Good Morning Mustard-Seed-Sized-Faith Prayers! "Oh you of little faith! How long must I put up with you?" Do you feel like you've heard that from Jesus? Sometimes we wonder, don't we? How often have we prayed for God to help our unbelief. Yesterday during Zoom Huddle we discussed healing prayer and unbelief as we encountered the Scriptural promise from Mark 16:17-18. "In my name they will...lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." On the surface that's a promise that doesn't always seem to be true. Yet God keeps His promises. ALWAYS! Sometimes His promised healing comes in heaven. Our days are all numbered and God's will is always accomplished. Sometimes our faith and prayers alter times or events as well. Do you have faith that can move a mountain? Today's devotionals seem to tie to praying, praying in faith and faith. Check them out below and talk to God and process them with some others like we do at huddle on Tues, huddle tonight and even my pastors huddle this morning. This morning we processed and prayed about our personal wildernesses. Are you in a wilderness right now? Maybe un answered prayers and lack of faith has led you there. Stop! Take every thought captive before the Lord. Listen. Receive. Process. God is hearing and answering all the time. It just may not be according to your will.

Below are the Bible study page from our Zoom Huddle yesterday, Harvest prayer blog and our devos. What's God saying to you right now? What is the Holy Spirit praying on your behalf? What is God waiting for you to release in power through prayer? Father, grow our faith to even the size of a mustard seed. Forgive and heal our unbelief. Holy Spirit, thank you for interceding for me when I don't know what to pray or am unable to pray. Help us to stay focused on You and what You are doing Lord. Help us to pray informed and step into our parts well. Thank You for loving us, hearing and answering our prayers according to Your will and timing, and bringing Your will alive Your way. Father, hear these prayers as we ask in the mighty name of Jesus. May we minister and pray in Your power for Your glory alone. Amen

See you at Bread Ministry or Family Ministry/Adult dinner huddle tonight. Shalom. Pray for wisdom for the cardiologist I meet today. They are still pretty clueless about what's going on with me. Thanks! I feel great and numbers are great too. PTL!

He Loves Me Most (Huddle devo)

ODB:

UR: God Hears Our Cries

The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. - Romans 8:26 (NIV)

My heart hammered in my chest and turmoil swirled inside me because my father was in the hospital. However, attending a prayer gathering at my church with Christians from a variety of denominations and being surrounded by believers and God’s loving presence was comforting. All of us were at different stages in our personal journeys with Jesus, but we all had hope and faith. I found the readings, thoughts, and messages inspiring, even though there was a knot of worry inside me. When it was time to offer prayer requests, I desperately wanted to ask for a blessing for my dad; but if I were to speak, I knew my sadness would overcome me. I felt powerless and voiceless.

One of the parishioners who knew of my situation smiled at me, then stood up and prayed, “We ask God to protect the sick and hospitalized who are suffering and need healing — and we ask God to help those who are caring for them.” Tears filled my eyes. Overcome with gratitude, I felt peace filling my soul. My loving heavenly Father had heard my cry and allowed someone else to give voice to my need.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Loving Father, thank you for listening to us and surrounding us with your love. Amen.

Harvest Prayer Blog:

TWFYT:

Yesterday Sarah brought a great word and reminder about temptation and standing, firm on God's Word, like Jesus to overcome and live the victorious life in Christ. (Check out the Harvest Prayer blog below that ties to this)

We voted and approved the budget as presented. Thank you! (Note there was a question about the proposal I brought to the Vision Team to add air conditioning to the Fellowship Hall. The Vision team, which includes your Support Team, voted no to the proposal. In the future we may do a fund raiser for this. (Note: there is already enough in the building fund to cover this needed project.) In the mean time ministry will cease, as usual, for the summer in the building downstairs. April 26th will be our last brunch until the Fall. Family Ministries and Adult dinner huddle will cease for the summer in May. Bread distribution will continue as usual.)

The new members class met briefly. We will install new members next Sunday. Thank God for them and their serving already! Pray for God to give us more connections points to those He is drawing. Pray for His favor and direction for outside the building ministry this summer.

Thank you to Lori and the team for a great brunch! Thank you to the clean-up crew that cleaned up all the dishes and messes! (Karen and I were unable to attend as we had the opportunity to visit our granddaughter until 1:30. I am doing fine and my numbers are perfect. PTL!)

Tues Huddle resumes on Zoom tomorrow at 10. All welcome. Wed at 6 we resume Family Ministry/Adult dinner huddle. All welcome!

______________________________________________________________________

Good Morning Church! What is Church? What is your part in it? Those are things we will discuss next Sunday as we install new members. Anyone interested in joining our fellowship of believers or adding a rock to our covenant altar, please contact Pastor Don. Right now, 8 or 9 plan to join our church and add their rocks to our covenant family altar. If you haven't painted a rock with your family name and covenanted with us and would like to, please find a small rock, paint your family name and maybe a favorite Bible verse and bring it along on Sunday. Four years ago Memorial Day weekend, we add our family rocks to our Memorial Altar and covenanted together to be God's family on mission and to stay connected to God and each other as we go and love like Jesus. We will review that covenant on Sunday as well. We are His family and as we build our altar, our family grows and we remember those who have gone before on mission together growing God's Kingdom. Check out the memorial altar in Joshua as they crossed the flooded Jordan River. Rocks were placed as a memorial to that day and reminder to future generations of the Cornerstone on which we build. (Jesus and His ways)

There is much I could talk about from our devotionals today. I will only share the Upper Room as we wrap up the month of love. You can engage with God through the others at your pace today. The UR reminds me of raising our hands in praise to God for His love, opening our hands to receive His love and then reaching out to love like Jesus. Do you see how that is coming alive through our gatherings? It really is as God loves on us and through us and we worship Him! He is with us always and lovingly created us for such a time as this. As we gather as His Church, He sends us to love like Jesus and grow His Kingdom. That is our mission and God's plans will not be thwarted. We all have a vital part to play in His Church and our fellowship on mission. Our mission is to follow Jesus out of the building, connect to neighbors and connect them to God. (Make disciples as we love like Jesus as we go daily) Since there will be no summer ministry in the building besides bread distribution and clothing closet, pray for how God wants to use us (use you!) to connect to neighbors this summer and to lead us to people to lead to Him. Pray for fair weather on our outside gathering days this year. (Over the past three years we were only able to meet a total of 5-7 times over three years due to severe weather or heat) Pray for harvest workers and for God to use you and thank Him for the harvest. Pray that we would be the Church well and live and love more like Jesus as we each follow Him to His plans for us. Draw close to Him and receive your marching orders for today. Be the Church! Be Love in the flesh! God made you for such a time as this and wants to grow His Kingdom through you. You matter! Amen!

UR: Receiving Love

Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” - John 13:34 (NIV)

I remember the first time anyone told me they loved me. When I was a child, my parents showed me love — they provided me with a home, fed and clothed me, bought me presents, looked after me when I was sick, and took me on trips when they could afford it. But they never actually said the words I love you. They were probably never told that they were loved as children either. As wonderful as my parents were, I doubted their love when I was younger, wondering if their kind actions toward me were motivated by a sense of duty.

The first person who told me they loved me was Ruthie, a three-year-old child from the church I was attending. I did not know how to respond. How could a three-year-old whom I barely knew tell me she loved me when my parents couldn’t? Ruthie could tell me that she loved me because her parents had demonstrated and spoken of their love for her.

It is vitally important to know that we are loved — especially to know we are loved by God. Sometimes I sit quietly before the Lord, open my hands, and say, “Jesus, I receive your love. Father, I receive your love.” And as I receive love from God, I can pass that love to others both through actions and words.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Thank you, Father, for sending your son to die for us, not out of duty but out of love. We open our hearts to receive your love today. Amen.

“The first purpose of prayer is to know God.” —Charles L. Allen

Harvest Prayer Blog:

God really loves you and is singing over you right now! He has great plans lovingly created just for you and His Spirit is in you to guide and help you! Rejoice! Be still and know! Turn off the noise. Open your Bibles and refresh in His presence this morning!

Good Morning Redeemed of the Lord! Rejoice and be glad in this day the Lord has made! Again I say rejoice. Praise, worship, meditating on His Word and trusting more are good places to begin each new day. God is speaking to you all the time. What's He saying? Who are you processing with? Check out our devotionals below. Can you see the thread through them as God releases His powerful Word to, over, and through you today? He's wanting to lead you and us, His Church, to His best and His greater purposes. That all begins with one informed step of faith after another. That grows as we process and go together and all along the way. As we go, we grow. God doesn't waste anything and redeems and even gives back what the enemy has stolen! He uses us right where we are, just as we are, for His plans and purposes and grows us to the greater things and our fuller potential in Christ. What a great life in Christ this is! What joy and shalom we can choose, know, and praise God for! Don't listen to the crowd or all the noise around you! Focus on Jesus and what He's doing and cry out to Him for help and deliverance. He will come to you and lead you through the valley. Allow Him to conform you to His image, grow you and your faith and stir your imagination as He uses you to grow His church and connect to others and fulfill your part in making disciples that our fellowship of believers is called to do.

