|
Friday, May 23 2025
Good Morning Patient Teammates! Well I hope so, as we patiently wait on the Lord together, as we patiently abide in the Vine, as we patiently persevere in prayer and faith. Help us Lord! Maybe some of you have been patiently awaiting this blog (yeah right!) I had a very bad sleepless night and finally got some sleep around 4. Late rising had me wanting to skip my quiet time and blog and just get to the busyness of the day. And then I said to myself, "What are you thinking! Get down to your prayer room and be still in His presence awhile. Thanks Lod! Great time with Him and a Word or two for you! I love God and my time with Him! He's always speaking and guiding and wanting to help or include me in something! PTL!
So what has God been saying to you? has He spoken to you through the message yesterday about us all having a role in His Good News Delivery Company? Has He been revealing something to pray about or maybe a teammate or four to partner with? Today's Our Daily Bread speaks into the importance of partnering together and being better. Check it out prayerfully below. God is calling us to partner up. I think about the woman's prayer teams that just formed. How cool is it to know you have a team to pray with, cover you and pray for God's Kingdom to come! We are better together and really do need each other. Below you will also find a photo of the handout from yesterday to use to talk with God as you seek your part or how to pray. We are also called to become a House of Prayer for the Nations. The I to We devo below reminds us of the importance of abiding and of serving and praying together. Check it out and ask God to use you and direct your steps. Finish up with the connections blog and prayer starters. Yes God is speaking and He has some custom plans just for you that will lead you that sweet spot in Christ of being who you are created to be, doing what you are created, gifted and empowered to do, and of partnering with some great teammates. God loves you and has gathered you with us to go share the Good News, to pray and to encourage each other! PTL! So what's your part? Who are the one or two God is bringing to mind for you to team with or to pray for or to reach out and love on? Abide, listen and follow well today! I'm praying for you!
here's a link to the closing song from yesterday: Faith to Save: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoSHljGO8rc
ODB
|
Meggie’s ten years of drug use kept her in and out of jail. Without a life change, she’d soon return. Then she met Hans, a former addict who almost lost his hand when a vein ruptured due to his substance abuse. “That was the first time I cried out to God,” Hans said. God’s answer prepared him to be a peer specialist for an organization that coordinates recovery for jailed addicts.
Called Stone Soup, the program is helping an American jail provide formerly imprisoned people with support to reenter their communities. Through the plan, Meggie moved into a sober-living house and has stayed sober. Hans now helps her and others with job placement, educational options, treatment, and family resources—a coordinated approach.
The Bible describes the strength of wise partnering: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). However, “pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (v. 10).
Like the “Stone Soup” folktale, where a hungry traveler invites townspeople to each share one ingredient to make a delicious soup for all, the Bible confirms we’re stronger and better together (v. 12). God’s plan is for us to live in community, helping others and receiving help in return. That’s no fairy tale; it’s truth for life.
By Patricia Raybon
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
How can pooling our resources help us serve people better? What can you give to make a “stone soup” for your community?
Please bless me, dear God, to join others to help well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Ecclesiastes portrays the sobering realism about life on earth “under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:3; 4:1)—that is, life experienced within the limits of our humanity. “The Teacher” (1:1) exposes the futility of “chasing after the wind” (4:4, 6, 16)—the vapor of what we often assume will bring fulfillment—work, wealth, power, prestige, pleasure, learning, and more. He’s resigned to our powerlessness in the face of oppression, poverty, illness, and death. In today’s passage, the Teacher contrasts the harsh reality of those who are utterly alone in this “meaningless” existence with those who have a helpful companion on life’s journey (4:9-12). On this side of eternity, a true friend can make all the difference. From end to end, the Bible instructs us to care for our neighbor as ourselves, even if that neighbor is someone we don’t know or one we might view as unworthy of our help (Deuteronomy 22:1-3; Luke 10:25-37).
Visit ODBU.org/OT022 to further study in Ecclesiastes.
Tim Laniak |
|
|
|
|
|
Handout:
I to We:
Connections
May 19 - Perseverance Must Finish Its Work
|
|
|
One of George Müller’s firm beliefs was in the simple admonition to confide in God with the trust of a child, and to wait on Him to answer. Miraculous responses to prayer came almost daily as Müller waited for God to answer in His time. Throughout his ninety-three years, eight months, and five days, Müller learned to trust. A favorite text from James 1:4 hung on his memory’s walls: “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Müller had asked God to increase his faith and to sustain his patience and God heard and answered. Indeed, he insisted at the very end of his life: “It is not enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright; nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray; but we must patiently, believingly continue in prayer, until we obtain an answer; and further, we have not only to continue in prayer unto the end, but we have also to believe that God does hear us and will answer our prayers. Most frequently, we fail in not continuing in prayer until the blessing is obtained, and in not expecting the blessing.6 (emphasis added)
Father, how often I have quit praying too soon thinking that I have done all that I needed to do. Forgive me for my lack of faith, and for not pressing into Your heart for the answer that You would delight to give if I would truly expect You to answer. Forgive me for the mechanical nature of prayers that are spoken out of duty rather than delight! Help me to persevere by pressing into You, and to spend more time listening for Your voice. I want to keep company with You, Lord, in all of my waking moments.
--Adapted from Giving Ourselves to Prayer: An Acts 6:4 Primer for Ministry (Chapter 24, An Historical Role Model of Personal Passion in Prayer by Karen O’Dell Bullock). This book is available at Prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
|
|
- Praise the Lord, “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Ex. 34:6).
- Thank God that you have been forgiven of all your sins because of Jesus’ work for you.
- Confess in detail your sins, asking for a greater awareness of sin in your life.
- Commit yourself to putting on “the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24).
- Ask “to be made new in the attitude of your [mind]” (Eph. 4:23).
- Pray that no animosities or rivalries will be at home in your congregation, and that your congregation will experience peace and wholeness.
- Ask that you and your fellow Christians will prize the healthy relationships which you have with 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 |
|
|
|
LISTEN ONLINE
