Don't forget to bring someone along to worship and brunch . Revival has begun and many just need an invite to come and see and feel His Love! Maybe even invite someone to our Eve Eve Acts 2:42 dinner worship with communion?
We will be looking thankfully at Isaiah 43 . (A passage used since the beginning of The Chosen)
Good Morning Chosen, Redeemed, Called-By-Name Child of God! Thanks Lord! Amen! We are known, loved, called, saved and empowered to become like Jesus and to share the Good News of how He has changed us from glory to glory--from one way to another to another and how He is always with us and helping us to overcome, choose joy and stand firm and be thankful always! Yes PTL! Check out the devotionals below and meditate on the greatness and deep love of the God who made you, loves you, calls you by name, forgives, redeems and empowers you to live and love like Him . You were created for such a time as this and get to overflow with love and from a position of great gratitude for all He is and all He has done for you! Yes rejoice with much !
The Upper Room is a separate tract yet can tie to living thankfully because of God and His love, even in our pain and suffering. I did a funeral for a family that lost a child/sister/mother last year at the race track and now the 56 year old father/husband/brother unexpectedly. He had sort of adopted the grandson of the daughter who passed. It was a tough day. Yet we were able to celebrate and rejoice because of God, His saving love and promises and because we know we can have a heavenly reunion someday with them because of their faith and ours. Many struggle during holiday seasons. It's difficult to lift and find joy in these dark valleys...BUT GOD. We need to prepare our hearts for these kind of hard things and commit ourselves to always choosing joy and being thankful in all things. It's very hard sometimes. We need God and each other in these times but we just want to be alone and miserable and grieve. Ask God to help you be still and know that He is always God and with you and working all things together for good for those who believe. Ask for help to choose joy and to refocus with . Life just plain sucks sometimes and is even worse for many during holidays. Pray for peace beyond understanding over many and for a faith that stands firm in Christ always. And then ask who you can help and then choose to go live and love like Jesus and this holiday season. God made you and has gifted and empowered you for such a time as this! Go! Be Christ in the flesh and bring His love and help alive. Someone needs you and to feel His love right now. Go! Live and love like Jesus and with a thankful heart . Amen! I'm thankful for all of you and praying for you to see, hear, feel and want to go incarnate His love and help. Amen
ODB:
Treasured Possession
Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. John 12:3
My father first locked eyes on my mother at a party in London. Next he gate-crashed a second party, then organized a third, just to see her again. Finally he asked Mum out for a country drive, picking her up in his old Rover sedan—his treasured possession.
Mum and Dad became sweethearts, but there was a problem. Mum was about to move to Peru to become a missionary. Dad took her to the airport, then five months later arrived in Peru himself—to propose to her. And the best part of the story? He’d sold his beloved Rover to pay for the plane ticket.
If you would’ve asked Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, what her most treasured possession was, she’d have shown you a precious bottle of “expensive perfume” (John 12:3). And if you’d have been at the party she and Martha threw for Jesus (v. 2) and watched her lavish that bottle’s contents on his feet, you’d have known just what Christ meant to her. He was that precious, that valuable.
For my mother, Dad selling his car wasn’t just about a plane ticket. It was a sign of how much he valued her. And Mary’s actions had deeper meaning too—she was preparing Jesus for His burial (v. 7). Like her, when we sacrifice for God what we treasure most, we take part in His redemptive work by echoing His great sacrifice for us.
By Sheridan Voysey
REFLECT & PRAY
What treasure would you give up for God? How would you feel in Mary’s place, when Jesus revealed the deeper meaning of her actions?
Dear Jesus, You’re more valuable to me than my most treasured earthly possession.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Through her actions, Mary of Bethany displayed how precious Jesus was to her. Several things are worth noting in this account. Her devotion was costly: “Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume . . . . It was worth a year’s wages” (John 12:3, 5). Furthermore, the scent of the perfume (v. 3) matched the fragrant aroma of her devotion to Christ. But the striking scene of lavish devotion was disrupted by the response of Judas Iscariot. “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?” he asked (v. 5). Judas, who would later betray Jesus (v. 4), was a deceiver who covered his motives with pious words (v. 5); he was a hypocrite and a thief (v. 6) who would betray Christ for thirty pieces of silver (four months’ wages). But Jesus had the last word when He replied, “Leave her alone” (v. 7). Christ, who surrendered all for us, still desires that we treasure Him over everything.
Visit go.odb.org/112225 to learn more about what Mary’s actions tell us about worship.
Arthur Jackson
TWFYT
Sarah Young
UR: A Journey Through grief
[The Lord] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. - Psalm 147:3 (NIV)
“Dear Lord,” I prayed, “I feel as though I have reached the bottom of despair.” I was on my way home from my son’s funeral. What right did the people on the streets have to be happy? Why was the musician allowed to play a merry tune outside of the music store as I passed by? My world was shattered. Didn’t they understand?
The road loomed ahead of me out into the darkness. Then to my astonishment, as I approached a small village, an illuminated cross on a church came into my view. God, you are with me, I thought. You know the depth of my sorrow. The cross reminded me of the suffering Jesus endured for me, and I was comforted.
I knew that in time I would have to accept my son’s sudden death. Denial was not a choice. I began to realize I had been blessed to have had my son in my life for 33 years. Time is indeed a healer, but this fact is of no comfort when grief first strikes. As time has gone by, the lives of my relatives and friends have returned to normal, but mine has not. Working through grief isn’t easy, but it is necessary. And I know that only God’s constant love can deliver us from despair.
's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for being with us as we walk through the valley of death. Amen.
Thank God I'm Forgiven and it's ! PTL! Tell God and share with some others how thankful you are for your salvation and God's presence with you! Yes worship and lift . Thank God I'm forgiven! Amen!
Don't forget is our brunch after worship. 10 am worship, 11:30 brunch. Who ya bringin'? Or to 's Eve Eve dinner worship with communion (6pm). Its an evening of being like the Acts 2:42 church as we gather, study, worship, fellowship, eat, commune and pray together. Yes Come and worship like our brothers and sisters form the very earliest church.
Good Morning Thankful, Abiding, Peace-filled, Followers of Jesus! Yes and amen! Check out our devotionals for below as they thread through this salutation. We do really have so much to be thankful for--including God's peace. I don't know about you, but I am feeling the holidays and busyness already crushing in on me. I feel like I'm suffocating as my H.A.D (Holiday affective disorder) is trying to get a foothold and drag me under the waves of depression and anger. BUT GOD! We can know and choose His peace beyond understanding as we abide, refresh in Him and receive His leading beside the still waters and green pastures. Amen! He is Jireh--enough--our provider and protector. PTL! Focus on this truth and remember, He knows you, has perfect plans for you and promises to be with you always and to lead you through those valleys to His rest. Amen! And He is watching over you and will lead you to His best, His provisions, His protection and co-laborers. Amen and PTL! Who might encourage you or who might you encourage. Seek the Lord, His wisdom, love and peace. Abide then thrive in the Lord! Amen! I'm praying for you and seeking His peace! Pray on that armor . Stand firm on our Rock. And walk with Him and your team to His perfect plans for such a time as this. Amen! We can be (and help others to be) Thankful, Abiding, Peace-filled, Followers of Jesus! PTL!
Sarah Young
ODB
God Watches Over Us
He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber. Psalm 121:3
Two pilots fell asleep in the middle of their flight over Indonesia. While the commanding pilot had permission to nap once the plane reached cruising altitude, he woke up to find that his copilot had also dozed off. The two were asleep for about thirty minutes with more than 150 passengers and crew on board and while at approximately 36,000 feet altitude. The plane had veered off course, but thankfully the plane still arrived at its destination safely.
Human pilots may snooze mid-flight, but we can rest assured that God never falls asleep.
This is the comfort offered to us in the words of Psalm 121. In eight verses, we’re reminded that God is omniscient, or all-knowing about our life; omnipresent, or present all throughout our day; and omnipotent, or all-powerful and can protect us. The psalmist declares that our help comes from God (v. 2). He is our keeper and shade (v. 5), and He guards us from all evil while preserving our soul (v. 7).
God never gets tired. “He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber” (v. 3). “The Lord will watch over your coming and going,” the psalmist concludes “both now and forevermore” (v. 8).
When we’re wondering if God has forgotten us, we can rest assured that He’s at the wheel. He’s always awake and watching over us.
By Nancy Gavilanes
REFLECT & PRAY
Why does it sometimes feel like God is asleep? How does it comfort you knowing that He’s always alert and aware of what you’re experiencing?
Almighty God, thank You for always watching over me.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
All adult male Israelites were to come to the temple every year to observe three national feasts (Deuteronomy 16:16). The journey was a perilous one, with travelers vulnerable to the treacherous mountain terrain, weather, wild animals, and robbers. As they journeyed into Jerusalem, the travelers sang from an anthology of fifteen “Pilgrim Psalms” or “Songs of Ascents” (Psalms 120-134). Psalm 121, often referred to as “The Traveler’s Psalm,” is one such song. It acknowledges the Israelites’ safety and security concerns and highlights God’s protection of them. This psalm is dominated by the Hebrew verb shamar, translated “watch[es]” (vv. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8) or “keep” (v. 7). The word means “to preserve,” “to guard,” “to watch carefully over,” “to care for.” As we tread through life’s uncertainties and dangers, we can be assured that we’re under God’s watchful eyes. He journeys with us, keeping us in His protective care.
K.T. Sim
UR: A Sign
After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. - 1 Kings 19:12 (NIV)
I once had an old bicycle with a broken pedal. I needed to go to a bike shop to find the right replacement. I knew there was a shop nearby, but I could not remember the name or location. After some research, I found the shop and made the trip there. The road to the bike shop was one that I traveled frequently. As I approached, I noticed a giant billboard advertising the shop with directions that read, “turn here.” Shaking my head, I thought, How many times have I passed that sign and never noticed it? It was hard to miss.
After laughing at myself, I wondered how many times I have missed God’s signs for me. I often pray for something and try to wait patiently for God’s response. But perhaps God has already responded, and I’m just not focused on the right thing. I often look for an answer that makes sense to me, but God’s response may be unexpected. In ’s scripture reading, God wasn’t in the earthquake or fire, God was in the whisper. We don’t always know how God will answer us, but God will answer, even if it’s how we least expect.
's Prayer
Dear God, may we approach you in prayer with confidence, understanding that you hear us and know our hearts. Give us the patience to wait faithfully for your response. Amen.
Good Morning Chosen, Heavenly Treasure Building, Choosing Gratitude, Joy and Trust, Abiding Servants of Our Lord and Shepherd! AMEN!!! Just stop and abide, meditate and PTL for these things given to us and things we get to choose to be and do! God loves you, faithful-to-who-you-are-in-Christ one! He loves you so much! Thank God, we get to receive and abide in that affirming, directing, correcting love! Yes, PTL! And thank Jesus, our Good Shepherd! PTL! He leads us beside the still waters and restores our souls as we abide, receive and prepare. He offer us His easy yoke. PTL we can choose to put it on and resist the urges to try to do our own thing our own way in our own time and/or try to earn His favor and love. We can never do that. He looks at you lovingly and calling you by name and whispers to you, "I see you and am well pleased in your choosing to be who I created you to be and doing what you are crated, gifted and empowered to do. You are mine and I have great plans for you. Come! Taste and see and abide then go in my strength and timing." AMEN! PTL! Check out the devotionals below threading through these things and just worship as you abide.
What an awesome . we experienced again! PTL! God showed up and provided in many ways and we were able to do what we could with what provided. he was faithful to lead us and use us according to who we are and His plans for us. PTL! Many were blessed and we had just enough to serve hose who came. Some are continuing to join us evenings too and experiencing the love of Christ! PTL! Keep praying for provision, good stewardship and the harvest to be drawn and ministered to leading to salvation and renewed life in Christ! Thank god for our servants and servant hearts and the mind of Christ given to us! Yes PTL! God is alive and active here AND LOVING THROUGH YOU AND US! PTL! Be you and do what you are created for and the Father will be well pleased, hear our prayers, continue to provide and direct our steps as we get out of our own heads and acknowledge and follow Him in all our ways! Amen! yes PTL! Shalom shalom as you soberly assess you and the works of your hands and our unity of purpose and mission! God is on the move and revival is at hand and we all have a part in that! What's yours? Ask! Try it! And prepare to go live and love like Jesus as you are for such a time as this! Amen! You are and we are joined together to be God's Chosen, Heavenly Treasure Building, Choosing Gratitude, Joy and Trust, Abiding Servants of Our Lord and Shepherd! Amen!
UR: God Chose me First
Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.” - John 15:16 (NRSVUE)
I was four years old when Mom’s best friend invited us to Bible school. It was there that the Spirit of God touched my young heart. Since my parents didn’t attend church, I wasn’t able to go again until three years later when my family moved across town. Playing in the yard one day, I noticed the steeple on a church down the street. I had no memory of church, but I had the desire to go. One day I ran from the yard into the house and told my mom I needed her. When we got outside, I pointed to the steeple and blurted out, “I want to go there!” She remained silent for a moment before giving me permission. When the day arrived, she watched intently as I made my way safely to school. From then on I attended church regularly.
At age 10, I invited Jesus into my heart. Afterward, I began praying for my parents to attend church. I was in my mid 30s when Mom and Dad started going to worship. A few years later, my dad walked down the aisle and accepted Christ as his Savior. Years passed, and at the age of 89, Mom asked Jesus into her heart.
As a young child, before I knew anything about God, God had chosen me. And in the proper timing, God answered my prayers.
's Prayer
Heavenly Father, before we were created, you knew us. You chose us before we chose you! Thank you for loving us enough to send your Son. Amen.
ODB:
Imposter Syndrome
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment. Romans 12:3
Do you ever feel like a fraud? You aren’t alone! In the late 1970s, two researchers identified “imposter syndrome” as the condition of doubting one’s skills, talents, or abilities and interpreting oneself as a fraud. Even successful and brilliant people struggle with inadequacy, worrying that if anyone peeked behind the curtain of their lives, they’d see how much they don’t know.
Paul exhorts the people of the first-century church in Rome to be humble: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment” (Romans 12:3). We understand the importance of not elevating our abilities. But when we doubt our own value, we go too far, robbing others of the gifts God wants us to use to serve Him. To think of ourselves with “sober judgment” (v. 3) is to have a sane estimation—a realistic regard—for what we offer. Paul nudges us to overcome our hesitancies, to embrace who we are “in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of [us]” (v. 3). In this way, God’s body of believers may be built up (vv. 4-8).
Rather than degrading our offerings with imposter syndrome, let’s embrace God’s giftings within us. By gratefully accepting His grace, we can think neither too highly nor too lowly of ourselves. In doing so, we please our Father and build up Christ’s body of believers.
By Elisa Morgan
REFLECT & PRAY
Where do you struggle with imposter syndrome? How can God offer you faith to overcome?
Dear God, please help me to see myself the way You see me, in accordance with the measure of faith You give.
Paul’s call for us to have “sober judgment” (Romans 12:3) regarding our abilities and giftings comes just before he compares Christ’s church to “one body with many members” (v. 4). Everything we have is a gift, including our faith (v. 3) and our talents (vv. 6-8). A proper self-awareness recognizes that we’re neither worthless nor indispensable. We’re not worthless because we’re created in God’s image and redeemed by His Son who died for us. And we’re not indispensable because all our gifts and abilities come from Him in the first place. He equips all who believe in Him to serve Him and others. But it’s essential that believers do this work together, as one body. Such interdependency requires love, which the apostle highlights in the next section. “Love must be sincere,” he wrote (v. 9). When we accept God’s grace, we’ll see ourselves as He sees us and “be devoted to one another in love [and] honor one another above [ourselves]” (v. 10).
Tim Gustafson
Sarah Young:
TWFYT:
Sarah Update:
Just checking in with a few prayer needs and to see how you are doing with your NOVEMBER
N - Are you noticing small things as you go through your days
O - How about offering kindness to whomever you can - paying it forward
V - Are you valuing that quiet time that God gives you
E - How about this.....are you enjoying each day!
M - How about that rest time.....are you making time throughout your day to rest
B - Deep breathing......are you breathing deeply at times in your day
E - Oh and this one that some of us don't care for - Embracing Change......as our lives and things and circumstances in our lives change,
are you embracing those changes
R - Are you relaxing and letting go of those 'things' that bog you down
November and every day of our lives should be a day that we are GRATEFUL! GRATEFUL for many things......many people.....special blessings.....
What are you grateful for.....go ahead, be brave and reply all to this email, and share with us all what you are grateful for!!! Can't wait to hear.....
Just to refresh your memories, here are the praises and prayer needs shared on :
The government has reopened and all those that were on furlough, including one of our own, Lori, has returned to Work!!! Praying that
they will receive some back pay.
Praising God for helping many of those that we know that are fighting cancer, to be strong, and courageous. And for friends, that come along side
of them to support and encourage and pray for them.
Praising God for protecting Larry and Enol and Braiden Paul and all those in the Philippians during the storms. Please continue to pray for Enol's family
Continued prayers of healing for Diane H, Connie (Pastor Don's sister), Chris and Yvonne Muik, Marg (Althea Parry's daughter)
Prayers for Lori and her crew as they prep for the brunch this coming following worship.
(See flyer below) Make time to invite someone to come along
Also pray for our Bread and clothing closet outreaches as they bring HOPE to our community. We are seeing more and more people come through our doors,
the need is great. Pray also that the Lord provides enough for all that come. Praise God also for all our volunteers that assist with these outreaches.
This coming week the Everlasting Life ministry will be prepping take home dinners for those in need. Pray also for those volunteers that
assist with that huge undertaking.
Welp everyone, pray that you have a great rest of your week and I look forward to seeing you on !!!!
