|
Tuesday, October 31 2023
Good Morning Clothed in Christ and His Armor Warriors! On this day when evil and darkness are celebrated even more so than normal, let us remember who and Whose we are and cloth ourselves for battle! Check out Harvest Prayer Ministry's Blog by Km Butts and meditate on that today and dress well. Don't forget Satan dresses up and disguises himself as an angel of light. We are not play dress up! We are battling principalities and powers and spiritual forces with Christ! Stand firm and dress well! https://www.harvestprayer.com/a-family-clothed-in-christ/
Remember ODB's reminder that we are under God's wings! He will protect us and Jesus has already defeated the enemy. You were created for such a time as this and placed right where God wants you. PTL and prepare to be His light and to lead others to His sheltering love. In Christ, we are more than overcomers! Amen! Remember the darkness will not overcome the Light! The Light drives back the darkness! Partner with God to fulfill your part in that.
Here's some prayer starters for today: "Praise Jesus Christ, the Lord, the image of God (2Cor. 4:4-5). Thank God for 'making His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (4:6). Confess times of disinterest in knowing God fully. Commit yourself to thinking daily about Him and His glory. Ask God to make His Light shine more fully in your heart. Pray for God to shine through you to your family and friends, even though they know you well enough to see your weaknesses. Thank God that this shows even more clearly that the power is from Him rather than you (4:7). Pray for God's Light to shine in your community through your church's members. Ask God to help people focus on the glory of His Light rather than the failings of His Light-Bearers. Pray for those planting churches and ask God to bring His Light to more and more areas through new communities of believers. Pray for unsaved people you know to be reached through small groups and outreach efforts of your church. Ask God to use you and other believers, in spite of frailties, to bring light to many. Pray for many to be open to the Light and drawn to Him and for God to use us to lead them to Him." Amen
We have a treat for all who will come! Stand firm in Christ and His armor! Don't be tricked by the darkness. Go and bring His Light to all around you today! Shine bright!
Our Daily Bread:
Under God’s Wings
I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Psalm 61:4
READ Psalm 61
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are several Canada goose families with baby geese at the pond near our apartment complex. The little goslings are so fluffy and cute; it’s hard not to watch them when I go for a walk or run around the pond. But I’ve learned to avoid eye contact and give the geese a wide berth—otherwise, I risk a protective goose parent suspecting a threat and hissing and chasing me!
The image of a bird protecting her young is one that Scripture uses to describe God’s tender, protective love for His children (Psalm 91:4). In Psalm 61, David seems to be struggling to experience God’s care in this way. He’d experienced God as his “refuge, a strong tower” (v. 3), but now he called desperately “from the ends of the earth,” pleading, “lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (v. 2). He longed to once more “take refuge in the shelter of [God’s] wings” (v. 4).
And in bringing his pain and longing for healing to God, David took comfort in knowing that He’d heard him (v. 5). Because of God’s faithfulness, he knew he would “ever sing in praise of [His] name” (v. 8).
Like the psalmist, when we feel distant from God’s love, we can run back to His arms to be assured that even in our pain, He’s with us, protecting and caring for us as fiercely as a mother bird guards her young.
By Monica La Rose
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
How does it encourage you to remember God’s protective care for you? How have you experienced His care?
Dear God, thank You for Your fierce, protective love for me. Help me to rest securely in Your tender care.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Psalm 61, David describes his longing for God’s presence with metaphors of a “rock that is higher than I” (v. 2), a “refuge” or “strong tower” (v. 3), a “tent” and “the shelter of [God’s] wings” (v. 4). The combined reference to God’s “tent” and the “shelter of [His] wings” may allude to the cherubim wings on the tabernacle (Exodus 25:20). During God’s deliverance of His people from Egypt, He gave instructions for the building of a tabernacle through which He’d dwell with His people in a powerful and tangible way (v. 8). Later, the temple, modeled after the tabernacle, would become the centralized place to experience His presence. It also contained sculpted cherubim with wings in the inner sanctuary (1 Kings 6:23–27). Today, believers in Jesus experience God’s presence through His Spirit who dwells within us (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Monica La Rose |
|
|
|
|
|
Monday, October 30 2023
Thank you to Lori Rohrer and the whole team that made to brunch after worship such a success! The kids had a blast trick or treating and playing games in the back family room. The food and fellowship were awesome. And we even got to know a few new visitors. Thanks to the clean up crew for allowing Lori to get the kids to their games on time! Thanks Sarah for an awesome message and covering so I could help cook! Next one is Sun Nov 26th. Who ya bringing?
Joe Toy Newsletter below. Also see a list of freebies available from Lisa Wenner
Good Morning Spirit-Filled, Compassionate, On-Fire-for-the Lord, Co-Laborers! That's you, right? Let's break it down...
Spirit-Filled: If you believe in Jesus and have received Him as your Lord and Savior, you have His Holy Spirit in you.
Compassionate: well are you? God is compassionate and wants to show His compassionate love through you. Are you allowing that? (I think we have a pretty compassionate gathering of believers. But only you can answer that for yourself).
On-Fire-For-The Lord: Do you have a burning passion for God and a missionary zeal for the lost? Are you doing what you can with what you got? Does Christ and serving Him take precedent in your heart, life, and actions? Are you all in? (I see this being played out by many in our fellowship. Again, only you and God know for sure if you are sold out for Christ). Remember, we are only as strong, loving and compassionate as our weakest members (especially in the eyes of the world).
Are you a Co-Laborer? We all have a role to play in God's Good News Delivery Co. St. Matts. Division. You have a custom made just for you, where you are in life and according to your abilities part to carry out until God calls you home. We need you and each other to become the dynamic movement of God we are created to be.
Some of those co-laborer job descriptions are: prayer warrior, giver, encourager, server, helper, teacher, steward, leader, evangelist, shepherd, disciple maker, follower of Jesus, discerner of times, rebuilder of cities, etc.
We have many stepping into and fulfilling their custom made roles and we are here to help you and new disciples to find and grow in theirs. Thank you sprit-filled, faithful, all-in co-laborers!
So, pronounce this salutation over yourself, our fellowship and those God is drawing. We are: Spirit-Filled, Compassionate, On-Fire-for-the Lord, Co-Laborers! Then keep praying these into life! Who is Jesus to you? How is that affecting your life? Who can tell by your actions that you love Jesus? What's next? Ask God those questions and who He wants you to co-labor with and then actually follow His lead. He has great plans for you and us. He is on the move! PTL! What's your part? Who is He sending you with or who are you bringing along on this bestest of all time adventure?
The day ahead is full of promise, potential and God's best for you! How cool! How are you planning and preparing to respond? Meditate on our devotionals today. They speak into all of this. Sit at Jesus' feet like Mary, listening, learning and then pour out yourself at His feet in worship and adoration. He alone is worthy of all we have! All we are and have is a gift from God. How are you stewarding His love? Start by working on growing at living and loving like Jesus and do so with some friends. Have a Jesus-filled day! Shalom!
Joe Toy News:
|
|
|
Dear Friends,
Every year in mid-October, the state fair opens up in Raleigh for eleven days of family fun. This year over 960,000 people attended the fair. It is an amazing sight to see streams of people roll into the entrances each day. Who doesn’t like the fair? There are awesome events, exhibits, music, rides and great food. This event provides us the opportunity to reach thousands of folks with the gospel.
Each day, we were blessed with a location not too far from one of the many gate entrances. As people pass us by, they hear the preaching of the gospel, view a gospel sign and are offered gospel literature. The ideal set up is to have one preacher and two others engaging people in conversation and passing out tracts. The crowds are very receptive and friendly and a lot of Christian folk give us the thumbs up, encouraging words or just thank us for being there. At times, there is the usual scoffer, but it is extremely rare.
One such man from a Jehovah Witness background challenged me on the Trinity and the Deity of Christ. As I opened up the scriptures to him and defended Christ’s divinity, he stopped inferring that I was ignorant and began to assault my character by calling me names. At that point our conversation was over and I told him, “Have a nice day.”
Probably, my favorite moment at the fair was on our last day there. We arrived on Saturday morning as the fair opened and passed out literature to those waiting in line, then began to proclaim the gospel. With a team of four men we were able to pass out over four thousand gospel tracts in four plus hours of ministry. At times, it was as if we could not get them out of our hands fast enough. It was a great way to end our five days of fair outreach ministry. If you do the math, almost 88,000 people a day come to the fair. It’s like eleven straight days of college football game outreach except with more people who are a lot more friendly and receptive.
|
|
| It is hard to believe that we have only three more NC State football game outreaches. Time truly flies by. Our last outreach was awesome as we had a team of five men, which allowed us to preach and minister at two locations. We got way more coverage to bring the gospel to the crowds. Jacob Bradshaw and Jason Bingham came from Eastern Carolina to join us, both of which have outreach experience. It is a sacrifice on their part as they have full-time jobs and take time away from family to assist us. They are both bold witnesses for Christ. It is a joy to watch Jason engage folks in conversation as they head to the game. It is almost as if every time you look over at his location, he is talking to someone. Jacob loves to preach the gospel and offers a tract to every one who passes by. I love providing men like this the opportunity to use their gifts. It is always an asset to have Paul Infranco and Daniel Springs with me, as both of these men have years of outreach experience and do whatever is needed. One of the awesome things that the Lord has done for me down here is to allow me to work with some bold, Godly men. |
|
|
Our weekly schedule still consists of assisting some folks two days a week at their abortion ministry at Drake Circle and Jones Franklin Rd. Recently, a young man asked for prayer as he wanted to keep his child, but his partner was not excited about having a baby and a five month old child. We prayed for him and shared the gospel with him as she was at the crisis pregnancy center getting an ultra sound. It is only a God thing to have a crisis pregnancy center next to an abortion clinic.
We also spend two days a week at UNC and NC State sharing the gospel with college students. At both of these campuses, we have seen professions of faith. In due time, the Lord will reveal the legitimacy of these commitments. Lastly, we continue to share the gospel at Moore Square Bus Station. The increased police presence shows us the desperate need for the gospel to transform lives. Each time we show up six to eight Bibles are picked up by people who are seeking spiritual truth. One young man was listening to Pat McClanahan proclaim Christ and approached Pat with a desire to be saved. He called out to Jesus for salvation right then and there. PTL
Keep us in your prayers. The Lord is at work. God Bless You.
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday, October 29 2023
Worship at 10. Brunch at 11:30. Kids table trick or treating 11:15. All welcome!
Good Morning Fellowshipping, Serving, Worshipers! It's a day for celebrating, feasting (on the Word and food!), and fellowshipping. It's a day to serve God and others. It's a day to study and grow in God's Word and to be doers of it! How awesome is our God to allow us to do these Brunch Sundays! PTL!
Whenever we have these brunch Sundays I always think of the Church in Acts 2:42. It was the very first gathering of believers after Jesus ascended to heaven. They were trying to figure out what to do to carry on the mission and commission from Jesus to go make disciples. They recently received the Holy Spirit as an indwelling seal and helper and were adjusting to life in Christ and to allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and correct. They were beginning to understand all Jesus taught and all the Bible revealed about the Father, Son and Spirit and God's plans. Acts 2:42 says, "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching, and to fellowship, and to the sharing of meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer." We get to do this today! PTL! The first gathering of believers were a giving and blessing people as well. They co-labored and helped each other and those in need. We get to do that as well today and have the opportunity to connect to those outside our fellowship, bless them, love them and show them God's love! How cool! Pray for those God is sending and for those He desires to connect you to to show His love. Pray many would be drawn to God and added to our fellowship as we live and love like the earliest Church and like Jesus.
Here's the rest of Acts 2 to meditate and pray into. What's going on in this passage? What's God saying to you? What's some specific, measurable way you will respond? Who will you process this with?
Have a great day of LOVE: worshiping and serving and fellowshipping today!
Acts 2:42-47,
The Believers Form a Community
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Saturday, October 28 2023
Worship tomorrow at 10 (Live and on Zoom) Followed by Brunch with trick or treat and games for kids at 11:15. All welcome! Bring some friends!
We finish up reading John 12 in preparation for tomorrow and begin John 13 for next week. What is going on in these passages? What is God saying to you? What is some measurable way you will respond? Who are you working on these things with?
Good Morning Good Morning Chosen Builders on the Cornerstone! The Bible says we will be called rebuilders of walls and cities. We are rebuilding our lives, church, and communities by building on and with the Cornerstone, Jesus! He is the cornerstone we build on and the keystone or cap stone that holds all things together. Many stumble over Him and reject Him but to those who accept and build on Him is life and life eternal. He is more precious than gold! Check out ODB below and read and meditate on 1 Peter 2:4-10. We are His chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy people, God's special possession sent as His light to proclaim His praises! Amen! So be it Lord! Many will miss or reject Him. Our mission is to find and help those who will come and want to build or rebuild on Him. We are His chosen builders--His Good News Delivery Co. Who needs to hear that Good News today or some help in starting to build. Ask God about that and to send you. Ask Him who to bring along tomorrow or for you to mingle and connect to someone new. Pray for Sarah as she brings the Word and for Lori and me in the kitchen. Pray for a great day of worship, fellowship, feasting, fun and connecting to some. Some will come. May we not miss those God assigned to us! Check out the UR and the reminder that God may be calling you to step out and step into His plans for you, maybe even tomorrow. He's always up to something and He has good plans for you and some great fruit ahead as we trust and obey!
May God bless you with a day of rest, fun and preparation! May you hear His voice, understand and process with some others and then go love like Jesus. May you be His builder today and always as you walk with Jesus. Amen!
(Note: Randy Baily that we have been praying for has transitioned to heaven. Pray for his wife Donna and family and for me as I minister to this big family and prepare for services next week. Thanks)
Our Daily Bread:
|
Have you ever looked through low-priced items at a yard sale and dreamed that you might find something of incredible value? It happened in Connecticut when a floral Chinese antique bowl purchased for just $35 at a yard sale was sold at a 2021 auction for more than $700,000. The piece turned out to be a rare, historically significant artifact from the fifteenth century. It’s a stunning reminder that what some people consider of little worth can actually have great value.
Writing to believers scattered throughout the known world, Peter explained that their faith in Jesus was belief in the One who’d been rejected by the wider culture. Despised by most of the religious Jewish leaders and crucified by the Roman government, Christ was deemed worthless by many because He didn’t fulfill their expectations and desires. But though others had dismissed Jesus’ worth, He was “chosen by God and precious to him” (1 Peter 2:4). His value for us is infinitely more precious than silver or gold (1:18–19). And we have the assurance that whoever chooses to trust Jesus will never be ashamed of their choice (2:6).
When others reject Jesus as worthless, let’s take another look. God’s Spirit can help us see the priceless gift of Christ, who offers to all people the invaluable invitation to become part of the family of God (v. 10).
By Lisa M. Samra
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
Why do people miss the true value of Jesus? How might you share the blessings of trusting Him?
Dear Jesus, thank You for living a life of obedience so that I could become part of the family of God.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Traditionally, a cornerstone was the first stone placed at the bottom corner of a building. All other stones were laid in reference to it. Old Testament prophecy points to Christ as “a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation” (Isaiah 28:16). Yet, He’s the “stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall” (8:14). The psalmist wrote, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22). Jesus quotes from this psalm to reference how His own people would reject Him as Messiah (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17) and to point to Him as the most important part of the church. He’s “the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20). In 1 Peter 2:4–10, the apostle quotes all three Old Testament verses to emphasize our choice: either reject Him or choose Him as Savior.
Alyson Kieda |
|
|
|
|
|
Upper Room: Stepping Out
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. - Psalm 143:10 (NIV)
For a long time, I had wanted a change and to create a better future for myself. I was contemplating moving to another country. I knew I was not alone; Christ was with me. My fervent prayer was for God to guide me.
During a Sunday worship service, I found the guidance I needed while thinking about the story where Jesus walks on water. I could easily visualize myself remaining in the boat, blessed to simply gaze upon the Lord’s majesty. But it would be something altogether different to experience the glory of God, to walk on water with my eyes focused on Jesus, not on the roiling waters. What a blessing it is to hold fast to Jesus, to trust fully in his power!
It has been over a year since I left behind the life I used to know. Today I am in another country with new friends and new experiences. The gospel message continues to fill me with strength to follow the path God sets before me. As I step out in faith, I know God will not abandon me.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we need your guidance, grace, and love. Strengthen our resolve to keep our eyes on you as we journey in faith. Amen.
Friday, October 27 2023
Thank God I'm Found! (And forgiven!) I was lost, but now I am found! I was one way, but now I am another! All because of Jesus and my faith in Him! PTL! We are hurtling towards Thanksgiving and the return of Christ. What are you thankful for? Dig out those gratitude lists you are building and meditate and praise through them today and maybe even add some new things. God is always at work and always doing a new thing. PTL! Thank Him for allowing us to know Jesus, salvation, new life, and growing in relationship! Thank God for using you and us to be His hands and feet. Thank God for answered and unanswered prayers and for His perfect will and timing. Thank God for what He's going to do Sunday during worship, fellowship and brunch. Thank God for being God and Jesus for being your Lord and Savior. Yes rejoice today! PTL for He is good and His mercies are new every morning! Sing a new song this morning as you meditate on this song: I am in the I AM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDHJ1oXzfQ8
Good Morning Children and Friends of God! What a blessing to be loved, adopted and called family and friend! Check out the UR and think about how much you are loved and cared for, like an orphaned lamb. God is love, created you with love, to go love. Dwell in His love this morning and prepare to walk with Him in love today. Listen for His heartbeat and voice and run to Him as He leads you through this day and every day to follow. Allow His love to overwhelm and overflow you! And just marvel at His amazing grace that saved a wretch like you! Who are we that God is mindful of us, yet He is and always at work wanting to lead us to His best. PTL! May God bless you with His presence, peace and joy today and with knowing that he has great plans for you awaiting discovery. Amen!
Who Am I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rT8Re1EIQc
Upper Room: The Shepherd's Voice
Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” - John 10:27-28 (NIV)
From time to time a ewe will abandon her healthy lamb. Shepherds call such orphans “bummer lambs.” When a shepherd encounters one, he picks it up, adopting it as his own. He bottle-feeds it and lets it sleep with its head on his chest, comforting the small creature by the sound of his heartbeat.
My wife and I once adopted a bummer lamb and took her to our house to care for her. Whenever we returned home, as soon as the tiny lamb heard our voices she would run to the door, bleating in welcome.
When the lamb grows to be a sheep, it takes its place in the flock; but the bond between it and the shepherd remains. When the shepherd calls the flock to come, the orphan will hear and respond to the shepherd’s voice first, running to greet him, drawing the other sheep to the shepherd.
This reminds me of the Good Shepherd: “My sheep listen to my voice; and I know them, and they follow me.” If you have ever been a “bummer lamb,” know this: though you have been wounded deeply, God will cherish you. When we listen for God’s voice and are ready to follow God’s call, we can help lead others to God’s love.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, may we hear your voice, know your will for us, and be quick to follow you. Amen
Thursday, October 26 2023
Good Morning Chosen Ones! God created you with potential to become His child and fulfill your created purposes. That comes to fruition when you receive Christ as your Lord and Savior. He knows who will come and who won't. Even though He sent Jesus for "whoever will believe", not everyone will. PTL for your salvation and for His presence with you always! Pray for Him to send you to those His Spirit is at work on and pray He would use you to connect them to Him. We are created to, empowered to and sent to go live and love like Jesus which includes making disciples as we shine His light brightly into the darkness. And PTL we are chosen to spend eternity with Him in paradise! Amen! Life is short and it is meaningless without God. Enjoy life as you worship, love and follow Jesus today! It's a beautiful day to go love someone to Christ!
I had a very interesting and somewhat hard day yesterday as my Lord placed me where He wanted me throughout the day and used me (I pray well!). I began the day with our pastor's prayer huddle and a great quiet time with the Lord that set up my allowing Him to lead and use me. I asked Him to be the Lord of my day and choices and to use me well throughout the day. He is faithful! I was blessed to be chosen to sit with a family in a critical care waiting room for two hours when the brain surgeon told them there is no hope. Now we know hope and the God of miracles and I went in with Randy's wife and prayed for a miracle of complete healing or for him to step into Jesus' arms and for His will to be done. I prayed for shalom and strength for the family too. I am still believing in a miracle. Pray with me for God to glorify His name and to bring a miracle before his machines are turned off next week sometime. Pray for me to minister to the family well. Pray for them to be drawn to God's shalom. Pray for doctors and staff to be amazed at what our miracle working God can do! Amen! And if God's will is to bring him home, pray God would use that homecoming to ignite the faith of family and friends. Thank you! This is a friend from the racing family who lost their son to a heart attack a few years ago. Donna (Randy's wife) is numb right now. Please lift her to God for His comfort and strength. Pray for my health as Randy has COVID as well and I did gown and mask up to anoint him and lay healing hands on him.
There is also another racer, Glen, who is now on hospice for lung cancer. Pray I have the opportunity to minister to him and his family and to lead them to Jesus' feet.
Yesterday, my sister, Connie was discharged. She is still not very well with years of asthma and prednisone beating her body. Pray for her salvation and for all her and my family to be drawn to and open to receive Christ as their Savior. Pray for opportunities to discuss our eternal choices. Thank you.
Tonight I've been asked to anoint and bless a race car that will be running next week in Charlotte. The cars been a struggle. Although this is probably viewed as a good luck charm, may they see Jesus and be drawn to Him. Pray for wisdom and words as I bless them and the car and for God to show His power and be glorified.
Last night my mother-in-law Kay (super prayer warrior) laid hands on Sue and prayed for Sue's peace, the healing and comfort of her sister and brought Jesus' love and concern alive as she released His power and will over a hard situation. (Thanks for your faithfulness Kay! Love you and still love picking on you!). Pray for Sue for shalom and wisdom and for healing or deliverance for her sister.