Dig into the Living Word today as you ask God to grow you more into the image of Christ and using you to do more of your created purposes well as you follow Jesus. No matter where you are or what you are going through, God is at work and has a plan just for you. What is it? Use your imagination. God gave it to you to use to come up with ideas of how to reach and disciple others. How might He use you today, this summer, this year to connect to some neighbors He is leading to you? How might we find new places to serve and connect? What are God's ideas for fun things outside the building for the spring and summer for us to do as His Body that He will use to lead people to our fellowship? We all have a part. What's yours? What will you do about it today? Who will you partner with? We are the Church and sent to be His Church (gathering of believers) that connect others to Him and His love and help them to become disciples of Jesus. We need some new connection points. Pray into that. What are you doing where God might want to use us to connect to others? Let's make some plans. Since the fellowship hall is too hot for us to gather in the summer, where is God leading us to feed, serve, and connect and minister to neighbors? What is your part in that? Ask Him and make some plans. He has something just for you! Use your imagination and share your thoughts with us. Let us reason and plan together. And let us be determined to go and love more like Jesus together as well! I know some of you are experiencing some Holy Spirit pinching with ideas. Nothing is too small or silly to try of God is leading us to it. And where He guides, He provides and that includes servants (you) that implement His plans. Come let us reason, process and plan together for the summer and beyond (I'm already working on fall and Christmas ideas but focusing more intently on summer plans.) What's God saying to you? Who are you sharing and processing that with? Love God. Love people. Make disciples. That is our mission. How does God want to use you?

Charles Stanley:

UR: Why Me?

We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. - Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)

Prison is a breeding ground for human suffering. Having spent the better part of my adult life behind bars, I have witnessed much pain. Countless times I have cried out to God, “Why me?” Today’s scripture readings remind us that God can use our suffering to change lives. Central to that plan is the transformation of our spirits.

For many of us behind bars, we come to the point where the only place left to go is to our knees and cry out to God to forgive our transgressions and welcome us home like the prodigal son. I spend my days in here trying to be the man that God created me to be, trying to use my experience and years of suffering to help others. Today I take comfort in knowing that the Lord is using me as a vessel of compassion and love. Today I allow God to use my life as an example of true spiritual transformation. If we allow it, God will change us.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Merciful God, use us to demonstrate your ability to mend broken hearts and transform lives. Amen.ODB:

TWFYT:

Tomorrow: Worship with Children's Church at 10 and on Zoom, followed by vote on budget, followed by brief New Members gathering at front of Sanctuary, followed by Brunch! Bring a friend! (or three!)

Tues: Zoom Huddle 10AM

Wed: Bread distribution 10-12; Family Ministries/Adult dinner huddle 6PM

Sat March 1st: Clothing Closet 10-1

Good Morning Teammates--Co-Laborers in Christ! We all know that song: We are one in the Spirit. We are one in the Lord! And what? They'll know we are Christians by our love! Amen! We are all part of Christ's Body world-wide, all of history Body--His Church! And He has created us for His purposes and placed us in His Body that gathers in a building called St. Matts for His purposes for such a time as this. We are loved, gathered, sent, guided and we matter! All of us matter! We are one in the Spirit, Lord and part of His Good News Delivery Co. Amen! We are family and we are better together. In fact we need each other! Please pray into our unity of vision, mission and as His family. Pray that many more would be drawn to His love and family through us. Pray for more connection points to others to be seen by us and stepped into as we seek to grow in Christ and grow His Body. Pray for (this is something God is pounding me about) us to start some small groups where we process, discern, pray, encourage, correct and hold accountable each other. That is a key part of becoming more in '24 that God is leading us through this year. What word is He leading you to work on? Sarah and I have only heard from one of you? God is always tweaking us and wanting to grow us. What is He wanting you to focus on this year? Working on these words in small groups would be perfect as well. We love God, each other and others. Amen! An we are doing pretty well with that but this life is a journey to become more like Jesus and we always have some things to work on. That works best in small groups. Who are you partnering with?

Check out the devos below as you still yourself at Jesus' feet, receive and share with someone what you are hearing. God really does have great plans for you and sometimes that means traveling through some storms along the way. Stormy times are times we really need others. But so can those opposite times of floating on some high time of life. Who is helping you to stay true to God's plans for you? Who is helping in those anxious times. We are family and better together. We are loved, loving and gathered and sent to love together. May we continue to work out our faith with fear and trembling as we show our love and worship as we grow and go together. Yes we are one in the Spirit and the Lord and we are love! Amen!

Harvest Prayer Blog:

Charles Stanley:

UR: Light in the Darkness

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. - Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

When I was young, I slept with the light on in the bathroom down the hall because I was afraid of the dark. The light would shine into my bedroom, and I would hear the calming sound of the fan in the bathroom as I drifted off to sleep, feeling safe. Whenever the bathroom light wasn’t on, I felt anxious, and it was much harder for me to fall asleep.

When Paul gave the command not to be anxious, he had greater reason to worry than does a kid who is afraid of the dark. He was in prison for proclaiming the gospel to the nations, and he was unsure of what his future held. In Paul’s moment of uncertainty, he chose to focus his attention on the One who calls himself the light of the world.

When we aren’t sure of where we are headed or how God will lead us, we can choose to trust in Christ and focus on the illuminating grace of his presence. Christ’s light can guide us through the often tumultuous waves of life.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear God, help us to worry less and trust you to guide our steps. Amen.ODB:

Good morning friends. I'm home! PTL! I'm also having computer issues now. So I'll let you spend your own time with God today. Check out the devos and sit at His feet a bit. He's speaking love over you a d has some cool things for you to discover today. 

I'll share more tomorrow but so much to organize and get together as I transition home after a week of refining and refreshing. God is so good and He's doing some heart surgery on each of us. Allow God heart and mind to come alive in you and through you today! Shalom!

Good morning very loved praying friends. Here am I, live from my hospital room still yet filled with peace beyond understanding and joy overflowing. God is good. He is with me. And He is the Lord of my circumstances. I'm still here for His purposes. Amen

I don't know how to attached our devos from my phone so I forwarded today's harvest prayer one because you need to read, know and pray this today. Check out the prayer starters at the end as well. Good stuff. Then open your Our Daily bread devo on prayer as well. What's God saying to you? What will you do about it? 

God has great plans and purposes for you to discover today. Sometimes in spite of what you think, He is always at work, stirring things together for good of those who believe. That has never been more evident than to me during this extended stay. I was angry at first when I wasn't discharged Friday as promised but after inviting Jesus to be the Lord of my stay and me, He has used me several times to pray, encourage and bless from the prison. And I really do have peace and joy. Side benefit is im loosing weight and getting healthy. Although I still could go for a good cheese steak, that is not dominating my thinking anymore as I seek to make good and healthy choices 

And that's all God asks of all of us. Choose well in Christ. Choose healthy choices. Present your temple as a holy and pure offering for God to live and live through, as you are, where you are. He loves to do that and will encourage you as you do. Try it! God has lovingly prepared you and placed you right where He wants you for such a time as this. Rejoice. Surrender. Live and live well. Amen

Couple of notes: if I am still in the hospital tomorrow, there will be no zoom huddle because I can't do that from my phone. (Apparently urgent test need means within three days)

We are canceling Wednesday evening gathering due to facility being used for a funeral wed afternoon.

New member group will gather for ten min at front of sanctuary after worship Sunday. We will install new members during worship first sun in March, Lord willing!

Sarah will give an update prayer email soon. Thanks Sarah and Mike for covering for me. God had plans for you both as well!

Alright time to go do laps while I wait for my test and breakfast at 930...that's lunch time, but God has a plan in the waiting! Shalom shalom

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: "Harvest Prayer Ministries" <

info@harvestprayer.com

>To: "

pastordon7@yahoo.com

" <

pastordon7@yahoo.com

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Sent: Mon, Feb 19, 2024 at 4:00 AM

Subject: God Wants to Talk with You!

View this email in your browser February 19 - God Wants to Talk with You! “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us,” said Tozer.  Nowhere is this more true than in prayer. Our view of prayer is dramatically affected by our view of God’s character—particularly of His love. If we have a low view of God’s love for us, we will see our prayers as unimportant to Him. But if we understand the magnitude of His affection for His children, we will realize how much God longs for us to come to Him.         I have eight married children who have produced twenty grandchildren (and counting)! I’m sure I’m a very poor grandad, but my heart leaps every time the door opens and one of my kids or grandkids comes charging into the room. I love them! I want to know about their lives and be involved in their decisions. I want them to call me when they are in need. I’m concerned when I haven’t heard from them. I’m honored as they ask for my advice. I’m thrilled when I hear of their successes and saddened by their difficulties.          What touches them, touches me. If this is true of me in my imperfection, it is perfectly true of our Father in the perfection of His compassion. Psalm 138:8 says, “The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me. Your lovingkindness is everlasting…” What touches us, touches the Father as He longs to be involved in every detail of our lives.   Loving Father, because You are perfect in Your love and compassion, You can love me and those I love more deeply and far more completely than I could ever think or imagine. Your love surpasses any feelings I could ever have for my children, grandchildren, or other family members. Help me to love as You love, to care as You care, to be involved in the lives of those who are close to me in ways that are informed and fueled by Your mercy, compassion, and kindness. Continue to show me how much You long for me to come to You – sometimes not to ask anything at all…but just to be in Your presence. ---Adapted from Simply Prayer by Bill Elliff. This book is available at prayershop.org. Prayer Points Worship God with reverence and awe as a consuming fire blazing with holiness (Heb. 12:28-29). Give thanks for his plan to refine your faith through trials and tests (Jas. 1:2-4). Confess any times this week when you have not seen God’s purpose for you in these trials (Mal. 3:2-4). Commit yourself to submitting to God’s testing in your life. Ask God to strengthen you with his power (Eph. 6:10-11). Pray for those who are undergoing severe testing, that God may show them his purpose and strengthen them in their weakness (Heb. 12:7-13). Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Share Tweet Forward Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries.  Subscribe Here Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek Me and find Me  when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13 Our mailing address is: Harvest Prayer Ministries PO Box 10667 Terre Haute, IN 47801 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Good morning friends! It's been a long week already and only five days have passed. As I sit here awaiting routine heart catherization to explore my heart issues, I have peace, yet there are always those thoughts in the back of your head. Could this be the day that I step into Jesus arms? Have I completed my custom made mission well? Will I hear well done? Have I done all I can to bring some lost sheep into the fold? What should I have done differently? You know the types of questioning.

