Please see Sarah email below and add to that a prayer for Darlene Skinner who hasn't been well since Sunday.

Check out the harvest Prayer final month-long prayer for revival below. Messenger not working today so unable to include photos of some of today's devos.

Pastor Don has been under spiritual attack the past week with sleepless nights and weariness. He is also under some refining from God as he allows some refining and opportunities to work on His Words "agape" and "earnest". He is currently under the influence of Nyquil and recovering from an 11 hour sleep. He is a bit under the weather and could use a prayer covering and prayers for health and strength for a 12 hour day at the church with much ministry. Thanks! Pray for wisdom and for God to have full access as He leads our pastor.

Below are our devotionals for the day for you to use to draw close to God. What's He saying to you and what will you do about it? Below Sarah's email is Jesus' teaching on the Talents from Matt. 25 from the Message translation. How are you investing in God's Kingdom with what you've been given? That includes time, talent, treasure and gifts and abilities. Are you stewarding well while sowing lavishly as commanded. We need each other to process and sow and steward well. God has made us and brought us together to discern and to sow and steward well and in balance. Don't be afraid to trust the God of the impossible with what you've been given because sowing lavishly is stewarding the best when done for and with our Master. Check out the extra lesson on building the Kingdom in the UR today. Who might you process this all with? God has called our leadership to be a vision team for the church. We seek, process and try to follow well, even when out of our comfort zones because we know God's ways are best! But we also need to temper that with not running ahead or lagging behind. There is balance and shalom when following God well together with all our different leanings, abilities and gifts. Follow Shalom always! But expect to be stretched as we do that together. God has great plans for you and us together and for revival! He is showing us signs of things to come with the personal and corporate growth in faith and action and even in growing our numbers. PTL! Let us sow lavishly and sacrificially into all God is revealing and doing. Pray we see the closed and open doors and keep looking forward with anticipation to the new things God is and wants to do. Amen!

Sarah Email:

Good evening, Warriors.....

Here is a thought to ponder and take it as a challenge:

How about we make a commitment to start investing our time in using our spiritual gifts and 

working with the Lord each moment, instead of wasting our time.  Why? Why should we accept 

the challenge?  Because we don't want to come to the end of our lives and look back and have 

nothing but regret.  That can be one of the saddest things that can happen to a person.

So let's accept the challenge, and invest all of our time to living our lives, every moment, every thought,

every action we do, for the Lord, as He would have us.....making Him proud!!!

** ** **

I have a few updates to share:

Kay and Jim Handfest are asking for prayer for their daughter, Sarah. She is having her baby on February 3rd.

Sarah is 40 years old and they are asking for prayer for a safe delivery and that both mommy and baby will be fine

and healthy. 

** ** * *

Update on Larry Kunkle - he is scheduled for heart catheterization tomorrow (Wednesday) at Thomas Jefferson Hospital.

After this procedure he will be admitted for additional heart tests until Feb 7th. He will then be discharged and return to hospital 

on Feb 16th for oral surgery. The family is asking for prayers for steady hands for the surgeon, all to go well and for peace for Larry as

he goes through this.  The family is grateful for all our prayers.

** ** **

Let's continue to pray for our young people/children. There is a lot of peer pressure out there in our schools and playgrounds. Pray for God's protection over them. Pray that God will put the full armor of God on them from the start of the day and pray that they are reminded that they are NEVER alone!  Jesus is always with them.

** ** **

Tomorrow/today is Bread Ministry. Pray for those that are volunteering and those that come through the doors to get bread

   May the sense God's presences and His love.

Thank you all for your prayers....

  Have a good night/day!

     Blessings,

   Sarah

Matt. 25:14-30 MSG Translation

14-18 “It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.

19-21 “After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

22-23 “The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master’s investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

24-25 “The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’

26-27 “The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.

28-30 “‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

Harvest Prayer:

ODB:

UR: Inspired to write

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. - Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

When I arrived home from painting class, I checked my email. My mood plummeted when I found that my devotional submission had been rejected. I reviewed the list of possible reasons for the rejection that the publisher sent. Then I read my meditation several times, trying to discern why it wasn’t accepted.

For aspiring writers, rejections are discouraging. Sometimes rejected meditations cause me to doubt my God-given purpose. But still I labor at my craft. My heart’s desire is to glorify God through my writing and to share my faith experiences with others.

But writing is hard work. It requires discipline and commitment, as well as a teachable spirit. Rejections, though discouraging, are also a catalyst for continued learning and practice. So when discouragement threatens to derail my efforts, I recall today’s quoted verse and remember why I write: It’s an expression of my love for others and for God. Whether or not my meditations are published, God is pleased with my efforts. When God weaves within us a divine purpose, God also equips us to persevere. And so as my words flow across the page, I continue to answer God’s call on my life.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Heavenly Father, help us remain committed when we face rejection. Give us teachable spirits and the will to persevere in our response to your call. Amen.

Thanks to Sarah for bringing a great Word yesterday, Lori and the 2 Peas in a Pod Team for a great lunch and all of you for showing great love to our visitors. (estimate is over 65 at brunch yesterday with many guests and some new faces)

This week:

Tues Zoom Huddle 10am. All welcome!

Wed Bread distribution 10-12; Family Ministries/Adult Dinner and Video Huddle

Sat. 10-1 Clothing Closet

Sun after worship is our annual Congregational Meeting (we will have a zoom link running as well)

Good Morning Discerners of the Times, Prepared Harvest Workers! It doesn't take a rocket scientists to discern that the times are dark, evil, and getting worse. It feels like Satan has control of this world, doesn't it? Yet we are called to be the Light that shines in the darkness. God promises an end times harvest. We know that as the end of time approaches things will get more dark and evil. God has been calling us to prepare and be ready--daylight's burning. So many are praying for Jesus to come back. Are you praying and readying for that? What will Jesus find you doing if He returns today? 

Check out the Harvest Prayer Revival prayer below affirming what I said the other day about "both/and". As watchman discern the times we need to be discerning and informed with biblical truth. It will be both dark and Light when Jesus returns. Times will be the worst ever, yet the Great Day of the Lord will be the most awesome day for those being saved. Until then we are charged to prepare earnestly and bring those God is drawing along. Yes, be discerning of the times but don't buy into the lies that all is hopeless or that our God is a myth or very distant and His ways futile. Turn off THAT noise and tune into God's Truth. He is coming back. As the time approaches, it will get very dark and evil. Be earnest and prepared, persevering as you harvest. And remember, Jesus promises to be with us until the end. The commission He gave before that promise was to go and make disciples. My prayer is that I will be preparing you for that and be part of His end time harvesting faithful ones who persevere until the end. Please pray earnestly into that as you seek God for how He desires to use you for such a time as this. He has plans for you and us to discover as we prepare faithfully.

God had several threads coming to me during my quiet time today through our devotionals and my prayer time. What's He saying to you as you sit at His feet and discern the times and your part in His plans? Yesterday, Sarah reminded us that we are part of God's Body and no matter who we are, we all have an important part in that Body functioning well. We are talking about spiritual gifts and the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit growing in us is the measure of how well we are shedding our old nature and stepping into our new in Christ nature. How would you rate these fruit growing in you: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control? (check out ODB below) If we really want to become more like Jesus and really want to be more prepared for what lies ahead, we need to allow the Holy Spirit full access to us and allow Him to mold us, lead us and use us for God's glory. As we step from our old ways into God's best this fruit will grow and the old and rotten will be replaced with much better, good and pleasing fruit in God's eyes. But, man, dying to self and following Jesus to the Father's best for us can be so hard. the lure of this world is strong and Satan keeps prowling about trying to detour us from God's best. Be strong in Christ! Stand firm on the Rock. Pursue what really matters according to God.

I'm going to allow you to work on discerning the times, what God is revealing to you today, and how He wants to direct and give you the desires of your heart that align with His. Have you sought God for a word to two to work on this year as He leads you to spiritual growth and prepared service. (Please let Sarah and me know your words so we can pray and encourage you this year!) I've been praying into that almost daily and I think God wants me to continue to have last years words in focus because He is still working on me with "agape" (dying to self and loving like Jesus) and "disciple making, even though I have made some progress. However, He 's given me two new words for this year to be more focused on as I seek to become more like Jesus in '24. "Earnest" and "Ready" are my two words. It will involve growth at pursuing being more earnest in my walk and ways and being ready when God says go, willing to stop my agenda for His and follow well. God keeps reminding me that in this life Christ is all that matters and my assignment is to be ready to roll with Him to advance His Kingdom no matter what I face when He says go. He wants me to be more earnest in my being purified and ready. He is coming back and until then He has a great plan for me (and us) that will help with that and bring soul satisfaction and joy as I (we) enjoy this life He's given us. Maybe balanced would be another word as we have responsibilities in this world and His Kingdom as duel citizens. But He does promise to provide all we need as we follow Him earnestly and work at becoming more like Jesus in '24 and beyond. Are you ready? I'm earnestly working on that and praying for us all to be about our Father's business more earnestly. Amen!

We are all on a journey and Jesus invites us to come as we are, but loves us too much to leave us that way! Follow Him and His peace and provision and you will know true joy as you discern what really matters and pursue it more earnestly. Amen! Keep you eyes and ears open and your heart willing and ready! Seek first the Kingdom of God and all other things will be added. PTL! Keep working at living and loving more like Jesus and great fruit will be forthcoming! Yes! And Amen!

Harvest Prayer Revival Blog:

ODB:

UR: It's All in the Family

Paul wrote, “I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” - Ephesians 3:14-15 (NIV)

I hate to admit it, but my children and grandchildren are not perfect. But even though I may not always agree with or approve of their actions, I will forever love them unconditionally. I consider myself a tolerant person, but I don’t appreciate it when others want to harm or criticize my family. In those times, I will speak up even though I’m timid.

Because of the intense love I feel for my family, I think I have a small understanding of God’s love for all of us, God’s children. None of us is perfect, but we are all God’s creation. When I want to be critical or judgmental of others, I try to remind myself that I would not appreciate hateful remarks about my own family. I need to give the same respect to God’s children.

Furthermore, as a parent and grandparent, nothing thrills me more than when others recognize the goodness of my family and give them support and affection. As imperfect as we all are, I believe God is truly pleased when we see and appreciate the good in God’s children.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Father, thank you for loving us all as your children. We pray that you will guide us to love all your children as you have loved us. Amen.

Charles Stanley:

TWFYT:

Sarah Prayer email below and Harvest prater revival prayer and Dave Butts Blog. Check them out! How is God directing your prayers, choices and steps today?

Zoom Huddle 10 am today

Good Morning Faithful Followers of the Way! We are the redeemed of the Lord! PTL! What a blessing to know that we are forgiven and our eternal destiny is set! But that isn't all their is to life in Christ. True worship is allowing the Holy Spirit to mold, shape and direct you to your purposes each day. It's obedience to living sacrificially and loving lavishly more earnestly like Christ and producing good fruit and many disciples of Jesus. We are working on that and that is a very good thing! We are a work in progress and process! God is our salvation, security, source, strength and purpose as we live this life for His glory until we are called home.

ODB reminds us that Jesus is our King. He is our Lord and Savior, we sometimes forget the Lord and King part and go off doing our own things or what we think is best without consulting or staying connected to God. His ways are best and He is the God of the impossible. He calls us to trust and obey even stretching us sometimes beyond what seems possible right now. Pray for deep faith and trust to follow well and sow lavishly into His plans for you and us and allow some stretching of faith. Charles Stanley reminds us we are equipped for good. Are we allow God to use us to our fullest potential and in His strength to do all he has for us? We see the contrast between unjust and just leaders. Pray for our leadership and pastors to be following God, just and good shepherds and stewards of all God's blessings.

I have to run. I actually slept in until 5 today. There is a lot here already. What's God saying to you and what will you do about it? Who are you processing with? Let's end with some prayer starters to begin praying with: "Praise God as the source of every thing that is good, holy, just, and beautiful. Thank God for inviting you to remain in Him, as a branch remains in a vine, so that you too can produce good and holy fruit (Jn. 15:7-8). Confess your failure to "remain in" Jesus, to find your fulness and satisfaction in Him. Be specific about things that crowd out your desire to abide in Him. Commit yourself to finding your fullness in Jesus during this day. Ask Him to show you that apart from Him you can do nothing (15:5). Pray that parents will be rooted firmly in Jesus that their children cannot miss seeing the fruit that they bear as disciples. Pray for spiritual leaders of your church will see their need to be abiding daily in Jesus and His Word, constantly in prayer, and completely dependent on Him for ministry. Pray for Christians in positions of leadership--business, politics, medicine, teaching--may remain firmly attached to Christ and so bring glory to His name. make a list of the unsaved persons you know, and ask God to graft them into the tree of life (Rom. 11:17). Ask God how He would have you connect these people to Him." Amen!

We are a people of God PTL! A people of informed an powerful and effective prayer! Thank God for using you, informing and directing your prayers! Remain steadfast and persevering in fruit producing efforts and faith. God has great plans for you just as you are and greater things ahead. Rejoice! I'm praying for you and for God to lead us to His best with deep faith to become more like Jesus this year--living sacrificially and loving lavishly more like Him each day.

ODB:

Charles Stanley:

Harvest prayer Revival Prayer:

Dave Butts Blog:

Are You Wandering?

by Dave Butts

“Why, O Lord, do You make us wander from Your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere You? Return for the sake of Your servants, the tribes that are Your inheritance” (Isa. 63:17). 

“Wander from Your ways” is powerfully descriptive as we consider how easy it is to move away from a right relationship to God. It does not take effort to drift. You just quit trying. You lose focus. Staying close to God requires effort. We are not talking about earning our salvation . . . that is not dependent upon our effort, but upon God’s grace. Maintaining and nurturing the relationship will mean giving ourselves to prayer, the Word, fellowship, and worship.

How many have shipwrecked their faith, not by deliberate rebellion, but by drifting away through inattention? Wandering aimlessly through life, we miss the Lord’s presence and His power to transform. Might that even be a picture of the 21st century church today as we wander away from the firm commitment to daily seek His face?

O God, forgive my tendency to wander away from You. I get so caught up in daily activities that I find myself off doing my own thing and not paying attention to You. Like the hymnist I find myself saying, “prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.”

Sarah prayer email:

Good evening, Warriors,

Hope your Monday has been good and your Tuesday will be better.

I am including the prayer needs and praises that were shared yesterday during our time of worship.

And at the end of my email, I have attached a listing of the events and dates for the next couple months.

You can print it out, hang it on the fridge so you don't forget something you want to attend AND you could 

print extra copies to hand to a friend or neighbor as an invitation to the event.

Those in need of our prayers:

Larry Kunkle - they found a cancerous spot on his jaw. Larry will be having aortic stenosis repaired at Thomas Jefferson

around February 13th, and then will have Oral surgery around 2/16 and remain in the hospital for another week.