We have only three more weeks of the Chosen and Family Ministries combined. Pray for God to lead us to what's next. Pray for our Thanksgiving Eve Eve end of the season celebration Tues Nov21st.
We are set up for Sunday's brunch for the kids that will come for fun and games. Bring someone along to brunch Sunday and some treats for the kids and pray for us to connect to some neighbors and connect them to God. Pray for Lori, Karen and me as we prepare the meals and set things up on Sat. Pray for Lori as she has her husband, Ed, going for pretesting for surgery on Friday, shops for supplies and runs kids to games (they have games throughout the weekend--even Sunday)
Last night we had a great night at the Chosen and an awesome discussion after the film. They do a great job of bringing Jesus' love for everyone alive. Jesus is looking right into your heart right now and saying, Look at me! Look at me. You are my child. I know your circumstances and I am with you" Look into His loving, healing, caring eyes and heart and know He is God and how much He loves you, His chosen child. Receive His love, shalom, and help. Be still at His feet and recharge. talk to Him and listen. Breathe out the junk and breathe in a fresh breathe of His Spirit. Know His peace and joy. He knows you and is calling you by name. Rejoice. What's He saying to you? Who can you share and process that with. Pray for God to team us all up with some others as we learn to encourage. process, pray and be accountable.
Yesterday, I poured myself out like a drink offering to God. I was recharged and energized with our fellowship, kitchen clean up help, and conversations. Today, I spent over three hours reloading and refreshing. Today, I am taking a personal day to recharge. I know God will bless me for choosing well and may still use me to be a blessing to someone as I have asked Him to be the Lord of this day and my choices and to place me where He wants me, ready to join Him as needed. He doesn't need us (He does desire to be with us though! PTL!) but He knows we need Him and how to recharge our low batteries! And He has great plans for us and knows the best way to move us to them! PTL! We are in one of the busiest stretches of the year with the holidays and it is wise to start each day with the Lord and allowing Him to be the Lord of you and your day everyday. I've experienced burnout and I am doing my best to never go there again. That is not what God desires of us. He desires hearts that are right with Him, worshipful and willing hearts, and obedient feet and hands that move at His pace to His best. He desires that we love and enjoy Him and allow Him to be our Lord and to direct us to His best. Keep working at that!!! It is His best.
May God bless and recharge and use you today. May He answer your prayers and bring His will alive all around you, even in the spiritual realm. he loves you. Listen and trust as you travel through this day with Him and looking for where He wants you to join Him. Amen!
Wednesday, October 25 2023
Good Morning Spirit-Filled Followers of Christ!
Thanks Lord for allowing us to be part of Your family, Spirit-Filled, Followers! We praise you for Your Love, amazing grace, patience with us and great plans! Thank You for working all things together for the good of those who believe. Thank You for being our Shepherd and allowing us to hear Your voice. Cleanse us of all unrighteousness and move us to repent and step more fully into our new nature. Teach us to pray in power and to release Your perfect will and plans in heaven and on earth. Be the Lord of this day. Come! Fill us and use us well for your glory. Thank You! Teach us to make disciples like Jesus and the early church. Revive us! Connect us to the Bread people you are drawing. Stir them to you and to join us Sunday. Help us to live, love, invite and represent You like Jesus did. Lord, we lift Israel to You and pray for the peace of Jerusalem and safety for Your chosen people and land. Make your presence known, glorify Your name and draw many to You as Messiah. Your Kingdom come and will be done in heaven and on earth! Help us to understand and do our part in growing Your fame and Kingdom. Raise up harvest workers as You bring in the harvest. Help us each to fulfill our parts and grow into the greater things You have for us. Thank You! Prepare us and those who will come today for bread, Family Ministries, and the Chosen Huddle to see you, experience Your love and be drawn to You and Your ways. Come! Prepare the way for brunch on Sunday and help us connect to those you are drawing. Bring in families, kids and adults that see you and are being drawn to You though our fellowship. Show us who to invite and bring along to all our activities. Thank You! Lord, here we are continue to prepare us and help us to steward well all Your blessings. Bring wisdom to our Support, Finance and PRC Teams as they prepare to seek and follow You as they meet in the month ahead. May all we do bring You glory and honor. May we steward all your blessings well. Thank You! May we see, hear and follow our Shepherd well as we ask in His Mighty Name, Jesus! Amen!
May God bless and prepare you to be His blessing today. Meditate on this song as you pray and commit your ways to God today. Lead On Good Shepherd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAJ7rwJWHZE
Shalom! God loves you, is with you and wanting to bless you today. Rejoice!
Tuesday, October 24 2023
Good Morning Blood-Bought, Totally Forgiven, Seen-As-Righteous, Heaven-Bound, Very Loved Child of God! That is your true identity in Christ! Believe it! Receive it! PTL! You are those and many more in Christ. If you don't know these things for sure, you can and you can learn to operate from this true identity. You are God's workmanship and masterpiece. His Word tells you so (Eph. 2:10). And according to this Scripture, when you receive Christ as your Lord and Savior, you step into your new nature and true identity that you were created to be from before you were born and now enabled and empowered to do the things you were created for. God is so good and loving and He even sends a helper, The Holy Spirit to seal the deal and assure you that you are His and that Helper helps you do all you were created to do as you grow into your fuller potential in Christ. What a blessing! What love God has lavished on us and made available to all who will come! Rejoice! Be who you were created to be, made new in Christ and fulfill your created purposes. What an awesome God we know and love! As Solomon says in Ecclesiastes, "Love God and enjoy life."
Now we do know all this, but sometimes life has a way of kicking us in the gut. It can be hard to remember or believe at times that God really loves you, is with you, and these things are true. Don't be fooled by Satan or your own foolish thinking! Jesus warned us to expect hardships, trials, temptations and even hate because we love Him. People often say that the Bible says, "God won't give you more than you can endure." However, they take that out of context. That passage is talking about temptations and that God always provides a way out of sin. God does test us or allow circumstances to take us way past what we think we can endure so we learn to rely on Him. He is always with us, knows us, loves us eternally and wants us to rely on Him as we learn to stand firm in faith and carry on no matter what we face in life. Jesus faced all we will ever face and more and He leads us to overcome as we persevere and grow in faith.
Our salutation above is from TWFYT (below). They are in the midst of several days of teaching about the armor of God. Stand behind that shield of faith! Put on your helmet of salvation and tighten that chin strap and wield the sword of the Spirit, God's Word against our enemy. Check our ODB (below) and their reminder to not loose heart. Life may be debilitating, but God is always with us and some day we will be fully healed in His presence. Persevere in faith. Stand firm in Christ. Keep praying and releasing His power on earth. And read about, as a reminder, of God's loving faithfulness and help for us in the UR (below).
Jesus has experienced all we will and more and promises to be with us always and sent us a Helper to lead us through and even intercede for us when we don't know what to pray. He has given us His Word to memorize and use against Satan and spiritual attacks and shown us how to put on His armor and stand firm in faith. PTL, right? Yet sometimes we still get bogged down in our own pity-parties. Jesus reminds us to hold loosely to our agendas and desires and expectations. If you are reading the Gospel of John with us, we are in John 12. Jesus reminds us in John 12:25, "Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing about their lives in this world will keep it for eternity." Jesus was troubled by His soon coming crucifixion. But He chose to endure it for each of us, His beloved children. He reminds us that sometimes we have to die to our own wants and desires to go and live and love well. He commands us to love like He loved us. That's agape, dying to self love, for the sake of others or to advance God's kingdom, or to grow into our fuller potential and greater purposes we were created for.
Because of Christ and His agape love, we can endure, grow and become the people we were created to be. He promises to be with us always and always be at work working all things together. This world and our life on it are just a breath. We have a whole promised eternity ahead where everything will be made right and our purposes will continue when we step into our best new nature and live fully. Our faith WILL become sight! Amen! Remember who and Whose you are! You are a "Blood-Bought, Totally Forgiven, Seen-As-Righteous, Heaven-Bound, Very Loved Child of God!" Write that down. Memorize this truth and stand on that fact always! You are loved for eternity! Amen!
May we keep standing firm in Christ as we learn to pray, go, serve, live and love like Him no matter what the day brings! For we do know Who brings the day! And He has great plans for you, His beloved!
Check out this link from Harvest Prayer for learning to pray to set people from from whatever has them bound: https://www.onecry.com/blog/uncategorized/prayer-that-sets-people-free?rq=prayer and this link to Kim's Blog for learning how to pray out loud. Spoken and pronounced out loud prayers carry great power! https://www.harvestprayer.com/prayer-faq/how-can-i-learn-to-pray-out-loud/
The Word for You Today:
Our Daily Bread:
|
I don’t remember a time when my mom Dorothy was in good health. For many years as a brittle diabetic, her blood sugar was wildly erratic. Complications developed and her damaged kidneys necessitated permanent dialysis. Neuropathy and broken bones resulted in the use of a wheelchair. Her eyesight began to regress toward blindness.
But as her body failed her, Mom’s prayer life grew more vigorous. She spent hours praying for others to know and experience the love of God. Precious words of Scripture grew sweeter to her. Before her eyesight faded, she wrote a letter to her sister Marjorie including words from 2 Corinthians 4: “We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (v. 16).
The apostle Paul knew how easy it is to “lose heart.” He describes his life as one of danger, pain, and deprivation (2 Corinthians 11:23–29). Yet he viewed those “troubles” as temporary. And he encouraged us to think not only about what we see but also about what we can’t see—that which is eternal (4:17–18).
Despite what’s happening to us, our loving Father is continuing our inner renewal every day. His presence with us is sure. Through the gift of prayer, He’s only a breath away. And His promises to strengthen us and give us hope and joy remain true.
By Cindy Hess Kasper
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
What’s causing you to be discouraged or “lose heart”? Which Scriptures are especially encouraging to you?
Precious Father, thank You for Your faithful love for me and the assurance of Your presence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Paul begins 2 Corinthians with heartfelt words of comfort (1:3–7) and returns to that theme in 4:16–18. In tandem with this comfort, however, he relates the difficulties he and his coworkers have endured: “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself” (1:8). In chapter 4, he says, “We are hard pressed on every side” (v. 8), “persecuted” and “struck down” (v. 9). We “carry around in our body the death of Jesus” (v. 10). But Paul is quick to note that we’re “not abandoned” (v. 9) and adds, “we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself” (v. 14). That’s why he can bracket this chapter with the theme of hopeful perseverance: “We do not lose heart” (4:1, 16).
Tim Gustafson |
|
|
|
|
|
The Upper Room: Like A Mother and Father
From my birth I have leaned upon you, my protector since my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you. - Psalm 71:6 (NRSVUE)
Our family is large. I am the youngest of six siblings — three girls and three boys. I lost both my mother and my father when I was very young, and my elder brothers and sisters raised me. Following my mother’s death from cancer, I felt utterly alone. I often cried, thinking, Why should I live? Jesus take me. I have no one to love me the way she did. But I have taken comfort in Psalm 23. My mother often recited these verses when I held her hand and went on walks with her or when I accompanied her to the hospital.
Now I am a grown woman with my own family, a career, and an independent life. Psalm 23, the passage my mother taught me when I was young, still comforts me; it gives me hope when I face sickness, sadness, or other challenges. As I recite that psalm from memory, joy and peace prevail in me. I have learned to look to God when I need my mother’s love and also when I need my father’s love. I know that God loves me and cares for me. God can comfort me like a mother and like a father.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Loving God, thank you for comforting your children. Thank you for your continuous guidance and favor. Amen.
Monday, October 23 2023
Good Morning Partners! Yee Ha! It's another week of blessings and favor as we worship, surrender, and ask Jesus to lead us to be a blessing to Him and others! Rejoice and put on those coveralls under your armor. Our attitudes are affected by our choices and focus. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus and your heart open to His directing. Watch and see that He is with you, at work and always loving! Amen!
Father, thank You for Your love, amazing grace, presence with us always and always lovingly working things together for good. Thank You for allowing us to choose and helping us to choose well. We humble ourselves before you today and ask that You would be the Lord of our lives, choices and week. Your will be done! Show us who to partner with to encourage and be encouraged, to discern, process and put into action Your perfect plans. Expand our territory and Your Kingdom. Father, forgive us for clinging too tightly to our plans and agendas. Forgive us for lagging behind or running ahead. Forgive us for leaning on our own understanding. Forgive our fear and lack of faith. We trust! Forgive our unbelief and help us to hold loosely to our plans and allow You to work yours out through us and in us. Lord we put on Your armor in prayer right now and are determined to stand firm in You and on Your Word, We proclaim Your promises over our lives and situations. Come! We wait on You! Thank You for loving us and working all things together for good. Thank You for equipping and empowering us to go love like Jesus. Show us who, how and when and teach us to make disciples of the harvest you are bringing to us. Prepare the way for Sunday to be a day we bless many and many feel and experience Your love and are drawn to You. use us Lord! We offer ourselves as an act of worship and obedience. Fulfill Your plans for each of us and us together today and this week and for weeks to come. Thank You for all the blessings including creating us for such a time as this! Mat=y we steward well all Your blessings and be about Your business and do so well. Thank You! We ask these things in the name of Jesus. May He become known all around us this year! Amen!
May you all be filled with the joy of your salvation today as you choose to live and love like Jesus and follow His shalom! Amen!
Our Daily Bread:
|
God doesn’t help those who help themselves; He helps those who trust in and rely on Him. Jonathan Roumie—the actor who plays Jesus in the successful TV series The Chosen, which is based on the Gospels—realized this in May 2018. Roumie had been living in Los Angeles for eight years, was nearly broke, had enough food just for the day, and had no work in sight. Not knowing how he would make it, the actor poured out his heart and surrendered his career to God. “I literally [prayed] the words, ‘I surrender. I surrender.’ ” Later that day, he found four checks in the mail and three months later, he was cast for the role of Jesus in The Chosen. Roumie found that God will help those who trust in Him.
Rather than being envious of and fretting over those “who are evil” (Psalm 37:1), the psalmist invites us to surrender everything to God. When we center our daily activities on Him, “trust in [Him] and do good,” “take delight in [Him]” (vv. 3–4), and surrender to Him all our desires, problems, anxieties, and the daily events of our lives, God will direct us and give us peace (vv. 5–6). As believers in Jesus, it’s vital for us to let Him determine what our lives should be.
Let’s surrender and trust God. As we do, He’ll take action and do what’s necessary and best.
By Marvin Williams
|
What parts of your life are off limits to God these days? What will it mean for you to surrender your life to Him today?
Dear God, please help me to surrender to You freely today and experience Your life and peace.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Psalm 37 is one of many “wisdom psalms,” so-called because they teach us to cultivate a long-term mindset, fixing our hearts and minds on what’s truly important rather than living for short-term gain. In Psalm 37, David deals with the same perplexity that Asaph struggles with in Psalm 73—the wicked prosper, while the godly suffer unjustly. Psalm 37 is a psalm of promise for those who seek God and a psalm of disaster for those who fail to do so. David tells those who suffer unjustly not to fret, be envious, or be angry, for God will punish the evildoers (vv. 1–2, 7–10, 35–38). Instead, the godly are to patiently trust and rest fully in Him and to continue to live lives set apart for God (vv. 3–8). The assurance is that “the Lord upholds the righteous” (v. 17) and “will not forsake his faithful ones” (v. 28).
K. T. Sim |
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Stanley:
Don 
Sunday, October 22 2023
Good Morning Chosen, Loved, Prudent Disciples and Apostles of Jesus! What love God has lavished on us, His chosen and very loved learners and sent ones! We gather today to worship, praise, pray, receive, and prepare to go forth in His love!
Prepare your hearts to worship as we gather at 10 in person and on Zoom to worship, listen and prepare to go forth in love. Pray that we would worship in Spirit and Truth this morning and for God to send some to join us. Pray for Mike as he leads children's church and for kids and all who come to see and be drawn to Christ. Pray for God to come inhabit our praise.
So God did it again this morning! Did you see the thread between all our devotionals? Check them out below as you still yourself and receive God's Word for you today. He sees and knows you and loves you as you are and sends you to go love like Him. Our journey may be hard and fraught with danger. We may shrink back and hide that we love Jesus or just try to blend in with this world. BUT God! He knows and still loves us and always forgives and keeps preparing us to go love well. Die to self, take up cross daily and allow Jesus to love through you. Be a world changer! Fulfill your created purposes, good and faithful servants! God has great plans for you today! Listen and follow well as we go love like Jesus and make disciples! Amen!
Did you sense the importance of partnering with others on this journey? We need to go forth with others, encourage each other, and help each other to discern well and be accountable to do what Jesus has planned. Pray for us to partner up and go forth in love well! Amen!
May God bless you abundantly today and you bless Him and others as you live out life as an act of worship! Amen! Shalom friends!
Charles Stanley:
Our Daily Bread:
|
In 1892, a resident with cholera accidentally transmitted the disease via the Elbe River to Hamburg, Germany’s entire water supply. Within weeks, ten thousand citizens died. Eight years earlier, German microbiologist Robert Koch had made a discovery: cholera was waterborne. Koch’s revelation prodded officials in large European cities to invest in filtration systems to protect their water. Hamburg authorities, however, had done nothing. Citing costs and alleging dubious science, they’d ignored clear warnings while their city careened toward catastrophe.
The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about those of us who see trouble yet refuse to act. “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions” (27:12 nlt). When God helps us see danger ahead, it’s common sense to take action to address the danger. We wisely change course. Or we ready ourselves with appropriate precautions that He provides. But we do something. To do nothing is sheer lunacy. We can all fail to miss the warning signs, however, and careen toward disaster. “The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences” (v. 12 nlt).
In Scripture and in the life of Jesus, God shows us the path to follow and warns us of trouble we’ll surely face. If we’re foolish, we’ll barrel ahead, headlong into danger. Instead, as He leads us by His grace, may we heed His wisdom and change course.
By Winn Collier
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
When have you refused God’s wisdom? How can you better learn to respond to His warnings?
Dear God, please help me listen to You and turn away from danger.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Proverbs 1, Solomon gives the purpose for this book, which includes receiving “instruction in prudent behavior” and giving “prudence to those who are simple [or gullible]” (vv. 3–4). To be prudent is to act with or show care for the future; to be wise in practical affairs. In the Old Testament, the word prudent appears nineteen times (seventeen in the book of Proverbs). The prudent “hold their tongues” (10:19), “overlook an insult” (12:16), “keep their knowledge to themselves” (v. 23), and “act with knowledge” (13:16). By contrast, fools “show their annoyance at once” (12:16) and blurt out (v. 23) and “expose their folly” (13:16). Moreover, the prudent “give thought to their steps” (14:15) and “are crowned with knowledge” (v. 18), while the simple “believe anything” (v. 15) and “inherit folly” (v. 18). Clearly, the path of prudence is the way of wisdom.
Alyson Kieda |
|
|
|
|
|
Upper Room: Deny Me Not
After calling the crowd together with his disciples, Jesus said to them, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.” - Mark 8:34 (CEB)
Preparing to meet my former boyfriend Mike’s friends for the first time, he advised me to hide my cross tattoo adorned with “Christ is King.” His friends, he warned, were atheists and welcomed opportunities to confront and mock people of faith. While I would love to say that I did not follow Mike’s recommendation, I did. Bundling up in the July heat, I ensured my tattoo was concealed. And when the subject of God came up, not only did I refrain from voicing my conviction and proclaiming how Christ changed my life, I remained silent altogether. Although I didn’t hear a rooster crow as Peter did, I felt sick. Through my embarrassed silence, I denied Christ.
Jesus advised that following him would not be easy, that we must deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, follow him, and be prepared to be criticized, hated, and persecuted because of him.
As we encounter those who may doubt, hate, or criticize us for our beliefs, let us never be ashamed of Jesus. Instead, may we remain steadfast, seizing every opportunity to share our faith and the love and forgiveness of Christ with a world hungry for hope.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Jesus, help us to courageously profess and embody your message of hope, forgiveness, and love. Amen.The Word for You Today:
Saturday, October 21 2023
Good Morning Purposeful, God-Working-Through-You, Joy-Choosing, Lighthouses! So, pronounce that over yourself and our church. We are...(besides Penn State) Purposeful, God-Working-Through-You, Joy-Choosing, Lighthouses! And so much more in Christ! Amen! PTL! Funny, God-like really, how I journaled a prayer for us to be lighthouses and living more fully on purpose just as we are doing what we can with what God has provided before opening my devos! Cool! Thanks God!
It seems that God has been threading together our devotionals for the day again (see below). They have formed the salutation and prophesying over us this morning. I love when God does that! What's He saying to you? Did the Holy Spirit highlight the same thread for you?
God loves you so dearly and Jesus is standing with His arm around your shoulder reminding you of that and inviting you to join Him today on His walk. The Holy Spirit is opening God's Word for you and lighting the path ahead. Rest in the Lord and prepare for some adventures as you walk with Jesus to your purposes today. I think Charles Stanley's opening sentence sums up what I try to choose to remember daily and what God has inspired me to encourage you to: "God is working in you and on you today because He desires to work through you." You were custom made for custom purposes for such a time as this and God wants to help you achieve those as you grow into your fuller potential. His greater things for you are a journey and only He knows the important twists and turns along the way to get you there. So rejoice, relax at His feet a bit and allow Him to move you to where you will find the most joy and satisfaction in knowing you are doing exactly what you were created to do.
Enjoy some time with God as you meditate on these and receive your assignment for today with much faith and thanksgiving. Then just love God, trust and follow Him to a great day ahead. Enjoy! Go live and love like Jesus! Shalom!
Upper Room: Joy Comes in the Morning
Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. - Psalm 30:5 (NRSVUE)
In the bleak midwinter as I look out my window, I long for the joy of a beautiful sunny day. However, I know that one day the singing of the birds will announce the arrival of spring.
