Good Morning Communing with God, Feasting on His Word,  Followers of Jesus! Please Lord! This morning something unique happened. I slept in. WHAT? So after spending my quiet time with the Lord and inviting Him to teach me and you, here's what He revealed toady. What did He say to you today? What might you do about that?

First of all, I am so humbled how God uses me to teach His Word, mentor you and lead His Church! Thanks Lord! Sometimes I have to repent of pride as I think about the way He leads and teaches through me. It is all Him and for Him and His people! I am just His faithful servant who invites the Holy Spirit to speak to me, help to remember His Word and to teach through me. I also always try to invite Him to open your hearts and minds as well. He is faithful to do so and I am faithful to dwell in Him and His Word daily and ingest and meditate on His Word. He is faithful to bring to mind what needs to be taught and shared. Last night was another example of that as we studied Luke 22 and John 17 from events that transpired during the last days of Jesus' life before the cross. Last night the Holy Spirit led us to celebrate the remembrance of that first Lord's Supper as we read about it in Luke 22 and allowed Jesus' words to institute and lead us through communion. It was pretty cool to think about being there and Jesus teaching us and thinking about how the disciples would have been clueless about the broken bread and wine as spilled blood until they celebrated the Lord's Supper after the ascension with the very first believers. (see Acts 2:42). 

If you are looking for some passages to draw close and dwell in today, I'd suggest those three above. Last night I suggested that instead of washing each others feet, maybe we could wash each other's hands. One of our devos for today (the Upper Room below) speaks of a church that does that. I think we'll need to try that sometime as we humble ourselves, die to self and do what Jesus did....love each other and serve each other in humility. Who might God want you to humbly serve today and forgive and love on. Remember He did this after the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest. Jesus showed them God's way. And he reminds us that He came to serve and not to be served. What's that look like for you and our Body?

The devo that I most want to share is the one that really affirmed me and spoke to my heart--TWFYT (below). It's how God uses me, speaks to me, leads me, teaches me and through me. My prayer is to always teach and lead like Jesus and not to add to or take away from His Word as commanded. Meditate on this devo and pray for me. But also remember that we are all priests unto the Lord and called to share His love, salvation and Word with others. His Word is our instruction manual and road map. His Word is Truth and Life. His Word cuts to bone and marrow. Jesus is His Living Word. Who do you know that needs some of that today. What are God's plans to bring that to life through you this weekend with family and friends? He is speaking to you all the time and wanting to use you and has gifted you to bring His Word alive in word, deed and actions. How will you respond today? Invite Him in. Dwell in and ingest His Word. Bring His Living Word to life as you ask for help to live, love, teach, lead and make disciples like Jesus.

In this life, Christ is all that matters and He lives in you. That became available that first Resurrection Sunday and with your faith in Jesus and His finished work on the cross. Life in Christ lived well boils down to this: embrace the Greatest and new commandments to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love others as Jesus has loved you (agape love), and then living out the Great Commission where Jesus says, Go! Make disciples of all nations, teaching them all I have taught you and baptizing them. To teach them well we need to actually open and ingest His Living Word. How's that going for you? Recently many have said they don't really know and want to know God's Word better. I'm praying for that and for His Word to come alive to and through us. However, you actually have to open His Word, spend time with God in it, memorize it and ingest it. Then when needed the Holy Spirit will give you the Words to share and even the words to wield against Satan. Amen! We are called to be doers of His Word. That's how good fruit buds and grows. What's that look like for you? How might you start pursuing that more earnestly? Who will you partner with to dwell in and study His Word with? Besides prayer, being in His Living Word and being a doer of it are the the most important roles in His Good News Delivery Company and as a member of His Body. The other part is allowing Him to use your gifts to bless others and grow His Church. So...what will you do about that? Who are your co-laborers in Christ? Pray into that! Open His Word. Go produce good fruit. I'm praying for you! There is so much joy awaiting you as you step into this more earnestly! You are blessed to be a blessing and God is with you, empowering you and has created and gifted you to do all he plans for you to do! PTL! You are His Masterpiece! And you have great potential in Christ! Pursue it in prayer with open Bibles and willing hearts and feet! Shalom!

UR: Maundy Thurs

Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. - John 13:17 (NIV)

For seven years I belonged to a rural Mennonite congregation that met in a little country church. One older woman, Greta, had made it clear when I joined that she resented me because I am a Marine Corps veteran. Mennonites are traditionally pacifists, believing that taking a life — even in war — is murder.

When I approached the hand-washing basin at my first Maundy Thursday service at the church, I was surprised when it was Greta who gently took my hand and led me to the basin. Her actions were tender as she bathed my hands in the clean water, wrapped them in a soft white towel, and patted them dry. I then washed her hands. I noted how worn her hands were by her many years of working in her garden, cooking in the kitchen, caring for children. I was unexpectedly humbled and moved to tears. Before stepping away from the basin to make way for the next two women, Greta and I embraced. Following the Lord in loving service to one another can transform our lives and relationships.

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, help us to love one another as you have loved us. Help us to look for opportunities to find common ground even when we disagree. Thank you for your beautiful example of servanthood. Amen.

TWFYT:

 

Prayer starters

Prayer Points

Praise God as the all-knowing one. Thank God for caring enough for you to teach you his ways and warn you when you stray. Confess times of willful ignorance of his ways. Commit to listening and following God’s directions. Ask him to provide faithful teachers and examples for you. Pray that you will be diligent in teaching those under your care. Ask God to help you be an excellent model for your children (or for the children of your friends).

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.