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Friday, May 10 2024
Zoom Huddle 10 AM today. All welcome!
WED: 10-12 Bread Min. 6PM dinner Huddle All welcome!
Sat 10-1 Clothing Closet
Sun 10 am worship live and on Zoom with Children's Church
PRAYER Need! Children Church workers. There will be no children's church from June -Sept. We could use a few workers if we want to keep it open. In the Fall Children's Church will be for 12 and under only. If we have more than 6 kids we will need a second adult to assist. We could use some teachers/leaders for teen class too or they will remain in worship. All children's workers are in the process of renewing clearances. They are free if you are interested in helping. See Lori for info. There will be a training for all children's workers in Sept.
PRAYER Need: For God to give us dreams and visions for His plans this summer and for willing servants to lead some outreach gatherings.
Check out Kim's Blog at the bottom for how to pray blessings over our body and each other. Good Stuff!
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Good Morning Pursued, Love-Filled, Love Bringers! The Theme continues of God's awesome pursuing love with our devotionals this morning. God is pursuing us and wanting to speak to our hearts as He prepares us to be part of His team of pursuers. He is preparing and sending us to go love like Jesus as we join Him in what He is doing all around us daily. Who do you see Him pursuing and who is the Holy Spirit pinching you to engage with? What will you do about it?
Man just meditate on 1John 4:15-21 from Our Daily bread today. I spent a long tome processing this with God. Maybe you won't even get past that but our other devos do thread through it.
1John 4:15-21,
15 All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other because he loved us first.
20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.
Wow! What's God saying to you this morning? What's He leading you to do in response? Who might you be processing this with and planning to put in to action? Talk to God about all of that. That will help you to turn off the noise and focus in on God! It will help to inform your prayers and choices too.
ODB is all about how we can't out love God. They ask, "How has knowing God loves you helped you to love others? How can you show love to others this week?" So???? God is love. His love pursues us and others and pursue through us as we live and love more like Jesus. How cool is that! Charles Stanley reminds us of the importance of giving love today with the reminder that as we give and sow, we will receive back. We love because God first loved us and we can give love because we are loved so much and it's what we are created to do. I just love how things all work together in God's Kingdom and how He invites and empowers us to join Him as He pursues in love! The Upper Room reminds us how we are called to serve with gladness. There's a wanting to, I can't help but, serve the Lord attitude and motivation because of His overpowering love for us. And as we serve and love we are blessed back and encouraged to keep at it. You know, that's stuff to focus on today instead of all the hate, lies, noise and chaos. That's enough to keep us busy! Amen! What's on your Christian bucket list and how can we help each other achieve some of those? (Maybe start a list and share it with some others! I have a pretty extensive list going even before I read this and God keeps leading me to new ones!)
TWFYT speaks about vision and planning and overcoming distractions from following God to His best. We often need to deal with conflict, issues and differing ideas in a good and loving way. God is not a God of chaos but of peace and wisdom and joy. We do our best to nip in the bud any conflict and dissension and resolve all conflicts biblically and ASAP. If you have any concerns remember our PRC is here to help and so is your support team and pastors. We are all wanting to seek and follow God well and to His best. It will take all of us dying to self, taking up cross and following Jesus together to do that well and biblically. Eph. 4:15 reminds us that all we do needs to be done in love and not for our own needs or ways or agendas but to honor God and love each other well. God pursues us in love and wants to love through us. Are we pursuing Him, His ways, and His plans or our own? Ask for His heart and mind and for us to stay unified and doing His plans His way--in love! I struggle with sometimes trying to get people on board with my plans and visions without consulting God and seeking His plans fully and His timing. (Karen calls me a smooze! Like a used car salesman) It's great to have a team of co-laborers to help me process and redirect and doing so in love. I am getting better at that and that's all God asks, but I have to keep after it or I can be all about my business my ways instead of God's and His ways. We are called to become more like Jesus. We are created for that actually and to love like Him. He has great plans for us! Let us stay yoked to Him and each others as we all do our parts to go live and love more like Him! Amen? AMEN! Let's pursue Him and His best together and allow Him to pursue through us as we go about His business daily, His ways, in His timing! Follow peace and share the love! Amen! Let us determine to live out Eph. 4:15 as part of our mission.
Ephesians 4:15 , Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
ODB:
When my now-grown son, Xavier, was in kindergarten, he stretched his arms wide and said, “I love you this much.” I stretched my longer arms wide and said, “I love you this much.” Planting his fists on his hips, he said, “I loved you first.” I shook my head. “I loved you when God first put you in my womb.” Xavier’s eyes widened. “You win.” “We both win,” I said, “because Jesus loved both of us first.”
As Xavier prepares for the birth of his first child, I’m praying he’ll enjoy trying to out-love his son as they make sweet memories. But as I prepare to be a grandmother, I’m amazed at how much I loved my grandson from the moment Xavier and his wife told us they were expecting a baby.
The apostle John affirmed that Jesus’ love for us gives us the ability to love Him and others (1 John 4:19). Knowing He loves us gives us a sense of security that deepens our personal relationship with Him (vv. 15-17). As we realize the depth of His love for us (v. 19), we can grow in our love for Him and express love in other relationships (v. 20). Not only does Jesus empower us to love, but He also commands us to love: “And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister” (v. 21). When it comes to loving well, God always wins. No matter how hard we try, we can’t out-love God!
