Pray for our brunch tomorrow. pray for Lori and team as they shop and prepare. pray for our bishop who brings God's Word tomorrow. pray for God to move as we unite in worship, study, fellowship, prayer and feasting! Who are you inviting to join us? We may have an overflowing room tomorrow! PTL! May His love continue to move! Amen

Good Morning Powerhouses of Revival--Good News Delivery Company! Say that out loud as you begin to praise the Lord this morning and bring this to life in and through you and us in prayer and proclamation! Thank you to all who partnered together for our Trunk or Treat last evening! WOW! Wow! WOW! Man did God use us and move through your prayers, giving and serving. We were the LIGHT and Love of Jesus! The stories are flowing in for how God used us! Can't wait to hear from all our members the things God did! WOW! We gave out 500 hot dogs in an hour and a half. Revival Church gave out over 150 Bibles. many were prayed for and blessed. I'd say we had close to 1000 people move through our lot in a little over two hours! many new connections were made and we may see some new face soon. pray for that and pray for God to water and fertilize the seeds planted. he surely was present, moving, drawing, blessing us and through us! PTL! 

Man, I felt like Paul who said "I beat my body for the Gospel" and "I pour myself out like a drink offering." I was on my feet for 10 hours cooking, wrapping and handing out 500 hot dogs, preparing the area, moving tons of candy and water and cleaning up. My back just snapped back into place and my ankles healed overnight. BUT GOD! he is worth it and He used me and you to light up the town. May we continue to offer ourselves to Him and pour ourselves out for Him and His Good news! God used you too! PTL! Keep at it! He does have great plans for us. Keep believing in prayer that this time some will come and see and check out if our love and faith is real. God is on the move for sure! Pray we continue to sow lavishly! Thank Him for His provision and for the encouragement we experience by being used by Him. Pray for God to continue to unite us with Revival Church for more ministry. Thank Him for our unity! Thank Him for providing, guiding and using us! You guys rock! So does God!!! PTL! May we continue to spur each other on as we follow God to those he is sending and working at becoming His dynamic movement.

I'm going to let you encounter your devotionals and God on your own this morning. I have to get moving for another busy day of loving like Jesus. I do want to share Karen's Bible reading for this morning. Tomorrow the Bishop is preaching from 2 Cor. 5:11-21. We are His people of Good News! Amen! You will also see the old picture teaching of us as God's Good News Delivery people. Keep praying into that. We are sent and He is using our willing feet and hearts! PTL! Yes Rejoice! Worship and share those stories of how God is using you and us to light up the wporld around us!

PTL! Thank God I'm Forgiven! (TGIF) What are you thankful for about your forgiveness, new life in Christ and eternal destiny. Thank God and talk to Him about those things!

Continue to pray for our Light in the Night Trunk or Treat tonight. Thank God for His provisions and for sending many to experience His love! Pray we light up the darkness! 

    ***Pastor Don's car will be set up and decorated and stocked with candy. Pray for someone to            come and man this candy and  Jesus' love distribution station. (Let me know if interested!)

Praise God for all our servants! Pray for our Two Peas in a Pod Team for Sunday prep. Pray for many to come and experience great food, fun and fellowship. Invite some friends!

Praise God and pray for our Bishop Randy and wife Carla. He is joining us Sunday and bringing God's Word.

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Good Morning Forgiven, Very Loved, Created-for-Such-A-Time-As-This, Good News Delivery Company! God is for us and with us! PTL! He has some great custom made plans just for you today. Rejoice! He has a part for you in His Good News Delivery Co. called St. Matts! Thank Him for your part and talk to Him about what your part is and what to do today. Thank Him for His agape (sacrificial) love! Ask for help to go and love like Him. I love how He is preparing and using us and sending servants from the incoming harvest! PTL! Thank God for His easy yoke prepared just for you. Pray it on and ask to stay instep with our Shepherd as He plows, plants and harvests. Ask God to inform your prayers and direct your steps today. YES, thank God we are forgiven, very loved servants! Ask Him who your co-laborers are and start praying, preparing and serving together!

We have a long and busy weekend ahead--one that God has prepared us for and led us to. PTL! Pray for His love, protection, provision and direction to come and overflow from us. You are God's masterpiece, made new in Christ to do the things He prepared for you from long ago (Eph. 2:10) PTL! As we fix our thoughts on things above, repent of doing things our way, and submit to Him and His ways, He will direct our steps and use us to sow lavishly and reap much good fruit. PTL! The cool part is you get to just be you because you are made for such a time as this and empowered to go, as you are, to represent our Lord and Savior. He has given you His Spirit to intercede for you, prepare you, empower you and guide you to those plans. That just leads me to worship! What love and grace! That leads me to pray more for you and us and for us to continue to seek Him, die to self, take up cross daily and follow Jesus well. I'm just gushing with joy as I see all that God is doing and beginning to discern His plans for me and us that will lead to many coming to know and love Him and be trained to go and make Him known! Please keep praying into that and preparing to follow Jesus well. His greater things are on the way! This is the year of the Lord's favor! PTL and step into His favor and plans for you.

I'm going to just share our devos for today below and Harvest Prayers blog. What's God saying to you and what will that mean for your choices today? He is with you--always, even when we don't see it or try to run from Him. His love pursues us. PTL! He's always at work and often behind the scenes to bring his perfect plans to life in His perfect timing. PTL! Keep your thoughts fixed on Jesus and your feet following Him! He does hear and always answers our prayers--sometimes yes, sometimes no and sometimes wait. Trust Him and commit to being fully His today--always! He does have some amazing things awaiting you and us. May we be earnestly pursuing his best in his timing for His glory. Amen! I'm praying for you and us to become His dynamic movement of disciple makers, as we continue to deliver His Good News. Amen!

Sarah Young:

Our Daily Bread:

The Upper Room: Behind the Scenes

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. - Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

I had planted some butternut squash seeds. But while all my other crops were growing, the squash was not.

One

Sunday afternoon, I had lost all hope for the seeds. That day I was feeling tired and hopeless because I had not attained certain goals for my life. For many years I had cried over my pain and regrets, but I did not want to cry this time. As the sun was setting, I decided to water the seeds one last time. I carried a bucket filled with water and walked toward the garden feeling depressed. As I approached the grounds, lo and behold, the seeds had sprouted.

I was amazed. It had never occurred to me that God was working behind the scenes. Tears flowed down my face like a river. I was filled with joy, gratitude, and hope. When I thought all was lost, God was working. When situations arise that take away our joy and leave us hopeless, we can rest assured that there is always hope in God, who renews our strength.

Today's Prayer

God our Father, when we have lost all hope, strengthen our faith and hope in you. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Joyce Meyer:

The Word for You Today:

Harvest prayer:

October 25 - DAY 29 OF 40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR OUR NATION  Praying For President “May all kings bow down to Him and all nations serve Him.”  (Psalm 72:11 NIV).   In 1986, Ronald Reagan made a speech to the American people, saying: “To preserve our blessed land we must look to God...It is time to realize that we need God more than He needs us...We also have His promise that we could take to heart with regard to our country, ‘If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.’   Let us, young and old, join together, as did the First Continental Congress...in humble heartfelt prayer. Let us do so for the love of God and His great goodness, in search of His guidance and the grace of repentance, in seeking His blessings, His peace, and the resting of His kind and holy hands on ourselves, our nation, our friends in the defense of freedom, and all mankind, now and always. The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America...Our country is in need of and ready for a spiritual renewal. Today, we utter no prayer more fervently than the ancient prayer for peace on Earth.   If I had a prayer for you today, among those that have all been uttered, it is that one we’re so familiar with: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace...’ And God bless you all.”   Father, for many of us it is difficult to know how to pray in these days leading up to the election. Your Word says to pray for those in authority, so we continue to pray for our President – that You will turn his heart towards Your plans and purposes. Protect him from evil and harmful influences, and turn his heart completely over to You. We know that whoever is in the White House is not as important as that You are the true Commander in Chief and in ultimate control over our nation. Prayer Points Pray for God to move powerfully in the hearts and lives of our Presidential candidates. Pray that God will give wisdom and discernment to our President and those who advise him in this critical season. Pray that God will give His people eyes to see and ears to hear as His Spirit guides us in the midst of this election season. Ask God to protect our Presidential candidates and their families as tensions and divisiveness cause open hostility among the different political parties. Ask God to raise up the person who will lead our nation in righteousness, looking to Him for guidance. To view our prayer leader video or for more resources visit www.40DaysUSA.com. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. Connection Prayer Devotions Sign Up

Good Morning Lighthouses! Shine Jesus shine in and through us! So what have you heard from God so far today and what's the plan for Him to use you? Who are you partnering with?

We need a few more cars for the Trunk or Treat. If interested contact Sarah or Don. Pastor Don can put his car there if someone needs a base to operate from. (I'll even--well, Karen will, decorate it). Keep praying for many new connection points and for Jesus to shine through us.

Pray for today's Bread Ministry (10-12) and our dinner Chosen gathering tonight (6-8). Last week's Chosen left us reeling from a very hard thing and trying to grasp why God allows some things or heals some people but not all. We may not be able to answer those kinds of questions this side of heaven. The Chosen does a great job of showing Jesus' love and compassion and presence with us always while honoring the Father and His perfect plans. Jesus weeps with you. He loves you. He knows you and all you are going through. He forgives you and helps you repent and move forward in faith. And He always does the Father's will. That's just some of the Good News we carry to share. He sends us to live, love and walk with others, just as you are and just like Jesus. What amazing, grace, love and help we have in Christ! PTL! There are many around us walking through some very hard things right now that need us and Jesus' love through us. Ask God to send you and to open your eyes to see, your heart to respond well and His mind to know what to say and do and what not to. He loves to answer those kind of prayers.

Our devotionals for today sort of thread through this. Check them out below. Do you know how much God loves you? Do you know the plans He has to prosper and not harm you as you follow Him and allow Him to nurture and grow you into your calling? Have you learned how to wait and pray and prepare as you seek God to lead you and move you when the time is right? He has given us a Helper, Comforter, Advocate, and Intercessor in the Holy Spirit. PTL! We need all the help we can get! And he is with us always--we are one! PTL! Keep asking Him to help and to lead you to your greater potential in Christ and to learn to live and love more like Jesus. And keep on keeping on as you allow the Holy Spirit to refresh, teach and lead you. God has some great plans for you, even today! PTL! Trust and follow Him one step of faith at a time! And keep asking Him to lead you to your helpmates and co-laborers. I think of the a Bread and Clothing and 2 peas in a Pod Brunch volunteers and how they have become God's teams that share the love of Christ while helping the least of these. Thank God for these volunteers and keep praying for them. Thank God for His provision and ask how He might want you to help with prayer, giving and volunteering. He does have custom made parts for you in His Good News Delivery Co! Rejoice and follow well today! I'm praying for you and God is with you working all things together. Amen!

SY:

CS:

ODB:

UR: Consistent Practice

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. - Colossians 4:2 (NRSVUE)

I enjoy creating art of all kinds, including painting. One of my art teachers said that daily practice is the only way to improve one’s painting skills. I found this to be true when I became overwhelmed with personal responsibilities and put away my brushes and paints. When I picked them back up after quite some time, I found it difficult to paint well. It was only after consistent practice that my skills returned.

Likewise, at one time I became distracted by the things of the world and neglected my Bible, along with my faith practices. When I encountered challenges, I found it difficult to work through them. Thankfully, a family member gifted me with a new Bible and a subscription to a devotional booklet. This was a gentle reminder that it was only through consistent practice in getting closer to God that I could — along with our Creator — design a better picture for my life.

Many years later, I remain grateful to the wise, thoughtful person who provided me with that reminder. Sometimes it is helpful when we encourage one another to get back into the habit of practicing our faith.

Today's Prayer

Omnipotent God, may we be consistent in practicing our faith. Help us to encourage others in their faith as well. Amen.

TWFYT:

Pray for our Light in the Night Trunk or Treat tomorrow. Thank God for His provisions and volunteers. Pray for a few more cars or servants to join us. Pray for many to be drawn to the Light and for many to see Jesus, feel His love and be drawn to Him. Praise God for our unity with Revival Church. Pray for this to be a stepping stone to more activities together. Pray God would be glorified and He would begin to draw many to Him and for revival to begin. Thank Him for all He will do!

Good Morning Restored, Praying, Obedient Servants! AMEN! This salutation and pronouncement comes right from my devotionals this morning (below). God is always speaking, directing, correcting and loving us and loving through us. Our prayers are informed from our time with Him and in His Word and even through our obediently following Jesus. He has redeemed and restored us and is enabling and empowering us to follow His Way and example as we work at living and loving more like Jesus. That's a step by step journey of faith that produces good and lasting fruit and points others to Jesus and His way. He leads us beside still waters and restores our souls because He has brought rest to our weary souls as we don His easy yoke. That's ceasing to strive in our own strength and leaning on our own understanding. That flows to His leading us to His greater things and good and lasting fruit. That is moving us towards becoming producers of good fruit and maturing in Christlikeness. Amen! May we be a people persisting in prayer and standing firm in faith. Pray on His armor and stand firm in faith today. Pray we distance ourselves from the drama and for our emotions not to hold sway over us or our choices. Pray we would bless and encourage each other and build up His Church together. Pray He would continue to bless and lead our church in our desire to become His dynamic movement with a burning passion for God and missionary zeal to reach the lost. Thank Him for that! Praise God for the servants He has given us and our heart to serve the least of these, feed the hungry, cloth those in need and minister to a lost and weary people. Ask Him to continue His good work in and through you and us and thank Him for answering our prayers and directing our steps! 