Let's pray for medical team and for all to go well, and for Larry's wife and family.

Randy - distant relative of Marylou S. - continue to pray for him and his family as he is dealing with his cancer, and waiting to

learn of any possible treatments

Joanne - Kay Paul's sister in law, has some health issues and needs specialized care. She also needs to find a place to live that

is able to offer this care.

Marshall Rehm has asked for prayer for two friends that are both dealing with cancer at various levels. Pray for Marshall as he shares with them and pray also for their families as are on this journey together.

Faye Ann Nixon - asking for continued prayer for her daughter Holly who has been battling cancer the past several years.

 Her cancer has now spread to Holly's arm.   May we continue to pray for Holly to sense God's peace holding her close.

Lisa Wenner has asked for prayer for Gary, who has lost his mother recently and he is really struggling with the lost.  May we 

all pray that he is able to find God's peace

Gina and Jason Fuhrman has asked for prayer for Christian, as he takes his written driving test today.

  UPDATE:  The facility where you take the test was closed today, so Christian was given another day to study.

So may we continue to pray that he remembers what he studied as he takes the test tomorrow.

Yvonne Muik has asked for prayer for her Great-great grand son.....he is not due until the end of March, but

due to some medical issues with her Granddaughter (baby's mom) they may have to take the baby a few weeks

early.  She is asking for prayer for a safe delivery, and that both mom and baby will be fine and healthy.

Gary Bastan's family members that we have been praying for are doing better and showing some signs of improvement

 May we continue to lift them up in our prayers.

May you continue to pray for Pastor Don and myself as we serve our Lord at and with the people at St Matthew's 

I would ask for continued prayers for my legs and the lymphedema that I deal with daily.  God is good and I CHOOSE JOY through

it all. I appreciate your prayers tremendously and I can feel them helping me.

Praises: 

Lisa Wenner shared that her family was finally able to all get together for their Christmas celebration!  The family was dealing with

illness and COVID, but this past weekend they were able to all get together. It was a great time.

Marylou S. shared the great news that her daughter, Krissy is engaged !!   Congratulations!!

Thank you to everyone that has been supporting our Food Pantry with groceries. Gina is working on a monthly listing 

of food suggestions for each month.  As an example, February would be cereal, instant oatmeal, cream of wheat.

We will print the monthly needs in the bulletin the first Sunday of each month.

Okay everyone, time to head to bed or head into our Tuesday, (depending when you are reading this)

  May you all have a great one!

Blessings,

   Sarah

It's BRUNCH Day Sunday! A day to worship and gather (live and zoom at 10 with Children's Church) and a day to feast, fellowship, invite in and shine bright for Jesus! Come as you are, be loved and find joy today! Thank you Lori and Team 2 peas in a Pod! Thank you Sarah for bringing the Word today! Thank you all for joining us and God this day! Shine!

Good Morning Worshipers! Let us prepare to worship in Spirit and Truth. Let us prepare to worship by showing love and serving God and others. Let us rejoice in the day the Lord has given. PTL! Come and worship and enjoy this day!

I don't know if it was God or Satan, but I was awakened at 2:30 with a loud knock like an urgent pounding on a door but right at my head. I was in the middle of a nice dream too. In my sleepiness, I was able to discern that since Maggie wasn't barking nor Karen awake that I was just hearing things. However, several praise songs kept popping in my head and wouldn't allow me back to sleep as the Holy Spirit stirred some praise. So, I've been at it for awhile as it's now 5:45. When I finish this it will be nap time before church.

Here's the songs I kept hearing: Strong (I find myself singing this several times a day lately. He is strong always but especially in my weakness! PTL! I can't do this on my own! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFk2iYq4Zjk; Come Jesus Come (this song keeps coming to me throughout everyday for weeks--Yes Come! [check out the harvest prayer revival blog about this today!]) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UViC6DllCeA; Adonai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRRUH3g_268. I've worshiped with this awesome song for years as I lift up my heart to God Almighty, King of the Universe, my Savior and friend!

Thinking about these songs and my unusual tiredness (I am not tired when God awakens me early) I'm thinking it was an attack of the enemy that awoke me. The Holy Spirit countered the attack for me with praise and prayer songs. God is so good and kind to us! PTL! He's given us His Spirit that never sleeps, guides, protects and speaks to our souls of His love and help in times of trouble. PTL!

God did speak to my heart deeply today, informed some awesome prayer time and allowed me to be reloaded for the day of love and ministry ahead. And now He's released me to go get some physical rest to prepare this weary body for the day. Thanks Lord! What grace, love and mercy He showers on us! He is our Protector, Savior, Helper, Encourager, and Friend! His ways are not ours and are the best. May we continue to seek Him more in '24 and continue to work at Becoming More and Doing More in '24. Ask Him what word(s) He would like you to work on to become more like Jesus this year. Then find some friends to process with and be accountable to. That is really God's best and shows our love for and worship of Him! I'm going to just let you spend some time, unprompted, with Him as you seek, listen, worship and prepare your hearts for the day ahead. Adonai is with us and for us. He is strong when we are weak and we are are strongest when we are our weakest but relying on Him and His strength. So, please! Come, Jesus come! Have all of me! Be my Lord today! Bring revival as we glorify you by living and loving like Jesus. Come! We worship you, Adonai! Be our Lord today, Yahweh! Come! Amen!

Harvest Prayer Revival Blog:

Good Morning Joy Bringing Stewards of God's Blessings! As you connect to God today and prepare your heart for worship tomorrow, remember how blessed you are and God's call to steward well all of His blessings and that includes bringing His love, joy, peace and hope alive. That begins on your knees and flows through your day as you join God in His purposes for you throughout the day. He has some great plans and joys for you to discover as you put flesh on Jesus and go live and love like Him today. Amen! May it be so in and through each of us and Your Church O Lord! Come and use us well! Amen.

I have several thoughts of what God wants to share with you today. If I wrote all He revealed, I'd be here half the day. He is so kind and loving and speaks to our hearts as we still ourselves at His feet, listen, receive and release in prayer. I just love the extended time He gives me each day to dwell in His presence! I'm praying you come to enjoy that too and pray for those who don't yet, to want to. It is such a sweet time and so profitable stewarding of our time before the day begins. I'm not sure why God awakens me so early but when I wake, I make my coffee and head to my prayer closet with the joy of getting to hang with God, hear Him and release informed prayers and praise. I feel like I get to experience, in some way, what it was like for Jesus to get up early and get alone with the Father and I love it! Typically my quiet time lasts anywhere from 2 to 4 hours. I know most of you can't do that, but I've found over my 22 years of doing this that I want to spend more time with Him and He speaks, encourages, corrects in love and just prepares me for the day in growing measure. And somehow, He redeems the time as I am more alert to doing what He is doing and what really matters and am able to choose peace and joy as He leads me through the day prepared. These blogs are just part of my journal notes as I share what I believe God has informed me to share with you and as prayer starters for our valued intercessors. I think I have been doing these for 2 and a half to three years now and God hasn't released me from them yet. I know sometimes it feels like I say the same things all the time and I wonder why God wants to keep sharing those, but I know we have to hear, process and practice things many times before they become part of our DNA. Plus, I am just sharing what I keep hearing: Keep working at living and loving like Jesus and growing into your created purposes. Love God and others. Dying to self, not leaning on your own understanding and following Jesus well comes to life the more you spend time with God. Thanks Lord!

I have a sheet of prayer starters for each day as I begin my quiet time. One day is missionaries, one day family, etc. Saturdays are focused on praying for Sundays worship services and for me as your shepherd to teach and lead like Jesus. At the top of the page are these two prayers, join me in them. I pray that we would grow as joy bringers and as followers of the Way. Isn't that our mission and it is a joy to follow Jesus and bring Him to life to those around us. I pray for our hearts to be ready to enter His courts with thanksgiving, to worship in Spirit and in Truth, and I pray that many more of you would be bold enough to speak up and share praises, God sightings, Kingdom stories, and needed requests. You can join me in praying for these things and for boldness to share among your friends. On brunch Sundays, like tomorrow, I pray that we would connect to newcomers well, invite them to join us and share God's love and our hope well. We are expecting some new guests tomorrow. Pray for all hindrances to their coming to be blocked and for open hearts to Jesus and our love. Harvest Prayer's revival blog below speaks more about being an intercessor. Check it out and pray through it.

What else did God say to me and wants me to remind you of and share? Well, how about you check out the attached devotionals below and talk to God about what He's wanting you to hear, understand and put into practice. Then ask for the "want to" to want to do what He reveals. Ask Him about who He wants you to process with too and do it. Charles Stanley starts us off with the reminder of God's promises that are always true and a reminder that God not only cares, but that He will do what He promises and we can always cling to and release those promises in prayer. He has great plans for you and is with you always. Be still and know! Be informed and go! The Upper Room reminds us that not matter how dark or misty life may seem, we know the Light of the world and He is always there, even when we can't sense it. PTL! Refocus on Him as you recount your blessings! And then add to that gratitude list. And The Word for You Today, reminds of stewarding all our blessings well and using the mind of Christ and wisdom God's given us to live this life well as we prepare for the next. Where's your treasure being invested? As a tither of time, talent and treasure, it can become difficult sometimes and we may question God about where are all these promised blessings. We may enviously compare with the Joneses who don't believe nor tithe and are not investing in eternity and want materialistic blessings when God wants what is best for us and gives those blessings to us. Seek first the Kingdom of God and someday you will look back and see God's hand of blessings were always upon you and leading you to His best. He always provides for our needs. That's a promise. He wants us to enjoy life and sometimes provides for our dreams and the desires of our hearts. But that peace and blessing of knowing joy comes alive as we invest time, talent and treasure in things that are most important. Life is a journey and God is with us always! May we choose well and be blessed beyond measure eternally! Choose joy today as you grow in trust and faithfulness and earnestly live this life for Christ. That is the best life we will be helped to live and come to really enjoy. Shalom! (seek it and know it!) Amen! This is the day the Lord has made and He made this day just for you and you for this day. Yes rejoice and follow well! God loves you! So do I! He's cheering you on and I'm praying for you (have been for 4 hours!) Shalom Shalom!

Harvest prayer Revival Blog:

Charles Stanley: Guarantees

Upper Room: Always Present

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star. - Revelation 22:16 (NIV)

It had been raining steadily for five days, and the local forecast was predicting another two days of equally bleak conditions. I found myself increasingly unmotivated to do much of anything, especially when it involved going outside. Taking out the trash, driving to work, letting the dog out — everything was a wet, depressing chore that sapped my energy and dampened my disposition.

Having not seen the sun in nearly a week, I decided to head to the gym in hopes that some physical activity might change my outlook. While driving through a particularly strong downpour, the rain suddenly stopped, the clouds broke, and the brilliant sun shone through long enough to change my perspective.

In that moment, I was able to recognize that though the storm had been shrouding the sun, it was never gone. So it is with God who, as the Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 31, will always be with us, never leaving or forsaking us.

Too often, we are so focused on worldly cares that we forget that even in the midst of our storms, Jesus is still “the bright morning star” promised in scripture. It is good to remember that clouds cannot stop the light of the sun; they can only obscure it for a time. In a similar way,

Christ never leaves us. He is with us through it all, ordering our days and preparing straight paths for when the clouds lift.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Thank you, God, for your faithfulness every day, no matter the storm surrounding us. Amen.TWFYT:

It was Friday...BUT Sunday was coming! PTL for His loving mercy, grace, forgiveness, presence with you, and perfect plans on this Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! He really loves you just as you are! Come be loved by Him! Rejoice!

DON"T FORGET...It's not too late to sign up and invite someone to join you for worship and brunch on Sunday! (It's TGIF and Sunday is coming! It will be a day of worship, fellowship, food and fun! Come and see!)

Good Morning Lost but Found, Forgiven and Loved, Close to God, Joyful Co-Laborers! You are so loved just as you are. Forgiven much, cleansed, purified and even sanctified in Christ and by God's Word. We were lost but found; one way and now another, by God's grace. He is close to us and to the brokenhearted. He is drawing and sending us to love. He allows us to choose faith, trust and joy that is contagious as we walk more closely with Him everyday. And as we do these things, He promises us a peace beyond understanding! PTL! Choose joy and follow His shalom today! Start by counting your many blessings today! There are soooo many to celebrate! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz0cjGr2h4k (I love this song and reminder!)

Check out the Upper Room and Charles Stanley devos below reminding us that we were lost and found and as we hunger and thirst after God, like a deer pants for water, God satisfies. PTL! Right? Our true identity is that we are created, loved, forgiven, and can be close to God who is close to us always. We are a new creation in Christ blessed to grow into our fullness and fulfill our created purposes. We are loved and we matter. We are helped too all along the way to become more like Jesus. What an awesome God we serve and love! Draw close to Him today and ask who He may be sending you to love and help. Ask how He wants to use you to pray and release His will in heaven and on earth and ask for the Holy Spirit to fill you to overflowing with God's heart and mind. Then go and love well today and keep building that gratitude list!

Here's a few more prayer starters for today: "Praise God that he is trustworthy. Give thanks that His unfailing love surrounds all who trust in Him (Ps. 32:19). Confess any doubt you find in your heart. Commit yourself to knowing God better [and to become more in '24--more of Him and less of you!]. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you through His Word and Spirit in the midst of life's circumstances. Pray for laborers to be called into God's harvest field. Praise God for the coming harvest. Pray that more hearts may be prepared to accept the gospel. Ask what your part in His harvest is and for feet to go. Pray that barriers to salvation faced by unbelievers today may be demolished, that many may come to the Kingdom." Pray for Sunday's worship and brunch to be filled with Truth, Love, salvation and fellowship and for many to come and experience God's love among us and through us. Amen! 

May God be close to you today, speak to your heart as you worship and praise, and fill you with His Spirit and His peace and joy! Amen!

Harvest Prayer revival Blog:

UR: Lost and Found

This thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. - Luke 15:32 (KJV)

As I grow older, I am more inclined to forget where I’ve put things. So I have developed the habit of asking God to help me find what I’ve lost, and God graciously responds.

In our scripture from Luke 15, we read of a lost coin, a lost sheep, and a lost son. Each was precious to the one who had suffered the loss, and great was the rejoicing when the lost was found.

Many people have lost something that they think they will never find: a reputation, innocence, faith, hope, joy, enthusiasm, vision, purpose. Many have lost their first love for God. But when Jesus told these stories, he was offering hope for restoration.

Yes, God is kind and helps us with everyday situations — like lost household items. But God is greatly concerned about people who are lost — those who have drifted away or who have never been close to begin with. God longs to bring all of us home and restore us. When we have lost our way in the struggles of life, we can come to God and pour our heart out to our loving Father. God will always welcome us, embrace us, love us, and restore us.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear God, may the love you show us through others lead us back to you. Amen.Charles Stanley:

Rise and Shine! This is the day the Lord has made! We will worship and be glad in it! Rejoice and shine for such a time as this!