I have many dark and dreary days now because of the loss of my daughter and son-in-law, who were in the prime of their lives. As I talk with God I am comforted, and God lets me know that my family and I are not alone. God has given us strength and hope for tomorrow. As the psalmist says, “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” I know that God’s “joy in the morning” gives us peace in our lives and the assurance that God loves us and is in control. With God’s love, our bleak days and nights can turn into beautiful, new mornings.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Almighty God, thank you for assuring us that you are with us and will lift us out of our despair. Thank you for giving us joy when we trust in your loving presence. Amen.
Charles Stanley:
Our Daily Bread:
Christ, Our True Light
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness. John 8:12
READ John 1:1–14
|
|
|
|
|
|
“Go to the light!” That’s what my husband advised as we struggled to find our way out of a big city hospital on a recent Sunday afternoon. We’d visited a friend, and when we exited an elevator, we couldn’t find anyone during weekend hours to point us to the front doors—and the brilliant Colorado sunlight. Roaming around half-lit hallways, we finally encountered a man who saw our confusion. “These hallways all look the same,” he said. “But the exit’s this way.” With his directions, we found the exit doors—leading, indeed, to the bright sunlight.
Jesus invited confused, lost unbelievers to follow Him out of their spiritual darkness. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). In His light, we can see stumbling blocks, sin, and blind spots, allowing Him to remove such darkness from our lives as He shines His light into our hearts and on our path. Like the pillar of fire that led the Israelites through the wilderness, Christ’s light brings us God’s presence, protection, and guidance.
As John explained, Jesus is “the true light” (John 1:9) and “the darkness has not overcome it” (v. 5). Instead of wandering through life, we can seek Him for direction as He lights the way.
By Patricia Raybon
|
What areas in your life need the purifying light of Christ? When you seek His light, what stumbling blocks will you avoid?
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
John declares, “In the beginning was the Word” (1:1), which immediately establishes a connection to Genesis 1:1. The apostle tells us this creator of the world is also our very life and light (John 1:4), and in verse 14, he plainly identifies this Word as Jesus. John will return to this theme in his first letter when he says of Christ: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes . . . and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life” (1 John 1:1). John recorded what he directly observed. His writings are a firsthand account of God in the flesh.
Tim Gustafson |
|
|
|
|
|
The Word for You Today:
Don
Rev. Don Kerns
Friday, October 20 2023
TGIF=Thank God I'm Forgiven! If you don't know that for sure, you can! Talk to Jesus and some good Christian friends.
We are still collecting the Rally Day offerings which will be used to fund our new "IN" account. This account is being used to purchase teaching materials and decorations, supplies, and food for our "IN" gatherings.
Mark your calendars and RSVP with Lori (610-657-0583) for our brunch next Sun after worship. We will begin with kids trick or treating around tables before food is served at 11:30. There will be other Halloween activities for the kids. Bring some friends! (next one is Nov 26th)
New Event: Thanksgiving Eve Eve meal and worship on Tues Nov. 21st 6pm.
We are reading through the Gospel of John for the rest of the year. This week is John 11 and next week 12. Sunday's message is on John 9. Prepare and read John 9-11. God is speaking to you. What's He saying?
Good Morning Worshipers! Everything we do can be an act of worship when we live our lives surrendered to and focused on God. Trusting and praising in the storms is how we roll. We know God is with us, working ALL things together for the good of those who believe. So, even in the storms we can and should praise as we trust God and take each step with Him! God is omniscient, He knows everything. He's omnipresent, present everywhere all the time. God is in control. He knows you and calls you by name to come to His Love, joy, peace, protection, provision and many more blessings! What a praiseworthy God we know and love! Check out the UR devo below. God directed me to write the above before I found the UR online right before I was ready to send this. I love how God directs like that so often when we seek and allow Him to. Be still and know and then go and know that you are loved, protected, provided for and have a special assignment along the way.
We are learning to allow God to direct our steps towards all the things He created us to do. He has very good plans for you everyday! Your life has custom made purposes just for you. We are learning how to seek and follow God to the paths He has laid out for us. We are custom made masterpieces of our Master! PTL! When we come to Christ in faith as our Lord and Savior, we receive the Holy Spirit and His gifts and God's enablement and empowerment to achieve our created purposes. Watch for God to be at work everyday and determine to join Him in the things He has just for you. Then praise and worship! We should have stories to share weekly of how God used and grew us. Let us celebrate those works of God together! I'm praising God for the servant church he called me to serve. We are a great team with many stepping into their custom made purposes very well. We are using what we have to do what we can, what God has prepared for us, individually and as His church. PTL! You guys are a blessings and share God's love, hope and help well! keep praising for our servants and praying for how God wants to use Y-O-U for such a time as this. Check out the Charles Stanley devo below for more on how to find the best path. God will show you as you continue to surrender and determine to follow daily.
Jesus is our Good Shepherd! PTL! We know His voice and follow Him when He calls. Just enjoy life in Christ today and worship as you travel through this day with Him! Shalom!
Upper Room: God's Loving Hands:
I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. - Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)
When I was suffering from endometriosis, I would have intense episodes of pain. The only way I could get any relief was to lie flat on my stomach. Praying for help when a wave of severe pain would hit, I would make a fist, squeeze it tight, and imagine that Jesus’ hand was holding mine. Before long I would doze off, and, on waking, the pain would be gone.
The Bible has a lot to say about the power of being held by God’s hands. In Psalm 139, David praises God’s constant presence: “If I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast” (vv. 9-10). The people of Israel were comforted when God told them not to fear and promised, “I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10). In Acts 2:25, Peter recalls that David said God was always with him: “Because [God] is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
We can take heart in the fact that God never lets go of us. We are held always in God’s powerful and loving hands.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Steadfast God, thank you for holding us in your righteous right hand — no matter where we go or what is happening in our life. Amen.
Charles Stanley:
Thursday, October 19 2023
Good Morning Patiently Waiting Kingdom Seekers! Patience, patiently waiting and seeking first God's Kingdom are choices we need to make, maybe hourly. How are you doing with that. I already had the opportunity to choose to be patient and allow God to be the Lord of my day and it's only 7 AM! Old nature me would have been all grumbling, mad, and all jammed up trying to get my urgent agenda done. New me is still here seeking God and listening and writing this blog which is my journal notes for today. We are learning and growing into our new nature. We are getting better at seeking first His Kingdom and righteousness. We are getting better at patiently waiting and better at choosing well from all kinds of other choices that come our way daily, even hourly. PTL! Keep working at choosing better. Ask Jesus to be the Lord of your day as you actively, expectantly, with thanksgiving trust Him and stay active about His Kingdom business assigned you for today. AMEN! So be it! Help us Lord!
Check out our devos for today below and just pray into these and allow them to inform your thinking and choices today. God has great plans for you! Rejoice!
PTL for the amazing journey He has allowed us to choose to enter with Him! Keep your eyes fixed on Him. Keep seeking first His kingdom and righteousness and keep trusting as you actively wait on Him. And know His shalom! Amen
Check out
Upper Room: Amazing Journey
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. - Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
On a September evening in 1967, I was camping out on the side of an extinct volcano on the island of Rishiri, near the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The sky was blue-black and the stars brighter than imaginable. As I admired the beauty of God’s handiwork, I began thinking about my life. Soon I would be 21. Where would I be decades from now? What would I be doing?
Now, 54 years have passed. Several years ago, I realized that my questions that evening on Mount Rishiri, and all those questions I had about life in those early adult years, had been answered.
The verses quoted above were written in the front of a small Bible my girlfriend (now my wife of 55 years) gave me as I entered the US Air Force. While those words meant much to me in my early years, they mean even more to me now in the autumn of life.
Looking toward the future, I have only a few simple questions remaining in comparison to those early years. Yet one thing I know for certain: by trusting my Creator, living the way of Christ, and being surrounded by my Christian family and friends, my remaining questions will be answered by a faithful God.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you for your guidance as we make our way through life. We trust you to direct our steps on this remarkable journey. Amen.
Our Daily Bread:
|
The morning commenced like a track meet. I practically jumped out of bed, launching into the teeth of the day’s deadlines. Get the kids to school. Check. Get to work. Check. I blasted full throttle into writing my “To Do” list, in which personal and professional tasks tumbled together in an avalanche-like litany:
“ . . . 13. Edit article. 14. Clean office. 15. Strategic team planning. 16. Write tech blog. 17. Clean basement. 18. Pray.”
By the time I got to number eighteen, I’d remembered that I needed God’s help. But I’d gotten that far before it even occurred to me that I was going at it alone, trying to manufacture my own momentum.
Jesus knew. He knew our days would crash one into another, a sea of ceaseless urgency. So He instructs, “Seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
It’s natural to hear Jesus’ words as a command. And they are. But there’s more here—an invitation. In Matthew 6, Jesus invites us to exchange the world’s frantic anxiety (vv. 25–32) for a life of trust, day by day. God, by His grace, helps us all of our days—even when we get to number eighteen on our list before we remember to see life from His perspective.
By Adam Holz
|
How can we turn to God first each day? On stressful days, what helps you trust Jesus with things demanding your immediate attention?
Father, thank You for your invitation to relinquish my anxiety and to embrace the life of abundant provision You offer me each day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Much of God’s kingdom consists of what’s unseen. In Matthew 6:1, Jesus pointed out that the Pharisees were doing their good deeds to be seen by others. In contrast, He instructs us to give to the poor without others noticing (vv. 1–4). He tells us to pray in secret (vv. 5–6) and not to amass treasure in this visible world but in the world to come (vv. 19–20). Yet the life of faith also includes a trust in our heavenly Father because of what can be seen. Here Jesus points to the birds and the lilies as evidence of His care for us (vv. 26–34).
Tim Gustafson |
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Stanley:
The Word for You Today:
Don
Wednesday, October 18 2023
Good Morning Talented, Useful Servants of the Lord! Many wonder how they could be of any use to God. Sometimes this is a result of sinful choices and thinking one is beyond forgiveness. We know better, but that still enters our thinking at times. Some think they are too old, weak, untalented, you can add whatever your excuse is. BUT GOD! You were created with talent and abilities to accomplish God's purposes. Your purposes are not like anyone else's. You are uniquely and custom made for many purposes of God that align with your abilities, knowledge, age, and situations of life. Think about the evangelist (can't remember his name right now) that was born with no arms and legs. He has speaking engagements all over the world where He proclaims God's goodness, mercy and love. We all have purposes from God for today and everyday where we grow into His greater things. We were created with purpose. Our lives have meaning no matter the stage of life we are in. And we all are needed to do our part in God's Body. Again, something everyone can do, and were given the ability to be effective at conversion, is pray! Everything God has for us as individuals and His Church is birthed from prayer. Pray-ers are VITAL in our Good News Delivery Co. Check out this blog from Harvest Prayer Ministries about Prayerfully Growing Our Church: https://www.harvestprayer.com/book-of-acts-praying-best-practice-for-church-growth/ and keep praying and birthing God's will for St. Matts! He has great plans for us awaiting our prayers! Check out the UR devo below too with the reminder that God does hear our prayers. ODB reminds us to use what we have for Christ. That describes St. Matts. and our ministries and why we are a pretty healthy church. We have discovered that if we focus on using what we've been given for God's glory, He uses and blesses and grows. To those who are faithful in little, more will be added. Amen! Stop longing and craving things you don't have. Be content with and use what God has given. He promises to provide where He guides. And He is faithful to do so! PTL! Look at your life and discover what God has given you that He has provided for you use to go love others. We all have purposes that God is leading us too and He gives us what we need to do them. If His provision isn't there, stop banging your head against the closed door. Ask for eyes to see His provision for you (and us for our church) and follow His peace and provision. As we faithfully do and steward well all His blessings, more doors will open and more provisions will come. You are uniquely designed and provided for to fulfill your created purposes for such a time as this. It's Jesus' easy yoke you get to put on when you discover and do them. Let us continue to pray for eyes to see, others to see and encourage each other to God's best. Ask Him to grow us into our fuller potential where we will find much joy and satisfaction in Christ. Amen!
Praying and releasing provisions and direction and using what you have for God's glory is our mission. As we continue to grow at that, we will grow into the dynamic movement of God that He is opening the door for us to step through. PTL! Seek, knock, shed the baggage and maybe even the good and better things for God's best. He is lovingly leading you to your purposes and growing you in preparation for the life to come! Rejoice! Know His shalom and blessings and be filled with great joy! Amen!
Upper Room: God Hears Us
Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. - Malachi 3:16 (NIV)
A friend and I meet monthly to pray. We share our worries and answered prayers then spend some time talking to God about these things. We have seen prayers answered over the years and have supported one another through difficult times.
One time, when we met to pray, my friend shared something that was really bothering her. It took her a long time to share her story, and all our time together was used up talking through this one incident. At the end of our time together, my friend was distressed because we had not prayed in our usual way. But throughout her story, I had asked her questions, and we had discussed what we thought Christ’s response would be.
I expressed to her my confidence that God had heard our conversation and was fully aware of the situation. God knew her heart’s desire was to honor God in the situation. Just as God heard the concerns of the Israelites when they were in Egypt, God hears us — before we even speak. Though we had not gone through our usual routine of talking and then praying, I know that God was present with us.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we thank you that you hear our words and know what is on our hearts. Amen.
Our Daily Bread:
|
Ever heard of The Sewing Hall of Fame? Established in 2001, it recognizes people that have made “a lasting impact on the home sewing industry with unique and innovative contributions through sewing education and product development.” It includes individuals like Martha Pullen, inducted into the hall in 2005, who is described as “a Proverbs 31 woman who . . . never failed to publicly acknowledge the source of her strength, inspiration, and blessings.”
The Sewing Hall of Fame is a twenty-first-century invention, but had it been around during the first century in Israel, a woman named Tabitha might have been a lock for induction. Tabitha was a believer in Jesus and a seamstress who spent time sewing for poor widows in her community (Acts 9:36, 39). After she became ill and died, disciples sent for Peter to see if God would work a miracle through him. When he arrived, weeping widows showed him robes and other clothing that Tabitha had made for them (v. 39). These clothes were evidence of her “always doing good” for the poor in her city (v. 36). By God’s power, Tabitha was restored to life.
God calls and equips us to use our skills to meet needs that are present in our community and world. Let’s release our skills into the service of Jesus and see how He’ll use our acts of love to stitch hearts and lives together (Ephesians 4:16).
By Marvin Williams
|
What talents and abilities has God given you? How can you use them to help people in need?
Dear Jesus, please help me to respond with love and compassion to the needs of others.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Jesus commanded His disciples to be His “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Because of persecution, the believers “were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria” (8:1). Philip went to Samaria to preach the gospel (vv. 4–5) as well as Peter and John (v. 14). Luke highlighted Peter’s ministry in Lydda and Joppa (Acts 9:32–43), commercial towns with large numbers of gentiles. After raising Dorcas from the dead, Peter stayed in Joppa “for some time” (v. 43). While praying, he saw a vision of unclean animals (10:9–16), reiterating that “God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of . . . receiving eternal life” (11:18 nlt). It was from Joppa that Jonah sailed for Tarshish instead of going to Nineveh to tell gentiles about God (Jonah 1:3). It’s significant that from Joppa, God now calls Peter to proclaim the good news to the gentiles (Acts 10:24–48).
K. T. Sim |
|
|
|
|
|
Don
Tuesday, October 17 2023
Good Morning Trusting, Faithful, Hope-Filled Disciples (learners) and Apostles (sent ones) of Jesus! Rise! Shine! Give God all the glory this morning! He has created you for some special purposes and some just for today! PTL! Maybe it's a day to learn something, maybe to go share some hope, maybe a day to be stretched some? No matter what the day may bring, we know who brings the day and He is worthy of all praise, honor, glory and obedience. It is a day to trust and obey! God's got some great plans for you, even if you can't see it yet through the fog or aren't sensing His presence or call. As you go through each day, step by step with the Holy Spirit, God will reveal some mission or purpose just for you, just as you are and just where He has placed you. So, rejoice, be glad and keep your eyes open and hold loosely to your plans and agenda and give them to the Lord of you and this day.
Check out our devotionals for today below. They all thread through this salutation and theme. God has custom made plans for you that require your trust that will grow your faith as you go share His love and your hope. We are learning as we go and growing more like Christ and into our fuller potential and God's greater purposes. PTL! Worship and ask for help to run your race well today--everyday. God promises to be with you each step and working all things together for good. He is trustworthy and faithful and we have much hope and love to share from our experiences. Go! Live and love life Jesus, sent ones, learners, trusting ones!
OK begin your day with some stretching as you praise and pray and prepare for exercising your faith and sharing your hope today...OK reach to the sky and praise the Lord and say, "I love you Lord!" Now open your arms and receive His love and help for today and stretch out your arms and ask Him to help you go love well today. Remember to breathe well too...Breathe out the junk and breathe in the Spirit's freshness..."YH-WH....YH-WH" Now go love well! You're ready! Remember as you breathe God is on your lips and filling your soul---Breathe in: YH and out: WH. (Remember the teaching that scholars believe that God's name (we add the vowels) Yahweh (YHWH) may have been a breath prayer sound "YH (in)-WH (out)" Therefore from first to last breath and everywhere in between we are praying and pronouncing God's name with every breath. We may not know what to pray but the Holy Spirit does and Jesus hears and takes our prayers to the Father. PTL! Right? YH...WH, YH...WH, YH...WH. Come fill us with Your love and words and send us today with willing hands and feet prepared by you. Thank You YHWH, my Lord, Savior, Helper, and Always-Near Friend. Your will be done. Come! Fill me today. YH...WH, YH...WH... Amen
ODB:
|
I held up a picture of people sleeping under pieces of cardboard in a dim alley. “What do they need?” I asked my sixth grade Sunday school class. “Food,” someone said. “Money,” said another. “A safe place,” a boy said thoughtfully. Then one girl spoke up: “Hope.”
“Hope is expecting good things to happen,” she explained. I found it interesting that she talked about “expecting” good things when, due to challenges, it can be easy not to expect good things in life. The Bible nevertheless speaks of hope in a way that agrees with my student. If “faith is confidence in what we hope for” (Hebrews 11:1), we who have faith in Jesus can expect good things to happen.
What is this ultimate good that believers in Christ can hope for with confidence?—“the promise of entering his rest” (4:1). For believers, God’s rest includes His peace, confidence of salvation, reliance on His strength, and assurance of a future heavenly home. The guarantee of God and the salvation Jesus offers is why hope can be our anchor, holding us fast in times of need (6:18–20). The world needs hope, indeed: God’s true and certain assurance that throughout good and bad times, He’ll have the final say and won’t fail us. When we trust in Him, we know that He’ll make all things right for us in His time.
By Karen Huang
|
How does the Bible encourage and give you hope and confidence? What are some things you can thank God for?
Dear God, my hope in You is firm and secure, not because my faith is strong, but because You’re faithful to do as You’ve promised.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The author of Hebrews is never identified. Scholars suggest Paul or even Barnabas, Luke, Clement, or Apollos. But no matter, the author clearly understood that his readers needed perseverance to face trials and persecution. Throughout the book, readers are encouraged to endure and hold fast to Christ (2:1–4; 3:7–4:13; 5:11–6:2). And in 10:39, they’re reminded that as believers in Jesus they “do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.” Then in chapter 11, known as the “Hall of Faith,” the author commends the many men and women of the Bible who lived by faith and sometimes died because of it. Because of their witness and example, believers in Jesus are prompted to “run with perseverance the race marked out for [them]” (12:1). And he bolsters them with God’s promise: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (13:5).
Alyson Kieda |
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Stanley:
TWFYT:
Monday, October 16 2023
Good Morning Christlike Burden-Bearers! Jesus' command to love others as He loved us is coming to life in and through each of us and us as His Good News Delivery Co. This year I can see and feel the growth in many of you and through our Fellowship as we continue to work on growing into the people we were created to be, operate better out of our true identity and going and loving like Jesus! Thank you all for your parts and participation. We are God's Family and we are better together and making a difference as God loves and helps through us! PTL! And keep praying and serving and celebrating with much thanksgiving! God is good and His Goodness is alive in and through us!
Yesterday we heard a great word of God brought to us through Mike Laise! Thanks Mike! He was talking about putting on our Sunday best everyday by being who we were created to be and loving others as Christ daily. Some of that entails dying to self and being God's love as you travel through the moments of each day just doing random acts of kindness and allowing God to use these offerings. We may never know for sure if we planted seeds, watered, fertilized and had some small part in another's faith journey, BUT GOD knows! Life in Christ today is all about love and not about strict rule following like the Old Testament days. (Funny, the Leviticus chapters he shared are part of the Chosen episode this week) All the legalistic, forced adherence, guilt and fear is not part of God's plan for us today. Like a dog running to its master with excited-glad-your-home-let me kiss-you attitude is what should be motivating us today to live and love like Jesus. (NOTE: as the church janitor, I am glad I don't have to clean up after all those sacrifices! ) Are you a cat or a dog? Are you happy to be with the master, even after messing up or are you showing up to be served when you feel like it? May we all have Mike's passion to serve and love and lead others to Christ!
How's that song go that describes us??? They will know we are Christians by what??? Our grumbling? Pride? Finger-pointing? Apathy? Begrudgingly doing some things? Laziness? Unmeetable standards? Legalism? You know the answer! What are others seeing in your daily lives? God is Love. Love lives in us and longs to come alive through us. They will know and are beginning to experience God's love through our actions and love! PTL and Thank you all too! Many churches unfoundedly tell of how loving they are. We have THE Foundation-Love coming alive and meeting needs through us! Keep up the loving acts of kindness God is spurring you to do. They are custom made for you by our loving Father who leads you to go love like Him and empowers and equips you to do so. Check out our devotionals for today (below) that thread together loving others well, as we are, with what we got, and where we are in our faith journey. All God expects of us is to love. Love Him, others, ourselves and life in Christ. It's His easy yoke and joy-to-do love that blesses Him and others and ourselves too. Ask God to show you who needs some love today and how He has planned for you to respond. Pray for God to continue to open your eyes and heart and to continue to use you and us well. Thank Him for love, loving us and loving through us. Yes, God is love and others will come to know it as we love like Jesus. Pronounce God's Love over you, our church, your day, and in prayer over those you will encounter this week. Tell others how much God loves them and use words if you have to.