Haha so as I was writing that here comes my nurse trying to put a new IV in. I know it didn't hurt as much as Jesus or shed as much blood but she is now changing the sheets. She missed my veins twice. Praying it's not like that in surgery! Right before she came in my glasses broke. Sometimes all we can do is laugh!

So here's what I've been thinking. They are trying to figure out why my heart is only squeezing at 35%. I can't tell anything is wrong or that I have a fib as well. Our bodies are amazing at adopting. How's that relate to our Body of Christ, our church. Can we tell when people aren't operating at 100%? Do we know ourselves well enough to know we are not running at full song.? There's a reason God had me choose "earnest" as my word. Am I living earnestly for Christ and at my created purposes? There for sure some health things I will have to be more earnest at now.

Pause as I minister to the new phlebotomist sent to get IV in. Turns out she's the cousin of the you g race driver that died in Lehighton in a truck crash a few weeks ago. Please keep looking to God to be at work and join Him! Yesterday our dist EC rep came to visit and God used us to pray for a young cardiologist is getting married in a couple of weeks. God is always at work. Listen and be available.

Wow this blog is all over the place. Hope there is some value in my babbling. Know this...you are a special creation of God, very loved, always forgiven, and He has plans for you...some great, some small, some in between. Earnestly pursue Christ and His plans for you. Allow Him to live and live through you. 

Even at 35% it is still a heart 100% filled with Christ. Until He calls you home, live and live more like Jesus each day and allow Him to use you just as you are a d grow you to His greater things. That is a life well lived in Christ. Amen. And I vite someone, as many as you can, along on your journey. I'm praying for you and us!

I'm still not scheduled and it 6. Maybe I'll be here another day. Well it's a good day for a fast and prayer day anyway. Thank you all for stepping in and covering and helping while I'm out of service. God is using you. Thanks for allowing Him to! Hope to see you all Sunday and feasting together. If God has other plans, see you at the marriage feast of the Lamb! Shalom 

Good Morning Recharged, Following God and Shalom, Co-Laborers! That's me right now and can be you, should be you, as well. Check out our devos for today. I am using the forwarded harvest prayer blog about peace...God's shalom...beyond understanding. The UR discusses being fully charged and ODB speaks of open doors as we follow God. May these speak to your heart like they have to me. We are learning to stay yoked to Jesus easy yoke, walking more fully in His ways as we follow better His peace. That is true worship as we learn to live and love more like Jesus in '24! And as we learn to follow Him better to His plans for us 

I'm still sitting here looking out my hospital room window and watching traffic building on 78. Life in this earth I the country is sure a hustle bustle. We need to learn to be still, choose rest and trust God more. Amen!

I'm doing great and actually may get to go home later today. I'm trusting God for that open door and I have such peace. Spending days resting and staying connected to God has brought such recharging and shalom. I had no idea how much I needed this reloading a d correcting. The Lord IS my Shepherd! And God keeps using me and sending me to patients open doors, staffs open hearts, and family members open to prayer and a word from God. And that recharges me too. Interesting that right now God used me to pray for abd be a blessing to a phlebotomist that is like I was the first days here. Running at full speed on own agenda. Sometimes we need to be still, breathe out the junk and breathe in shalom and the Holy Spirit.  But you know she's in that "the hurrieder I go the behinder I get" mode that I've lived through most of my life. Breathe out that junk. Invite Jesus to be the Lord of your day and week and life. When He is, whatever comes your way is His problem and allowed for His purposes. When you get to that place like I did eventually while here, peace comes, God uses you and joy and trust grow. It's a great place to be! It starts with dying to self and allowing God's plans to come to life in and through you. Amen. Now if I can just learn to get to that place quicker...maybe one of my new lifestyle choices. Chilling in the Lord. Amen. Please Lord!

As I sit here chatting with the Lord and you, I can't help but contemplate how many times I've gotten to the place where God is saying, time for a hospital stay, you aren't listening or recharging well. Lord, will I ever learn? Will you guys? We beat our bodies, thrash about trying to bless God, others, family, bosses, doing our own things for what? What really matters in this life? What allows us the most peace, joy and health? Walking with Jesus at His pace, into His purposes, His way.  (Read that again) What's God saying to you right now? What will you do about it? Maybe you have ve learned that lesson? Who needs your mentoring and praying?

God opens doors all the time! Are you prepared and ready to step through them? Are you moving at a pace to even notice and available to pause and step through? God's opened so many doors while He sat me down for a week. I am recharged and prepared, purified, and ready. And I am willing to honor and follow Him. What a blessing this week has been for me and some others. Now who is willing to keep me accountable to keep choosing and following well? We all need helpers in this journey to become more like Jesus and in seeing and stepping through those open doors . Who are you helping? Who is helping you?

The harvest is great! You are part of the harvesting company called st. Matt's. No matter who you are, your current circumstances or abilities, Jesus says, "Come as you are. I have some cool things for you today. Come and see!" Stepping through that open door brings peace beyond understanding and recharging that allows you to move towards God's best for you! Choose well, grasshopper! Shalom!

Thank you to all who are covering and working the funeral today for Harriet. God is using you! Lord willing I have a wedding to help set up Friday and wedding Sat. And we have brief new members class before brunch Sunday. I can't wait to hear how God is using you and the joys you have to discover and share as you step into your anointing. Smile! God loves you and is with you. I love you too and am praying for you. Shalom Shalom.

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: "Harvest Prayer Ministries" <

info@harvestprayer.com

>To: "

pastordon7@yahoo.com

" <

pastordon7@yahoo.com

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Sent: Wed, Feb 21, 2024 at 3:59 AM

Subject: Peace Be with You

View this email in your browser February 21 - Peace Be with You “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.” (Daniel 10:19) The Prophet Daniel had a spectacular encounter with God when he was given a vision of an angelic being, who in all probability was the Lord Jesus in his pre-incarnate state. Daniel’s response was to lose all strength and fall down before the Lord. God dealt with Daniel’s fear in ways that are encouraging to us all. He spoke his peace to Daniel and everything changed. The Lord assured Daniel of his love for him and then spoke peace over him. With the peace of God coming into Daniel’s life, the Lord could speak of strength and courage, and it had real meaning to Daniel. It was in this place of peace where Daniel was strengthened that he could finally summon the courage to ask the Lord to speak to him. Do you suppose that it is often fear and lack of peace that prevents us from hearing what the Lord might be saying to us? We so often play the “what if?” game, which breeds fear and uncertainty to the point that we really don’t want to hear from God for fear of what He might say. His peace though, clears out those fears, brings strength, and puts us in a good place for the Lord to speak into our lives. God’s supernatural way for us to deal with fear is accepting his peace into who we are. Receiving his assurances of love as Daniel did, we hear his words of peace and our fears begin to melt away. Lord, I am so thankful that you understand the fears that I face. You don’t ever simply tell me to get over it. Instead, you assure me of your love and give me your peace. I confess my great need for this in our day of confusion and turmoil. I desperately need the peace that only comes from you. --Adapted from Prayer, Peace and the Presence of God (A 30-Day Journey to Experience the Shalom of Jesus) by David Butts. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Prayer Points Praise God as the giver of every good and perfect gift (Jas. 1:5, 17). Give thanks for the indescribable gift of his only Son. Confess any times when you have taken God’s gifts to you for granted. Commit yourself to searching Scripture for more knowledge of the “riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us” (Eph. 1:7-8). Ask that your heart’s thirst be quenched and your soul’s hunger be satisfied in God as with the richest of foods (Psalm 63). Pray that your congregation may have faith that “you will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion” (2 Cor. 9:11). Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Share Tweet Forward Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries.  Subscribe Here Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek Me and find Me  when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13 Our mailing address is: Harvest Prayer Ministries PO Box 10667 Terre Haute, IN 47801 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Notice: Zoom only church today at 10. With a foot of snow on top of piles of ice and snow, parking is a premium around the church. Join us with the choice to remain safe and warm at home (or wherever you may be). Thank you for understanding. Pray for pastor Mike as he brings the Word today 

Good Morning Giant-Slayers, Overcomes in Christ! Is that you? Maybe sometimes? Checkout our devos today. We all face giants. How we face them can fluctuate. Sometimes we can be like David with sling and stone. Sometimes we can be like ten of the spies that feared the giants in the promised land. Sometimes we forget that when we are weak is when we are strongest because God is strong for us. I've seen the fluctuation in approaching the giant in myself this week  I moved back and forth from standing firm with a few small stones to cowering in fear, to giving up and back again. Here's the thing though, God never changed and He was here with me through it all! PTL! And PTL for some friends and staff that were able to redirect me when my faith waivered or I got bound up in a pity party .