Good Morning Thankful Prayers! We are thankful. We pay. We are thankful we can always pray and always be heard by God. We are thankful for His yes, no or wait. We are thankful for Scripture and the power in praying it back to God. We are thankful for His always true promises we get to remind Him of in prayer. I am thankful for you powerful and effective righteous prayers! I'm thankful we are all called to pray and some of you are gifted to intercede for us and cover us. I'm thankful we can pray on God's armor and thankful for your covering in prayer. Thanks! Lord! And thank you all! Keep praying. Check out the Connection blogs and keep on thanking and praying! I'm thankful for God's peace and joy we can know as we still ourselves in His presence and converse in prayer! How about you? Shalom shalom!
Connection:
- Trusting God for the Future
God will reveal what we need to know for the future when the time is right. We know that, for some reason beyond our understanding, some things must wait in a trusting relationship with God.
Other texts make some things clear:
It is always the will of God to pray for sexual purity and to ask God for that to be true within family, friends, and society. This means celibacy in singleness and faithfulness in the “one man/one woman” marriage bond. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3, NASB).
It is always the will of God to pray that others hear about Jesus Christ and His salvation. “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day”(John 6:40, NASB).
It is always the will that we baptize and coach those who take that step: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
It is always the will of God that we become a people of God with other believers together as the power of the Holy Spirit flows through us, and that everything in heaven and on earth be “summed up,” joined together under the Lordship of Christ. “He made known to us the mystery of His will . . . the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth” (Ephesians 1:9-10, NASB) Lord, thank You for what You have revealed to me in Your word, so that I am able to pray with clarity about what is on Your heart and mind for my life. May I be obedient in these things as You teach me to hear the voice of the Spirit.
--Adapted from Power Praying (Hearing Jesus’ Spirit by Praying Jesus’ Prayer) by David Chotka.
Prayer Points
Praise God, the one who is your “refuge” and your “fortress” (Ps. 91:2).
Thank him for taking care of you in every storm of life.
Confess times when you’ve sought refuge in some thing or someone other than God.
Commit yourself to placing all your trust in this powerful and loving God.
Ask God to protect and defend you against Satan’s schemes.
Ask God to make your home a spiritual refuge from the temptations of this world. Pray that your children will find strength, peace, and security there. Pray for harmony among the members of your family.
Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayerleader.com. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Good Morning Followers of THE Way! Jesus is the Way and His ways are the ways to follow for great fruit, joy and peace. Amen! Yes I am thankful that Jesus is the way! I'm thankful for His example! I'm thankful that he is in me and leading me and us! I'm thankful for dreams and visions He brings to open our minds to His plans. I'm thankful for time with Him and for His speaking to my soul! I'm thankful that He is the Rock, the Cornerstone and the Capstone we build on and are joined together by. I am thankful that he created me as I am for His purposes and that He has saved, gifted and empowered me to go live and love like Him and make disciples. I am thankful for a mind that can discern, plan and follow well. I am thankful for quiet times with Him and the encouragement, provision and protection he brings. I am thankful for so much more in Christ! I am thankful for all of you too and our unity of purpose and mission and for His plans for each of us and us united. I am thankful for good fruit that has been harvested and for new buds that are sprouting. I'm thankful we get to seek, listen, process and follow Jesus and for His easy yoke. I am thankful for His peac beyond understanding and for the joy of the Lord! What are you thankful for ? Tell Jesus and share with some others. I'm thankful for the harvest to come that are being drawn by God and open to new life in Jesus! I'm thankful that this is the year of the Lord's favor and for the revival that is springing up all over our college campuses and in our churches. I'm thankful that I have so much to be thankful about! Yes rejoice and PTL !
10-12 Bread Ministry; 6-8 Chosen Dinner Huddle (last Chosen episode) Next week we meet 6-7:30 for Eve Eve worship with dinner and communion (really Acts 2:42 stuff!) All welcome! Ten our . Dinner Huddle meets once more for the year 6-7:30 for study, dinner and fellowship. (We will then resume )
10-1115 Worship; 11:30 Brunch All welcome
Mark Your Calendar:
Decorate for (Talk to Danny Reinsmith for more info)
Donut Day at Bread Ministry
Worship and Brunch
-12 Bread Ministry; 4PM Worship followed by quick and easy dinner for those who need a meal with lock up by 6PM
There will be Bread Ministry New Years Eve, , from 10-12
Good Morning Blogging, Rebuilding, Servants of the Lord! Huh? What's that mean? Well, first you are reading this blog so you are a blogger. So, what's the rest? We are "rebuilders of the Lord" We are His instruments of deliverance, encouragement, prayer and servants rebuilding His Kingdom and bringers of revival! AMEN! Can you see it and feel it! revival is at hand! God has called to rebuild churches (even our church) that have been fading to irrelevance and disrepair. We are sent to seek and help rebuild broken lives too. Can you see how God is using us to be art of these new things He is doing? He is! PTL! Many are being stirred to things of God and just need an invite, a prayerful push, and maybe even a walk with them to new life, recommitment, revival and becoming disciple making disciples of Jesus. He created, molded, saved, gifted and empowered YOU for such a time as this and has gathered US to go together and change the world around us. We are made for such a time as this and God does have great plans for you, us and those yet to come! PTL! Who is coming to mind? What will you do about that? Who are your teammates? Call some and plan some things! The holidays are a perfect time as people are more open to an invite. What dreams and visions has He given you to share with us? Do it! I'm praying for you and God is pinching and moving and wanting to lead us to his perfect plans. Come! See! Share! Go and grow! Amen!
We are in the midst of lifting all month from random passages of Scripture that God has led me to study with you with . One of the passages considered was Nehemiah, the rebuilder of the temple (with the help of God and many and with many answered prayers) Much was lifted along the way and at the completion of those wall being rebuilt. And much attack and negativity was tossed their way as they proceed to trust and follow God. PTL! We may still study the book of Nehemiah after the New Year. It is a great study on Godly leadership and following and trusting God through hard times. I'm still praying into this week's study but it will probably be from Isaiah 43 and other life verses of mine (and some of yours too). However, Nehemiah came up in my I to We devotional for and I have to pause and lay aside our other devos for you to engage with and focus in on this for .
The devo really got me thinking and God spoke to my heart and is leading me to share this with you, especially these questions to ponder: Are we good listeners that follow God ASAP as he leads? Have you identified someone with a need that needs you to listen to before responding? (This will require reading Nehemiah) What were Nehemiah's priorities as he led the people of God to rebuild the temple walls? And Why would he come back to a holy city in such disrepair and hope for good to come from a broken people? Now that question stopped me in my tracks and caused me to praise God for how He has used me and transformed our fellowship from decline to advancing and growing. How has God change you and us the past few years? Really think about that! It should cause much being lifted to God for His help, answered prayers and our unity of purpose and focus that is producing great fruit! Yes PTL! Can you see it? Thanks surely are not as they were and prayerfully never will be as we have moved and continue to move towards the new things of God--together!
We came out of Covid, unlike most other churches! We were holding our own and even though we lost a few, we also gained a few teammates. People were very lonely (still are ) and God has led us to use our gifts and His provisions to bless them and fellowship and encourage. PTL! The walls of our temple are being rebuilt into a House of Prayer for the nations! PTL! New life and new fruit are coming alive! PTL! We are discovering our gifts and roles in God's Good News delivery Company and more are stepping into them! PTL! people are being drawn to God through our faithfulness to be His hands and feet and step into our anointing's! PTL! We have a new church forming out of our gatherings! PTL! And we are involved with a new house church forming with Adam and Michelle Roberts leading! PTL! Yes God is on the move! And we are walking with Him more fully to revival! PTL! And to borrow a line from the Chosen: "We were one way and now another and the thing that happened in between was Him [Jesus]" PTL! We are rebuilding, servants of the Lord! PTL! And he is responding to our faithfulness and filling us with much , joy and growing faith! Yes PTL! Rejoice!
Talk to God about all of this and lift your own offering of praise! Sing a new song to Him! Amen!
Good Morning Thankful Worshiper! Amen! May we always be thankful and worshipful! Check out ODB below about singing Scripture. Most hymns and praise songs flow from singing Scriptures. We are commanded to mix it up as we sing Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Let's do that (everyday!)! I often make my own Psalms as I sing new songs and words to God. It's heartfelt worship. Sometimes I change words to hymns and songs as praise in the moment or sung prayers. How might you sing and worship ? May God put a new song on our hearts and fill us with joy as we lift songs of praise with hearts of worship. Try it!
Maybe begin with this praise song that Phil Wickham changed up a bit and made new with his words of adoration and praise: What An Awesome God
For her daily devotions, Julie began singing the Scriptures. “As I sang, my heart and mind actually began to do and believe what I was singing about!” Through vocalizing God’s Word in song, Julie wanted His truth to shed light on the things she disliked about herself, such as her voice and her height.
She said, “I began to sing from Song of Solomon 1:5: ‘Dark I am, yet lovely.’ ” (In that agrarian culture, a woman tanned by the wasn’t seen as beautiful.) As Julie sang the Scripture passage, God changed her thoughts. Suddenly she understood: “God loves me even though I am not perfect.”
Julie sang from a beautiful poem found in the Old Testament’s Wisdom Literature. Some people interpret the Song of Songs as an allegory of God’s love for His people, but many view it as a celebration of marital love. In witnessing the beauty of the couple’s commitment to each other, we can echo the friends’ words: “We rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine” (v. 4).
However we interpret these ancient words, we can affirm with Julie that God revels in His chosen people. As He says elsewhere in the Old Testament: “You are precious and honored in my sight, and . . . I love you” (Isaiah 43:4).
By Amy Boucher Pye
REFLECT & PRAY
Along with singing, how else could you engage with the words of the Bible in new ways? How can you embrace the truth that God loves you?
Creator God, You’ve formed me in Your image and say that You love me. Please help me to know this truth in my head and my heart, that I might share Your love with others.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
For centuries, scholars have debated how to read the Song of Solomon. Some have maintained that the Song is an extended allegory portraying the love between God and His chosen people, Israel. Others say that it’s an allegory that describes the love between Christ and the church. Still others propose that the story is a celebration of love between a husband and wife. These three pictures all affirm a very high view of love and offer potential answers for why Song of Solomon has been preserved in the Scriptures. Throughout this song, we’re reminded of the beauty of love, which ultimately points to God’s love for us.
Good Morning! What an amazing day we experienced in our building twice ! PTL! And keep praying for God to use us and draw many. Thank Him for His provisions and guidance and for drawing in the harvest. Pray that the Gospel will go forth with great effect and that revival would arise in our neighborhoods! AMEN!
Thanks TEAM!We are God's chosen, loved, empowered team that really does live and love like Him and many are feeling that love and finding hope and help and becoming open to the working of the Holy Spirit as God draws and saves while we seed, water and fertilize. The harvest is arising! PTL! Keep praying for workers and the harvest and for God to become known by many more and glorified in and through us! He has a part just for you too! PTL!
we served 80ish neighbors. We had very little bread and had to limit what people got, yet God is our provider and we had enough and a little leftovers to share. (Just like the loaves and fish or the oil for the lamps that didn't run out! PTL!) We had just enough cookies and donuts too as we blew through 8 doz. donuts and 4 doz. cookies and they made it until almost the last person arrived. Keep thanking and praying for His provisions and for us to steward them well. He is blessings, providing and guiding us! Amen! we had around 40 for dinner huddle and just enough food for that as well. PTL! We are practicing Acts 2:42 as we gather, fellowship, study, and pray. We only have a few more weeks of that. Pray for a strong finish to 2025, rest and readiness for what God has in store for 26.
Pray we are ready to be like wicks in '26 and soak up the oil to be His lamp shining bright in the darkness. Pray we are His firesticks in '26...lighting the revival fires! Pray we fulfill our purposes and spiritual mixes in '26! Pray we are His bricks in '26 being built into His temple! And keep praying we come alive in '25! And thank God for how that has been growing this year!
Check out the Connection Blogs and Sarah Evans devos below as they thread through this. God is on the move! PTL! He is providing and guiding and using us! PTL! His love, hope and help are bubbling up and overflowing Living Waters from us! PTL! That is all coming alive in '25. Thank Him for that and keep praying into the year ahead that we would have many dreams and vision from God coming to life in and through and around us! Yes we are His firesticks and bricks! Lighting the way and rebuilding torn down walls! PTL! And we are like wicks soaking up the oil to be His lamps! May the Light shine forth and drive back the darkness! PTL! Thank God for using us and for our teams and prayer warriors! God is hearing and answering! PTL! Light those fires from you knees and go stoke the embers to roaring flames with your moving feet! Amen! Follow His Spirit! He has great plans for you and us! Amen!
Sarah Evans
Connection Blogs:
- The Ministry of Prayer is Open to All!
Jesus gave His disciples vision and passion. He also gave them an impossible task: to make disciples of all the nations. They were commissioned to win the world. But Jesus warned them, “Behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).
And the disciples did stay in Jerusalem. They waited and prayed. Why did Jesus want them to remain in Jerusalem with such a great ahead of them? There was a world that desperately needed the gospel. Why should they wait in prayer?
I believe there are three reasons that Jesus established prayer as a priority for the early church. First, their vision and passion for a world could only be maintained by prayer. As they spent time with the Father in prayer, they would feel what He felt and see what He saw.
Leonard Ravenhill said, “The two prerequisites to successful Christian living are vision and passion, both of which are born in and maintained by prayer. The ministry of preaching is opened to few; the ministry of prayer—the highest ministry of all human offices—is open to all.”
Second, not only is vision maintained by prayer, but hearts are prepared to receive the message of Christ through prayer. The gospel is eternal and spiritual in nature. Therefore, we must pray that spiritual eyes be opened.
Third, God will not only open hearts to the gospel, but He will also empower the proclaimer of the message of Christ. There is a radical difference in the pre-Pentecost and post-Pentecost lives of the disciples. Peter, the cowardly denier of Jesus, became the bold preacher of Jesus. A new sense of courage characterized the early Christians in Acts. We must realize, however, that their boldness was the fruit of their prayer lives.
Precious Holy Spirit, You give vision and passion to those who long to seek God in prayer for the sake of and advancement of the kingdom through the preaching of the gospel. Thank You that You trust me with the “highest ministry of all human offices” – the ministry of prayer, and may I be courageous and bold as I intercede, so that spiritual eyes are opened and hearts are prepared to hear and the good news of Jesus Christ and respond to His love.
--Adapted from The Prayer Factor by Sammy Tippit.
Prayer Points
Praise God that your sighing is not hidden from him (Ps. 38:9).
Give thanks that you can cast all your care on him because he cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7).
Confess to God the many times you worry, are fearful, or trust in something other than God (Ps. 37:5-6).
Commit yourself to daily food from God’s Word and time with him in prayer.
Ask God for victorious faith that overcomes the world (1 Jn. 5:4).
Pray that your church will be living proof of the fact that God fulfills the desires of those who fear him (Ps. 145:19).
Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayerleader.com. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
One of the deadliest wildfires in US history decimated the town of Lahaina, Hawaii, in , killing ninety-nine people and destroying more than two thousand buildings. Still reeling from the devastation, residents experienced additional trauma when some looters pillaged buildings and greedy realtors attempted to gobble up land.
The corrupt desire to take advantage of tragic circumstances is the backdrop of a strong message from God to the nation of Edom. The prophet Obadiah warned the Edomites, Israel’s enemies for generations (Ezekiel 35:5), of God’s coming justice because the Edomites used their geographic advantage (Obadiah 1:3) and acquired wealth (v. 6), alliances with other nations (v. 7), wisdom (v. 8), and military strength (v. 9) to exploit the weak. Obadiah also rebuked the way Edom gloated as Israel was sent into captivity. Instead of compassion, Edom looted Israelite homes and marched through defeated cities in victory (vv. 12-13).
Although Lahaina residents saw despicable actions, they also experienced kindness when churches on the island became hospitality centers offering shelter, hot meals, and emergency supplies.
When someone is suffering, we face a similar choice. We can try to benefit from their loss. Or we can respond in the way God desires, like the churches in Lahaina, with kindness and generosity.
By Lisa M. Samra
REFLECT & PRAY
When have you been tempted to take advantage of someone’s suffering? How does God’s love compel us to kindness?
Dear God, please help me extend kindness when someone is hurting.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Edom’s betrayal of Israel cuts even deeper than one nation taking advantage of another nation’s plight (Obadiah 1:1-13). The nation of Edom descended from Jacob’s twin brother, Esau (Genesis 25:24-30). The tension between the brothers continued throughout their lives, but it’s epitomized in Jacob stealing Esau’s birthright and blessing from their father (25:29-34; 27:1-41). That family tension continued to plague Jacob’s descendants (Israel) for centuries (see Numbers 20:14-21).
The prophecies in Obadiah condemn Edom for rejoicing in God’s judgment against Judah and exploiting their vulnerabilities (Obadiah 1:12-14; see Amos 1:11-12). When someone is suffering, we honor God when we respond with kindness and generosity instead of exploitation.
TGIF=Thank God I'm Forgiven! Yes rejoice, worship and lift many thanksgivings! We've been doing this awhile on Fridays. How has your gratitude list grown? What are you thankful about concerning your salvation and God's transforming, mind-renewing, love? Tell Him! Share it with some others. And keep building those gratitude lists. There will be times you will need to rely on them to shift your focus towards God and help you to carry on in faith! YES TGIF!