Couple of updates: Dani did have her appendix surgery and is spending the night in the hospital. Indications are that she will be home today and able to fly to her cruise tomorrow. PTL and continue to pray for healing, favor, shalom and good times ahead for the family. Pray God would use this and they would shine bright during their trip!

Gladys Ketner is and will be spending an extended time at Parkland Manor receiving therapy and care during her stroke recovery. We had a great conversation and prayer time yesterday. She is resting a lot which is healing and still struggling some with getting her words from her thinking to her mouth but they are working on that. She is hopeful and we discussed and prayed for patience in the process and choosing joy. 

We had 65 come for bread and ministry yesterday. God is using our servants to show love and bring hope and help. Several have signed up to join us Sunday. PTL! May we welcome them and invite them in with love. Many who come have had bad church experiences...but we aren't like that! We are Love! Pray for our Clothing Closet and servants. We are expanding to another room. Pray for God to bless the servants as they bless many in the name of Jesus! God sure is using us! PTL!

It's not too late to sign up for the brunch on Sunday after worship. Let Sarah, Lori or me know. We are buying food tomorrow. It's always a great time of fellowship and ministry opportunities!

Pray for Sarah as she prepares for Sunday's message for clarity and for God to speak to and through her.

Pray for our Congregational Meeting on Feb 4th that God would lead us. We are Evangelical Congregational, which means the congregation follows God and leads the church. What's your part? Thank God for all he's doing and pray for Him to lead us to new ministry opportunities and for Him to lead you too. Pray for His BIG plans and for dreams and visions to come. Praise Him for new members joining and pray we would multiply many disciples walking in Jesus' way.

Pray for our new members class Feb. 18th after worship.

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Good Morning Praying, Preparing, Sent Servants of Revival! Oh Yes pronounce that truth over you and us! God is on the move! He's informing and answering our prayers! He's leading you and our Body to be His instruments of revival for such a time as this! PTL! Be still and know. And be ready to move and follow as He leads! He has some great custom made plans just for you. He's also orchestrating some BIG things for our fellowship. But also remember that we are family. He's growing our family as we love and invite in like Jesus. He's sending more as He revives us and loves through us and expands His Kingdom. Pray that we would love, include and mentor like Jesus. Also remember that big or small, every part of our body and every act of service is critical. You matter! We matter! Come as you are and be loved, led, and used by God for such a time as this! Amen!

Check out and prayerfully engage with God through Harvest Prayer's revival blog and our devotionals today. God is speaking to you. What's He saying? Who might you process that with? What will you do as He leads with what you've been blessed with? Are you stewarding well all God's blessings? Are you sowing lavishly in love? Be bold and courageous, faithful and following--earnestly. Daylight's burning! God's ways are not our ways nor His thoughts like ours. Don't lean on your understanding. Turn off the noise. Acknowledge Him in all you ways and He will lead you step by step. PTL! 

Note the tension between the two sides of the fence in the Harvest blog. It's just how it is when man tries to interpret God's plans. It's why we have all these denominations. BUT GOD is God and we are not nor can we fathom the depth of His plans. That's a good thing! We get to grow in trust and follow as He reveals each step of the journey. What if things are both/and in the Harvest blog? God has called me, and apparently others to sound the alarm to prepare others for the hard times coming. That was reflected in Sunday's message call to being earnest, persevering and ready. But also evident in that message was the other side of the fence--revival is coming. You know it can be both/and. And that's the faith stretching, relying on Him more kind of thing God does! God promises an end times harvest. Keep praying into that. But if it's an end times harvest that is coming, we will need to be ready to endure all kinds of hardships and persecutions. Are you ready for that? Honestly, that has been the history of God's Church--thriving and growing in the hardest of times and most severe persecutions. It's continuing like that today in many places around the world. It surly could be coming here soon. And what did He do to His faithful followers beginning in Acts 2...sent the Holy Spirit, raised up faithful followers and added to their numbers daily. That's both and! Yes God's ways are not our, yet He is always with us as He stretches, grows and uses us no matter what we are facing! So keep praying and keep preparing and being ready for such a time as this! Be earnest and be Jesus in the flesh more in '24! Amen! And may His peace beyond understanding guard your hearts and minds as you take each step of faith in your journey to being more like Jesus and following His way. Amen!

Harvest Prayer Revival Blog:

ODB:

TWFYT:

Charles Stanley

Good Morning Called, Prepared, Sent, Guided, Follower of the Way! Amen! So be it Lord! Come use us well! May we be earnest as we follow Jesus and His Way! Amen!

I wasn't planning to share much except some reminders from a few of our devotionals today. God has called us, commissioned us, empowered us and sent us to grow His Kingdom on earth. That is why we are here and daylight is definitely burning!  God has great plans for you and us today--every day. Choose well as you walk with Him for such a time as this!

In our pastors and disciples huddle this morning the Great Commission was shared from the Message translation. Ponder this in prayer and conversation with God and some friends and contemplate through the devotionals below what God has planned for you and what you are going to do about it. We all have a custom role in His Good News Delivery Co. Step boldly into your part! Experience all the fullness of your faith and what God is doing and has planned for you and rejoice! Shalom!

Great Commission:

Matthew 28:16-20

The Message

16-17 Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.

18-20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

Charles Stanley:

UR: Good Gifts

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! - Matthew 7:11 (NIV)

Three-year-old Kate had spent a day with me the previous week, and she delighted in the strawberries I had given her as a snack. When I picked her up again, her first words to me were, “Do you have strawberries?” I told her I didn’t, and I watched her eyes cloud and her smile fade. I quickly added, “But I do have oranges and bananas.” Kate’s eyes brightened, and she excitedly exclaimed, “Yeah, I like those too!” Kate enjoyed the oranges and bananas as much as she had enjoyed the strawberries.

This sweet interaction with Kate made me ponder our responses to God. We often ask for blessings and hope to receive the same gifts we were given before. But God may have a different gift in store for us. Do we respond positively to God’s good gift or do we wish for something else?

When we pray, we should be open to the gifts that God has for us in the present. James tells us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights” (Jas. 1:17). God has a variety of gifts and blessings to offer, and each one may be different than the last. We can anticipate them all with the excitement and joy of a child.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Loving Father, thank you for the many gifts you have given us in the past. Help us to be open to the good gifts you are giving us today. Amen.TWFYT:

Praying for your pastor guide. (I shared this before but have been praying this for Sarah, me and over you as shepherds of the Lord. Please join me over the next few months in praying these daily. Thanks! God hears and our prayers are powerful and effective!

This week:

Tues 10-11 Zoom Huddle. All welcome!

Wed bread distribution 10-12; Family Ministries/Adult Dinner Huddle 6-7:30. All Welcome!

All week: earnestly seeking to Become More in '24!

Good Morning Supernatural Servants of Revival! AMEN! Check out Harvest Prayer's Revival prayer for this 22nd day of the year. Come Jesus come! Bring the supernatural alive in us, Your Church and bring revival alive in this nation! Come Jesus Come! Use us!

I love how God reveals as we move forward in faith to the unknown things He is revealing. He's leading us to and responding to our one step of faith at a time in deep trust and obedience! I had no clue why He was having me rewrite yesterday's message 4 times and changing the service at the last minute. I do know that He responded to my faithfulness! Thanks Lord! I do know He was calling me to bring alive our call to earnestness this year as we work on becoming more like Jesus and doing more of what He created us to do. I didn't know why He wanted me to change things and to get Mike to end the service but I responded with earnest faith. Mike stepped out of His comfort zone out of love and obedience to God and God used Him to soften the exhortation and reminder to be earnest in our walk with the reminder of how loved we are, just as we are. He observed how we are allowing Him to use us and mold us to our fuller potential! And yes we are a faithful people of God learning and growing, as we are, to become more like Jesus! Thanks God and Mike! And thank you, co-laborers! Today in our devotionals below, He reveals some more of His plan. I was faithful to fly the airplane while building it and allowing Him to lead us to the why? God is at work and does have great plans He is bringing to life in, through and around us! PTL! Buckle up and fly your plane!

What's He revealing to you? Is He bringing a word to light to work on? Is He affirming your gifts and calling to love like Jesus? Is the Holy Spirit pinching you to respond to some nudge? What are you thinking you might need to do about these? Will you? Whose helping you? Who might you help? God's speaking and answering our earnest and effective prayers! PTL! I am just so excited to see how He is responding and using our faithful stepping forward with Him! Be still and know with a commitment to earnest following!

God's writing your story and our gathered and sent story through you. He's giving us stories to share that others need to hear! Now there is balance with humility in why you do what you do and we always need to humbly point to God and not tout our own achievements. Our walk is one we need to examine often with God and others and correct as needed. What are your motives? Is Love center in all and leading you? Remember you are a work of art that God loves and He continues to mold us into perfection. Keep your focus right with a supple heart and willing feet. God is shaping you for His greater things and living and loving more earnestly like Jesus will lead us there step by step in faith and obedience. PTL! Worship! Listen, receive and follow well into His awesome future! And enjoy life! God is not an evil taskmaster! God is Love! And Love lives in you and works through you! Rejoice!

Harvest Prayer:

Charles Stanley:

Clothing Closet is open today from 10-1. Our lots, stairs and sidewalks are ready for today and worship tomorrow at 10.

Good Morning Praying Friends! Worshipers, (Prayer) Warriors, Watchman (on the Wall), and (Harvest) Workers. Those are different prayer stations I have been praying for God to fill in our Body. Maybe one of these is a "do" and "be"  word God might want you to explore and develop in the year ahead? Yes let us worship God for Who and all He is with much thanksgiving and praise. Let us continue to battle in prayer for we fight against principalities and powers in the spiritual realm. Let us pray for eyes to see, ears to hear and mouths to sound the alarm as we pray a covering over our Body. Let us do the hard work of prayer and cry out for revival to come. One of the critical roles needed in our Good News Delivery Co. is pray-er and that shows up in all of these stations of prayer. Keep at it! Revival is coming! Birth it in prayer and prepare us in prayer to be all God made us to be and to be prepared, ready and willing. Thank you! Check out Harvest Prayer's revival prayer below! Pray through it!

Let me tell you I have been in a spiritual battle lately. I NEED your prayers and covering! Thank you! It all started when God led me to initiate the Become More in '24 Challenge. It is God's call to seek Him and His ways more. To die to self, take up cross and follow Jesus more often and fully. It's a call to (and this has been the prayer, I believe triggered this pinching) live a life fully sold out to Christ and living this life as if Christ is all that matters with earnestness and intentionality. My from-the-heart earnest prayer has been more of You Lord and less of me. Those kinds of prayers, the Bible teaches are "powerful and effective." And I can affirm that as God has led me to deep soul searching in my quest to become more like Jesus. It is a cry for personal revival and to be a man of integrity. Help me Lord!

Yesterday, I allowed God full control and invited Him to edit our completed Sunday message. He obliged with a full rewrite that consumed most of my day off. My agape word--dying to self and loving like Jesus--was put to practice. I just couldn't understand the fire and brimstone tone of the message that began as a call to teaching about spiritual gifts and words to possibly work on for us for the year. Then this morning when I invited God to come edit some more and I then opened our devotionals prayerfully God spoke and clarified. (check them out below) Oh God is speaking to my heart, pinching and answering heartfelt cries for Him to cleanse me and purify me and make me useable and His man of integrity. I may now be in a full rewrite shortly on a very busy Saturday. But His will not mine! Die to self, take up cross and follow Jesus' lead. I long to and have been crying out to become more like Jesus. That includes living, loving, teaching, leading and making disciples like Him and to allow Him to be the Lord of me, my day(s), my agendas, and my choices. I have been cut to the marrow by His Living Word in response and led to deep inspection of my ways and what needs to be corrected--purified. Can I truly say that if you don't know how to follow Jesus, follow me? Or am I one of those that call others to do what I say but not what I do? Am I a Pharisee in shepherd cloths? Purify my heart Lord!

I think the reminder God had me include in yesterday's blog really struck home. It's the one where God told Joshua to tell the people to purify themselves because they were to prepare themselves for obedience and service as they finally followed God into the Promised Land. That is God's call for us as well. Do we realize the awe and reverence we need to show to Almighty God and His ways. He is all powerful and holy. We are not, yet He calls us to be holy as He is holy. Ouch, right? My studies of spiritual gifts took me even deeper into this self examination before my holy God. And I wrested (still am some) with how to balance that awe and reverence with God's sacrificial love and forgiveness. He knows me and loves me despite my sins and flaws. He has a plan for me that leads from being a very unrighteous sinner to one walking fully in my potential and His holy ways. We are all somewhere in between on that journey. But if we want to see revival in the nation and even our church, we need to first purify ourselves (confess and repent our sins) before God will use us. Yet He says, come as you are. I love you! I have plans for you. Come! 

Maturity in Christ and working on reaching our fullest potential in Christ moves us to leave our old nature behind and step more fully in our new. I am struggling with that. We all tend to hate change, leaving our comfort zones, dying to self and readying to roll when God calls. Purify yourself is a very soul searching endeavor and the pruning it may lead to really hurts. Think about how God had all the men and boys be circumcised before he led them to the Promised Land. it was symbolic of the cutting away of their old nature and it hurt! How could they go battle the enemy and take the land while healing? Well they had to fully rely on God. Today we are commanded to be a people of circumcised hearts. OUCH!!! But that is what God has called me and His church to be and do. 2 Chronicles 7:14 keeps ringing in my ear: Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

And I cry out COME! Prepare and send me! Help me humble and purify myself. Cleanse me and use me Lord! Bring revival and may it begin with me! Is the Holy Spirit pinching you right now? Don't turn off that noise as we tend to do. Tune into it and ask for clarity and help with what to repent and to purify yourself. God has great plans a because that is not noise, but God's whisper to you. He's waiting and wants you to be ready and willing. He is preparing a people for Himself. You can be one of those! Are you listening? Willing? Ready?

I then opened Our Daily Bread titled Calling out to God. They use Psalm 25:16-22. meditate on that. That has been part of my prayers. This some just lifted me up as I cried out to God in praise and prayer with it. 

Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.
18 Look on my affliction and my distress
    and take away all my sins.
19 See how numerous are my enemies
    and how fiercely they hate me!

20 Guard my life and rescue me;
    do not let me be put to shame,
    for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
    because my hope, Lord,[a] is in you.

22 Deliver [me, Your Church and this nation] O God,

    from all their troubles!

The Upper Room followed up with Letting Go. They use Psalm 34:18, "The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." That's me. Is that you? God is preparing us to be able to connect and lead those of the world who He is drawing and whose heats are broken--those who's spirit is crushed as their world comes crashing down. God loves us with a refining, purifying, and preparing love as He sends us to people experiencing the things we have gone through. We can look back and see that but rarely understand during the purifying and pruning.