God is the Lord of my life! He has great plans for me, even sometimes taking me through a dark valley or three, He IS with me always! This giant is no match for my God! Amen! The having to change some diet things and lifestyle choices could be a giant that leads me way out of my preferences and comfort zone, but a really good thing to live a long and healthy life. Donald, stop fighting God and choose well, health, and life! Amen. Too bad it's not as easy as just saying it. Doing, requires, well, doing and choices--action. 

I'm starting to understand why God had me choose "earnest" and "agape" as my words for this year. And He's giving me great opportunities to choose to walk them out. PTL! And I'm praising for someone reminding me that I was slipping into running from this giant and a pity party. Shew...breathe out that junk Donald and breathe in a fresh breath of the Spirit and set your jaw earnestly, die to self, take up that cross and follow Jesus. Amen

You know God loves you and is with and for you --always! And no matter the giant or how weak you feel or how far out of your comfort zone, God is walking with you, before you, and upholding you in His strong right hand. Be strong and courageous. Let go of self, fear and doubt and step into that new bold and courageous giant slayer nature! God's plans will not be thwarted. And He has great ones for you and us! He has some others to walk with you and help you too! Really, the only giants God can't beat are the ones we won't let go of. What's holding you back? Let's be more like Caleb and Joshua who knew those giants were no match for almighty God. Let's leave Egypt behind and seek boldly after God's best this year! We are unstoppable in Christ as we link arms and stand firm with those few smooth little stones. Amen!

Thank you all for praying for and encouraging me and for respecting my request for privacy. I needed this time for introspection, correction and soul searching. God said rest and I was saying no again...think I'd learn! Hopefully, this time! And ahead lies, Lord willing, some healthy lifestyle choices. They have already begun ..well maybe after that one last cheese steak! 😄 

FYI, I was admitted Thurs with a fib and congestive heart failure. Thank God I came early, but should have come before shoveling Mon and Wed. (Note shoveling did not cause it, just heightened breathing issues) But I did choose to come... PTL! It has been determined that I have a hyper thyroid condition that caused the a fib that caused the fluid retention. Meds have already gotten rid of the water and are settling things down. PTL! I have the most mild and benign a fib. And now that they know why it started, we can address that. So several doc visits and medication adjustments await my discharge, hopefully this morning. I've calmed down, dyed to self, am choosing joy, and have asked God back to be the Lord of my stay. He used me yesterday to pray for and encourage my one doc and one nurse. Wonder what He has for me before I leave? Hope it's a legacy of faith well lived in Christ, no matter the giant!

One final thought.. please prayerfully ask God for your word(s) for the year and share those with Sarah, me, and your teammates. We want to pray, encourage, and remind when needed, like I was this week. Maybe like me, God hadn't released you fully from last year's word and will give you another that is the next step. Let us know. We are in this giant slaying journey together and it is an awesome adventure for sure! Come and see! And feel free to remind me when you see me slipping from dying to self, earnestly and living, loving and leading like Jesus more earnestly. Thanks! I can't wait to see what land flowing with milk and honey lies ahead for you and us! Come Lord! Be our Lord! Transform us more fully into Your best! Amen 

Good morning unique creations of God. I'm sitting here watching the beautiful snow fall from my hospital bed, wishing I could be out of this prison and playing in the snow. I'm watching the plow trucks clearing the lots, the slow traffic on 78 carefully persevering through the storm and I'm thinking if Sarah's snowflake making challenge. I'm also praying for Karen who may need to come pick me up later and the team clearing snow for clothing closet and church.

Then I read our devotionals (which I can't forward from my phone). How does Paul's thorn in the flesh and building each other up tie to this what do you think? What are you hearing?

We are all unique creations of God with uniquely created purposes. Some of us our out plowing, some shoveling and some staying out with a warm cup of cocoa. Some are out there fulfilling their purposes while persevering through some storm. Some are plowing away even though it seems futile as the snow piles up right behind the plow. Some are watching and praying. And some are out of control and forging ahead while others are making wise choices. 

Seems like we are all facing some sort of storm or trial today. Life and our efforts often feel useless, yet we carry on in Christ. Many have come to experience that God is sufficient and enough. Some have come to rely on His strength when weakest and He IS enough and knows best. And all of us need the eph. 4:29 building up and encouragement. Who are you cheering on? Who are you helping shovel out of some snowbank? Who are you plowing the path for in prayer and love and help?

Yes we all are facing something. Yes God is sufficient and enough. And we are family that need each other's uniqueness and unique love and help. As you rise and shine later this morning, the storm may be waning, but there is unique opportunities for us all to go live and live like Jesus today. Keep at it friends! God's not finished with you or is. He has great plans, even for today. He is with you always. And He has united us with co-laborers. And like fresh falling snow, we are beautiful together and unique individuals. Let us always consider that uniqueness and the unknown storms and love and encourage well. Amen keep plowing together too. We are making progress. PTL 

Good morning faithful prayer warriors. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! It is TGIF praise day. Count your many blessings! I am! And you guys are on that list!. Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement!.

They are narrowing in on the cause of the a fib and fluid. It may be thyroid related. Today is a day of many tests and docs. Outside change I will be discharged today, probably tomorrow, depending how tests are able to be scheduled. Just another doc visit and very pleased with progress. The Lord is my shepherd. He is with me. (Now if only he would bring me a cheese steak and pizza).

So what's God saying to you today? What are you thankful for? Who are you processing with? God's got great plans for this day. I'm allowing Him to use me here while He heals me! PTL! May God be with you all today. Hope to see you Sunday, Lord willing. May God shalom be with you today. He's definitely a good good Father! Amen

Please note that Pastor Don is having some phone issues. I don't always get your messages right away. I am not ignoring you. Today, I got a phone message from yesterday and several texts from yesterday morning as well. I try to respond ASAP. If you are not hearing from me and need me ASAP please reach oout through someone else or try another way like email. Thanks

Good Morning Humble Servants! You know, that is a pretty apt description of our gathering of believers. We serve, love, spread joy and bring hope and help to many. God is using you and it shows. But humility can be a struggle for many of us. Pride is at the root of all sin as well. We are commanded to humble ourselves. As we seek to become more like Jesus. He is the prime example of humbling self. I mean, He is God and humbled Himself, laid aside His power and came as a servant. And as such, He knows all our struggles. He called the bold and brash and timid and meek to be part of the twelve and worked with them to teach them all to die to self, take up cross daily, and follow Him. For some that meant letting go of operating in their own strength and doing what they thought best, often without seeking direction. For others that meant getting out of comfort zones and going boldly to share the Good News and represent God on earth. But they learned to work together and accomplished much for God's glory and Kingdom expansion. I keep thinking of 1 Cor, 13's reminder that love is not proud or boastful. That's something I always need to work on!

What's your struggle today? For a few of us bold and brash ones, it could be slowing down and waiting on God and for many of us, it's dying to self and stepping out boldly when the Holy Spirit pinches you. The Good News is that God brought us together to be His Body that goes and loves well together. And we are doing pretty good at finding our balance with that. Check out our devos below speaking into the strongholds that bind us, our questioning God and learning to humble ourselves and follow Jesus well. What's keeping you from God's best for you (or others)?Humble yourself and work on becoming more like Jesus. It would be a great idea to work on this with some trusted friends too. God created you for some great things and He is with you always and brought you to this Body to fulfill your part. We are family and we are better together! PTL! Remember, Jesus' yoke is easy, but a yoke is still an instrument of labor to be used to plow. Keep plowing in prayer and service and allowing God to grow and use you! I'm praying for you and us to continue to become more like Jesus! Amen

God awoke me early to speak to my heart and to share with you. It's obvious that He is speaking and calling us to humble ourselves and follow well. As I was proof reading (yeah I do that some days!) the Harvest Prayer Blog popped up in my email. Yes God is speaking to me and us today. I preached recently on our need to humble and purify ourselves to be ready to move with God. It was a message about earnestly pursuing Christlikeness and readiness for when God says go. Begin today's time with God by humbling yourself and asking Him to speak to and direct your heart. Start with Harvest prayer's blog and see where God leads you today. He does have great plans awaiting! Are you ready? Let's roll! Daylight's burning!

Harvest Prayer:

Upper Room: WHY?

Job said to God, “Why then did you bring me out of the womb?” - Job 10:18 (NIV)

As I was recovering from shoulder replacement surgery, all was going well — that is, until I broke out in shingles. Anyone who has ever experienced shingles knows that the pain and general misery are a nightmare. I confess I was angry at God.

I could relate in a very small way to what Job experienced. And, like Job, my prayers began with “Why?” I was already extremely uncomfortable after surgery, and now this festering annoyance was getting worse each day! “Why, God? What am I supposed to learn from this?”