Good Morning Basking in God's Glory, Faithful Followers of THE Way! Amen! Meditate on this salutation. What's God saying to you? Is the Holy Spirit pinching or affirming? Pause, reflect and correct and keep at it, very loved, forgiven child of God! Out of gratitude and changed lives we want to be still and know, seek, learn and go in Christ for God's glory. What will you get to do , this weekend and the days ahead? Will you gladly choose to do that with a willing heart of worship? Ask for help and seek some teammates to travel this life with in the way of Jesus. He is with you always and working all things together for good. Meditate on Sarah Young' Jesus Calling devo for as a good starting point. Then engage with the other devos and spend some time releasing God's power as you pray through the connection blogs. (all below)
When God repeats something it's important and requires our attention and action ASAP. I thought I knew what the blog was to be about. BUT GOD! He caught my attention with both Our Daily Bread and The Upper Room devos based off of Lamentations 3:19-26. Read that. Meditate upon it. It is important and God speaking to you, me and us. Pray though it. Discuss it with your team. Then do what God reveals ASAP! That is worship and our obedience glorifies God. Plus it will be part of God's plan for us that helps us to grow in Him. Amen! How often do you struggle waiting for God and trusting His perfect timing? For me, it used to be a lot as I thought I knew what had to happen when. BUT GOD! He has been at work transforming me in response to my humbling myself, seeking Him and His plans and timing, and learning to trust and obey. He has such great love for us. His compassions never fail and are new daily. PTL. We are called to die to self, take up cross and follow Jesus and created for such a time as this and called to move with God to those perfect plans. Trust and obey . We get to choose trust, obedience and moving with God! PTL! Ask for help to do so! Then watch what God does and will do as we wait with hearts committed to move with Him! PTL! He loves us and has awesome plans ahead that will lead us to our future and hope and heavenly responsibilities! Yes rejoice and abide as you prepare to follow well. Die to self, take up cross daily and prepare to follow Jesus and keep praying for His kingdom to come and will be done and for insight to your part and His timing. I'm praying for you to know and follow His peace and provisions. Amen!
When a country erupted in civil war, authorities conscripted a man into military service. However, he objected: “I don’t want any part in destroying [my country].” So he left it. Because he didn’t have proper visas, however, he eventually found himself stuck in another country’s airport. For months, airport employees gave the man food and thousands followed his tweets as he roamed terminals, knitted scarves, and clung to hope. Hearing of his perpetual plight, a community in Canada raised money and found him a job and a house.
The book of Lamentations presents the cry of Jeremiah, who waited for God and the end of His discipline for the sins of his people. The prophet remained confident in an everlasting God who he knew could be trusted. “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him” (3:25). God’s people can experience hope even when troubles overwhelm and relief seems impossible. Though they might need to humbly accept God’s discipline, they can cling to the reality that “there may yet be hope” (v. 29). Those who know God can experience a hope that flows from Him. “It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (v. 26).
Without answers or any clear way of escape, we wait for the God who’s proven Himself faithful over and over again to help us.
By Winn Collier
REFLECT & PRAY
What situation comes to mind when you think about waiting on God? Why is this difficult, and how is God meeting you there?
Dear God, please help me patiently wait for You to act out Your will in my life.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The prophet Jeremiah wrote with heavy sorrow regarding Jerusalem’s destruction by Babylon (586 BC) and the captivity of his people: “How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! . . . After affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile” (Lamentations 1:1, 3). His call to be a prophet to Judah began during the righteous reign of King Josiah (Jeremiah 1:1-3). Josiah’s reforms didn’t last, and the people quickly returned to their idolatry. Jeremiah prophesied the Israelites’ seventy-year captivity and their return from exile. Despite all he suffered personally and in his role as prophet, however, he expresses hope and trust in God and stands firm in his faith: “Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). We also can share in this great hope as we patiently wait on God and trust Him to work in our lives.
Alyson Kieda
UR: God's Timing
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. - Lamentations 3:25-26 (NIV)
Our oldest grandson, Amadeo, was on his way home from a visit with friends in another state. Anticipating his brother’s return, Alex, our 14-year-old grandson, began sending group texts to the whole family with his newly acquired cell phone: “Are you here yet, Amadeo? How about now? Now? Now?” All of our phones began pinging.
While Alex was having fun with his new phone, the rest of us were rolling our eyes at the constant messages.
Sometimes my prayers are a lot like Alex’s texts, but the questions are more serious. I ask God, “When are you going to fix things and bring evil to justice and give us peace? How about now? Now? Now?”
In ’s scripture from Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah shares what God had taught him after the destruction of Jerusalem. There had been no miraculous rescue for God’s people. Many soldiers had been killed, people had starved from famine, and thousands had been marched off as slaves. (See Jer. 52.) And yet, God showed Jeremiah that God’s faithful love had not ended and “God’s compassion isn’t through.”
When it comes to prayer, we may have certain expectations about how God should respond and when. But God’s goodness and salvation have no time limits. No matter what, we can trust that God’s timing is better than ours.
's Prayer
Father God, in all circumstances teach us to trust as we wait for you. Amen.
Connection Blogs
- His Will Be Done
See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will concerning you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do no despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:15-23, NASB)
The way the material is shaped, all of the above commands are modified by the phrase “for this is God’s will concerning you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This gives us clear direction for praying “Your will be done.” It is always God’s will to pray for these kingdom initiatives to succeed in your life, in the lives of others, and in your local church. To pray for the kingdom to come and the will to be done then includes at least the following:
It is always God’s will to pray for a gracious nature that doesn’t return evil for evil.
It is always God’s will to seek after good for another and for everyone (especially when you have been slighted or done an injustice).
It is always God’s will to pray for and to practice joy.
It is always God’s will to deepen your prayer life.
It is always God’s will to give thanks.
It is always God’s will to test out when someone claims to speak for God (you do not have to immediately accept every word spoken, but you do need to listen and to test him by Word, Witness, Workers, Worship, and the Will of the believer).
It is always God’s will to cling to the things that Scripture makes clear are right and true.
It is always God’s will to avoid or turn away from evil (and in this text to reject false prophecy/spirituality).
Father, I confess that I often struggle to know what Your good, pleasing and perfect will is. Yet, if I simply obey Your Word, I know that so much of my life will fall into place as You intend for it to be. Help me not to conform to the pattern of this world, but instead to be transformed by the renewing of my mind so that Your will can become clearer to me each day. (See Romans 12:2)
--Adapted from Power Praying (Hearing Jesus’ Spirit by Praying Jesus’ Prayer) by David Chotka.
Prayer Points
Praise God that you are his temple (1 Cor. 3:16).
Thank God for the work he’s given you to build up Christ’s body, the church (Eph. 4:16).
Confess those times you do not honor God with your body, as he has purchased you with the price of his blood (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
Commit yourself to Jesus’ cleansing of your total being (Jn. 13:8-10).
Ask God to reveal to you daily the mystery of his glorious riches (Col. 1:26-27).
Pray that your family and friends will not dwell on outward beauty but on the unfading beauty of the inner self, a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Pet. 3:3-4).
Prayer Pointer
“Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God’s gift of himself. Ask and seek, and your heart will grow big enough to receive him and keep him as your own.” —Mother Teresa
Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayerleader.com. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Prayer Pointer
“Praying for people will bring you to love them. Loving them will lead you to serve them. Serving them will be the open door through which God can move in to save, heal, and make whole.” —Maxie Dunnam
Good Morning Loving Servants! It is true that every time I think of you I lift thanksgivings0...well most times! hehe. I love you all and do thank God for you, your loving service and our serving and encouraging and growing His Church together! Thanks! And Thanks Be to GOD! The prayer calendar for rolled into my other devos and tied to the ones below. Take some tome to prayerfully engage with them . What can you choose to be thankful for in them. What do you get to do that flows from thankful, sold-out hearts, that cause more praises to rise and God to be glorified. Talk to him about that, process with a friend and fill in those daily thank you God lists Sarah challenged us to keep and use.
Whatever is troubling you, give it to God and ask for help from your partners to process, lift praise, refocus and God and follow Him ! Demonstrate your faith as you courageously choose to go live and love like Jesus no matter your circumstances or opinions about yourself. And don't forget how giving and blessing others helps to change you, your attitude and other's situations. God has called us to be lavish, sacrificial giver like He is. Try it. Are you one who tithes? God promises to bless you back when you are with overflowing blessings. Our attitudes are changed just by giving and lifting . But when God blesses us back for hearts right with Him and like His we know the joy and peace of trusting and giving and praising Him. His love just fills, overflows to others and then comes back to bless us increasingly. Try it! Trust and praise and refocus. God will help you, lead you and even provide all you need. PTL! If you are in need, reach out for help. Many are gifted to bless and help you and others. Pray, give, trust and follow our sacrificially, lavishly, giving Provider. And know His blessings and peace beyond understanding. Next thing you know, your troubles will be gone and God will be glorified in, through and around you again. Amen!
Sarah Young
TWFYT
Upper Room: Blessed to Give
The Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” - Acts 20:35 (NIV)
In the rental house where my family and I used to live, there was space on the second floor for us to grow potted plants. My sister and I planted pandanus, aloe vera, chili peppers, snake fruits, dragon fruits, and other plants. However, we had to move from that house because the owner was going to renovate it.
Our new rental house didn’t have space for our plants. My sister was sad, feeling her efforts had been in vain. We ended up giving the plants to friends and neighbors. I said to my sister, “In this time, God gave us the opportunity to share.” Everyone rejoiced when they received the plants from us, which made us happy.
Even when our gifts are simple, they can bring joy to others, and the act of giving brings joy to us. That is why Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” And that is why the Macedonians in ’s scripture reading pleaded for the privilege of sharing in the service to the Lord’s people (see 2 Cor. 8:4). I imagine they said, “We don’t want to miss the opportunity!” God’s heart is pleased when we give. Like the Macedonians, my sister and I were grateful to God for this opportunity to give.
's Prayer
Dear God, open our eyes to see every opportunity that you have given us to show generosity to others. Amen.
Good Morning Very Loved, Cared for, Called By Name, Children of Our God Who Knows, Is Able, and Will! AMEN! Always! According to His plans and timing! Amen! Abide in Him on your own. Ask Him to come and speak to your heart, inform your prayers and lead your choices and actions . He has great plans for you! He is with you. He LOVES you! Ask Him to live and love through you and lead you . I'm praying for you! Shalom shalom.
Check out these devos and blogs and be still and know!
Sarah Young:
TWFYT
UR: Stepping Out
The King will say to those on his right, “I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” - Matthew 25:36 (NIV)
When I was stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, our post’s chapel held a morning Bible study at the United States Disciplinary Barracks, the military’s only maximum security prison. The leader of this group invited me to join them, but I was nervous to go to a prison Bible study. After two years of the leader kindly inviting me, I finally joined the group. What an unbelievable experience! The men’s faith, joy, and energy for Christ was amazing.
Years later at my church in Texas, a school classmate encouraged me to participate in the prison ministry at a nearby state prison. Sharing Christ’s love and forgiveness with prisoners and their families through this ministry continues to be an incredible experience in my Christian walk.
It is remarkable what can happen when we step out in faith, even when we are unsure where it will lead us.
's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for those who invite us to step out in new directions. Help us to stretch ourselves as we try to become more faithful Christians. Amen.
Sarah Update
Good morning,
And so our week begins.....God has plans for each of us. There will be many things that we should be thankful for, so I challenge you to write down
those things, people and situations that you are thankful for in a tablet or journal so you can go back and reflect on those things when you are having
a rough go of it.
in worship, many shared things that they were thankful for:
Debbie Siegfried shared that her nephew and his wife ( son of Donna and John Chobot ) had a baby boy on ! Prayers for baby, and mom and dad as
they get used to a new routine.
Lisa Wenner shared that she attended the wedding of her nephew and Shana. If you recall we were praying for Shana as she is dealing with cancer
and treatment. God continues to work her life, and she is fighting through. They had a beautiful wedding. Shana returns to her treatment plan.
Keep them in your prayers for healing and for their marriage as they grow closer as husband and wife.
Christian, the 15 year old that has cancer - we have been praying for him.....he was able to attend a school competition in Hershey. They did very well,
and he and his family
Larry and Enol Paul - Prayer request for Enol's village, again!! Two more storms passed close to her village over the weekend, but the damage is unclear as cell service has been knocked out. Larry & Enol only had wind & rain, very mild compared to other parts of the Philippines.
Rosa is asking for prayer for her son Tomas, who is in upstate NY. He is having heart surgery . Praying for the surgical team and for Tomas's recovery
Jeff is a friend of Dean Mark's who attends our evening gathering. He is also a first responder that was injured on the job. Jeff is recovering and it
was great to have him in worship . Jeff is very thankful for all the Warrior prayers and for Dean, who came along side of him to help him
through the difficult times in his life.
Josie is asking for prayer for her friend Helen who we were asking our Lord to call her home.
She is now walking the streets of gold. Please pray for Helen's family and friends as they miss her.
Diane Huber is in the hospital with pneumonia. She is improving. Pastor Don was able to visit with her this past weekend.
Josie is asking for prayer for her friend Dottie - she has been suffering with back issues for years and has had several surgeries.
She now had to leave her home in Western North Carolina and move to an independent living facility. She misses her home
and her independence and is very sad. May we continue to pray for her to realize how fortunate she is to have the help that
she needs and that she enjoys her new surroundings.
I hate to say it but as the weather begins to get colder and there is a possibility of snow and ice in the forecast, there may be times that we will
need to cancel events. When this happens, we will put out a OneCall to our members that are part of OneCall to let everyone know of our decision
to cancel. If you are NOT on our OneCall list, (I send out OneCall every , so if you do not received these calls then you are not on
the list.) PLEASE make sure that Sarah, Pastor Don or Lori get your phone number so we can add you to the list.
Don't forget - Donuts, Coffee and conversation is 10 - 12pm....on out and enjoy the fellowship!!!
It's Donut Day!!! And Chosen Dinner Huddle evening! Come and see the Lord at work! Come and join the fun! Food, fellowship, fun, study and prayer, just like for the earliest church, awaits! Come and worship!
Good Morning Worshiping Followers of THE Way! Amen! Jesus is the way and His ways are our easy yoke when done as we are created, as we are now and as we long to grow in Him and more into the people He created us to be! Rejoice! Lift Thanksgivings and may your life be lived as an act of worship. We are sent to bring life and Living water. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill and lead you to the Jesus way. Come and experience life as intended for you and bring some friends along! What's God got for you ?Ask Him with willing hearts and moving feets! Who does He have prepared for you? Come and find out. He is at work and working all things together for good for those who believe and are called by His name (That's you and me and us--PTL!)
Check out the Connection blogs about revival. God is bringing a fresh breath of His Spirit to this country and a wave of new life revival! Pray into it and plan to do your part in it. A Christ awakening is a foot in the USA. We desperately need one. Are you crying out in desperation for it? Are you doing your part in praying, preparing and being part of His Good News Delivery Company? DO IT! God has great plans made just for you for such a time as this. Plus He has gathered us to be His hands and feet of love, Good News and hope! Be a Good News, joy-bringer as you go and live and love like Jesus! Know His joy and peace as you choose to follow THE Way as your act of worship and surrender!!! Shalom, shalom! Perfect peace can be known as you humble yourself and step into your purposes in Christ. He is with you always! Look for Him and plan to join Him always! Amen
Connection:
- A Christ Awakening
As Jonathan Edwards (pastor/scholar of the 1700s) observed, revival is arguably the most dramatic display of Jesus’ Lordship in the present age. In no way depreciating God’s “ordinary” work with us on a daily basis, revival is an exceptional season of His “extraordinary” work among us.
In other words, God infuses His Church with fresh hope, passion, prayer, and mission by refocusing us on Christ for all He really is. In revival a church is re-captivated with the supremacy of Christ by the Spirit of Christ. That’s why my favorite term for this phenomenon is a “Christ Awakening.”
Revival is more than just an event in a church calendar. When God re‑energizes a community of Christians, He intends Kingdom results that last many years. Scholars’ research verifies that, following each of the four so-called “Great Awakenings” in American history (early 1700s, late 1700s, mid 1800s, early 1900s), decades of documented transformations took place both in churches and in society.
God gave His people “fresh winds,” not simply to fire up enthusiasm for spiritual things, but also to extend further the reign of His Son within communities and nations through His Church.
Holy Spirit, blow a fresh wind over me…and over Your Church! Allow us to experience Christ in all of His fullness…and faithfulness! Stir our hearts for Your kingdom work and give us a passion for obedience to Your word! Transform Your people so that the world might know and experience Your great power and love through us!
Praise your great, mighty, and awesome covenant-keeping God (Neh. 9:32).
Thank God for strengthening those whose hearts are fully committed to him (2 Chron. 16:9).
Confess those times when you depend on your own strength rather than God’s (Eccl. 5:7).
Commit yourself to spending time daily reflecting on God’s awe, his faithfulness, and might (Ps. 89:6-8).
Ask God’s forgiveness for neglecting him when hardships arise.
Pray that God’s kingdom will grow as oppressed people recognize God’s awesome majesty and come to him in faith.
Prayer Pointer
“Worship is intended to introduce God’s kingdom power throughout the church and extend that power through the church.” —Jack Hayford
Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayerleader.com. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Good Morning Worshiping Saints! Yes our loves are being poured out for the Kingdom like a drink offering and we continue to stand firm and worship in the storms and joys of life. Our obedience is also and act of worship. Check out the devos below and keep building those gratitude lists. Keep lifting praise always. Keep using worship and praise to shift your focus to God and His best ways and things for you. he is with you always! PTL we know it's true because He promises to be with us always. PTL! He can't lie and He is faithful! What might you add to your gratitude list ? Maybe you need to start one? We are in the month focused on , which should be a 24-7 practice. Keep building those lists and keep praising and worshiping and keep stepping out in faith to follow our Good Shepherd! he is with you, has great plans for you and created you for such a time as this! PTL! Pause. Lift some praise and worship. And step out in faith overflowing with His love and Living water. He has perfect plans for you ! Rejoice. Refresh. Go live and love like Jesus. PTL for Him and His sacrificial love and never ending presence to those who believe. Amen! Romans 12, that we'll look at for verses to refocus to and praise, has some life verses for me. Romans 12:12 is one where we are reminded, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer." Count your many blessings and keep your focus on Jesus as you endure, praise, pray and follow Him. Every time I think of you I praise God! Thanks for being my co-laborers and friends and my prayer support and encouragers. Love you guys and serving together. rejoice! shalom shalom!
