violent shaking of the whole mountain (vv. 16-18), the Israelites asked Him not to speak to them directly, but through Moses, lest they be destroyed by His holiness (20:18-19). Forty years later, Moses prophesied that God would provide a prophet—a mediator who would make known to them God’s words (Deuteronomy 18:15-20). God commanded His people not to imitate the detestable occultic practices of the pagan nations; specifically, not to consult with sorcerers, diviners, witches, spiritists, and mediums (vv. 9-14). They were to listen only to the “prophet like [Moses]” (v. 15) that God would send. This prophet would be far greater than Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6). Jesus, the “new Moses,” is the sole mediator between God and humanity (Acts 3:22-23; 1 Timothy 2:5).
K. T. Sim |
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Charles Stanley
UR: BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS
Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. . . . Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light. - John 12:35-36 (NIV)
I love the lights this time of year as I drive through neighborhood streets, sit in the glow of a Christmas tree, and walk through my town’s multi-colored display. However, these beautiful light displays require work. At our house, light strands always malfunction. This year we struggled to find a working strand to weave through an unlit section of our garland.
While staring at the dark section of garland, I was reminded that though we may be connected to the same power through our relationship with Christ, we do not all enter the Christmas season with bright spirits. The same decorations that bring me joy and comfort can trigger painful memories for others. I remember Christmases marked by grief: the death of a loved one, a job ending, and even the loss of a pregnancy. Having endured those challenging years, I know not everyone experiences the delights of the holidays.
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n John 12:36, Jesus urges his disciples to connect with him so they can become children of the light, shining his light in the world. We are called to reach out to those with heavy hearts through hugs, prayers, and acts of kindness, weaving God’s light through their lives.
Today's Prayer
Dear Jesus, as we celebrate your birth, may we focus on your love, hope, and purpose. Bring your light to those who need comfort and strength. Amen.
Sarah Update
Good evening, everyone, it was a beautiful day today!!
Yay God Neen and my heat is back up and working properly.
I am going to refresh your memory of some of the prayer request shared at worship this past week, on Dec 15.
Larry Paul is home from the hospital after spending 4 days in the ICU.
His final diagnosis was an unstable angina and not a heart attack. He needs to watch his diet, and will be meeting with the cardiologist next week to discuss his next step.
Dean Marks' mother fell and was taken to the hospital. She has 3 fractures and a lump on the back of her head.
Mark Heninger is asking for prayer for the family - his sister - in - law passed away Sunday, suddenly. Please keep the family in your prayers during this difficult time.
We have several on our list/in our church family that is going through some treatments, therapy, Chemo, etc: Diane Huber (may need another surgery after Christmas),
David (Mike Lacise's father) starting up chemo treatments
Houston has completed his treatments for now. They are waiting for his body to heal and then more testing.
He is very thankful to be through the treatments for now and thankful for the prayers for complete healing.
Larry - friend of Harry and Dean, is going through his 2nd round of chemo. His spirits are high and he is doing well
Ken Ritter - (Sandy Ritter's husband) has another series of injections in his back on Tuesday. Dec 18th.
Darlene Geiger is asking for prayer for her granddaughter, who has her feet casted, trying to stretch her tends so she doesn't walk on her tip toes. If this procedure is not successful, she may need surgery
Josie is asking for prayer for some family members that are going through therapies, and recovering from surgery.
Continue to prayer for Sunday brunch and Lori and her crew as they prep for the meal.
Have a great rest of your week, everyone!!
Blessings,
Sarah
Friday, January 03 2025
If you have time for nothing else today, click this link, meditate and pray along with Harvest Kim's blog (I often pray like this and experience God's faithful answers): https://www.harvestprayer.com/a-prayer-to-be-christlike/
Don't forget it's Brunch Sunday (as well as new member installation) All are welcome! Who are you inviting?
Good Morning Saved, Delivered, Redeemed, Restored, Filled with Overflowing Love, Co-Laborers! Amen! Thanks Lord! Your Kingdom come and will be done today in, through and around us and all for Your glory. Amen! Today's devotionals below flow through this salutation to your mind and fill your heart with God's loving Word for you and us. Be still. Know. Receive. And follow well today. What love we know and get to share! Thanks Lord! Come alive to us and through us today. Amen. And remember part of God's best plans for you includes others--teammates--co-laborers--pray-ers--encouragers--friends of God! Keep praying for how God wants to use you as a co-laborer and for 2-3 to unite with on His journey of love and rescue. He really does have great plans for you, just as you are and for us as His Body. Seek first His Kingdom and righteousness. Don't lean on your own understanding. Unite as one in Christ and allow Him to use you for your purposes in His Good News Delivery Company. Then watch for the great fruit to come that has already begun to bud as we move from pruning, abiding, growing, to great fruit. Amen!
