See Sarah Update below!
Tue Zoom Huddle is canceled the next two weeks.
Wed Bread and DONUT Day is on from 10-12. Watch to see if we can meet for dinner huddle at 6. Looks like a snow storm again. Next Wed we are off for my spiritual retreat.
Thursday 6:30 Vision Team Zoom (If God is giving you a dream or vision for our Body share it with sarah or me so we can pray into it and seek God's direction)
Sat is Clothing Closet from 10-1
----------------------------------------------
Good Morning Abiding and Loving Servants! How cool is it that God knows you, loves you, calls you by name, redeems you and invites you to come and rest in His love and walk with Him through His plans for you each day! That just leads me to deep worship! How about you? And as I abide, God informs and orders my steps each day. Yes PTL!
On this national sleep in Monday or after the Super Bowl tired Monday, it's a great time to be still and know, to abide and reload for the day and week. Jesus' yoke is easy. Put it on and walk with Him. He knows the pace you need for today and will refresh, strengthen and use you just as you are! Amen! He will help us soar like on eagles wings and He will help us overcome the enemy like the Eagle's defense last night. We are His team and victory is ours if we stay united and on His game plan with Christ as our leader and coach. Amen!
Check out these devos below. Start with Sarah Young's reminder to trust and abide and allow God to instruct and lead. That flows into the Upper Room's reminder that we can choose to live a life of Christ's purpose for us as we flow from our abiding in Him time. Our Daily Bread reminds us how easy it is to fish for people just as we are and are created and gifted to do for such a time as this. Amen! The Word for You Today reminds us that we are God's gathered servants--His Body and that we are gathered and gifted to unity in Christ serving and growing His church. We've been studying the early church of Acts and seeking to become more like them--unified and going to make disciples. May that be us as God's Body! We are filled with love, unity, His Spirit, gifts and gathered and sent for His perfect plans.(Pronounce that pout loud over us!) Seek first his Kingdom and allow Him to lead us to His perfect plans and revival. Amen! Praying for you and us and for God to come and overflow through our love and unity and to teach us to fish well in Christ! Celebrate God, His love and using you and us and the Eagles today and go live and love more like Jesus today! Even love on those Chiefs fans too. They need some comforting love today for sure!
Sarah Young:
UR: Living with Purpose
Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. - Colossians 3:17 (NIV)
As someone who has been happily retired for the past 10 years, I am occasionally asked for advice by friends who are approaching retirement. If I had to boil it down to one main point, my advice would be, “Live with purpose.”
The life of the apostle Paul gives us a wonderful example. After encountering the resurrected Christ on the Damascus Road, Paul spent the remainder of his life proclaiming the good news of the gospel everywhere he traveled. Despite being beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, and imprisoned, Paul kept his focus on preaching Christ. He summed up his purpose by writing, “To me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).
Retirement usually provides more free time, so it’s important to reflect on our priorities and then use the extra time wisely. But that guidance isn’t just for retirement; our goal should be to live with purpose no matter how old we are or in what stage of life we find ourselves. As followers of Jesus, our purpose should be focused on living for him. Again, Paul sums it up well: “[Christ] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Cor. 5:15).
Today's Prayer
Heavenly Father, guide us so that we keep our focus on living for you — through witness, service, and worship. May we bring glory to your name by living as courageous Christ-followers. Amen.ODB:
|
Patty spent the afternoon on the banks of a local river, using her fishing pole to cast bait into the water. Having only recently moved to the area, she wasn’t hoping to catch fish; she was angling for some new friends. Her line wasn’t baited with worms or any other traditional lure. Instead, she used her heavy-duty sturgeon rod to extend packets of cookies to people who were floating down the river in rafts on a hot summer day. She used this creative way to meet her new neighbors, who all seemed to enjoy the sweet treat!
Patty went “fishing for friends” in a much more literal way than Jesus intended when He invited Peter and Andrew to walk with Him through life. The two brothers were hardworking fishermen, casting their nets into the Sea of Galilee. Jesus interrupted their labors with a call to follow Him, saying He would send them out to “fish for people” instead of fish (Matthew 4:19). He made the same invitation to two other fishermen, James and John, shortly thereafter. They all left their nets and boats immediately to journey with Jesus.
Like the fishermen who became His first disciples, Christ invites us to follow Him and focus our attention on eternal matters: the spiritual lives of those with whom we interact. We can offer those around us what really satisfies—the enduring hope of life with Jesus (John 4:13-14).
By Kirsten Holmberg
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
Who first shared with you about Jesus? How might you offer others the hope He provides?
Dear Jesus, please help me to become a fisher of people so that others will know You better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Christ’s calling of His disciples to follow Him was strategic. He started His public ministry when He “was about thirty years old” (Luke 3:23) and many scholars believe He ministered for approximately three years before He was crucified. During this time, He called and taught His disciples. In addition to His invitation to two sets of brothers from Galilee to join Him—Simon Peter and Andrew; James and John (Matthew 4:18-22)—He called Matthew (Levi), a tax collector: “Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. ‘Follow me,’ Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them” (Luke 5:27-29). Matthew’s example of friends reaching friends is worth emulating today.