He loves you and has some really good plans He is working together through many differing circumstances for your, our and others good. Worship. Offer yourself. And follow Him one step of faith at a time. watch for what He's doing and join Him. Keep praying and inviting others in. Who are you inviting Sunday to come worship and fellowship with us? God is bringing in the harvest. PTL! Keep praying for harvest workers and ask Him to lead you to your part in His Good News Delivery Co. We all have a part and He has created you for such a time as this and has gifted and empowered and is interceding for you to be successful in your quest to become more and more like Jesus and doing more and more of what He created you to do! yes rejoice! PTL! and keep at it! Breakthrough is on the way! Amen!

Sarah Young:

Charles Stanley:

The Word for You Today:

The Upper Room: Looking Beyond

Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2 (NRSVUE)

I felt my faith failing me. God seemed far away, and praying felt futile; I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. That Sunday at church

I sat down in the pew, opened the bulletin, and an offering envelope fell into my lap. It was for earthquake relief in Africa.

That was it! That was the answer I was looking for. God was calling me to look outside myself, to turn my attention to others. I felt God’s presence with me in that moment. Out of gratitude to God for showing me a way through my struggle, I stretched my budget and placed an offering into the envelope.

Looking only within ourselves, we can easily lose sight of our place in God’s purposes. The apostle Paul told us to bear one another’s burdens. In this way, we find the abundant life Jesus promised. We find our true identity as Christians when we care for others.

Today's Prayer

O Lord, when we get lost within ourselves, remind us to find our identity as Christ-followers in our service to others. Amen.

Our Daily Bread:

Today: 10-11 Zoom Huddle. All welcome! 

12-12:30 Pray for Light in the Night Trunk or Treat. Pray for more cars and helpers. Thank God for His provision. Pray for new connections to neighbors. Pray for unity with Revival Church. Pray for Protection for all and health.

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Good Morning Known, Transformed, Bringers of Good News! Amen! Please Lord! May that be us! God knows you and is calling you by name! He created you with potential and when you received Christ as Your Lord and Savior you were transformed and sealed with His Spirit. That Spirit in you helps you to repent, step into your new nature and go love like Jesus. He also leads you to the plans God created you to do. How cool! Thanks Lord! And we are sent to share this Good News, share our joy and make disciples. May we earnestly step into all of this for God's glory.

You know, one of my struggles and prayers is for God to come examine my heart, reveal any sin or deficiencies and to help me repent and step more fully into my created purposes and operate more fully from my new nature. Pursuing this earnestly all the time, is a real challenge and then the Holy Spirit reminds me that I a being held to a higher standard, as God's Shepherd, than other people. Help me Lord to be fully yours and to fulfill my purposes well! Thank You for Your Spirit in me to help and guide and for calling me to Your Good News Delivery Co. called St. Matt's!  Help me to prepare disciple making disciples and Good News bringers. Thanks! Your Kingdom come and will be done in, through and around me and us! May all I think, say and do be for your glory. May I never shrink back or hold back but always stand firm in Christ and on Your Word. Thanks! Amen! How might you help and encourage me and others to step into their potential more fully? Begin with prayer and a covering and then partner together to go live, love and make disciples like Jesus. May we work earnestly at fulfilling our purposes as God leads us to become His dynamic movement that brings Him alive and launches revival all around the area. He does have great plans for you and us! PTL! Step into them! Continue to pray through Harvest Prayer's prayer starters for the Church and our nation too. (see below) We are sent to change the world one soul at a time and with one step of faith after another. Allow the Holy Spirit full access and submit to His leading. Then one day you will hear, "Well done good and faithful servant!" Please Lord!

Spend some time with our devotionals for today as they thread through this thinking and God's Word for you, me and us today. We are to be always ready as we continue to pray and invite God to transform, mold, prepare and send us. We are to release all, including our anxiety and fear to Him. He does see you, know you and love you so much that He will help you to move towards the greater things you are created for. PTL! We are being made new and transformed into His image and sent just as we are to be His vessels of revival and new life. Come Holy Spirit! Fill us as we die to self and crucify and repent of some things. Lead us to your best and our purposes. Cover and protect us and use us well. Thank You! We love You Lord. Help us to trust, obey and follow well today! Thanks! Amen!

What's God revealing to you today? How is He informing your prayers or wanting to use you? Seek first His Kingdom and He will add the things you need to go and love well. Who might He be partnering you with to pray, encourage and go with? I know He knows you and has some great custom made things for you today and beyond. Allow Him to transform and lead you. I'm praying for you and here to help process and pray and maybe even go with you. Shalom!

Harvest Prayer:

October 22 - DAY 26 OF 40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR OUR NATION   Praying For The Protection And Return To The Constitution And Bill Of Rights “So speak, and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom” (James 2:12 NIV).   The Constitution sets forth how the government of the United States should work. It establishes a Congress, a President, and an independent court system. It stipulates what the government can and can’t do. It guarantees basic treasured rights. This system, founded on godly principles, has worked well for over 200 years.   On March 23, 1798, less than 12 years after the signing of the U.S. Constitution, our 2nd President, John Adams, called for a day of national prayer: “The safety and prosperity of nations ultimately and essentially depend on the protection and the blessing of Almighty God, and the national acknowledgment of this truth is not only an indispensable duty which the people owe to Him but a duty whose natural influence is favorable to the promotion of that morality and piety without which social happiness cannot exist nor the blessings of a free government be enjoyed.”   Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren (1891-1974) stated: “I believe the entire Bill of Rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it: freedom of belief, of expression, or assembly, of petition, the dignity of the individual, the sanctity of the home, equal justice under law, and the reservation of powers to the people...I like to believe we are living today in the spirit of the Christian religion. I like also to believe that as long as we do so, no great harm can come to our country.”   Our government is facing tremendous opposition to the godly principles upon which it was founded. Let’s pray for America to repent and return to God’s design for our nation:   Heavenly Father, our nation was founded on Your Word and the divine guidance You have so clearly given us. We pray for our leaders in each branch of government who have sworn an oath to “faithfully execute” the duties of their respective offices. Help them to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America.” Prayer Points Pray that our nation’s government officials will return to the principles of unity, justice, peace, safety, the welfare of all, and the blessings of liberty. Pray that those holding government offices in our nation will be continually convicted by the Holy Spirit to honor God. Pray for the protection of believers in our government who deeply desire to walk uprightly before God as they serve and protect the Constitution of our nation. Ask God to help our nation’s citizens to more fully understand the principles established in our Constitution and Bill of Rights so that they will be more willing to defend it. To view our prayer leader video or for more resources visit www.40DaysUSA.com. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. Connection Prayer Devotions Sign Up

TWFYT:

Upper Room: Sudden Changes

Cast all your anxiety on [God], because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7 (NRSVUE)

Sometimes sudden events change our routine and our focus. One day I was moving a bed when it landed on my right foot, fracturing my big toe. This injury changed my daily routine. But though I can’t do certain things right now, I still insist on attempting them.

As I think about my situation, I can clearly see how God takes care of us and delivers us every day in the face of our thoughtless, hasty, and often stubborn actions.

While my activity is limited right now due to my fracture, my prayer is that Jesus will teach me to be more attentive, obedient, and calm as I seek to trust and surrender my life to the Lord, my Savior and Protector.

May God help us hear the voice of Jesus who speaks and says, “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).

Today's Prayer

O Lord, guide us through the sudden changes of everyday life. May your light illuminate our steps. We pray as Jesus taught us, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matt. 6:9-13, KJV). Amen.

Charles Stanley

Sarah Young:

ODB:

Good Morning Faithful Ones of God--True Worshipers! Let us enter His courts with thanksgiving and praise! Prepare your hearts to worship in Spirit and Truth. May we stay faithful to God always and show our worship as we trust and obey. May we be prepared vessels of the Potter as we follow Jesus to our custom made purposes for such a time as this. You know that thought comes from the story of Esther who braved the uncertainty of being faithful to God and His people. Like her, we are being prepared for such a time as this. I thought God had me all ready to share thoughts from our devotionals today. And I may at least still just share copies of those below. BUT GOD! He opened my eyes to an urgent prayer item. Join me and Harvest Prayer in interceding for our nation and leaders.

As I was preparing to write this, I saw a post from a Kamala rally. People shouted, "Jesus is Lord!" Her response was laughter and saying that they must be at the wrong rally and come on get real. And the crowd of God haters erupted in cheers. Help us Lord!

Jesus is Lord! And He will raise up His leaders. If we want to see revival in this nation, we need to carefully examine the candidates and seek God's guidance for our votes. And we need to do our part for such a time as this! What candidates honor God and will allow us to continue to worship and share the Good News freely? Vote for those. The Bible says, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." Is Jesus the Lord of your life? We can see that for many, He is not and they laugh at and belittle His followers. Engage with and pray through the Connection devo of Harvest below. Pray earnestly for this nation, for God to bring revival and for Him to raise up His leaders for such a time as this! You are being prepared to be His vessels for such a time as this too! May we be God's revivalists as we go and share the Good News of Jesus and our salvation. May we see and expose the darkness hidden as light. Jesus is the Light of the World. May that Light shine bright through us, His people, custom made servants, prepared for such a time as this! May we be His faithful ones living this life as an act of worship! Amen! It's time to rise up as prayer warriors and faithful servants! Move us Lord!

Harvest:

October 20 - DAY 24 OF 40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR OUR NATION   Praying For Exposure Of Malicious Intent In Government “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit, you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit, you will recognize them.” (Ephesians 4:2-3 NIV).   “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Ephesians 5:11).   One of the best biblical accounts of the exposure of malicious intent is the story of Esther, who was raised up “for such a time as this” in order to expose the evil plan behind a plot to kill the Jewish people.   The Persian king’s evil official Haman was bent on the total eradication of the Jews (very much like the enemies of the Jews today), simply because of his hatred for one Jewish man, Mordecai, who had refused to bow before him. The plot was discovered and Queen Esther was tasked with saving her people. She heroically risked the king’s anger by appearing before him without being officially summoned. Esther very cleverly revealed the plot to the king, the edict to kill the Jews was reversed, the evil official Haman was exposed and hanged, and Mordecai was elevated to the most important position as second to the king. Even though His name is not mentioned, God’s hand was very clearly at work throughout the story of Esther.   Merciful Father, You have the good of those who love You in Your heart, and You love those who do not yet walk in Your ways or who have turned their backs on You. Please work in my heart and the hearts of all of Your people to expose anything that displeases You. Help us to quickly repent before You. Then, Lord, would You work in our nation as You did through Your servant, Esther? Would you root out and expose the dark deeds, intents, and plots that are so evidently at work in the government of America? Send revival, Father! Use us to bring light to the darkness like never before!   Prayer Points Pray in the powerful name of Jesus that God will push back the forces of darkness and bring evil into the light. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your life and the lives of everyone in our nation to recognize and resist the influence of evil. Pray that you and the church in our nation can boldly declare faith in God’s protection and unfailing love. Pray that the rotten fruit of evil intent and evil deeds in our government can be clearly seen and turned away from. Pray that God will raise up godly men and women to take the places of those who seek to do evil. To view our prayer leader video or for more resources visit www.40DaysUSA.com. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. Connection Prayer Devotions Sign Up

Here are the rest of the devotionals God led me to this morning. Keep your eyes fixed on things above, looking for God to be at work, and willing to join Him as He leads you. You are His and He is with you--always. Trust and obey and glorify Him in all you think, say and do. Allow Him to shape and prepare you and send you to your custom made mission for such a time as this! Amen My hope is in the Lord! Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness! Know His peace, love and joy beyond understanding! Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! May He rule and reign in your heart and direct your steps for such a time as this! Amen!

Upper Room: Looking for God

Those who look to [the Lord] are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. - Psalm 34:5 (NIV)

My job vanished suddenly. Though my supervisor had told me, “You have planted good seed; we appreciate you, so don’t lose hope,” a shadow covered my heart. I had been struggling with a season of losses: the death of a beloved friend, a missed opportunity to move abroad, an empty nest after our three children had all moved away.

But the Psalms gave me strength; I found myself crying along with them: “I have come into the deep waters. . . . I am worn out calling for help. . . . My eyes fail, looking for my God” (Ps. 69:2-3). Eventually, though, I read the words above from Psalm 34: “Those who look to [the Lord] are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” I had found God’s promise!

So do not lose sight of God’s love. When dark thoughts come, ponder the psalmist’s words and look for God’s presence: in scripture, in prayer, within your spirit, in beautiful friendships, in acts of love and forgiveness. When we see no light ahead, we can trust the psalmist’s words; God is right beside us.