The Word for You Today kinda redirected my thinking today with their reminder from Psalm 84:7 that God will move us from strength to strength. He is not content to leave us the way we are. We are created for more and He builds on our strengths and prunes our weaknesses. Great fruit lies ahead! We have been and may still be being pruned. Why? Because that is required as we purify ourselves and offer ourselves to God. Pruning leads to much better fruit and forces us to draw on the strength of the Vine, Jesus, for nourishment, sustaining and growth. As we start to grow and bud, we become more aware of what God is doing and wants to do as He leads us to the great and lasting fruit of the Spirit we have cried out to develop for Him to use. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Have you chosen one of these as your word, like me? I have prayed for some of these and especially self control. God will gladly prune us to give us opportunities to grow into those desires of our heart. And then use them to bless and minister to others and for His glory.

Don't be surprised if you hear some of this again tomorrow. It bears repeating and really is God editing His message to us as I prayed, less of me and more of you. He loves us with a refining, patient, everlasting love. He created us with so much potential and wants us to get there for such a time as this. He has plans for today, a bright hope for tomorrow and everlasting plans for you to grow into. It's time to get earnest and intentional at purifying yourself, allowing God to have His way with you as He prepares to lead you to His best and to be one of those people He is preparing for Himself. As we sit in awe and reverence and worship, we see His hand of blessing and love upon us and come to know His peace beyond understanding as we choose joy that flows from deep trust that He knows best and is at work in us, around us and through us to prepare a people for Himself that are purified and ready. Man, I want to be one of those! How about you? Let us covenant to work on this together and hold each other up in that journey to His best. Let us seek to become more in '24! Amen!

I'm praying for me, you and us. I want to answer questions and process with you. I need accountability and so do you. Ask God for some close trusted co-laborers. He has some custom made great plans for you and us together and He is working all things together for those who love Him/agape Him and are called according to His name. Which is a call to holiness and becoming more like Jesus. Lord, help us to want to and work on Becoming More like Jesus in '24. Prepare, purify and send us! Amen

Harvest Prayer, Revival prayer:

ODB:

UR: Letting Go

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

My family had experienced three recent deaths: my father, my mother, and my nephew. After cleaning out my parents’ house for a new family to move in, reality hit hard. We would never gather at my childhood home again. Dad would not read Luke 2 on Christmas Day. Mom would not make raspberry jelly or pecan pies. My nephew would not give another prank gift or bear hug. Our family would never be the same.

As I walked through the empty house, Dad’s orchard, and the woods at the edge of the yard, I cried. I

thanked God for a great family and childhood home and asked for God’s blessings on the young family who would live here now. Yet, a few hours later, I realized I had never given God my grief. I understood in a new way that God loves us and reaches out to us in our sorrow. However, we must offer our sorrow and grief to God.

Doing so does not remove our pain or eliminate the need for grieving. But it does offer the assurance that God holds our lives and sustains us through any devastating loss. We will never have to carry our burdens alone because God carries them with us.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Thank you, never-failing Father, for your presence, comfort, and peace, especially in times of grief. Amen.TWFYT:

Thank God I'm Forgiven! What's that mean to you? Thank God and build that gratitude list this morning!

Pray this earnestly today: O, O God Forgive Us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-lSe4earII

Good Morning Forgiven Much, Repentant, Pruned, Obedient to the Living Word, Purified, Very Loved Children of God! O, O God forgive us! Cleanse us! Purify us! Revive us! Teach us! Prepare us! Make us usable! Use us! All for Your glory and honor! Amen! When God was ready to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, He commanded Joshua to call the people to a season of preparation and purification. May we become a purified people, ready to follow God into our promised land and leading the next generations by our example! Purify My Heart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB_gCVjoNpI Please Lord! Come!

I had no idea where God would lead me this morning as I humbled myself before Him and asked Him to write this blog. Our devotionals speak about the importance of spending a sanctifying, purifying time with Him in the Living Word. Jesus is God's Living Word and the Bible is His instructions for us and called the Living Word because it is living and active and cuts to bone and marrow, directs, corrects, guides and does not come back void when spoken. We need to open our Bibles and spend time in them and even memorize passages to be recalled when needed later. Spend some time in the Word and with God as you prayerfully, humbly open your Bible today and through our devotionals and their passages. God is speaking always and especially as we open His Living Word! Be still. Listen and receive. Pray and release. Trust, obey and follow. And end with the Harvest Prayer's revival blog at the end. God is on the move and He is calling a prepared and available people to service and usefulness. Is that you? Is that our church? We are on our way but there is so much more ahead. Prepare your hearts and minds. Ask for wisdom, discernment and willing hands and feet and persevering, active faith. God has great plans for you and us! Daylight's burning! Are you ready and available?

May God's Word come alive in and through you with power and authority. May His Love protect and lead you. May you stay connected to The Vine, Jesus, and grow from pruning to massive fruit production--good and lasting fruit! May God lead you to seek Him more, become more of the person you are created to be and doing more of what You were created to do in the year ahead. And may He light revival fires through the next generations and position us to walk with them and disciple them with great and living faith! May we become a dynamic movement of God with a burning passion for Him and His ways and a missionary zeal to reach and disciple the lost. Yes, God is on the move! Hallelujah and He is using sinners like us as His vessels! May we be purified and ready! Come Jesus come! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu4VV54ZcFo

Charles Stanley:

ODB

UR: A Fruitful Vine

Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:5 (NIV)

One sunny morning I woke up to the sounds of birds chirping. I looked out my window and saw that it was the long tendrils of my passion fruit plant that had attracted the birds. I recalled Jesus’ words in John 15:5 and meditated on the verse with curiosity, knowing that the Holy Spirit had brought it to my mind to reveal something to me.

I realized that the image of the vine in John 15:5 and my passion fruit plant have something in common — they both have winding, clinging branches that bear fruit. They don’t have trunks; they cling to nearby objects for support, and their branches grow out of the vine. In John 15:5, Jesus was making it clear to us that he supplies our needs and makes it possible for us to flourish.

In order to thrive and bear fruit, climbing plants depend on a strong central vine and require occasional pruning. Jesus is our true vine, and when we remain connected to him, we can bear much fruit. All we need to do is receive and rest in Jesus’ love. Just as a plant’s nutrients flow from the vine to its branches, God’s divine love flows from Christ to us.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Lord, as we cling to you, restore our peace and hope and remind us how much you love us. Amen.TWFYT:

Harvest Prayer

Spiritual Gifts Test Link: https://gifts.churchgrowth.org/spiritual-gifts-survey/ If you'd like to take a spiritual gifts test to discover your spiritual gifts, here's a link to one. Please share with us your results. Praying for God to help us discover our custom made and Holy Spirit empowered purposes.

New Members Class Sun Feb 18 after church. All participants will be required to complete the gifts test before the class.

Good Morning Becoming More like Jesus Servants and Intercessors! Yes Lord COME! May we become more like You as we learn to serve, pray, teach, lead and love like Jesus! Come! Have Your perfecting way with me! Prepare me and use me well! Come! Lead me to my purposes and part. Thanks! Amen!

Today's devotional revelations tie to two things...interceding (crying out in prayer) for Jesus to come and revival to sweep over our nation. (See Harvest Prayer for today below) Our other devos (below) speak into becoming more like Jesus, our example of a servant leader, Shepherd, who was comfortable in His human flesh and dependent upon the Holy Spirit to minister to and through Him. Two of our devos use the John 13 teaching of Jesus as He washed the disciple's feet. When I graduated from Bible college we were given a towel with that passage on it to remind us that we are called to be servant leaders, like Jesus.

I placed the Upper Room between the two using John 13 because to be a good and maturing servant leader, we need to learn to die to self, not lean on our own understanding and to grow in trust and obedience as we learn to be content with Jesus being our Lord, Shepherd and Example. Learning to live, love, teach and lead more like Jesus, requires being content to die to self and cry out for less of me and more of Him as a way of life. We have to be willing to take off our old nature and toss it away like a caterpillar leaving the cocoon behind and stepping into our new butterfly nature. How well are you doing at allowing God to transform you more fully into His image? What word(s) may He want you to work on? Who does He want you to partner with to work on this?

God has great plans for each of us and us as His Body! For us to become more fully who we were created to be and do more of what Jesus has planned for us, we need to humble ourselves, invite Him to come with His patient, perfecting love and have His way with us. How can we help each other with that? Accountability is key and that comes from a few close trusted friends and much time with God. Pray for God to raise up good accountability partnerships and for how and who for you to be involved. No matter your personality, abilities, gifts, experiences, circumstances, or preferences, God has a plan and purpose just for you. And as He gathers us as His Body, He weaves us together to become a well oiled Good News Delivery machine. But we need each other! Pray for God to continue His good work in and through you and us and to lead us to our fullest potential in Christ. Please Lord! Thanks! Amen! May God bless you today with His presence, direction, joy and shalom!

Harvest Prayer's Revival Prayer:

ODB:

UR: Giving It to God

Paul wrote, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” - Philippians 4:11 (NIV)

After I learned that I had torn my other ACL, my spirits sank. I had just recovered from the same injury to my other knee eight months prior, and now I was going to have to go through the same grueling journey all over again. Surgery, crutches, ice, and physical therapy would be my main focus for the next two weeks. I felt as if I would never understand where God was in all this or how God could possibly use this injury for my good.

It was around this time that I came across Philippians 4. I was familiar with this passage of scripture, but I had never spent much time studying and meditating on it. After reading it, I decided that although I did not understand why I was going through this trial, I knew that turning to God would be the only way I could get through it. I took a leap of faith and decided to trust God. Now I have found joy and a peace that I did not have when I was healing from my first knee injury. Giving this struggle to God is something I have to do every day, and doing so helps me remember that I am not going through this hardship alone.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear God, help us give our struggles to you daily, and remind us that the trials that we go through will strengthen our faith and trust in you. Amen.

TWFYT:

Bread Ministry 10-12 today. Wed night gathering postponed until next Wed. (There was a one call but some of us don't receive it. Sarah is working on correcting that. Pray for favor)

Good Morning Handcrafted Vessels of God! PTL for His creating, recreating, molding and preparing of you and us as His vessels of love, healing, hope and revival. Thanks Lord! Help us to die to self, humble self and allow you to have Your way with us as you continue to prepare us for what is ahead. May we be useful now, just as we are, and willing to allow you to transform us for usefulness for what's next. Come! Have your way with us and use us well for Your glory always. Revive us, direct our steps, protect us and prepare us for Your best. Bring joy alive as we learn to trust you more, love you more and allow you more access to us. More of You and less of me! More love! More power! More incarnating of Jesus and His good ways through us more often. Reveal to us things You desire for us to work on this year. Give us words and move us to work on those with You, Your Holy Spirit and each other. Lead us to Your best and use us well. Amen!

I'm going to just allow you to saturate in God's presence this morning through the blogs and devos below. God has a word for you this morning. What's He saying to you? How is He pinching or moving your heart? How does He want to inform your prayer and choices today. Invite Him to be the Lord of your heart and choices today and this week. Humble yourself. Turn off the noise and be still and reload in His loving presence. Ask Him to bring His will alive through your prayers. He has some great things awaiting your discover and cooperation. PTL! Allow His Spirit and presence to warm you to the bones and fire you up for what's next for today and beyond. Bring those revival fires to those out in the cold of distance from the One who loves us and pray for a warming of cold hearts. Ask to have a burning passion for God. Pray to be on fire for the Lord! AMEN!

Harvest prayer:

Charles Stanley:

ODB:

UR:

God's Protection

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. - Psalm 57:1 (NIV)

My wife and I operate a small farm.

One evening, we were away from home when we received a call from our neighbor who told us that one of our cows was having her calf in the pasture.

The time immediately after birth can be dangerous for both the mother and the newborn since both are weak and the birth process often attracts predators.

It was dark when we got home. After getting our flashlights and going out to the pasture, we were rewarded with the sight of a healthy newborn calf lying beside its mother. We also found our llamas and our livestock guardian dog standing in a circle around the cow and calf. The llamas and dog provided comfort and protection to their vulnerable charges. As we moved the cow and her calf to the shelter of the barn, we were escorted by the llamas and dog.

For me, that was a memorable illustration of the protection and refuge God provides. We may not face the same physical threats as livestock, but we do face fear, worry, temptation, loneliness, and grief that prey on our relationship with God. When I look back at difficult times in my life, I can see that God provided protection and comfort, often in the form of support from fellow Christians. Just as the llamas and dog provided protection and comfort to the cow and her calf, God provides protection and comfort to us.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Our Father, thank you for the many ways you comfort us when we are vulnerable. Help us always to find our refuge in you. Amen.

Good Morning Gathered and Sent Surrendered, Faithful Servants of the Lord--Co-Laborers! Please Lord! Grow us as we gather. Equip us. Empower us! Send us to be your vessels of love, healing, hope and revival. Team us up with others--co-laborers and raise up some small group leaders. We are Your very loved children, longing to be used to advance your Kingdom and make disciples of Jesus. Come! Thank You for creating us and placing us right where you want us for such a time as this! Shepherd lead us and use us well for your glory. Amen!

And AMEN! Come Jesus us come! This morning as I sat down at my desk and pondered yesterday, Psalm 23 came to mind again...The Lord is my Shepherd. Is He your Shepherd? Are you allowing Him to lead you beside the still waters and restore your soul? Are you walking with Him through the dark valley today? Are you content in His provision and following His provision? I shall not want! Are you allowing Him to guide you in the paths of righteousness? Why? "For His name's sake!" Are you living up to the calling of being a sheep and allow the Great Shepherd to be your Lord? That's where revival begins as you humble yourself, even die to self and let go of control, for His names sake! So, surprise, as I open my Charles Stanley devo that begins with Palm 23:3. Oh, yes God is always speaking. PTL! Are we being still and listening? Are you allowing Jesus to lead you as you serve others for His name's sake? Are you working as if you are working for the Lord? Praying, serving, repenting as if for the Lord? God has great plans for you just as you are and is wanting to grow you to your fuller potential and His greater things. Rejoice! Surrender and live this life as if Christ is all that matters, because it's true! Engage Him through the devotionals below as you turn off the noise and tune into God. Ask Him to reveal a word for you to work on this year too. He has at least one! Come Jesus come!! Have all of me and grow me to my fuller potential in Christ and use me as I am, today right where you place me, for such a time as this. Bring revival and send me as you agent of it. Come! Thank You! Amen! (Pray the Harvest Prayer revival prayer at the end--earnestly for those prayers are powerful and effective!) 

What's God saying to you today and what will you do about it? Who is He leading you to partner with? is He leading you to lead a small group? What word(s) is He leading you to for growth? How might He want to use you to advance His Kingdom? Who might He be leading you today? ASK! LISTEN! and receive! Then share and process that with Sarah, me, or your small circle of friends. And worship for all He is and will do! God is on the move! Hallelujah!