Arthur Jackson |
|
|
|
|
|
TWFYT
Connections
|
|
February 10 - The Church Goes Glocal
|
|
|
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near (Ephesians 2:17).
Some Christians get so excited about global missions that they forget all about their neighbors at home. Other Christians are so focused on their neighbors that they don’t think they have anything to give for the cause of world missions. The issue, in God’s eyes is not one or the other, but Global and local evangelism. Some use the term “glocal” to describe this unified (and Biblical) approach.
Jesus certainly viewed His ministry in this way. Though His first focus was on the Jewish people, he called them to fulfill their Abrahamic role of being a blessing to all nations by going to all peoples with the Gospel. In this way, the Gospel would tear down the barriers between Jew and Gentile and make one new man in Christ.
Paul described it to the Church at Ephesus by saying that Jesus preached peace to those who were far away…the Gentiles, and He also preached peace to those who were near…the Jews. The peace of Christ brings peace between ethnic groups and nations, and brings those groups in peace to God.
Our calling from God is to be ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor.5:18), bringing the peace of Christ to those who are near us as well as to those who are far from us. Our prayer life should reflect this dual emphasis. We should be praying for neighbors as well as nations.
Gracious Father, Your love for all mankind is astonishing. Though You certainly deal with nations and people groups in different ways, Your love always shines through. I’m grateful for Your love in my own life. Help me to demonstrate this love in what I do and say, and especially in how I pray. May my prayers reflect Your love for those who are in my neighborhood, as well as for those who are on the other side of the planet.
--Adapted from Revolution on Our Knees: 30 Days of Prayer for Neighbors and Nations by Dave and Kim Butts. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
|
|
|
Praying through the President’s First 31 Days
Day 22
Pray that the president will respect the place of Judeo-Christian values in our society.
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people (Proverbs 14:34).
|
|
|
- Praise God that Jesus Christ is coming again to bring all things to perfection.
- Thank the Lord that you can anticipate dwelling with him in a new heaven and earth.
- Confess any attitudes or actions which are hindering the coming kingdom.
- Commit yourself to watching and praying, being ready for the coming of Christ.
- Ask that you may live in a way pleasing to God, so that he might say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Mt 25:21).
- Ask God to make his people generous in giving their time and gifts for the benefit of others. Ask that the love of Christ will be evident in the care Christians give to each other.
|
|
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
|
|
|
Sarah Update:
Good afternoon, everyone......
Hope you all are able to be at home, safe and warm. We had some sun for a bit, but not much melting is going on at the moment.
Thank you to Tim D for pre-prepping the church sidewalks. He was over this morning, and while working on walks, one of the church neighbors came out to work with Tim. (Great connection with one of our church neighbors)
We had 44 people on Zoom today for our worship service. Thank you. Pastor Don and Debbie for helping to make the service run smoothly. And thank you to each of you that joined us for worship. If you need help with Zoom, please ask for help. The easiest way that I find is if you have a smart phone, download the free Zoom app. Once in the app and you choose to join meeting, you enter the meeting number - 373 710 5001.
Here are a few folks that are in need of our prayers and encouragement through our prayers:
Darlene Geiger has asked for prayer for her sister, Sandy - she has stage 3 lung cancer. She will receive daily radiation and low dose of chemo 1 time per week
Darlene Geiger's husband, Jim's cousin's long time girlfriend, Sherry Ann is in Stage 4 lung cancer and it has also gone into her liver and back. Prayers for Peace and wisdom.
Lisa Wenner reports that her co-worker's son 1 year old Oliver is doing better. His fever is gone. He still has a little cough, but he is eating well again. Thanks for praying for Oliver
Josie is asking for prayer for her daughter Lauren, who is job searching. Pray that the Lord will lead Lauren to the job that He has in store for her.
Winnie Iobst is home from the hospital. He is recuperating and doing better.
Danny R and family and Kathy and Michael C are on a cruise, however there is some strong weather happening out in the seas. Prayers for safe travels for them and safe return.
Continue to keep the Williams family in your prayers as they continue to celebrate and miss 'Nana'
Pray for Pastor Don and family - he learned that his Aunt passed away this past week. He will be doing her funeral on Tuesday.
** ** **
Please take note:
This coming TUESDAY - NO ZOOM HUDDLE
Wednesday - Bread ministry as usual, and we are keeping an eye on the weather, to see if it will be safe to have the
Evening Meal and Huddle. We will make sure the word gets out if it's canceled.
Next TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY - TUESDAY ZOOM HUDDLE IS CANCELLED AND WEDNESDAY EVENING MEAL AND HUDDLE ALSO CANCELLED. Pastor Don will be on a spiritual retreat next week.
I believe that's all I have for now.....hope you have a great rest of your day! Stay warm and safe!
Blessings,
Sarah
LISTEN ONLINE