Today's Prayer

Dear God, sometimes it is not easy to rest in your love and care. But we choose to fight against anxiety and sorrow with your help and that of the people who care for us. Keep us safe in difficult times. Amen.Chuck Swindoll

Sarah Evans:

Joyce Meyer

Our Daily Bread

The Word for You Today

Charles Stanley

Today is Clothing Closet from 10-1. Praise God for our volunteers (most are not members). Thank God for His provision and opportunities to be Christ and to show His love and care to neighbors. Pray for unity of the team and for God to move through their ministry, begin some relationships that will lead to a relationship with Jesus.

Tomorrow we worship at 10 in person and on Zoom. Invite some friends (or enemies). Pray for some to come and try us out. Pray we worship in Spirit and Truth and glorify God. Pray for Sarah as she brings the Word.

We are collecting for our Light in the Night Trunk or Treat (Our Rally Day envelopes will be used to fund this and Family Ministries. We can use candy or money to buy needed supplies. Pray that we connect to many neighbors on Friday and begin relationships that lead to a relationship with God. Pray for unity with Revival Church as we serve together. Pray for provision including enough cars to fill our lot. Sign up to help on bulletin board and talk to Pastor Don or Sarah for how you might help.

Pray for next Sunday's brunch and for our Bishop Sizemore who will joining us and preaching. Sign up sheet for brunch is on bulletin board or let Lori know you are coming. Invite some friends for this day of worship, food, fellowship and fun.

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Good Morning Drawing Close to God Servants of the Lord! Be still and know, pray, plan and go love like Jesus! He has some amazing things in store for you and us for the rest of the year and beyond as we seek to Become More in '24--more of Him and less of me. Our devotionals for today (below) thread through all of this. God's always speaking and wanting to lead you to His best. PTL! What's He saying to you and what will you do about that? Who is He wanting to partner you with as you go live and love more like Jesus? Pray into that! Be still and know then go!

Keep your eyes on Jesus! Die to self, take up your cross today and crucify self and sin as you prepare to follow Jesus. As you dwell in His loving presence, He will cleanse, purify and prepare you to follow. He is our all in all! But is He the center of your focus and life? Draw close and He promise to draw close to you and walk with you to his best for you. Amen! You are custom made for such a time as this. God has created you, gifted you and placed you right where He wants you. PTL! Ask Him to lead you to His perfect plans for you and for a willing heart. Don't grow weary as you pursue Jesus's best and endure living in this world with all it's anti-God ways and distractions. Persevere! Remember that waiting on the Lord is an active thing as we keep about His business, allowing Him to lead in His timing to His perfect plans for you and us as His Body. It's a time to meditate on His Word, pray, plan with others and keep doing the last thing He led you too until He leads to the next. Keep seeking, knocking, preparing and stepping out in faith with Him as your guide. I often think of Proverbs 3:5-6's reminder to not lean on my own thinking but to allow Him to steer to his best.

There's a lot to digest here. May God draw you close, speak to your heart and direct you to your part in His Good News Delivery Co. Be still and know. Prepare and go. Live and love more and more like Jesus every day and every step of faith along the way. He does have some awesome plans just for you and for us as His Body. He is leading us to become His dynamic movement to transform this world! Amen! Go prepared and in his peace today!

Sarah Young:

ODB:

Chuck Swindoll:

Upper Room: Uniquely Made

You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance. - 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 (NIV)

We have a shelf in our home where we store an assortment of tools. Some are new and others are old. Some require electric power, while simpler hand tools require only arm strength. Together the tools allow us to complete a multitude of projects, ranging from small crafts to home improvements.

These tools remind me how God created each of us as individuals, but made us all in the divine image. God has blessed each of us with specific talents, abilities, and strengths to build the kingdom of God on earth. We are better equipped to serve God and others when we pray, meditate, study scripture, and worship with other believers in the community of faith.

Just as each tool on our shelf was created for a certain task, we as believers can work together in our churches and communities to build strong relationships. We can support others by showing the love God revealed to us through the life of Jesus Christ. And no matter where we are, God shapes us and guides us toward a life of loving service.

Today's Prayer

Heavenly Father, guide our words and actions as we work with others in unity to further your kingdom. Amen.Joyce Meyer

Charles Stanley

TWFYT:

Nov  2024  St. Matthew’s Prayer Guide

Pray that we become a dynamic movement of God led by pastors and laity who have a burning passion for God and a missionary zeal  to reach those who don’t yet know Christ

Pray for St. Matt’s to become a house of Prayer for the Nations and for many to embrace their power and purpose in praying

Thank God for His provision and protection. Pray we continue to sow lavishly while being the best stewards of all His blessings. Pray for our budgeting process to be led by wisdom from God. Pray we have faith to sow lavishly.

Pray for our Bread and Clothing ministries to connect to neighbors and meet needs. Thank God for the volunteers.

Pray for our Wed. night ministries and our Sun. 2 Peas in a Pod Brunches to flourish and connect people to God.

Pray for small groups to be started in the building, homes, and businesses around the area. Pray for leaders for them. Ask God to lead you to some partners to journey with.

 Pray we bring joy and love alive. Pray we find new connection points to our neighbors and start growing friendships that lead to a relationship with Jesus.

Pray for harvest workers to be raised up from the harvest that is coming. Thank God for the harvest. Ask Him what your part is in His Good News Delivery Co. and for help to step into it.

Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! Amen and PTL! What love, grace and mercy He showers over us! Jesus loves us so much that he hung on the cross for your forgiveness. he had you and still has you on His mind and in His heart. Yes what love! Thanks Lord for forgiving a wretch like me--amazing love and grace are from You1 Thank You! Help me repent of all sins and allow You to refine and reshape me. Come! Have Your way with me! Thank You Amen!

Good Morning Redeemed, Molded, Prepared, Followers of Jesus. He is our Good Shepherd. He is Love. He has great plans for you and is shaping and preparing you for those. PTL! Yesterday we discussed following the Good Shepherd and today's devotionals flow from that and led to this blog. God inhabits our praise and leads us through the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Amen! 

Sometimes the journey is very hard and the enemy loves kicking us when we are down. Sometimes we just want to give up as we weary of staying true always. Our Daily Bread talks about being spread out too thin and asks, "How can you put your trust in God when you're tired and overwhelmed?" great question, right? Check out this song. You're gonna be okay. Turn off the noise and tune into God. Fix your thoughts on things above: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj_RNYbynU4. Don't give up. Seek some fellow travelers to hold you up and help you along too.

The rest of our devos flow through this reminder: God is with you and making a way. Keep your eyes on Jesus and feet following. Be renewed and directed as you dwell in Hid Love and Word. And go live and love like Jesus and help someone along the way today. God loves you and has great plans for you today. He inhabits your praise. Keep worshiping and your eyes on things above. I'm praying for you and here if you need to chat or pray. Shalom--dwell in His Love today!

ODB:

Sarah Yong:

Upper Room: Dwelling on Blessings

You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be counted. - Psalm 40:5 (NRSVUE)

Recently, I decided that every night when I lie down to sleep, I would give thanks for three things I noticed that day. Some days my gratitude is for something as simple as finding what I needed at the grocery store, getting an encouraging text or email, or feeling the warmth of beautiful sunshine. Other times my prayers of gratitude focus on finding the solution to a computer problem I had spent hours working on or rejoicing with a friend who experienced healing. Many nights, my list is far longer than three things! I am realizing God’s goodness encompasses my day in ways I often did not notice before.

Focusing on God’s goodness has boosted my spirit immensely. Sleep often comes much more quickly than before, and I am blessed with peace. I have found that when I go to sleep dwelling on God’s blessings, I wake up the same way. What a difference this practice has made in my attitude and feeling of well-being throughout the day!

Today's Prayer

Gracious God, open our eyes to the wonderful blessings we receive each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Joyce Meyer:

Charles Stanley:

Today: Bread Ministry 10-12, Chosen Dinner Huddle with Family Ministries 6-8pm

Wagner's update below

Good Morning Fixing Your Eyes on Jesus, Joy-Filled, Encouraging, Co-Laboring Followers of Jesus! Hey that's a mouthful but PTL! That is us or at least we are moving towards being and doing these! Pronounce these over you and us in prayer. Keep working at becoming the people you are created to be and doing what you are created to do for today and for such a time as this. We are teammates, gathered to encourage each other and grow God's Kingdom. He has great plans for us to activate in prayer and action as we seek His Kingdom first, fix our thoughts on things above and follow Jesus! Say this out loud as you proclaim it and enact these in prayer: I am/we are Fixing Your Eyes on Jesus, Joy-Filled, Encouraging, Co-Laboring Followers of Jesus! Amen! 

Check out our devos below that flow through this thinking and truths. IDK why but Go awoke me at 1:30 to discuss these, encourage me and call me to releasing these blessings in prayer and to encourage and spur you on. Lord willing He will allow me some more sleep before I begin my 12+ hour day. He has great plans for me which include being still at His feet, receiving and releasing what He has for me and us today, allowing Him to prepare me to write this blog and then move forward informed as He leads me step by step through this day. He has plans for you custom made for you today too. Talk to Him and your teammates about these and pray into and get busy following Jesus with your eyes fixed on God and His plans.

I've had an amazing day with the Lord already and it's only 3:30am! PTL! Sometimes, like Jesus, I can't resist getting up early and abiding in His presence before preparing for His plans for the day. The neatest part is that this is part of Jesus' easy yoke for me and such a blessing as I seek, trust and work at following each step. It's inviting Jesus to be my Lord and Shepherd and to inform my prayers and choices. I've already spent much time praying for you and for God to bring His plans alive to and through you and our Body. Here's the devos as God ordered them for us today. What's He saying to you? What will you do about it? How might He have you pray? Whose your buddy? Seek first His Kingdom and all kinds of blessings will flow from that and no matter what you are facing or traveling through, He can fill you with joy overflowing! Amen! Receive it and all He has for you today and then follow Jesus with your teammates. Watch for what He's about to do and be ready to join Him as you step into your purposes for today and then just worship. Yes, what joy and peace we can experience today! PTL! Put on that custom fitted easy yoke of Jesus and travel with Him today as that leads to much joy! Amen!

NOW I CAN GO REST AND ABIDE AND REFESH BEFORE I HEAD OUT FOR A GREAT DAY FOLLOWING JESUS! Pray for God to use me well today. Appreciate your prayers! Really need them! Thanks! I am...Fixing My Eyes on Jesus, Joy-Filled, Encouraging, Co-Laboring Follower of Jesus! Yes and Amen! I receive that Lord!

ODB:

 SY:

CS:

UR: Strength to Move Forward

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. - Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

The moon jellyfish is a fascinating animal. As they swim, their wispy tentacles gracefully trail behind their mushroom-shaped body. When a moon jellyfish loses or breaks tentacles due to injury, it cannot regenerate new ones. Instead, it works tirelessly to reorganize and reposition its remaining tentacles so they are symmetrically spaced around its body, allowing the jellyfish to efficiently navigate the water. The jellyfish’s muscles contract and relax constantly to rearrange its tentacles, a process that can take days.

I think about the losses I have experienced, and I recognize a parallel with the jellyfish. When a loved one dies, we cannot replace them; their loss might shatter us. But as we grieve, we also gradually heal and adjust. We work to bring back stability in our lives and look for strength to move forward. This process takes time and looks different for each person.

The psalmist reminds us of the promise that God will be close to us in our tragedy and heartbreak. As we navigate our grief, we can ask God to strengthen our spiritual muscles and sustain us on the journey. God provides healing and repair for our brokenness and “saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Today's Prayer

Heavenly Father, when our hearts are broken, help us navigate the waters of grief. Sustain us and give us strength as we adjust to new circumstances. Amen. 