I’m happy to say that the shingles wounds have healed, and my shoulder works better than ever. But I still don’t understand what all that pain was supposed to teach me. Surely there is much in my life and in the world that just doesn’t make sense. Sometimes we are not given the answers to our “why” questions, but we can trust that God is with us. We can cry out to God with what we don’t understand and know that God loves us still.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Loving God, help us to keep trusting you when our lives seem to be overly burdened. Strengthen our spirits, and walk with us through our struggles. Amen.ODB:

TWFYT:

Happenings: Donuts and conversation at the Bread Ministry today 10-12. (lunch too for workers)

Tonight 6-7:30 dinner and video huddle for all who will come.

Saturday 10-1: Clothing Closet

Sunday after worship is our new members class. All who wish to know more about our church or to join are welcome.

Good Morning very Loved, very Loving, Servants of our God Who Is Love! This life really is all about LOVE! We don't need a man-made holiday--well maybe some do--to remind us to love. Loving God and others and even ourselves is a command that wraps up all the ten commandments are about and what God requires of us. LOVE! Today, another man-made season begins in some churches with Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. Lent is celebrated in some churches as a season of pertinence and self-examination and fasting from some sinful choices. Do we really need a holiday or season to remind us that we are all sinners that fall short of God's standard and to confess and repent of sins. That, like loving, should be a daily thing. 

Start with focusing on Love. (maybe "loving" might be a word to work on this year) God is Love. Love lives in us and wants to love through us. Jesus modeled "agape" love. That's sacrificial, dying to self love as He laid His life down for us and our sins. He commands us to go agape like Him. Maybe focus on that the next forty days that lead to Palm Sunday. Yes, examine yourself and ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind some things you need to repent of or work on and do it. That is part of becoming more like Jesus and allow God to shape you more fully into the person He created you to be. Become More in '24! Work on that and maybe focus on a word for the season.

Today, we will celebrate Fat Wednesday with donuts and love as we share and hang out with our neighbors in need. That's love in action that we are commanded to live. Come join us! Come share love and allow God to mold and use you as His vessel. That's what these days and seasons should be all about--love and loving like Jesus. Amen! Thank God for His love for you and for loving through you and ask for His help to do that better. He loves you and loves to answer prayers form the heart like that! Go! Love! Amen

Harvest Prayer Blog:

ODB:

UR:Ash Wed.

If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. - Matthew 6:14 (NIV)

I had never given up anything for Lent because the practice did not seem meaningful to me.

Then one year on Ash Wednesday, my pastor challenged us to think differently about giving up something for Lent. He asked us to think of a person we were holding a grudge or anger or resentment against and invited us to forgive them.

Years earlier I had gone through a divorce. My spouse had cheated on me again and again. I had been deeply hurt. How could I ever forgive him?

I struggled with my feelings. Was I ready to release all the pain he had caused me? Finally I decided that, yes, I was going to forgive.

The pastor asked us to write on a piece of paper what we were giving up. I wrote it down, then folded the piece of paper. The congregation was then invited to burn our slips of paper in a bowl. It was one of the most meaningful Ash Wednesday services I had ever attended.

It wasn’t easy to forgive. And by forgiving him, I’m not saying that what he did was okay because it wasn’t. But deciding to give up my feelings of hatred and resentment was a freeing experience, and it still is. I could move on with my life without the weight of anger and resentment that I had been carrying around for years. So I would like to challenge you to give up something meaningful for Lent and surrender it to God. You won’t believe how liberating it is!

TODAY'S PRAYER

Thank you, God, for forgiving us. Help us to be as forgiving of others. Amen.

This is coming to you later because God blessed me with ten hours sleep until after 6 this morning. PTL! (Made up for super bowl lack of sleep!) and then we lost electric for a bit and I had to dig a trail for Maggie in the yard. OK so now we will try to get this out before next power failure.

Bread Min and Donuts tomorrow 10-12 and Huddle tomorrow night with dinner at 6. Both are still on!

Good Morning Washed White as Snow, Resting on the Promises, Zealots and Friends of God! Say what? How appropriate that today's Our Daily Bread uses the passage speaking about our forgiveness and being washed white as snow. (See below) I've been thinking about the words we are choosing for the Become More in '24 Challenge. Sarah and I have only heard from one or two of you about your word(s). The word God led me to for this year besides my two from last year which I will keep working on as well (agape and Disciple-maker) is "earnest". What is God leading you to work on? Today would be a great day to pause, seek Him, reflect and receive His word for you! Share those words with Sarah and me so we can pray and encourage you. Seek some friends to process, pray with, encourage and be accountable to as well. Learning and growing with others is part of God's best for us! Thank God for those He has gathered around us to worship, grow and serve with!

My word "earnest" ties to zealous. Check out Dave Butts Blog below speaking into being a zealot. When I first came to rebirth and being-made-new-faith in 2001, my sisters kept pleading with me to not become one of those Jesus freaks. They are coming to accept me as I am now and my zealous pursuit of Jesus and wanting to earnestly become more like Him. They haven't changed and need our prayers for salvation and new life. because of my zeal and pursuit of Christlikeness I am always changing as I grow into that. You guys have witnessed some of that growth and change. We are all on a journey. Please consider making it an earnest journey, standing on the promises, resting in your new nature in Christ and working on growing to your fuller created potential with me. It's been awesome so far as I shed the old and put on the new more fully. Come and see!

I guess part of this journey is learning to not really care what others think about me and finding my worth in Christ. Do you struggle with that? Do you feel like you don't measure up to other's standards? Don't fit in? Do you struggle with trying to please God? Trying to work your way and earn His favor? Are you loosing hope that you will never measure up or are worthless? Check out Charles Stanley's devo below. LISTEN...We will never measure up to God's standard. Never can! We all fall short. That's why God sent His Son for us. PTL! Right? Stop trying to meet some standard or become someone you are not created to be. Just be you in Christ and allow God to use you as you are and grow you into your fuller potential. He loves you. Forgives you. Sent His Spirit to help you and He knows your potential and His plans for you and is working all things together to get you there. Know this too...you will never reach that potential until yoi get to heaven. All he expects is that we keep pursuing Christ, keep growing into who we were created to be and keep working on doing more of what He created us to do. Now that can be a very hard thing for most of us! You know what I mean. What's this "let go and let God" thing? Our lives require much work at balance. We do have things we need to do on this earth that require earnest effort and work to survive and thrive. Yet God asks that we keep our focus on Him, be available and ready when He needs us to be His vessels of Good News, love, healing, hope, and help. Being citizens of two worlds is hard! That is exactly why we need God and to keep focused on Him and His ways, which are not like our ways. Be you and do what is required of you here as you work as if unto the Lord. But keep your eyes on Jesus and allow Him to live, love, use, and grow you as you are into your fuller potential. He has great plans for you and knows what you are facing. He loves you just as you are. He has and will forgive you! And He calls you from all the striving to His rest and healthy choices. This is a conversation that will require much more reasoning together with God and each other. Begin today with seeking Him and talk about it with some friends. Maybe even tomorrow night at dinner and huddle or tomorrow during donut day at Bread Ministry. Seek first the Kingdom of God and all things will be added to you. That's a promise. keep your focus right and be refreshed and ready. Stop striving in your own strength. Yoke yourself to Jesus' easy yoke. he came to set the captives free. That's us! PTL!

We are forgiven and washed white as snow! We have the Holy Spirit in us to help us and guide us to God's best. We are a friend if God--no longer slaves. Abide in Him and His love today. He's singing over you and speaking to your heart right now! Worship! Adore! And open your hearts and minds to what is His best for you and then earnestly seek that, zealots! Amen!

Are you a Jesus Freak? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQBIS2zWEz8 This oldy came to mind today as I seek to become more like jesus, leaving this world's ways behind as I long to become more like Jesus and doing all he created me to do. That is life and life abundant. What would Jesus do if He were me? That's what He wants. Allow Him to have all of you and live and love through you. He'll take care of the rest. Amen!

Dave's Blog:

Are You Zealous for God?

by Dave Butts

When you hear the word “zealot” what do you think of? Fanatic? Weird? Overly religious? Maybe an extremely emotional person? I think that most people would say of zeal that it’s just not who they are. Many people have a tendency to identify being zealous as an overly emotional or extreme personality type and would distance themselves from being labeled a “zealot.”

The Bible, however, looks at zeal not so much as an emotion, but as an expression of faith. You become zealous because you have come to know God. It is the awesome character and nature of God that creates zeal within those who worship Him. The more you know the Lord, the more you become zealous for him.

From this perspective, zealousness is more about earnestness toward God, consecration, and undivided service. To be zealous is to focus all our attention on one thing…or rather, one person…the person of Jesus Christ. Perhaps most important for followers of Jesus, to be zealous is not an option but a command. Consider these scriptures which speak of a zealous life:

• “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deut. 6:5).
• “Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart” (Ps.119:2).
• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Prov.3:5).
• “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jer.29:13).
• “Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning” (Joel 2:12).

The greatest example of zeal is the One who knows the Father the best, our Lord Jesus. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the zeal of Jesus in Is.59:17: “He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.”   In the gospels, John wrote: “His disciples remembered that it is written: ‘Zeal for your house will consume me”’ (Jn.2:17). Following in the steps of Jesus means becoming as zealous as He is.

Living the Christian life is not a casual attachment to religious activities. It is an all-out, loving desire to walk with Jesus day by day. With single-minded passion we draw near to Him and serve him with everything that is in us. Our prayer life moves from mundane requests to zealously seeing the purposes of God brought to earth by our cries of intercession. May it be said of us, as was said of our Lord, “Zeal for your house will consume us!”