By Xochitl Dixon
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How has knowing God loves you helped you to love others? How can you show love to others this week?
Loving Savior, thank You for loving me first so I can love others.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The books of John; 1, 2, and 3 John; and Revelation were all written by the apostle John (one of the “sons of thunder”; Mark 3:17), who refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23; 19:26). But rather than boasting, John seems to point with assurance and perhaps amazement to the knowledge that Christ loved him despite his failings. In our text today, John declares: “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). Because of His perfect love, we need not fear our future or eternal destiny (vv. 17-18). By dying on the cross, Jesus made a way for us to be with Him (vv. 9-10; John 3:16). Nothing can separate believers in Christ from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). In response, we’re called to love others (1 John 4:11, 20-21). Through the Spirit, we have assurance of His love and are empowered to love others (v. 13; Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22).
Alyson Kieda |
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CS:
UR: Bucket List
Serve the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing. - Psalm 100:2 (NRSVUE)
In recent years, it has become popular for people to make a “bucket list.” In other words, a list of things they want to do before they die or “kick the bucket.” What if we were to make a “Christian bucket list” — a list of ways we can use our gifts to provide meaningful service for the Lord’s work?
I once heard a Christian leader pose the question, “What makes your heart sing?” I have a number of things on my Christian bucket list that do exactly that. For example, in memory of my late son, I serve on short-term mission teams with an international Christian disability ministry. We deliver and customize wheelchairs for people in need around the world. It brings me much joy to see people experience mobility, many for the first time. It is also a joy to work and worship with other Christians around the world. Writing meditations for Christian resources in hopes that something I share might be helpful to others is another activity that makes my heart sing.
God blesses each of us with skills, interests, and experiences that uniquely equip us to serve. When we find ways to serve that draw on those gifts, it can truly make the heart sing.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you for the gifts and talents you give to each person. Help us find ways to serve you joyfully and effectively. Amen.
TWFYT:
Kim's Blog:
2 Thessalonians has become one of my favorite books of the Bible. It is filled with blessings to pray for and over others! What I love about these verses is how simple it is to adapt each prayer for believers wherever they may be and whatever circumstance in which they find themselves. It is easy to change pronouns or put in the names of the person/persons you wish to pray for as you bring them to the throne of God with His kingdom purposes for them in your heart and upon your lips:
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12: “…we pray for you always that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Example: “Bill, I pray that our God may count you worthy of your calling…etc.”
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14: “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Example: Tina, I always give thanks to God for you, as a sister beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you…etc.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17: “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” Example: “Joe, may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us…etc.”
2 Thessalonians 3:5: “And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ” Example: “Sarah, may the Lord direct your heart into the love of God…etc.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16: “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!” Example: “Don, may the Lord of peace Himself…etc.”
I can’t think of one of these prayers I would not want someone to pray over my life. Blessing people in prayer is a powerful way to reassure, inspire or support other believers. These prayers can also become part of your personal prayer time, praying over individuals, couples, families, your church, the churches in your community, government officials…well, you likely get the idea! Example: “Father, I lift my pastor, Tom, up to You! May You count him worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in and through his life…etc.”
Perhaps you could look over these Scriptures and ask God to assign each one to someone you know: family members, pastors, missionaries, people you work with, friends, etc. If you can’t personally seek them out to pray over them, call or email these prayers of blessing to them. Who knows how much encouragement each one of us could give to the body of Christ today if we all take this challenge! If just ten of us do this, fifty people will receive power, peace and/or purpose from God’s Spirit. I’ll go first!
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Kim's Blog:
2 Thessalonians has become one of my favorite books of the Bible. It is filled with blessings to pray for and over others! What I love about these verses is how simple it is to adapt each prayer for believers wherever they may be and whatever circumstance in which they find themselves. It is easy to change pronouns or put in the names of the person/persons you wish to pray for as you bring them to the throne of God with His kingdom purposes for them in your heart and upon your lips:
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12: “…we pray for you always that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Example: “Bill, I pray that our God may count you worthy of your calling…etc.”
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14: “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Example: Tina, I always give thanks to God for you, as a sister beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you…etc.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17: “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” Example: “Joe, may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us…etc.”
2 Thessalonians 3:5: “And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ” Example: “Sarah, may the Lord direct your heart into the love of God…etc.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16: “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!” Example: “Don, may the Lord of peace Himself…etc.”
I can’t think of one of these prayers I would not want someone to pray over my life. Blessing people in prayer is a powerful way to reassure, inspire or support other believers. These prayers can also become part of your personal prayer time, praying over individuals, couples, families, your church, the churches in your community, government officials…well, you likely get the idea! Example: “Father, I lift my pastor, Tom, up to You! May You count him worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in and through his life…etc.”
Perhaps you could look over these Scriptures and ask God to assign each one to someone you know: family members, pastors, missionaries, people you work with, friends, etc. If you can’t personally seek them out to pray over them, call or email these prayers of blessing to them. Who knows how much encouragement each one of us could give to the body of Christ today if we all take this challenge! If just ten of us do this, fifty people will receive power, peace and/or purpose from God’s Spirit. I’ll go first!
Don 
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