Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! Yes! Thanks Lord!
Get out and keep building those gratitude lists. What about your salvation and/or new life in Christ can you add to that list and causes you to lift praise to God? Who needs to hear that story as we spread the fame and glory of God? Ask God to bring someone to mind that he is drawing or sending you to and for courage and wisdom to go love on them as you share your story and God's love. Maybe some day they will celebrate TGIF!
Good Morning Known, Loved, Redeemed, Called and Sent Disciples and Apostles of Jesus! AMEN! Praise and pray into that salutation and ask God to fill you to overflowing with His Love and Spirit and to direct your steps to His plans for you today! he does have great plans! Seek and follow well today my friends! I'm praying for you. Maybe take some time with the devos below to draw close, listen, receive, and prepare to go live and love like Jesus today. Start with worship and go refreshed and ready! Amen!
Upper Room: God Is Working
Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. - Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
I had registered for a professional examination that would be held outside of my town. I would need to travel, and the transportation fare was due one week before the examination day. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I had no money when it was time to pay the fare. However, I trusted that God would make a way for me, so I kept my faith alive. Surprisingly, just before the payment deadline, a friend called to check on me. She offered to cover all my expenses without asking for anything in return.
When we are close to giving up and feel like there is no way out of our situation, we do not need to despair. We don’t need to know how God will work things out for us. We just need to keep our faith alive and trust that God is working and can bring about good things.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, when we don’t see a way forward, strengthen our faith in you. Remind us of your goodness and provision as we pray the prayer Jesus taught us, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matt. 6:9-13, KJV).The Word for You Today
Sarah Young
Our Daily Bread
Compelled to Tell
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1:16
READ Acts 20:17-24
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“You know Jesus loves you. He really loves you.” Those were the last words of John Daniels. Just seconds after he’d given a homeless man money and shared those parting words, he was struck by a car and instantly killed. The printed program for the service that celebrated John’s life included these words: “He wanted to figure out how he could reach more people, so on a Sunday afternoon, trying to help a man in need, God gave him a way to reach the world. All of the local TV channels carried the news, and it reached friends, family, and many others all over the country.”
Though John Daniels wasn’t a preacher, he was compelled to tell others about Jesus. So was Paul. In Acts 20, the apostle expressed his zeal for the gospel in his parting words to the church leaders at Ephesus: “My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (v. 24).
The good news of forgiveness and new life in Jesus is too good not to share with others. Some believers are more skilled at explaining the gospel than others. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, all who’ve experienced its life-changing power can tell their story of God’s love.
By Arthur Jackson
REFLECT & PRAY
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Who do you know who needs to hear about God’s love and forgiveness in and through Christ? What’s keeping you from sharing His work in your life with them?
Dear Father, please forgive me for being hesitant to tell others about the new life that comes through Jesus and help me boldly share Your love.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Acts 20:17-35 records the first part of Paul’s teaching to the elders of the church at Ephesus. He called them to meet with him in Miletus, a seaport on the west coast of Asia Minor about forty miles away. Not only had Paul been instrumental in the founding of the Ephesian church (see chs. 18-19), he’d spent extended time there teaching, mentoring, and raising up leadership (20:31). The resulting close relationship resulted in a painful, tearstained farewell as Paul informed his Ephesian friends that they wouldn’t see him again (v. 25). This speech, however, wouldn’t be the last apostolic communication that the church at Ephesus would receive. Other New Testament letters that were either written to or about the church in Ephesus include 1 and 2 Timothy and 1, 2, and 3 John. And in Revelation 2:1-7, Ephesus received a letter from the risen Christ Himself revealed in a vision of the apostle John.
Bill Crowder |
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