God sent His Son just for you. He loves you and is calling you by name to come shelter under His wings and to grow in Him. He will then launch you to fulfill your purposes. He will be glorified as you do and His Kingdom will burst forth in a harvest of many blessings! Amen! Come Lord! Have Your way with me for Your glory! Yes Your Kingdom come and will be done in, through and around me and us today. Amen
Our Daily Bread reminds us that Jesus came to rescue and deliver us and to open up heaven for us. PTL! Sarah Young reminds us that sometimes we are feeling far from God, unlovable and empty. BUT GOD! Jesus says bring that to me and as you abide in me you will grow closer to me, know my heart for you and be able to take that next step of faith I have for you. The Upper Room continues this line of truth with the reminder that God promises to turn our burdens to joys, if we allow Him to do so. He may even be sending you to help someone with this or bringing to mind someone that can help you. Will you reach out with or to receive His loving help? Charles Stanley brings to light the truth that we are commanded to love like Jesus and to love one another as part of our mission here on earth. As we do and as we focus on God and joining Him with his plans for us, we will be refreshed and refocused and able to praise and be used by Him. He does have great plans for you no matter your circumstances. Seek Him and invite Him to send you today. The last devo is a new one that I will be using with our Vision Team and some of you in the new year. It's all about God's plans to unite us as one on mission with Him to light up the world around us and make disciples together. We are called to move from individual focuses to a unity of Body and mission to go be Jesus and bring Him and His ways alive together. As we do we are able to refocus from self to God and others and able to experience His best for us and others. How cool is that! Rejoice! Abide and then thrive together for His glory! Amen! I'm praying expectantly with much thanksgiving for what God has planned for you and us in 2025. yes he will come alive in '25 and we get to be part of that! PTL!
ODB:
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What began as a normal cable car ride across a Pakistani valley turned into a frightful ordeal. Shortly after the ride began, two supporting cables snapped, leaving eight passengers—including school children—suspended hundreds of feet in the air. The situation sparked an arduous twelve-hour rescue operation by the Pakistani military, who used ziplines, helicopters, and more to rescue the passengers.
Those well-trained rescuers are to be commended, but their work pales in comparison to the eternal work of Jesus, whose mission was to save and rescue us from sin and death. Prior to Christ’s birth, an angel instructed Joseph to take Mary home because her pregnancy was from “the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18, 20). Joseph was also told to name his son Jesus, because He would “save his people from their sins” (v. 21). Yet, while this name was common in the first century, only this child was qualified to be the Savior (Luke 2:30-32). Christ came at the right time to seal and secure the eternal salvation of all who repent and believe in Him.
We were all trapped in the cable car of sin and death, suspended over the valley of eternal separation from God. But in His love and grace, Jesus came to rescue us and bring us safely home to our heavenly Father. Praise Him!
By Marvin Williams
REFLECT & PRAY
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What significant mission would Mary’s baby have? What does the rescue Jesus secured mean to you?
Dear Jesus, please help me to rejoice in the reality that though I once was lost, I can now be found because of Your grace.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Matthew clearly states that Mary was pregnant “before [she and Joseph] came together” (1:18). Joseph would have considered this apparent violation of their engagement to be the same as adultery, which carried the death penalty (Leviticus 20:10). That Joseph, who was “faithful to the law” (Matthew 1:19), planned to divorce Mary discreetly reveals his gracious character. Just as important, he believed what the angel told him (v. 24) and married Mary. This exposed them both to public ridicule. When Jesus later returned to “his hometown” to carry out His ministry, the people wondered, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? . . . Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?” (13:54-55). But He was more than just “the carpenter’s son.” He was the Messiah.
Tim Gustafson |
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SY:
UR: Burdens into Joys
Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son. - Genesis 18:14 (NIV)
I am at a point in my life where nothing seems to be working out. I am a college freshman with too many bills to pay, parents who are on the verge of separating, and lots of anxiety about the future. I do not know what lies ahead.