Charles Stanley:

TWFYT:

ODB:

UR: Working for the Lord

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord. - Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

Preparing to graduate from university and commissioned as a military intelligence officer in the United States Army, I envisioned a highly successful career in the armed forces. I experienced health issues during my senior year of college, however, and I was medically discharged. My plans were dashed. Reeling from disappointment, I accepted the first job I could find after searching for months. I found an entry-level position answering phones for a small business. I was disappointed and struggled with a poor attitude about my work. How will I possibly find fulfillment in a job like this? I wondered.

In Colossians 3:23, the apostle Paul encourages us to work at whatever we do with our entire hearts, as if working for the Lord. No job God has placed us in is unimportant. When we commit whatever we do to God, working willingly with everything we have, we honor God. Whether we are working as a CEO, custodian, teacher, secretary, or stay-at-home parent, God can help us to bear fruit for the kingdom. No job is small or insignificant because we do not serve a small or insignificant God.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear God, help us to commit everything we do to you and to remember that nothing we do is small in your eyes. Amen

Harvest revival prayer:

Worship live in person and on Zoom at 10 with Children's Church. (attached below is the handout in our bulletins for those joining on Zoom.) Today we begin our journey in learning about the Holy Spirit, Spiritual Gifts and what that all means to us as we seek to Become More in '24. We will have a lot of words to pick from as we ask God to reveal to us what He desires us to work on in '24 as we seek to become more like Jesus and doing more of what we were created to do. I'm excited! Hope you are too!

Good Morning Very Loved Masterpieces of God, Family, Friends, and Empowered Sent Ones of God! There is one thing I always pray to do and that is to love like Jesus--to incarnate or bring His love alive to all those He sends my way. We are commanded to love God and others just like Jesus does--sacrificially, lavishly. And I pray that that continues to grow and come alive in, through and around me. I pray that over all of you as well as we continue to grow in and work on living sacrificially, loving lavishly and being all in for God's ways like Jesus. 

God is looking right into your heart and reminding you that He knows you and everything about you and still loves you with an everlasting love. Jesus has His arms wide open for you to feel His loving embrace as He calls you by name to come to Him. His hand is outstretched to you as you are sinking in the waves of the storm and reminds you to turn off the noise and chaos and focus on Him--the Prince of Peace. He is cheering you on and wanting you to grow into His purposes for you. He sent His Holy Spirit to help you and to gift you to grow into your fullest potential and do all He has for you. His Spirit not only equips, but empowers you to go love well, grow His Kingdom and Church and make disciples of Jesus as you complete your custom purposes and mission. What joy and blessings we know, are growing into and get to share! Man, God is so awesome and good--all the time! PTL! Prepare your hearts to enter His courts with praise today! 

Times are hard but not unexpected as Jesus told us to be ready for all the trials, troubles and tribulations that are to come. Our devotionals continue the reminder to be ready, stay focused on Christ and to persevere in growling faith. Check them out below. God is weaving all things together for His purposes and the good of those who believe. Keep your eyes fixed on Him and your feet following. Be attentive and be still. Listen to hear His whisper and directions. Spend time with Him and in His Word so He can speak, you can respond and He can guide you step by step in faith. He has great plans for you! You know that but do you really believe that always--especially when in the storms? Prepare your heart by working on a growing relationship with our Lord and Savior. When you ask Him to be your Lord or the Lord of the day, you can be assured that no matter what happens, it is filtered through God's hands, part of His plan and will eventually help to lead us to His best. So choose joy always as you learn to die to self, take up your cross daily and follow Jesus earnestly! As we do, His peace beyond understanding overwhelms us and we find the strength, help and wisdom to continue on this journey to Christlikeness and for God's glory alone! He is worthy of a fully surrendered life of obedience and worship that will lead us to His best! Amen! and rejoice! Sing the hymn as a prayer today, "I Surrender All". He is worthy and will lead us to His best and prepare us for eternity with Him. Amen! A life well lived in Christ begins with surrender and grows as you seek Him more with all your heart. We are learning to live and love like Jesus. Lead us Lord! Thank You! Amen

I Surrender All: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW8EA7DEQ2M

Harvest Revival Prayer Blog:

Charles Stanley:

ODB:

TWFYT:

UR: Behind and Ahead

[The Lord] guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. - Psalm 23:3 (NIV)

I am facing south on a long, narrow strip of land that is nearly at the southernmost point of Africa. Sometimes it is calm and beautiful at Cape Point, but today it is buffeted by storms. The raging Atlantic Ocean is on my right and the turbulent Indian Ocean to my left. I have walked bravely but with trepidation to my present position below the towering lighthouse that has guided mariners for many years. Behind me is the solid bulk of the African continent, and far ahead of me, unseen beyond the horizon but certain in my mind, is Antarctica. I stand awed and exhilarated.

I liken my situation in this moment to my life in Christ. At times calm, at times buffeted and storm-tossed, I have walked bravely along a narrow path. But Jesus is my eternal beacon. If I listen carefully I can hear his voice calming the waters and bidding me to keep the faith, knowing that behind me is the solid ground of forgiveness, power, and love. Ahead of me, unseen and awesome but certain, lies eternity with Christ.

TODAY'S PRAYER

O God, grant us strength and guidance when we encounter the stormy gales of life. Help us to be beacons of your grace and shelter for others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Bulletin Insert: Words...

Become More in ’24 Challenge

Pray about and pick a word or two to work on: a “be” word to help you become who you were created to be and a “do” word to help you to work on what you were created to do

Possible words to work on

Words for ’23:

Faith, hope, peace, time, value, understanding, bold, change, patience, pause, energy, stewardship, useful, courage, relationships, restoration, rest, agape and discipleship

Spiritual gifts words:

1 Corinthians 12:8–10: 

1. Prophecy 2. Serving 3. Teaching 4. Exhortation 5. Giving  6. Leadership 7. Mercy     

1 Corinthians 12:28–30

1. Word of wisdom 2. Word of knowledge 3. Faith 4. Gifts of healings 5. Miracles 6. Prophecy 7. Distinguishing between spirits 8. Tongues 9. Interpretation of tongues      

Romans 12:6–8

1. Apostle 2. Prophet 3.Teacher 4. Miracles 5. Kinds of healings 6. Helps 7. Administration 8. Tongues 

Ephesians 4:11

1. Apostle 2. Prophet 3. Evangelist 4. Pastor 5. Teacher     

1 Peter 4:11

1. Whoever speaks 2. Whoever renders service

My word(s):_____________________________

Good Morning Resting in the Lord, Preparing, Persevering, Faithful Followers of Jesus! Amen! May this be us Lord! You know us and call us by name to come rest and abide in Christ. You are preparing us to be used in this life and for our duties in heaven. Thank You! You are allowing the circumstances of our lives and this nation to grow us, mold us and teach us to persevere in faith. Thank You! Help us to always trust You, persevere in faith, choose joy and allow you to carry us to the other side of whatever we face. May we be your faithful servants as we learn to live and love like Jesus more fully and follow Him fully surrendered to You. Thank You! May Your Kingdom come and will be done in, through and around us today. May we be ready and willing to follow You. Come! Amen!

Today as I stilled myself and interacted with God through our devotionals and His Word and in prayer, it became evident of the thread through what He provided for study today. (See devos below and ask God to speak to your heart). He also affirmed to me His call to equip, prepare you and help you to be ready for the promised hard times ahead, yes even persecution that may come because of our faith and walk with Jesus. The way things are going it may not be very long before this nation is taken over by China or some anti-Jesus regime. Heck, it's already being led by anti-Jesus minions of darkness. Will you be ready and prepared to stand up for Christ, persevere, even lay down your life for your faith? Are you ready to stand up and live your faith out loud, even in captivity like Daniel? God keeps impressing on me the importance of preparing for that possibility. In days gone by we could never imagine that it could happen here. Yet here we are. Are you ready? If Jesus would come back next year would He find you persevering in faith and standing firm in Christ?

I don't want to be Donald Downer, but we are commanded to prepare and persevere in faith, to patiently endure suffering that produces growing faith. We are committed to becoming more like Jesus who endured and prevailed over all trials He faced, even death. We are working on growing into our new nature more fully and doing more of the things we were created to do. That's living this life as if Christ is all that matters. And that is the truth that motivates our commitment and obedience. Pursuing that will lead to opposition as the enemy and the culture around us rises up against Him.  But fear not! Be strong and courageous! (That's a command given at least 365 times in the Bible so it's doable!) Christ has overcome death, sin and the world! He's already defeated Satan. And His Spirit lives in you to help and direct you. PTL! We are just waiting as we travel through this life representing Him. He is with us and in us! He is able to protect and carry us home. BUT GOD! But God has created us and placed us here to prepare for our next life and to bring people along and teach others how to persevere in Christ. And God spoke today through all our devotionals reminding us of this. Are you ready? Who are you helping to prepare? Be of good cheer! Chose joy as you endure and allow God to mold and use you. He does have great plans for you! What might that be for today? Talk to Him about that and commit to walking by faith and not sight into His future for you and us with His armor firmly affixed to our bodies and  guarding our minds in Christ Jesus. Turn off the noise and focus on what really matters in this life--Christ and His good ways. Count your many blessings and choose joy and faith over fear and doubt. We know the Victor and He lives in us! PTL! Come Jesus! Your will be done! Amen!

Abide in Christ! Don't give up! Cast all your anxiety on the Lord. Know His peace beyond understanding, His new mercies everyday an His strength and wisdom to carry on. You can know deep rest for your soul and have confidence to stand firm, live sacrificially and love lavishly more like Jesus. He's equipped you, is with you and cheering you on! He has great plans for you that carry into our life in heaven with Him. Rejoice! This is not the time to coast along, shrink back in faith or turn back to the world in fear of offending someone or being ostracized! We are not of this world! We are in a battle and if we want to see revival, we need to be the bringers of it through Christ in us! Be strong and courageous. You were created for such a time as this! PTL! I'm praying for you, us and God's Body worldwide to rise up and shine bright in this time of darkness. We are overcomers! Pronounce that; believe that; and live like it! Amen

Harvest Prayer, Revival Prayer Blog:

ODB:

TWFYT:

UR: Making Time

Anyone who goes too far and does not continue in the teaching about Christ does not have God. Whoever continues in this teaching has both the Father and the Son. - 2 John 1:9 (CEB)

At our mountain cabin, nestled among the quaking aspen, we have a small pond. Every summer a family of ducks with several ducklings nests in the pond’s cattails, and we spend a lot of time watching them from our deck.

One day I watched as the ducklings played. Some of them explored on their own and then rushed to catch up; several scurried ahead, not waiting for their mother; and a few stayed beside the mama, mimicking her every move.

It occurred to me that their actions resembled my walk with God over the years. Many times I would lose focus, letting my Bible study and time with God take second place to more “urgent” matters. Eventually, I would realize my need to focus on God, so I’d hurry to catch up, hoping I hadn’t missed God’s message for me. Other times, I would be trying to get on to the next thing, so I would rush ahead in my studies, not taking the time to meditate on scripture and its meaning. But when I have stayed anchored to God’s side, following God’s leading and studying scripture, I have been rewarded. Whenever I take time to hear God’s voice in God’s word, I find my faith is stronger and more fruitful.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Faithful God, help us to block out distractions and take time to walk with you, anchoring ourselves in your word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.Charles Stanley:

Thank God I'm Forgiven! Thank God I'm Restored! Thank God for using you as His vessel of love, forgiveness, restoration and example! What stories we have to share of ALL God has and is doing and we will have many more to share AS WE CONTINUE TO ALLOW HIM, INVITE HIM TO USE AND SEND US! Thank God I'm forgiven and empowered to go love!

Good Morning Springs of Living Water and Lighthouses! That's God's pronouncement over us today in the dark, dry and weary land. We are redeemed, restored and sent to bring the Light to darkness and springs of Living Water to the thirsty. Today darkness continues to try to overcome our communities and nation. Many are weary and thirsty for some love, truth and hope found only in our Living Water, Jesus. We are commissioned to go, love and bring life where things are as dead. Satan and His minions are relentless and continue to lead to great sin, self-serving love, chaos and hopelessness. He is a liar and on mission to deceive and destroy. Many are entranced and consumed by his darkness and ways. BUT GOD! But we have the remedy and He lives in us! Many are becoming weary and need to sip some of the Living Water we have in us. We have the Light that drives back the darkness. Someone said, "God eagerly awaits the chance to bless the person whose heart is turned toward Him." We know and experience these blessing and we are sent to bring them to those God is drawing and are searching for Him and His Life, Light, Love, Hope and our help. On this TGIF Friday, commit to allowing God to use you to shine bright among those of the darkness and bring life and Living Water to the thirsty. Pray a covering over us. Pray for God to open our eyes to the thirsty and weary He is drawing out of the darkness. Pray for Him to prepare and use you well. Thank Him for redeeming and restoring and wanting to use you. Thank Him for preparing you for such a time as this. Revival begins on our knees and in each of us before it explodes around us. Pray for revival to explode around us and to be a firecracker that is part of that. Pray for blind eyes, deaf ears and hard hearts to be open to Truth, Light, Love and Life. Come Jesus Come! Send me! Use me! Bring revival and let it begin with me!

Check out the thread through our devotionals today. Do you see it? Turn off the noise and chaos of this day and tune into Truth, Love, Light and Life that comes from our Living Water and His Living Word! ODB reminds us that we are God's Workers. In the Become More in '24 Challenge God wants us to seek Him more and do more of our created for, custom made assignments each day. Do you know yours? God is always speaking, directing and bringing life to His plans for you and for us as His Body. Ask Him to direct you to the words He'd like you to work on this year to become more like Jesus and do more of your created purposes. God always draws me to Eph. 2:10...we are God's masterpieces, made new in Christ to do all He planned for us before we were born. We all have purpose and potential and we matter. What's your part and what are you doing about it? The UR reminds us of God's renewing, restoring power and how He restores us so we can restore others. Be refreshed in His Living Water today and then allow springs of Living Water to flow from you and refresh the thirsty. 

Now all of this thinking may cause you to shrink back and grumble as you are set in your ways and comfortable. God is in the business of growing our faith by stretching us and leading us from being couch potato Christians to going, as His vessels, of life. Like the Bishop reminds us, to be a movement of God, people have to get off the couch and move with God. Are you willing. It all begins with little steps of faith. maybe those first steps are to turn off the TV and pick up your Bibles? Check out TWFYT's reminder to take control of the little things so God can lead you to the greater things He has for you. God is speaking and the darkness will never push back His Light and the dryness will never snuff out His Living Water. Where's your focus today? Grumbling pity party is where Satan loves to keep you. But Jesus has the words that bring life. He's speaking them over you wanting to speak them through you. Turn off the noise, receive His Living Water and Light and go love well today! Amen! TGIF! Who needs to know how to receive that Good News? God has great plans for you and us! PTL. Go light up your neighborhood and bring refreshing love and new life to the thirsty God is placing near you. Revival is coming! PTL! Go and join Him in it.