TWFYT:

Wagner's update

Greetings Friends, We’re grateful for your faithful prayers over the last nine weeks as we transitioned back to Kenya, unpacked and re-settled into our “other home”, and started our 28th new beginning at RVA. New Beginnings in our Kijabe Community There have been some very noticeable changes in our local community since we left nine months ago. You may remember the incredible devastation from the heavy rains at the end of April this year. Our friends are slowly rebuilding their lives after so much loss. As we’ve reconnected with many of them over the last few weeks, our conversations have been seasoned with hearts of thanks and hope. What a testimony to God’s faithfulness through incredibly difficult circumstances. PRAY for God’s healing comfort in grief and loss, as well as His continued provision of resources as the rebuilding of lives continues. New Beginnings in our RVA Community Change is constant on our school campus, whether it’s graduating seniors or the comings-and-goings of staff, new beginnings are always on the horizon. PRAY for new students and staff who recently joined our school community and are still getting settled into the rhythm of life here. As we began this school year, the RVA School Board received nominations for a new Superintendent and will be interviewing candidates this week. PRAY that God will clearly direct them in this decision and bring the best person to lead RVA for the next several years. New Beginnings in our Dorm We happily welcomed nine 5th & 6th grade boys into our dorm family at the end of August; two returning from last year and seven brand new to RVA. It has been fun getting to know our boys and their families. Two boys had older siblings in our dorm just a few years ago and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting their families. Considering the huge transition it is to change schools…and…do it away from their parents, our boys are truly amazing rock stars! PRAY for our boys to feel secure, loved, and “at home” as we care for them this year. New Beginnings in our “Day Jobs” Brian is excited to be back in the classroom teaching two sections of AP Calculus, working closely with the math department faculty, and helping RVA implement our growth and improvement plans for this 7-year accreditation cycle with the Middle States Association. Missy has started her new TCK administrative role with AIM and joined the education consulting team supporting AIM’s Africa-based families whose children are in a variety of traditional and non-traditional school settings. PRAY for good balance as we serve students and families in a variety of roles both in and out of the dorm. New Beginnings in our Family While amidst our own transitions, our three kids and their spouses have been transitioning, too. There have been new beginnings at home (Rachel & family relocated to another state), new beginnings at school (Hannah & Micah started grad school programs), and new beginnings at work (Lynnsi joined Interaction International as a TCK Specialist and is gathering prayer and financial partners with the goal of beginning this support-based ministry position soon). Check-out Lynnsi’s website LW - TCK Specialist to learn more. PRAY for our big kids and all their new beginnings! New Beginnings in our Students As our students return from midterm break today, RVA begins our annual Spiritual Emphasis Week (SEW) - five days of focused worship and deliberate teaching from God’s Word. This is often a time when our students experience new beginnings in their faith journey. The theme for this week is “Deeply Rooted” from Colossians 2:7. PRAY for Mr. John Njoroge, a well-known apologetics speaker born and raised in the community near RVA, as he shares with our students. In 2011, John and his wife, Leah, opened Valley Light Home in the town just below RVA that provides residential care for orphans and abandoned children in a family setting. PRAY that our students will not be distracted or discouraged by the evil one who wants to fill their minds with doubt. PRAY that they might know Christ more fully during this time. “I am about to do something new. It is beginning to happen even now. Don’t you see it coming? I am going to make a way for you to go through the desert. I will make streams of water in the dry and empty land.”   ~Isaiah 43:19 We deeply appreciate your love, care, and prayers in all our new beginnings! Brian & Missy

This week:

Tue. 10-11 Zoom study group. All welcome

12-12:30 Zoom prayer with Revival Church for Light in the Night

Wed. 10-12 Bread Ministry

6-8 Chosen Dinner Huddles for families and adults.

Sat. 10-1 Clothing Closet

Don't forget to pray for and sign up to help with our Trunk or Treat Fri Oct 25 from 6-8. We are in need of candy or donations for candy to be able to give to those passing through our lot.

Sunday Oct 27th Bishop Sizemore joins us to preach and eat with us at our 2 peas in a Pod brunch. Invite some friends. Sign up with Lori, Sarah or me.

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Good Morning Very Loved, Called By Name, Redeemed of the Lord! We are created in love to receive and give love. Our Creator, Jesus is calling you by name this morning and reminding you that you are His and that He has redeemed you. He is hearings your heart this morning and answering your prayers. He is in the process of working all things together for good for those who believe and are called according to His purposes. (That's us!) He has some great custom made plans for you to discover and step into. His Holy Spirit in you has gifted and empowered you and will go before you to spur each other on, encourage and build His Church. We are His and He is ours. Dwell in Him and His love this day. Receive His healing, stretching, molding and refining love. Allow Him full access as you surrender and offer yourself to Him. He is worthy of all of our being in worship and all praise glory and honor. Amen! Worship with full abandon! Receive His Light and Love. Let go and give all your hurts, anxiety, sickness, addictions to Him who is our Deliverer, Healer and Chain Breaker! He is our Savior! Allow Him to prepare you to go live and love like Jesus. We are all custom made for custom purposes--some big, but most small faithfulness's to go and love like Jesus. Today is the day of the Lord's favor! Receive it and share it boldly. All of this flows through the devotionals I used during my quiet time this morning. Check them out prayerfully below. What's God saying to you? How is He redeeming and wanting to bless you? How will you honor and worship Him? He really does have some amazing things planned just for you. PTL! Step into them as you step more fully into your new nature and your created purposes and potential in Christ.

God continues to minster to me through a full weekend of worship, ministry, study and prayer. Yesterday we discussed Col. 3:1-17. We are called to live Christ as we repent of all sin and unrighteousness and allow God to transform us and move us to live this life earnestly. Why? For in this life Christ is all that matters and He lives in us. He not only lives in us but wants to go love through us and use us as His vessels to redeem the world around us. Amen! My Sat. night worship overflowed into our worship yesterday morning. It's time to praise the Lord for He inhabits our praise. As He comes to us He leads us to go incarnate Christ to the world around us and change the world one step of faith at a time and one soul at a time. God has prepared you for someone and someone for you. Who is your buddy to go with and pray with and encourage? Watch and allow Him to use you, pray through you and transform through you. We are blessed to go be a blessing and then we are blessed back for being faithful. Amen! Then God led me to Revival Church's worship and ministry night last evening. They do this every second Sunday evening from 5-7. All are invited to join the next one. I'd like to encourage you to try it out. Last night the Holy Spirit fell on our sanctuary and brought ministry to many and healing to some. Miracles are coming and God is moving our building to become a house of prayer for the nations. Again several pastors and leaders prayed over me and our church. They prophesied some great things to come to us and through us. Receive these and keep praying for miracles and connections to new people to connect to God's healing redeeming, delivering love. God is on the move! Amen! And He does have great plans just for you and us! PTL! Receive them and release them in prayer and obedience. Amen! Yes God is on the move! Hallelujah! Revival is growing and will come alive in and through us as we surrender and allow God to use us for His glory. That is an act of worship that God finds a sweet aroma. You are loved, redeemed and being prepared to go live and love like Jesus today and for such a time as this. We are made for more and He's not finished with us yet! This is the year of the Lord's favor! Step into it! Amen! PTL! Come Jesus!

Joyce Meyer:

Charles Stanley:

The Word for You Today:

The Upper Room: Just Let Go

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

When my sister and I were younger, we were given a zip line for Christmas, which our father installed between two trees. My sister and I loved our zip line and wanted our cousin to join in on the fun. She was a little nervous at first, but after watching us, she decided to try it. She was doing great until she got closer to the tree at the end. We repeatedly yelled at her to let go, but she held on — hitting the tree and falling backward onto the snow. Thankfully, she was not injured.

At the time, I couldn’t understand why she would not simply let go before hitting the tree.

I wonder if God ever wants to yell at us to “just let go” when we try to do everything on our own, carrying things we were never meant to carry alone. God loves us and offers us rest. We can find this rest when we let go of what we’re holding and turn it over to the One who can truly give us peace.

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, help us turn our burdens over to you. Guide us to the peace that only you can provide. Amen.

Our daily bread:

Harvest: Thank God for our volunteers and His provision to our care giving ministries, of bread, food, cloths and compassionate prayer.

October 14 - DAY 18 OF 40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR OUR NATION   Praying For The Poor, Homeless, Depressed, And Sick In America   “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:3-4 NIV).   Jesus was very pointed when He spoke about the “least of these” to His followers. He was also clear (James 2:15-17) that faith without works is dead. We can be concerned for the least and the lost in our nation without actually doing anything for them. But Jesus offers a promise for those who will act in faith: “One who is gracious to a poor person lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed” (Proverbs 19:17).   One incredible truth about prayer is that when we seek God on behalf of others, He gives us a fresh depth of compassion and love for them. The act of prayer is a conduit for the Holy Spirit to speak kindness, generosity, and the desire to care and comfort into our lives. Prayer changes our trajectory of activity to focus on those whom God puts into our lives to bless. Our nation is filled with people who are in desperate need of a touch from Jesus through His people! “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me’” (Matthew 25:40).   God of comfort, forgive my lack of compassion for the forgotten, the needy, the sick, and the disenfranchised people all around me. Renew my heart to look at people as You see them, and to care for them as You desire me to. Wake up Your church, Lord, to see with fresh eyes the needs before us. May the Holy Spirit prompt and urge us to step up and care for those in need so that more people in our nation will see You at work and put their trust in You. Prayer Points Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a purposeful life of compassion, filled with the joy of giving. Pray that you are quickly able to see the needs around you and respond as God leads. Ask God to help you encourage people in your family and in your church towards love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). Ask the Father to give creative solutions to His people to meet the needs of their communities with love and compassion so that His glory will be evident to all. To view our prayer leader video or for more resources visit www.40DaysUSA.com. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here.

Today: Zoom Huddle 10-11; Prayer for Trunk or Treat with Revival church, noon-12:30 on Zoom (all welcome) Link: Today Noon and 6:30 pray with Revival Church for Light in the Night Trunk or Treat. Link: 

Topic: Light in the Night Prayer Call Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet every Tues at noon and/or 6:30 PM 

 Join Zoom Meeting 

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9852381129?pwd=V2oXjq2YIpVu2btu0b7Nk4j2Bax7Wl.1&omn=84653669862

 Meeting ID: 985 238 1129 Passcode: prayer

Good Morning Lavishly Sowing Prayer Warriors and Servants of the Lord! Oh please keep or start sowing lavishly for revival, new connection points, new ministry opportunities, Light in the Night, and for God to lead new families and children to our fellowship in prater and actions. Our fervent, lavish prayers do produce His plans and good fruit to come alive. Check out a few devos on that today and keep praying! We need your prayers! God answers your prayers because you are clothed in Jesus' righteousness. Amen! Pray for His Kingdom to come and will to be done. Pray for our vision team to see and hear and make His plans for the rest of the year and into 2025. He has great plans for us and fruit is budding. may we see, follow and produce good and lasting fruit as we sow lavishly in prayer and action. May we be the best stewards of all His blessings and follow Jesus well! Amen! Come Jesus! Lead us today and always to be lavish sowers and great fruit producers for Your glory. Amen! And join us as we pray through the day and serve always and incarnate Jesus daily. I'm sowing lavishly over you, our Church and ministries. May God use us well! Amen

TWFYT:

CS:

ODB:

UR: Teaching Children

Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won’t depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6 (CEB)

Evelyn is my 10-year-old daughter. For a while now, when I sit to compose meditations to send to the editorial office of El Aposento Alto, she has sat down beside me. One morning, to my surprise, I found her writing a few paragraphs about our family. When I asked her about it, she said she was composing some meditations she plans to send to the magazine with the hope that children around the world would place God at the center of their family life and experience the goodness of God.

Today’s scripture from Proverbs immediately came to mind. God always surprises me. For a while I had wanted to teach my daughter the ways of God, but had, to my dismay, found it easier for me to quote that verse rather than put it into practice. But the good Teacher taught me a great lesson. Evelyn watches what I do and does the same. She writes a few lines, checks the scripture verses in her Bible, and sits with me while I write and edit my own meditations. I will continue to let scripture guide me as I seek to train my daughter in the ways of God, remembering that she is watching me.

Today's Prayer

Inspire us, God, to set a good example by sharing your teachings with our children so that they may gain wisdom and be nurtured in faith. Amen.

Good Morning Worshipers! May all we do be an act of worship poured out before our awesome God from hearts sold out and on fire for Him and His glory! Amen! Yes PTL! Rejoice! May all we think, say and do be an act of worship. May our lives lived well in Christ be a sweet aroma to God and draw many from the stench of this world. Pour out your life and praise before God today as you prepare to come and worship in Spirit and Truth. Enter His courts with praise and thanksgiving! Cry out for revival for you, us, His Church, our communities and this nation. May we be His people who repent, turn from our wicked ways, humble ourselves in worship and obedience and walk in His ways that He would come and even use us to restore this land. Come! May He come and inhabit our praise this morning and fill us with His Spirit and Love to overflowing! May we shed the old and step more fully into our new in Christ nature and invite Him to use us for His glory. It's time for surrender and earnest praise and living! Come Lord! Use us as You have planned from long ago for such a time as this! Holy Spirit activate Your people! Come! Amen!

Last night Karen and I had an awesome night of worship, praise, repentance, prayer and dwelling in the Holy Spirit's presence during an amazing concert! May that overflow to today and continue through us as we offer ourselves as an offering to God. May He refine, prepare and send us into the harvest. May we have many stories to share of how God moved in, through and around us to revive us and our community. May this overflow as He builds a house of prayer in our building. He has great plans for you and us for such a time as this--custom made plans from long ago. Amen! Come Holy Spirit. Ignite a fire in me, us and all who gather to worship and prepare us to go in Your name to bring revival to this nation. Come! Fill us! Prepare us! Send us! Amen!

Yesterday was quite the day for me of abiding, learning, worshiping and inviting Jesus to come do His thing in through and around me and us. I spent some time in learning, encouraging and prayer with some church planters and disciple makers late yesterday morning. That time flowed from my morning worship, blog writing and sermon refining. That led to an afternoon of resting in the Lord before heading to the concert. I expect all of that to overflow into my day today and our worship. God is speaking and moving and He wants you to join Him in the plans He has for you today and this week as you prepare your hearts and feet to go and love like Jesus. Amen! Come! I'm praying for you and us to become the people God created us to be and to be doing all He has for us for such a time as this. Prepare yourself to be His vessel of revival and worship! I can't wait to see all He has for you and us and the stories He is writing for each of us to share. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and He lives in me/us! PTL! May His way come alive in and through us as we earnestly pursue Him and offer our lives as a sacrifice of praise! COME! May we glorify You and Your holy name, Jesus! Amen!