What I do know for sure is that God is a miracle-working God. But there are moments when I find it difficult to see even a tiny glimpse of hope. I find myself wondering, Does God actually care? Can God turn my heart’s burdens into joy?
There are so many reasons for my heart to worry, to be anxious, to be restless. But I find peace knowing that nothing is impossible for God. After all, God was able to give Abraham and Sarah a child despite their old age. Remembering this, I find myself rejoicing in all my battles. The story of Abraham and Sarah is a call to trust the Lord even more in situations that we cannot understand. It is in those situations where God’s name is glorified. We may not be able to see the solutions for our problems, but we can trust that God can. Nothing is impossible for our great God.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to trust your timing and your plans. You are our source of hope. Amen.CS:
I to We: Jesus' Word to you: "I chose you and appointed you to go bear fruit that will last."
Friday, January 03 2025
Larry Paul update: This is Larry, I'm home from the hospital after 4 days in ICU, hence no communication from me. Final diagnosis is an unstable angina, not a heart attack. I'm on a low fat, low sodium diet for now, hopefully that will change after meeting with the Cardiologist next week to discuss our next step.
Two requests Sarah received yesterday after worship. (She will send a prayer warrior update today) (Pray for her and Neen as their propane/ heater is not working properly)
First one is for dean marks, his mother fell and was taken to the Macungie Hospital and they are transferring her to Cedarcrest. She has three fractures and a lump on the back of her head. That’s all we know for now.
Second one is for Mark Heninger, his sister-in-law passed away suddenly. Asking for prayer for the family as they go through this difficult time.
This Week:
Wed. is Bread Day 10-12. Come and be blessed as we bless
Sun is new member Sunday as we install new members. and then have 2 Peas in a Pod brunch and fellowship after worship. Bring some friends! Invite someone to come and see.
*It's not too late to join our church if God is moving you to do so. Just let Sarah or Don know and paint a small rock with your family name and maybe a favorite verse to add to our rock covenant altar.
Don't forget our Christmas Eve service Tuesday at 4. After worship for those who need a meal, Karen and I will be hosting a quick meatball and salad dinner time. All welcome but don't let this interfere with family plans. Many have no place to eat after worship as most places are closed.
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Good Morning Praying Encouragers, Abiding in Christ, Faithful Followers! May that be us, Lord! Your servants that draw close always, pray without ceasing, abide in Your Love and follow well. Thanks! Come! Help! Have Your way with us and use us for Your glory. Amen! Immanuel! God is with us! PTL!
Karen and I want to thank you for your prayers and thank God for a week of celebrating, fun, shopping, abiding, resting, healing and worship! Despite some rain and colds, we had a great week that was capped off with the birth of our second grandchild, a grandson, Kieran. He was a whopper (19.5" and 9lbs 3oz) and mom and he are doing well. For unto us a son has been given! Amen! Now time to get back at it as we hurtle towards Christmas and 2025. Are you ready?
Today is the day the Lord has made and He is with you working all things together for good. We are reminded in Ecclesiastes that there is a season for everything and that life apart from God is meaningless. We are called to love God, draw close to Him no matter the season we are in, love Him and others and enjoy life. Yesterday Mike reminded us that joy is a choice. It's not the same as happiness which is a result of circumstances but is a choice in spite of circumstances as we trust God, lean on Him and allow Him to help and lead us to the other side. You may not have much to be happy about today, but joy is available as you give it all to God and trust Him to work all things together for good, even when we can't see it yet. And He has prepared some friends to travel with you on the journey. Who are they? reach out for some help.
It was like that for the people of God as they awaited the promised Messiah. Things seemed hopeless, BUT GOD! And when the time was right that baby burst onto the scene with the praises of the heavenly host over that field full of sheep and shepherds. Now not many knew what this meant or even that He had come. There were still years ahead to trust God, wait on Him and choose joy and help each other to stand firm in faith. Times were still dark and hard. BUT GOD was with those who chose to stay close and trust Him. May that be us. We are also reminded that Jesus is the Light of the World that drives back the darkness and He lives in us to light up the world and drive back the darkness. How might He be wanting to use you and us to do that?
