Sarah update below. Add to that the Bobby Gunther Walsh was released from Lehigh. Not sure but believe he was sent to a rehab. He's asking for prayers to be able to attend the celebration Friday of his40 years on the radio at Hotel Bethlehem
Good Morning New Creations, Very Loved Children of God! AMEN! And we are being made new to go love others and grow His church as we serve together and are used to make disciples of those He is sending. Come Lord! Have Your way with us and make clear our steps. be our Lord and bring Your dreams and visons for us to reality. Thanks! Amen!
We had a fun night of fellowship and planning last evening with our adult huddle at the Superior. We are an Acts 2:42 church! Table fellowship and worship is part of that. Who does God want you to invite to join us? As we await the AC installation, we anticipate gathering in the building in Aug. Until then we decided to meet at Ritas in Emmaus Wed the 17th of July for ice and fellowship at 6:30. Plan to join us and be the light! We are going to be offering t-shirts for sale shortly with St Matts on them to wear at events like this. Watch for details. They're cool and affordable! Let us keep seeking God for how He wants to send us out to connect to new neighbors and share ideas and plan some fun activities out of the building.
I have another very busy day. yesterday I got to visit some homebound members and will continue today after our district meeting. I'll allow you to process the devos for today on your own. Do you see a thread? Is God highlighting something for you? Who does He want you to disciple or disciple with? Be still, know, receive, process, plan and go live and love like Jesus today! Amen!
CS:
ODB:
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For three years, apart from household necessities, Susan didn’t buy anything for herself. The Covid-19 pandemic affected my friend’s income, and she embraced a simple lifestyle. “One day, while cleaning my apartment, I noticed how shabby and faded my things looked,” she shared. “That’s when I started to miss having new things—the sense of freshness and excitement. My surroundings seemed tired and stale. I felt as if there was nothing to look forward to.”
Susan found encouragement in an unlikely book in the Bible. Written by Jeremiah after Jerusalem fell to Babylon, Lamentations describes the open wound of grief suffered by the prophet and the people. In the midst of grief’s despair, however, lies sure ground for hope─God’s love. "His compassions never fail,” Jeremiah wrote. “They are new every morning” (3:22-23).
Susan was reminded that God’s deep love relentlessly breaks through anew each day. When circumstances make us feel there’s no longer anything to look forward to, we can call to mind His faithfulness and look forward to how He’ll provide for us. We can confidently hope in God, knowing our hoping is never in vain (vv. 24-25) because it’s secured in His steadfast love and compassion.
“God’s love is my ‘something new’ each day,” Susan says. “I can look ahead with hope.”
By Karen Huang
REFLECT & PRAY
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When have you felt unable to see any hope in your situation? How does the promise of God’s love as “new every morning” give you hope?
Thank You, dear God, because each day brings with it Your certain, steadfast love.
Deal head-on with pain and pressure in this study.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Lamentations is one of the darkest books in the Bible; it’s Jeremiah’s heart cry for his violated nation. But here, at the center point of his poem, we find real hope. “The Lord’s . . . compassions never fail” (3:22). The book also concludes in hope, yet we still sense Jeremiah’s doubt. He proclaims, “You, Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation” (5:19). That’s how we might expect the book to end—in ultimate triumph. The prophet, however, asks God a pair of haunting questions: “Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long?” (v. 20). Although he asks God to “restore us to yourself” (v. 21), he doesn’t do so with unwavering confidence. Rather, he adds this caveat: “unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure” (v. 22). Jeremiah is a prophet who struggled mightily with the tragedy he saw.
Tim Gustafson |
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UR: Wait for the Lord
Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31 (NRSVUE)
Sitting in the urgent care facility with my knee wrapped in ice was not how I had planned to spend my day. Nevertheless, I was hopeful for a quick solution. Instead, I was told I needed major surgery followed by months of recuperation and healing. After four years of recovery, I am still learning my limitations.
Healing from illnesses and injuries takes time, and some have a lifelong impact. God, the great healer, has given me strength, patience, and wisdom throughout my recovery period. But it has required me to alter my routine and responsibilities to allow my body to rest and recover. Many days it requires me to wait.
What does it mean to wait for the Lord, to seek God during my time of need? Instead of allowing my ailment to distract me from God, it can point me to God. As I focus on God in my waiting, I receive God’s promise of strength and hope.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear God, when we feel discouraged by the limitations of our physical bodies, help us to wait on you. Through you, we have the hope of renewal and restoration. We pray as Jesus taught us, “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation” (Luke 11:2-4, NIV). Amen.TWFYT:
Sarah Update:
Good afternoon everyone.....
Praying that you are all staying cool.
Here are some folks that could use our prayers.....
Barb Schware will be having some dental surgery done tomorrow. Pray that all goes well and the medical team that will be caring for her gets a good night's sleep. Pray that God's peace overwhelms Barb, and for a quick healing.
Jason Fuhrman broke two bones in his arm. Pray for his healing and for him to be patient in the process.
Gerry Siegfried has asked for prayer for Pam Lambert - she was in a very serious accident. Please pray for healing and restoration.
Kathy Canfield - has some bumps and bruises from a fall she took. Praying for healing and strengthen as mends.
Our Bread Ministry has an urgent need: With Jason unable to pick up the bread for our bread ministry, we are in need of someone/some people to assist with picking up the bread on a Monday afternoon, from the Bimbo driver in Macungie. We will need someone/some people to also help unload the bread at the church.
IF you are available to assist with this, please reach out to Gail Lichtenwalner, Pastor Don or Sarah.
This is a vital ministry that we have, and each week we give HOPE to over 60 people. Please pray about it and
see if the Lord is nudging you.......
Pray for one another. There are a few of our church family members that are
not feeling well, and/or are going to doctor appointments and anticipating test results. Praying for each, for healing and for God's peace to envelope them.
Stay cool, everyone. Check on loved ones. Drink lots of water, and pace yourself.
Blessings,
Sarah
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