Here are some devos that thread through this and all God is and will do as we offer ourselves to Him and live our lives as an act of worship. He will inhabit our praise and lead us to His perfect plans. Be still, know and follow as you surrender all for His glory. It's time to pour ourselves out like a drink offering before the Lord! It's time for revival and for Jesus to come! Are you ready for both? Let us prepare to follow Him together as each of us earnestly steps into our custom made parts. May we encourage, spur each other on, pray like crazy, travel together and build His Kingdom! All for Your glory Lord! May God pour His Spirit out upon us and use us well for His glory as we worship, praise and follow Jesus! Come! Amen!

What is God saying to you--leading you todo? What will you do about that? Who are your partners? What story is He writing through your life lived well in Christ? Let's talk about, process, pray into and plan to go live and love like Jesus! More of You and less of me Lord! Come!

Sarah Young:

Joyce Meyer:

The Word for You today:

Charles Stanley:

Upper Room: God Always Listens

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. - Psalm 23:4 (KJV)

In 1985 my father was suffering from pneumonia. The doctor told me to contact my relatives, but I had no way to reach them. I was young and in my last year of school, and my father was our family’s primary income earner. I was unsure what I would do if he did not recover. Late that night, the doctor told me that my father’s condition had deteriorated and he might not survive. I was shaken and broken, and I felt alone.

My parents always taught me to trust in the Lord and to pray earnestly because God listens and answers our prayers. So I knelt by my father’s bed, read Psalm 23, and prayed, “Lord, I am too young and helpless to take care of my family. I love my father, and I know he is very sick. But you are a kind and loving Lord who can do anything. Please give my father five more years to live.”

When I awoke the next morning, my father’s condition had improved. He was discharged days later, and he lived for 10 more years. I completed my academic degree and started working so I could help support the family and give my father all the comfort I could.

When we pray, God answers us.

Today's Prayer

Dear God, thank you for listening to all our prayers and for loving us unconditionally. Amen.

Our Daily Bread:

Harvest:

October 13 - DAY 17 OF 40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR OUR NATION    Praying For Transformation In Schools And Universities “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).   Only one-third of young adults believe they know a caring adult who believes in them. A huge percentage of Generation Z is missing a biblical worldview. Reports also show a high percentage of young people who grew up in church walking away from their faith when they leave their homes either to go to college or enter the workforce. The next generation needs our prayers!   But we have seen God move and there is great hope among our schools and college students! Most of us heard about the Asbury revival and the effect it had on students at other colleges across, not only the nation but the whole world. Here is a hope-filled commentary: “What’s happening at Asbury is not  everything but it is something, and right now we need something to shock the system so that this generation can experience for themselves the life-changing power of God,” wrote the founder of 24-7 Prayer International Pete Greig. “We need repentance and holiness. We need the kind of outpouring of the Spirit on campuses that can incubate and detonate a new generation to preach the gospel with greater confidence, fight injustice with greater defiance, and transform society with greater intelligence.”   God of the generations, keep us focused on praying and mentoring our youth. Help the testimonies happening in schools and on college campuses to be more broadly seen across the media so everyone can have hope for the youth! Keep the enemy far from them and guard their hearts and minds in Christ! Thank You, Jesus, that You are on the move in the hearts and lives of young people! Help all believers to run alongside them with encouragement and much prayer! Prayer Points Pray Jeremiah 29:11: God knows the plans He has for them – plans for good and not for evil, to give them a future and a hope. Pray that when students lack wisdom they will ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach (James 1:5). Pray that these young people will trust in the Lord with all their hearts rather than leaning on their own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Pray that in all their ways they will acknowledge God so that He will make their paths straight (Proverbs 3:6). To view our prayer leader video or for more resources visit www.40DaysUSA.com. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here.

Good Morning Good Soil, Faithful in the Little Things, Fruitful Followers of Jesus! Yes Lord! May that be us always! You have great plans for us may we be good soil that produces good fruit as we stay faithful in all the little things You have for us along the way. Thanks Lord! Come! May we be about You and Your business daily. Amen! Are you making room for God to do what He has planned for you? Maybe turn this song into your prayer this morning as you ask Him to come have His way with you and use you for His glory. Make Room: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxubPpU-iIA

Humble yourself before the Lord and ask Him to come have His way and lead you to His perfect plans for today--always! Make room for Him today! I awoke singing that song this morning! And God led me to a deep time of surrender with Him. We have defined discipleship as the process of becoming who Jesus would be if He were you. Ask Him for that today. He does have great custom made plans for you! Can you say, "I am who I am because I am allowing I AM to be who He is in and through me"? That's being good soil ready for God to sow into that will produce abundant fruit. Heaven knows this nation and world need more of us followers of Jesus to embrace this and step more fully into it. Check out some of our devos for today that talk about this and thread through God's custom made plans for you and us as His Body. What's God saying to you today? What will you do about it? Who are you processing and traveling with in your journey to become more like Jesus? That is our goal. Amen! A dynamic movement who have a burning passion for God and missionary zeal to reach the lost for His glory!

This morning as I arose God brought a thought to me that may have me tweaking His message to us for tomorrow from Col. 3:1-17 (maybe prayerfully engage with that in preparation today). He reminded me how we are to hate evil and do good. He brought to mind the thought about how we all hate the state of this nation. Can you imagine how God feels about those created in His image running to the darkness, embracing, endorsing and pushing evil in His sight. The thought breaks my heart. It is a reminder and call to repent and ask God to have control of you, to inform and convict and change your disgust to crying out in prayer for this nation and then allow Jesus to use you to do your part in pulling the ones God is drawing from the grasp of darkness. We have work to do. We need to be like Jesus and how He responded to the darkness of His day and how the early church responded to evil times. Are you willing to lay your life down for Christ? Pray for boldness to pour yourself out and follow Him to His perfect plans for you to change the world one soul at a time and with one step of faith at a time. He is faithful and will be with you and will use the good soil of your souls to produce good and lasting fruit! Amen! Please Lord! Come! Send me/us for Your glory to Your perfect plans and purposes in these last days. May we have our thoughts fixed on things above and be ready to follow You as we work on being faithful in the little things. Amen!

Pray through this song: Honest Offering: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPqqIDnjDKY

Charles Stanley:

ODB:

UR: Always Enough

Everyone ate until they were full, and the disciples filled twelve baskets with the leftovers. - Luke 9:17 (CEB)

Many years ago, as a young pastor serving a small rural parish, I was honored to host Chief George and his wife from the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference as guest speakers at our church.

When the service was over, I learned that I was supposed to provide a Sunday dinner for my guests before they traveled to speak at another church later that afternoon. I panicked. I had never, ever entertained anyone for a meal. But that wasn’t the worst of it. I had only a small roast in the slow cooker — more than enough for one but surely not enough for three.

Taking a deep breath, I invited them over to the parsonage to relax. I then rummaged through my cupboards to see what I could add to the meal. I found a box of instant mashed potatoes and two cans of green beans. I also found a box of instant pudding and prayed that there was enough milk in the fridge to make both the potatoes and the pudding.

As it turned out, we had a wonderfully filling and pleasant meal, and my guests were nourished before their next event. Every time I read the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand, I am reminded of my meal with Chief George and his wife. That day I learned that with God we always have more than we think we have. Even when there seems to be too little, if it is served with love, there is always enough.

Today's Prayer

Loving God, help us to trust you to know our needs even before we ask and then to accept your gifts graciously. Amen.TWFYT:

Harvest prayer:

Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! Yes PTL for your salvation, forgiveness and new life in Christ activated by the Holy Spirit. Thank Him for His love, grace and mercy. Begin this day with thanksgiving and praise and continue through this day in a constant state of prayer and praise as you watch for God to be at work all around you.

Did you see the northern lights last night? I was in bed, but Karen did and I got to see some pictures from people all over facebook. May many be attracted to the Light of the World, Jesus, and seek after Him like they did the beauty of His nature.

Good Morning Lighthouses! May we shine bright for Christ and live Christ all day every day as we allow God to use us to lead people out of the darkness to His Light. Amen! Come! Use us as Your Lighthouses today! Shine Jesus shine! Attract many like moths are attracted to light at night. Go before us with favor for our Light in the Night Trunk or Treat. May we light up the darkness and point many to You. Provide for our needs and protect us. Thanks! May all of our ministries reflect You and Your love and care. Raise up harvest workers as you send in the harvest. Thanks! Lord raise up our building as a house of prayer for the nations and unify us as brothers and sisters in Christ to light the way to unity and brotherly love. Thanks! Come Jesus Come! Send me/us and use us for Your glory. Amen!

God took me sort of on two tracks this sleepy morning. I've had a week to rest and sleep and recover from my cold. All I wanted to do was sleep last night but I was roused by a barking crazily dog and unable to sleep much after that. I have so much to do today and this weekend and I just want to go back to bed. I feel like I was a slacker this week. BUT GOD! He says we should work from rest and He knows what lies ahead with crazy busyness from now until the new year. Could He have set Karen and I down to rest and reload for that? Sure! He does things like that when we ask Him to be our Lord and Shepherd. My concern is that as I'm aging I'm loosing my mojo and get up and go. I'm concerned I'll become a couch potato and not keep after the things God has for me. We know that His assignments and purposes for us are age and ability appropriate but I don't want to come to a dead halt and miss His plans. I discovered this week that I will go stir crazy if I retire, even though I still have many house projects to keep me busy. I need to keep busy being about my Father's business and living Christ to really be healthy in the Lord. Chuck Swindoll and Joyce Meyer devos below stirred me to remembering the importance of staying yoked to Jesus and following Him at my age-appropriate ability and with His supernatural empowerment to complete my race well. Keeping active is physically healthy too. Help me Lord to stay connected and doing what You are leading to each day. Help me to rest in You and work from rest. Help me to shed the peripheral things and focus on what You have for today. Thanks Lord! May I live today in anticipation, prayer and action as You lead. Thanks! Help me to stop running ahead and/or lagging behind. Please move me to Your plans for today and to complete Your mission for me well. Grant me holy mojo. Thanks! You promise that You have great plans for me and to be with me always. May Your Kingdom come and will be done today in, through and around me. Keep me active in Christ for Your glory and according to my age and circumstance appropriate call. Thanks! Amen! 

So all of that flowed into the rest of our devotionals about praying, praising and doing what we can with what we've been given as we shepherd the generations behind us. For many of us, our age and situation appropriate mission is to pray. Please don't take that lightly. Prayer is the key for God to move. He and we are counting on your powerful and effective prayer, righteous one of the Lord! Check out Our Daily Bread, Charles Stanley, The Upper Room and The Word for You Today as they teach and speak into our call to pray and to do what we can for the next generations. God hears and responds, empowers, directs, activates, draws, saves and so much more through our prayers! I am finding that as my physical abilities are decreasing my prayer time is increasing and God is using that in mighty ways! Thanks Lord! Inform our prayers and raise up prayer warriors and a House of Prayer for the Nations. help us to develop more corporate prayer times too. help us live each day in a state of prayer and praise as we see you at work and feel the call to pray. Come! Fill us Holy Spirit and may we overflow with powerful prayers and much thanksgiving for all You are doing! Thanks! Amen! Yes Come Jesus Come!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu4VV54ZcFo

Keep Turning your thoughts to God in praise too as you count your many blessings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZjWYgq9QfM

God knows you and your abilities and circumstances. He's calling you by name to come to His loving embrace and to be empowered to do what He has for you today, one step of faith at a time. Until He calls us home, He has a custom made daily plan for you. Seek Him first and allow Him to empower and use you well. Yes Come Lord! Have Your way with me today. Be my Lord and Shepherd, inform my prayers and use me for Your plan and purposes well. Thanks! I love You Lord and trust You always. Come and help me to see the blessings in each day with you as I follow well! Amen!

Chuck Swindoll

Joyce Meyer

ODB:

CS:

UR: Peace Lily

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” - John 14:27 (NIV)

As I sat at my desk, my heart ached from the hurt and disappointment I had been carrying. Resting my chin on my hands, I let out a long sigh. Just then, my attention was drawn to the peace lily blooming beside me, and the words from John 14 quoted above came to mind. I knew that my heart was indeed feeling troubled about many things. I was feeling afraid and overwhelmed, but here in this verse Jesus was reminding me of the peace he offers.

In this passage of scripture, Jesus shared these words to bring comfort to his disciples at the Last Supper. They were about to enter a very troubling time, and knowing what was to come, Jesus promised to leave them peace.

As I gazed again at the blooming plant beside me, its single white spathe rising above a dark green base of leaves, I decided in that moment to surrender my troubles to the Lord, to let go of fear, and to embrace the peace that Jesus offers.

Today's Prayer

Dear God, help us to surrender our worries to you. Amen.TWFYT

Thanks for understanding about canceling last night and for praying for Karen and me. Karen is rebounding and I have been on the fringes of sickness and mostly sleeping a lot. We didn't want to contaminate anyone. We will be good to go by Sunday. Thanks again!

I picked up donuts yesterday and set up and then left. I have no report of how things went but when I left at 10:15 there were at least three tables full of people. I'm sure God was at work and used those that were there. Thanks for all who helped clean up and minister!