Today many will gather in Emmaus to gush over our president. Many of these are blinded and think the government has all the answers and put their hope in lies, deceit and man. Whichever side of the political fence you are on, we know man and his ways are folly compared to God's wisdom and ways. TURN OFF THE NOISE! Don't be deceived! The dominion of darkness controls this nation no matter who is president. Pray for deliverance and revival. We know Hope! We know Truth! And we know Life! Pray for the people of this nation to stop putting hope in man and their plans but to come to Christ, our only hope. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Trust Him. Turn off the noise and cry out for His Kingdom to come and will to be done and for Him to use you and us as His change agents and Good News Bringers. Ask God to lead you to one person who is weary and needs to be refreshed by the Living Water. This is the year of the Lord's favor and we are His vessels of Good news. What's your part in His Good News Delivery Co? What will you do about that? Start on your knees today!

Harvest Prayer Day 12 revival prayer:

ODB:

UR: God's Renewing Power

[The Lord] turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground. - Psalm 107:33 (NRSVUE)

One day, I looked across a valley and saw a garden of maize. I wondered why the garden had been planted in such a hot, sandy, and dry place. I was surprised there could be such green growth in an almost desert area. Then I learned that the farmer had dug wells to water his garden so that he was able to plant the maize and get a plentiful harvest.

When I seem to be stuck in barren situations, God is able to make waters spring up and bring me renewed life. Oftentimes, when we feel like we are dwelling in a desert, our needs overwhelm us. When our work seems not to be yielding anything good, we feel lifeless, barren, unfruitful. But God is able and willing to cause waters to flow in the midst of our deserts to give life, fruitfulness, and productivity — even where there seems to be no hope. So let us be encouraged by our powerful and loving God!

TODAY'S PRAYER

O Lord, may you create fruitful fields from the barren situations in our lives. In the name of Jesus. Amen.TWFYT:

Charles Stanley:

Sarah Prayer Email below

Good Morning Forgiven, Restored, Commissioned, Protected, Empowered, Sufficient in Christ, Bringers of Good News! Well Pastor Don, that sure is a mouthful! Maybe, but it's truth to pronounce over you, our church and God's Body! We are custom made for our custom part in bringing the Good News. We are made new and empowered by the Holy Spirit when we come to Christ to do all He has created us to do. (Eph. 2:10) What might that be? The Great Commandments and Great Commission--Love God, others and each other as Jesus loves and go make disciples in His way. That's our purposes. And their custom made for us and our gifts, abilities and circumstances, empowered with new everyday mercies. PTL! I think of Jesus' easy yoke for us weary and striving in our own strength--come to Him and find rest for your souls. Yoke to Him as you learn to walk in His gentle and easy ways. I think of Proverbs 3:5-6 and the reminder to stop leaning on your own understanding. God is always doing new things, new ways and all we need to do is trust Him and allow Him to direct our steps. I think of Solomon who said in Ecclesiastes how meaningless life is without God. And he would know as he pursued all kinds of things to find meaning and purpose for his life to no avail. He teaches that we should love God and enjoy life. We love God! Thank Him for His love and your faith. And we can enjoy this custom made life as we surrender to God and Jesus' ways and just allow Him to use you, as you are, for His plans today. And as you do He will grow you more fully into your created potential and use you as you grow into the greater things He has for you. PTL! So, stop striving in your own strength and follow God's lead, provision and peace (Jesus' easy yoke) and love well and enjoy life! Find soul satisfaction that you are God's forever and He is well pleased with you, His faithful child! AMEN! Go team!

We've been on this journey the past several years to become more like Jesus and to doing more intentionally the things He has for us each day. We are making progress and seeing some good fruit from that! PTL! The fruit showed up yesterday as we fellowshipped, ate some donuts together, shared the Good News with some, prayed with some, encouraged some, served all who God sent and loved well during Bread and Donut day. And like Acts 2:42-47 (read it prayerfully today!) the Lord added to their numbers daily. PTL! God is doing that through us as several people that we have connected to and are connecting to God have expressed interest in joining our church. And many others keep coming back to be fed by the Living Bread being distributed by His faithful servants weekly. God is on the move and using us as we love Him and others and enjoy this life we've been given. What JOY we are experiencing as God uses us just as we are with what He's given us! His grace and provision are sufficient! PTL! (our next donut day is Feb 14th...come and see what the Lord is doing! Or come and see at our next brunch Sun Jan 28th after worship and bring a friend! These new disciples are coming because someone saw God at work in them and invited them to come) Keep praying into all God is doing and for some new connection points for us this year as we seek to Become More in '24...more of Christ and His way and less of me! More Love! More Holy Spirit Power! More growth as disciples of Jesus. And more doing of the things He did! That's our mission as we learn to live and love more like Jesus everyday!

I am still processing our vision team meeting the other night. God spoke to us in volumes as He began to show us some open and some closed doors and some things to build upon. Thanks Lord! Continue to lead us and help us to hold loosely and follow well. It can be a wild ride as we "fly the airplane while building it"! But that is God's way as we let go and trust God to reveal as we follow Him step by step in faith. He reveals and provides as we take those daily steps of faith from our comfort zones and allow Him to lead us on the thrill ride of our lives! He's created us to accomplish our parts of His plans and purposes. He's given us the Holy Spirit and gifts to accomplish these as we follow Him into the unknown but promised awesome future. Tighten those seatbelts and your helmet of faith straps tight.  Love God! Be all you can be in Christ, doing all He has for you--your custom made part in His Good News Delivery Co. that only you can do. And Enjoy the ride!

God has a plan and purposes along the way for each of us and us as His Body. He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes, even those yet to come. We know who we are (or are discovering that as we step into our new natures more fully and our custom made purposes along the way to becoming more like Jesus). And we know Whose we are and are assured that He is with us always and we will be with Him always. Come Jesus Come! Send me! That's your prayer for today as you commit to let go and let God have His good way with you and use you well. Check out our devos for today below that thread through all of this as you spend some time with God today. Turn off the noise and chaos all around you. Be still and know He is God, He loves you and has great plans for you. And step into your anointing today! Love God and enjoy this life He's given you and live it with gusto and for His glory! Amen! Check out today's Harvest Prayer Revival prayer for today too talking about praying expectantly for a vision for revival. Yes, Come Jesus come and use me well today! Amen!

We are: Forgiven, Restored, Commissioned, Protected, Empowered, Sufficient in Christ, Bringers of Good News! (Did you notice how everyday since Kathy shared her "restored" testimony on Sunday how God brings up restoration every day in our devotionals! God is calling us to be restored and to become restorers of broken down lives all around us!) Come Jesus! Send me and use me for your glory as you revive and use me to bring love, joy, peace, hope, help and revival alive--Christ and His ways incarnate through me! Come! Amen!

Harvest prayer for Revival:

Charles Stanley:

ODB:

UR: Love One Another

Put away . . . all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. - Ephesians 4:31-32 (NRSVUE)

My day started with hurt and irritation from a friend’s critical remarks. While I ran errands my anger grew, and I began to develop a grudge. The grocery store parking lot was full, but I spotted an open space one lane over. I sped up and rounded the corner to grab it but then saw a car approaching with its blinker flashing. I scowled as I waited for the other driver to park. But to my surprise, the man stopped and waved me into the parking spot. I was grateful but unmoved by the gesture.

I raced through the store and found myself behind the same man in the check-out lane. He turned, smiled, and began emptying my cart for me while the cashier scanned his items. I stood amazed. I returned the smile and thanked him for both good deeds. He shrugged and said, “It doesn’t cost anything to be nice.” I cringed and felt my face go red as I remembered Jesus’ command: “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (Jn. 13:34). I realized I was angry over something trivial, and a sudden rush of gratitude swept over me. I am thankful for the man whose acts of kindness had an impact on my attitude.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Lord, help us to focus on being kind when things don’t go our way. May we always remember to love one another no matter what the circumstances. Amen.TWFYT:

Sarah Prayer Email:

Good evening warriors,

Here are a couple of prayer needs:

Friend of Lisa Wenner's, Carol is asking for prayer for her sister Lori Barefoot, and for Carol's father Mark Trimber.

Lori has been having episodes of tingling and numbness in her face and hands. She has had a number of test done,

but no answers yet.

Mark is in the hospital and has tested positive with COVID. He is extremely fatigued and weak, and has a bad urinary tract infection.

** ** **

Praising God for Harry Waterman's surgery going well. He is going good and is spending the night in the hospital, and hopes

to be discharged tomorrow (Thursday).

** ** **

Pray for those that are dealing with water in their homes. This can be very stressful to many. Thank God for people that

have and are coming to the 'rescue' of those in need.

** ** **

Praise God for Coffee, Donuts and Conversation time today.  Good conversations and prayers were offered.

** ** **

Continue to pray for those mentioned on Sunday:

 Barbara Shade, Howie Barley, Gladys Ketner, and any other church family members that may come to mind.

** ** **

Tim Schware made it safely to Eric's in Maryland and then the next day to Virgina. There were areas that were a bit

rough and he did see several accidents along the way but Yay God, He put a hedge of protection around him.

** ** **

The Vision team had a good meeting last evening. Please continue to pray for your Vision team as they seek God's

guidance and direction for 2024 and the future.

Have a great rest of your week, everyone!

    Blessings,

     Sarah

Proverbs 29:18 - Where there is no vision (no revelation of God and His word) the people are unrestrained.

But happy and blessed are they who keep the law of God.

It's DONUT DAY!!! Come and see what the Lord is doing through this ministry today at 10 and enjoy a treat, coffee and some conversations and prayers!

Sarah Prayer email below

Good Morning Sold Out, Intercessors and Prayer Warriors of the Lord! God is on the move in response to our praying and Jesus is busy interceding for us and releasing His will in, through and around us as we pray. Thanks Lord! Our devotionals today speak into praying! Check them out and know that your faithful prayers are power and effective! Keep up the good work! For many of you, praying is your part in our Good News Delivery Co. Thank you for your faithfulness. For some of us, God reveals His will and plans and what to release in prayer. Keep asking for God to guide your prayers to His plans and will and for stick-to-itiveness. Check out Charles Stanley's devo about our Intercessor, Jesus. He is able! PTL! And He wants to inform our prayers, decisions and ways as we pray and listen and process. Speak Lord, Your servants are listening! Bring Your dreams, visions and plans alive! Come Jesus Come! (check out this song as a prayer starter: Come Jesus Come! (Sometimes all we can do is fall to our knees and cry out for Jesus to come...and He will. he's able!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UViC6DllCeA

We had an awesome Vision Team meeting. Thanks for praying and serving. Thanks for being faithful to seek God, adapt and your willingness to seek Him for more and adapt as we follow the Holy Spirit! God will restore and redeem as we heed His call to pray. He knows what we need even before we ask and even informs our praying. How cool is that! As we come with fully open hearts, seeking His plans and best, he loves to answer and work all things together for our and those who will come good. Come Jesus Com! have Your way with us! Enlighten our prayers. Give us Your heart, mind and spirit to pray and serve well. Thank You for leading and growing us. May we be Your people, always seeking more of You and following You more fully in the year ahead. Come Jesus Come! Use us well and grow us to your best and greater things! Amen!

 Charles Stanley:

ODB:

UR: Before We Ask

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. - Hebrews 10:23 (NRSVUE)

As I write, my beloved wife is undergoing her seventh surgery for breast cancer in just over three years. She has also endured 13 months of chemotherapy. After checking in at the hospital this morning, we prayed together.

Once she was taken back for anesthesia and surgery, I prayed earnestly for her and for all the doctors, nurses, and technicians involved in her surgery. I then read my daily devotional. When I completed that reading, it occurred to me that in my prayer life I have asked for many things. Although I do thank God for the gift of grace through Jesus Christ and for the many blessings of my life, I feel as though most of my prayers ask for a particular outcome for my loved ones, for those in need or suffering, or for myself.

I wondered if God ever tires of my many requests. So I turned to the Bible. In numerous passages I received assurance that God desires my prayerful requests. Those prayers tell God of my true and abiding faith in God’s grace. Paul said it well in his letter to the Philippians, “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). That is exactly what I am doing today. God is love, and I am most thankful for that and for God’s listening ear.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Lord, you know what we need even before we ask. May our prayerful requests reveal our sincere and abiding faith in you. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.TWFYT:

Sarah Prayer Email:

Good evening, Church family,

Jim Handfest is at Phoebe Rehab however he tested positive for COVID. He does not have any of the symptoms, but

has to remain in his room alone. And if you know Jim he is a people person. Please pray that he will heal soon, and that

they will continue his different therapies during this time.  Also keep Kay in your prayers as she goes back and forth to

visit him.

** ** **

Tomorrow, at 9:30am, Harry Waterman is to report to the hospital for his valve transplant. He is very grateful

for those of you that called him to let him know that you are praying for him. He feels very blessed. Keep 

Millidine in your prayers also.  Keep his medical team in your prayers 

** ** **

Vision team met this evening. We had some good discussion and ideas that we are praying on and into 2024.

So will you pray along with us to Seek God more in 2024; See what God wants us to do; Where does God want

to lead us into; help us to follow God's leading even though it sounds 'crazy'

** ** **

Gladys Ketner has pneumonia in one of her lung lobes.  She is breathing okay, so symptoms are 

minimal. Let's all pray for her healing.

** ** **

Okay everyone, stay dry!!  Pray for those that may be experiencing water in their basements or leaky roof

   May the Lord meet their needs.

Night and sleep well!

   Sarah

Oh yea, don't forget to stop by the church tomorrow, between 10-12pm for coffee, donuts and conversation!

Harvest Prayer for Revival:

Two prayer updates: Sarah's friend, Tara, that we have been praying for stepped into the arms of Jesus, fully healed and restored, yesterday afternoon. Pray for Sarah and Tara's family for peace, comfort and strength for the journey. Jim Handfest as been diagnosed with COVID even though he is showing no symptoms. He has been transferred to Phoebe for rehab and is in isolation in a small room. Pray for peace for he and Kay and for a speedy recover. Pray for wisdom for Kay as she oversees his care.

Dec. Financial Statement below.

Good Morning Restored, Visionary, Followers of Jesus! Living and loving like Jesus, just as you are. Seek Him for direction and guidance with willing hearts, hands and feet. Repenting and being restored and renewing your thinking as you seek Him and ask Him to examine your heart and ways is part of the process of becoming more like Jesus. We are making great progress but there is always more work to do on ourselves and for God's Kingdom to grow until we are called home to our next assignments. PTL for being with us, restoring us, speaking to our hearts, directing our steps and helping us all along the way! Rejoice!