Harvest Prayer Blog: (I love this prayer! Pray it earnestly)

Charles Stanley:

ODB:

Good Morning Chosen, Loved and Sent Children of the Most High God! We are so loved. PTL. Chosen! Prepared and sent to fulfill our created purposes. That begins, grows and goes with LOVE! Yesterday we looked at the spiritual gifts in 1 Cor 12 and Eph. 4 that were shared to remind us to seek after the gifts that are to be used in love to bless others and grow God's Church. We then encountered Paul's admonition to seek the more excellent way found in 1 Cor 13--LOVE! 

We were created in love as God's masterpieces to go love as we allow Him to use us just as we are and grow us into His greater things! He has some awesome custom made plans for you to discover as you abide in His love and share His love and that leads to the abundant life we are promised in Christ. Check out our devotionals below as you still yourself, abide in love and ready to go love well today.

God is Love! Love lives in you! And you were created and are being prepared for Love to go forth from you and change the world around you for such a time as this. God placed you here for His purposes. We all matter and we all have an important part to carry out that we are custom made and gifted to accomplish. Plus we have the help of the Holy Spirit to direct and correct us. PTL! Choose the most excellent way. Choose Love and share Love well today as you allow Love to transform your thinking and guide you, even today! Love God! Love people! Love yourself! Share Love well! Amen. You are made for such a time as this to go live and love more like Jesus everyday! Choose well friends of God! Amen

Maybe We Were Made for these Days! (Not maybe! we are!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qXn2I449qs

Love God and Love People: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-29WLQ3trA

End today with the Harvest Prayer blog--awesome stuff to engage God through and pray!

Charles Stanley:

ODB:

UR Out of My Comfort Zone:

Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” - John 10:10 (NRSVUE)

Many years ago, I was asked to go on a mission trip abroad. I declined because of numerous conflicts — family activities, work demands, and other commitments. I thought the next trip would fit my schedule better. But after a few more years and opportunities, I still had not participated.

Then in 2005, I was invited to go on a mission trip to Guatemala. Even though many of the same conflicts existed, I felt God nudging me to go. As I prayed about the opportunity, I realized that my conflicts were really excuses to avoid stepping out of my comfort zone.

I did go on that trip, followed by seven more trips over the next eight years. As we offered our help to those we encountered, I also gained a better perspective on the meaning of “abundant life.” The people we met possessed joy, peace, and love for God — the abundant life — that made a lasting impression on me.

That first trip was a small investment of time, but a big step in my walk of faith because I was willing to leave the familiar and move forward in faith trusting God.

TODAY'S PRAYER

God of second chances, open our hearts so that we will be ready to respond to your call. Help us to be obedient to you, to discern your will for our lives, and to go forward in faith. Amen.

TWFYT

Harvest Prayer:

Good Morning Worshipers of Almighty God, Our Abba Father, Lord, Savior and Friend! Woo who! Shout to the Lord all the earth! What a mighty God we serve! PTL! Let us prepare to enter His courts with much praise and thanksgiving! This is the day He made! Let us rejoice, worship and be glad in it! Prepare your hearts to worship in Spirit and in Truth. Come! Let us gather and praise our Lord together today! What's on your gratitude list this morning? What great story do you have to share of how God used you this week or was at work around you? Come, now is the time to worship. Let's celebrate as we gather like it's a super bowl victory party. We know our Victor and King let us bow down and worship and rise up in praise today!

Check out the devotionals below reminding us that God wants to lead and take care of us, He is faithful, He wants us to and helps us to choose His best and He directs our steps. So many reasons to praise and worship. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Thank God that You have entered new life through Jesus, that the Holy Spirit drew you and is helping you to know and follow the Truth and that you are learning to trust the Holy Spirit as you walk in the way of Jesus. Yes, rejoice!

See you soon! 10am in person with Children's Church and on Zoom. What's on your gratitude list this morning?

Charles Stanley:

ODB:

UR: The Better Part

Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, but few things are needed — indeed only one. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.” - Luke 10:41-42 (NRSVUE)

After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in December 2016, I was unable to carry out my usual physical activities on many days. I have neuropathy from the ribs down, debilitating fatigue, muscle spasms, and pain.

For a while I felt useless and lonely. I wondered if my best days were behind me.

Then I read the story of Mary and Martha. Martha was frustrated that Mary wasn’t helping her with the preparations for hosting Jesus and his disciples in their home. Jesus calmed Martha, saying that Mary was exactly where she needed to be — with him. That scripture helped me to see that even in times of incapacity, I could still be useful — even productive. I began to relinquish control and began sitting at the feet of Jesus, loving him and feeling loved by him. While I was incapacitated, God helped me to grow in my faith by leading me to read my Bible and to engage in other devotional activities.

In the years since my diagnosis, I have found a way to continue working full-time at the local community college. I’m also able to foster dogs and volunteer with several local fundraising events.

I am comforted to know that Jesus is always with me and can use me at all times to serve him, no matter my physical capabilities.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Lord Jesus, comfort us with your love when we feel useless or alone. Thank you for walking beside us. Amen.TWFYT:

Good Morning Very Loved, Redeemed of the Lord! What great love we know that God sent His Son to die for our sins and to make a way to spend eternity with Him! WOW! Ponder that today as you praise and pray. What do we do with that kind of love? First, receive it! Then share it! Jesus said, "Go love as I have loved you." That is a command that is empowered by the Holy Spirit in us and our choice to obey. Check out ODB today. Then be strong and courageous as you go love like Jesus (UR).

That's it today as I am waaaay behind schedule! This sleeping in until 4 is not conducive to a productive day! God really loves us and made a way. He created us for such a time as this and has empowered us to go love just like He loves us. We know where we will be spending eternity. (With Him) and this life is lived for His glory. What joy we know for His great love and what love we get to share! Go! Live and love like Jesus today! Don't worry! Be happy and rejoice! Amen!

ODB:

UR: Bird in the Storm

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid . . . for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

My wife and I sat in our sunroom and watched a storm rage outside. As we watched the rain pour down and heard the thunder rumble, we noticed a purple martin flying through the wind and rain. She flew up to her nest under the eaves at the corner of our house. We could hear the chirping of her babies as she brought them a tiny insect, and then with a chirp of her own, she took off to find more for them to eat. Time after time she returned and then took off again. The heavy rain and strong wind occasionally blew her off course, but she never stopped. Our admiration for her grew with each trip she made, and we both remarked that there was something inspirational about her behavior.

Long after the storm ended, I kept thinking about what we had witnessed. The mother bird’s behavior made me think of the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us. Like the purple martin, his sacrifice was an act of intense love! The little bird’s determined care for her young reminded us that God really does care about and provide for all of creation. God’s love will endure and will not be turned aside by the storms of adversity. I pray that the devotion of the little bird will stay alive in my memory and inspire me to show love to others and to trust God to provide for God’s children.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Jesus, thank you for the sacrifice you made for us so that we may live abundantly. Inspire us to show your love to the world. Amen.

Wagner's update below. Pray shalom and comfort over this family at their loss of Harriet Adams, Missy's mom.

Good Morning Transformed, Trusting Sheep--Followers of Our Good Shepherd! Baaa...Are you hearing His voice and following today? Are you allowing His Word to transform you and your thinking and ways? Are you choosing trust and following His voice through the deepest, darkest valleys? Are you finding that He is faithful and growing in trust of our very good Shepherd that loves you and has your best in His heart and actions towards you? Pray for personal and corporate revival. Come Jesus come!

Jesus knows us and still loves us and has good plans for us is something everyone needs to understand and embrace. Many have shunned Him and His ways. Some of His sheep have lost the ability to hear and follow His voice because all the noise and chaotic stimuli has led them off His path, crowded out His voice, and redirected focus. YET...He loves us and is waiting for us to reawaken to His love, voice and good ways. He is faithfully interceding for us, His followers too and has great plans for us to discover as He leads our willing feet--baaa--to overflowing cups. Check out the harvest prayer blog and Charles Stanley below. ODB reminds us of the way to hear well and learn how to travel through this life listening to our Shepherd--open your Bibles! And then be more than just hearers and knowers but doers of it! Follow His Spirit as He teaches, leads and brings His Word to life and to mind throughout the day as the Shepherd calls to you and says, "Follow Me!" TWFYT expounds on following our Shepherd. Maybe mediate on Psalm 23 today too? And then the UR reminds us that no matter what we face, remember that we know the Good Shepherd and that He is always with us, interceding for us, has very good plans for us, even if it doesn't seem it at the moment. Trust Him with all your heart! Love Him with all your heart! Receive His loving care and follow Him well through this day, to His best for you and for personal and corporate revival! Come Good Shepherd! Open our ears to Your voice and loving guidance. Lead us to Your best and revival, Bring Your Word alive in and trough us. Refresh and restore our souls and lead us in Your righteous paths for Your name's sake. Father, Your will be done in, through and around us today and every day and keep our ears, eyes, and hearts open and willing to trust and follow You always. Thanks! Blessings to You today, Lord. We love and trust you. Help our unbelief! Baaa. Amen!