I think about the Christmas Giving Challenge. I've heard some stories already of how God is using us to be the Light and Love as we bless others with our $50. Be ready to share your stories or write them out for us to share. We will use some Christmas Eve and some the 29th to recount how God has blessed us as we blessed and helped. We can bring a little Light, Love, Hope and Help to someone in need and be Jesus' hands and feet just as we are where He placed us for such a tine as this. keep seeking Him and watching for who He is sending your way. Maybe keep using that Pray 5-5-5 challenge as you pray for five people for five days a week for five weeks. God sure is using that with me. How about you. maybe He is bringing to mind someone to invite in. Sunday we will be installing our fifteenth new member this year. God heard our prayers and used our invites as we prayed for 12. We are praying for Him to multiply that and send 30 next year. he wants to use you to pray and invite and to fulfill your purpose in His Good News Delivery Co. Do it!
OK, I have to hit the road for a long day of homebound ministry. Check out the thread through my devotionals below. God sure spoke to me and will speak to you as you still yourself, abide with and open heart and then He will send you as your willing feet lead you to His perfect plans for you today. rejoice! Yes this is the day the Lord as made and we get to worship, trust, choose joy and follow well! Amen!
Sarah Young
Chuck Swindoll
ODB:
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An Indiana schoolteacher suggested that her students write notes of encouragement and inspiration for their peers. Days later, when a school tragedy occurred in a different part of the country, their notes buoyed the spirits of their fellow students as they dealt with the resulting fear and pain that something could happen to them too.
Encouragement and mutual concern were also on Paul’s mind when he wrote to the believers at Thessalonica. They had lost friends, and Paul instructed them to hope in Jesus’ promised return to bring their loved ones to life again (1 Thessalonians 4:14). While they didn’t know when that would occur, he reminded them that as believers they needn’t wait in fear of God’s judgment when He returned (5:9). Instead, they could wait with confidence in their future life with Him and meanwhile “encourage one another and build each other up” (v. 11).
When we experience painful losses or senseless tragedies, it’s easy to be overcome with fear and sadness. Yet Paul’s words are helpful to us today, just as when they were written. Let’s wait in hopeful expectation that Christ will restore all things. And meanwhile, we can encourage each other—with written notes, spoken words, acts of service, or a simple hug.
By Kirsten Holmberg
REFLECT & PRAY
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How have you been encouraged by others? How can you encourage someone today?
Risen Jesus, despite my hurts in a messed-up world, please help me to wait on You with hope and faith and to encourage those around me until You come again.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
To encourage believers in Jesus who were suffering because of their faith, Paul reminded them of the blessed hope of His imminent return (1 Thessalonians 1:3, 10; 3:13; 4:13-17; 5:1-10). Twice, he instructed them to “encourage one another” (4:18; 5:11). The Greek word translated “encourage” (parakaleō) means “to come alongside”; “to give one the strength and courage to get up and get going again.” It’s like giving a much-needed push to a child’s swing to get it moving. The apostle John used paraklētos to refer to the Holy Spirit, who comes alongside us to be our “Advocate” (John 14:26). It’s difficult to find an equivalent to this Greek word, so it’s translated in several different ways to describe the Spirit: “Helper,” “Counselor,” “Comforter,” “Companion,” or “Friend.” These are all apt descriptions of coming alongside to encourage.
K. T. Sim |
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Joyce Meyer
Charles Stanley
UR: Persistent Sparrow
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. - Psalm 31:24 (NIV)
Once, not far from my home, I saw a large flock of sparrows landing on a telephone wire. The line was packed with birds sitting nearly shoulder to shoulder. One bird, late to arrive, could not find a place to perch. With great persistence, it kept fluttering back and forth looking for a spot to sit. The bird finally found a place barely wide enough to accommodate it. That tiny bird did not give up.
This observation made me think about hope. Hope in God is expressed eloquently in Psalm 31. Such hope is rare in our world today, where we so often see violence and division among people. When our society seems to offer us little reason to feel optimistic, are we not more likely to find hope in our faith and its timeless values?
Sometimes when I struggle with difficulties of my own, I might become discouraged and feel overwhelmed. Nevertheless, I can take heart in remembering the persistence of the tiny sparrow and the words of Psalm 31. With God’s help and guidance, I can keep persevering with hope.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, may we remember to follow your guidance. May we not be afraid to be hopeful. Amen.TWFYT
Friday, January 03 2025
Wagner's Update below
Good Morning Abiding in the Vine Fruit Bearing Branches! Proclaim that. Pray into that. Determine to earnestly pursue that for you and us and with some teammates! That is God's plan for us and He is bringing it alive, even through some hard things many of us are facing and persevering through. We thrive through THE Vine! PTL!