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Good Morning Cloaked in the Armor of God and Righteousness of Jesus Warriors! God is sure allowing some of us some stretching, growing in faithfulness and trust and teaching us to persevere opportunities. Keep your focus up and keep putting on that armor in prayer. God is with you and working all things together for good. He has plans for you and your loved ones that we can't often comprehend, yet we know in our heart of hearts that He is there with them and us and holding us all in His strong right hand. Amen! The enemy is prowling about trying to destroy our faith and tempt us to loose hope and walk away from God and His plans. Let us keep covering and encouraging each other in these journeys we are traveling through.

I read a devotional on season 4 of the Chosen this morning that talks about how we resist and try to get out of suffering ASAP. Yet, God uses such times to grow us and our faith and they are often a part of His plan to grow us and bring about His good plans through a refined, redeemed people. They remind us to keep sinking our roots deep into God and His Word and remain steadfast in hope. They remind us to get this deep into the fiber of our being so that we can draw on it as needed, "God is faithful and can't be anything but good and loving and purposeful and sovereign and present and perfect in knowledge and wholly committed to our sanctification. And He loves you. And He sees you. And He's for you. And He's got you in the palm of His hand and at the center of His will." Chew on that a bit. Sanctification is the process of making something holy and set apart. God is always at work in us and working all things together so keep focused on and trusting Him when things seem hopeless and dark. He is still there holding you. Lean on Him and allow Him to carry out His plans. It's never easy to travel through some of the things we have to face in this fallen world. It's helpful to remember Whose we are and that no matter what, He is there and always loves us even as He is working some hard things into good.

How do we bring hope to the hopeless and depressed and distraught? Pray like crazy and just be present and loving. And if you are on the dark side of things, please allow some in to walk with you. And keep redirecting to things above. Try counting and recounting blessings as a way to redirect. It's hard but God is with you and we are here for each other. Reach out and love someone and allow some in to your journey.

Our devos for today kinda thread through all of this. Check them out below. The Word for You Today reminds us of the schemes and relentlessness of the devil who loves to keep kicking you while you're down. But we, in Christ, are overcomers and always His. Amen! Charles Stanley reminds to pray on the armor and stand firm through all the battles we face and to keep praying for victory. The Upper Room reminds us to sink our roots deep in God and His Living Word and draw in that Living Water that will strengthen and sustain you. Our Daily Bread uses Psalm 103:8-17. Here's a passage to sink your roots into and take into your heart. Read it prayerfully on your own. It begins, "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love." Amen! Dwell there some today. It ends with this truth, "But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear Him..." ODB discusses Love when we are deeply hurt and they ask "How has God shown you mercy for the wrong things you've done? And "How can you respond to His mercy and love today?" Talk to God about that and process that with some close friends. God is there and wanting to love on you and through you even in the darkest of times. I end with Sarah Young's Jesus Calling devo about trusting God, fixing your thoughts on things above and allowing Him to work things together right before your eyes as you still yourself and allow Him to.

I'm praying for you all and here if you need to talk or pray and so is Sarah. Dwell in deep love today and take in the Living Water that will sustain you through it all. Ask Jesus to come be your Lord and Shepherd today and to lead you to those green pastures and still waters and to walk with you through the darkest valleys. He is there and will! Amen! May God cover you with His shalom and help today and always. Amen!

TWFYT:

CS:

UR: Deep Roots

[Blessed is the one whose] delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers. - Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)

My wife and I took a late summer hiking trip through northern New Mexico. The scenery was quite a contrast to the lush, green vegetation of our home state of Michigan. The New Mexico landscape is brown and arid — except for a few green trees that caught our attention. We were intrigued. How could these trees be so green, while all the other vegetation around them was so dry?

Farther down the trail we came upon a placard that explained that the trees we were looking at were junipers. They have a unique root structure that allows them to thrive in arid lands. While the root systems of most plants are shallow, the roots of the juniper tree can go down 25 feet and spread 100 feet in search of water. Their root system allows them to survive drought, while other plants wilt.

This made me wonder: What is our ability to survive spiritual droughts? How deep are our roots? What can we do to help our roots find the source of life-giving water?

Regular study of the Bible, prayer, devotional literature, and participating in the church community are some of the practices that help us remain deeply rooted and spiritually green in arid seasons!

Today's Prayer

Dear God, help us to grow deep and wide-spreading roots that search for your life-giving water in all seasons. Amen.

ODB:

SY:

Today: Zoom Huddle 10-11 Link:

Pray for Light in the Night with Revival Church Noon and 6:30pm Link:

Tomorrow Donut Day at the Bread Ministry 10-12. Chosen Dinner Huddle 6-8

Sarah Prayer update below--lots of hard things to cover in prayer!

PTL! We will have insurance for when ours expires on the 15th and can stay open! Thanks Lord! And all who helped make this happen! We are still working on having some minor roof repairs but it is in process. Keep praying for God to guide and supply.

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Good Morning Persevering, Worshiping in the Storms, Drawing Close to God, Children of the God Who Knows, Cares, Is There and Is Calling You by Name! He is our Help in Times of trouble and our Peace beyond understanding. He is our Redeemer and Deliverer! He is our Friend. Amen! Be still and know and keep worshiping and drawing close!

Man, these times sure feels like a tidal wave of grief, hard times, hurts, fears and uncertainty. If we aren't careful and continue to focus on God, we can easily slip down some deep, dark holes and into depression and hopelessness. BUT GOD! Jesus stilled the storm that was raging. Peter walked on water in the midst of a major storm until He took His eyes off Jesus. As an empathetic person, I feel so deeply for many of you that I pray in tears as I feel like Jesus is weeping with you. I ask for how I can bring comfort and peace into some very hard things! The storms are raging around us for sure and many are in the midst of some very, very hard things. Keep praying for them. I'm here and so is Sarah if you need to chat or pray. We are praying for you. Check out Sarah's prayer email below for just a few to cover and maybe reach out and encourage. God is there always. May we keep our focus on Him! Help me/us Lord to keep our eyes on You in these storms. Deliver us. Heal us in Jesus' name. Bring shalom and strength for our journey. COME! Redeem! Heal and deliver as only you can! Thanks! Use me as your agent of healing, hope and comfort. Come! Amen!

It feels like bad news and heaviness is compounding lately, doesn't it. It's like this heavy wet blanket of despair is hanging over me as many I know are facing very hard medical and life circumstances. Then add to that the weight of the election process and the state of this country and the world and hurricanes. A few years ago we could never imagine the heaviness of the end of times or even think we would experience it. What if this compounding heaviness is the precursor of the end of times? The Bible says that like the increasing intensity of birth pangs we can expect an increasing of some very hard things as the end draws near. Are you able to keep you eyes fixed on things above and persevere in faith until your race is complete? Just as we prepare for coming storms, we need to prepare our hearts and minds to choose to always, no matter what, keep our focus on Jesus in the storms lest we sink below the waves. Don't be caught off guard! The Boy Scout motto is be prepared. Are you?

God sees you, knows you, loves you, and is calling you by name. You are His and He promises to redeem. He may not always deliver us from the storm or it's aftermath, but He promises to walk with us through it. Keep focused and keep worshiping. We have the ability to choose joy in all things. Not for them but the joy that comes from a faith that knows God is with us and working all things together for the good of those who believe and are called according to His purposes. Amen! Our Daily Bread reminds us to run to Jesus always and the Upper Room reminds us of the hope we can find in Christ. The Word for You Today has been teaching about Satan's schemes and how he is trying to drag you down and away from God. Choose faith instead and PUT ON GOD'S ARMOR IN PRAYER TODAY. I've been studying about hope the past few weeks. We know or can choose hope always. Start by studying God's promises that are always true. Pray with thanksgiving and get out those gratitude lists we have been working on because God does inhabit our praise and praise helps to change our focus away from the storms and back to God who is with us always.

I'm here and so are some of your friends. Lean on God and us. Reach out and bless, encourage and pray for someone today. Who has God put on your heart that needs some hope, joy and peace right now. Go! Love like Jesus and stand strong in Him always! Amen!

5 Prayers for Difficult Days by Kin Butts: 5 Prayers for Difficult Days, Seasons and Situations

Sarah Update:

Good evening, warriors......

There are many that are in need of our prayers.....

Today, we received a few that are really struggling:

Chris Muiks is requesting prayer for his sister, Linda, that we have been praying for....she has been released

from the hospital, and now has received the news that her son-in-law, Jeorge, who was only 34 years old, was

killed in a motorcycle accident in Bethlehem.   Let's please pray for Linda, and her daughter Lauren and her 

children, during this very difficult time.

Mike Laise - is requesting prayer for his father.  Mike's father has learned that his cancer has returned, and it

is now in his lungs.  Prayers for his medical team and the family as they support him during this challenging time.

Pray for those down south, that are feeling the effects of Hurricane Milton.  Mary Lou's son and wife are trying to work

their way out and travel inland to other family members.  Highways are jammed and in gridlock.  Prayers for a safe travel, and that all may be able to get out of the pathway of the storm, to safety.

Diane Huber/Schwenk - she is waiting on an upcoming doctor appointment, on the 14th of October.

Prayers for her medical team as they are working on a plan to help her through this difficult time. Also keep

Brittany and Tracy in your prayers as they support her.

Houston and Gail will meet with his medical team, to hear what is next....and what will be the best treatment

plan for Houston.  Keep this meeting in your prayers and for family also, as they support one another.

Thank you warriors, for lifting these folks up in your prayers!

Have a great 'sleep' and a good Tuesday!

 Blessings,

   Sarah

This week: Tues:

10-11 Zoom Huddle all welcome

noon-1230; 6:30pm Zoom prayer for Light in the Night: 

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9852381129?pwd=V2oXjq2YIpVu2btu0b7Nk4j2Bax7Wl.1&omn=84653669862

 Meeting ID: 985 238 1129 Passcode: prayer

Wed: 10-12 Donut day at the Bread Ministry

6-8pm Dinner Huddle for adults and family ministries

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Good Morning Standing on the Rock, Abiding in the Vine, Fruit Bearing, Servants of the Lord! Please Lord! Help us to be fully Yours and these things! We are facing many things. Come! Be our Rock, our Deliverer, Our Strong Tower. May we stay connect to the Vine always and draw in Living Waters and fill us to overflowing that we may bless others with Your Love, joy, peace and help. Come! bring the Fruit of the Spirit alive in and through us! May we overflow with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Thank You! Come be our gentle shepherd and lead us through this week for Your glory. Come! Teach us to live and love more like Jesus. Help us to turn off all the noise and cast our anxiety upon you. Help us to receive your peace beyond understanding as You grow our faith and trust. Help us to breathe out the junk and breathe in a fresh breath of Your Spirit. Come! Help! Refine! Guide! Amen!

IDK what God has in store for today for me but it sure is flowing from rest as I slept over ten hours and am refreshed and ready for today (except for the dentist visit shortly to fill some cavities--YUK!) Sometimes God's best for us requires the drilling out of some rottenness and the patching over the holes in us to become healthy again and ready to continue our purposes. I had a bunch of devotionals to share today that I just put away. They all point to the same thing God is revealing to me today: Turn off the noise, walk away from the chaos, receive His grace and peace, listen for His still small voice in the storms, put on His armor and stand firm against the schemes of the enemy. God's got this. Release all to Him and take the next step of faith on your journey to Christlikeness. he knows you and all you are facing. He os calling you by name. he will deliver you and use you for His glory. Focus on Him and dwell in the Vine today. Allow Jesus, invite him to be, your Lord and Shepherd today. Amen Give all to God and watch what he will do as you grow in trust and obedience to the only One who really knows you and cares! he created you for such a time as this, is with you and has great plans for you. PTL! Amen!

Harvest:

October 7 - DAY 11 OF 40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR OUR NATION    Praying For The Lost To Know Christ   “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite’” (Isaiah 57:15 NIV).   Oswald Smith relates: “Several members of Jonathan Edwards’ church had spent the whole night in prayer before he preached his memorable sermon, ‘Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.’ The Holy Ghost was so mightily poured out, and God so manifest in holiness and majesty during the preaching of that sermon, that the elders threw their arms around the pillars of the church and cried, ‘Lord, save us, we are slipping down to hell!’”   Not many churches are calling their people to spend an entire night in prayer seeking God in preparation for Him to show up in their midst. Yet, here we find a powerful example of just a few members of a church “preparing in prayer” prior to the preaching of a message about sin. And, the Spirit showed up so powerfully in Jonathan Edwards’ church that even church leaders were convicted of their sins.   Merciful Father, we are a sinful people saved by the grace of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ! You made this salvation possible through Your kindness and love. Help us not to be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that by testing, we may discern Your good, acceptable, and perfect will. May the churches in our nation repentantly cry out to You as the Psalmist in Psalm 85:6: “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you!” “To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me”  (Acts 26:18 NIV).   Jesus ties together prayer and evangelism in Matthew 9:37-38: “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.’” The instruction of Jesus to His disciples regarding reaching the lost is that it begins with prayer. There is certainly more to do after we have prayed. But evangelism will never be truly effective apart from the biblical beginning place of prayer.   Dick Eastman said it this way: “God’s ultimate purpose for mankind, the completion of Christ’s bride and the establishing of His eternal Kingdom on earth will result only from the release of the prayers of God’s saints.”   In his book, Revival! A People Saturated with God, Brian Edwards emphatically states: “In times of revival Christians go out spontaneously. You cannot stop them. Nobody can stop them. Revival is a spontaneous combustion of evangelism. And this is one of the things we must long for when we long for revival.”   Lord of the Harvest, You love every person on the planet, and You have called us to go and make disciples of everyone we can! Show us how to focus on lost people in our families, neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and those across our nation! Give us the overwhelming love that You have for the lost, Lord Jesus. We want to see the lives of people transformed and our society changed because of it! We long for You to receive Your inheritance from the Father – the nations! Prayer Points Pray for the salvation of those who have yet to attain an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:8-9) Pray that God will remove the blinders that the Devil tries to put on the eyes and minds of unbelievers. (2 Corinthians 4:4) Pray to the Lord of the Harvest to raise up more workers to send into His harvest field. (Matthew 9:36-38) Pray that the Father will draw lost people to Himself. (John 6:44) Pray for the blessing and peace of God in every person’s life. Pray prophetically that God will work in every new believer’s life, and that the Holy Spirit will enable them to fulfill their redemptive purposes. (Philippians 2:13) To view our prayer leader video or for more resources visit www.40DaysUSA.com. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here.