Ask God to prepare you and us for worship tomorrow. We will be studying 1 Corinthians 12 and some of 13 and Ephesians 4:11-16 as we wind down our teaching on spiritual gifts. Maybe you want to spend some time today with your Bibles open there, asking for understanding some of this confusing gifts stuff. I just prayed for God to speak to our hearts, direct our steps and use us well today. Pray along with me for some of our sick and struggling members for health, healing, deliverance and God's shalom over them. God has great plans for us and each day can be a step further into the journey towards that. Rejoice and follow well, sheep of Jesus.

Harvest Prayer Blog:

Charles Stanley:

ODB:

TWFYT:

UR: Trust in God:

In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. - Psalm 18:6 (NIV)

My life has been a wreck for the past three years. In 2018, my contract came to an end at the power station where I worked, and I was unemployed. In 2019 I started to put my life together by doing ad-hoc training in schools. Soon after, the country was placed under lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and everything came to a standstill. My wife continued with her sewing business making face masks, and she was able to keep the family going. But on December 25, 2020, my wife and friend of 38 years, the breadwinner for our family, passed away. I felt my life was over. The future looked bleak. However, during all this adversity, not a single day went by without food or other daily necessities being provided for me, my two children, and my granddaughter. God carried us through those tough times.

No matter what we are going through, God hears our prayers. When we find ourselves wrecked by life’s troubles, when we feel hopeless and overwhelmed, we may not be able to hear God — but God can hear us. God hears our cries of pain and desperation and offers comfort and encouragement to help us endure.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Heavenly Father, give us strength to endure our pain and sorrow. Give us courage, and reassure us of your constant love and care. Amen.

Wagner's update:

Good Morning Students of the Bible, Learning Pray-ers, Harvest Workers! Is that you? These are definitely some of our purposes here on earth as Kingdom ambassadors. Pronounce that and ask God to bring His Word alive to you, teach you to pray powerful and effective prayers and to use all of that and you, just as you are, to be His ambassador and harvest worker. That is what you are created, gifted, being trained, and empowered to do. Talk to God about that today as you turn off the noise and sit at His feet in preparation for the day. To know Christ and make Him known is the EC mission statement. As we grow in that we become a dynamic movement of God, a people with a burning passion for Him and missionary zeal to reach the lost (EC Vision statement). God custom made and gifted you for such a time as this to go, love and make disciples of Jesus. That starts as we study His Word, pray earnestly, and allow Him to use us. Nothing else really matters in this world except knowing Christ and living like and for Him! “The first purpose of prayer is to know God.” —Charles L. Allen and our purpose is to make Him known! (Pastor Don)

There is much that God is stirring in my head this morning. Let's see what He wants us to hear as I asked Him to type this...The past few days have been times of great fellowship, study of His Word, praying, and serving. Seriously consider joining our Tues Zoom Huddle and/or Wed night gathering. Maybe even join us next Wed for donuts and conversations at the Bread Ministry. God is speaking, teaching, directing and using us and has a space for you to join in, just as you are! Come and see!

Last night Karen's mom, Kay, shared how God spoke to her yesterday morning through Ps. 90:17, "May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; [God has been leading me since the beginning of the year to pray and proclaim that this is the year of the Lord's favor. May it be so Lord and may Your favor rest upon us! Amen] establish the works of our hands--yes, establish the works of our hands." Amen, right! She shared how God answered that prayer and used her to minister to another yesterday. And that sharing ministered to and taught us last night as she shared with tears of joy for how much that meant to her. PTL! This morning as I prayed that verse, God put on my heart to pray for Him to establish the work of His hands through my hands. That I would be ready and willing for Him to do His will through me. That His favor would rest upon and go before me today. Now that was the beginning of my quiet time and led me all kinds of places with the Holy Spirit's help. Be still and know that He is God and He is speaking to you right now. Listen and receive and allow Him to inform your prayers and to direct your steps. Come be our Lord today, Jesus. May we walk in Your favor and be available and ready to allow you to love through us. Yes, establish the work of your hands through our hands today. Teach us to pray and bring Your Word alive in, through and around us today. Amen!

Our Daily Bread, below, reminds of the importance of humbling ourselves and turning off the noise and chaos around us as we seek God. We discussed last night the importance of humbling ourselves, dying to self. God despises pride. God is love. Satan is prideful and he stirs us to pride and away from God. Repent, die to self, take up your cross daily and be like and follow Jesus today. Prov. 3:5-6 keeps coming to mind, "Don't lean on your own understanding..." Open your Bible and fill your minds with Truth. Turn off the noise and chaos. Repent of pride and your own thinking and humble yourself before God. That is what matters and He has custom made great plans for you to pray in to, discover, and step into, even today.

We had a great teaching on the 23rd Psalm last night. We don't usually think of it as a wilderness Psalm since it begins with "I shall not want", or "I have all I need" depending on the translation you use. But it is a wilderness psalm. Many of us might be in our own wilderness right now--sickness, uncertainty, lack, confusion, fear. BUT GOD! Jesus is our Shepherd and we have all we need. Keep your focus on the Shepherd and praise God for what you do have. He's got you covered and does have great plans to establish you and the works of your hands, provide where He guides and bring His favor upon you today. So, choose joy and faith and rejoice! I heard someone say on the radio yesterday that joy seeps in through the cracks of our brokenness. How true. Joy and trust are good choices we can make regardless of our circumstances. BUT GOD! Pronounce that and choose joy as your Shepherd leads you to His best plans for you. Who do you know that may need to hear this today? What's God saying to you and what will you do about that? I'm praying for you, child of the Lord's love and favor!

Below are two Harvest Prayer blogs. Start with those as tools to learn how to pray in power and for the Lord's will to be done as He uses you. Sit as His feet and allow Him to direct your steps and empower the work of your hands today. And celebrate all He is doing and share that joy with others. He is a good, good Father and always with you! Amen! PTL!

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3     He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Amen and amen!

Harvest Prayer blogs:

ODB:

Good Morning Praying Friends of God! I love this thought from Colleen Townsend Evans, "The right way to pray then, is any way that allows us to communicate with God. For prayer in not a ritual; it's the soul's inherent response to a relationship with a loving Father." We don't practice rituals to get close to God or earn His favor, we grow in relationship. Christianity differs from all other religions because they all seek to placate a deity or do things to earn His favor. Christianity is all about a relationship with our loving Father. He created us in love. He wants us to draw near in relationship. He sacrificed His Son so we can draw close and be with Him forever. He sent His Spirit to dwell in us so we can hear Him, understand His Word and learn to follow Him better. "Draw near to God" is a command. Be still and know (another command and promise). Sit at His feet a bit today. Listen. Share your heart. Respond as He leads and grow in that relationship. And then live each day in a constant state of prayer. Pray continually is another command. (Just don't close your eyes while driving!) How's your relationship with your loving Father in heaven--King of the universe? He is right with you with open arms, His heart to share, and He's singing over you, His masterpiece. He wants to talk to you, grow in relationship and lead you to His will, plans and best each step of each day! What love and joy we know and can share! Abide in Him today!

The Become More in '24 Challenge is all about growing your relationship with our loving Father. Seeking Him more. Becoming more like Him--more of You and less of me, Lord! It's all about learning to hear Him and follow better each day and each step of faith we take. It's about doing more of what you are created, gifted, empowered and led to do throughout each day. God has great plans that He created you and gifted you to do well that spring forth as you grow in relationship, grow in staying connected, and grow in obedience. That is the abundant life of joy we can know in Christ and God's best for us. We will continue to focus on that growth, that "more" in '24 and beyond. Maybe a word you might consider working on is "relationship", or "focus", "stillness", or maybe "trust". God has great plans for you awaiting your discovery and growing into. Seek first the Kingdom of God and a growing relationship and all these things will be added to you and you will know shalom and joy beyond measure.

Check out the devotionals below as they will stir some conversation and reasoning with our Abba. Are you listening, believing, and doing more of what He's revealing? Are you growing in relationship? I urge you to pray into and focus on becoming more in '24! That is God best for you and our fellowship! Come taste and see that the Lord is good! The Upper Room especially speaks into our spiritual and relationship growth. What's God saying to you? It only takes a spark to get a fire going. Keep fanning into flame that relationship and may you burn bright and be on fire for the Lord, igniting a wildfire of faith all around you! And may your prayer life be filled with prayers from the heart and in faith as we ignite revival! Amen

Charles Stanley

UR: Spiritual Growth

The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out. - Leviticus 6:13 (NIV)

In my sister’s garden, spinach blossomed with irresistible green leaves and lush shoots. I wanted to replicate this sight at my house, so I picked some seedlings for my small garden. Weeks passed, but my spinach did not produce the same beauty. I studied my sister’s method, and I realized I had missed an important step. Every morning before going to work, she waters the garden with water from her small fishpond, providing the plants with daily nutrients, and making her garden green and lush.

The Holy Spirit taught me a great lesson from this observation. At that time, I had not applied the principle of daily nurture to my Christianity. I woke early to beat the traffic on my way to work. If I was running late, I would skip my morning devotion or say my prayers in a hurry. Some days got so busy that I had no time to return to my devotions. This inconsistent care for my faith was precarious.

