***Zoom Only Church Tomorrow*** Spread the word! With the impending snow, ice and below freezing temps up to worship time, we have opted for Zoom only worship tomorrow at 10. Thank you for understanding our wanting to always err on the side of safety and for spreading the news!
No matter what the weather on Wed. we will have donut day at the Bread Ministry 10-12. Keep watch for possible cancelation of Wed. evening dinner huddle due to predicted snow and ice.
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Good Morning Custom Made, Gifted, and Sent Salt and Light for Such A Time As This! Oh yeah baby. That's you, me and us as God's gathered and sent servants. We are His customized Good News Delivery Company that brings salt and light to the Lehigh Valley and especially Emmaus area. Amen! And we all get to do our part to allow God to expand His Kingdom and Love, just as we are, for such a time as this! Salt to season the area. Light to the darkness around us. And Love to shower over all who are being drawn and will come to God through you and us. Amen! Spend some time today asking God how to us you as you come with humble and available hearts and willing and moving feet and hands. We are created to be His vessels for today, as we are, where we are. What's your part? Who are your partners? He is manifesting His presence in you as you abide in Him and will overflow all He is through you, if you allow it. You are loved and He is calling you by name and sending you to love today! Amen! You matter! Thanks for being a part of His team that gathers as St. Matthews Fellowship of sent servants and worshipers!
Tomorrow we will discuss Acts 6 and highlight 7 and begin 8. Read ahead prayerfully. What's God saying to you? We will have space to discuss and process that during our Zoom gathering. What can we learn and apply to our church from the early church?
One thing we can be sure of...God has gathered, equipped and is sending us to make disciples for such a time as this. We are His Good News Delivery Co. And He has great plans for you and us to discover and carry out. We are His salt and light. Check out the flow through our devotionals below and the connection blog. What's God saying to you? He is calling you by name and speaking to your heart. He loves you beyond measure and has perfect plans just for you. So, rejoice, worship, trust and obey!
TWFYT
Chuck Swindoll
ODB
Ms. Charlene, my friend Dwayne’s mother, is ninety-four years old, under five feet tall, and weighs less than a hundred pounds. Yet this doesn’t stop her from doing what she can to care for her son, whose physical health prevents him from caring for himself. Visits to their two-story home often find her on the second floor, where she resides. Slowly, she descends sixteen stairs to the first floor to greet her guests, just as she does to assist in caring for the son whom she loves.
Ms. Charlene’s selfless determination convicts, challenges, and inspires me as she prioritizes her son’s well-being over her own. She models what Paul encourages in Philippians 2: “In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (vv. 3-4).
Caring for those with health challenges or other needs can be costly. The demands of life can be all-consuming, and even those closest to us can be shortchanged if we’re not intentional about taking our eyes off ourselves. But humbly caring is what believers in Jesus are called to do (see vv. 1-4). When we give of ourselves, we follow the example of Jesus and help others in the process. The apostle reminds us: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (v. 5).
By Arthur Jackson
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Who inspires you to be more caring and selfless? What obstacles might you have to navigate to meet others’ needs?
Dear Jesus, please help me to be more intentional in giving myself for the good of others.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Paul’s call to imitate Jesus’ example of self-giving love (Philippians 2:5-8) begins with a call to unity: “Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind” (v. 2). This kind of deep unity isn’t accomplished by a lack of differences but a willingness to surrender “selfish ambition” and “vain conceit” (v. 3) in order to see and serve others with a heart like His. When believers in Christ live out what He modeled—the humility and willingness to surrender for the well-being of others—unity is possible.
Monica La Rose |
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Joyce Meyer
Sarah Young
Connections Blogs:
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February 8 - The Life of God within Us
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For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. (2 Chronicles 16:9)
God is not only the God of yesterday, but He is also the God of today. He is willing to manifest Himself to this generation or any future generation that will seek Him. Reading about His great deeds of past years is thrilling, but we must not forget that history is being made today. There is no difference between Luther, Wesley, Whitefield, Moody, or you and me. We were all formed from dust, and we shall return to dust. It is the life of God within us that gives us hope. His life not only gives us hope personally but also gives us hope for today. Christ can make a difference in this generation.
A few factors, however, are unique to this generation. For instance, we have the threat of terrorism mixed with nuclear weapons. Economic and environmental problems are mounting around the world. Entire nations are experiencing the results of their greed, financial gambles, and indebtedness. The ozone layer grows thinner. Famine threatens parts of the world. The fear of a deadly global pandemic stalks politicians and medical experts alike.
Yet the church seems to be asleep. A hopeless world cries for some sign of light in the midst of darkness and desperation. This should be a time when the church is shining her brightest. The world needs to see the glory of God in the hearts of the people of God.
A few signs of hope exist in this generation. The Christian church is having phenomenal growth in certain areas of the world. Revival of historic proportion exists among certain groups of people today. These great movements of the Holy Spirit stand as a witness that God has not forgotten us. He is still on His throne and ready to manifest His glory upon those who will seek Him.
Awesome Father, during these uncertain times, it is so vital that Your people wake up from their slumber and cry out to You! May we shine as beacons of light to our culture, and may we be diligent to raise up the generations after us to seek Your face! Flood the nations with Your holiness and pour out Your Spirit in the midst of Your people! Revive our hearts and set us on fire with Your glory for the sake of Your Name.
--Adapted from The Prayer Factor by Sammy Tippit. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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Praying through the President’s First 31 Days
Day 20
Pray that the president would maintain the U.S. support of Israel and wisely handle the issues of the Middle East.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:5).
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- Praise the God who cares even for the birds (Mt. 6:25-34).
- Give thanks that you can depend upon him completely to meet every need.
- Confess anything in your life which is rooted in pride and self-reliance.
- Commit yourself to not worrying about your life or about tomorrow.
- Ask the Father to help you to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness . . .” (Mt. 6:33).
- Ask that unsaved persons around you will realize the folly of building their lives on foundations of sand. Pray that they will build on the rock, Jesus Christ.
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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) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com
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