On a road trip to Montana one summer, we stopped at a rest area to stretch our legs. Inside one of the buildings was a young man who was singing a familiar praise song as he mopped the floor. Then he started singing the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul.” I couldn’t resist. When he called out the phrase “it is well,” I repeated it. When he sang, “with my soul,” I echoed the words. Together, we sang the last line: “It is well, it is well . . . with my soul!” He grinned, gave me a fist bump, and said, “Praise God.” When I got back to the car where my husband was waiting, he asked, “What’s with the big smile?”
Think of the things for which we can praise God, such as His goodness, righteousness, compassion, promises, provision, and protection. And Psalm 145 is one of many psalms that urges us to continually praise Him. David wrote, “Every day I will praise you” (v. 2). Many people praise God by playing an instrument; others by reading or reciting Scripture; or by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16). Some express their praise through liturgical dance. But all genuine praise springs from hearts that are full of gratitude.
Our spirits were designed to praise God. It’s because of His sacrificial love for us that we can say with confidence, “It is well with my soul!”
By Cindy Hess Kasper
REFLECT & PRAY
When do you find it easy to express your praise for God? What might help you focus on praising Him in a new way?
Dear God, I want my life to be one of continual praise and worship. May You alone receive all the glory.
The book of Psalms is divided into five books or divisions (Psalms 1-41; 42-72; 73-89; 90-106; 107-150). And within these books are subdivisions or collections of psalms. For example, Psalms 120-134 are known as the Songs of Ascents. Another subset of psalms are Psalms 146-150, known as the Hallelujah Psalms because they begin and end with the words “praise the Lord” (Hebrew, halelu-yah).
Psalm 145 is an appropriate preface to these final five psalms because it ends with the commitment, “My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever” (v. 21). The remaining psalms (146-150) begin and end with the simple call, “Praise the Lord,” adding their own voices to Psalm 145’s challenge. The words of Psalm 145 remind us that our spirits were designed to respond in praise to God for all He’s done.
UR: Always Thankful
Give thanks to [the Lord]; bless his name. - Psalm 100:4 (NRSVUE)
I am a big fan of thank-you notes. I like sending them; I like receiving them; I even keep a file of the thank-you notes I have received over the years.
One of my favorite notes came from a former parishioner. It was handwritten in her beautiful script on an ivory-colored card embossed with her initials. She was thanking me for taking the time to meet with the community organization she helped lead — an organization that was close to her heart. She also offered some kind words about the brief meditation on gratitude I had shared that night. “It is so easy,” she wrote, “to take our many blessings for granted, as you pointed out. I stopped to think about some of the things I have to be thankful for. Thanks for reminding me.”
God has given us so much to be thankful for. But sometimes, like children caught up in the excitement of receiving new toys, we forget to give thanks. Psalm 100 tells us that God made us and watches over us like a shepherd watches over sheep. How truly blessed we are!
's Prayer
Generous God, you have given us much to be thankful for! Keep us ever mindful of that reality. Thank you for your love, care, and presence in our lives. Amen.
Sarah update:
Good afternoon Warriors,
I love Fall.....the smells, the beautiful colors, the pumpkin spice coffee and pie, the changes we see God working throughout our world,
around us.
This quote hits the nail on the head:
"God is quite an artist this time of year. His hues hint at HOPE and a PURPOSE to the changes we often struggle with on our path"
Those words emphasize the beauty of God's creation during this Autumn season and it should and hopefully does encourage us to find
purpose when things change in our lives. God has a purpose and a reason for change in our lives. We need to embrace the trust in
our awesome God, that He has each of our lives in the palm of His hands and under His control.
Enjoy Autumn and all it's colors and flavors!!
Here is a prayer need:
Diane Huber has been admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. Please keep her in prayer for healing and strengthening.
Lori Roher has an MRI on her back. Please pray that the MRI can be read quickly and then follow up with
her insurance company and Doctors happen in good timing.
Please keep all the folks that come through our bread ministry and the families in need that surround us.- may we as a church
family help to meet those needs when and wherever we are able. And may our awesome God provide for their needs.
Looking forward to seeing you at worship on at 10:00am. Take time to read through Romans12 so you are
Get your worship on! This is the day the Lord has made and we get to gather, worship, learn and grow in Christ and His ways. We get to unite as His Body and do our parts. We get to enter His courts with praise, His gates with . We get to be thankful in all things and draw close and abide in Him. We get to have His presence with us always! Yes rejoice and prepare your hearts to worship and lift some thanksgivings. What are you thankful about! Will you share those things with us and others so God can be glorified? Try it! Get ready and come and see as you dwell in His loving presence with your brothers and sisters who get to gather as St. Matts EC. Come and worship! What has God stirred in you that you get to do? Worship will be at the top of the list! PTL! We get tochoose what we focus on and put first in our lives! PTL for that freedom in Christ and worship Him!
Good Morning Worshipers! Come and worship with us! Prepare your hearts. God is worthy of all glory and honor and praise and we, PTL, live in a country where we are still free to gather and worship, grow and encourage and prepare to go live and love like Jesus. Many people around the world pray and wish for that freedom and we get to do these freely. PTL! Who is hungry, thirsty and searching that you might invite along to experience how we get to be loved by God and get to learn to love like Him as we are? Pray into that and go love and invite someone to come and see.
I'm going to just share Our Daily Bread . Pray into and mediate on what God is saying to you and what you get to do with thankful hearts overflowing with love. Then try it and maybe partner with some friends. That is God's best ways and plans we get to do! Amen! Yes, get your worship on! What a privileges we have been given in Christ in the USA. Thanks Lord!
ODB:
Radical Mission
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19
Diognetus, a second-century pagan, noticed that followers of Christ “day by day increase more and more.” This was despite regular persecution they endured under the hand of the Romans. He asked a believer in Jesus why this was true. In a document we know as the Letter to Diognetus, that early church father replied to him, “Do you not see that the more of them are punished, the greater becomes the number of the rest? This does not seem to be the work of man: this is the power of God.”
As Jesus gave His final words to His disciples before ascending into heaven, they could little imagine the growth the church would experience in the coming centuries. He told them, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). This has become known as the Great Commission, but using this phrase to describe Christ’s final words to His disciples can make it feel burdensome. In reality, this is what He calls all those who follow Him to do: As we go about our day, make disciples. We don’t have to go to the ends of the earth; the message will travel wherever we carry it with us.
Don’t be discouraged by the difficulties of the moment. Jesus also said, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (v. 20). We take Him with us everywhere we go.
By Matt Lucas
REFLECT & PRAY
Who are the people in your life who need to hear the gospel? How will you share the good news with them ?
Dear Father, please give me an opportunity to share my story of salvation.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In the Gospels, Jesus is described as a man who “taught as one who had authority” (Matthew 7:29) and “has authority on earth to forgive sins” (9:6). The Greek word exousia carries the meaning of “authority, power, the right to control or govern; dominion, the area or sphere of jurisdiction.” Christ called twelve men, discipled them, and then “[sent] them out to preach” (Mark 3:14). He “gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases” and instructed them “to proclaim the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:1-2). As the Son of God and Son of Man, Jesus has been given “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18), for God granted “him authority over all people” (John 17:2). We’re also armed with His authority—although ours is limited—to go into the world and tell others about Him. As believers in Jesus, we can ask God to give us opportunities to share Him with others and disciple them (Matthew 28:19-20).
Thank God I'm Forgiven! How often I proclaim that--especially when someone catches me sinning or straying! Thank God for His saving love, seeking grace and mercy, and forgiveness and for a sinner as great as me. It's humbling and such a blessing to be known by LOVE that sent His Son for me, you and all who will come. Yes, TGIF! What are you thankful for and how will that overflow to others around you that need to experience the Good News of God's love, Jesus' sacrifice and how His forgiveness, mercy and grace has transformed you? God has someone for you and/or in the weeks ahead to love like Jesus and share the Good News. Pray into that. Prepare. And go live and love like Jesus starting right now! That is an act of worship and obedience. Pray for revival and to be part of it. There is a groundswell of many seeking and coming to Christ, especially young people. How might you help them find your Savior and receive forgiveness and new life? How does God want to use you to disciple a new believer? Thank God I'm forgiven! Yes Lord and help me to go share the Good News in a relevant way to those You are drawing. Help me to disciple new followers and connect them to you better. May I seed, water, fertilize, and if it's Your will, help to harvest many new lives in Christ. Thanks! Amen and thanks for forgiving me when I fail You or those You are sending. Help me to repent and follow You better. Thank You for saving and using a wretch like me! May Your Kingdom come, will be done and revival explode all around this nation and even my neighborhood. Thanks! Amen!
Good Morning Kingdom Working Revivalists! Amen! We all have a part in His Good News Delivery Company! He has created and gifted you for such a time as this! PTL. Repent and go! I'm praying for you and for God o use us well according to Hos perfect plans and tming o be His revivalists and to do our parts. Amen! Talk to God and your team about this and go live and love like Jesus before a watching, thirsty world. Check out the things below that flow through this and ask God to speak to, prepare and send you, His servant revivalist. Amen! I'm not ashamed and trying to do all God has for me and praying for His heart and mind. Join me as we worship through this video one of you sent me !
“No matter where you are, what you’re going through; use what you have and make the most of it,” said the young woman in a TV interview. Her words prompted me to listen carefully to the full story. I learned that she was one of six sisters working toward nursing degrees. They were once homeless and struggling, yet they worked together to reach their common goal. And at the time the story aired, all six sisters were completing the nursing program at a local university.
Numbers 27 tells the story of another group of sisters who worked together and supported each other. The five daughters of Zelophehad made an appeal about an inheritance law. They gathered together and stood before Moses to plead their case, saying, “Our father died . . . for his own sin and left no sons. . . . Give us property among our father’s relatives” (vv. 3-4). God answered with this revolutionary statement: “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance” (v. 7).
The five sisters came together and sought God’s mercy as they stood before Moses. And God provided what they needed as they banded together before Him.
Working together isn’t always easy as believers in Jesus. But as we seek God’s wisdom and direction with humility, we’ll find He can help us serve well together in Christ.
By Katara Patton
REFLECT & PRAY
How can you work better with other believers in Christ? How does it encourage you to serve with others?
Dear God, please show me how to work with other believers to accomplish goals that honor You.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Numbers 27:1-7, Zelophehad’s five daughters act as one in their request to receive their father’s inheritance in the promised land. Their boldness in making the request (they followed proper protocol in approaching the leaders at the tent of meeting) is an example of both faith and humility. There was no provision in Israel at that time for women to receive an inheritance; it was only passed through the men.
Moses models the character of a good spiritual leader in responding to their request. Since there was no precedent for women to receive an inheritance, he inquired of God, who said, “You must certainly give them property” (v. 7). The courage of the women and the character of Moses led to a positive solution where the good of the people was served. As we face challenges , we can seek God’s wisdom for ways to serve together well in Christ.
J.R. Hudberg
Upper Room: Holding On to God
I am the Lord your God, who grasps your strong hand, who says to you, Don’t fear; I will help you. - Isaiah 41:13 (CEB)
My granddaughter is just over one year old. She is standing and taking tentative steps but has not yet tried to walk on her own. When she wants to move from one spot to another, instead of crawling she will look around for someone she trusts and hold out her hand. If one of us responds to her, offering her our hand, she will use it to steady herself as she stands and then will walk with us to where she wants to go. She doesn’t walk anywhere without holding on to the hand of someone stronger and steadier than herself.
It is a wonderful thing to know that we don’t have to walk through life alone. Whether we feel confident or unsure, brave or fearful, joyful or sorrowful, God is always with us, strong and steady for us to hold on to.
We can always reach out for God whose guidance, understanding, and protection are always there for us. God wants to walk with us at all times. Just like my granddaughter will take my hand in trust, knowing that I love her, we too can hold on to God, trusting God’s steadfast love to keep us from falling.
's Prayer
Dear God, thank you for loving us and for your steadying presence that holds us up and helps us along whatever path life takes. Amen.
I to We
Connection Blog
- The Reality of Christ’s Presence and Power
Revival, interestingly enough, was a shared experience by saints in both Old and New Testaments. There was a difference, however, between the two eras in how the experience played itself out.
In the Old Testament, the reviving of Israel was usually characterized by a look back, as the nation sought to return to previous high‑water marks in Israel’s religious pilgrimage. Note how Elijah on Mt. Carmel challenged Israel to return to days of spiritual faithfulness before Baal worship had taken over (1 Kings 18). Or recall how Hezekiah refurbished the time-worn temple and reinstituted the ancient Passover tradition, shaping the revival that emerged under his watch.
In the New Testament, however, revival is characterized much more as a look forward. It is focused on fresh extensions of Christ’s reign among His people and into the world. Consider the prayer meeting of Acts 4: what they prayed, how God answered, and the aftermath in the succeeding stories of missionary advance—all forward-looking. In a Christ‑dominated revival, the Holy Spirit increases vision for what’s ahead. He deepens our yearnings for greater approximations of the coming Kingdom.
In New Testament-style revival, Christians are aroused to a reality of Christ’s presence and power already theirs, but currently overlooked. They are summoned not only to recapture their first love for Christ (Rev. 2), but also to discover a passion for Him that surpasses whatever they have known before (Eph. 3). Reawakening us to greater dimensions of His glory, New Testament revival is ultimately about recovering and enlarging hope in Christ.
Gracious God, awaken my soul to Your power and presence! Revive Your people Oh God! Wake up Your sleeping Church to the reality of Jesus in her midst so we might look so much like Him that our culture changes in significant ways! Give us the hope of glory that is already our inheritance…but which we have forgotten in our thirst for things that are of this world rather than of Your kingdom. Increase our vision and keep us looking ahead with expectation, all the while participating in the kingdom that is both now…and not yet!
Good Morning Passionate and Zealous Servants! Amen! God gives us passions for things we are created and gifted to do and that leads to our wanting to do them--our zealous responses. PTL for these! It's all part of the easy yoke of Jesus. It's all about NOT striving n our own strength or leaning on our own understanding. It is all about seek, honoring, focusing on God and His good plans for each of us and us as His Body.
We are custom made for Hos custom purposes and the Holy Spirit has gifted us to be able to do those good things for His glory. What are you good at? What are you passionate about? What things might the Spirit be stirring you to passionately pursue? Those are the things we need to determine and commit to. Usually there will be some teammates to pray with, plan with, go with who have similar passions. Our God is a passionate God and He affirms us and our choices when they are done according to how we are created, the things He has planned for us and things we really want to do to honor and glorify God. That is part of loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength as commanded and most likely includes loving other as Jesus has loved us (sacrificially want to love--agape love).
We are bearers of Good News--the BEST news! We get to be ourselves and do things that click with us because we were made, gifted and prepared to do them. Yes an easy yoke we get to put on as we travel with Jesus to His best for us and those He is drawing and redeeming. What joy and peace this brings too! PTL! God has made, saved and gifted us and activated us for such a time as this! PTL! And we get to passionately and zealously pursue Him and blessing others! PTL! So, go! be you as you bring the Good News to someone and receive His peace and joy. Amen! Who did He bring to mind right now? Pursue what He has for you and them. If no one comes to mind, talk to God and your teammates about that and keep praying and preparing! Then step out in faith to pursue your Christ-given passions zealously! I'm praying for you! Shalom shalom!
I to We
ODB:
Of First Importance
What I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ . . . was raised on the third day. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Thomas de Mahy was one of many aristocrats executed by rioting mobs during the French Revolution of the late eighteenth century. According to one legendary account, upon reading his death warrant, de Mahy responded, “I see that you have made three spelling mistakes.” If true, de Mahy pointedly disregarded a drastically more significant matter—his imminent death.
we’re in danger of unintentionally missing a crucial point, one that concerns the body of Christ (the church). There are those who would distort its purpose. Maybe we see the church as a political action committee or as a place to be served. Perhaps we see it as a mere religious institution. The church’s priority, however, has always been the good news of Jesus.
Paul told the believers at Corinth, “What I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). While other things may have an appropriate time and place, the gospel is of first importance.
How can we be agents of God’s good news to a world so saturated with bad news? By asking God to empower us to share this good news whenever possible.
By Bill Crowder
REFLECT & PRAY
How was the gospel shared with you? What could you do to be prepared to share that good news with others when the opportunity arises?
Gracious God, thank You for bringing me to You through the gospel of Jesus. Please help me share that good news with others.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
After Paul’s dramatic conversion, he joined other eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ but as “one abnormally born” (1 Corinthians 15:8). Jesus’ physical resurrection was important to early believers in Christ and to us because our own bodily resurrection depends on the “firstfruits” of His resurrection (v. 20). But eyewitnesses also provided an invitation to others to believe in Christ and receive eternal life that begins now. As the apostle John put it, “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). The gospel of Jesus is the most important thing. God will empower us and help us to share this good news with others.
: Bread Day with Weis supplies 10-12 Come out and be a part of the blessings! Then 6-8 Chosen Dinner Huddle. Join this new expression of worship!
Good Morning Confident and Loving Servants that Walk By Faith! Meditate on that salutation. Talk to God about it and process with some friends how to express your faith in love and engage confidently in faith. Christ is our confidence and the Spirit will give us the words as we determine to go live and love more like Jesus. You have a few opportunities to try it on and grow in love, service, faith and confidence! See below and choose to do it! God has plans just for you and that shows up in allowing Him to love others through you! rejoice and go love and watch your faith and confidence grow as God comes alive in and through you! Who needs some love ? Ask God to lead you to them and the step out in faith, love and confidence for he is with you always! he promises! Amen!
Gotta fly! See you soon!
Upper Room: Be Confident
The Lord said to Moses, “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” - Exodus 4:12 (NIV)
While traveling for missions in South America, I struggled to learn a new language. I had no confidence when it came to communicating, but I pushed myself, knowing the Lord wanted me to share the good news with others.