Worship at 10 today live and on Zoom. Today is Worldwide Communion Sunday (Zoomers prepare your crackers and juice) We are also collecting for Everlasting Life Ministries.

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Good Morning Thirsting after God, Sold Out, Worshipers of our Ever-Present God! May that be me and Your people Lord. Set us on fire for You and Your ways. May we draw close as we trust and follow You. May we be worshipers in Spirit and Truth today. Come! Fill us to overflowing and send us to be Your vessels of transformation. Revive us and our land! Thank You for being with us always and  for wanting to grow us and change the world through us for Your glory. Come! Amen!

Oh what a glorious day this is shaping up to be as we gather to worship and commune with God and each other, reload, and go to live and love more like Jesus. PTL! God has some custom made plans for you, His set apart child! Amen! Hunger and thirst after Him and His ways. Humble yourself and be available and move towards being fully His. Oh what a day this can be and will be as we earnestly pursue Christ and our created purposes. Yes COME! Produce good and lasting fruit in and through us. Amen!

I'd love for you to interact on your own and with some friends with the devotionals I used this morning and in Gal 5 that we will discuss this morning during worship. God has threaded this together for me as verification that as we surrender fully and seek to follow Him earnestly, He will lead us to the green pastures beside the still waters and restore our souls and then inform our steps as He leads us to His perfect custom made plans. Amen! We begin with Harvest Prayers blogs about revival in our souls and churches and among the people of God as we cry out for Him to come and heal our land. Then we thread through some great devotionals about our parts of crying out, praying, receiving and going to live and love more like Jesus. That will change the world! Amen! He has great plans for you, me and us and His unified Body that are budding and coming to life in these end of times. Trust Him. Prepare your hearts. Determine to seek and follow well. May He be glorified in all we think, say and do as we live a life of sold out worship for His glory alone! Amen! What's He preparing you for as your part in His Good News Delivery Company? What will you do about that? Who are your teammates? How can we pray for and help each other to move towards our fuller created potential and God's purposes for us for such a time as this? COME Lord! prepare and send me! Amen!

Harvest:

October 6 - DAY 10 OF 40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR OUR NATION    Praying For Revival In The Church “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite’” (Isaiah 57:15 NIV).   Oswald Smith relates: “Several members of Jonathan Edwards’ church had spent the whole night in prayer before he preached his memorable sermon, ‘Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.’ The Holy Ghost was so mightily poured out, and God so manifest in holiness and majesty during the preaching of that sermon, that the elders threw their arms around the pillars of the church and cried, ‘Lord, save us, we are slipping down to hell!’”   Not many churches are calling their people to spend an entire night in prayer seeking God in preparation for Him to show up in their midst. Yet, here we find a powerful example of just a few members of a church “preparing in prayer” prior to the preaching of a message about sin. And, the Spirit showed up so powerfully in Jonathan Edwards’ church that even church leaders were convicted of their sins.   Merciful Father, we are a sinful people saved by the grace of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ! You made this salvation possible through Your kindness and love. Help us not to be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that by testing, we may discern Your good, acceptable, and perfect will. May the churches in our nation repentantly cry out to You as the Psalmist in Psalm 85:6: “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you!” Prayer Points Ask the Spirit to help you understand the power of the One we are addressing in prayer so that our faith will grow and we will begin to pray in a way that moves the hand of God towards reviving His people. Confess any sin that has compromised your life with God. Ask God to have mercy on His people and move in power in your church in response to repentant, fervent prayer! Pray through revival Psalms such as Psalms 63, 64, and 80 and petition the Lord for revival with both variety and the power of Scripture behind your requests. Ask God to awaken His people to the reality of His presence in our midst and in doing so, transform and shape our lives into the character of Christ. To view our prayer leader video or for more resources visit www.40DaysUSA.com. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. Connection Prayer Devotions Sign Up

Sarah Young:

Upper Room Close Communion 

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. - Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

On a recent Sunday morning, as the worship service was about to begin,

I saw a toddler a few rows in front of me curled up tight in the arms of his father. The small child leaned in so close to his father’s face that it seemed as though they were breathing the same breath. I could see the love they shared. Then the child pushed closer still and kissed his father’s cheek.

This scene made me think about Communion in a new way. Communion is not just about recognizing Christ’s sacrificial gift or simply confessing our sin and asking for his wonderful grace and forgiveness. It is also about coming in close and feeling the warm presence of Christ as he offers us new life.

Because of this simple demonstration of love between father and child, Communion will now forever bring me closer to Christ’s deep, abiding love. Christ desires close communion with us, not just at these special times but each and every day.

Today's Prayer

In the special times and in our everyday living, O Christ, may we feel your abiding presence breathing new life into us. Amen.

Chuck Swindoll:

Our Daily Bread

Joyce Meyers

Charles Stanley:

Worldwide Communion tomorrow at 10. We will also be collecting for Everlasting Life Ministries

Good Morning Blessed, Willing, Joyful, Testimony-Sharing Servants of the King of the Universe! Amen! Please Lord! Stir us, Your faithful servants to receive all your blessings, choose joy, share our lives and stories willingly. WOW! We get to worship as we live and love more like Jesus and bring Him and His ways alive! Thank You! Stir us to  more of this for your glory! Use us as You redeem and in spite of our circumstances. Thanks Lord! Come! Redeem! Revive! Lead! Use! Amen!

This week has taken us through all kinds of highs and lows and in it all is God! PTL! He has great plans for you that He has been unleashing. He brings His wisdom and peace beyond understanding as He guides us to His greater things. REJOICE! What story has He given you of His faithful love and provision? Who needs to hear that? What is your part in His story? Do that for His glory! Check out my devotionals for today that thread through our salutation, choices and lives in Christ! he is able to do immeasurably more than we can think or imagine and he created you and gifted and empowered you to be His representative, just as you are, for such a time as this! Trust and follow Him well today and write that new story to share! He is working all things together for good, even though that seems hard to believe today. He is with you and sending you to go change the world one soul at a time by living and loving more like Jesus today. Go! Love like Him and write and share those stories! Amen!

I was going to just use ODB and UR devos today about sharing our stories and taking one step of fait but all the devos I used today (below) thread through this as God is speaking to my heart and informing my steps for today. Is He doing the same for you? What's He saying? Who will you process with? What will you do in response? Pray, receive, process, plan and go share your story one step of faith at a time. And then add to your gratitude lists as you see God respond and then you will have another story to share of His faithful love and of using His surrendered servant to go love and impact the world for His glory. Amen! We get to choose to jump in His river of love and life and allow Him to bring Living Water from us as He leads us along through today, Yes rejoice! What an awesome God we love and get to worship and serve!

Sarah Young

Charles Stanley

Joyce Meyers

Our Daily Bread

Upper Room: One Step of Faith

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord. - Psalm 84:1-2 (NIV)

My youth was spent in an existential void filled with doubt. I was searching for something and wanted to fill that void by surrounding myself with people and possessions. Paradoxically, the more I searched and the more things I acquired, the emptier I felt. I finally reasoned that the answer to my deep yearning lay in a spiritual awakening, but I resisted: What would people think?

One afternoon I passed by a church that was usually full of people; but that day it was not. In my quest to find answers to my questions, I went in and spent a few minutes there in silent reflection. In those few moments I found the tranquility and peace of mind that I needed. I came to understand that the fullness of my existence did not depend on things but on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

I began to seek out persons of faith to guide me on my spiritual journey, a journey that restored my life and helped me restore relationships with my family. My newfound faith also inspired me to share in loving fellowship with others who were on the same quest. Most important, as I spent time in prayer and Bible study, my spiritual awakening drew me closer to God.

Today's Prayer

God of hope, remove anything that prevents us from walking in your light. Thank you for the pioneers of faith who show us how to experience the fullness of life in relationship with you. Amen.The Word for You Today

TGIF...Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! Worship! Adore! PTL! Celebrate your forgiveness and God's great love, mercy and grace!

Thank you for your prayers and encouragements! They are powerful and mean so much! 

Please know and celebrate that God is hearing and responding to our prayers for the roof and insurance. Things are looking promising to have new insurance by the 15th and minor roof repairs being scheduled. PTL! Keep praying with thanksgiving! More updates Sunday!

Don't forget Sunday is Worldwide communion and we will collect for Everlasting Life Ministries too.

Pray for our Clothing Closet and workers tomorrow to be God's vessels, to connect to and bless clients, to draw clients to God's love and for protection. Thank God for all our servants!

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Good Morning Receiving, Releasing, Informed, Empowered, Pray-ers and Followers of Jesus! Amen! So be it Lord! raise up prayer warriors and a house of prayer for the nations at St. Matts. Inform and hear our prayers. Thank You! Amen! Check out the Harvest Blog at the bottom and pray for our church leaders. Wed. during the Bishop led EC Day of Fasting and Prayer, he prayed for our pastors and leaders during this month set aside to honor our leaders. harvest continues those prayers. We need you to pray! Thanks!

This morning God led me to some different devotional thoughts and resources as He was preparing me to write this blog. PTL! He is speaking all the time and I was able to hear and sense the thread through these as I focused on Him. I'm going to start here with 1 Peter 2 as two devotions used parts of it. Reading them reminded me of our discussion Wed and yesterday about Peter and his new name and the weight of being called to leadership. We are to draw close to our Vine, stay connected and receive His life giving sap of wisdom, love and direction.

1Peter 2: 4-9 and 21-25: 

4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. 5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say,

“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
    chosen for great honor,
and anyone who trusts in him
    will never be disgraced.”

7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him,

“The stone that the builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.”

8 And,

“He is the stone that makes people stumble,
    the rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

22 He never sinned,
    nor ever deceived anyone.

23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted,

    nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
    who always judges fairly.
24 He personally carried our sins
    in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
    and live for what is right.
By his wounds
    you are healed.
25 Once you were like sheep
    who wandered away.
But now you have turned to your Shepherd,

    the Guardian of your souls.

So, what's God saying to you as you meditate on His Word this morning? 

I'm reminded that following Jesus sometimes doesn't lead to comfort or happiness. We are to be like Jesus who suffered and endured all kinds of things so that we could be set free and united with Him for eternity. PTL! Dying to self and taking up cross--crucifying some things hurts sometimes, and following Him and His example is a command. Daily we have things to take to the cross and things to meditate upon and bring to prayer and action as we dwell in His Living Word. Help us Lord! We are to turn off the noise and fix our thoughts on things above as we seek to follow Jesus each day. And God is faithful to be with us always and promises to work all things together for good. We are to be thankful always--not for things like sickness, death, cancer, broken relationships, etc. But to be thankful that God knows, promises to be with us always and at work. PTL! As we shift our focus through praise and thanksgiving, God comes and inhabits our praise and helps us to receive His shalom and directions. Thanks Lord! Help us to turn off the noise and focus on you more quickly as we renew our thinking through praise and worship. Thanks You!

OUR Daily Bread reminds us of the urgency to have the same attitude as Christ and to seek to respond like Him to all the hard times. They use 1 Peter 2:21-25 as the basis for that teaching. Check it out below. Joyce Meyers reminds us that we are saved from sin! TGIF! Amen! And that Jesus understands what we are facing. he is our High priest even as we are all priests unto the Lord for others. Charles Stanley reminds us not to be conformed to this world but to allow our Savior and the Holy Spirit to transform our thinking and help us to repent (turn the other way). Where might you need some mind renewing today? Ask the Father and receive it and His mind. We have the mind of Christ in us. It's time to start using it, thinking like Him and allowing Him to direct our steps. Don't lean on your own understanding but trust God and follow Jesus with all your heart. He is faithful to lead us well! Amen! He sets us free of sin and guilt and redirects us to His good ways. Thanks Lord! And the Upper Room speaks about lifelines and God's good plans for us that lead to a future and hope, even in spite of all the hardships. We always have this to cling to. Amen! We need others and each other to pray, help us redirect our thinking and focus, hold us accountable, to pray and to point out weak spots. Who is your buddy? Ask God for some and how you can be one and do something about that. Who do you know that could use a lifeline of love and hope and help right now? God saves us to go be Jesus in the flesh to others. He has a custom plan for you, just as you are. PTL! Seek first His Kingdom and cling to Jesus always and you will be on your way to the abundant life He promises. Amen!

