Good Morning Overflowing Christ, Bold and Courageous, Givers! Amen! That is us! Maybe you need to pronounce that over you and us and receive it from the Lord and put it on, but most if not all of us are filled with Christ and all His love and ways to overflow and we are praying to be that more and more. Are you bold and courageous? You can be as you grow in trust and faith. That comes about as we see Christ at work and realize that God does always have our best at heart. Yesterday two Words of wisdom were pronounced to and over our Body. The first is the reminder and comes from the experience of a new member: "Love drives out all fear." So true! We've often discussed and reiterated yesterday the fact that we need to always stay focused on God in trust and as we grow in trust, perfect Love of God just overwhelms us and prepares us for whatever hard and fear causing things we face. PTL! Right? because as we dwell in Love and grow in trust no storm of life can lead us away from our focus on God and stepping in faith with Him. Yes love does cast out all fear. Dwell in His Love always! The other word from God ties to the Givers part pf the salutation for today. We discussed how our Body is populated with givers. And how God blesses us and as we go bless we are blessed back because we bless. It is an awesome cycle of God to step into as we give sacrificially and sow lavishly. He supplies all our needs and out of that supply we get to bless others. Freely given we freely give. The Word of God is that as we give we are seeing the results of being blessed back, stuffed down, shaken and filled to overflowing that come as a result of God's promise to all His givers. We discussed how this word pertains to tithing and God's call to test Him in giving and tithing sacrificially back to God to use to bless others. Now those blessings don't always come back in monetary results but we can trace the blessings we receive to our faithfulness to give as God has given and bless as we have been blessed. Amen!
Yesterday morning I was discussing with God about not sharing about giving and tithing very often from the pulpit. I rarely discuss that as I feel I would be preaching to the choir. You guys are givers. And many of us know the blessing of tithing and giving sacrificially and sowing lavishly back to God from what we have been given. God is blessings us! And I believe the church should tithe on the tithes and offerings we receive. Family Ministries does this quarterly and we have never had to do a fund raiser because God keeps blessing us back for our faithfulness. Talk to me sometime to hear the full story of God's faithfulness to tithers and givers. The two words tie together as well because many fear not having enough or lack if they were to tithe. But remember Love does cast out all fear and as we trust God and step out in faith we experience His faithfulness and provision that overflows as we give and sow sacrificially and lavishly. Try it! You will not be disappointed because God is faithful and He wants to bless you and as you trust and bless you will experience His blessings back. Amen!
The same principle applies to fasting and praying. We don't fast or pray to manipulate God but to draw close, release His blessings and get in step with Him. God has called us to give Him the first few days of 2025 back as we fast and pray and dedicate ourselves and the year to Him. We are to fast from the 2nd to the 5th as God leads you. Maybe a meal a day, maybe a full fast, may some TV time. Whatever God leads you to, dedicate it and yourself to Him as you empty yourself and fill up with Him to overflow. Try it! You will see God blessings coming and His ways coming alive in through and around you. Love casts out all fear! The blessings overflowing are coming and we will be coming alive in 2025. Trust God and offer all of you to Him and watch what He will do!
This is long but if you have time check out the devos below that remind us that we are God's creations made for such a time as this. he is leading you and us, His Church, to His best, even when it seems hard or we have to travel through that dark valley. He is always with us, molding us and working all things together for good. And He does have amazing things and great plans ahead as we trust, obey and follow! Watch and see those overflowing blessings that are on their way! Amen! What's God saying to you right now? What will you do about it? Who are your accountability partners? Seek first the Kingdom of God and all things needed will be add! Amen! Don't lean on your own understanding! Acknowledge God in ALL your ways and He will direct your steps! PTL!
Sarah Young
ODB
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Jim has been battling a motor neuron disease for more than a year. The neurons in his muscles are breaking down, and his muscles are wasting away. He’s lost his fine-motor skills and is losing his ability to control his limbs. He can no longer button his shirt or tie his shoelaces, and using a pair of chopsticks has become impossible. Jim struggles with his situation and asks, Why is God allowing this to happen? Why me?
He’s in good company with many other believers in Jesus who have brought their questions to God. In Psalm 13, David cries out, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” (vv. 1-2).
We too can take our confusion and questions to God. He understands when we cry out “How long?” and “Why?” His ultimate answer is given to us in Jesus and His triumph over sin and death.
As we look at the cross and the empty tomb, we gain confidence to trust in God’s “unfailing love” (v. 5) and rejoice in His salvation. Even in the darkest nights, we can “sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to [us]” (v. 6). Through our faith in Christ, He’s forgiven our sins, adopted us as His children, and is accomplishing His eternal good purpose in our lives.
By Poh Fang Chia
REFLECT & PRAY
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What questions do you need to bring to God? How has He shown His goodness to you, even in your darkest night?
Loving Father, thank You that You care for me. Please help me to trust that You’re making something beautiful of my life.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Psalm 13 is an urgent prayer for God’s aid (vv. 3-4) as well as a lament of the psalmist’s long period of suffering, which is experienced as if God is absent and hiding His face (v. 1). When the psalm asks, “How long?” (vv. 1-2), the point isn’t asking for a specific end date but lamenting how long something has been endured and urging God to end the long wait—to act and make things right. Yet despite Psalm 13’s intense desperation, it’s also a psalm of deep trust (vv. 5-6). Through our bond with a God who we know to be good and faithful, we have the confidence and trust to honestly voice our lament. The reformer Martin Luther called prayer like that expressed in Psalm 13 the “state in which hope despairs, and yet despair hopes at the same time.”
Monica La Rose |
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TWFYT
UR: Peace in the Storm
[Jesus] said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” - Matthew 8:26 (NRSVUE)
When I was in high school, I traveled back and forth between Germany and the United States by ship several times. Although the vast ocean seemed endless, I had total faith that the captain would bring us safely to the correct destination. Even on stormy nights, the ship stayed on course and safely rolled with the waves.
At times in my life, when it seems like I am being tossed around by waves of uncertainty and hardship, fear causes me to doubt God’s plan. But if I could trust the ship’s captain, how much more can I trust the Creator of the universe? Rather than fear, I want prayer to be my first response to trials. Fear can distract me from God’s promise to be with me through every storm.
When a storm developed as the disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee, they were afraid. They begged Jesus to help them, so he calmed the storm. Jesus asked them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Even in the face of severe storms, we can trust Jesus to carry us to the destination he has for us. When we surrender ourselves to Jesus, our faith can overcome our fears.
Today's Prayer
Lord Jesus, help us to remember that you are present with us during life’s storms. Give us faith to trust that you will carry us through. Amen.
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