I really intended to not do any blogs this week of vacation...BUT GOD! We haven't left yet on our whirlwind 20th anniversary trip--soon though. ("There's that word again!" You know what I mean of you have been watching the Chosen--"soon") Yesterday we discussed preparing (and Preparation H!  ) and waiting for God's prophetic words to come to life. We were reminded that preparing involves being available, faith, waiting and moving with the Lord, and works best with teammates. When I discussed and prayed to have the faith of Mary when she said, "Be it as you say. I am the Lord's servant." (some translations say "Be it unto me according to your Word." Check out that song today below) I was earnestly praying with an open heart, as I often do, to have a faith like Mary's and to be found acceptable and able to receive God's favor. Try praying like that sometimes. God hears and is pleased to answer. This morning as I began my quiet time I had an encounter with God that was similar to the one I had almost 23 year ago when I surrendered my life to God and invited Jesus to come have His way with me and transform me into His image. It was like a new day had dawned. I'm not saying it was quite like Mary's encounter with Gabriel, but it is going to be life changing and is affirmation that I am on the right track and finding favor with God. I don't think words can adequately explain this. You have to experience yourself to fully understand. Much like how we can't explain to an atheist what it's like to know that we know that we know that Christ lives in our hearts and is at work. I have much to process yet and expect that o happen as I engage with some of you and Karen over the next few weeks. Know this: God has some amazing things ahead for some of us as we come alive in '25! Pray into it and offer yourself like Mary did to God. "Here I am Lord! Have at it!" And then watch, listen, receive and prepare to be used in mighty ways as God's Spirit overcomes you and us and births some new things that will change us and the world around us.
If you are feeling a pinch right now, know this...I have prayed for you by name and God is calling you by name to come and see and join us for what's next. If you are feeling pinched pray and reach out to me when you now God is calling you to the next things as teammates. You are made for more. God has redeemed you and is calling you by name. Be still and know and pray and go as he leads. revival is coming and he has plans for our Body to truly become that Good News Delivery Co and the disciple makers He has gathered and prospered us to become. Now your job is to pray, offer yourself and listen. Then take that first step of faith. God has some custom made plans just for you for such a time as this! Receive them and step into them with me and some friends as we follow God to the future and hope He has promised.
Be It Unto Me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr7TyFEJPOo
Made for More: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZACPHTT8II
OK, so as I begin to unplug and prepare for a week of recharging and fun with Karen, I know there is much more ahead for those willing to step into it. But I also felt God wanted me to share His love and remind some of you that He knows exactly what you are going through right now. He is there waiting to walk with you to the other side and his better plans. He is with you in this dark valley and walking beside you. He wants to hold your hand and strengthen your heart. Trust Him! There are still waters and green pastures ahead. Be still. Breathe out the darkness and hurt and breathe in a fresh breath of the Spirit. reach out to some teammates to help hold you up and to walk with you. God has already redeemed you and will this situation as you invite Him in and allow Him to. He wants to restore your soul and lead you forward. Let Him. Seek Him. Cry out to Him. He is there with open arms. he is running towards you. Run to Him! I'm praying for you and Sarah and I and others are here for you. Reach out to God and us.
Our devotionals today thread through all of the above. Do you see it? What's God whispering to you and what will you do about it. Faith and love are action words that come to life as we step into God's arms and open our hearts to His amazing grace. The Christmas season is all about God doing something about our deepest needs and hurts. He came and He is still here. Receive Him as you open your hands and say out loud, "I receive Your love and help. Come!" Can you feel His heart beating inside you? Focus on Him and allow Him to lead you to those still, refreshing, life giving waters. Amen!
I'm praying the name of Jesus over you. Receive Him as you meditate on this and pray His name over some others with this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV4sYN173HY
Please begin with this passage and really engage with God through these devos. It's all I'm sending this week and it is God's Word for you. Dwell in it and His love and sink your roots into His Living Water! Amen!
ODB:
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It was a long day at the hospital. Still no answers to the sickness that afflicted a young, bright nineteen-year-old. Arriving home, the family felt discouraged. To their surprise, a nicely decorated box sat on the step with Isaiah 43:2 printed on the front. Inside, were assorted encouraging Bible verses that friends had written out by hand. The next hour was spent being encouraged by Scripture and the thoughtful gesture of the family’s friends.