ODB:

JM

CS

UR: Lifelines

“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Our twin granddaughter and grandson were born ten weeks early during an emergency procedure. They weighed two pounds, ten ounces and three pounds, respectively. Within hours of their birth, they were transported to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a larger hospital. Multiple wires and tubes attached to their tiny bodies monitored their vital statistics and helped them breathe and take nourishment. These lifelines kept the twins alive for two months until they could survive on their own.

During this frightening time, I also had lifelines that sustained me. My relatives, friends, and church family checked on the babies’ progress daily and offered many prayers for them, their parents, and the hospital staff. I have never prayed as fervently or as often as I did during those months. I told myself over and over that “God’s got the little bitty babies in his hands.” This thought brought much comfort to my anxious soul.

When we are in a terrifying situation, we may forget to pray or we may turn to prayer as a last resort. But prayer offers us assurance that God is with us, caring for us through it all. God not only wants us to survive; God wants us to thrive!

Today's Prayer

Healer God, we trust that you have plans for our present and future. Thank you for caring for us and being with us always. Amen.

Harvest Prayer. Please keep praying like this!!! Your prayers determine our future. Thank you!

October 4 - DAY 8 OF 40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR OUR NATION    Praying For Pastors And Church Leadership   “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7 NIV).   There is a well-known story about Charles Spurgeon, an English preacher in the 19th century known as the “Prince of Preachers.” One day, a group of young ministers came to visit his church as thousands of people were coming to Christ through his preaching.   The young men asked Spurgeon about the effectiveness of his powerful preaching and the “secret” of the success of his ministry. Before answering, he ushered them down to the “boiler room” in the basement of the church. There were about 100 people earnestly praying under the area where his pulpit was located on the floor above. He said to the young men, “Now you know the ‘secret’ of my ministry. My people pray for me.”   The ministry of your church’s leadership will only be as effective as the prayer that fuels it. If you want joyful, Spirit-filled shepherds, who confidently lead their congregations into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, then you must pray for them – and for their families!   Father, pour out an urgency to pray over my pastors and church leadership daily! They sit on the front lines of battle and the enemy wants to do damage to them and ultimately the body of Christ! Help me to intercede for these leaders and their families so that You will continually guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus! Keep them strong and protect them from temptation! Give them all the tools they need to lead, disciple, encourage, and train our church to be all You are calling us to be! Prayer Points Ask God to prompt you to intercede daily on behalf of your church leaders. Pray that your pastors and leaders will deepen their passion to know Christ more intimately. Pray that your pastors and leaders will minister from the Spirit’s power, being persons of prayer and doers of the Word (Acts 6:4). Pray for the marriages and families of your pastors and leaders to be strong and fulfilling. Pray for deep friendships and wise counsel for your church leaders, as well as protection against the temptations and schemes of the Devil. To view our prayer leader video or for more resources visit www.40DaysUSA.com. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here.

Today:

10-12 Bread Ministry

12-12:30 EC Day of Fasting and Prayer. We will join our bishop on zoom to pray for the denomination and our churches. Please stay muted as we will be on with many pastors and churches. Here's the link: 

Meeting ID: 891 9950 0308

Passcode: 196504

 Tonight 6-8 Dinner and Chosen Huddles for Families and Adults. All welcome!

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Good Morning Unified, Fruitful Followers of Jesus! We are one in the Spirit, one in the Lord and they will know we are Christians by our love. Love is a Fruit of the Spirit and a measure of how well we are doing in our walk with Jesus and as His united missionaries. This morning during our pastor's prayer huddle we discussed John 17:20-25 and Jesus' prayer for us on the night before His crucifixion. He prayed for us to be united and one. I think our church is doing pretty good with that and today at noon we will pray for that for our denomination and churches as well. I think we are taking steps to being unified on mission with Revival Church that meets in our building as we pray, plan an will serve together at our Light in the Night Trunk or Treat. (Don't forget we need lots of candy bars and are collecting those or donations to buy some) Keep praying for God to unite us, His Church and to send us to light up the darkness with fellow believers. Amen! Here is John 17:20-25 and Our Daily bread using Gal 5. We will be discussing this on Sunday. Pray into both of these. What's God saying to you and leading you to do? What will you do about that? Who will you unite with in love to bring His love alive? I'd love to hear your answers! Gal. 5:14 reminds us of our call to serve each other in love and to go love our neighbors. Paul says that fulfills the Law. It's all about love! Agape, dying to self love, love in action, loving others well. Let's keep working on that! Let us be earnest in our pursuit to live sacrificially and love lavishly more like Jesus everyday! He made us to love and to be one! Amen!

John 17:20-25, 

20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! 25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.

ODB:

This Week:

Tues 10-11 Zoom Huddle. All welcome.

Tue noon and 6:30 Zoom prayer for Light in the Night Trunk or Treat with Revival Church. Click the link and join others in prayer weekly until the event. Link: 

Topic: Light in the Night Prayer Call Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet every Tues at noon and/or 6:30 PM 

 Join Zoom Meeting 

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9852381129?pwd=V2oXjq2YIpVu2btu0b7Nk4j2Bax7Wl.1&omn=84653669862

 Meeting ID: 985 238 1129 Passcode: prayer

Wed. 10-12 Bread Ministry. 

Noon-12:30 Fast and Pray for the EC denomination and our church to become a dynamic movement of God. Watch for link to join our bishop in prayer on zoom.

Wed 6-8: Chosen Dinner Huddles for adults and Family Ministries. All welcome

Sat 10-1 Clothing Closet

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Good Morning Recounting God's Faithfulness Encouragers and Pronouncers of Life and Blessings! So, what does that mean? Well God gave me that from a deep time in His Word and some devotionals today. Did you catch any of that in your quiet time? God is always speaking and speaking life to things that were as dead. Think about how He breathed life into those dry bones of Elijah. God is redeeming and changing us and has given each of us stories to share and words of life to pronounce as He sends us to encourage others. Amen! Think on that for a bit. Who needs to hear your story, some Good News, and/or receive some words of life today? What will you do about it? Who will you partner with to help you be encouraged and/or to go build up and encourage? Pray into that and pronounce life over Emmaus, our church and your life. Receive it too!

Yesterday Sarah talked about Saul/Paul's life. Something is evident from his life and conversion: God is a pursuing and redeeming God and has plans for all of us--even the vilest of sinners, like Saul, who persecuted and was part of trying to stop the early church by arresting and killing new Christians. As Saul pursued and hunted, he was being pursued and hunted by God. Have you experienced God pursuing you? Has He got your attention and changed your life? Has He redeemed something and made you new and ready for His plans and purposes? Who needs to hear about that? Is God sending you to help someone receive God's healing, loving, redirecting? He has some custom plans just for you. Seek first His Kingdom and righteousness and He will redeem, use, prepare and even send you. Stop running from God and fighting against His plans! Has God changed your name? Stop pronouncing wrong things and death over your life! You are not a loser, unforgivable, or forgotten. You are a very loved, pursued child of the God who molds, changes and leads to life and life abundant! Amen! Start living into your new nature and pronouncing life over you, our church, your neighborhood and some Saul-like people you know. Think about how God answered the prayers of many people who were crying out for deliverance from Saul's wrath. Who are you praying for and pronouncing deliverance over? Is God sending you to someone that is not your favorite person that you have been praying for or about? God does have plans just for you and for us together! Let us earnestly pursue Him and His good plans and commit to doing our parts. Amen!

Fix your thoughts in things above. Turn off the noise and keep refocusing on our Deliverer and fill your minds with His truth and your mouth with His truths and praise. Keep praying and pronouncing life and ask to be a bringer of His Living water. You are custom made for today and God has great plans for you. And remember they do not have to be big things. Stay faithful in the little things and patiently pursue His righteousness and plans one small step of faith at a time. In God's economy small is big and slow is fast. Keep pursuing faithfulness to the little things and God will lead you and us to His greater things. Amen! God has sent us to be His bringers of Good News, hope and help. Who needs some help, encouragement and some Good News today? Pray into that and ask God how He wants to use you to go bless. Then follow Him. That is where we find life abundant! Living Christ daily is God's best! So live Christ today and incarnate Him and His love. Amen! Rejoice! Be faithful always because He is faithful!

You can use your own Bibles, prayer time and devotionals today to draw close to God. He's singing over you and speaking to your heart. What's He saying? Who needs to hear that? Go! Live and love more like Jesus today! Know true joy and peace as you do! Thanks Lord! Come!

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT! Let us enter His courts with thanksgiving!

Good Morning Fellowshipping Worshipers! Amen! Today we get to worship, praise, pray, study, fellowship, eat and enjoy this day together! PTL!

Worship begins at 10 as Sarah leads us into God's Word. Then we move downstairs to eat and fellowship at the 2 Peas in a Pod Brunch. Come one and all and bring some friends! It promises to be a great day in the Lord! Prepare your hearts to worship!

God has some great plans for you and us as Acts 2:42 comes alive today as we gather. It's just wat the very first church was known to do: Study the apostle's teaching, eat, fellowship and pray. As we gather, may it be as it was for the early church, "And God added to their numbers daily!" Pray for us to connect to others, connect them to God through Christ and make disciples while we love God and others and enjoy life! Amen!

Life in Christ can be that easy as you allow Him to live and love through you and work at being who you are created to be and doing what you are created to do! It's that sweet spot and easy yoke Jesus invites us to enjoy. We all have custom made parts in His Good News Delivery Co. PTL! And we get to exercise some of those things today--praying, worshiping, encouraging, welcoming, sharing, teaching, and loving well. Amen! Come! Now is the time to be you and worship! We are created with the capacity to know Christ and make Him known. Watch today for how God is bringing that alive in and through you and us as we gather. He really does have some great plans for today! Rejoice!

You can spend some time with our God and through our devotionals today. They speak into a lot of this and your part. Check them out prayerfully. I want to just share Charles Stanley's devo which really spoke to my heart and speaks into our calling. He uses Hebrews 3:1 which ends with "Fix your thoughts on Jesus." We encountered that same thought as we wrapped up our Philippians study last week. Fix your thoughts on things above. Keep focused on and follow Jesus and you will be well on your way to becoming more like Him and growing into your created potential. Thanks Lord! God's always up to something new. Let us stay focused and committed to following together! Your Kingdom come and will be done, Lord, in through, and around me! Send me! Grow your Kingdom! Bring revival! may we continue to earnestly pursue and follow You to Your perfect plans! Come! Glorify Your name! Amen!

Charles Stanley:

Tomorrow: Worship at 10, brunch at 11:30. All welcome! Bring some friends! Who ya bringin'? There's plenty of food and desserts that Lori and team are, will and have prepared.

Good Morning Redeemed, Persevering, Protected, Growing Servants of the God Most High! YES and Amen! This salutation is right from our devos for today. Psalm 103:11 reminds us, "As high as the heavens are above the Erath, so great is His love for those who fear Him." He really loves us and as we surrender and ask Him to examine us, renew our thinking and help us repent, He will and grow us more into the people we are created to be and more like Him. Even in the battle for our nation, God addresses His people to respond rightly to bring His help. "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, turn from their wicked ways and pray--THEN I will heal their land." (my paraphrase). Revival, salvation and bringing to life God's best ways for us and this nation begins with us--His people. His plan all along is to use His people to bring Jesus, salvation and new life alive to the world around us where He has placed us for such a time as this. It all begins with our obedience and focus on God's best. Amen! Help us Lord! Come! Refine us and focus us on Your mission with earnest and surrendered hearts. May we truly become one nation under God. May Your perfect plans and will come alive in and through us. May we persevere in faith and be about You and Your business no matter the circumstances around us. Help us to live as your holy and surrendered remnant and bring You alive today. Bring revival! Change us and this nation by Your love! Thanks! Come! Amen!

Here are our devos for today to contemplate prayerfully and to use to process and plan with some friends how to respond. What's God saying to you and what will you do about it? Pray on that armor as you surrender, repent, renew your thinking and plan with some others to go bring Jesus' light and love alive! We are His vessels of change! Live like it today! We are...Redeemed, Persevering, Protected, Growing Servants of the God Most High! Amen!

ODB:

UR: Persevere!

Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. - Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

One of the greatest stories of endurance in the Bible is that of Job. Job suffered the loss of his family, possessions, and health, but he persevered and revered God through it all.

I recently had the chance to run in my first half-marathon. Even with months of proper training, I found myself drained of energy and low in spirit with several miles to go before the finish line.

As I began to question whether I would have the strength to make it, I remembered today’s reading from Hebrews telling us to run with perseverance toward the path set before us, just as Jesus persevered toward the cross.

These words are a powerful reminder for us to remain faithful to God till the very end, despite the many struggles we are bound to experience. I am proud to say that by remembering God’s challenge to persevere, I was able to cross the finish line.

Today's Prayer

Dear God, help us focus on all you have promised, especially during the challenging times. Thank you for your faithfulness to us. Amen.CS:

 

SY:

TWFYT:

Harvest: