Sarah Prayer update below
This Week:
Tue
10-11 Zoom Huddle. All welcome!
6-7:30 Wrap up of Spiritual gifts dinner study
Wed
10-12 Bread Ministry
6-7:30 Dinner Huddle. All welcome
Sun. Brunch after worship 11:30
Please continue to pray into these, for God to use us, raise up harvest workers form the harvest, and for new connection points into our neighborhoods
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Good Morning Praying Friends!
Thank you for your participation with our circle up prayer time yesterday! I felt God moving and informing and leading us in prayer. I am praying expectantly and with thanksgiving for all He has planned in response and for all we have released in the heavenlies and on earth as we cried out for His Kingdom to come and will to be done and to use us. AMEN! I will be working on a new April prayer calendar this week. Please use them as we agree together in prayer and release God's power and answers as one in Christ from our knees. I expect God is leading us to do something like this at least once a quarter and for Him to raise up some prayer teams, especially with those He is raising up who are called to pray for such a time as this. That can be done over the phone and/or emails too. Where two or three are gathered, He is present. PTL!
Check out the Connections blog and prayer and prayer starters for today. The Martin Luther quote is one that has come to life for me over the past several decades, beginning my day in His presence and prayer and preparing for the busyness of the day ahead. “I have so much to do [today] that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” —Martin Luther AMEN! Try it! and it doesn't have to be three hours. It may grow to that but the key is stilling self, abiding in Christ in prayer and receiving strength and directions for the day. He has always redeemed whatever time I spend in His presence in prayer each day and has allowed what He planed for me to be completed as I pray, trust and follow Him--even praying without ceasing through the day ahead. AMEN!
I will include our devotionals for the day below for you to use as a springboard into His presence. We are called and commissioned to go make disciples. That is launched, empowered and comes to life as we abide and pray. Cast all your fear on God for He cares for you. Trust Him and offer yourself for Him to use today. he does have great plans for you that will glorify His holy name!
A question were posed to me from my I to We devo that I am asking you to prayerfully contemplate: "What could it mean to abide in Christ together to see prayer as both an personal and shared activity?" Talk to God about that and your part in corporate prayer flowing from your prayer time. The author reminds us, "Sheep do really well hanging out together with the Shepherd rather than as lone rangers." So ask God to reveal the partners He wants you to join as you hang with our Shepherd together and in prayer! We took a step towards that yesterday. may God continue to unite us in prayer and on mission! he does have great plans for you, for your teammates and for us as His Body! Amen! Seek first His Kingdom...
Connections:
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March 24 - Come Out of the Shadows
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Father, I’m so grateful that through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life has set me free from the law of sin and death! Thank You, Jesus, for willingly becoming my sin-offering; that my sins have been forgiven and forgotten; and that You have given me Your righteousness is beyond my ability to understand, but I am so very thankful!
And now Lord, knowing that I am Yours and that the Holy Spirit lives in me, may my mind be set on what the Spirit desires. I ask in Jesus’ name that You break all residual strongholds of my sinful nature, that my mind be controlled by Your Spirit and produce life and peace in me.
I choose this day to put to death the misdeeds of my body that I might truly live! Thank You for the Spirit of sonship, that I am Yours and call You “Father” is more than I can comprehend! Empower me to live as Your child. (Pause and consider that you are a child of God!)
How I thank You, Lord Jesus, that while I was still captive and imprisoned by my sin, You came and proclaimed freedom! Forgive me for the ways that I live as if Your sacrifice for my sin is not enough. Truly my sin is great, but Your grace is greater still, and You have given me Your robe and ring and have invited me to feast at Your table! Forgive me Father, for the ways that I think, speak, or live that are as if I am a slave in Your house, instead of Your child! Forgive me for living in the shadows.
Empower me, this day, by Your Spirit that is at work in me, to live boldly in the freedom that You have provided for me, in Christ. Transform my living and fill me with Your joy! Thank You that where the Spirit is, there is freedom. Words are inadequate to express my thanks, Lord Jesus, for destroying the curse of sin and setting me free!
Thank You for this glorious freedom! Strengthen me to come out of the shadows of my living, and walk in Your great light. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Romans 8:2-17; Galatians 5:1; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18; Luke 15:11-31; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:13; 1 Corinthians 8:9; Romans 8:21
--Adapted from Pray the Word: 31 Prayers that Touch the Heart of God by Tiece L. King. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God because he is the encourager and comforter of his people.
- Give thanks that God loved you and by his grace gave you eternal encouragement and good hope (2 Thess. 2:16).
- Ask forgiveness for all those times when fear and anxiety replace the courage that God gives.
- Commit yourself to seeking God’s encouragement to face every obstacle in your life.
- Ask God to encourage your heart and strengthen you in every good deed and word (2:17).
- Ask God to lead your church to care about welcoming newcomers and including them in the life of the church. Pray that no one be neglected in this important ministry.