However, one time when a young woman asked me to lead her in a prayer of confession and commitment, I almost gave up because my Spanish was so bad. I told her that I was going to find someone else to help her, but she shook her head in protest. She told me that she understood me completely and that she was ready to accept Jesus into her life. The Holy Spirit had been at work between us in spite of my feelings of inadequacy about my language skills. I didn’t have to be fluent for God to make a difference. I needed only the willingness to be a channel for God and to be confident in God’s ability.
I can empathize with Moses’ hesitation at God’s command for him to go to Pharaoh and ask for the Israelites’ freedom (see Ex. 3:7-11). In ’s scripture reading, Moses insisted that he was not eloquent enough for such a mission, and he felt that God should send someone else. When I became a Christian, I realized that God is with me wherever I am, and the assurance God gave Moses also extends to you and me.
's Prayer
Dear Father, you are able to do far more than we can even imagine. Help us to speak up and share your goodness with others whenever we have the opportunity. Amen.
This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Prepare your hearts to enter His courts with and praise! Hallelujah! What are you thankful about? What have you experienced this week that is praiseworthy? Sing it! Share it! Lift it!
Did you remember to turn your clocks back??? See you at 10 live or on Zoom.
Good Morning Living Water! The Living Water of God has flooded our souls and overflows to all around us bringing life. PTL! We are vessels of revival and God wants to use us as His sweet aroma and living water daily. Keep praying for revival, living water to flow from you to be part of the watering of this dry and weary land, and for God to fill our physical and spiritual aquifers. Spend time with Him being refreshed and readied. Allow His Spirit to anoint and wash you clean so you are prepared. Soak in THE Living Water. Then go! Flood the land with Good News and Living Water of God. Be part of the revival! Pray for many to be open to things of God and release those that think we and our faith are a stench. God is preparing you and someone for you to water and refresh. You are the aroma of God and His vessel of Living Water! Be who he made you to be and do your custom part in His Good News Delivery and Revival Co. Amen!
Connection Blogs:
- A Picture of Revival
Death Valley is an expansive desert in California, known as the lowest, driest, and hottest location in all of North America. It is a barren, desolate place that holds the record for the highest recorded temperature in the Western Hemisphere—a mere 134 degrees Fahrenheit!
Death is obviously a fitting description. Not much survives in Death Valley, whether vegetation or any human life exposed to the elements. But that doesn’t necessarily mean life is not possible.
In 2005, a rare torrential downpour deposited six inches of rain into the cracks of the rock-hard valley floor. Suddenly this lifeless desert blossomed with abundant and gorgeous flowers that had not been seen in 20 years! Dormant seeds, sitting underneath the soil for years and barely hanging on to life, were suddenly awakened when saturated with life-giving rain. The desert was alive, much like the promise of Isaiah 44:3-4:
“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.”
This is a picture of revival—when the Spirit saturates a church with God’s Word about God’s Son so that God’s people come alive to His glory in whole new ways.
Living Christ, please come and pour out the life-giving rain of Your Spirit upon me, my family, my church and my nation! May Your people everywhere be saturated with Your Word so that we will come fully alive to Your glory! Revive us for the sake of those whose lives are lifeless and dry. Empower us to be Your hands and feet to those who hunger and thirst for the Living Water.
Praise the sovereign God who opens doors for the gospel of Christ (2 Cor.2:12).
Thank God for leading you “in triumphal procession in Christ” and using you to spread “the fragrance of the knowledge of him” (2:14).
Confess any lack of desire to be part of this procession.
Commit to joining this great procession, and ask God to use you to bring “the knowledge of him” to your areas of influence.
Pray for those for whom “the aroma of Christ” in the “triumphal procession” is “the smell of death,” asking God to work his grace into their hearts to change it to “the fragrance of life” (2:14-17).
Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayerleader.com. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Bread Ministry and food giveaway 10-noon; 6-8 Chosen Dinner Huddle All Welcome! Come and see! Many stories of God's faithfulness, His using us and many blessings given are being shared weekly during both of these ministries. God is using us, providing for many and being glorified! PTL!
Sarah Update Below
Good Morning Thankful, Storytellers for Christ!
What are you thankful for and about? Keep sharing those stories! Someone needs to hear of God's love and faithfulness and our joy and faithfulness through the storms of life as we trust and allow God to carry us through.
Karen and I were discussing how back when God called Abram and Sari out of UR to to trust and follow Him on an adventure to new lands, they only had stories about God to lean on. There were no Bibles. Someone had to share these stories of hope, love and faithfulness God brings that led to their faith to trust Him! And they trusted God and followed Him and God wrote some of the stories we now find in our Bibles through them and their faithfulness and even failures along the way too.
So this got me thinking about how I ask you to share where you have seen God at work so we can be encouraged and celebrate God's helping presence with us . Someone needs to hear your story to activate or even affirm their faith in our God who is enough, able and with us always. We need to celebrate! We need to lift more than a day or a few weeks. And someone needs to hear your story! What are you thankful about? Who needs to hear that? Ask God for wisdom, courage and reminders of stories He has written in and through you and wants to bless you and others by your sharing them and celebrating. Maybe you were one of the 100 God found and restored? Maybe He provided in time of need. Maybe He healed. Maybe He didn't do any of that yet was still with you faithfully upholding and helping you to some new thing? Doesn't matter what, we know He is faithful and He is with us always working all things together for good. Let us determine to share those things with each other so we can celebrate, pray, come alongside and help and glorify God together. And let us share with others that need to hear these stories. Yes let us be a people living thankfully always and sharing those stories. And rejoice always with a thankful heart! (Write down your stories if you are too timid to share and give it to Sarah and me. We all need those stories to flourish, be encouraged and keep following well! and we will share some each week of Nov)
Think about this...if suddenly our Bibles were outlawed and confiscated, would you have stories and lessons from it, and your life about God and His faithfulness and the Jesus Way in your life to share and encourage and lead others to Christ? God has prepared stories for you to share and He is preparing someone He will send to you to hear those stories. Get ready and be bold and courageous!
Here's one of my stories and updates from the past week...God is so good! He has used a surgeon to heal my heart. That surgeon even called me and encouraged me to have the surgery when I was trying to cancel it. PTL for the surgeon's dedication and wisdom! He was God's mouthpiece because he realized I need to be pushed a little to receive healing. Thanks Lord! I've been in a funk lately, sort of depressed because of not being able to do the things I used to do and I even lost the mojo to lead you guys...BUT GOD! PTL! This surgery has allowed deliverance from that. Karen even says I am different (well you all know I'm different and as my shirt said "Get used to different" PTL your are!) But God used that surgeon and my surgery to heal and bring me back to my old self. PTL I was able to get off of a med that may have been causing the depression too. Another thing that has happened is that for the last ten years I have been on the only pain med that worked for my severe arthritis pain. I was taken off of it due to my meds and the possible interaction. No matter what was tried, even narcotics, nothing worked. PTL that through the last two years my kidney function has not been affected by taking that med and after a blood test I was informed that the Doc has reordered the med I need. PTL! Not having pain sure helps attitudes and allows me to resume some activities with much less pain. So that's my story for this week. God has answered your and my prayers! PTL! And He is faithful to carry his faithful servants through some valleys, desserts and hard times and lead us to the Promised Land and the new things he has created us for! Yes PTL!
So what has God done for you or someone you know that someone needs to hear about? Talk to God about that and ask for the wisdom and courage to share that! PTL for one more thing--sleep and rest through the time change. Usually turning the clocks back ruins my sleep. I awoke at 1:30 and went back to sleep until 6am (that's why this is so late) PTL for answering your prayers for me to sleep, rest, abide and be ready to follow well each day! God is good and heard our prayers and blessed me! May I now bless and encourage you! Trust God. seek Him first and always. And allow Him to do His corrective, healing, delivering work in and through you. Allow Him to write His story through you too and then go share it! Is your part in God's Good News Delivery Company that of storyteller? Maybe! Try it and see! I'm praising God and praying for you all! What a church He has gathered us to be part of! PTL! Invite someone to come and see and experience His love in action through us! Amen!
Sarah Update:
Hi everyone,
I wanted to share the praises, and prayer needs that were mentioned during our Worship time ......
Thank you to everyone for giving towards the Everlasting Life Outreach, this month. They will be preparing take-home meals for the less
fortunate of inner-city Allentown. We are able to send them $400 towards these meals to help out. YAY GOD!!!! Thank you !!! Keep
all the workers and preparers in your prayers and the pick up day is . Keep all those that will be receiving the meals
in your prayers also.
Winter is coming - as you bring out your winter garments, boots, gloves, scarfs, hats.....and see some that you won't be wearing or that you can't 'wear',
please consider donating them to our Clothing Closet. We will be starting to get families coming to the closet in need of these items. If you have any questions
please reach out to Amber and Arianna Sosa.
Chris and Yvonne Muik wish to thank all of you for your prayers, thoughts and food drop offs. They are forever grateful.
Rosa - who has been healing through our prayers.....was in worship !! She was well enough to walk to church and join us!! Yay God - thank you for
answers to our prayers, for healing for Rosa
Lisa Wenner's nephew's wife Lauren (momma of the twins) is in the hospital with an Autoimmune flare up. Praying for healing. And keep Grandmother and daddy
in your prayers as they care for the twins.
Dean's friend Jeff - who is healing from surgery. Also pray for him to have patience and peace as he goes through some changes in his life.
Caleb has had a stomach bug . Praying that he is feeling much better
Kathy Canfield is requesting prayer for safe travels for her niece as she drives from Texas to the Lehigh Valley. Also prayers for her family as they are
experiencing some relational issues
Harry Waterman shared with us that Ron Boyer who has been in the hospital for a long time has passed away this past week. Please keep his family
in your prayers during this difficult time
Josie has asked for prayer for her friend Dottie. She has had back pain for a long time, and now she is moving into an assisted living facility. She will
be well taken care of and watched over. Please pray for Dottie to work through the transition.
Dean's friend's son, Christian who is 15 years old, has completed his first round of chemo and will have his second round this week. As a 15 yr it's hard not
being able to participate in school and athletic activities. Continue to keep him in your prayers, and his family as they support him.
Thank you Warriors, for praying for these needs.
Praying your all have a great week....don't forget to stop and say thank you for the blessings God has placed in your lives.
Good Morning Passionate, Jesus-Like, Servants! PTL that is you and our church! I began my quiet time with my I to We devo (below) They teach about passionate serving. First of all you guys and our serving ministries and givers and prayer warriors came to mind and I had to thank God for His blessings, resources, and provisions (you and His provisions too)--Thank You! But as I meditated on this devo, the denominational challenge to become a dynamic movement of God came to mind. That goes like this: "May we become a dynamic movement of God lead by pastors and laity (you) who have a burning passion for God and missionary zeal to reach the lost." Burning passion and zeal! Some of us are there and some on the way and some are experiencing the results of that through our love and care. PTL! God is using you and us as we invest ourselves and His resources in loving Kingdom service! PTL! Now remember we all have a part to play and gifts to use to encourage each other and grow God's Church. Do you know yours? Process and pray with your team and/or Sarah and me. God made you for such a time as this and as you step out in faith to the things God made for you to do that passion and zeal come alive and produce good fruit and even great joy and peace in you as you do what you can with what you've been given within the parameters of who you are created to be and how you are custom gifted. That makes me just PTL for how I experience that in you and through you (and in and through me)! God is so good and has blessed us abundantly! PTL! He has an easy yoke just for you! PTL! Step out in faith and taste and see just how good, kind, loving and providing God is! You will love it! The Holy Spirit will lead you. Don't thwart His help or directions.
Check out the Upper Room as they continue this train of thought with how God's love and care for us should overflow to loving and serving others and investing in those not yet in the Kingdom or discipling those new converts and those of little faith He is sending our way. Sit at His feet a spell and chat about these things and receive His love and directions for . Fill up to overflow! And the Word for You reminds us of the truth that God always gives His best and leads us to His best and expects us to give our best always. Thank God for mercy and forgiveness for the times we don't but keep praying into being ready and able to do so more and more and to live and love like Jesus and walk in His best ways more and more. He has created you and gifted you for such a time as this! PTL! He has great plans for you that won't end here on earth until He calls you home and then continue as he has prepared you and you prepared too. Keep moving into those things with his grace and His help. Keep investing the "talents" He has given you. Don't bury them! Thank Him for those and steward well all His blessings and pray we, as His Body, do the same.
We are created and gifted and activated in Christ and by the Holy Spirit to be His...Passionate, Jesus-Like, Servants. PTL! So, what does He expect of you and what will you do about that? Who are your teammates? Pray. Prepare. Then go live and love like Jesus passionately and with zeal! Amen!
I to We
UR: At the Feet of Jesus
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. - Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
Recently, a friend of my son came to visit us. He is an officer in the Indian army. As he came in, he greeted everyone. When my son introduced me as his mother, his friend came to touch my feet. In keeping with an ancient Indian tradition, young people often greet their teachers and elders by touching their feet as a mark of respect and to receive a blessing.
Luke’s Gospel records the story of a sinful woman anointing Jesus’ feet with costly perfume (see Lk. 7:36-50). Her action drew criticism from the people: Does Jesus not know what kind of woman this is?
I wonder how we would have responded. Do we feel more deserving of God’s grace than those rejected by society? Jesus extended grace and forgiveness to everyone, including those forgotten by society. In fact Jesus lauded this woman’s extravagant act of love as an anointing, and he blessed her. She found consolation, acceptance, and respect at Jesus’ feet. Not only that, but she received forgiveness.
Are we willing to extend grace and respect to those who have been rejected and judged by family or society? Before we answer, we need only think of the grace and love we receive from Jesus.
's Prayer
God of grace and mercy, help us to love and forgive one another as you love and forgive us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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TWFYT
Pastor Don
Rev. Don Kerns
72 Sunset Hill Rd
Boyertown, PA 19512
we will collect for Everlasting Life Ministries, Study thankfulness flowing from Ezekiel 34 and share where we have seen God at work this week and celebrate. Where have you seen God at work? Write it down to share or prepare to share.
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Good Morning Unique Followers and Worshippers! Yes PTL we are all unique and custom made for custom purposes for such a time as this? How does that play out in and through you? Are you thankful and worshipful in response to being God's masterpiece, activated in Christ to do your unique purposes and those that you are created to play a part in with our Body and your team? Talk to God about these things and come with an open heart ready to follow . He has some awesome plans just for you and for us as His gathered and sent Body. Rejoice, seek and follow well! I'm praying for you! There is a flow with all of this through our devos. Check them out below. What's God saying to you? What will you do about that ? Who do you know that might be waiting an invite to come see and feel the love of God through you and us? You are uniquely made and gifted for such a time as this! Pretty cool, huh?
You know this time of year and especially during the month of Nov our focus is often on being thankful and sharing why and celebrating with family, friends and church family. From now until the end of the year our focus often shifts to giving, blessing and serving. It's also a time to focus on our budgeting for home and church. And it is a time to start seeking God for His vision and plans for next year and preparing to enter the New Year ready to roll with Him. Have you/are you experiencing any of these? Talk to God and some trusted friends about these and evaluate your fruit and God's plans and how to enter into them through the end of the year and into next. What vision has God given you? Who will you share an process that with? How can we help each other achieve fruit from the vision? What part(s) does He have for you--unique you? What parts does He have for you to team up and accomplish with others and even our Body? How does He want to you to pray, give, help? What do we need to celebrate from the year past? Who needs to hear this Good News? I always ask these questions and process with God and others, but especially as we enter the sprint to next year. Pray for us to seek and follow God well and to know how to produce the fruit He has for each of us and as His Body.
I can't wait to pray and process and plan together. I can't wait to work, serve and give together! I can't wait to celebrate and glorify God as He moves, answers our prayers and leads us to be His dynamic movement and Good News delivery Co. Amen! Prepare to lift many thanksgivings and celebrate who He is and all he is doing. He is producing great fruit in and through us! PTL! What can you share about your experience with that? Share and let us all celebrate! Amen! Be you and do what you are created to do and watch for and celebrate all the great fruit as we don Jesus' easy yoke and travel the rest of the year with Him and each other!!
UR: Confidently Me
We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)
For years, I lived in fear of what people would think of me if they really knew me. Everyone else seemed to know the Bible better, pray more, and know how to speak church language better than I could. I worried that I would lose the respect of my friends, especially my Christian friends. This lack of confidence transferred to my everyday life, and I was afraid to be myself.
I asked God to help me overcome this feeling of inadequacy. As I read the Bible, I came to realize that God loves me and forgives me. I truly began to believe that I was who God created me to be. I wasn’t ashamed anymore; I was the daughter of the King!
My new attitude helped me become confident in who I was, and I began to live in a more open and honest way. Living confidently as a Christian means reflecting Jesus and acknowledging you are a child of the living God. When we allow the love of Jesus to transform our self-image, God’s light can shine through us for others to see.
's Prayer
Creator God, thank you for loving, forgiving, and empowering us. Help us to live in a way that shows your love clearly to the world around us. Amen.
TWFYT
ODB
A Great Multitude
There before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Revelation 7:9
In 2010, nearly four thousand believers in Jesus gathered in Cape Town, South Africa. Participants from 198 countries were represented at the conference—a gathering considered to be the most representative meeting of the Christian church in the two thousand years since Jesus walked the earth.
There will come a day when a gathering needn’t be “representative” because all believers will be together. John, in a vision from God, describes it this way: “I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb . . . and they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne’ ” (Revelation 7:9-10).
Our local churches may not always reflect the diversity that exists in God’s eternal kingdom. Sometimes that’s the result of factors outside our control—other times we may be drawn to worship with those we perceive to be similar to ourselves culturally, generationally, politically, and economically.
But we honor God when we embrace—and even seek out—the beautiful differences He has endowed to His children. They offer a foretaste of that diverse, heavenly gathering when all those who trust in Jesus’ sacrifice will worship Him together.
By Kirsten Holmberg
REFLECT & PRAY
How can you better embrace those who are different from you? How might those differences grow your understanding of God?