Who are we that You are mindful of us, O Lord? Yet You are and You love us so well! Thank You for Your love. Thank You for filling us to overflowing with Your love! Thank You for loving through us and blessing us as we bless and love others. We are truly blessed to go love like Jesus. Thank You! Love through us well today and everyday. Open our eyes, hearts and hands to love like You. May many see and experience You and Your love through us this week. Draw many to Your Love and bring new life. Thank You! We pronounce Your Love over this week and our church. May Your fame and love spread throughout the area as we love well. Our tails are wagging Lord because of Your love and care for us. May others come to find that joy in Your love this year through us. Here we are Lord. You know us, love us and have prepared us to go love. Thank You! Lead the way! May we live and love like Jesus more fully every day and go lovingly expand Your territory. May Jesus' love come to life as we lovingly ask in His name. Amen
Check out the link in ODB to discovery your God-given calling. Very helpful as we continue on growing into our created purposes! God custom made you with love to go love for such a time as this! Dwell in His love today--all day! Love you all! Shalom! I am pronouncing God's love over you right now in prayer. Do you feel it? Receive it!
Charles Stanley:
Upper Room: Burden-Bearers
Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2 (NRSVUE)
I had no idea when we bought our home that there were so many large rocks submerged under the soil. Trying to regrade and landscape the yard to create a rock garden proved quite formidable. I had only a shovel and a wheelbarrow — both inadequate for the heavy rocks I tried to lift by myself.
It was not until I called on my landscaper and his assistant that the biggest rocks could be unearthed and relocated. I was grateful for those who helped me build my rock garden, which is now filled with rocks of assorted shapes and hues.
How often we struggle alone to bear grief, pain, loneliness, anger, or regret. But our Christian faith is not meant to be lived in isolation; we are called to lift one another’s burdens. Only when others have reached out to me or I have sought help have my burdens been made lighter. Today someone may need our help — we may not even be aware of it. But when we choose to make a phone call or send an e-mail, a text, or a handwritten note, we may become a burden-sharer. No matter the method we choose in bearing another’s burdens, we are fulfilling Christ’s command.
TODAY'S PRAYER
O God, help us to follow the example of Christ by helping to bear the burdens of others. Amen.Our Daily Bread:
|
Kizombo sat watching the campfire, pondering the great questions of his life. What have I accomplished? he thought. Too quickly the answer came back: Not much, really. He was back in the land of his birth, serving at the school his father had started deep in the rainforest. He was also trying to write his father’s powerful story of surviving two civil wars. Who am I to try to do all this?
Kizombo’s misgivings sound like those of Moses. God had just given Moses a mission: “I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10). Moses replied, “Who am I?” (v. 11).
After some weak excuses from Moses, God asked him, “What is that in your hand?” It was a staff (4:2). At God’s direction, Moses threw it on the ground. The staff turned into a snake. Against his instincts, Moses picked it up. Again, it became a staff (v. 4). In God’s power, Moses could face Pharaoh. He literally had one of the “gods” of Egypt—a snake—in his hand. Egypt’s gods were no threat to the one true God.
Kizombo thought of Moses, and he sensed God’s answer: You have Me and My Word. He thought too of friends who encouraged him to write his father’s story so others would learn of God’s power in his life. He wasn’t alone.
On our own, our best efforts are inadequate. But we serve the God who says, “I will be with you” (3:12).
By Tim Gustafson
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
What do you have that God can use? How might it encourage you to consider what He might do with you?
Father, with You I lack nothing, no matter the situation.
Discover your God-given calling.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Exodus 3:1–4:17 tells how God called Moses to deliver His people from Egyptian bondage. Moses protested, giving various excuses for why he was unfit for the job. He doubted his own identity and ability (3:11) and his lack of authority (v. 13). In chapter 4, Moses gave his third excuse: the lack of legitimacy and credibility (v. 1). Having been rejected by the Israelites forty years earlier (2:11–14), Moses argued that they wouldn’t believe that he was now divinely commissioned (4:1). To authenticate his commission, Moses was to offer three signs: a rod becoming a snake (vv. 2–5), his hands turning leprous (vv. 6–7), and water turning to blood (v. 9). These signs prefigured the realms of the plagues—blood (7:19), animals and insects (8:2–4, 16, 21; 9:3), and diseases (9:9)—that God would bring upon the Egyptians so that they too would know that He was the true God (7:5).
K. T. Sim |
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday, October 15 2023
Rally Day offering will be to fund our new "IN" account that replaces our depleted Sunday School Fund and used for study materials, curriculum, and supplies for our "IN" gatherings.
Good Morning Children of the Son! Basking in the Son-light is awesome and you don't need sun block because you won't get burnt!   Today we get to gather and worship the Son of God and Son of Man, our Savior, Jesus! PTL! We have the opportunity to invite others along to meet Him and gather with us to worship and fellowship and we get to pray others into His and our family. PTL! Who are you praying for and who is God nudging you to invite. Pray into that with expectancy and thanksgiving! (one new person a month =12 new members by next year!) On Tues at 10 on Zoom our huddle will begin discussing and praying into God's provision. Plan to join us at 10 on Zoom!
In a few weeks we will get to the promise Jesus made in John 14:13 that whatever we ask in His name, He will do, "so that the Father will be glorified in the Son." Jesus is in heaven interceding for His righteous children (US!!!). PTL! We get to pray and ask for His will to be done according to His plans, timing and character. (1John 5:14). Check out the Charles Stanley devo below for more on that. What an honor and privilege to partner with Jesus in prayer, releasing His power and will! We are a people of prayer and our Good News Delivery Co. is loaded with prayer warriors! Pray for them to continue the hard work of prayer that births God's will on earth and in and through us. And PTL and thank God for all of our pray-ers! Thank you all! Continue your good work! God is hearing and answering!
Pray for Mike Laise as he brings God's Word alive to us today and pray for Sarah as she takes a rare and needed day off to visit friends and celebrate her birthday. Pray for all to have a wonderful and worshipful day. This is the day the Lord has made and we get to worship, fellowship, pray and bask in and share His love and Light! Amen! See you soon! Shalom!
Who is Jesus to you? What's He wanting to do in and through you? Talk to Him about that and PTL for all His love and good plans for you and us! And continue to praise and pray!
Here's 30 minutes of meditative prayer and praise music to get your day rolling as you connect to and listen and receive today in preparation to gather in worship! PTL! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us0g-Z_Lfro
CS devo:
Saturday, October 14 2023
Tomorrow is worship with Children's Church at 10 in person and on Zoom. Who is God stirring you to bring along? Call them up and invite them!
The Rally Day envelope will be used to fund our new "IN" Fund. This replaces the Sunday School Fund (which is depleted) and will be used to purchase curriculum, books, studies and for supplies and food for our "IN" gatherings like Wed nights and our Zoom huddle. They will be received until Nov 5th. Thank you!
Good Morning Peace-Filled Shalom Bringers! Peace. Peace. God's peace...sing it! Believe it! Receive It! Share it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySPQcp5hIqM
God highlighted the word Peace/shalom to me this morning. I awoke at 2 am with great peace. Unable to sleep I came to my office and started meditating on and studying the word peace. Maybe some of you need God's peace today? Ask for and receive it as you sit in His calming presence. Be still and know is a command. Maybe you know someone that needs to find the peace only Jesus can bring. Pray for them and share the peace you have from Christ. Keep praying for the peace of Jerusalem, the Ukraine and other areas of conflict, turmoil, and disaster around the world. Give God all your anxious thoughts, concerns and troubles in exchange for His promised peace and receive His rest, all you who are weary and carrying many burdens. (Check out the UR and ODB below speaking about peace, shalom and rest) What's God saying to you???
I started practicing the "Turn Off the Noise" Challenge over two years ago. I let go of my battling people on social media and in person to try to win them to my way of thinking. I stopped getting all riled up over things that I have no control over and started giving my concerns to God and letting the one who oversees the universe handle things. I have come to know such peace and joy! PTL! He is faithful to take care of things and has promised to and is working all things together for the good of those who believe. I believe and in my stillness and trust I have found much joy and shalom. God is faithful and trustworthy and is carrying out His plans for me and for our flock and for the world. My task is to pray and trust Him. In return I have the gifts of peace, joy, mental health and physical rest in Christ! Try it! Turn off the noise and tune into God! He is faithful! (I didn't even know about the Israel things until someone told me. I can't do anything about that, but God can. So, this week I still don't know much but continue to pray for God's will to be done and let Him handle things. Why do we need to keep watching these things and being filled with the anxiety and propaganda from sources that only exist because we keep giving them a voice in our heads. Turn off the noise! Know peace!)
ODB uses John 14 today. We will read that in a few weeks. This week we read John 9 and 10 and next week John 11. In John 10, Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd. He is our Good Shepherd who leads us to calmness and takes care of our needs, even in the darkest valleys. PTL! We all have that head knowledge, but to experience it, we need to ask Him to shepherd us and allow Him to do so. He is our model and example as He rested often as He trusted God to restore His soul and carry on His plans while He rested. In John 14:27 Jesus promises to give us His peace. He reminds us that the world can never give us that kind of peace. Then He commands us to not let our hearts be troubled and not to be afraid. He is always with us and at work. He is waiting with open arms to receive us into His rest. Let go. Be still. Know Peace and rest! Amen! Choose to do this! And then be equipped and prepared to go share that rest with others and the rest one can only find in Christ. He is our Salvation, Good Shepherd who brings peace and rest, and our Helper and Friend that we can trust always! Amen.
Turn off the noise on this stormy day and spend some time worshiping, meditating on and receiving Shalom. Here's one more song to pray through. Be still and know peace! And be a peace bringer too!
Peace Be Still: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsIpGiz3SfQ
Shalom! (It's available for the choosing! PTL!)
Our Daily Bread:
|
I was elated to find the perfect gift for my mother-in-law’s birthday: the bracelet even contained her birthstone! Finding that perfect gift for someone is always an utter delight. But what if the gift the individual needs is beyond our power to give. Many of us wish we could give someone peace of mind, rest, or even patience. If only those could be purchased and wrapped with a bow!
These types of gifts are impossible for one person to give to another. Yet Jesus—God in human flesh—does give those who believe in Him one such “impossible” gift: the gift of peace. Before ascending to heaven and leaving the disciples, Jesus comforted them with the promise of the Holy Spirit: He “will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). He offered them peace—His peace—as an enduring, unfailing gift for when their hearts were troubled or when they were experiencing fear. He, Himself, is our peace with God, with others, and within.
We may not have the ability to give our loved ones the extra measure of patience or improved health they desire. Nor is it within our power to give them the peace we all desperately need to bear up under the struggles of life. But we can be led by the Spirit to speak to them about Jesus, the giver and embodiment of true and lasting peace.
By Kirsten Holmberg
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
How has Christ brought peace to your life? Who might you introduce to Him?
Jesus, thank You for the comfort of Your enduring, unfailing peace in my life.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In John 14, all three members of the Trinity are mentioned, and Jesus is the uniting factor. The Father sends the Spirit in Jesus’ name; the Spirit teaches and reminds the disciples of what Jesus said (v. 26). Jesus leaves His peace with the disciples (v. 27) and does as the Father commands (v. 31). The Father is “greater” than Jesus (v. 28), and Jesus loves Him (v. 31). These verses paint a beautiful picture of how the triune God cares for us: the Father sends the Son (3:16), who gives us peace; the Father sends the Spirit in Jesus’ name, who reminds us of what Christ has said and done.
J.R. Hudberg |
|
|
|
|
|
Upper Room: The Gift of Peace
I will lie down and fall asleep in peace because you alone, Lord, let me live in safety. - Psalm 4:8 (CEB)
I frequently fall asleep while praying. I used to feel guilty, but I’ve decided to look at it a different way.
My job demands that I be on call 24 hours a day, every day of the year. I could be at home making dinner or on vacation when I receive a work-related call, text, or email. This constant connection to the workplace can have long-term effects and often leads to exhaustion. At the end of a hectic day, bedtime prayer can be a way to decompress, discuss the day’s challenges with God, and enter into a time of rest and reflection.
So instead of feeling guilty, I’ve decided to embrace the blessing that rest can be. Rest has many benefits for physical, mental, and spiritual health. Jesus took time away from the crowds and his followers to find needed rest.
Just as hard work honors God, so do our times of rest. Words from Psalm 23 tell us that God wants us to enjoy quiet moments: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul” (vv. 2-3). Let’s not feel guilty when rest presents itself but recognize it for the spiritual gift that it is.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear God, lead us to adopt the model that Jesus set for us. Help us to seek physical, mental, and spiritual rest and to welcome your restoration of our souls. Amen.
Friday, October 13 2023
Thank God I'm Forgiven! PTL! Count your many blessings that come from your faith in Christ and all He did to redeem you from sin and to open the door for eternal life with Him in heaven. There is a great peace that comes from the assurance that we are forgiven and know our eternal destination. What praise we are able to lift for the free gift of salvation, the gift of faith, the gift of assurance, the gift of abundant life in Christ, the gift of the Holy Spirit and the gift He brings to our lives, the gift of growing into our new nature, the gift of God's promises, His Holy Word, protection, provision, and shalom!!! What's on your list today? Count your many blessings and continue to build those gratitude lists to dig out for those hard, dark times we are able to endure through Christ! He is a miracle working God! Amen! And we each are one of those miracles! PTL! Here's a song to start your praise and prayer time: Million Little Miracles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Viiw6tGimHo
Good Morning Very Blessed Children of God--MIRACLES of God!!! God knows you intimately. Do you know Him intimately and are you growing in your relationship with your Creator and Sustainer? You were created in His image for His special purposes that are enabled and empowered when you surrender your life to Christ and receive His Spirit. The Holy Spirit opens up Scripture for us and helps us to see, hear and understand God as we spend time with Him in prayer, mediating on His Word, and as we travel through each day watching for Him to be at work all around us. Yes, what blessings! What countless miracles! PTL!
This year we have been working on the Become Me in '23 Challenge where we are working on cooperating with God's Spirit to grow more fully into the people we were created to be and operating out of our true identity in Christ to reach the fuller potential we were created for. Many of us sought God's guidance and picked words to work on this year towards that. How's that going for you? Words like "Faith", "Hope", "Valued", "Restoration", "Relationships" and "Shalom" were chosen and many others too. These are words enabled in us to grow into our new nature and to help us to fulfill our custom-made purposes of God. I continue to pray for these to come to life in, through and around you and for you to see God at work as your grow to become more like Jesus and doing the greater things He has for you each day! I'd love to hear your stories of what God is doing through this challenge!
Here's another great blessing to celebrate: We are know by God and lovingly helped to grow into these things even in the direst of times or the most joyful and every day in between! How great is that! How great is our God who is working all things--ALL THINGS--together for those who believe! PTL! Check out our devos below as you sit, meditate, worship, listen and receive God's instructions and encouragements for today! Share those stories with someone too! Let's celebrate all the good available and given to us today!
Here's a song to meditatively praise and pray through as you end your time of worship with our Lord and Savior today: Great Are You Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QocAVOYJ5o0
You are know! You are loved! You are enabled! And God is with you always! PTL!
CS:
TWFYT:
ODB:
|
Opening the blinds one winter morning, I faced a shocking sight. A wall of fog. “Freezing fog,” the weather forecaster called it. Rare for our location, this fog came with an even bigger surprise: a later forecast for blue skies and sunshine—“in one hour.” “Impossible,” I told my husband. “We can barely see one foot ahead.” But sure enough, in less than an hour, the fog had faded, the sky yielding to a sunny, clear blue.
Standing at a window, I pondered my level of trust when I can only see fog in life. I asked my husband, “Do I only trust God for what I can already see?”
When King Uzziah died and some corrupt rulers came to power in Judah, Isaiah asked a similar question. Whom can we trust? God responded by giving Isaiah a vision so remarkable that it convinced the prophet that He can be trusted in the present for better days ahead. As Isaiah praised, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3). The prophet added, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal” (v. 4).
When our minds are fixed on God, we can trust Him even during foggy and confusing times. We might not see it clearly now, but if we trust God, we can be assured His help is on the way.
By Patricia Raybon
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
When life looks foggy and confusing, where can you put your trust? How can you turn your mind from today’s problems to our eternal God?
The world looks foggy and confusing today, dear God, so please help me fix my mind on You, in whom I can forever trust.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Isaiah 26:4 includes the metaphor of a rock, which depicts the security and safety found in God: “The Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.” The Hebrew word for rock is tsur. What’s literally in view is a cliff, rock, or boulder. Figuratively, what’s described is a refuge. This word is used three times in Psalm 18 (vv. 2, 31, 46). In verse 2, the psalmist multiplies metaphors to stress divine dependability: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock [tsur], in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” In Isaiah 26:4, the word tsur is paired with olam, which means long duration, forever, everlasting, perpetual: “The Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.” The pairing of these words enhances God’s credibility exponentially. Trust Him. His faithfulness is unending!
Arthur Jackson |
|
|
|
|
|
UR: Love in Action
Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” - Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
One day I stopped into a store to buy a birthday gift for someone, and I saw a man asking customers for change. Many people passed by him and ignored his pleas for assistance. I keep a few care packages in my car, so I decided to give one to him. When I struck up a conversation with the man, I learned a lot about him. But most important, I learned that what he needed was a listening ear. God calls us to be light for others. Even something as small as a conversation can make a world of difference to the lonely and brokenhearted.
Today’s scripture reading reminds us that God is pleased when we lend a helping hand. Our good deeds reflect a grateful heart, and our acts of service and compassion for others point to our relationship with God. We become love in action when we are able to recognize and meet the needs of others. How can we show others that God lives within us and that God can live within them too?
TODAY'S PRAYER
Gracious God, may we become love in action through our compassion and care for all your children. Help us to give and receive your love with humility and grace. Amen.
Thursday, October 12 2023
Good Morning Fruitful Harvesters! Yes we are all part of God's Good News Delivery Co. St. Matts. Division! God is using us as we all step deeper into our assigned, custom made purposes for spreading the Good News and bringing the harvest. Some plant and sow in prayer, funding and action. Some fertilize with words and deeds. Some prune or allow God to prune them for even better fruit. Some reap as God brings in the harvest. Let us celebrate all God is doing and continue to grow into our parts and do them well! We can rejoice and celebrate all God did yesterday with the donuts and conversations at the Bread Ministry. We can thank God for using, teaching and growing us as 30 gathered last night for dinner, Family Ministries and Chosen huddles! God is on the move and using us! PTL! Rejoice and ask Him to continue to grow you and use you well.
Pray for Patrick who God is really doing a work on to step into new life in Christ and for us to continue to seed, fertilize and water. He's real close and God is pursuing him. Pray for an open heart and mind. Pray for the five or six new connections we made yesterday and for open hearts and no hindrances for them coming to taste and see how good God is. Thank God for the woman from bread min. (I didn't catch her name) that joined us last night and connect to some other woman and maybe even God as we watched and discussed the Chosen. Pray for many more connection points for us as we learn to connect others to God's love and help and learn to make disciples. I think there were around 30 gathered last night for a great night of food, fellowship, learning and fun! There's always plenty of food and room for more. Join us next week and bring someone along! God is on the move through us and as we gather to serve and fellowship. PTL! What's God saying to you and confirming as your role in His Good News Delivery Co. PTL for that and ask for Him to continue to refine and grow you as you go live and love like Jesus.
Pray for Sarah as she takes a long overdue Sunday off as she celebrates her birthday. Pray for Mike Laise as he brings God's Word alive for us Sunday. Pray for Karen as she teaches Childrens Church and for kids yo hear and grow in Christ. Thank God for all our servants! Ask God to bring to mind someone to invite to join us. Our goal is to bring one new person a month into our fellowship as our members invite and bring along someone new. Pray for God's favor and to see who and courage to invite. Pray that He would us us all well and grow the numbers being saved.
Check out ODB below. May we grow in knowing God and loving others well. The UR reminds us that God will never forget us, His very loved creations and children! Check out CS devo and keep plowing the soil in prayer and pray that your soil would be prepared and ready to produce some great fruit! Keep praying for Israel and for God to show His faithfulness to all His people and deliver them from evil. His heart breaks but He knows, is at work and is working all things together for the good of those who believe. We believe! May many more see God and be drawn. Amen! may God bring you His shalom today and prepare you for what He has instore today! Love you all and so does God! Rejoice! he is upholding you in His strong right hand!
Our Daily Bread
|
In the powerful article “Does My Son Know You?” sportswriter Jonathan Tjarks wrote of his battle with terminal cancer and his desire for others to care well for his wife and young son. The thirty-four-year-old wrote the piece just six months prior to his death. Tjarks, a believer in Jesus whose father had died when he was a young adult, shared Scriptures that speak of care for widows and orphans (Exodus 22:22; Isaiah 1:17; James 1:27). And in words directed to his friends, he wrote, “When I see you in heaven, there’s only one thing I’m going to ask—Were you good to my son and my wife? . . . Does my son know you?”
King David wondered if there was “anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom [he could] show kindness for [his dear friend] Jonathan’s sake” (2 Samuel 9:1). A son of Jonathan, Mephibosheth, who was “lame in both feet” (v. 3) due to an accident (see 4:4), was brought to the king. David said to him, “I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table” (9:7). David showed loving care for Mephibosheth, and it’s likely that in time the king truly got to know him (see 19:24–30).
Jesus has called us to love others just as He loves us (John 13:34). As He works in and through us, let’s truly get to know and love them well.
By Tom Felten
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
How can you know others more deeply? What will it look like for you to love them the way God loves you?