People going through tough times or family challenges can always use a heartfelt boost. Scripture—either a large portion or just a verse—can encourage you, a friend, or family member. Isaiah 43 is filled with little bits of encouragement—received either individually or as a whole. Consider a few choice thoughts: God has “created you,” “formed you,” “redeemed you,” and called you “by name” (v. 1). God “will be with you” (v. 2), He’s “the Holy One of Israel,” and He’s our “Savior” (v. 3).
As you consider the promises of God, may they encourage you. And as He provides what you need, you can encourage someone else. The verse box didn’t cost a lot, but its impact was priceless. Even after five years, some of those verse cards are still cherished by the family.
By Brent Hackett
REFLECT & PRAY
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What other promises can you find in Isaiah 43? Who can you share a promise card, text, or email with today?
Dear God, I thank You today that the Scriptures are full of promises, and that I can be encouraged even by one verse at just the right time.
For further study, read Stay Alert and Walk with Your God.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of four kings of Judah (Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah). Ancient Jewish and Christian writers say that Isaiah was “sawn asunder”—perhaps being the incident referred to in Hebrews 11:37.
The book of Isaiah is the first of the “major” prophets. The Major Prophets are distinguished from the Minor Prophets mostly based on their length, with the Major Prophets being substantially longer than their smaller counterparts. Isaiah is the sixth longest book in the Bible. One of its distinguishing characteristics is that it contains a substantial amount of messianic prophecy. Isaiah is quoted (or alluded to) in the Gospels alone more than twenty times. In John 12:40, for example, the apostle John quotes Isaiah 6:10, then says, “Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him” (John 12:41).
Bill Crowder |
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UR: A Song in the Storm
Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him — his name is the Lord. - Psalm 68:4 (NIV)
Watching the flashing light fill my bedroom, I listened to the thunder and rain outside my window. Despite the darkness of the storm, dawn was breaking. I could hear birds singing, and my heart was filled with joy. The birds did not allow the stormy conditions to silence their morning song.
The sound of the birds reminded me that behind the clouds the sun was still rising, ushering in a new day. My feathered friends bolstered my faith. No matter what blows through my life, I should never let the conditions stop my praise. No storm could ever stop the sunlight from breaking the darkness of night.
It can be easy to forget the light of God. Frequently I hear people ask, “Where is God in all of this?” When that question rises up in my heart, I quickly remind myself, God is with us — Immanuel. God is our healer. God is our peace. Great is God’s faithfulness.
Storms will always be part of life, but like the birds we can weather the storms by keeping songs of praise on our lips.
Today's Prayer
Ever-present God, you are our shelter during the storms of life. Rescue us from darkness, and bring us into your marvelous light. Amen.
Charles Stanley
TWFYT
Sarah Young
Wagner's Update
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Greetings Friends,
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” ~Psalm 118:1
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| We ended our first school term back at RVA giving thanks for all God’s goodness – his provision, strength, patience, and grace, as we jumped into another season of life and ministry at RVA. It really doesn’t seem like that long ago (17 weeks to be exact) when we were boarding a plane and heading back to our other home. No wonder we were exhausted and so ready for a slower pace during this school break! |
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| “But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” ~Psalm 50:23 |
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| Looking back over the second half of this term, here are a few reasons for our THANKFUL HEARTS! |
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“And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father. ~Colossians 3:17
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As a family, we are giving thanks in these ways:
- A car for Micah & Lynnsi: God provided above and beyond what they were dreaming through the generosity of good friends.
- A house for Rachel & Luke: Another answer to prayer as God provided a home of their own to move into just in time to celebrate our grandson’s 1st birthday!
- A community for Hannah & Jamie: God has blessed them with family (2 of Jamie’s siblings, their spouses, and a nephew), as well as good friends from their church to share life together during this season.
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| “…always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~Ephesians 5:20 |
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| As we head into the Christmas season, we want to especially give thanks for the gift of Jesus and the gift of salvation which is freely offered to all! We give thanks for YOU who so faithfully pray for our family and the ministry of RVA so that the parents of our students can share these gifts and the hope we have in Jesus with those who have never heard this Good News. |
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“I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High.” ~Psalm 7:17
“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” ~Ephesians 1:16 |
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Giving thanks for all HE has done and continues to do,
Brian & Missy |
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