Prayer Pointer
“I have so much to do [today] that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” —Martin Luther
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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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ODB:
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George Verwer’s life changed dramatically when he became a believer in Jesus during a Billy Graham crusade in 1957. Soon after his conversion, he began Operation Mobilization (OM), and in 1963 the mission sent two thousand missionaries to Europe. OM went on to become one of the largest mission organizations of the twentieth century, sending out thousands each year. At the time of George’s death in 2023, the mission had more than 3,000 workers from 134 countries working in 147 countries, and nearly 300 other mission agencies had been established as a result of contact with OM.
Like the apostle Paul, George had a passion to bring people to saving faith in Christ. After Paul’s dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, he became a zealous missionary for God, fervently following Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). In his missionary journeys, he also trained Timothy and others to go out and do the same.
Because of Paul’s Spirit-inspired writings, people throughout the centuries have been emboldened to share the gospel. He knew the vital importance of Jesus’ Great Commission (vv. 19-20). That’s why, in Romans 12, he reminds us: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (v. 11). When we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, He makes us zealous to tell others about Christ.
By Alyson Kieda
REFLECT & PRAY
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Who has inspired you in your faith journey? How can you prepare to share your faith with others?
Dear God, please help me be a bold witness for You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Matthew 28:19-20 is referred to as the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” This evangelism mandate appears in varying forms in the New Testament: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). “Repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations” (Luke 24:47). “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). “You will be my witnesses . . . to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
The Great Commission is more than proclaiming that Jesus died for our sins and rose again. We carry out the mandate to “go and make disciples” when we baptize believers, teach them to obey the Scriptures, and encourage them to follow Christ as their master.
K.T. Sim |
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UR: Good Intentions
I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. - Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSVUE)
We have dense scrub at the edges of our property, and feral cats pose a danger to the many native animals and birds that reside here. So we set out humane traps to catch and remove the cats. However, we often find a native animal — perhaps an echidna or a currawong — caught in the trap and awaiting release.
One morning, a trap had caught a powerful Rosenberg’s goanna. As I approached the trap to release the lizard, he opened his jaws wide. Thrashing about in the cage, he hissed and glared at me. He was terrified of me, and every effort I made to release him made him more hostile. After I finally managed to open the trap, I left him alone to find his way out in his own time.
How often do we similarly fail to understand that God’s only intention is to help us? We may fear God’s tender and loving approach and struggle against it because we don’t realize that all God wants is to love us and set us free. As the prophet Jeremiah reminds us, God’s intention is not to harm but to prosper us; to release us from our captivity and from all fear.
Today's Prayer
Thank you, loving God, for your unwavering love for us at all times. Help us to entrust ourselves fully to your love and to remember that your only intention is to bless us. Amen.
Sarah Young
TWFYT:
Sarah Update:
Good evening, family,
Praying you all have had a good weekend..... we will be praying for those of you that will be heading into
work tomorrow; praying for those of you that will be working around your home and praying for each of you to
stay healthy and safe throughout this week, until we meet together again, next Sunday.
Hey next Sunday is our brunch following worship in our Fellowship Hall. Who will you invite to come?
Here are those in need of your prayers:
Continue to keep those that are going through Chemo/Radiation/doctor appointments: Diane Huber, Houston
Lichtenwalner, Sandy (Darlene Geiger's sister), Mike Laisce's dad, Matt Stauffer
Bread Ministry is being blessed with other volunteers to assist with this outreach. On Tuesday, Gail will be
training a new volunteer the 'ropes'. Linda does participate in the ministry, and she has been attending our
Wednesday evening gatherings. Pray for Gail as she shares Jesus' love and pray for Linda as she becomes
more involved with St Matt's church family.
Marylou has asked for prayer for her son, Brian and his wife Michelle. Life has its challenges, and they are
currently dealing with some difficult situations in their lives. Pray for God's redeeming love to surround them;
that God will put some strong Christians into their lives to help and support them through this difficult time.
Pray for Marylou, as she continues to pray for her son and family. May we not Stop Praying!
Prayers for Lori and team as they prep for our monthly brunch this coming Sunday, and for those that will be
attending.
Pastor Mike Laisce requested prayer for a good and safe racing season. This coming Saturday is practice day
for the drivers. Mike enjoys working on his car with his Dad, and he is asking for prayer that his dad will feel
well enough to attend the races and help Mike out in the pits.
Also keep Pastor Don in your prayers as he serves there at the Race Track, sharing God's love and words of
compassion and hope.
Praising God that Winnie Iobst, and Sandy Ritter were healthy and feeling well enough to join us for
in house worship!
Just a reminder of what God used today, to prayer us through.....
Don't forget, all welcome to attend our Wednesday evening family gatherings. Starts at 6:00 with a meal.....
Have a great week everyone!
Blessings,
Sarah
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