Heavenly Father, help me to honor You by striving to truly know and love others.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
David and Jonathan offer a glimpse of what a true friendship looks like. Though Jonathan was King Saul’s son, he sought to protect David from the king’s irrational anger and bitter hatred. Upon hearing news of Jonathan’s death, David wrote of the pain, loss, and despair over the death of a dear friend. Yet, even during his grief for Jonathan, he also grieved over Saul (2 Samuel 1:24). Saul had pursued David like a common criminal, but David still grieved the king’s death.
Bill Crowder |
|
|
|
|
|
UR:
The Lord says, “Can a woman forget her nursing child, fail to pity the child of her womb? Even these may forget, but I won’t forget you. Look, on my palms I’ve inscribed you.” - Isaiah 49:15-16 (CEB)
I am a bit worried about my memory. Yesterday I left my credit card at a store. Then I tried to replace an incorrectly sized item that I had purchased a couple of days before, only to realize when I got home that I repurchased the exact same thing. Then today, I left my cell phone in the lobby while picking up the mail. Thankfully someone returned it!
My forgetfulness reminds me how wonderful it is to know that God doesn’t forget us. God doesn’t misplace us or leave us unattended. God knows exactly where we are and what we need.
God also tells us not to fear. Fear can be crippling, but we are reminded that if we have received the gift of salvation, we are redeemed. God knows us and our circumstances, so we do not need to fear. We can have faith that God will give us what we need. When we are focused on ourselves and our current situation, it’s easy to forget past blessings and to fear the future. But God reminds us to keep our faith focused on the One who will not forget us.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for never forgetting who we are and what we need. Help us not to live in fear but in faith. Amen.Charles Stanley
Wednesday, October 11 2023
Hi again! This prayer for Israel by David Jeremiah was forwarded to me by a reader of the blog (Thanks reader and sharer!) Use this or any other to inform your prayers for God's Chosen people!
This is a David Jeremiah prayer...
Heavenly Father,
The psalmist tells us to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
So I pray for peace for Your chosen people, Israel, and their beloved city
today. You have planned for Israel, provided for Israel, and protected Israel for
thousands of years.
But as in days of old, there are those today who seek to harm, even destroy,
Your people.
So I ask you to keep Israel in Your loving care. Put a spiritual hedge of
protection around Your people and their land.
Watch over this nation as a Good Shepherd watches over His flock, and may
Your chosen people find their ultimate safety and security in You.
While You watch over Your people, may Your Spirit awaken in them a hunger
to embrace their Messiah—the One who died for them—until they see Him
face to face.
We pray this in His name,
Amen.
Psalm 122:6
Wednesday, October 11 2023
Good Morning Listening, Watching Followers of Our Good Shepherd! We are learning to listen to hear His voice and follow, watch Him to be at work and joining Him, and allowing Him to Shepherd us. What an awesome God we serve! He wants to be in an intimate, growing relationship with Him as He shepherds and teaches us to receive His best and follow well. Check out John 10 today. Jesus is our Gate to salvation and new life. He then is our Good Shepherd. We know His voice and follow Him. He protects us and takes care of us. The 23rd Psalm may be a great meditative praise and prayer read today. He loves you, cares for you and calls you His own! PTL! And He's actively searching for others to join His flock and uses us to help lead them to Him. Pray for our donut and conversation day today during the Bread Ministry for many to hear His voice and be drawn. Pray for all who come to feel loved and accepted. Pray for our members that come to connect to just the right people and connect them to the Shepherds caring love and salvation.
God will open the eyes of our hearts when we come to Him in humility and asking Him to speak and teach and lead. That has been a theme I've been encountering the past few days. Here's the song to use for centering prayer today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0orH2uloeI Check out ODB below as you prayerfully worship to hear, see and follow today.
See you today from 10-12 at donut day, or tonight at the Chosen Huddle/Family Miniseries gathering at 6 for dinner. Pastor Don is creating a sit down dinner feast! Come! Taste and see how good the Lord is and bring someone along! Pray for this to be a day where our Shepherd is glorified and some step through the Gate and walk with our flock as we walk with Jesus. Amen!
God loves you! Jesus says come and walk in my loving care today. Open the eyes of our hearts Lord as we learn to live and love like Jesus together! Amen!
Our Daily Bread:
|
In 2001, a premature baby named Christopher Duffley surprised doctors by surviving. At five months old, he entered the foster care system until his aunt’s family adopted him. A teacher realized four-year-old Christopher, though blind and diagnosed with autism, had perfect pitch. Six years later at church, Christopher stood onstage and sang, “Open the Eyes of My Heart.” The video reached millions online. In 2020, Christopher shared his goals of serving as a disability advocate. He continues to prove that possibilities are limitless with the eyes of his heart open to God’s plan.
The apostle Paul commended the church in Ephesus for their bold faith (Ephesians 1:15–16). He asked God to give them “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation” so they would “know him better” (v. 17). He prayed that their eyes would be “enlightened,” or opened, so they would understand the hope and inheritance God promised His people (v. 18).
As we ask God to reveal Himself to us, we can know Him more and can declare His name, power, and authority with confidence (vv. 19–23). With faith in Jesus and love for all God’s people, we can live in ways that prove His limitless possibilities while asking Him to keep opening the eyes of our hearts.
By Xochitl Dixon
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
How has God helped you overcome obstacles or limitations? How does knowing His truth, character, and love change the way you see challenges?
Mighty and merciful God, please open the eyes of my heart so that I can know, love, and live for You with bold faith that leads others to worship You.
For further study, read Why Should I Trust God?.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In his explanation of his prayers for the Ephesian church, Paul concludes by saying that he desires all believers in Jesus to know God’s “incomparably great power” (Ephesians 1:19). To explain what he means, he points to God’s strength that both raised Christ from the dead and established His rule in the heavenly realms (vv. 20–21).
For the early church—small and weak in the face of the mighty Roman Empire—the sheer expanse of God’s power would come as a welcome comfort. No rule or authority or even death itself transcended it, and that very power was promised to His people through the Spirit (Acts 1:8). And, as if that weren’t enough, Paul points out that Jesus’ transcendence and rule isn’t bound to the current age but will continue when all other powers fade away (Ephesians 1:21). It’s that very power that the apostle prayed we’d all come to know.
Jed Ostoich |
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, October 10 2023
Good Morning Servants of the Most High God! We cannot serve two masters. That is a biblical truth. We can be wishy washy or double minded as the Bible reminds us. Too often we can tend to be more in the world than of it. We do have responsibilities as citizens of the Lehigh Valley, PA, and the USA that the law requires us to do. And we are called to steward well and meet the responsibilities of taking care of our families, residences, jobs while at the same time, being about the Father's business. How do we balance our responsibilities well as Kingdom citizens with those of having a dual citizenship on earth? That's the question of the ages, isn't it? How can we be all-in for God while we live here on earth? Help us Lord! It is a constant battle! But one that some have come to do well. So, we can too. Honestly, that will look different for all of us throughout all the stages of life.
Can you tell today that I am in a pensive place. Satan seems to be attacking and trying to steal my joy and focus on God and His plans for me and our church. I all bound up in things that I need to just give to God and trust and move on. Satan be gone! I am a child of the King that whooped your butt! I am an overcomer! I am enabled and empowered to be victorious in Christ, to serve Him and to live in this world as His reflection. I'm putting on that armor, tightening that chin strap and standing ready with His Sword and in my spirit.
Questions of faith and how to live well as a child of God often plague us, especially when life happens and Satan pounces on that seeking some to destroy. As the days get darker, more carnal and depraved it will also become harder to bring Light and walk in God's ways. Yes we are in a battle, BUT GOD! We know the Victor and we are His. Jesus is standing beside you whispering in your ear, You are mine! I got you!" God promises to hold us in His mighty hand. The Holy Spirit is living in us, directing us and reminding us of all the promises we have to wield against the enemy. Cast all your anxiety unto God and He will comfort you and bring you His peace. And pray on His armor today. Pray in the spirit at all times and keep on choosing to be all-in and trusting that God knows what He's doing and why things are happening. You were created for such a time as this and placed right where God wants you for His purposes. PTL! Worship. Fill up your faith tank. And go love well no mater what you are facing today. God knows, cares and is working all things together for the good of those who believe, even when it may not seem like it in the physical realm. Amen! Check out ODB below and David's prayer during a time of hurting. Continue to pray for Israel. The Lord promises blessings to those who pray for the peace of Israel. And continue to lean on the God who is always with you and always at work.
So how do we balance our dual citizenship today? What are your priorities? Someday, maybe sooner than later we will leave this world or Jesus will return for us. That is a fact and a promise. So in what are you investing? God promises to provide the essentials for life. Yes, we'd all like and work towards having more than the essentials. The trick is realizing when enough is enough and choosing trust and contentedness like Paul did. Karen and I used to pray a lot, as commanded, for God to give us just enough--not too little or too much. But we all know that in our minds, too often, enough isn't enough. That is the thing we all need God and others to help us with and our responses determine how well we are living out our dual citizenship according to Kingdom standards. Check out the UR below? Life is short. How well are you living.
All around us we see people that don't know God striving for all kinds of things to fill their emptiness, cravings and delights. But we are called to delight in the Lord and all things we need will be given. We were not placed here to out do the Joneses. Nor do we need all the things they clamor after to enjoy life in Christ. We know that, but it can be hard to live through that. Again, that is why we need encouragers, prayer warriors, and accountability partners in our lives. People of God helping each other to thrive as Kingdom citizens first and to let God handle the rest. We are learning to balance better and live more fully into our God-created potential and purposes. Let's stop the comparing game! Even churches do this as they tout what they are doing as if we are called to one-upmanship. Each church, as each individual, is a unique creation of God placed where they are for seasons of life. So the real question we need to ask is, "Are we doing all we can with all we got to honor God as we follow His plan for us?" I think for St. Matts. the answer is yes. Sure there's always more we can do. That will come as we continue to grow in Christ. But we are following peace and God's provision well. As He promises, when He leads us to new things, the provision will come as we step through that open door in faith.
Now our responsibility shifts to seeking God, discerning, and taking those first steps through the open doors. As we become equipped and ready for the greater things He will lead us there. BUT, we have to keep seeking and planning and following. There is no resting on our laurels in the Christian journey. The bishop has called us to become a dynamic movement of God. To do that well, we have to be willing to break camp from our comfort, be all-in with Christ, and follow the Holy Spirit to what's next. And Jesus promises to be with us apostles (sent ones) each step of the journey. So ask God to search your heart and cleanse the junk and help you to put on His armor and be ready to move into battle with Him as we enter His harvest field. And find some partners that God is raising up for you to march with.
In our reading through the gospel of John, we are encountering all the "I AM" statements of Jesus. He's proclaiming to be God and identifying aspects of God's character that He is incarnating and bringing to life before the watcher's eyes. In John 8:12 that we discussed Sunday, He said, "I am the light of the world." In John 9 that we are studying this week Jesus heals the blind man and the Pharisees get all twisted up about who Jesus is claiming to be. They are so focused on trying to live for God according to their standards and expectations that they totally miss that God is walking among them. They just can't accept it because He doesn't meet their preferences and standards. They are closed minded and hard hearted, like many around us today, even some church people and leaders. We asked Sunday for you to seek God for the answers to these two questions: Who is Jesus? How does He impact my life? Ask God to open the eyes of your heart to His Truths and how He desires for Jesus to affect your life and those around you. Jesus is the Light that brings sight to the blind. Pray for sight for the blind around us, even church leaders and members who are missing the new things God is doing. In John 9:39 Jesus said, "I entered this world to render judgement--giving sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind." Can you see? Do you want to? Who is this man to you? How is He impacting your life right now--today? Ask for eyes to see, mind to understand and a pure heart to go love like Him everyday. That is living as a child of Light in this world today and God blesses that. He promises! We were created for such a time as this for our part in expanding God's Kingdom. It's time to start worrying about that more than all the noise and darkness around us. Be the light! God's got the rest covered!
Our Daily Bread:
|
“Most people carry scars that others can’t see or understand.” Those deeply honest words came from Major League Baseball player Andrelton Simmons, who opted out of the end of the 2020 regular season due to mental health struggles. Reflecting on his decision, Simmons felt he needed to share his story to encourage others facing similar challenges and to remind others to show compassion.
Invisible scars are those deep hurts and wounds that can’t be seen but still cause very real pain and suffering. In Psalm 6, David wrote of his own deep struggle—penning painfully raw and honest words. He was “in agony” (v. 2) and “deep anguish” (v. 3). He was “worn out” from groaning, and his bed was drenched with tears (v. 6). While David doesn’t share the cause of his suffering, many of us can relate to his pain.
We can also be encouraged by the way David responded to his pain. In the midst of his overwhelming suffering, he cried out to God. Honestly pouring out his heart, he prayed for healing (v. 2), rescue (v. 4), and mercy (v. 9). Even with the question “How long?” (v. 3) lingering over his situation, David remained confident that God “heard [his] cry for mercy” (v. 9) and would act in His time (v. 10).
Because of who our God is, there is always hope.
By Lisa M. Samra
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
How can you express your struggle to God when experiencing deep emotional anguish? How have you experienced His healing, mercy, and rescue?
Heavenly Father, give me courage to express my deepest pain and to welcome Your presence and healing into my situation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The superscription to Psalm 6 tells us it was written by David, but we’re not given any information about what prompted him to pen this poem. The Bible Knowledge Commentary says, “This is one of the penitential psalms. David had been suffering from some illness that brought him near death. It’s difficult to associate this psalm, however, with any known event in his life.”
A penitential psalm is a song of repentance, where the singer pleads for forgiveness (see vv. 2, 4), but Psalm 6 also carries the strong overtones of lament, as David sorrows over his treatment at the hands of his enemies. And for this, he also seeks God’s grace and mercy. Even though we don’t know the specific events surrounding its writing, the psalm is deeply personal, as the author bares his soul to God and the world.
Dive deeper into this study of the different Psalms.
Bill Crowder |
|
|
|
|
|
Upper Room: "I Can Serve"
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. - Psalm 68:19 (NIV)
Several months ago, my 49-year-old nephew passed away after years of dealing with a debilitating disease. I, along with so many others, drew strength from his testimonies about faith, hope, and peace. He was an example of how blessed we are to love and be loved by God, who bears all our burdens.
In Matthew 28:19 Jesus tells us, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” We are the hands and feet of Christ. Our testimony allows others to learn about the love and eternal life Christ offers.
I see so many problems in the world, and I often feel ill-equipped to help alleviate others’ burdens or provide comfort to them. Then I remember my nephew, who served God by starting a street ministry traveling in his wheelchair. Christ’s strength is in all of us — the gift of the Holy Spirit. So let us all do our best to share the comfort and love of Christ with those around us.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, help us to serve you by sharing scriptures and examples of hope and comfort. Give us the strength to share our faith. We pray as Jesus taught us, “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation” (Lk. 11:2-4, NIV). Amen.
Monday, October 09 2023
See Sarah's Prayer list and questions below from yesterday.
Thank you for praying for our prayer gathering yesterday. I was surprised that we had 7 show up and was not surprised that it was a powerful time of prayer and praise for our denomination, district and our church to become a dynamic movement of God! He has great plans for us, His beloved disciples and apostles! Keep praying, believing and joining Him as we go forth shining His Light into the darkness.
Tonight is our Lehigh District annual meeting. Please pray for God's wisdom and direction to come alive.
Tues 10-11 Zoom Huddle
Wed 10-12 Donuts and Conversations at The Bread Ministry (Fellowship Hall--all welcome!)
Wed 6-8 in the Fellowship Hall and Family Room Dinner, Family Ministries, and the Chosen Huddle (ties to our John 7 message from yesterday! How God-like!)
Good Morning Recharged Beacons! Hmmm? what can he mean by that? Thanks for asking! Like Jesus, we need to reload to pour out God's love, grace, wisdom and help. We do that as we rest in Him, sit at His feet, recharge and then walk with Him into His plans for us each day. I love how God threads our daily devotionals (below) and Bible readings (John 9) together and speaks to our hearts and teaches us more about His healthy rhythms we can experience as we get to practice them. Over the past few months, God has been highlighting to me, and it has become a priority for our denomination to focus on personal care. It is a response to the very real problem faced by many churches, pastors and leadership, even congregants who have become overloaded, stressed, weary servants who are walking away from their calls, responsibilities, and even God in record numbers due to burnout. God's best healthy rhythm for us is working from abiding-in-Christ rest not overloading and being forced to rest. When we enter into this healthy flow we will find ourselves yoked to Jesus moving at His pace as He leads us from our time of reloading to fruit producing daily. This will often require a renewing of our thinking and changing of our ways as we die to self, crucify our plans and agendas and busyness and follow Jesus to His best and healthy ways for us. And remember, a yoke is an instrument of labor as we also need to get moving at Jesus' pace to get healthy. May we all choose health--spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, and financial--as we honor God's healthy rhythms and ways.
PTL for all the servants God has sent to St. Matts! PTL for mentors to me/us like Pastor Al! PTL for the permission and the focus the denomination is prioritizing for our churches, pastors and leaders about self care! PTL! I have been called to a church of servants where I can be a servant shepherd and have others to carry their God-ordained purposes and fulfill many of the needs of our church. I expect God to send more workers as we follow Jesus and His healthy rhythms and I am able to focus more on ministry needs. PTL and pray into that. Thanks Al for waking me up to my work-a-holic tendencies and helping me to learn to trust God, wait on Him for His provision of workers and resources and to focus on growing myself into the man God created me to be and doing the things at His pace that He has for me daily. Thank You Father for bringing me to Your rest, recharging me daily and helping me to trust You to be the Lord of each day and week and Your mission for me and Your Church! Thank You for all the answered prayers and allowing us to see Your faithfulness as we make You the Lord of our lives, days and choices. Come! Continue Your good work in and through me and Your Church. Thanks!!! Bless and refresh Your servants and bring in more as You bring in the harvest. Amen!
I was called to St. Matts as an answer to my prayers that God would call me to a place where I would learn not to do things in my own strength but to fully rely on Him--a call to a place where I would realize I could not do it all on my own. Sometimes I still try and sometimes I get so excited to get moving to what God is revealing and He reminds me that in His Kingdom, slow is fast and small is big. Little steps doing what seem like the little things He has for us each day leads to great fruit in His perfect timing! I am seeing it! I am learning to trust Him more! PTL! Are you? Proverbs 3:5-6 has become part of my learning to die to self and release myself and my agendas and ways to God! "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not lean on your own understanding." It takes a lot of praying, dying to self, and growing in trust to get to this place! PTL that He is patient with us and helps us to see the good fruit of this as He brings verse 6 alive right before our eyes: "Seek His will in all you do and He will direct your steps." That is the hard work God expects of us--praying, seeking, knocking, listening and processing daily with right hearts and feet willing to follow Him to His best for you (and His Church) each day as you take up your cross and follow Him. He has great plans He custom made for you each day and for our church. They should not burn us out when carried out His best ways. And His plans for you are custom made for every season of your life. As we learn to trust Him and follow better we will experience the great fruit of the greater things He has for us! Amen!
Thank you again to all the servants doing their parts at St. Matts. You make my calling a pleasure as we co-labor in prayer, surrender to our Lord and serve together, each doing our part! (praying, funding, encouraging each other, doing your custom made parts, learning together to live and love like Jesus as we put our faith into action) Yes we are growing into the smooth running Good News Delivery Company, St. Matts Division, that God has created us to be. We trust Him and adapt as we follow Him to the new things He has for us. It can be hard to say goodbye to the things of old as we fondly look in the rearview mirror of our past. But we build on our strengths, and adapt to the new things God has for us in an ever-changing world. We learn to bring alive His Good News and love today in ways that connect to those being drawn from darkness to Light. As Paul reminds us we focus ahead on the things God has for us today and moving forward and find relevant ways to connect to those God is sending to us. What joy!!! You have no idea how much of a blessing it is to be co-laboring with you! Thank you! Thank you for your encouragements and willingness to adapt as we follow what God has for us! I am honored to co-labor with you! I thank God for you all the time! May God richly bless you and us as we continue to trust and allow Him to lead us to His greater things! Revival is at hand! This is the year of the Lord's favor. Rejoice! Keep at it! Our rewards will be great in heaven as we keep lavishly sowing God's love. Amen!
In John 9:3b-5 Jesus said, "We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the One who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the Light of the World." Who is this man to you? How is He impacting your life? We understand that God has assigned us tasks, custom made tasks. This is a command that comes with a promise: The End is coming and our time to work will be complete, but while those with Jesus in them are still on earth, His Light is still here and we have tasks to complete. We are His beacons shining out to light the way for all who will come. Time is short. Keep your focus and do so in healthy ways as we pour ourselves out as a drink offering to God. Complete your tasks well. God is with you always! Prayerfully read the devos below and ask God what He wants you to learn and put into practice today and ask Him to open your eyes to those He is leading you to and give you His heart, mind and willing feet. Amen! Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us!
Upper Room: Conversations with God
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel, Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” - 1 Samuel 3:10 (NIV)
I remember my dad telling me about the frustration he felt when he battled interrupted sleep as an older adult. I must confess that as a young adult, I didn’t fully understand my father’s feelings. I remembered his struggle, however, when recently I started experiencing the same problem.
It took me a while before I learned to accept this interruption by using the quiet time to listen for God’s voice in my life. Inspired by two church handouts on prayer, I began to pray and respond each night by writing in a prayer journal. What had begun as an inconvenience had suddenly been transformed into a cherished time with my heavenly Father.
Over the last year or two, these quiet times with God have given me direction when facing challenges in relationships with neighbors, co-workers, friends, or family members. These “interruptions” have also helped me to pray about problems or for the needs of others in my church and to give thanks for all that I have been given. Almost always, I return to bed content and at peace.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you for the quiet times we have to listen for your guidance and direction. Amen.
