Good Morning Abiding, Very Loved, Seen, Forgiven, Sent Vessels of God! AMEN! You are that today and always! PTL! As you abide in Christ's loving presence today and prayerfully engage with Him through our devotional time today, you will see the thread He weaved through them to our hearts that informed this salutation! What's God saying to you? What will you do about that? Who are your partners?
Today is the day the Lord has made and we get to worship, learn and grow in it! Rejoice! Yes praise the Lord and dwell in His love, soak it in and go bring it alive! What an awesome God we know and love! Amen!
I asked God to arrange my devotionals for us as He is not only speaking and directing me, but speaking to you and our fellowship. (See below) As we abide in Him we sense how very loved we are and that He knows us and still loves us despite all our flaws and distractions. Turn off the noise! Be still and know how loved you are by the God who is the King of the Universe and our Good Shepherd! We can know we are forgiven and accepted just as we are and sent, just as we are, to bring Good News, Love, Joy and Peace to life. What an amazing God and easy yoke Jesus has for you and us! Yes rejoice! Abide! Receive! Recharge! Then Go be Christ! What a day this will be as we worship the One who made us, knows us, loves us, forgives us and wants to lead you to your full potential as you go for such a time as this! Think about that and worship! Prepare your hearts to go love well! Yes what a great day the Lord has given us today! Amen! REJOICE!
We are Abiding, Very Loved, Seen, Forgiven, Sent Vessels of God! And we get His help to go live and love more and more like Jesus everyday! How cool! PTL! Yes rejoice and prepare your hearts to worship and go in His name! Amen! See you soon!
Our Daily Bread:
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“Get down!” my friend said firmly to her son after he climbed onto the church pew and waved his hands. “I want the pastor to see me,” he innocently replied. “If I don’t stand up, he won’t see me.”
While standing on the pews is probably not encouraged in most churches, my friend’s son had a good point. Standing and waving his hands was certainly one way to be seen and to capture the pastor’s attention.
When we’re trying to get God’s attention, we don’t have to worry about being seen by Him. God sees each of us all the time. He’s the same one who revealed Himself to Hagar when she was probably at the lowest, loneliest, and most frustrating time in her life. She’d been used as a pawn and given to Abram by his wife, Sarai, to produce a son (Genesis 16:3). And when she did get pregnant, Abram allowed his wife to mistreat Hagar: “Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her” (v. 6).
The runaway slave found herself alone, pregnant, and miserable. Yet in the midst of her desperation in the wilderness, God compassionately sent an angel to speak to her. The angel told her that God had “heard of [her] misery” (v. 11). She responded by saying, “You are the God who sees me” (v. 13).
What a realization—especially in the midst of the wilderness. God saw Hagar and had compassion. And no matter how tough things are, He sees you.
By Katara Patton
REFLECT & PRAY
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What wilderness situations are you facing? How does knowing that God sees you help you to keep going?
Dear God, thank You for seeing me. I know You’re with me even during my toughest times.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
God sees and remembers us, which is an encouragement displayed repeatedly in the Scriptures. When tormented and desperate for a child of her own, Hannah prayed that God would remember her (1 Samuel 1:11), and He did (vv. 19-20). He gave her a son, Samuel, the last of the judges and the first of the prophets. Samuel would anoint Israel’s first two kings. As blind Samson stood between the pillars of a pagan temple, he too prayed for God to remember him and restore his strength (Judges 16:28). God restored that strength and Samson’s final victory proved to be his greatest. From a cross, a dying thief prayed, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). Christ assured him that He’d remember him (v. 43). One of God’s most encouraging attributes is that He’s the God who remembers us.
Bill Crowder |
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Sarah Young:
Chuck Swindoll:
Charles Stanley:
Joyce Meyer:
Upper Room: God's Plan
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. - Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
As an animal lover, I was ecstatic to apply and interview for a job managing a local veterinary clinic. It was my dream job. The interview with the clinic owner couldn’t have gone better. We got along great and discussed the future of the clinic as she gave me a full tour and introduced me to staff.
Although I was convinced this was a perfect fit for me, I asked God for guidance and to either open or close the door to this opportunity according to God’s plan. When I found out a week later that I was not selected for the job, I was heartbroken.
But I had to remind myself in my disappointment that God had indeed answered my prayer about this decision. I had asked God to open or close the door, and God had done just that.
While I think I know the right course for my life, God always knows best. When we remain humble and submit to God’s will, w
e can be certain that God has a good plan for our lives and can use all things — even disappointments — for good.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, thank you for directing our steps and reminding us that you have a good plan for our lives. We pray as Jesus 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.The Word for You Today
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