"Restore" seems to be the theme since Sunday when Kathy shared her testimony. Check out today's Our Daily Bread below. The Jeremiah passages talks all about God's restorative love. His love is beyond measure yet very personal, always alive and active, cleansing, purifying, correcting, directing and overflowing from us. Who needs some love? Restoration? Salvation? Help? Pray into donut day tomorrow as that has been some of what God uses us to do as we bring the Bread of Life alive. Pray for courage to overflow God's love to someone He brings to mind today. Praise God for His love and keep building those gratitude lists. ODB reminds us that "Jesus is the ultimate expression of God's restorative love, giving peace and rest to those who turn to Him." Know Christ and His love and allow His love to come to life in and through you! We are reminded that many reject or turn from His love. But His love relentlessly pursues those who will respond, like me after I walked away from God. Ask Him to open your eyes to those He is pursuing and wisdom and courage to be His vessel. Or maybe you are being pursued. Stop running. Humble yourself and receive His restorative, forgiving love. What joy awaits you! PTL!

Tonight, Lord willing and electric stays on, is our vision team Zoom meeting. Please continue to pray into this. God has great plans for us to discern, receive and sow into as we steward well all His blessings and provisions. Thank you! And thank you to the vision team (our leadership teams) and your willingness to seek God, listen, prepare for tonight and willingness to help us continue on His path for us! It seems like the rest of our devotionals flow from our church being restored and led on its way to revival and speaks to our hearts about Jesus and His way. Charles Stanley reminds us Jesus is the key. And He is--always!!! Col. 3:11 reminds us that in this life Christ is all that matters and He lives in us and wants to love through us and grow His Kingdom. Seeking to discern how well we are doing with that is part of tonight's meeting and where He is leading us to from where we are with that. He has a good plan for each of us and us as His Body with many little purposes we get to join Him in daily and along the way. May we keep discerning where He is at work and where and how He has created and prepared us to join Him.

The Upper Room reminds us that God is our guide. Is He your guide? Is He guiding our church and what we are sowing into? That's some of what we will assess tonight. I know He is faithful to guide His willing servants and St. Matts has many willing servants choosing to do what they can with what God's providing. Thank you! They remind us, "It becomes crucial to allow God to guide us through the twisting and turning passageways of life so that we can find the path that will lead to joy that only God can offer." Yes we seek to choose joy always as we trust in God to lead us. We have experienced how He brings joy to those who ask and trust Him. PTL for we see that and experience that often coming alive through us at St. Matts. Thinking about that triggered the thought of all the joy-bringers that are engaging with many desperate, hurting people God is sending to us. And we see joy overflowing to many. PTL! It also triggered a reminder of the prophesy of Rosa who said that we should rename our church JOY Church. Would that bother you if we got rid of the antiquated saint name that many people reject and take on the name JOY that many are seeking and being drawn to? Pray about that. Every time we say our church name it would be pronouncing Joy over us and our ministries. We are really good at being people with overflowing love and joy that is drawing many to God! Thank Him for that! And remember, others experience joy and joy grows in us as we choose J-O-Y living: Jesus first, then Others, then Yourself. It's agape love of Jesus coming alive!

We are God's family on mission to reach, save and disciple His sent ones. (with much love and joy!). The Word for Your Today reminds us of some of the difficulties of growth: blending families, loving the unlovable and grafting them into our blended family. St. Matts, like this nation is a melting pot. We are already a mixture of many different people and God is drawing many more to our fellowship. Let us prepare ahead and plow the fields with prayer that love and joy would always be at the forefront of our DNA as we learn to live more and love more like Jesus, who welcomes all who will come into His family. May we become a House of Prayer for the Nations. That has been one of my and some of your prayers. For that to happen, all kinds from all tribes become part of our family. We are preparing to receive some new members and pray for many more to come. PTL! May we always be a welcoming, loving, inclusive Body of Christ overflowing with love and joy! Amen! TWFYT reminds us to prepare ourselves for more different types to join our family, listen to understand others needs and what ministers to them. and pray, pray, pray! Ask God to give you His plan for loving well as we meet needs and disciple many. 

God has a plan that is coming alive before our eyes! PTL! Let us pray to, prepare to and plan to follow God as we live well in Christ and love, like Jesus, all who He is sending and grow His Kingdom exponentially. Pray for love and joy overflowing to continue to be what we are known for! And pray to be adaptive and inclusive as we travel with Jesus because we are building the airplane while flying it and some of His plans have not been revealed yet. We will also be encountering many fresh out of the world new believers that God has just begun working on. That involves the patient love God has shown us as He continues to restore and change hearts and grow us all to His best and His plans. Oh yes God is speaking! PTL! What's He saying to you and what will you do about it as you continue your journey to become more like Jesus, and doing more of the things He has for you, His way. Man, I'm excited! God is on the move! Rejoice! Choose joy! Love well! May we be known as JOY Church where Love and Grace abound and Jesus is alive! Amen!

ODB:

Charles Stanley:

UR: God Is Our Guide

You teach me the way of life. In your presence is total celebration. - Psalm 16:11 (CEB)

I remember one time when my children were young, we walked a maze. We followed the walled path; but when we neared what we thought was the exit, there was another wall. We had to back up and look for another way out. It was a bit difficult to reach the end, but with perseverance we reached the goal.

Life is like a maze. Many times, we ask God why certain things happen to us. We try to grasp difficult situations but are unable to understand them. We hurry here and there looking for the right path. Obstacles stop us in our tracks, and we don’t understand why we must backtrack or even face those obstacles in the first place. It becomes crucial to allow God to guide us through the twisting and turning passageways of life so that we can find the path that will lead to the fullness of joy that only God can offer.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Almighty God, show us the path that leads to the fullness of joy in you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

TWFYT:

Year-end Financial Statement:

St Matthew’s Financial Update

The figures for the “General Fund” include all revenue and all expenses for the month.  This includes all revenue from offerings, rent, and other income.  The expenses reported above are actual expenses for the month.  The totals reported for Missions and the Rebuilding Fund are also included in the “General Fund” figures.

Sarah prayer email and Kathy Canfield's awesome testimony from yesterday below. Thank you Kathy! What an awesome testimony and example for us all. You stirred many to rethink their word they are working on and what God is doing! Thank you for the transparency and for sharing! (When do you want to preach again?)

Good Morning Maturing Followers of Jesus! May we always be maturing in faith, growing in Christ and doing more of His plans for us! Amen! Some of us are seasoned saints. Some of us are relatively infants in faith and many fall somewhere between these. Yet, we are one in Christ--His family--His Body. He is the head and we all fall in somewhere as a Body part. What part are you? We all need each other and are only as strong as our weakest member. How are we helping each other to mature and reach our fullest potential? Who needs to come be a part of this body? How receptive are we to newcomers and moving to God's new things? Pray for us to hear God and clarity of His answers as we prepare to meet as a vision team tomorrow. What's now and what's next that we can build on from who and where we are in Christ? How do we make disciples better and more of them? Is Christ the cornerstone of all we do? Where's His provision? Are we following the provision? Many things rattle through my head most mornings as I seek God for what's now and what's next. What is His plans for you and us and are we sowing into them? My Charles Stanley devo (below) started me deeper into this thinking and prayer as I prepare for our vision meeting tomorrow and the year ahead. What's God saying to you about the state of the Good News Delivery Co. called St. Matts? What might your part be? I'd love to hear!

As I read the Upper Room prayerfully today, Kathy's testimony and many of your stories came to mind. Life is hard and then we die--right? BUT GOD! He is with us, has great plans for us, gives us the opportunity to chose joy despite our circumstances and is working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called to Him. PTL! What helps you get through? How has God carried you? Who needs to hear your story or experience God's love, care and encouragement through you? Are you able to refocus by counting your many blessings, looking for the blessing and choosing joy as you continue to persevere in faith and trust God? Check out TWFYT below about persevering. How can we help each other through the hard times to persevering faith? God is LOVE and has great plans for you and knows what you need to endure to get where He wants you. He is with you always. He wants to restore what the enemy has stolen and restore your soul! Will you let Him?

We will be working on Seeking More in '24, Becoming More in '24, Doing More in '24. Blessing More and being Blessed More in '24! How does God want to mature you in faith and grow you into the person He created you to be, doing more of the things you were created to do? That will be revealed as you seek Him more and listen more, receive more and go live and love more like Jesus in the year ahead. And that will involve friends on the journey with you and maybe even all of us working together. We are God's Good News Delivery Co.--His Body! He has great plans for you, His very loved child and He is at work. Will you allow Him to mature you and use you more in '24? Let's work on that together! Maybe God has some friends and accountability partners for you? Let us commit to working together to bless God, each other and others more in '24. Pray about the words God would like you to work on this year and share them with us and a few close friends. And then commit to working on them--working out your faith with fear and trembling is how the Bible challenges us.  Become More in '24! That's God's plan custom made for you and us! Let's roll! Daylight's burning! One step at a time in faith daily leads to our destination in Christ! PTL!

Charles Stanley:

UR: Blessings with Burdens

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. - Romans 8:28 (NIV)

At age 22, our son, John, who had Duchenne muscular dystrophy, had surgery to insert feeding tubes. Loss of muscles, including those that control swallowing, created a condition that contributed to frequent pneumonia. John had also lost weight.

Two months after the surgery, with Thanksgiving approaching, I felt despondent because John could no longer join in family meals with us. The scripture reading at church about Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the dead took on new meaning, however. Instead of lamenting that John couldn’t eat, I thanked God that he was alive. How wonderful that God gave people the knowledge and skill to put all nutrients needed to sustain human life in a can!

John could not enjoy family meals as he once had, but he could laugh, talk, play games, defend his views, give advice, tell jokes, and watch his favorite football team. Although the ingenuity underlying tube-feeding that restored his life differed markedly from Christ’s miraculous raising of Lazarus, it allowed John to be with us for 11 more years and live to see his younger sisters become adults.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear God, thank you for helping us see how you can use even heavy burdens to restore life. Help us live one day at a time, trusting you to provide for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

TWFYT:

Sarah prayer email:

Good evening, church family,

Hope you are all doing well tonight and resting...especially those of you that helped with snow shoveling and/or

removal of snow from vehicles.

We had a nice day of Zoom worship, with 38 of you. It was great to have Kathy Canfield share with us how God has been

working in her life through 2023.

Here are some prayer requests that were shared today during worship:

Gary Bastan has asked for prayer for some of his relatives:

    Barbara Shade - she is going through cancer testing and treatment.

     Howie Barley - is experiencing vision loss and memory loss. 

** ** **

Harry Waterman will be having aorta valve replacement surgery on Wednesday. Please pray for his medical team, and

for Harry and his family.  May God's peace surround them.

** ** **

Gladys Ketner - she is at Lehigh Center.....let's have a card shower for Gladys, to remind her that her church family

 is praying for her and thinking of her.   The address is: Lehigh Center, Gladys Ketner - resident, 1718 Spring Creek Road,

Macungie PA 18062.

** ** **

Praises from Darlene Geiger - She is praising God for all your prayers and God answering them regarding her AFIB.   She is also

amazed how God always provides for our needs, at just the right time.    

I think we could all agree with Darlene and praise God for this too.

** ** **

Barb Schware has asked for prayer for her son Tim, as he leaves tonight/tomorrow (Monday) depending when you are reading this....he will be driving to Maryland to see Eric, and then leaves Tuesday to drive to Virgina, where he is attending college, and then attend class on Wednesday.   May God put a hedge of protection around him....Safe travels Tim!

** ** **

Chris and Yvonne Muik are asking for prayer for their family. Several members of their family are going through some difficult 

  times.  Chris and Yvonne have cared for foster children, and within the last week, the children they were caring for have been moved

  out of their care. The children's biological mother has recently passed away, and for the children, it's a lot to process and deal with. May God be with them and those that will be making decisions.as to the future of their care. Praise God for the love of Jesus, that Chris and Yvonne has shown to the children. 

Also Chris and Yvonne's daughter in law's uncle recently passed away and the family is dealing with a difficult and rough situation.

  We have been asked to pray for this family, asking for God's wisdom to help and aid them as they have some decisions to make.

May we also continue to keep Chris and Yvonne in our prayers as they come along side of these family members, praying for them and offering their love to them.  Chris and Yvonne both know that God is with them and He is in control.

** ** **

Tara Walters - friend of Sarah's is currently in ICU, very sick. She is tired and ready to go 'home to be with Jesus'. Please pray for God's mercy on her and lift up her family, for God's peace to surround them during this difficult and stressful time.

** *** **

Thank you, Kathy, for sharing your testimony and journey that you experienced through 2023.  For those of you that missed her

sharing, Kathy will be writing it down so we can share her journey with you in the very near future.

** ** **

Please pray for our Vision Team as they will be meeting on Tuesday at 6:30pm

Also don't forget Coffee, Donuts and conversation on Wednesday from 10 - 12pm, in the Fellowship Hall of the church.

Hope you all have a great week!

   Blessings,

    Sarah

Kathy Canfield testimony: Restored

In December of 2022, when Don & Sarah started talking about goals for 2023. They asked us to think about a word that we could work on in 2023. The idea was to become more  Me in '23. Focus on how Christ would want me to live.  I sat in the pew and processed. I prayed about it. And then I really prayed about it. I prayed that no one, especially Don and Sarah, would notice my eyes roll, because the last thing I needed was another thing on my plate! I certainly didn't need to work on a "word" for 2023. 

The first week in January of 2023 seemed to unfold quietly. Caleb, our grandson, was home from the hospital. Danielle, Caleb and Alex were growing into a cute little family. Caleb was born at 24 weeks gestation and spent about 3 1/2 months in the hospital. Mike and I were enjoying our retired life together. 

So, I thought about a word for 2023.

Restore seemed like a good word to work on. That's a word that might bring life back to normal. I like normalcy. And since I prayed about it, RESTORE was the word. But, truly, I didn't even know what that meant in respect to God. I thought about those shows on TV that take an old home, rip it apart room by room and put it back with an updated modern look. You know, restore it. OK, Lord, You know what You are doing, whatever You think. But I should have known better than to think that RESTORE would mean going back to normal. Going back to the way things were. God doesn't ever "go back". He's always moving us forward, teaching us, growing us.

I knew that Caleb still had a lot of work to do developmentally and Danielle would need some help taking him to doctors and therapists. But that would be doable for me. I loved being a Grammie. I was ok helping her.

On the 10th day of January, our lives began to unfold, unravel. That terrible phone call basically told us that Danielle was moving back home. With Caleb. God gave them 6 weeks in their little home, together, as a little family. Six short weeks. Alex passed away. Twenty-four year old, soon-to-be son-in-law. Dead. How could this possibly be true?! But it was.

THIS is how we are starting  2023?! This is how You are going to work on RESTORE?!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME, LORD??!!

Well, life just became more confusing, more complex. I became more isolated, yet busy. I focused on helping Dani. Helping Caleb. THEY needed me more than EVER! Forget this ridiculous word thing. Just put my life back to normal, Lord.  I went into survival mode. I'm really good at tasking. I attended church, sometimes, came to Donut Day. Did my women's bible study at another church. I read Don's morning blogs.I would text Don & Sarah when we needed prayer for Caleb. Or Dani. But never me. I didn't need prayer. This lady, Kathy Canfield, never doubting God, strong, faithful, grew-up in the church, life-long, baptized believer in Christ Kathy! I didn't need prayer. Or anything for that matter. 