Charles Stanley Devotional:
Our Daily Bread:
|
Have you heard of #slowfashion? The hashtag captures a movement focused on resisting “fast fashion”—an industry dominated by cheaply made and quickly disposed of clothing. In fast fashion, clothes are out of style nearly as quickly as they’re in the stores—with some brands disposing of large quantities of their products every year.
The slow fashion movement encourages people to slow down and take a different approach. Instead of being driven by the need to always have the latest look, slow fashion encourages us to select fewer well-made and ethically sourced items that will last.
As I reflected on #slowfashion’s invitation, I found myself wondering about other ways I fall into a “fast fashion” way of thinking—always looking for fulfillment in the latest trend. In Colossians 3, however, Paul says finding true transformation in Jesus isn’t a quick fix or a fad. It’s a lifetime of quiet, gradual transformation in Christ.
Instead of needing to clothe ourselves with the world’s latest status symbols, we can exchange our striving for the Spirit’s clothing of “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (v. 12). We can learn patience with each other on the slow journey of Christ transforming our hearts—a journey that leads to lasting peace (v. 15).
By Monica La Rose
|
How are you tempted to find security by keeping up with the latest trends? What helps you find contentment in Jesus?
Dear God, thank You that I can surrender my anxious strivings in exchange for the peace of a quiet walk with You.
Learn more about developing a biblical worldview.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Colossians 3:5–11 helps us to see what needs to be “put to death” (v. 5) as believers in Jesus who’ve been united with Christ in His death and resurrection (vv. 1–4). Verses 12–17, however, focus on what needs to be “put on” (v. 14) as His representatives. The standard for our living is the character of Christ as seen in the qualities listed in verses 12–14. The standard for relationships in Jesus’ family is the peace of Christ (v. 15). The standard for instruction, correction, and celebration in community is the word of Christ (v. 16). And the standard for all that we do is to bring honor to the name of Christ (v. 17). When we clothe ourselves in such a way, it’s like wearing garments given by a gracious Father to His beloved children. And perhaps others will desire to know more about such a Father and want Him to be their Father as well.
Arthur Jackson |
|
|
|
|
|
Shepherdess Sarah's Prayer letter:
Good afternoon everyone,
Hope that you are nice and toasty in your homes and enjoying the football game. It is definitely a Fall day today!
Here are a couple of the prayer requests shared today in worship.....
Lisa Wenner has asked for prayer for her boss, Ed Shelly. We have been praying for Ed....
He came through the surgery well. Pray that he will mend and heal, may God's peace surround him.
And may Ed be patient with his body as it heals and that his attitude will remain positive.
Friends of Neen and mine has asked for prayer for their son, who had triple by-pass surgery and is doing
good. He came through the surgery well.
Please keep him and his family in your prayers - praying that his healing goes well without any infections.
Karen Kerns' father Russ is home. Continue to lift him up and that he remains safe and that the dietary
department where he lives will be able to provide healthy meals that coincide with his diet.
Allison - co worker of Lisa Wenner - she is having some testing and blood work done on Friday to
see what is happening with her heart. Pray that God's peace will surround her and continue to pray
for Lisa as God uses her as His vessel of love and peace to her co-workers!!
Also Yay God - Lisa's feet are doing better - continue to pray for healing for her....as she is a 'sermon in shoes'
Ron Boyer continues to have heart issues. The medical team caring for him is trying different treatments
with him. They are changing his water pill. Hopefully he will see some improvement over the next couple of days
Darlene Geiger has asked for prayer for a woman she met in the parking lot - her name is Tammy and she is having
difficulty with her relationship with her husband. Pray for Tammy to receive the help and guidance she needs and for
both her and her husband to be reconcile their relationship.
Darlene is also asking for prayer for her husband, Jim. He has a persistent cough and she is asking that he trust God for healing
and see God's presences and to have peace.
Melissa Sullivan (DeLong) has asked for prayer for her Mother, Darlene Skinner as she is dealing with some health issues.
Barb Somers has asked for prayer for her sister, Judy who has Lung Cancer. She will be starting chemo in a couple of weeks.
Pray for strength and perseverance for Judy and for Barb as she comes along side Judy to encourage and support her
during this difficult time in her life.
*** ***
Take away questions from worship today:
Who is Jesus to you?
How does Jesus impact your life?
I am curious of your thoughts.....email or text me your thoughts!
Hey have a great evening and fabulous week!
Blessings,
Sarah
Don
Sunday, October 08 2023
Today: Worship at 10 (live and on Zoom) with Children's Church. Today we will be discussing John 7 and 8 that we read during the week. (next week John 9-10).
Today: A Season of Prayer 2-4 in the sanctuary. All are welcome! Come and go as needed.
Good Morning Unique, Purposeful Followers of Jesus! What an amazing God we serve! PTL! He is a God of creative diversity where all of nature is created with beauty and purposes--us included. Eph. 2:10 continues to come to mind as I pray for you and our Good News Delivery Company called St. Matts. We are God's uniquely created masterpieces. We are made new in Christ which is a one time salvation new life and at the same time a growing into the new nature He created us to wear. We receive the Holy Spirit's help and gifts and become enabled to grow into our fuller potential at conversion. Why? To do the custom made things God has for us each day and throughout the days of our journey on earth. As we realize this and move towards the greater things God has for us, as we shed our old nature and earthly ways, we begin to find ourselves in that sweet spot that only comes from being and doing the things we were created to be and do, we find our peace, joy and purposes growing. It's hard to explain unless you have experienced it. Charles Stanley has done a pretty good job in his devo for today (below). We were born with great potential that is activated as we come to Christ in faith. Then we are enabled and empowered at that point to truly be who we were created to be doing the things we were created to do at each stage of life. What blessings, joy and shalom that brings as we step into that with God!
This is what the Become Me in '23 Challenge is all about. It is a passion God has given me to help us all find that sweet spot and us as God's Fellowship as well. He has created each of us and our church with great potential and His purposes are awaiting us as we grow in Christ. Our mission is to allow God to live and love through us as we become more like Jesus. Our denomination's vision is for all our churches to become a dynamic movement of God with a burning passion for Him and a missionary zeal for the lost. God has great plans for each of us and our church as He moves us towards that. Today from 2-4 we will be gathering in our sanctuary to pray into this and to release God's will, power, provision and wisdom. Join us and bring some friends! We will also be praying for any personal needs. Every movement of God was and is birthed from prayer. We are a praying church. For many of you, your purpose for this stage of life is to be a prayer warrior and God's provision for His plans. You have a very needed and powerful purpose in our Good News Delivery Company! Thank you for serving and for allowing God to grow you into your fuller potential for this season of your life! We need you and your prayers and provisions shared. Thanks again!
We were uniquely created for purposes for all seasons of our lives. God wants to fulfill our desires as we do His custom made purposes and gives us the help and ability to achieve them. PTL! He is preparing us for our eternal future and we are building our treasure in heaven to be used to worship God and be used to carry on His custom made purposes. What an awesome God! Life in Christ is good! We have much to worship and praise for and much to be excited about as we follow Jesus to what's next for us! In John 7 and 8 we will see today the example Jesus left for us for how to trust God amidst all kinds of chaos and focus on our mission and fulfill our created purposes well! Run well your race! Allow God to live and love through you and follow well to God's very best for you and us. Shalom! You can know it as you trust and obey each day.
Charles Stanley devo:
Saturday, October 07 2023
Clothing Closet today from 10-1
Sun. Worship from 10-11ish in person and on Zoom with Children's Church.
Sun. Season of Prayer 2-4 in the sanctuary. (Come and go as you please) Praying for our denomination, district, church and personal needs. Do you need some prayer? Come! Or bring someone who does.
See below Sarah Boyer's prayer requests. Continue to lift the Ron Williams family as they move through grief of the loss of Ron. We buried him yesterday. UPDATE on Karen's dad Russ: He is in the hospital because the facility he lives in refuses to cook heart healthy food. The menus are loaded with salt causing his fluid retention. Pray for healing for him and for the kitchen to be open to serving healthy choices to the elderly they serve. pray for wisdom for us as we try to fight for this . Thanks!
Sarah update:
Good evening,
I have two urgent prayer requests to share with you:
Lisa Wenner has asked for prayer for her boss, Ed Shelly. We have been praying for Ed....but
right now he is at the hospital having emergency surgery for a perforated colon. He isn't doing too
good. Please pray for his medical and surgical team and for his family. Pray also that he will mend
and heal, may God's peace surround him.
Friends of Neen and mine has asked for prayer for their son, who had triple by-pass surgery today.
He came through the surgery well, and has been able to communicate verbally with his family.
Please keep him and his family in your prayers - praying that his healing goes well without any infections
Karen Kerns' father Russ is in the hospital for testing. Prayers for the doctors and those reading the test
results and pray that they find out what is going on.
Thank you church family for your prayers!
Have a great evening and weekend!!!
Blessings,
Sarah
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good Morning Worshiping, Products of Your Choices! Everything we do can be an act of worship from doing dishes, cleaning toilets, praying, encouraging, praising, obeying God, if all you choose to do flows from a heart of worship. God has created us free to choose. We are not robots. When He draws people to Himself they all have a choice to trust and believe or reject and walk away. We see the consequences of peoples choices throughout the Bible, history and present day life. We get to choose life or death, blessings or curses. We have chosen life in Christ! PTL! Everyday, 24-7, we get to choose if we will obey or go our own way. PTL that when we choose our own way, come to realize what we are doing, that we can choose to stop, repent, be forgiven and return to God's best ways. And He always chooses to forgive, restore, redeem and help us back on track and through the consequences of our poor choices. Check out ODB and CS devos below for more on our choices. And keep choosing life, blessings and obedience! And keep choosing to praise and worship. Check out UR below. Choose to count your blessings and praise with songs of old and new songs too. Worship with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs as you choose to praise no matter the storms or good times you find yourself in.
Last year we studied a spiritual virtue each month. The Jan. virtue was joy. We get to choose how we face life. Joy is a choice--a good and healthy choice that flows from trusting God no matter what. We discussed the importance of turning off the noise around us, whatever is causing the noise, and tuning into God by casting our anxiety and fear onto God and counting our many blessings in praise. We discussed how building gratitude lists can help us to have something handy to help us to choose to refocus with praise.
Here's a song to remind you that you can choose joy as you choose to worship in the storms of life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7UE_EuFLj4
This year we are working on growing into the people we were created to be, doing the things custom made for us to do. We get to choose if we will die to self and the ways of this world and take up our crosses and follow Jesus. We get to choose how we live this life. May we all choose well today and always! Talk to God about that as you choose to be still, sit at His feet, receive and follow well. We get to choose if we live this life as an act of worship or not. PTL for freedom to choose and for helping us to know the best choices to make throughout each day! PTL for choosing you and us! Praise the Lord for being faithful to us no matter what! Here's one more very familiar hymn to offer in worship as you choose to trust and praise today, Great Is Thy Faithfulness! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN6ZgZhMOR8
Choose to have a great day as you begin with praise, worship and stillness as you sit at Jesus' feet and receive His shalom, wisdom and strength to face this day. He is faithful and worthy of all glory, honor and praise! What an awesome God we serve! Choose to worship and rejoice in this day! Yes! PTL! Amen!
Upper Room (UR):
O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. - Psalm 98:1 (NRSVUE)
As a child I lived in a small house with five sisters, one brother, and my parents. We all shared many chores — cooking, hanging laundry to dry, and caring for the younger children. My parents, however, brightened our chores with music. When Mom sang spiritual songs in the kitchen or Daddy played guitar on the porch, the family would sing along. In time, we bought an old upright piano and learned to play. From those songs, I learned to turn my attention to Jesus when life grows difficult and to talk to God and meditate on scripture often.
In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he encouraged God’s people to sing (see Eph. 5:19). Maybe he was recalling the incident from Acts 16 when he and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi. At midnight, when Paul and Silas sang hymns, an earthquake shook the prison, the doors opened, and their chains fell off.
Now, many years later, I listen to inspirational music at lunch and find peace. In late afternoons, I play piano and find joy. On sleepless nights, I recall songs from my childhood and find rest. We can find comfort when we sing praise to God.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Holy God, thank you for accepting our praise, offered through joyful songs. Thank you for bringing us peace, joy, and rest through music. Amen.Our Daily Bread (ODB):
|
A few weeks after the death of a dear friend, I spoke with her mom. I was hesitant to ask how she was doing because I thought it was an inappropriate question; she was grieving. But I pushed aside my reluctance and simply asked how she was holding up. Her reply: “Listen, I choose joy.”
Her words ministered to me that day as I struggled to push beyond some unpleasant circumstances in my own life. And her words also reminded me of Moses’ edict to the Israelites at the end of Deuteronomy. Just before Moses’ death and the Israelites’ entrance into the promised land, God wanted them to know that they had a choice. Moses said, “I have set before you life and death . . . . Now choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19). They could follow God’s laws and live well, or they could turn away from Him and live with the consequences of “death and destruction” (v. 15).
We must choose how to live too. We can choose joy by believing and trusting in God’s promises for our lives. Or we can choose to focus on the negative and difficult parts of our journeys, allowing them to rob us of joy. It will take practice and relying on the Holy Spirit for help, but we can choose joy—knowing that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28).
By Katara Patton
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
How can you choose joy in spite of your circumstances today? How is choosing joy similar to choosing life as God described to the Israelites?
Dear God, Giver of Joy, please help me to choose to follow You and believe and trust You this day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Deuteronomy 30:15, Moses used a figure of speech called metonymy where the effect stands for the cause. When he claimed to be setting before the people “life and prosperity, death and destruction,” he was presenting the effects of the Israelites’ decisions to help them see the significance of their choices. Obviously, no one would choose death and destruction. But their actions would lead either to life and prosperity or to death and destruction. In chapter 28, he lists the blessings for obedience (vv. 1–14) and the curses for disobedience (vv. 15–68).
J.R. Hudberg |
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Stanley's God's Purpose for Your Life Devotional (CS): (Today's and Sunday's devos)
Friday, October 06 2023
REMINDER: The Rally Day envelopeswill be used to fund our new "IN" account to be used to purchase curriculum, teaching materials, and items needed for all of our "IN" gatherings and huddles.
St. Matts happenings for the weekend: Ron Williams funeral today 11am service. Clothing Closet tomorrow (Sat) 10-1, worship Sun at 10(discussing John 7 and 8. What's God saying to you?) and a season of prayer 2-4 in our sanctuary. Join us for one or all! Bring a friend!
T.G.I.F. Thank God I'm Forgiven! Amen! PTL! Hallelujah! We can know that we know that we know that we are forgiven, have new life in Christ, are putting on our new nature and His righteousness, and secure in our future destination! Praise be the Lord, our Savior, Lord, Creator, Sustainer, Helper, Friend and our righteousness. Our sins have been forgiven once and for all time and He is faithful to His promises to forgive, cleanse and direct repentant, soft hearts. He promises to take away our hearts of stone and give us soft hearts. He promises us the gift of His Spirit, our Helper and Advocate and Seal of Faith. We are God's masterpieces, made new in Christ and full of potential and ability to accomplish all His plans for us because of our believing, repenting, soft and willing hearts! PTL! PTL! Begin Your day with some praise and worship!
Good Morning Very Loved, Very Blessed, Worshiping, Other Worldly, Disciples (apprentices) and Apostles (sent ones) of Christ! We were created in love to go love like Jesus as we grow from being one way to another in Christ. We were born with great potential. As we put on our new nature and allow Christ to shepherd us and learn from Him, we put on His easy yoke and learn to walk well in faith and service with Him. PTL! We are learning to live otherworldly in this world. People talk about aliens from outer space all the time and illegal aliens too. But we are citizens of heaven and earth, aliens and strangers here learning to live for Christ as we carry on our responsibilities on earth. We are learning how to be in the world but not of it as we grow into good ambassadors of Christ. We all have a purpose in Christ and different purposes daily and, as we age. We have custom made purposes for who we were made to be in every season of our life in Christ! And we are equipped, provided for and helped to find and fulfill those purposes! PTL! We are apprenticing under Jesus and sent to live and love like Him as we grow into our fuller potential in Christ. As Pastor Al taught us it's like building the airplane as we fly it. That takes soft hearts and willing feet to tweak as we go and as we follow. God is for us and with us and can do way more than we could ever imagine! He does have plans to prosper, not harm. But we may need to go through some valleys and tweaking ourselves as we walk with Him. It is an honor and privilege to follow Him with you as we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us to our fuller potential and God's greater things for us! Yes PTL!
Check out our devos below as you worship, praise. listen, receive, learn and prepare for this day! You are loved, are learning and adapting and adequate in Christ! You have doable purposes custom made for you as you travel through this life. PTL and follow well today! Maybe meditate on these songs as you prayerfully open your Bibles and read and meditate on these devos. God is speaking to you, pronouncing love and favor over you and reaching out to take hold of your hand to walk with you. Reach out to Him with a soft heart, willing feet and open ears and eyes. Ask Him to help with that and for His will to be done, in, through and around you. COME! Amen!
Here's a couple of songs to end your time of prayer, praise and worship and to prepare your hearts to follow and serve well today:
Upper Room (UR): Love Notes
Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39 (NRSVUE)
Early in our relationship, my husband gave me a card with a beautiful love note. After many years of marriage, I don’t need a note to know how much he cares. It’s evident in the things he does and the way he acts toward me every day. Even though we sometimes don’t come to terms in certain situations or have a disagreement, I know his love for me is steadfast and certain. I find great comfort in this.
God’s love for us is like the steady love my husband shows me, only greater. At times, like when I lost my job of twenty years, when I faced grief, or when I heard the words of a frightening diagnosis, I shook my fist at God wondering where God’s love had gone. Yet, it was there all along: in the kindness of a friend, in the skilled hands of a doctor, in the sunrise of a new day, in the blossoms that herald the promise of a new season. These are God’s love notes to each of us. Do we recognize them?
TODAY'S PRAYER
Gracious God, your love is at work in our lives at all times. May we be instruments of this love, sharing it at every chance through kind thoughts, words, and deeds. Amen.
Our Daily Bread(ODB):
|
Eric heard about Jesus’ love for him while in his early twenties. He started attending church where he met someone who helped him grow to know Christ better. It wasn’t long before Eric’s mentor assigned him to teach a small group of boys at church. Through the years, God drew Eric’s heart to help at-risk youth in his city, to visit the elderly, and to show hospitality to his neighbors—all for God’s honor. Now in his late fifties, Eric explains how grateful he is that he was taught early to serve: “My heart overflows to share the hope I’ve found in Jesus. What could be better than to serve Him?”
Timothy was a child when his mother and grandmother influenced him in his faith (2 Timothy 1:5). And he was likely a young adult when he met the apostle Paul, who saw potential in Timothy’s service for God and invited him on a ministry journey (Acts 16:1–3). Paul became his mentor in ministry and life. He encouraged him to study, to be courageous as he faced false teaching, and to use his talents in service to God (1 Timothy 4:6–16).
Why did Paul want Timothy to be faithful in serving God? He wrote, “Because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people” (v. 10). Jesus is our hope and the Savior of the world. What could be better than to serve Him?
By Anne Cetas
|
What have you learned about Christ that you want someone else to know? Who could use your help and whose help might you need?
Dear God, please give me a heart to bring Your hope to those around me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Paul’s letters to Timothy include quite a few challenges to stop false teaching in its tracks (1 Timothy 4:1–7; 6:2–5; 2 Timothy 2:14–19). In his first letter, Paul gives Timothy the tools he wants the young pastor to use in dealing with falsehoods: “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching” (1 Timothy 4:13).
By keeping the Scriptures front and center in the churches that Timothy served, he offered an antidote to the “godless myths and old wives’ tales” (v. 7) that seemed to always plague the churches. Timothy’s best defense against incorrect doctrine was Scripture itself (2 Timothy 3:16).
Jed Ostoich |
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Stanley:
The Word for You Today (TWFYT)
Thursday, October 05 2023
Good Morning Ready to Go Harvest Workers! Hi Ho Hi Hi it's off to work we go...whistling while we work and sing praises to Almighty God! Why? because we love doing the things God created us for and even though we may be walking through the valley, we will not fear for God is with us! Amen!
Check out ODB below and meditate on Philippians 1:21-30. What's God saying to you? Are you all-in-sold-out and ready to go if God is calling you? Are you living your life in Christ to the fullest as if Christ is all that matters? We have and can no the freedom from worry because we know God's love and promises that in the blink of an eye we will be with Him. PTL! Can you earnestly say, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."? That is our mission, hope and motivation. Enjoy your life in Christ. Love God and go live and love like Jesus with full abandon today! We are secure and God has great plans for you!
Gotta fly! Running late. Pray for my homebound communion visits today to be filled with God's love and presence. Pray for our Support Team meeting tonight for wisdom and God to lead as we continue to work at stewarding well ALL His blessings. Pray for the Clothing Closet Sat. to bring God's love alive as we meet needs. And pray for our prayer gathering Sun. from 2-4 for some to show up and for God to lead our intercession and prayers. Thanks!
Have a very focused and blessed day! God does have plans to prosper, not harm! He is for you and He is looking at you with great love and open arms. Shalom!
Our Daily Bread (ODB)
|
During the coronavirus pandemic, many suffered the loss of loved ones. On November 27, 2020, our family joined their ranks when Bee Crowder, my ninety-five-year-old mom, died—though not from Covid-19. Like so many other families, we weren’t able to gather to grieve Mom, honor her life, or encourage one another. Instead, we used other means to celebrate her loving influence—and we found great comfort from her insistence that, if God called her home, she was ready and even eager to go. That confident hope, evidenced in so much of Mom’s living, was also how she faced death.
Facing possible death, Paul wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. . . . I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body” (Philippians 1:21, 23–24). Even with his legitimate desire to stay and help others, Paul was drawn to his heavenly home with Christ.
Such confidence changes how we view the moment when we step from this life to the next. Our hope can give great comfort to others in their own season of loss. Although we grieve the loss of those we love, believers in Jesus don’t grieve like those “who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). True hope is the possession of those who know Him.
