Please be reading and meditating on Philippians 1 for Sun. What's God saying to you? What does it mean to you to be a slave to Christ? What does it mean "To live is Christ and to die gain"? How's that look for your life and our church? What's it like to find joy in suffering like Paul was able?
Today is Bread Ministry from 10-12 and tonight at 6 is our first dinner huddle of the fall.
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Good Morning Slaves of Christ! Are you sold out for Christ and attached to Him like an indentured servant or slave? That's something I ask myself all the time. Am I living as if Christ is all that matters? Am I able to turn off all the noise around me and focus on God and at doing what Jesus is doing or has for me to do? Help me Lord! I often find myself feeling like a failure or getting depressed when I ponder my answers to these questions daily. BUT GOD! He knows me. he calls me by name. He has redeemed me and my choices. He has great plans for me today to discover and step into as I release all my junk and anxiety and trust Him. I can know and choose joy despite my circumstances or the situations of the world around me. 2 Chronicles reminds us to humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, acknowledge God in all our ways and He will heal our land. Fixing what's going on around you is God's business. Our business is to be all about God and slaves to Christ and to allow Him to use us to change one soul at a time. That will lead us to be part of His healing our nation.
I'm running very late today and need to skedaddle. In our pastors huddle this morning we discussed some of the above and Eph. 2:10. God knows he because he made you and ius shaping you as you go. You are being made new in Christ, gifted and empowered to go do the things He has planned for you since before you were born. It would benefit us to turn off all the noise. Seek God's face and follow Jesus to those things yoked to Him as His slave. That's all you need to worry about. Cast all that other junk unto Him and receive His shalom and marching orders for today. Amen! help us Lord. Check out how our devos for today flow through this thinking. be still and know. Die to self, take up cross and follow Jesus today. he does have great plans for you that will lead to much good fruit and great joy. Shalom! God Is enough! Trust Him and live well as you walk with Jesus today!
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Talk about a layover. Phil Stringer waited eighteen hours to board a flight that was delayed due to thunderstorms. His patience and perseverance paid off, however. Not only did he get to fly to his destination and make it on time for important business meetings, but he was also the only traveler on the flight! All the other passengers gave up or made other arrangements. Flight attendants gave him whatever food items he desired, and Stringer adds, “I did sit in the front row, of course. Why not when you have the whole plane to yourself?” The outcome was definitely worth the wait.
Abraham also endured what must have felt like a lengthy delay. Way back when he was known as Abram, God told him that He would make him “into a great nation” and that “all peoples on earth [would] be blessed through” him (Genesis 12:2-3). Only one problem for the seventy-five-year-old man (v. 4): how could he become a great nation without an heir? His waiting was left wanting at times, however. He and wife Sarai tried to “help” God fulfill His promise with some misguided ideas (see 15:2-3; 16:1-2). And when he “was a hundred years old . . . Isaac was born to him” (21:5). His faith was later celebrated by the writer of Hebrews (11:8-12).Waiting can be hard. And, like Abraham, we might not do it perfectly. But as we pray and rest in God’s plans, may He help us persevere. In Him, it’s always worth the wait.
By Tom Felten
REFLECT & PRAY
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What are you waiting for? How can you rest and persevere in God’s strength?
Dear God, please help me wait and persevere in You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Genesis 12 records God’s call of Abram—later renamed Abraham (17:5)—an event central to the biblical story. The chosen nation of Israel would come through Abraham (Isaiah 41:8), and from Israel would come the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would save humanity and the world. But the story begins small, with one man commanded to “Go” (Genesis 12:1) and then promised that “all peoples on earth [would] be blessed through [him]” (v. 3). But he was given no details as to how. Later, Abraham is commanded by God to “take” his beloved son Isaac and offer him “as a burnt offering” (22:2). After Abraham demonstrated that he’d obey (though God provided a substitute sacrifice), the promises first given in Genesis 12 were given to him a second time (22:15-18). In the New Testament, we’re told that God’s redemption story continues through believers in Jesus, who are included in God’s people and chosen to reveal who He is to the world (1 Peter 2:9-10).
Learn more about God’s promise to Abraham.
Monica La Rose |
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UR: Enough Is Plenty (GOD IS ENOUGH!)
They all ate and were satisfied. - Matthew 14:20 (NIV)
Martha was a regular patron of our food pantry. She had worked as a domestic employee of a local family, but her retirement income was minimal. Four people lived in her home, which had no central heating. She came to the pantry every other month to supplement her meager resources. One day a farmer had brought in a supply of squash. The pantry had mostly canned and dried goods for our patrons, so I remember Martha’s eyes lighting up at the unexpected fresh food.
A few months later, Martha returned to the pantry — this time with a grocery bag full of squash. She told us that she had grown the squash from seeds she had taken from her pantry squash. Then she said, “I knew how to grow things from my early life on a farm. I loved that fresh squash so much that I’d like to share it with others who need some freshness in their lives.” It was, in every way, a miracle of multiplication. Remember, Jesus reassured his doubtful disciples that they could feed the five thousand by faith, even though their resources were minimal. “They all ate and were satisfied.”
Today's Prayer
O God, we pray for those who live day-to-day with little access to fresh, nutritious food. Help us find ways to supply life-sustaining food to those in dire need of it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Harvest
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August 28 - Cultivate Robust Faith
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Jesus consistently exercised His authority over weather, sickness, disease, physical ailments, and death. Through His miracles, He demonstrated what He wanted His followers to believe and do. He promoted a robust faith that expected His miracles.
Rebuking the Winds. Luke 8:22, 25 “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” … “Where is your faith?” But they were afraid and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him!”
Healing a Disease. Luke 8:46, 48 “Someone touched me, for I know that power has gone out from me.” … “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
Raising the Dead. Luke 5:30, 34, 39, 41 “Do not be afraid; just believe.” … “Why are you distressed and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” … “Little girl, I say to you, get up.”
The Disciples Failure. Luke 9:41-42 Jesus answered, “You unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you and endure you? Bring your son here.” As the boy was approaching, the demon threw him to the ground and shook him with convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
The Blind Healed. Luke 18:41-42 “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”
Jesus expects His followers to exercise faith; not just faith in Him, but faith concerning storms, sickness, disease, and death. Jesus extends His miraculous power to accomplish the impossible. He wants us to believe He can and will.
Lord, I repent for every time I’ve lacked faith. Show me the specific areas where I lack faith so I can specifically repent. Faith acts like a divine currency, and I want lots of it. Show me how to build my faith.
I declare I will be a person of faith, that my faith will be utilized for Your glory to bring peace to storms, healing to the wounded, and life to myself and others. I declare I will live by faith, a robust faith. Whatever happens, I will obey You and live by faith.
Thank You for fulfilling Your will in my life. I’m depending upon You to shape and mold me. I thank You that I will hear You clearly and understand Your leanings.
I praise You that You provided Jesus as a living example of whom You call me to be like. I praise You that faith in You is what I need. I praise the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I praise You, the author and finisher of life!
--Adapted from Praying What Jesus Says by Natasha Miller. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God, “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3).
- Give thanks for God’s comfort to you and all who truly mourn (Mt. 5:4).
- Confess any sin he shows you, truly mourning for the pain you have caused.
- Commit to receiving God’s forgiveness.
- Ask the Lord to search your heart and thoughts, removing any offensive way and leading you “in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24).
- Pray that the righteousness of Christ will be evidenced to your whole community through your church’s leadership and membership.
- Ask God to help you keep his kingdom and righteousness your first priority.
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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. |
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