Thank You, God, for the opportunity to worship You with those who are different from me—both now and in eternity.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The Lamb, who is their shepherd (Revelation 7:17), is the theme of the words the diverse crowd is crying out (v. 10). This Shepherd/Lamb will be the center of the throne and will guide His flock to springs of living water. These words echo David’s “Shepherd Song” (Psalm 23) and Jesus’ teaching in John 10 that He’s “the good Shepherd” (vv. 11, 14). As we ponder the wonderful diversity of human beings in heaven, we’re also reminded that the focal point there will be the Lamb and God. The Lamb will guide us, and the Father will dry the very tears from our eyes (Revelation 7:17). The reality of the presence of the Lamb is the true key to what makes heaven so wonderful and what causes the crowd to worship. As we embrace the diversity of God’s children on earth, it’s a reminder that one day we’ll all worship the Lamb together in heaven.
***Attention!!! Don't forget to turn your clocks BACK (Fall Back) . Evening!
Worship is 10 am (not 9 or 11) We will collect for Everlasting Life Ministries and we will begin a month of focus on things we can be and are thankful about. We will start with working through Ezekiel 34. (Read ahead and see if you can find things to be thankful about). We will also have a time of sharing about . and all the things God did so we can lift and praise. (If you were part of . prepare to share how you saw God at work and if too timid write it out for us to read) Please keep praying for God to show up and use us on Wednesdays and for many to see Him and glorify His name. Amen!
Thank God I'm Forgiven! (and for an extra hour of sleep)! I am so thankful for God's love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. I am so thankful we get to dress in Jesus' righteousness and God's armor. PTL! What are you thankful for about your salvation and new life? Share that with God and someone who needs to hear it !
Good Morning Forgiven, Empowered, Praying Disciples of Jesus! Amen! There was much in our devotionals I thought I was to share with you and God may still lead me to that but then I got to my Connection online blog and was stopped in my tracks and taken deeper into His presence with praise and prayer and my focus shifted as again God affirmed the things He has led us to become--a House of Prayer for the Nations and a disciple making hub. Check out their blog below. Engage prayerfully with God and your prayer partners as you ask Him and seek help to process and put a plan together to bring this to life. What's God saying to you and what will you do about it?
We have to start with how we define disciple and disciple making. There are many interpretations of this word and ministry in our church and denomination and throughout Christendom. What is a disciple, a disciple making disciple and the process to make one and are we doing that? Where's the real fruit? Tough questions! The basic answer is a disciple is a student learning from Jesus and true Jesus followers to become like Him. We have been defining discipleship as the process of becoming who Jesus would be if He were me. So, are you in process to become a disciple making disciple? Are we leading others to that and is that leading us to do our parts in His Good News Delivery Company and to become a House of Prayer for the Nations. Check out what the Connection blog is teaching us . I's love to hear your thoughts! remember discipleship is different and deeper than evangelizing. We are saved and transformed and refined when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. That is the beginning of becoming a disciple. Discipleship is more than doing the "right" things. It is becoming who we are created to be and becoming more like Jesus and then going to make disciples and doing the things Jesus would do if He were you. We all a have a custom made part and for many in our aging fellowship it is to be a prayer warrior, encourager, helper and imparter of life stories of God's faithfulness and good ways. We are called to reach the generations for Christ and help them to become disciples in the way of Jesus that make more disciples. We are called to pray in and multiply His Kingdom and to become more and more like Him until He calls us home. How's that going for you and us? That's the fruit we need to keep assessing and adjusting to produce well.
We are on a journey and together we can grow, produce good fruit, make disciples as commissioned by Jesus and become a dynamic movement of God as challenged by our bishop. We all have a part and are created, saved, gifted and empowered to do the things we are created to do which includes praying, process together and doing your part. Let us pray and encourage each other and figure out the next steps for us to go and make true disciple of Jesus that walk in his ways and make more disciples. Amen! TGIF is the beginning of our age, circumstance and custom gifted journey that never ends until we are called home. Let us not grow faint or weary or give up. let us run our race with endurance and our focus always on God. May we be about Him and His business and shine bright as we go! Amen! And don't forget your partners! Seek to be one like Jesus. He has great plans for you and us that are blossoming and beginning to bloom! PTL! May the fruit continue to ripen and multiply! Amen!
Connections Blogs:
- Blinded Unbelievers
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
Maybe your story is like mine. I became a believer as a teenager, but nobody taught me to be a disciple of Christ. My church told me what I needed to do (like read the Bible, pray, and witness), but it did not show me how. Nobody told me how to walk in truth, righteousness, and faith (see Eph. 6:11-17). As a result, I lived a defeated Christian life for far too many years.
The enemy aims his arrows at young believers who have not been discipled. He strikes them with doubt and discouragement. Sometimes he hits them with loneliness, as they move away from their non-Christian friends and try to fit into a church that is unfamiliar to them. At other times, he lures them with the same temptations they faced as non-believers. Whatever his strategy may be, he wants to strike at new believers before they are solidly planted in the Church.
This issue is related to prayer in at least two ways. First, many new believers are never taught how to pray. What they are told to do, they are not taught to do—and the result is a frustrated believer who longs to pray but does not know how. The enemy thus wins when the new believer gives up trying. This failure to disciple is, in my estimation, a primary cause of prayerlessness in the Church .
Second, undiscipled believers often live defeated, sinful lives that hinder praying in the first place. Both Isaiah and the psalmist (Isa. 59:1-2, Ps. 66:18) knew that God chooses not to respond to the prayers of those who live in sin. It is the fervent prayer of a righteous man that makes a difference (Jas. 5:16), not the prayers of one living in unrighteousness.
How, though, does a new believer know how to stand for righteousness and fight against temptation unless the Church teaches him? An undiscipled believer may realize that his praying is ineffective, yet not know enough to understand why—and he gives up on the power of prayer. The enemy again wins.
A brief summary is in order here. The enemy seeks to keep unbelievers blinded to the gospel, thus holding them in bondage. He further schemes against believers, striving to discourage and defeat them so their faith is weakened and their prayers are ineffective. Powerless, prayerless believers make little difference in the war inherent in evangelism.
Father, my heart grieves for the generations of young believers whose spiritual condition has been disregarded or ignored by parents, pastors and brothers and sisters in Christ. Ignite our hearts to embrace the young people in our churches; to come alongside of them with encouragement and to pray fervently for their spiritual growth and ministry! Prick our hearts for our children and turn our prayers and attention towards them with intentionality and the desire to grow them into disciples whose hearts will not turn away from Your Truth!
Praise Jesus Christ, the Lord, the image of God (2 Cor. 4:4-5).
Thank God for making “his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (4:6).
Confess times of disinterest in knowing God fully.
Commit yourself to thinking daily about him and his glory.
Ask God to make his light shine more fully in your heart.
Pray for God to shine through you to your family and friends, even though they know you well enough to see your weaknesses. Thank God that this shows even more clearly that the power is from him rather than you (4:7).
Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayerleader.com. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Good Morning Remembering, Celebrating, Trusting, Faithful, Worshipers of the Most High God and Good News Story Tellers and Hope-Bringers! Amen! We remember and celebrate who He is and all He has done and is doing! We trust Him always (or are working on that) as we faithfully follow Him! And we are worshippers that share the Good News and bring hope alive! Amen! Is that you? What may you need to work on? Who is helping you discern and is accountable to you and you to they? What is the Good News for the one God is sending to you and are you seeking to share that Good News with those longing for some? Are you bringing hope? We have much hope and Good News and stories of God's faithfulness to share! PTL! So how does God want to use you for these and what will you do about it? May many hear the stories of Who He is to us and all He has done and is doing and will do. May many experience our hope as we celebrate and worship and share with exuberance. May many be drawn to our God through our joy, hope, love and worship together. Pray for many to experience these things and be drawn to God and the Jesus' way. Pray for courage to join God in His plans for you . Amen!
I was reminded that we all have before stories to share and stories of how God has transformed us, situations and our worship. But too often we focus on our before story and not the what-God-is-doing-now stories. Too often we dwell in the past instead of worshiping in the present and trusting for the future. As we point to God and all He is and all He is doing, may we share this Good News with those who need some. So what is God doing ? What is the Good News for those we will encounter ? God has changed us all from glory to glory, from one way to another and the thing in between what was and what is is Jesus and His transformative power. PTL! How might God want to share His work through you and how will you respond?
Meditate on our devotionals as you spend time in the Living Word with are Living and active God and then go share some Good News with those who need to experience the hope of a God who knows, cares, is able and will transform lives with His love. I'm praying for you to see Him, join Him and bring Him and His Good News alive! Thanks Lord! Come! Speak and lead us! Amen!
Our Daily Bread reminds me of the altar we made up front at church with our family rocks we painted. We covenanted together as we placed those rocks on our altar of remembrance to go live and love more like Jesus and to share the Good News together and make disciples. When future generations and new members ask about this altar or your rock, you will have the opportunity to share your story and the Good News of how God saved and revived and transformed you, your family and our church. The Upper Room reminds us to keep trusting God even through the hard times. We can always count on Him and lean on Hs promises and we have the stories of His faithfulness to buoy us up in the deep waters and to bring Living Water to life for someone. And the Word for You reminds us to never give up. Stand firm and keep moving with Jesus--even through the darkest valleys. He promises to be with us always and never to waste whatever we experience and then transform it all for the good of those who believe (or will come to faith). We all have stories to share and reminders, like our altar of His presence and faithfulness ! What's God up to now? Ask Him and share that and also ask what's next and for help to be ready to follow Him there. Amen! God has great plans for you and us and many need to see that come alive with joy and faith in us and experience His love through us. Amen! We are...Remembering, Celebrating, Trusting, Faithful, Worshipers of the Most High God and Good News Story Tellers and Hope-Bringers! Believe it and and bring that to life ! I'm praying for you! I can't wait to hear your stories of what God did ! Shalom shalom!
ODB:
A Tribute and Reminder
Each of you is to take up a stone . . . to serve as a sign among you. Joshua 4:5-6
Shortly after his father’s unexpected death, Aaron gifted his mother with a framed, poster-sized photo of dozens of items that encapsulated his dad’s life—collectibles, photos, rocks, books, artwork, and more—each holding special meaning. Aaron spent days collecting the items and arranging them, and then his sister Rachel captured the arrangement in a photo. The gift was a visual tribute to their father, who despite his decades-long struggle with self-loathing and addiction, never left his love for them in doubt. It also attested to God’s love and miraculous healing power that led to their father’s victory over addiction in the last decade of his life.
When after forty long years God’s people crossed into the promised land, Joshua chose a man from each of the twelve tribes to gather a stone from the dry riverbed to “serve as a sign among [them]” (Joshua 4:1-6). Joshua used these rocks to create an altar and lasting tribute to God’s power and provision (vv. 19-24). The Israelites’ journey hadn’t been easy. But God had been with them, providing water out of rocks, manna from the sky, and a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night to guide them—and clothes that never wore out (Deuteronomy 8:4)! The memorial pointed to Him.
God does amazing things! As He provides, may we leave behind a lasting tribute to His love and power.
By Alyson Kieda
REFLECT & PRAY
Where do you see evidence of God’s work? What kind of tribute could you leave attesting to His work?
Dear God, thank You for the evidence of Your love that surrounds me.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In the Bible, tributes or memorials—like the stone memorial in Joshua 4—aren’t expressions of wistful longing for the past. Rather, they’re reminders of God’s previous faithfulness to help us trust Him in the present. The Torah—the “law of Moses” itself (8:32)—was rewritten on stones as a memorial (vv. 30-35). God’s rescue of the previous generation from Egypt was remembered at the annual Passover feast (Exodus 13). Similarly, Communion (the Lord’s Supper) is a reminder of the broken body and shed blood of Christ on our behalf (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). , as we remember God’s faithfulness in our lives, may we leave behind a lasting tribute.
Tim Laniak
UR: Trusting God's Plan
Jesus said, “Do not worry about , for will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” - Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
In the months after my wife’s death, anticipation has deepened my grief. Special occasions and traditions established over 50 years of marriage — birthdays, anniversaries, holidays — loom like dark walls hiding everything beyond. As each date approaches, I pray, “God, how do I endure this?”
God has helped me through the first few of these occasions, and now I see how worrying about future pain just makes present pain worse. This helps me face the most painful challenge of all: how I’ll spend the rest of my life without my wife.
The Jewish exiles in Babylon must have felt something similar after being displaced from their homeland. Facing an unclear future in a strange place must have been terrifying. But Jeremiah assured them that God had a plan for them to thrive and to remain connected to their Creator. They just needed to be patient, make the best of present circumstances, and trust God.
I find immense comfort in Jeremiah’s words to the exiles. I don’t know what a future without my wife will be like. But I can trust God and let the future worry about itself. I know I can rely on God’s plan — whatever it is, for however much time remains.
's Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for giving us hope in our darkest moments with your assurance that you know the plan you have for us and that it is good. Amen.
TWFYT:
Connection blog:
Prayer Points
Praise God for his faithfulness (2 Cor. 1:18).
Give thanks that “no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (1:20).
Confess any reluctance to trust God.
Commit to consciously remembering that God has “anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (1:21-22).
Ask him to lead you in celebrating this faithfulness in worship.
Pray for the actions and attitudes of God’s people as they go out into your community to impact the unsaved. Ask God to use the faithfulness of his people to draw many to himself.
Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayerleader.com. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Good Morning Children of the Ever-Present, Active-, God Almighty! Amen! God had me challenge you to watch what He was doing and be willing and ready to join Him and allow Him to use you in the moments of the day. That should become a daily practice as we work at forgetting what lies behind and focus on what God is doing now and as we prepare for the new things He has for each of us and us as His gathered and sent Body. So what does God have for you ? Who is He sending your way or you too? Talk to Him and process with your teammates and pray into this day and the days to come. Thank God for being with you always and always wanting to lead you to the new things He has planned. Thank Him for all He has done and is doing and will do. Keep praying expectantly. He hears, cares and is able. He has great plans for you and us awaiting willing and prepared servants. Are you one? You can be! Just show up with open heart and mind and eyes on Jesus with a willing heart and moving feet. Amen!
People need to hear stories of the faithfulness of our Almighty God and the things He did and will do to develop faith and hope to face this day and join Him in faith for what is to come. Who might He have for you to help with that? Will you? He has and continues to write His story through you. PTL! What's He up to? Who can you process and plan with? Who needs to hear these things? How might you pray ? Be still and know. Prepare and go. Step out into faith to the new things God has for you. I love the line from the Chosen, "I was one way and now another and the thing that happened in between was [Jesus]." What's His new plans and ways for you to step into ? Talk to Him and follow Him as you prepare your willing heart to get to do His perfect will and plans custom made for you where you are and as you are.
God showed up in many ways at bread ministry and during our Chosen dinner huddle. So many ways! PTL! There are so many personal stories to share of His presence and His using us and us as His Body to bless, teach, pray and help many. PTL! God is doing big things in, through and around us on Wednesdays! PTL and come and see! He has plans for you too. Just show up ready to join Him and watch what He has planned for you and for others through you and just worship! We are entering the month we focus on . We need to pause each week to share with thankful hearts and praising mouths as we recount all He is doing. Come and see! Miracles are happening. Healing and deliverance is happening and in process. New life and living water is coming alive. People are being served, helped and loved on. Joy is rising. And many are feeling loved, accepted and valued. And so much more! PTL! God is writing His love story through us! Come and see! And share those stories! We all need to hear them as we grow to trust our God who is able and who is at work always in and through us! I think about how we began this year praying for 30 new attendees. They are showing up on Wednesdays! PTL! Come and see the new things God is doing and has for you! Amen!
Check out the devos below for that spoke to my heart from God's. Think about Isaiah 43 where our Abba Father says, "Fear not for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine! I will be with you always." Amen! Sarah Young reminds of His ever-present love. He speaks this truth over you and our Body, "I am with you." ALWAYS! PTL! The Upper Room asks, "God has given me this day; how best can I use this gift?" We get to do the things God has for us and He promises to go with us and hold us in His hands. Reach out and hold His hand as you step into this day trusting and in faith. Walk with the Holy Spirit and watch for what has been prepared for you. Go! Live and love like Jesus, doing the things you were created for. And never forget the reminder from Our Daily Bread. We all were one way being transformed to another as God moves our willing feet and repentant and willing hearts to the new things He has made us for and planned in advance. He repurposes us and never wastes anything He has allowed us to go through. Will you allow that? Will you hold His hand and walk into this day and new story He is writing for and through you? I'm praying for you, expecting His Kingdom to come and will to be done and watching for the new things on the horizon as we walk into what is . He is leading, holding and preparing you for and His future plans! PTL! Yes rejoice! Thanks Lord! Come! Hold us, prepare us and lead us to the things to come. Glorify Your holy name! Amen! I was/we were one way and now another with much more to come! PTL! Trust and follow and allow God to write His story through you and share that Good News with someone ! And just worship!
Sarah Young
UR: Hold and Step
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. - Psalm 63:8 (NRSVUE)
The youngest member of our family was learning to go up and down our very steep front steps on her own. As she made her way up and down, whoever was with her would remind her to keep a tight grip on the handrail, saying, “Come on, Laila! Hold tight and step.”
Some time later, after a lengthy hospital stay, I came home and was still very unsteady on my feet. As I stood hesitating at the top of the steps, a little voice piped up, “It’s all right, Grandma. Just hold tight and step.” She kept on encouraging me until I reached the ground.
What a wonderful life lesson! We may not be floundering in deep water as Peter was in Matthew’s Gospel, but whenever we are experiencing trouble, fear, or weakness, all we need to do is firmly grasp God’s hand and move forward in faith. Out of great love for us, God will provide the strength that we lack.
's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for your love and grace. Remind us that when we reach out in faith, you will always be there to help and sustain us. We pray as Jesus taught us, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil” (Luke 11:2-4, KJV). Amen.