By Bill Crowder
|
How would you describe your response to the threatening realities in our world? How could intentional hope change your outlook on the struggles of life?
God of all hope, please remind me of Jesus’ death-conquering victory.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Philippians, Paul models the complete transformation that being “united with Christ” (2:1) brings. Even death can become an occasion to honor and draw closer to Jesus, to “not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him” (1:29). The apostle’s words that “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (v. 21) aren’t a death wish but a celebration of the freedom Jesus brings from a paralyzing fear of death. In both life and death, we draw closer to Christ as we follow His example of self-giving love (2:3–8), “becoming like him in his death” (3:10).
Monica La Rose |
|
|
|
|
|
Don
Wednesday, October 04 2023
Good Morning Living Faith Ones! Yes the gift of our faith in Jesus is active and alive as we work on living and loving like Jesus everyday. Our faith journey is not just about knowing Christ and growing in knowledge of His Word and Way, but actually living out an active faith life as part of God's Good News Delivery Co. Our faith journey is one of knowledge and action custom made for custom made us at the season and situations we find ourselves in today. Know Christ and make Him known is our EC mission statement. I think we are well on our way to that and God has prepared us and placed us right where He wants us and we need to be to become a dynamic movement. It's all about just being you and loving like Jesus as you go about the day doing the things He did and has for you. Jesus prayed. Jesus equipped. Jesus provided. Jesus guided. Jesus met needs. And Jesus followed all God had for Him each day. And he gave us a new command to go (movement) and love as He did (action). He loaded up and then poured out Himself. Reload and rested and then poured Himself out. And everywhere He went He connected those God was drawing and leading Him to minister to the Father. He loved well--God, Himself, and all those God was drawing. That's our mission as we yoke to Jesus and walk through each day as His loving servant.
Check out ODB and TWFYT below and talk to God about your assignment for today as you abide in Him and go lovingly produce the good fruit He has ready for you! You are very loved! God has some great plans for you today or maybe some struggle to walk through with Him. No matter, He is for you nad has plans to prosper you and use you to grow His Kingdom. be still and know, refresh and receive. Then go and live and love like Jesus!
See you tonight at 6 for Family Ministries and the Chosen Huddle. Some great stuff ahead and we might even celebrate something God did through you today as He loved through you. And don't forget, Jesus sent the disciples 2x2. Who is He wanting to partner with you? Ask Him and follow well!
ODB:
|
It was a natural step for Brett to attend a Christian college and study the Bible. After all, he’d been around people who knew Jesus his whole life—at home, at school, at church. He was even gearing his college studies toward a career in “Christian work.”
But at age twenty-one, as he sat with the small congregation in an old country church and listened to a pastor preach from 1 John, he made a startling discovery. He realized that he was depending on knowledge and the trappings of religion and that he’d never truly received salvation in Jesus. He felt that Christ was tugging at his heart that day with a sobering message: “You don’t know Me!”
The apostle John’s message is clear: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1 John 5:1). We can “overcome the world,” as John puts it (v. 4), only by belief in Jesus. Not knowledge about Him, but deep, sincere faith—demonstrated by our belief in what He did for us on the cross. That day, Brett placed his faith in Christ alone.
Today, Brett’s deep passion for Jesus and His salvation are no secret. It comes through loud and clear every time he steps behind the pulpit and preaches as a pastor—my pastor.
“God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life” (vv. 11–12). For all who have found life in Jesus, what a comforting reminder this is!
By Dave Branon
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
What’s your story of faith? What led you to understand you needed Jesus?
Jesus, thank You for the gift of salvation and for those who pointed me to faith in You.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The apostle John’s letters (1, 2, and 3 John) are considered brief—particularly in comparison to Paul’s lengthy epistles and other letters, such as Romans and 1 Corinthians. However, even 3 John—the shortest of the biblical letters—would’ve been considered long by ancient standards. Scholar Randy Richards wrote: “The average letter in the first century was 87 words.” Meanwhile 3 John has 219 words in the Greek and is the shortest New Testament letter. First John—at 2,517 words—is still quite brief yet much longer than the typical first-century letter. That common brevity in ancient letters was due to several factors including the cost of hiring a secretary, the cost of papyrus and ink (which had to be handmade), and the difficulty in getting letters to their destinations.
Bill Crowder |
|
|
|
|
|
TWFYT:
Tuesday, October 03 2023
Today join us from 10-11 on Zoom for Huddle (prayer, discussion, fellowship and study)
Join us tomorrow (Wed. from 6-8 for dinner, fellowship The Chosen Huddle and Family Ministries gathering.) Come as you are and bring a friend
Ron Williams service information: A Funeral Service will be held Friday, October 6, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Stephens Funeral Home, 274 N. Krocks Rd. Allentown, PA 18106. A Viewing will be held prior to the service from 10-11.
We continue to lift Sally and the family in our prayers.
In my sharing thanks for all of our servants yesterday, I forgot our Support Team (our board). All of our members do serve in various other capacities. You have elected a great team of servants to lead our church and God is using them well. Thank each of them and pray for them to have wisdom, discernment, and to follow Jesus and lead well as they lead us! President: Sarah Boyer. Lay Delegate: Kathy Canfield. Finance: Danny Reinsmith. Secretary: Lori Rohrer. Envelope Secretary: Debbie Siegfried. Missions: Joan Fenstemaker. Member at large: Barb Schware. Worship: Sarah and Pastor Don. Property: Co-leaders Danny and Don. Family Ministries: Pastor Don. Note: the Finance team volunteers are Danny, Debbie, Lori, Gail Lichtenwalner, and Gina Fuhrman. The Support and Finance Teams' purpose is to support and provide for the church's vision and provision. They along with our PRC constitute the Vision team that discerns and shares God's vision for us and evaluates how well we are doing and what may need to change as we follow God's plans for us. Thank you to all these servants! Keep praying for them to hear, lead and follow well!
Continue to thank God for all of our servants and for our church full of servants surrendered to and following the Lord well. Pray for God to bring His dreams and vision alive and for us to follow Him to His greater things for us! Here is a link from Harvest Prayer for how to pray for your pastors and leaders. May I suggest printing and using this often! We need your prayers and coverings! Thank you! https://www.harvestprayer.com/resources/church-prayer/prayer-and-care-for-pastors/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good Morning Movers and Shakers! We continue to seek, discern and move with God. We are positioning to be there as He shakes, rattles and rolls around our neighborhoods. We shake the heavenlies as we pray and move with Him. Satan is shaking in his boots as we follow well and as we join God in pulling people from his death grip. Continue to pray a covering of protection over our church and leaders and put on God's armor as you stand firm in Christ and join with Him in the battle for souls.
I like this Face Book post from The Word FM: Today's Word: You will tell His people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the Morning Light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace. ~ Luke 1:77-79 (NLT)
Amen!
God loves you more than you can measure. He is at work all around you and always near. He is speaking to your soul right now. Turn off all the noise around you, even in your own head. (Remember Satan speaks loudest in your on voice in your head) Check out all our devos for today below. God is speaking just to you right now! What's He saying? What might you need to do about it? He has a Word just for you! Be still, receive and know that He is God!
Have an amazing time with God as you seek, listen and release His power in prayer! You are the vital and foundational part of our Good News Delivery Team. You are the key as you pray that unlocks God's plans. Thank you!!! Shalom!
Upper Room (UR): No Hole Too Deep:
Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. - Isaiah 59:1 (NIV)
One day while I visited a construction site with my father, my puppy wandered away. I heard him wailing and discovered he had fallen into a hole. I tried to retrieve him, but he was beyond my reach. My father promised, “It will be alright.” He lay on the ground and thrust his arm into the hole. He strained, he stretched, he grunted, and finally his fingertips hooked my puppy’s collar. Then he lifted my whimpering pet back into the light. I brushed my puppy clean and then hugged my father. The memory remains vivid — musty soil, warm summer sun, and fear clenching my body.
That day, I believed my dad could do anything. The recollection of my earthly father’s strength encourages me to have greater trust in my heavenly Father. Even after decades of following Jesus, I sometimes think my heart embraces fear more readily than faith. But I remind myself that I am neither lost nor alone. When I see no way out, I remember the strong arm and long reach of my Savior.
No disaster can put us beyond God’s help. So when we are frightened in the dark, trapped by poor choices, over our heads in trouble, God’s arm is long enough to reach us, and God’s hand is strong enough to save us.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for holding us in your hand and lifting us when we fall. Give us faith to trust you even when we are afraid. Amen.
Our Daily Bread (ODB):
|
The optometrist helped three-year-old Andreas adjust his first pair of glasses. “Look in the mirror,” she said. Andreas glanced at his reflection, then turned to his father with a joyful and loving smile. Then Andreas’ father gently wiped the tears that slipped down his son’s cheeks and asked, “What’s wrong?” Andreas wrapped his arms around his father’s neck. “I can see you.” He pulled back, tilted his head, and gazed into his father’s eyes. “I can see you!”
As we prayerfully study the Bible, the Holy Spirit gives us eyes to see Jesus, the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). However, even with our vision cleared by the Spirit as we grow in knowledge through Scripture, we can still only see a glimpse of God’s infinite immensity on this side of eternity. When our time on earth is done or when Jesus fulfills His promise to return, we’ll see Him clearly (1 Corinthians 13:12).
We won’t need special glasses in that joy-filled moment when we see Christ face-to-face and know Him as He knows each of us, the beloved members of the body of Christ—the church. The Holy Spirit will infuse us with the faith, hope, and love we need to stand firm, until we gaze at our loving and living Savior and say, “I can see You, Jesus. I can see You!”
By Xochitl Dixon
|
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you recently as you’ve read the Bible? How has your growth in the knowledge of God changed you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The King James Version translates 1 Corinthians 13:12 this way: “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.” Of note is the word darkly, which the NIV translates reflection. The word in the Greek is ainigma (only used here in the New Testament), from which we get the word enigma. It means “an obscure saying, something dark, abstract.” It’s believed that Paul may have had Numbers 12 in mind when he used this term. God affirmed Moses and his ministry with these words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses . . . . With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord” (vv. 6–8).
Learn more about Moses’ journey with God.
Arthur Jackson |
|
|
|
|
|
Monday, October 02 2023
Sept financial statement below. Note: Rally Day envelopes will be used to fund our new "IN" Fund which replaces the Sunday School Fund. We use this fund for teaching materials, craft supplies, and food and supplies for our IN and Huddle gatherings.
Yesterday, Sarah and I were surprised and very blessed as Kathy praised God for our service and prayed over us. Thank you! You have no idea what that means to us and to Karen and me as well as she was blessed and prayed over as well. But our church isn't built on just one or two servants. We are a team. God's Good News Delivery Co. where all have a part to play and many are doing so very well. Thank You all! Praise God for Gina Fuhrman and her whole serving team at Bread Ministry, Clothing Closet and pantry. Gina, Gail Lichtenwalner, Millie Flexer, Mary Rehm, and all those non-members Karen, Barb, Sue and others) Thank you all!!! We are connecting to new people through their loved shared well and we are being God's hands and feet reaching in loving help. Thank You Lori Rohrer, our volunteer secretary and Two peas in a Pod chef. Lori just updated our website and Face Book presence. Check it our at http://www.stmatthewsec.com! People can now learn more about us, find our calendar and even read my daily blog. New families find churches on line and we are now positioned more relevantly to be considered. Thanks for all you do Lori! Then there's Debbie Siegfried, our envelope secretary and media guru making sure our zoom connections work as we reach around the country to those worshiping God with us. Thanks to Gary Bastian for keeping all our Sunday media working and for opening and preparing our building to welcome us each Sunday. Then there is the whole property Team that keeps our building operational and clean and welcoming. (Danny Reinsmith, Marshall Rehm, Jason Fuhrman, Tim Derr, Mike Canfield, and Craig Siegfried). And thanks to our Children's Church teachers Mike Laise, Barb Schware and Karen Kerns making sure our kids are meeting God and growing in Jesus as they teach Sundays and now Wednesday evenings. Thank you!. We also can't forget our vital team mates, our prayer warriors and our tithing fund-ers! You rock! We are a giving and praying church! PTL! We are family! We are a team! We prosper as we serve and worship together! Thank you to everyone!!! (sorry if I missed anyone! I always worry about that when I list our servants by name) One last thank you and that is for our Pastoral Relations Committee (PRC) that help Sarah and me be our best, stay on track and help with and concerns you raise. (Danny Reinsmith, Kathy Canfield (our lay delegate too), Gina Fuhrman, and Gail Lichtenwalner). What great servants we have! PTL and thank all for all they do to help us to continue to grow into the greater things God has for us! You are all appreciated and you are fulfilling your custom made purposes so well! Thanks again for being you and loving well!
Good Morning Very Blessed, Set Free Masterpieces Who Do the Master's Work! That's you, right? Proclaim it brothers and sisters, because it is an apt description of who you are in Christ and what you and we do as the Master's very loved, very blessed servants. We are blessed to be a blessing and get blessed back as we bless. The angel pronounced over Mary that she was a blessed and highly favored servant. I am pronouncing that over you and our church right now! Receive it and live it! It's an awesome circle of blessings that leads to much love shared and much praise lifted. Times are hard and many of us have struggles. We can keep a healthy focus as we praise, even in the storms and count our many blessings. I think of Paul's thorn in the flesh that was used by God to keep him humble as he served and worshiped. God's grace is sufficient for all of us and His mercies are new every morning. PTL!
Check out the UR below and the reminder to keep your focus up by counting your blessings and worshiping our All-Knowing Helper and Rock. Pray for those you know who are struggling right now to remember to trust God and lift praise. Then there is ODB's (below) reminder that we are God's masterpieces. We are works of art in process, allowing God to form us more fully into the finished piece of art He has in mind. I think of the Potter and the clay! I think of how old masterpieces are being restored and made new or back to their original glory. God is so God, ain't? Also check out my Charles Stanley devo for today as well as TWFYT reminding us that we are being made new in Christ (Eph. 2:10) and sent to complete our custom made missions. Only you can be you and God has something special just for you today. PTL! Go and love like Jesus.
As I read these I was reminded of our Chosen episodes from last week and this week. (Wed at 6). Last week, The Baptist said to Andrew and Joanna that when Jesus speaks there's always something there just for you. What is it? Jesus is speaking to you. What's he saying? Yesterday He spoke to us through the red letters of our Bibles, but you don't need red letters to hear His loving voice. Be still and know! I think of this week when we will watch Jesus sending the twelve out two by two as he empowered them to go do His works (just like He does for us) and how He ministered to little James. We may pause and replay that this week because it brings alive so well God's love, grace and wisdom as He uses even the handicapped to go love and bless. (You should really come check that out with us Wed!!!) God loves you so much just as you are and has great plans custom made for you today. Receive and share His love well this week! And then let's celebrate all God is doing through His loving servant Good News Delivery Co called St. Matts!
Rejoice and be glad in this beautiful day that God has given us. Thank Him for using and sending you! Thank Him for our servants church and the harvest workers He is raising up as He brings in the harvest. Ask Him to empower an embolden you to go, just as you are, His masterpiece in process, and ask Him to love through you well today. Amen! Jesus is lovingly gazing at you right now and knows all you will accomplish and He is smiling! He really loves you! Amen! Go! Be who you would be if you were Jesus! Be you and love well!
UR (Upper Room): Counting Blessings
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. - Psalm 23:6 (NIV)
One evening I saw my sister writing notes in her phone. Curious, I took a peek at what she was writing. It was a list of good things that happened to her that day. My sister was counting God’s blessings one by one. When I asked her why, she answered, “So I can always be thankful to God.”
Starting in January 2021, I had many troubles — one blow after another. I was stressed, and as a result it was hard for me to be thankful to God. Then I remembered my sister’s example to count God’s blessings. So every night I tried to give thanks to God for at least one blessing. At first it was difficult. I would wonder, What blessing did I receive today? But, day by day, I came to realize that God’s blessings were abundant. No longer was I stressed. I gave thanks to God and felt content.
In today’s scripture reading, David celebrates God’s presence in his life. Even though he faced many troubles, David knew God’s goodness was with him every day. Life has many troubles, but it also has many blessings. We can give thanks to God always.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Open our eyes, God, to the abundant blessings you give us every day of our life. May we always give thanks to you. Amen.ODB:
|
Writing in The Atlantic, author Arthur C. Brooks tells of his visit to the National Palace Museum in Taiwan, which contains one of the largest collections of Chinese art in the world. The museum guide asked, “What do you think of when I ask you to imagine a work of art yet to be started?” Brooks said, “An empty canvas, I guess.” The guide replied, “There’s another way to view it: The art already exists, and the job of artists is simply to reveal it.”
In Ephesians 2:10, the word handiwork, sometimes translated as “workmanship” or “masterpiece,” is from the Greek word poiēma, from which we derive our word poetry. God has created us as works of art, living poems. However, our art has become obscured: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins” (v. 1). To paraphrase the words of the museum guide, “The art [of us] is already there, and it’s the job of the Divine Artist to reveal it.” Indeed, God is restoring us, His masterpieces: “God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive” (vv. 4–5).
As we go through challenges and difficulties, we might take comfort in knowing that the Divine Artist is at work: “It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). Know that God is working in you to reveal His masterpiece.
By Kenneth Petersen
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
What are some of the ways that you, as God’s artwork, have become dimmed? How do you feel He’s working in your life these days?
Creator God, thank You for making me one of Your masterpieces.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Ephesians 2:1–10 contains three significant shifts. First, Paul speaks of a shift from death to life: “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (vv. 4–5). The second shift is connected to the first. When we were brought from death to life, our actions changed. We shifted from following “the ways of this world” (v. 2), being “disobedient” (v. 2), and “gratifying the cravings of our flesh” (v. 3) to “good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (v. 10). Finally, Paul switches between the second person you and the first person us. This unites all who call on the name of Jesus into one family.
J.R. Hudberg |
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Stanley Devo:
TWFYT (The Word for You Today)
Sept financial statement below. Note: Rally Day envelopes will be used to fund our new "IN" Fund which replaces the Sunday School Fund. We use this fund for teaching materials, craft supplies, and food and supplies for our IN and Huddle gatherings.
Yesterday, Sarah and I were surprised and very blessed as Kathy praised God for our service and prayed over us. Thank you! You have no idea what that means to us and to Karen and me as well as she was blessed and prayed over as well. But our church isn't built on just one or two servants. We are a team. God's Good News Delivery Co. where all have a part to play and many are doing so very well. Thank You all! Praise God for Gina Fuhrman and her whole serving team at Bread Ministry, Clothing Closet and pantry. Gina, Gail Lichtenwalner, Millie Flexer, Mary Rehm, and all those non-members Karen, Barb, Sue and others) Thank you all!!! We are connecting to new people through their loved shared well and we are being God's hands and feet reaching in loving help. Thank You Lori Rohrer, our volunteer secretary and Two peas in a Pod chef. Lori just updated our website and Face Book presence. Check it our at http://www.stmatthewsec.com! People can now learn more about us, find our calendar and even read my daily blog. New families find churches on line and we are now positioned more relevantly to be considered. Thanks for all you do Lori! Then there's Debbie Siegfried, our envelope secretary and media guru making sure our zoom connections work as we reach around the country to those worshiping God with us. Thanks to Gary Bastian for keeping all our Sunday media working and for opening and preparing our building to welcome us each Sunday. Then there is the whole property Team that keeps our building operational and clean and welcoming. (Danny Reinsmith, Marshall Rehm, Jason Fuhrman, Tim Derr, Mike Canfield, and Craig Siegfried). And thanks to our Children's Church teachers Mike Laise, Barb Schware and Karen Kerns making sure our kids are meeting God and growing in Jesus as they teach Sundays and now Wednesday evenings. Thank you!. We also can't forget our vital team mates, our prayer warriors and our tithing fund-ers! You rock! We are a giving and praying church! PTL! We are family! We are a team! We prosper as we serve and worship together! Thank you to everyone!!! (sorry if I missed anyone! I always worry about that when I list our servants by name) One last thank you and that is for our Pastoral Relations Committee (PRC) that help Sarah and me be our best, stay on track and help with and concerns you raise. (Danny Reinsmith, Kathy Canfield (our lay delegate too), Gina Fuhrman, and Gail Lichtenwalner). What great servants we have! PTL and thank all for all they do to help us to continue to grow into the greater things God has for us! You are all appreciated and you are fulfilling your custom made purposes so well! Thanks again for being you and loving well!
Good Morning Very Blessed, Set Free Masterpieces Who Do the Master's Work! That's you, right? Proclaim it brothers and sisters, because it is an apt description of who you are in Christ and what you and we do as the Master's very loved, very blessed servants. We are blessed to be a blessing and get blessed back as we bless. The angel pronounced over Mary that she was a blessed and highly favored servant. I am pronouncing that over you and our church right now! Receive it and live it! It's an awesome circle of blessings that leads to much love shared and much praise lifted. Times are hard and many of us have struggles. We can keep a healthy focus as we praise, even in the storms and count our many blessings. I think of Paul's thorn in the flesh that was used by God to keep him humble as he served and worshiped. God's grace is sufficient for all of us and His mercies are new every morning. PTL!
Check out the UR below and the reminder to keep your focus up by counting your blessings and worshiping our All-Knowing Helper and Rock. Pray for those you know who are struggling right now to remember to trust God and lift praise. Then there is ODB's (below) reminder that we are God's masterpieces. We are works of art in process, allowing God to form us more fully into the finished piece of art He has in mind. I think of the Potter and the clay! I think of how old masterpieces are being restored and made new or back to their original glory. God is so God, ain't? Also check out my Charles Stanley devo for today as well as TWFYT reminding us that we are being made new in Christ (Eph. 2:10) and sent to complete our custom made missions. Only you can be you and God has something special just for you today. PTL! Go and love like Jesus.
