Good Morning Abiding, Trusting, Growing, Good Fruit Producing Christ Followers! Oh yeah baby! That's us, by the grace of God! Rejoice! Celebrate, Adore! Continue to grow in trust, obedience and good fruit production! We are His Fruitful Good News Producers! God is surely on the move and using us in amazing ways as we just go as we are and allow Him to guide and use us. PTL! What an amazing day of ministry yesterday! I am so stoked at the things God is doing and how easy His yoke really is as we allow Him to mold, teach and use us. Please keep praying into all the ministry God is doing inside our building and as we go out. He is definitely on the move and using us, His surrendered, faithful, fruit producers! You have to make it a point to join us as we distribute bread, gather around the table and minister to each other and go out as His Body to shine bright! Next week you have several opportunities to pray into and join as we gather Tue at 10 for huddle in the fellowship hall and on zoom, hand out bread Wed from 10-12, and gather for our restart of dinner huddle Wed from 6-7:30. Pray for God to prepare the way, draw many, use us, bring revival and connect many to Him. We have and will have many things to celebrate as we share the stories of what God is doing. I am not even aware of everything he did yesterday, but we all have stories to share and celebrate! Here's one: Patrick that we are praying for to come to Christ shared with me how during the week, he didn't know how it happened but this movie came on his TV> Now we all know it was God at work answering prayers and drawing Patrick and his wife Sharon (Pray for her too). The movie was the Left Behind about how the world will be when Jesus comes back and removes believers from the earth. Patrick was compelled to watch and drawn to pray the prayer of salvation they shared at the end. WOW! PTL! Pray for Patrick to be drawn to our or a good church to help him grow as a disciple. Yes! God is on the move and using us! Rejoice! Then all kinds of ministry happened at Pastor Don's pizza lunch. We will try this agin in the near future. pray for Go's direction and provision. It always amazias me how God sits the right people with us as we scatter around different tables and then ministers through us. PTL! Come join us as we allow God to use us to produce good fruit. Develop your own story of what God is doing in, through and around you.
Pronounce who you are and what God is doing as you abide, trust, grow and produce good fruit in Christ and for His glory. The words we say out loud, and even think, really do matter and are a way to pray powerfully as we pronounce out loud our thanksgivings and ascribe to God all He is and is and will do and bring to life His promises.. Try it! Say out loud, "I am an Abiding, Trusting, Growing, Good Fruit Producing Christ Followers!" Amen! Believe it and keep or start living out these truths just as you are and as you are created to do. he has great custom made plans just for you. The harvest is white as unto harvest (pronounce that) and He is bringing in the harvest and using us as His harvest workers (pronounce that too)! PTL!
I have to run to an appointment. Check out the devos for today. God is speaking. What's He saying to you? What will you do about it. What will you pronounce and pray out loud today. he is on the move and invitng you to join Him! Rejoice! Submit! Follow well! Pronounce His blessings out loud. And be prepared to have many stories of His faithfulness to share! Amen! We are Abiding, Trusting, Growing, Good Fruit Producing Christ Followers!
harvest:
|
|
August 22 - Adoration Fuels Trust in God
|
|
|
Jeremiah provides a good example of the importance of adoration. The prophet’s prayer recorded in Jeremiah 32 came at a time of extreme distress. He was being held captive by King Zedekiah in the royal palace in Judah for delivering unpopular prophecies. An enemy was about to overrun the city and drag the people off into captivity in Babylon. In the midst of this, God told Jeremiah to buy a plot of land as a symbol that He would eventually restore the people to their land. Seen in the light of all his problems, Jeremiah’s prayer is astounding.
He began with praise: “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. . . O great and powerful God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds” (Jeremiah 32:17-19). He then went on and on, simply naming various deeds God had done for Israel over the centuries. The amazing realization: Jeremiah never asked God for a thing! “Jeremiah tuned his heart to God by talking to Him,” comments Lee Brase. “Through this process of talking to God, Jeremiah was able to come to a clearer understanding of Him. When he better understood God, he was able to accept what God was doing—even though it was devastating.”
Adoration, in a very real way, helps us to trust in God. When we remind God of His character, of how great He is, of who He is, we are also reminding ourselves of those things. Our love for God increases, and our faith to believe He can and will act in our lives rises to a higher level.