ODB:
Repurposed by God
[Joseph] kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Genesis 45:15
In the early 1930s, Cleo McVicker came up with a product that could be used as wallpaper cleaner. Back then, most homes were heated by coal, and walls became covered in soot. Cleo’s invention could be rolled over wallpaper and would pick up the grime. Well, the wallpaper cleaner never became popular, but decades later, a teacher used Cleo’s product in her classes to create ornaments. From that was born a new company—Rainbow Crafts—and the wallpaper cleaner was repurposed as a children’s toy: “Play-Doh.”
On a far greater scale, God has a way of repurposing people. We remember the biblical story of Joseph and his “coat of many colors.” As a young man, he was a lowly shepherd and was sold into slavery by his brothers. But God led Joseph through great difficulties and into the top ranks of government. Eventually Joseph became “repurposed” as “the ruler of all Egypt” (Genesis 45:26). Yet Joseph’s calling was not about power but about grace—something he extended to his brothers as he forgave them (v. 15).
In a sense, all of us are “failed products.” It’s through “the grace of a Son,” Jesus, that we are repurposed into greater things. As you do life , think of your higher purpose and remember to extend grace to others, just as Christ does for us.
By Kenneth Petersen
REFLECT & PRAY
How has God repurposed you in your life journey? What might you learn from the example of Joseph’s life?
Dear God, if I’ve forgotten the grace You’ve called me to, please remind me and help me extend it to others.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Genesis 45 describes a beautiful experience of forgiveness and reconciliation. Joseph had risen from being a slave in Egypt to someone with incredible power as Pharaoh’s second in command (41:43). Joseph could have chosen to exact revenge on his brothers for selling him into slavery. Instead, he offered grace: “Do not be angry with yourselves” (45:5). The reason Joseph gives is that God had still brought about good even through their wrongdoing—saving the lives of His people (v. 7). His story is a reminder that even when people fail, God is still at work for good. Because Jesus has extended grace to us, we can offer grace to others.
Good News! Surgery went well. I cane home late afternoon and am doing well. Doc said it was a success! PTL! Thanks for your prayers! I'm a bit tired from anesthesia but nothing a nap or two won't fix . I should be able to resume normal activities (except lifting over ten pounds until .) we will have our Zoom huddle at 10. Join us
Good Morning Standing on the Solid Rock, Delivered Child of God! Amen! He is our Rock. Our fortress. Our deliverer. PTL! 2 Sam. 2:22 came up a few times for me as God spoke to my heart during my quiet time..."The Lord is my Rock and my Foundation and my Deliverer." Amen! Meditate on this verse and ask yourself, first of all, "Is Jesus my Lord? My Rock on which I build my life? My strong foundation on which stand? My Deliverer?" I pray so! He has delivered us from sin and death! PTL! Check out Our Daily Bread below relating to this and Sarah Evans devo and spend some time with God this day. he loves you and delivered you and made a way so you can hang out. listen and process with the Holy Spirit and like-minded followers. I'm praying for you and praising God for you and this truth and reminder . Shalom shalom. Know His peace and love and go live and love like Jesus . he is our Rock! Amen!
ODB
Sure Foundation in Christ
[That house] . . . did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:25
American football quarterback C.J. Stroud is young, talented, and an unashamed believer in Jesus. In a profession where the average career span is just 3.3 years, Stroud has been outspoken about where his trust lies. “Football has a lot of . . . twists and turns. But, at the end of the day, it’s all about your foundation. And something that’s set my foundation is my faith.”
Football, or any other profession, isn’t the only sphere of life with ups and downs, twists and turns. Jesus’ story in Matthew 7:24-27 features two houses, each pummeled by rain, floods, and wind. But only one survived the storm: “because it had its foundation on the rock” (v. 25)—Christ’s metaphor for His teaching (vv. 24, 26).
Yes, storms happen in this life. Sickness and countless other dilemmas can leave us spinning. Life isn’t “stormproof,” but building our lives on Jesus and His teaching—our sure “foundation” (see 1 Corinthians 3:11)—makes the difference. Those who refuse to embrace Christ are more vulnerable when life’s storms come. But those who listen to His words will find stability: “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” (Matthew 7:25). Indeed, it’s all about our foundation.
By Arthur Jackson
REFLECT & PRAY
How “storm-ready” is your life? How have Christ’s teachings helped you to remain stable during difficulties?
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for building my life on things other than Jesus and His words, and help me to rely more on Him.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)—His first major public preaching event—begins with words of blessing in the Beatitudes (5:3-12) that welcome us into the life of the kingdom of God and conclude with a statement of assurance about what gives stability to kingdom life in this broken world (7:24). Being “poor in spirit” (5:3) helps us to recognize our great need of Him. But that need is ongoing and continual. It’s not just needed at the outset of our walk of faith but every single day. Living as we do in a turbulent, confusing, and chaotic world, we’re to build our lives (our “house,” 7:24) on the solid rock of Christ and His words to strengthen and sustain us every day. Trusting in Jesus as our firm foundation prepares us for storms before they come.
Bill Crowder
Sarah Young
Pastor Don
Rev. Don Kerns
72 Sunset Hill Rd
Boyertown, PA 19512
484-338-0009
Good Morning Faithful Worshipers! Prepare your hearts to worship and enter His courts with and praise! Ask God to allow us to worship in Spirit and Truth and pray for Sarah as she brings the Word and Mike as he leads the kids. Pray for no hindrances for those God is drawing. Pray for our Acts 2:42 (They studied the Apostle's teaching, fellowshipped, ate together and prayed) church to come alive and for many to find His love and joy flowing from us. Pray for our leaders and for wisdom and courage to trust and follow God and His provision. Thank God for those provisions and blessings and ask that we would steward all well while trusting and following Him to the new things He has planned for us. Praise God for who He is and all He is doing and for revival and new life coming our way and to this nation. Ask God to position us to be hope and light to many being drawn to Him. PTL for all the answered prayers (even the no and not yet answers) Thank God He knows best. Thank God for gathering and gifting and sending us for such a time as this. Thank God we get to choose obedience and joy and for being born in this nation. Thank God for all our servants and the blessings our serving ministries are bringing. Pray for our brunch to connect to many seeking neighbors and for us to connect well to them. Pray for His kingdom to come and will to be done and for us to do our part in that. Amen!
Check out the flow through our devotionals for about wisdom, joy, hope and trust in the Lord. Pray for us to see and move with Him. Pay for courage and wisdom to do your part. We all have one! What's yours and who are your teammates? We are created, saved, gifted, molded, gathered and sent to make a difference for the Kingdom for such a time as this. God has given us all we need. PTL! May we choose to follow well and do all we can with what we've been given as His ambassadors, living and loving like Jesus, and all for His glory. Amen! And shalom shalom! See you in a few days, Lord willing. I'm praying for you and for our church to become a dynamic movement of God as He leads. What's your part and what partners do you need? Ask for wisdom and willing feet.
Upper Room: Hope from Cut Flowers
The Lord said, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” - Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
Less than a year after retirement I was diagnosed with cancer. I was shocked to realize my life might be significantly shorter than I expected. I had always taken good care of my body. Additionally, no one in my family has ever had cancer, and my mother is alive and well and in her late eighties. I couldn’t understand why this was happening to me. I’m a faithful Christian. I’ve been able to participate in more activities at church since I retired. Was God done with me?
One day during this time of questioning, I purchased some cut flowers. I put them in a clear vase on my dining table where I could enjoy them. I didn’t expect them to last long. Cut flowers may be attractive, but they usually die within a week. Imagine my surprise, however, when leafy buds began blooming on the flower stems even as the flowers on top began to die. As I drank my coffee one morning, it occurred to me that God was putting my mind at rest with the appearance of those leafy buds.
Like cut flowers, my lifespan may be shorter than I anticipated, but new growth can still happen while I’m dealing with cancer. Reconciled now to the situation I’m facing, I’m curious to see what God has planned for me.
's Prayer
Thank you, God, for reminding us that you bring new life to what may appear dead to us. Amen.
Our Daily Bread
The Work That Matters
[Mephibosheth] always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet. 2 Samuel 9:13
There’s a poignant scene near the end of Frederick Buechner’s historical novel Brendan. The character Gildas stands up to reveal one of his legs missing from the knee down. As he reaches for his walking stick, he loses his balance. Brendan leaps up and catches him.
“I’m as crippled as the dark world,” Gildas says. “If it comes to that, which one of us isn’t?” Brendan replies. “To lend each other a hand when we’re falling. Perhaps that’s the only work that matters in the end.”
In 2 Samuel 9, we find King David desiring to show kindness to anyone still living from the house of Saul (v. 1). There is one, Mephibosheth, “a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet” (v. 3). Mephibosheth is ushered into the king’s presence, where he hears these words: “I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table” (v. 7). And he always did.
Scripture is full of unforgettable stories of David and giants and armies and kings and kingdoms—the stuff of movies. But the Bible also remembers this poignant kindness shown toward a person in need—the story of someone lending a hand to another.
After all the big, flashy scenes fade, it’s possible that kindness such as David extended to Mephibosheth is the work that matters most in the end. Lending a hand is the kind of work you and I can be about each and every day.
By John Blase
REFLECT & PRAY
Who is a Mephibosheth in your life? How can you lend a hand to that person?
Compassionate God, please show me the one in my life that I can lend a hand to.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Mephibosheth was five years old when his grandfather Saul and father, Jonathan, perished at Mount Gilboa (2 Samuel 4:4; see 1:5-6). When his nurse heard the news, she “picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became disabled [lame in both feet]” (2 Samuel 4:4). He was the last surviving member of the house of Saul (9:3). Even though David had been Saul’s bitter enemy, David and Jonathan had loved each other like brothers and were “one in spirit” (1 Samuel 18:1). So, to honor his friend Jonathan, David showed great kindness to Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth. In response to the great kindness God has shown us (Titus 3:4-5), we, like David, in gratitude can show kindness to others.
Alyson Kieda
The Word for You
Sarah Young
Pastor Don
Rev. Don Kerns
72 Sunset Hill Rd
Boyertown, PA 19512
484-338-0009
Worship at 10. We will honor first responders. Invite some! Then Brunch at 11:30. Bring a friend!
Note: This may be my last blog for a few days as I am scheduled for my heart ablation at 6am . I'll be back soon enough, Lord willing! I do appreciate and feel your prayers! Thanks!
Good Morning Longing Pray-ers! Amen! May we continue to long in prayer for the things that God desires and help to over come the things that break His heart by doing what we are created and gathered to do for such a time as this and for His glory. Amen!
Are you content with the way things are in your life, household, church, nation? We can choose be content with God and still be discontent for the things that break His heart and pray and act for them to be resolved. What's your part? Crying out in tears. Reaching out to change? Both? God provides all we need. PTL! (not all we want). God answers our prayers according to His will and timing. God brings joy and satisfaction as we trust and obey and choose Him and His ways. Amen! Sometimes we need t be content with being discontent. It's a Holy Spirit thing that moves us to action. And sometimes we just need to choose to be content with the way things are some we can know peace as we choose joy that flows from knowing God is with us and has a plan. So seek God and His righteousness and kingdom above all else. Spend time abiding in His loving presence. Then pray informed and step into this day ready to do what you can with what you've been given for His glory. Are you content for the things of God? Probably not. So, what will you do about it? Are you content with what you've been given? You can be and can work at being the best steward of all he has given. pray for that and choose joy and trust as you follow Him! Amen! I'm praying for you! Shalom shalom--perfect peace to you and to follow peace and be content. And for when to know to be discontent and act. Shalom shalom is available. Choose it as you trust and obey . Amen
TWFYT
Connection:
- His Mission…Our Prayer
Pray for God’s kingdom to come! The disciples must have asked Jesus how to pray. After coaching them on their motives for prayer, Jesus told them to pray like this: “Father, Your name be praised and honored. Your kingdom come and Your will [Your mission] be done” (Mt. 6:9-10, italics and paraphrase mine).
Jesus, the son of God, tells us to pray for God! For His glory, His name, His fame, His kingdom, and His mission. God desires our praise. He wants us to participate in His mission of a blessing for all peoples (Gen. 12:3-4) as He establishes His kingdom on earth and forever in heaven.
So, pray for God to call out His laborers into His harvest fields more than ours. Pray for the establishment of His Church, more than our mission organization or denomination. Pray for the reputation of His name, more than our recognition. It is no accident that the most effective missionaries are often standing in the background, not upfront in the spotlight. Pray for the Holy Spirit to convince unbelievers through His teachings more than our clever arguments. Pray for new believers to obey His commandments more than our traditions. Pray for the new church to find answers from His Word, more than our words. When we pray like this, He inevitably will surprise us. After all, it is His mission. And He will accomplish it.
Son of God, teach me to pray as You did with Your first disciples! Draw me into Your school of prayer for the sake of God’s mission! Posture my heart in an attitude of complete humility and dependence and train me to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness before my own! May Your thoughts, words and actions take the place of my pride-filled ideas, plans, and speeches. Forgive me, Lord, for my arrogance and engage me wholeheartedly in representing Your name with integrity. The mission is Yours alone…my only job is to faithfully pray and obey!
Thank God for the wisdom to apply that knowledge in everyday situations.
Confess times of leaning “on your own understanding,” not acknowledging him (Prov. 3:5-6).
Commit to acknowledging God in all your ways.
Ask him to help you trust in him with all your heart.
Pray for neighbors who do not yet “fear the Lord.” Ask God to open the eyes of their understanding to know him.
Prayer Pointer
“Through intercessory prayer God does something that would not otherwise be done.” —Maxie Dunnam
Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayerleader.com. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Thank God I'm Forgiven! How often I say that each week. Thank God I am forgiven! I am a sinner saved and transformed by grace. PTL! And He continues to mold and shape me more and more into His image because I continue to humble myself before Him and repent of all things that offend Him. Help me Lord to repent sooner and need to less and less as I become more like You. Yes forgive me! Thank You!
Good Morning Repentant, Faithful Followers of the Way! Jesus is the way and He died so you can be forgiven and spend eternity with Him. PTL! He formed you for such a time as this and is faithful to help you and all repentant sinners to grow in Him and like Him and to fulfill their created purposes faithfully. Contemplate that , PTL, and repent and believe the Good News! Amen!
I've been wrestling with God about some things I'm not even sure I can fully put into words. I know I'm made for more and to be more like Jesus and do more of what he created me to do, yet I resist and choose to live for self too often. Sometimes I do my own thing or move at my speed and not His. Forgive me Lord! Sometimes, I have a solid sense (or so I think) of His plans for me and us and then I rely on my own strength or move at what I perceive to be His pace when he just wants me to wait, abide and await His provisions and timing. Help me repent and move with You, yoked to You, for Your glory! Amen! He wants us to know and dwell in, He actually said He gives us, His peace beyond understanding. As we abide in His peace and love and presence, he will inform our prayers, prepare us, provide for us, protect us and then lead us to His perfect plans and purposes. Amen! Check out Sarah Young's devo for below about this. What's God saying to and expecting of you? What will you do about it? Let Him lead you to green pastures, still waters and His promised rest!
I then opened my I to We devo. This put into words much of what I am experiencing and some of my hurdles to peace and help to understand my need to team up with some people that are opposite of me and to wait on the Lord before plunging ahead. Check it out! I am sent and a doer. I rest by doing. I have a pretty keen sense of many things God wants to do in and through me, you and us. And too often I move alone or surge ahead because I am gifted and able to do so. Too often I get frustrated at the lagers and anchors that hold me back. Yet they are just the ones I need to stay on God's pace, They are often His provision for keeping on track and on pace to follow to His new things in His perfect timing. And sometimes I need to come alongside and encourage those lagging behind to get moving. Discerning the difference is a Holy Spirit helps thing as I abide, seek, humble self, wait or move with the Lord. Hope that makes sense? I know God has great plans for me, you and us that requires being filled with and following Him as His sent team of ambassadors and servants. If you think you may be lagging or shying away from something God has for you and us, talk to me and let us pray and reason together as we seek and want to follow well together. We do need God and each other always. What's your part? Determine to be Repentant, Faithful Followers of the Way and ask for help from God and others. Amen! Yes TGIF!
The Upper Room then reminds us to Trust God. I trust Lord but help my unbelief. Right? Unbelief shows up when we forge ahead, lag behind and do our own thing, presuming on God/ Forgive us Lord! Help us repent, trust and follow well! Amen! Thank You for forgiveness and help! Amen! And then the Our Daily Bread (both below) helps us to understand how to grow strong in God as we seek, wait and follow to His best together! help us Lord! I'm praying for you! trust and obey and know His peace ! Amen!
Sarah Young
I to We
UR:
Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33 (NIV)
I was going through a difficult and painful breakup. All my thoughts focused on the rejection and loneliness I felt, and as a result I began to suffer anxiety attacks. The pain and feelings of emptiness were deep, and I thought nothing could assuage those feelings. But then I attended a retreat sponsored by my local church and found Jesus. From that point forward, everything changed. Jesus transformed my life and gave me the assurance that I am not alone and that the way forward is to trust God.
Trusting God in moments of crisis challenges our faith. The cares of the world often generate within us an anxiety that prevents us from trusting God fully. The good news is that we, the children of God, know that Jesus has overcome the world. To trust is to believe that God cares and watches over us — that God is greater than any problem, illness, or crisis. God is the Creator of all. Whatever our situation, God loves us, God supports us, and God will help us see a way forward.
's Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for scripture that provides us the assurance that we can find refuge in you. Rekindle our faith to trust fully in your love. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
ODB
Growing Strong in God
Fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience. 1 Timothy 1:18-19
As a boy, I loved reading stories about pirates. How those adventures spurred my imagination! Now I live in an area where one of the most infamous of those pirates—Blackbeard (real name, Edward Teach)—had his headquarters. Shipwrecked in the waters off the coast here is Blackbeard’s ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge.