As I read these I was reminded of our Chosen episodes from last week and this week. (Wed at 6). Last week, The Baptist said to Andrew and Joanna that when Jesus speaks there's always something there just for you. What is it? Jesus is speaking to you. What's he saying? Yesterday He spoke to us through the red letters of our Bibles, but you don't need red letters to hear His loving voice. Be still and know! I think of this week when we will watch Jesus sending the twelve out two by two as he empowered them to go do His works (just like He does for us) and how He ministered to little James. We may pause and replay that this week because it brings alive so well God's love, grace and wisdom as He uses even the handicapped to go love and bless. (You should really come check that out with us Wed!!!) God loves you so much just as you are and has great plans custom made for you today. Receive and share His love well this week! And then let's celebrate all God is doing through His loving servant Good News Delivery Co called St. Matts!
Rejoice and be glad in this beautiful day that God has given us. Thank Him for using and sending you! Thank Him for our servants church and the harvest workers He is raising up as He brings in the harvest. Ask Him to empower an embolden you to go, just as you are, His masterpiece in process, and ask Him to love through you well today. Amen! Jesus is lovingly gazing at you right now and knows all you will accomplish and He is smiling! He really loves you! Amen! Go! Be who you would be if you were Jesus! Be you and love well!
UR (Upper Room): Counting Blessings
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. - Psalm 23:6 (NIV)
One evening I saw my sister writing notes in her phone. Curious, I took a peek at what she was writing. It was a list of good things that happened to her that day. My sister was counting God’s blessings one by one. When I asked her why, she answered, “So I can always be thankful to God.”
Starting in January 2021, I had many troubles — one blow after another. I was stressed, and as a result it was hard for me to be thankful to God. Then I remembered my sister’s example to count God’s blessings. So every night I tried to give thanks to God for at least one blessing. At first it was difficult. I would wonder, What blessing did I receive today? But, day by day, I came to realize that God’s blessings were abundant. No longer was I stressed. I gave thanks to God and felt content.
In today’s scripture reading, David celebrates God’s presence in his life. Even though he faced many troubles, David knew God’s goodness was with him every day. Life has many troubles, but it also has many blessings. We can give thanks to God always.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Open our eyes, God, to the abundant blessings you give us every day of our life. May we always give thanks to you. Amen.ODB:
|
Writing in The Atlantic, author Arthur C. Brooks tells of his visit to the National Palace Museum in Taiwan, which contains one of the largest collections of Chinese art in the world. The museum guide asked, “What do you think of when I ask you to imagine a work of art yet to be started?” Brooks said, “An empty canvas, I guess.” The guide replied, “There’s another way to view it: The art already exists, and the job of artists is simply to reveal it.”
In Ephesians 2:10, the word handiwork, sometimes translated as “workmanship” or “masterpiece,” is from the Greek word poiēma, from which we derive our word poetry. God has created us as works of art, living poems. However, our art has become obscured: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins” (v. 1). To paraphrase the words of the museum guide, “The art [of us] is already there, and it’s the job of the Divine Artist to reveal it.” Indeed, God is restoring us, His masterpieces: “God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive” (vv. 4–5).
As we go through challenges and difficulties, we might take comfort in knowing that the Divine Artist is at work: “It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). Know that God is working in you to reveal His masterpiece.
By Kenneth Petersen
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
What are some of the ways that you, as God’s artwork, have become dimmed? How do you feel He’s working in your life these days?
Creator God, thank You for making me one of Your masterpieces.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Ephesians 2:1–10 contains three significant shifts. First, Paul speaks of a shift from death to life: “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (vv. 4–5). The second shift is connected to the first. When we were brought from death to life, our actions changed. We shifted from following “the ways of this world” (v. 2), being “disobedient” (v. 2), and “gratifying the cravings of our flesh” (v. 3) to “good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (v. 10). Finally, Paul switches between the second person you and the first person us. This unites all who call on the name of Jesus into one family.
J.R. Hudberg |
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Stanley Devo:
TWFYT (The Word for You Today)
Sept financial statement below. Note: Rally Day envelopes will be used to fund our new "IN" Fund which replaces the Sunday School Fund. We use this fund for teaching materials, craft supplies, and food and supplies for our IN and Huddle gatherings.
Yesterday, Sarah and I were surprised and very blessed as Kathy praised God for our service and prayed over us. Thank you! You have no idea what that means to us and to Karen and me as well as she was blessed and prayed over as well. But our church isn't built on just one or two servants. We are a team. God's Good News Delivery Co. where all have a part to play and many are doing so very well. Thank You all! Praise God for Gina Fuhrman and her whole serving team at Bread Ministry, Clothing Closet and pantry. Gina, Gail Lichtenwalner, Millie Flexer, Mary Rehm, and all those non-members Karen, Barb, Sue and others) Thank you all!!! We are connecting to new people through their loved shared well and we are being God's hands and feet reaching in loving help. Thank You Lori Rohrer, our volunteer secretary and Two peas in a Pod chef. Lori just updated our website and Face Book presence. Check it our at http://www.stmatthewsec.com! People can now learn more about us, find our calendar and even read my daily blog. New families find churches on line and we are now positioned more relevantly to be considered. Thanks for all you do Lori! Then there's Debbie Siegfried, our envelope secretary and media guru making sure our zoom connections work as we reach around the country to those worshiping God with us. Thanks to Gary Bastian for keeping all our Sunday media working and for opening and preparing our building to welcome us each Sunday. Then there is the whole property Team that keeps our building operational and clean and welcoming. (Danny Reinsmith, Marshall Rehm, Jason Fuhrman, Tim Derr, Mike Canfield, and Craig Siegfried). And thanks to our Children's Church teachers Mike Laise, Barb Schware and Karen Kerns making sure our kids are meeting God and growing in Jesus as they teach Sundays and now Wednesday evenings. Thank you!. We also can't forget our vital team mates, our prayer warriors and our tithing fund-ers! You rock! We are a giving and praying church! PTL! We are family! We are a team! We prosper as we serve and worship together! Thank you to everyone!!! (sorry if I missed anyone! I always worry about that when I list our servants by name) One last thank you and that is for our Pastoral Relations Committee (PRC) that help Sarah and me be our best, stay on track and help with and concerns you raise. (Danny Reinsmith, Kathy Canfield (our lay delegate too), Gina Fuhrman, and Gail Lichtenwalner). What great servants we have! PTL and thank all for all they do to help us to continue to grow into the greater things God has for us! You are all appreciated and you are fulfilling your custom made purposes so well! Thanks again for being you and loving well!
Good Morning Very Blessed, Set Free Masterpieces Who Do the Master's Work! That's you, right? Proclaim it brothers and sisters, because it is an apt description of who you are in Christ and what you and we do as the Master's very loved, very blessed servants. We are blessed to be a blessing and get blessed back as we bless. The angel pronounced over Mary that she was a blessed and highly favored servant. I am pronouncing that over you and our church right now! Receive it and live it! It's an awesome circle of blessings that leads to much love shared and much praise lifted. Times are hard and many of us have struggles. We can keep a healthy focus as we praise, even in the storms and count our many blessings. I think of Paul's thorn in the flesh that was used by God to keep him humble as he served and worshiped. God's grace is sufficient for all of us and His mercies are new every morning. PTL!
Check out the UR below and the reminder to keep your focus up by counting your blessings and worshiping our All-Knowing Helper and Rock. Pray for those you know who are struggling right now to remember to trust God and lift praise. Then there is ODB's (below) reminder that we are God's masterpieces. We are works of art in process, allowing God to form us more fully into the finished piece of art He has in mind. I think of the Potter and the clay! I think of how old masterpieces are being restored and made new or back to their original glory. God is so God, ain't? Also check out my Charles Stanley devo for today as well as TWFYT reminding us that we are being made new in Christ (Eph. 2:10) and sent to complete our custom made missions. Only you can be you and God has something special just for you today. PTL! Go and love like Jesus.
As I read these I was reminded of our Chosen episodes from last week and this week. (Wed at 6). Last week, The Baptist said to Andrew and Joanna that when Jesus speaks there's always something there just for you. What is it? Jesus is speaking to you. What's he saying? Yesterday He spoke to us through the red letters of our Bibles, but you don't need red letters to hear His loving voice. Be still and know! I think of this week when we will watch Jesus sending the twelve out two by two as he empowered them to go do His works (just like He does for us) and how He ministered to little James. We may pause and replay that this week because it brings alive so well God's love, grace and wisdom as He uses even the handicapped to go love and bless. (You should really come check that out with us Wed!!!) God loves you so much just as you are and has great plans custom made for you today. Receive and share His love well this week! And then let's celebrate all God is doing through His loving servant Good News Delivery Co called St. Matts!
Rejoice and be glad in this beautiful day that God has given us. Thank Him for using and sending you! Thank Him for our servants church and the harvest workers He is raising up as He brings in the harvest. Ask Him to empower an embolden you to go, just as you are, His masterpiece in process, and ask Him to love through you well today. Amen! Jesus is lovingly gazing at you right now and knows all you will accomplish and He is smiling! He really loves you! Amen! Go! Be who you would be if you were Jesus! Be you and love well!
UR (Upper Room): Counting Blessings
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. - Psalm 23:6 (NIV)
One evening I saw my sister writing notes in her phone. Curious, I took a peek at what she was writing. It was a list of good things that happened to her that day. My sister was counting God’s blessings one by one. When I asked her why, she answered, “So I can always be thankful to God.”
Starting in January 2021, I had many troubles — one blow after another. I was stressed, and as a result it was hard for me to be thankful to God. Then I remembered my sister’s example to count God’s blessings. So every night I tried to give thanks to God for at least one blessing. At first it was difficult. I would wonder, What blessing did I receive today? But, day by day, I came to realize that God’s blessings were abundant. No longer was I stressed. I gave thanks to God and felt content.
In today’s scripture reading, David celebrates God’s presence in his life. Even though he faced many troubles, David knew God’s goodness was with him every day. Life has many troubles, but it also has many blessings. We can give thanks to God always.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Open our eyes, God, to the abundant blessings you give us every day of our life. May we always give thanks to you. Amen.ODB:
|
Writing in The Atlantic, author Arthur C. Brooks tells of his visit to the National Palace Museum in Taiwan, which contains one of the largest collections of Chinese art in the world. The museum guide asked, “What do you think of when I ask you to imagine a work of art yet to be started?” Brooks said, “An empty canvas, I guess.” The guide replied, “There’s another way to view it: The art already exists, and the job of artists is simply to reveal it.”
In Ephesians 2:10, the word handiwork, sometimes translated as “workmanship” or “masterpiece,” is from the Greek word poiēma, from which we derive our word poetry. God has created us as works of art, living poems. However, our art has become obscured: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins” (v. 1). To paraphrase the words of the museum guide, “The art [of us] is already there, and it’s the job of the Divine Artist to reveal it.” Indeed, God is restoring us, His masterpieces: “God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive” (vv. 4–5).
As we go through challenges and difficulties, we might take comfort in knowing that the Divine Artist is at work: “It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). Know that God is working in you to reveal His masterpiece.
By Kenneth Petersen
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
What are some of the ways that you, as God’s artwork, have become dimmed? How do you feel He’s working in your life these days?
Creator God, thank You for making me one of Your masterpieces.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Ephesians 2:1–10 contains three significant shifts. First, Paul speaks of a shift from death to life: “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (vv. 4–5). The second shift is connected to the first. When we were brought from death to life, our actions changed. We shifted from following “the ways of this world” (v. 2), being “disobedient” (v. 2), and “gratifying the cravings of our flesh” (v. 3) to “good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (v. 10). Finally, Paul switches between the second person you and the first person us. This unites all who call on the name of Jesus into one family.
J.R. Hudberg |
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Stanley Devo:
TWFYT (The Word for You Today)
St Matthew’s Financial Update
|
September
2023
|
Monthly
Revenue
|
Monthly
Expenses
|
YTD
Revenue
|
YTD
Expenses
|
|
General Fund
|
$7,855
|
$18,729
|
$114,580
|
$138,541
|
The figures for the “General Fund” include all revenue and all expenses for the month. This includes all revenue from offerings, rent, and other income. The expenses reported above are actual expenses for the month. The totals reported for Missions and the Rebuilding Fund are also included in the “General Fund” figures.
|
Missions
|
$576
|
$2,030
|
$8,391
|
$12,270
|
|
Rebuilding Fund
|
$295
|
$3,365
|
$3,810
|
$4,859
|
St Matthew’s Financial Update
|
September
2023
|
Monthly
Revenue
|
Monthly
Expenses
|
YTD
Revenue
|
YTD
Expenses
|
|
General Fund
|
$7,855
|
$18,729
|
$114,580
|
$138,541
|
The figures for the “General Fund” include all revenue and all expenses for the month. This includes all revenue from offerings, rent, and other income. The expenses reported above are actual expenses for the month. The totals reported for Missions and the Rebuilding Fund are also included in the “General Fund” figures.
|
Missions
|
$576
|
$2,030
|
$8,391
|
$12,270
|
|
Rebuilding Fund
|
$295
|
$3,365
|
$3,810
|
$4,859
|
St Matthew’s Financial Update
|
September
2023
|
Monthly
Revenue
|
Monthly
Expenses
|
YTD
Revenue
|
YTD
Expenses
|
|
General Fund
|
$7,855
|
$18,729
|
$114,580
|
$138,541
|
The figures for the “General Fund” include all revenue and all expenses for the month. This includes all revenue from offerings, rent, and other income. The expenses reported above are actual expenses for the month. The totals reported for Missions and the Rebuilding Fund are also included in the “General Fund” figures.
|
Missions
|
$576
|
$2,030
|
$8,391
|
$12,270
|
|
Rebuilding Fund
|
$295
|
$3,365
|
$3,810
|
$4,859
|
Sunday, October 01 2023
Today we celebrate worldwide communion at 10 am with Children's Church in person and on Zoom. We are also collecting for Everlasting Life Ministries. (If communing with us on Zoom have your elements ready for communion. Crackers, bread and juice)
Below find Brian and Missy Wagner news letter
Good Morning Prayerfully Meditating Students of the Living Word! Jesus is the Living Word. Everything was created through Him and for Him. He holds all things together. John 1 teaches us that in the beginning was the Word. When God spoke creation into existence, His Living Word created. If you have a red letter Bible, Jesus' words are written in red. Today during worship we will be focusing on, meditating on, and processing the red letters of John 6:26-69. The Holy Spirit brings alive God's Living Word to us and we will ask Him to do so today as we contemplate this "hard teaching" of Jesus. God is speaking all the time through His Living Word and all three of the Godhead, Father, Son, and Spirit are present and can be heard and understood as we prayerfully meditate on His Word and process it with others. What's He saying to you?
This year we have been challenged to read through the Bible in a year and now reading and studying through the Gospel of John for the rest of the year. We are prayerfully meditating on God's Word and beginning to learn to hear His voice, understand and do what He says. It's all part of the Become Me in '23 challenge as we work on growing into our true created identity and doing the things we are created to do. Check out TWFYT below. They share some helpful tips for beginning students of the Bible. Our focus on prayerfully meditating and processing through the Gospel of John is partly to help us learn how to use God's Word to disciple others. These thoughts can be applied to that as well. Are you hearing God? You can as you pray, meditate and open His Living Word! Note this too: What you are hearing may be different from others as the Holy Spirit highlights things just for you. He may also highlight things for others and even our fellowship. Look for others to process with. Plan to join us each week as we engage with God's Living Word in huddles Tues and Wed and Sundays during worship. God is always speaking. We just need to make time, turn off the noise and tune in.
This week we will be reading Ezekiel 1-21 and John 7 and 8. Consider prayerfully opening God's Word and meditate on what He is saying to you as you study with some others and process to put into action what God is revealing just for you. As we study John we are asking three questions of what we read. We can apply these three questions to any Scripture we read: What's going on in this passage (are there any promises or commands?)? What's God saying to me? What specific and measurable steps will I take towards doing this? Invite God to speak to your heart and direct your steps as you still yourself and listen. His Word is so sweet and powerful and effective when pronounced and released in prayer.
Today, let us prepare your hearts for worship and release some of His powerful words as we use some prayer starters from my prayer starter book, Patterns of Prayer by Alvin Vandergriend:
"Shout Hallelujah! to the Lord God Almighty. Praise God for His power and glory. Thank Him for salvation (Rev. 19:1). Confess how rarely recently you have meditated on God's wisdom and strength. Commit yourself to thinking more about what you can do for God, rather than what God can do for you. Pray for family members and friends who hold God at arms length. [remember, we are praying for God to give us five people that don't know Him or walk in His ways, for someone to bring along to any of our gatherings and for God to add to our numbers weekly those who are being saved.] Plead for personal peace and joy in Christ, so they will want what you have. Pray for your worship leaders to be sensitive to those with unusual personalities or special needs. Many parts form God's Body (1 Cor. 12:12-31). [Pray for us to become a house of prayer for the nations including all who God sends] Pray that Christians will be willing to examine and change even time-honored forms of worship--if such changes draw unbelievers to God and salvation and growth. [Thank God for our openness to trust and follow God to His new things!] Pray that unsaved people who feel empty will find salvation and be drawn to God through our worship and obedience. [Thank God for all our servants at St. Matts who go, welcome, and love like Jesus!]
Phillips Brooks said, "Prayer is not conquering God's reluctance, but taking hold of God's willingness." Amen! We hear what He wants us to pray and release His willingness as we prayerfully meditate and study His Word. His Word does not come back void and the prayers of His righteous in Christ servants are powerful and effective. Thank God for that and process and pray with others, even today. God is willing and able to do way more than we can imagine! Amen!
Next Sunday Oct 8th from 2-4 we will have a season of prayer in our sanctuary to release God's willingness and power. We will be praying for our denomination, district and churches to become a dynamic movement of God as prophesied by our bishop. We will also be praying for and releasing God's willingness for individual needs as well. Pray into this day. Plan to join us. Bring some friends along. Prepare the soil in prayer.
TWFYT (The Word for You Today)
Wagner's news:
|
|
|
We welcomed these 5th and 6th grade boys into our home and hearts at the end of August as a new school year began. Two are brand new to RVA and three returned to our dorm from last year. They are so much fun to have around and have transitioned well into school. When not in school, they love to play board games, build with Legos, ride the zipline across the playground, and jump on our trampoline. Their parents all serve in three East African countries, sharing the love of Jesus with those they meet. We are already heading into the sixth week of this new school year with midterm break just around the corner.
|
|
Spiritual Emphasis Week is held every year just after midterm. RVA invites a speaker and visiting worship team to come for five days to share Jesus in a focused and deliberate way. This year is especially exciting for us as the speaker is an RVA alumnus who we have known for many, many years, and it will be a blessing to hear from him now. The worship team is coming from one of our Pennsylvania supporting churches who has been praying faithfully for our family and RVA students for more than twenty-five years! How cool to think that this church was praying during the years our speaker was a student here on this campus!
Would you commit to praying diligently for our students during SEW? We know the evil one will be trying to distract, discourage, and fill minds with doubt. |
|
- PRAY that RVA students might know Christ more fully during this time (Eph 1:17-18)
- PRAY that RVA students will delight in God’s Word and not neglect time in it (Psalm 119:9-16)
- PRAY that RVA students will know Christ’s love and let it dwell in their hearts (Eph 3:16-19)
- PRAY that RVA students will be able to discern what is best and be filled with righteousness (Phil 1:9-11; Rom 12:1-2)
- PRAY that RVA students will love to meet with other believers and be a contributing part of the body (Heb 10:25; Rom 12:3-8)
- PRAY that RVA students will fight temptation and bear much fruit (1 Cor 10:13; Col 1:9-12)
- PRAY with thankfulness and joy for RVA students, confident that God will complete the work HE started in them (Phil 1:3-6)
- PRAY that RVA students will raise up in their youth and do even greater things for God’s Kingdom (John 14:12; 1 Tim 4:11-16)
|
|
| As was mentioned in our July update, we will be returning to the States for an 8-month home assignment, early December 2023 to early August 2024. We have already scheduled several church visits and conferences and would like to remind you to contact us directly in the next few weeks if you’d like us to come and share with your church or small group. We really enjoy sharing with smaller group gatherings, so feel free to ask about daytime or evening events during the week. We are excited to connect and share the exciting ways God is moving all over Africa. |
|
| Some more ways to PRAY! And maybe YOU can be part of the answer to these PRAYERS! |
|
As we prepare to land in PA just two months from now, we still have one BIG need. We are looking to purchase a mid-size, reliable vehicle, with good gas mileage, as we will be traveling many miles to visit with family, friends, churches and RVA alumni. Please contact us if you have any good leads for us to explore. Above all, would you commit to PRAY with us for the right vehicle?
We are also still waiting for confirmation on who will be covering our dorm for the two terms we are away. PRAY for God to reveal the couple he has chosen to love and care for our fabulous five! We are thankful that Missy has been able to begin training the one who will be stepping into the Admissions Director role. PRAY for clarity and understanding as there’s a lot to learn in a short period of time.
Finally, it would be great if someone would like to teach a couple of AP Calculus classes for at least one term (from January through March) or even the remainder of the year through July. Perhaps you or someone you know is a retired Calculus teacher who wouldn’t mind leaving behind some cold winter weather for some African sunshine and 32 amazing students in Calculus AB and BC. PRAY with us that someone will respond to this opportunity soon. Please reach out to us directly if you or someone you know might be interested.
All of our grown kids and their spouses are doing well and we are so looking forward to spending quality time with them soon. PRAY that God would orchestrate our travel schedule with solid blocks of time to visit with family. PRAY, too, for good health for Luke, Rachel, and our grandson coming soon! Isn’t our Father so good to bless us with this precious gift at the very beginning of our home assignment?!
You, too, are a blessing! Thank you for your prayers.
Brian & Missy |
|
|
|
|
|
LISTEN ONLINE