Father God, sometimes I bring long lists to You and forget that You are first worthy of all of my worship. Help me to remember always that simply being in Your presence is more important than anything I need or want. Please give me a deep desire to remember all You have done, all You are doing and all You will do. That alone causes my faith to rise and my love for You to increase! May I always bless You and know that nothing is too hard for You. I give You all of the glory Lord! For You are worthy!
--Adapted from The Power of Personal Prayer (Learning to Pray with Faith and Purpose) by Jonathan Graf. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
|
|
- Praise God that even though you were once an enemy of God, he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death (Col. 1:21-22).
- Give thanks that you are now alive with Christ, without blemish and free from accusation (Col. 2:13).
- Confess your failure to live up to that holiness, praying, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Lk. 18:13).
- Commit yourself to rejoicing when you are called to share in the suffering of Christ (1 Pet. 4:13-14).
- Ask God to help you see the victory you are given in Jesus as you trust the Holy Spirit to guide you in being his image-bearer (1 Cor. 15:57).
- All churches experience the pain of divorce, broken homes, and death. Pray that those who have overcome such difficult experiences as these may effectively reach out to others in similar situations.
|
|
Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. |
|
|
Sarah Young:
Charles Stanley:
ODB:
|
For years, a mother prayed as she helped her adult daughter navigate the healthcare system and find counseling and the best medications. Her extreme highs and deep lows weighed on her mama’s heart day after day. Often exhausted from sadness, she realized she had to take care of herself too. A friend suggested writing out her worries and things she couldn’t control on small pieces of paper and placing them on “God’s plate” at her bedside. This simple practice didn’t eliminate all stress, but seeing that plate reminds her those concerns are on God’s plate, not hers.
In a way, many of David’s psalms were his way of listing his troubles and laying them on God’s plate (Psalm 55:1, 16-17). If the coup attempt by his son Absalom is what’s being described, David’s “close friend” Ahithophel had indeed betrayed him and was involved in the plot to kill him (2 Samuel 15-16). So “evening, morning and noon [David cried] out in distress,” and God heard his prayer (Psalm 55:1-2, 16-17). He chose to “cast [his] cares on the Lord” and experienced His care (v. 22).
We can authentically acknowledge that worries and fears affect us all. We may even have thoughts like David’s: “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest” (v. 6). God is near and is the only one who has the power to change situations. Place it all on His plate.
By Anne Cetas
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
Where are your worries—on God’s plate or yours? What will you give to Him right now?
I often have concerns on my heart, dear God. I relinquish them all to You again. I’m emptying my plate and filling Yours.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
David describes in deep anguish and emotional distress how he’s being venomously attacked—not by an enemy but by “my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship” (Psalm 55:13-14). Some scholars say this trusted friend was likely Ahithophel, David’s counselor who switched sides and actively advised and emboldened Absalom, David’s son, to usurp the throne and pursue and kill David (2 Samuel 15:12; 16:20-17:3).
At first, the psalmist pictures himself as a dove escaping, isolating, and detaching himself from the conflict to seek respite and security in the desert (Psalm 55:6-8). But he found sustenance and rest in God instead. David says to “cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (v. 22; see 1 Peter 5:7). Some scholars say that Ahithophel’s betrayal of David foreshadowed Judas’ betrayal of Jesus (Luke 22:47-48). Interestingly, both Ahithophel and Judas hanged themselves (2 Samuel 17:23; Matthew 27:5).
K. T. Sim |
|
|
|
|
|
UR: Good news
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. - Luke 2:11 (NIV)
Watching the evening news can be troubling. More often than not, the news reports what’s wrong with the world — crime, war, or natural disasters. However, one news program I regularly watch features events that are inspiring — unselfish acts of kindness, humanitarian aid efforts, and medical breakthroughs. In a world where so much is troubling, it is heartening to hear good news.
The best news the world has ever received is the good news of salvation Christ offers. Jesus came to us to establish a spiritual kingdom and point the way to God. This is good news for everyone. Whoever we are, whatever our race, nationality, or social standing, we can experience the new life Christ offers by acknowledging our need and accepting God’s gift of salvation.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, in times when we are overwhelmed by troubling news, help us to focus on the good news of salvation and the new life you offer us. We pray the prayer you taught us, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matt. 6:9-13, NIV). Amen.
TWFYT
LISTEN ONLINE