We can easily romanticize the wrecks and the high-sea adventures of history. The apostle Paul, however, wrote about a very different kind of shipwreck that provides us with a caution and an exhortation. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul warned his son in the faith to “[hold] on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith” (1 Timothy 1:19). What is this “shipwreck”? Two men, Hymenaeus and Alexander, had in some devastating way departed from the true faith, and the apostle turned them over to Satan “to be taught not to blaspheme” (v. 20). Paul desired them to repent, but the consequences of their actions were dire.
Our faith isn’t static, nor can it exist in a vacuum. We must actively nurture and cultivate our relationship with God to grow strong and healthy in faith and good conscience. May we join with other believers, yield to God’s Spirit, and allow Him to work in us. We can avoid shipwreck.
By Bill Crowder
REFLECT & PRAY
How would you describe your relationship with Jesus? If you’ve drifted from Him, what’s the first move you can make back to Him?
Wise Father, may Your Spirit work in my heart to keep me close to You and growing in my faith.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to work with the young and troubled church there. Although Timothy was to aid the church in its struggles against false teachers (1 Timothy 1:3-7), Paul instructs him that he also needed to grow in his own faith (vv. 18-20). He was to “fight the battle well” (v. 18), most commonly referring to spiritual warfare (see Ephesians 6:10-18); “[hold] on to the faith” (1 Timothy 1:19), referring to trust in Jesus (see Titus 1:1-3); and maintain “a good conscience” (1 Timothy 1:19), keeping his actions commendable (see Titus 3:14-15). The journey of discipleship is lifelong. Actively nurturing our relationship with God helps us grow strong in our faith and avoid spiritual shipwreck.
J.R. Hudberg
Connection blogs:
- Devote Yourself to Waiting
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4
The nations that surrounded Judah worshipped an array of pagan deities, none of whom were concerned about those who worshipped them. Alone among these false gods, the One True God of Israel had compassion on His people and desired what was best for them. Among the people of the nations, it was hard to even imagine a God who acted on their behalf.
It is important for us to notice that God intervenes on behalf of those who wait for Him. Throughout the Bible we are commanded to wait for the Lord. It is precisely this waiting that allows Him to freely move in our lives. Those who wait, have submitted their desires to the One for whom they are waiting. They have chosen not to act until God acts. Rather than being a time of inactivity, waiting on God means intense focus that demands everything we are. As we cry out to God for revival in these days, it will mean devoting ourselves to waiting upon Him.
I wait for You Lord. My soul waits, and in Your Word I put my hope. I have set You before me always. Help me, Lord, not to run ahead… impatiently trying to do things for You without You. I have done way too much of that already. Teach me to patiently wait upon You so that I may then see Your amazing work on my behalf.
Praise the Lord, whose name is a strong tower to which the righteous run and find safety (Prov. 18:10).
Thank God for the safety he has brought to your life.
Confess any area in which your walk is not consistent with bearing Christ’s name.
Commit to living all your life under God.
Ask him to give you the courage that comes from knowing he cares for you.
Pray for those in your care to be under the strong tower of God’s care. Ask God to assure them of their safety in his strong and tender presence.
Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayerleader.com. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Good Morning Earnestly Seeking and Following Disciples and Apostle of Jesus! Amen! Seek and you will find! keep knocking and the door will be open for you. Don't lean on your own understanding, but acknowledge God in all your ways and He will direct your steps. Go! Make disciples for He is with you always. Love as Jesus has loved you and everyone will know you are His disciples. The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience kindness, faithfulness, goodness and self control. Carry each others burdens and in this way people will know that we are fulfilling our call in Christ. Treat others the way you wanted to be treated. Live and love like Jesus !
Meditate on these and process them with your teammates. These are things we get to do and the measure for how well we are following Jesus and obeying His will for us. I witnessed (and some outsiders noticed too) God's love coming alive through us, us doing what we can with what we've been given to go live and love like Jesus, and the Fruit of the Spirit coming to life. AMEN! God is drawing some through us! PTL! What's God revealing to you and what will you do about that? Who are your accountability partners and teammates? What's your/our fruit looking like? Where can we improve? What can we release? Many questions to ask God and process with your team! God awoke me early with many things rattling around in my head that I am still processing almost three hours later. Is He doing the same for you? He might be! What do you get to choose to do about that? Will you? I'm praying for you! There are a few threads through our blogs and devos for below. Start there and call a friend to pray, process, plan and go.
at Bread a man asked me how and why do our people have such love and confidence in Christ that overflows through them as they go? I shared it's because Christ lives in us. God is love. And we allow love to live through us as we go daily. This man has little biblical knowledge and asked even if Jesus and Moses ministered together. A month or so ago I gave him a few devotionals. He's using them and the Bible I gave him to try to figure things of God out. he asked me about Matthew 5 and 6 and said they sound like the ten commandants. Man did God open doors of understanding as we processed together with open Bibles. These passages are the sermon on the mount and Jesus' teachings that stirred this man to try to understand how to move from the law to the new covenant of grace. He's struggling with the simplicity of grace and that he can be forgiven of his many sins. He is a work in process that God keeps sending to us. Who is He sending to you to explain truth and to love on like Jesus? Seek the Lord and not your own plans and allow Him to open doors and the Holy Spirit to give you the words and motivation and to affirm you. You are His chosen and a priest of the Lord sent to bring love and truth alive! Go! Allow God to use you and the Holy Spirit to lead you.
We discussed this at our amazing Chosen Huddle. (Almost 40 people came again and over half are not members! PTL!) God continues to draw and provide and speak through us! PTL! And keep praying for Him to keep bringing in the harvest and using us! The reality for most people , and many are wrestling with the implications of this or rejecting it, is the Truth. We need to focus on the seekers God is sending. When Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples asked, "Who is this man that even the wind and the waves obey Him?" (Matt. 8:27) That is the question everyone is seeking the answer to, even if they don't realize it. Who is this man and how does that affect my life and choices? In reality much of the Chosen is about trying to answer those questions. Who is this man, Jesus, to you? How does that affect your life? Is there something He is leading you to do, something to repent of, something to pray about or someone to share with about how He has impacted your life? Will you trust and obey? ? Do you have teammates to pray and plan with and hold you accountable? What's God revealing?
There is one more thing to consider...how do we measure success and going and following well as we make disciples? FRUIT! James said people will see our faith by our actions and deeds. Many are experiencing this through our ministries (and Clothing too). Are we doing what we can and are made and activated to do with what we've been given and as we are for such a time as this? (Read that again and begin processing) Are people (and us) seeing and experiencing the fruit of our choices...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, goodness and self control? That is our measure. And yes that man from noticed some of these, especially our supernatural love as have many others! Keep up the good work team! Keep praying and processing with some friends, and keep going to live and love like Jesus. He has great plans for you and us and we are doing our part to bring His kingdom and will alive ! PTL! Ask if there is more? What's your part? Will you trust and obey? I'm praying! Share those stories of all the seemingly "little things" God is using and doing in and through you and the fruit you are living! And go! Man, I can taste the good fruit already! Thanks brothers and sisters, co-laborers in Christ and for doing all for His glory. He is glorifying His name through us! And we get to keep being who He created us to be and doing what He has created, gifted and empowered us to do! PTL! Go know His peace as His love continues to come alive and change the world around and through us! Yes! Live and love like Jesus! Amen! And thank God we are His students, sent as we are and we get to do that His way and with His help, as we are for such a time as this! Yes, rejoice, seek and follow !
Connection Blogs:
- Unveiling the Kingdom of God
“…your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
Because the King has come, the kingdom has come. Because the King is still to come, the kingdom is still to come. Because the King is here, the kingdom is here. But the King is here in veiled form, the kingdom is ordinarily present in veiled form. Is that not why Jesus so often speaks of “having eyes to see and ears to hear”? Not everyone recognizes His already-ness. So not everyone will recognize the already-ness of the reign of God.
You can see that the term “second coming” is a bit misleading, for He is not coming from some far away place. He is breaking through from behind the veil of hidden-ness. When He does, the already present, but ordinarily hidden, kingdom of God will be manifest to all and will overcome and replace all other kingdoms.
So, what does it mean to pray, “Your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven”? It means something like “Living God, even before the Day of the Lord, reveal what is invisible, manifest what is hidden.” Can you handle that? That is what those words mean. We ought to pray the words standing on tiptoe!
We mere human beings . . . we can ask for the unveiling of the kingdom of God? Yes! If the Church of Jesus has been given this privilege then why haven’t we exercised it more intentionally? Perhaps it is because we have not understood the privilege. Perhaps it is that we have not wanted to submit our lives to the King. We may have wanted the benefits and blessings of the kingdom but we have not been willing to align our lives with His rule. Or perhaps it is that we know the coming of God’s rule means the end of our rule. Perhaps the Church has not fervently prayed for the kingdom because we know it is dangerous to do so; the King just might answer and start turning everything upside-down!
Lord Jesus, forgive me for continually longing for the benefits of Your kingdom without submitting to what it truly means for Your kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven! May I have my eyes opened to see the truth of Your presence in my life at this very moment. Help me to bow my heart before Your sovereignty in complete and utter humility so that my prayers become aligned with the purpose of Your kingdom over and above the desires of my own.
Praise the Lord, who is able even to weigh your motives (Prov. 16:2).
Thank God for times he has brought conviction to lead you to needed change.
Confess any sinful actions, words, plans, or motives the Spirit brings to your attention.
Commit to the Lord whatever you are planning to do, asking that he then make your plans succeed (16:3).
Pray that the leaders of your church will be motivated by love, faithfulness, and the fear of the Lord rather than pride (16:5-6). Ask God to keep your heart pure toward your leaders and to use you as an encourager for them.
Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayerleader.com. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Louise, a project manager, regretted taking on the freelance job. Both the client and designer were testing her patience. Why is it so difficult? she wondered. Why can’t these people get it together?
Weeks later, as she read Proverbs 27, verse 17 stood out—“iron sharpens iron.” “You can’t file down rough edges with something soft, like silk,” she told her small group soon after. “You need something hard, like iron.”
Louise realized that the challenges in the project were smoothing down some rough edges of her own. She was learning to be more patient and humble, and to adapt to different working styles. God, she concluded, was using the project to expose her flaws and teach her new lessons about working with others.
Much of the book of Proverbs extols the value of godly wisdom, but this wisdom doesn’t come easily. It needs to be sought after with obedience and discernment (3:13; 13:20; 19:20), and refined in crucibles and furnaces, with mortars and pestles (27:21-22)—situations that may mean temporary pain and suffering.
Yet the Bible reminds us that challenges come with rewards: In seeking God’s wisdom diligently and obeying His ways, we’ll find true security, satisfaction, and blessing (vv. 26-27).
By Leslie Koh
REFLECT & PRAY
What lessons can you learn from difficult situations you’re facing? How might God be refining and shaping you to be more like His Son, Jesus?
Loving Father, please grant me strength to endure my trials and a humble heart to learn from life’s challenges. Thank You for shaping and molding me each day.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Learning to view troubles and trials as instruments in God’s hand is an important key to our spiritual growth. His goal for us isn’t that we have an easy or pain-free life, but rather that we “be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). As fire purifies gold (Proverbs 17:3; 27:21), so the heat of trials can be God’s tool to purify us and make us more like Jesus. Christ’s half brother James affirms this in his letter: “The testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete” (James 1:3-4). Part of walking by faith is trusting that God doesn’t waste anything. We can be sure that when difficult times come, He has a purpose for those trials in refining and shaping us to become more like Jesus.
Good Morning Joyful Co-Laboring Followers of the Way! Amen! Karan I were discussing choosing joy. She mentioned that HGTV start Jasmin Roth has a clothing line she wears on TV that has "Build your happiness" on it. Now that's talking about physically building something that makes you happy and implies material things like houses or kitchens. But can we build happiness in the spiritual realm? Well, yes. The Bible says to choose joy. Isn't that building joy and helps with our happiness and attitudes. Can you build peace? Well God can in you and that comes about as you choose joy as you trust Him with whatever you are facing. That helps lead to happiness. Amen! So in Christ, we have the ability to chose joy always and receive His perfect peace beyond understanding as we cast all anxiety upon Him. Often that begins with casting praise to Him and building our joy levels. Many times we need the help of some co-laboring friends to help us redirect or stay on track. And joy and peace do come as we trust and follow Jesus. yes build your happiness --always as you trust, follow and praise our Lord and Savior! Check out this thread that God gave me ...Build your happy place by choosing joy and moving to Son-shine street! Remember that joy is a fruit of the Spirit! So the Spirit will help you choose it, live it and build your happy place in Christ! Amen! I'm praying for you! You are God's masterpiece made new in Christ and activated to choose and bring joy ! Shalom shalom--know His perfect peace!
Sarah Young
ODB:
God Understands
[Jesus] shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death. Hebrews 2:14
In his Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, John Koenig offers a collection of new words, each invented to give a name to complicated feelings we previously lacked a word for. His book includes words like dés vu, “the awareness that this moment will become a memory,” and onism, “the frustration of being stuck in just one body, that inhabits only one place at one time.” Koenig says his mission is to shed light on all of the unique and strange experiences of being human, so that people can feel less alone in those experiences.
While we might not always be able to find a word for what we’re going through, believers in Jesus can take great comfort in knowing that God values and understands what it’s like to be human. He values people so much that He chose to entrust humanity with caring for creation (Hebrews 2:7-8). And because of Jesus, God understands completely what it’s like to live as a human. Christ is God made fully human, which means other believers are called Jesus’ “brothers and sisters” (v. 12).
Christ not only understands all our experiences and temptations (4:15) but He has also broken “the power of death” over our lives (2:14). Because of Him, our experiences need not cause us to feel afraid or alone. Instead, we can celebrate the gift of being human.
By Monica La Rose
REFLECT & PRAY
What experiences do you sometimes struggle to find words for? How does it encourage you to know God understands and values your experience?
Dear God, thank You that You value being human and empathize with all that I experience.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Hebrews 2:6-8 references Psalm 8:4-6. In this psalm, David is in awe of God for creating and caring for creation, particularly people: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (v. 4). It likewise amazes the psalmist that God entrusted the creation into our care (vv. 5-8). The author of Hebrews references Psalm 8 to point to Jesus, who, by becoming a man, lowered Himself so that He could die for our sins (Hebrews 2:7, 9). He loves us that much—and understands all we’re going through!
Alyson Kieda
UR: The Kindness of Others
By their fruit you will recognize them. - Matthew 7:20 (NIV)
I volunteer by delivering meals in my mountain community. After a major winter storm with single-digit temperatures and power outages, I drove up a steep, snow-covered road to check on an elderly woman who lived alone. When I saw snowmobile tracks leading to her house, I worried she might have had an emergency. I was relieved to find her healthy, content, and warm beside a wood fire in her stove. When I asked about the tracks, she told me, “Oh, some kid stopped by to check on me.” Even though she didn’t know the person, she knew someone had made the effort to confirm she was safe.
I don’t know who the snowmobiler was either, but on some level I feel that I do. This person’s selfless act reflected the care, concern, and grace our Lord shows us every day. We all are on a journey to our eternal home and, at one time or another, we all need a helping hand. As Jesus, our Savior and Guide, said, “Do you love me? . . . Take care of my sheep” (Jn. 21:16). May each of us be ready to respond to those in need and be equally ready to accept the help others offer us.
's Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for the kindness we see in others, which is an extension of the grace and mercy you bestow on us. Amen.
Hi all! I've been having major computer issues since I returned. I can't copy and paste or include devos. Anyway...God loves you an so do we! We are praying for you and that you find and step ino your gifts, pourposes and partnerships. We pray that God uses you as you simply get to go live and love like Jesus and that he sends you to those He is drawing. May God bless you as you spend time daily in His Word and our devos! Shalom shalom
Good Morning Children of the Most High God! Rejoice! Worship! Enter His courts with praise and ! This is the day the Lord has made and we get to gather, worship, study, pray and fellowship together! Yes rejoice!
This week will be one of escape, refreshing, renewal and lots of driving and lobster for Karen and I. Vacation started for her already and starts for me after church. Can't wait! Just a reminder...No blogs this week as I will be totally disconnecting! (Help me Lord!) Sarah is available if needed. Adam Roberts is preaching . Keep them in prayer and us for a safe, fun, healthy and lovely week. Thanks!
There will be no zoom huddle or evening Chosen gathering. Bread and Clothing carry on as scheduled.
we will study 2 John and 3 John as we wrap up John's letters to the church. John called himself the apostle that Jesus loved...that's all of us! PTL! We are His custom made masterpieces, made in love to go to our special love missions through out our lives. We know the God who is love and are filled with His love. he loves through us and wants to change the world with His love. We all know how much this world could use some love! Let us be salt, light and above all--LOVE! I'm praying for you and Karen and I thank you for your prayers and encouragements and we are praying for God to use us in a very dark region of the country to incarnate Jesus and His love! Don't forget to wear red , in remembrance of Charlie Kirks birthday. Go! Be the Light and love like Jesus! I'll be praying for you!
It was a great day at Bread Ministry . We have started to receive 'extra' sweets and other items from the Weis market in Emmaus. On the first and third and (if there is a fifth)
Wednesdays, Weis market will be donating their sweets and other items to our bread ministry. was the first day of sharing those sweets and they were a 'HIT' !!!
We had approximately 70 people walk through our church doors and receive some HOPE, LOVE and bread!!!
Continue to pray for Enol and Larry Paul as they continue to experience some extreme weather. Please read the update from Larry's sister:
I saw on my brother's fb that now the Philippines are experiencing moderate earthquakes throughout the region, with the government cancelling all schools for today & tomorrow. These earthquake magnitudes are 4-7 on the richter scale for reference, with many aftershocks continuing. They just can't seem to catch a break - however they are right over that Pacific ring of fire so I guess it's to be expected. Reading some articles about it, these earthquakes are due to the plates shifting rather than volcanic activity which is good?
Please continue to keep all in your prayers and we will keep you updated as we hear anything.
Pastor Don and Karen are having a good time, as you can tell in the picture below, he is enjoying his lobster!!!
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