Just like the daily addition of wood kept the fire on the altar burning in Leviticus 6:12-13, the daily care my sister gives her plants keeps her garden green. To get the same result in my spiritual life, I must pray and meditate on God’s word every day. Those who blossom spiritually do not get there by chance; they consistently work at it. This is the recipe for spiritual growth.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Lord, forgive us when we are too busy to give attention to you. Help us to prioritize our spiritual growth by spending time with you each day. Amen.

ODB:

Thanks for praying and being part of God's work through our Good News Delivery Co. called St. Matthews! God is hearing and answering! PTL! Your pastor and his mom are ok. PTL. Others are being healed and blessed as well! And we had a great but semi delayed congregational meeting.

The column for the 2024 budget failed to print unnoticed until the meeting. New copies have been distributed and are available.  We will we convene before the brunch Feb. 25th as a congregation to vote on the budget. Yesterday all other business was approved, including retaining our same leadership teams. Thank you.

Don't forget Zoom Huddle at 10 tomorrow. All welcome as we continue to discuss healing.

Good Morning Hearers and Doers of God's Word! He is always speaking and near to you. He's even singing over you, believe it or not. He really loves you, wants to hang out, grow in relationship and even just chat. Sometimes we struggle to recognize that God is near or speaking, but that doesn't change the fact that He is. PTL! Sometimes our unbelief or sin hamper our hearing or His responding as well. Repent and hear and believe the Good News that you are very loved, forgiven and that God is answering your prayers and providing for your needs all the time. Be still and know! Turn off the noise. Listen to that still small voice and follow well today! Check out the Harvest prayer blog on how to prepare, pray and release God's will for this nation and revival below. That all begins with us--God's chosen people!

God had led me to pray today, as in many days, to "Speak, your servant is listening." Funny thing, well, God thing, I opened my Charles Stanley devo first with the title "God Speaks"! He sure does! All the time! You can hear Him too and know that He hears and is answering. We usually need to process what we are hearing with others to be sure exactly what we are hearing and what to do or even to be sure God is speaking. Pray for God to raise up some friends for you to process well with. This is a desire of God and my heart that this year we all find some small groups of friends to pray and process with and be accountable to. Let us know who you are partnering with so we can pray for you and so Sarah and I can help you get started.

As God speaks, we are able to discern His plans for us and even how to pray. God is at work all the time and with us even in the darkest valleys. Check out the Upper Room below. Who is someone He may want you to be His vessel to walk with as well? Who might know you well enough to know that you need someone to walk with? We need each other to do this life in Christ well. God just won't let me let go of that this year. For good spiritual, physical and mental health we need to be able to be open and honest with some close and trusted people. This also helps to lead to producing good fruit. Who are your partners in Christ? And that may be someone God hasn't sent yet, but needs you and you they. Check out Our Daily Bread below with how to love each other, receive new friends and walk in love together. We all need love and compassion, tough love sometimes too, and much grace like we've been given. Look at Jesus and the 12 for how to do this. He wants us to grow into His likeness and walking in His best ways. He's sending you to someone and someone to you to help. And don't forget the gift of the Holy Spirit, our Helper. He's there speaking and guiding as well. Listen! Follow well and with some others. That is God's best!

I'm praying for you all today and for God to be our Lord and Shepherd this week. He has great plans for you and us. Choose joy, hope, and His loving, best ways! And then celebrate and share all that God is doing as He continues to write your story and our story. Amen!

Harvest Prayer Blog:

Charles Stanley:

UR: New Life

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)

At 11:30 a.m. on December 28, 2021, I suddenly started sweating, and I knew that I needed to go to the hospital. My family members called my eldest son who was on duty at the hospital to come pick me up. At that time, hospitals were crowded, and it was difficult to see doctors there; but I met with a very capable doctor who diagnosed me with two blockages in my heart. We made an immediate decision to perform an angioplasty and open the blockages with two stents.

The surgery was successful. I was kept in the ICU for one day and in a special observation room for another. On the evening of the third day, I returned home completely recovered. I am convinced that the living God gave me a new life.

The life I am leading today is a living witness to the words of the psalmist, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” Through my experience that day, I have seen the full promise of the Lord who stayed with me all the time and walked with me through the valley. I thank the Lord for giving me new life.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Merciful God, increase our faith. Help us to believe that you are ready to take care of us and help us when we pray to you. In the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.ODB:

Joy Toy News and Harvest Prayer blog below

Good Morning Praising and Praying Priests of the Lord! We are all priests unto the Lord. We don't need a mediator to carry our praises and prayers to God. We don't have to sacrifice animals to be heard although we are to offer a sacrifice of praise. God is always near and knows our hearts and our prayers before we ask. But He wants us to ask and wants us to spend time with Him. So much so that He made a way through His Son. PTL! And we are never too sinful to be forgiven and redeemed! (Think of the thief on the cross who joined Jesus in Paradise that evening). Check out our devos below and spend some time with our Loving Abba and Savior as you prepare for worship and our congregational meeting today. (pray for your pastor as he has been up since 1 with stomach issues. Thanks). Count your many blessings and go share the love of God with others. That's true worship!

Harvest Prayer blog:

ODB:

UR: Pass It On

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.” - Mark 12:43 (NIV)

Several years ago, while we were acclimating to a new church, a kind member began the habit of passing a copy of The Upper Room to our family. At the time, our children were in elementary and junior high school, and our lives seemed very full. We wondered how we would find the time each day to gather the family together to accomplish yet one more task. We began to set aside a few minutes each morning after breakfast before our day got too busy and our children headed off to school. Before long, we had gotten into a wonderful routine! Occasionally, something would interfere with it, and the morning devotional would be overlooked. It didn’t take us long to make a connection that the days begun with devotionals went more smoothly than the ones without.

Decades later we are still beginning our days with The Upper Room at breakfast, and we have started the tradition of “passing on” the devotional to friends and family members, just as our friend had done for us. Over the years, our lives have been enriched by the messages of spirit-filled Christians from all over the globe. It all began with a humble act of sharing Christ’s love.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Help us, Lord, to pass on to others the generous gifts of love you have given to us. Amen.

Joe Toy:

Rise and shine and give God all the glory, honor and praise! What a beautiful day lies ahead and He has some great plans for you to discover and step into! PTL!

God Morning Restored, Refreshed, and Ready Servants of the Most Hight God! Winter is waning and Spring is coming. God has allowed us a season to refresh and He is restoring all the enemy has stolen from us. We are readying for what's next. The sap of new life is flowing through us. New buds are beginning to sprout. Oh what a glorious time to be part of God's family! Rejoice!

When I worked as a gardener, my one customer insisted that I had to prune his Crape Myrtle's right after the first frost. Every plant has their season when pruning is best done. I feel like we have been pruned at just the right time. We are abiding in the Vine and receiving His nourishing life giving sap as we are being readied and restored to burst forth and beautiful color and vibrancy. Spring is coming and the buds are readying for some great fruit ahead. Can you sense it? It's coming! As we abide and endure through this season of preparation, be assured that as we persevere and endure earnestly in Christ we have some greater things coming! PTL! Keep seeking, knocking, praying for restoration and new fruit and keep offering yourself for God to use as you fulfill your part in His Body well. 

Check out our devos below and spend some time with our Vine and THE Potter. Remember how we are gifted to go love like Jesus and how He loved sacrificially and lavishly and calls us to the same. Even in the book of Acts, we see how His disciples led the early church to sow lavishly in love of God and for others. Ask God to give you His giving, blessing heart and His mind to steward well all His blessings and to sow into His plans with your time, talent, treasure and gifts. And always remember that God knows what we need before we ask, BUT He wants us to ask. We can grow in Christ and service and produce very good fruit as we seek God and His Kingdom with all our heart, trust Him to provide where He guides and to allow us to grow in relationship with Him and each other and even those He is drawing as we labor together for His glory and worship with all our being! He is Jireh--enough! He is our provision and guide. He is our God Almighty who  created and gifted you to go and do His will for such a time as this! PTL! Allow Him to restore, refresh, ready and then use you as you step out boldly in faith to go love like Jesus and change the world! Amen!

I can't wait to hear the stories as we work on our words and seek to Become More in '24! More like Jesus and doing more of what we are created and gifted to do! This is the year of the Lord's favor and the year of restoration and new life! Proclaim it! Live it!

Upper Room: Restored

But now, Lord, you are our father. We are the clay, and you are our potter. All of us are the work of your hand. - Isaiah 64:8 (CEB)

Some time ago, I experienced several life changes. I resigned from my job to move several times because of my husband’s work. During one of those moves, I was led by God to be baptized. Six months after I was baptized, my husband and I went through a hard time; my marriage was in crisis. He talked about a separation and later asked that I leave the house. At the same time this was happening, my grandmother, who had been like a mother to me during my youth, died. Two months later, my father died.

Unable to understand what was happening, I was filled with incredible suffering and my heart was broken. I fell to my knees and asked God, “Why did you take everything?” I entered a prolonged season of prayer and fasting. With anguished

urgency I began to read the Bible, and the Holy Spirit led me to this passage: “Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll — are they not in your record? Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me” (Ps. 56:8-9, NIV). An inexplicable peace washed over me. My life, the vessel that was broken into pieces, could be made new again. God was at work sustaining, molding, and refining the fragments of my heart. This process not only restored my life but my marriage as well and filled me with God’s peace.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Lord, grant us the wisdom to trust you to mold and remake us according to your will. Amen.Our Daily Bread:

TWFYT:

C.S.