BUT, I was confused. I didn't understand what was going on. I was depressed and my life was spiralling out of control! Chaos!! I wanted my house RESTORED! You and I agreed on this word, Lord!! You said this would happen! This was the 2023 focus word. Why is it not happening?? Restoration seemed so far away. I didn't want to go through any more pain. More so, I didn't want Dani to go through more pain. I just wanted NORMAL!! 

My family started to notice. They were concerned. They would talk to me. So, I started to look at my life. I feel like Don and Sarah started to notice, too. Don started asking, "How is Kathy?" I would give the usual response, "I'm fine." However, I did start to change my attitude a bit. I started looking at things a little more positively. 

Then in December, Pastor Don asked me, "How's Kathy? How's that word doing?" I seriously remember rolling my eyes. But then, at that moment, God opened my eyes. I said to Don, I didn't even know what RESTORE meant before! I was looking at it all wrong. Restore didn't mean going back to normal. It didn't mean getting "my house" in order. I should have been focusing my word on THE WORD. Christ's Word! The source of truth and The Living Word!! 

I was so wrong!! I spent a whole year focusing on the wrong thing! Always get IN the Word, Kathy, get IN the Word! 

So I did. A passage I memorized as a kid in Sunday School.:

Psalm 23:1-4

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

HE RESTORES my soul.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.

Ugh! Lord, forgive me for not trusting You and that You would take care of me through it ALL!  You wanted me to give my soul to YOU to RESTORE! 

And then, in Psalm 51:10-12

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me. Don't cast me away from your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. RESTORE TO ME THE JOY of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.

I was thinking RESTORE meant something completely different. But when I started looking at things through God's eyes (and stopped rolling mine!), I realized I didn't need to be strong anymore. I don't need to have all the answers. I don't even need to know what's coming next in my life because God knows. God's strength is my strength. And God hears my cries! He wants to restore my soul, make it new, and then restore it to JOY. Inner JOY. Oh, Lord, yes, please! 

Maybe that should be my word for 2024, JOY.

I'll pray about it. 

Good Morning Reached and Reaching, Incarnating Love, Servants of the Lord! Oh we are so loved! PTL and thank Him that His love was irresistible to us. Thank Him for using us to reach others as we incarnate His Love, Hope, Shalom and Help. We were custom created by Love to love, help, disciple, bring peace and hope alive. And PTL that God is using many of us to do that well. Thank Him for sending those in need of these things to us as well. Ask Him to keep up His good work in, through and around us. Amen! Some think they are coming for bread, but the Bread of Life has more in store for those He is sending. PTL and keep praying into that!

I am telling you that if you want to see God at work and/or allow Him to use you, just show up any Wednesday during Bread Ministry. I am constantly amazed how God sends just the right people to the right people and how He is drawing many to Him just because we are there and care. I just sit there and God sends people. Plan to join us next Wed. for donut day from 10-12. And keep praying for God to bless and use this awesome ministry. Seriously, you need to check this out! You will experience  Jesus' easy yoke as we just be ourselves and love like Him, pray, encourage and help. Pray for God to lead us to some other connection points to those He wants us to love and minister to. We are doing what we can with what God provides through willing servants and God is using this! Come and see!

Check out the thread through our devotionals below as we learn to seek God for more, be available, trust Him and allow Him to lead and use us. Life in Christ and as a disciple is just being you, being available and willing to be used. And the benefit is that we are grown towards Christlikeness. It is so rewarding as we are blessed by being a blessing and blessed to be more of a blessing.

Yesterday I visited Jim Handfest at the hospital and Kay was there. He is bouncing back towards normal but still is undergoing some testing. Kay has an ear infection I prayed for as well. Jim is eager to get home. Continue to pray for healing for both and for wisdom and shalom for Kay. I stopped to visit Nancy Bahr but her floor is under COVID lockdown. Pray for protection and deliverance and for an opportunity to visit soon. I also visited Glad Ketner. She's always happy to see me. She seems to be communicating better. Pray for healing, patience in the process, wisdom for staff and family for next steps and for shalom over her and Linda. She says hi to all and that she misses you. She's worried about her family too. I did get a big hug before leaving. While i was at the hospital, I talked to a patient transport person and prayed for her. She said it is so busy and staff is really stretched and stressed. She said 70 people were in ER awaiting beds. She said they were opening some closed floors to try to accommodate the need. Continue to pray a covering of protection and health over us and for deliverance and healing for all who are sick right now. 'Tis the season, as they say and probably a really good thing we did Zoom only last week for church as many of us were exposed to things over the holidays. It may be God's will and timing that we have another week of Zoom and worship from home as the snow is coming. Watch for info on Sat. regarding our worship plans for Sunday. Pray for our Support Team meeting tonight and our Vision Team meeting Tues. Ask God to reveal His plans, bring wisdom and that we would plan and steward well and follow well all His blessings. Thanks! Pray for wisdom for me as I begin sorting through what Medicare plan to choose. (I'm open for your input on medigap or advantage plans). Please pray for favor for today as I try to sell my broken car and that I get a fair value for it. Thanks!

Ok here's todays Word from God for you...be still and know! He is God and He is speaking all the time. He has great plans for you that are custom made for you to discover and grow into. Seek Him more in '24 and work on becoming more in '24 too. Turn off the noise and live this life in Christ for Christ alone. That's all that really matters. And when you get to heaven your stored rewards will be based on how well you did with living and loving like Jesus. So choose well, listen, trust and follow well. God's cheering you on and I'm praying for you. Shalom is available as you come to know Christ more and make Him known more better! Revival starts with prayer! And you all are critically needed prayer warriors. What's God saying to you? How does He want you to pray? Who does He have for you to love well today! Seek Him more earnestly and listen more intently with the plan to follow His lead more often. He's preparing you and the way, so rejoice and relax in Him!

Harvest Prayer Blog for Revival:

Charles Stanley:

Upper Room: The Power of Love

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. - Psalm 36:7 (NIV)

When our family relocated to the desert southwest, about the only relief from the relentless heat of the summer months was a trip to the public swimming pool. My parents enrolled my brothers and me in swimming lessons. I can still recall the fear during some of those first lessons, especially when we were taken into the deep end of the pool. But our instructors were kind, and we trusted them to keep us safe.

Many years later, my wife and I had three small children of our own, and we needed to teach them to swim so that they could be safe in and near the water. My wife, being a certified water safety instructor, taught them. I recall some thrashing, splashing, and even some crying, but our children knew their teacher was always there to support them and keep them safe from danger, and that she would not let them go. Eventually my children swam very well, competed on swim teams, and were rewarded with ribbons and trophies.

Now, in my later years, I sometimes reflect on how those swim lessons are similar to my relationship with God who is my teacher and is worthy of all my trust. Yet there are times when I thrash about and feel consumed by fear. But then I remember that God is love and will not let me go.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear God, thank you for your everlasting love that surpasses our understanding. Help us to remain devoted to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Our Daily Bread:

The Word for You Today:

Note: We are aware of the potential for snow Sat. and Sun. Sat. at noon we will make a decision if we will open the doors or be Zoom only. If we do open, choose wisely and safety first!

This is the Day of Fasting and Prayer called by our bishop for us to cry out to God for revival of our denomination, churches and people. Pray that we would become a dynamic movement of God led by pastors and laity with a burning passion for God and a missionary zeal for the lost. Pray for revival in Emmaus as well and through our ministries. (While you're fasting and praying ask God to reveal your part and somethings He'd like you to work on as you seek more of Him and growth in Him.)

Good morning. As you fast and pray, as you empty yourself and cry out for a movement of God in and through you and our church, be still, turn off the noise, listen, receive and worship. We are all called to pray and for some of us that is our purpose God has sent us to St. Matts. Thank you prayer warriors and servants of the Lord! Check out Charles Stanley and the Upper Room devos below and pray through them and the Harvest Prayer Blog on praying for revival today.

Pray expectantly with thanksgiving. God is on the move, hearing our prayers and preparing to ignite the revival fires! He is also preparing you for such a time as this to be His vessels of revival! PTL! Amen! can't wait to see what God has for us today and beyond!

Harvest Prayer:

Charles Stanley:

The Upper Room: Sense of Purpose

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NRSVUE)

I didn’t intend to retire, but I lost my job at 64. Then we moved because my husband changed jobs. Shortly after our relocation, I was able to take two extended trips to be with a family member in crisis and later to welcome my new grandson. These would not have been possible had I started a new job. But I missed the sense of purpose and the structure that my profession had provided, and I wasn’t sure how to fill my days. I realized that I could keep mourning what I had lost or choose to actively nurture a new sense of purpose for my life.

We choose each day how to live out our discipleship. I do not believe there are days when nothing important happens. Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians of God’s will for our lives: We are to rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances. But such simple directives are impossible to follow when we focus on what is wrong rather than what is right.

I now choose to begin and end my day in prayerful reflection, paying attention to the goodness of God that surrounds me. I review the day with gratitude — even the parts that were difficult — and deliberately name the joys. When I choose to rejoice, pray, and give thanks, I can see beyond my circumstances, and my heart is oriented toward God’s purpose.

TODAY'S PRAYER

O God, we pray that our words and actions will reflect gratitude for your presence and provision on this day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer update from Sarah:

Prayers are requested for Jim Handfest. This morning he fell and they were unable to pick him up. He is in LV Hospital, 

being checked by the medical team. He has a couple other health issues also.  Let's keep Jim and Kay in our prayers.

Continue to pray for one another, as some are still dealing with respiratory issues and colds that make daily activities a bit exhausting

Please continue to lift Glad Ketner for healing from her stroke and COVID.

Good Morning Praying Co-Laborers! Lots to pray about and consider this morning as we get back to our normal weekday routines. It's so awesome to begin each day, each week, each month and each year with prayer and time with the Lord! It's the very thing that enables, empowers, refreshes and informs your steps each step of the way through the day, week, month and year. Jesus got up early and got away to a quiet place to pray and reload and He is our example. Sometimes I wonder how early He got up and how long He prayed, especially when I keep waking up at 2 am. I have to testify that the wee hours of the morning spent with the Lord are so sweet, powerful, informative and good for the soul. I truly value this time and can understand why Jesus got up early and got away to be with the Father. Time spent with the Lord is always time well spent! And however long you spend at His feet, He somehow redeems and allows you to accomplish His plans for you for the day--not always your plans but for sure His! Be still and know that He is God. He is speaking to you. He wants to hear you, encourage you and empower you for the day. More of You Lord and less of me! Empty yourself and let go of your agendas and sit at His feet a spell. He knows the plans He has for your day and they are plans to prosper and not harm. Invite Him to be the Lord of you, your time, day, week, month and year!

I talked about fasting and prayer as something some of us do at the beginning of each year. It gives back to God the first fruits of the year and prepares us as we offer a sacrifice of praise. Yesterday I received a reminder from EC Center and our Bishop about His call to fasting and prayer for revival of our nation, denomination, churches and individuals. He's called us to fast and pray the first Wednesday of every month. (Thank God it's not donut day!) Karen and I plan to start with the first one tomorrow and see where God leads us. We do something similar with fasting as the bishop and Carla with skipping two meals. You may choose something different. that's ok. Talk to God about what would be a sacrifice to allow you more time at His feet (maybe turn off the TV? Get up early? Skip one meal or fast a week?) Here's a link to his invite and challenge to us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKvWSqMJUAk

Okay, still with me? Check out the thread through our devotionals for today. In Ecclesiastes (from ODB passage) we hear the Eeyore like whining of woe is me. Life stinks and there is no meaning to anything I do. We are born and die and that's it. Unfortunately, many don't know our Hope and it's showing up in the darkness prevailing all around us. No wonder people are so selfish, evil, lazy, and depressed. BUT GOD! Our mission is to bring light and life and love and hope alive! Yes without Christ there is no hope. Solomon encourages us and teaches from his experiences of pursuing all kinds of meaningless things that "In this life meaning can only be found in God, so love God and enjoy life." Paul puts it another way in Col. 3, "In this life Christ is all that matters and He lives in me." He goes on to remind us of our mission of love, hope and help as we are sent to light up the world. Revival begins with prayer! Revival comes alive as we die to self, take up cross and follow Christ. And revival comes alive through us as we live and love like Christ! Are you seeking Him more and following Him more intentionally as a world changer, joy bringer, and our Hope introducer? That is our mission and focus this year as we earnestly pursue more of Christ and more of our created purposes. (Oh, this is beginning to sound like Sunday's sermon! Can I get a "preach it brother!" and a chorus of "Amens"?)

You'll find our devotionals for today below. Ponder and pray through them. What's God saying to you today? What will you do about! May I suggest to follow Jesus and go love well! Stand tall (UR) and chose joy no matter the trial, trouble, hardship and even in the good times. Keep first things first (TWFYT). We are working on becoming who we were created to be. Be before doing is a teaching we've embraced. However, part of growing into who you were created to be is doing God's will for you and that includes loving and serving others, just as you are. God will use you just as you are and grow you into His greater things as you humble yourself and allow Him control. And Charles Stanley reminds us that God does have plans for each of us, as unlikely as that seems. What's His plan for you? You can discern that as you spend time with Him and allow Him to invite you in to what He is doing today around you. And yes come just as you are. He knows you, is calling your name and reminding you how much He loves you and how good His plans are. Reach out and take His hand today. Put on His easy yoke weary and heavy burdened child of God. Keep following Jesus to God's best for you and allow Him to use you to change your little corner of the world He placed you in for such a time as this! Revival is coming! May it begin in each of us! Amen!

ODB:

UR: Standing Tall

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. - James 1:2-3 (NIV)

When we moved to our current home, we learned that the redbud tree is very common here. They are often oddly shaped with gnarled trunks. Many have broken branches from storm damage. But in the spring, they are the first trees to bud; when their flowers open, they bring vibrant color to the dull, winter landscape.

One fall, my husband transplanted a redbud sapling into our yard. Within a few months, a storm had broken its tallest branch. However, the young tree made it through the winter, and its remaining branch bloomed in the spring. It continues to grow tall to this day. God made the redbud tree to withstand all sorts of adversity, and it continues to be resilient.

I want to be like those beautiful trees. When I am faced with hardship, I want to trust in God my Creator. God has much good planned for us and can turn our struggles into blessings if we persevere. When hard times attack me, I want to be strong enough to say to them, “You are helpless against me because God made me and I can overcome anything through God’s power.” With this faith I can stand tall like the steadfast redbud trees.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Father God, thank you for models of resilience and strength in nature. Empower us to persevere through our struggles. Amen.TWFYT and CS

Here's the Harvest Prayer blog for today for prayer for revival as well (seems to be a theme as we begin this year!)