6-26-25 (Noonish): Plan is to get me home and on track soon and maybe before
. I have AFib that didn't respond to cardio version
. I am now in the cardiac floor at Lehigh. Great team of docs and others from cardiology and other needed docs. Plan is to get me dried out (I've been over load with fluid--congestive heart failure) and trying some new affordable ad more effective meds and send me home to heal and get ready for the future cardio version or oblation. Mentally I am doing well and being patient. PTL! I am also sleeping again. Pray that continues. With the weak heart I am sleeping a lot more and need to. If possible we will be at the brunch but if not, knw we are praying for you all and anxious to get back it!
Good Morning Purposeful Pursuers of God and His Plans! Amen! Is that really you? I know for many of us that gather at St. Matts, we want to know and pursue God and His purposes that He created us to do. He does have great plans and purposes for us to discover, put on and walk around with as His vessels of light, love, hope, and help. We are custom made for custom purposes. There are the big over-arching purposes to achieve over your whole life (like being a pastor for me). There are also little age and circumstance daily or weekly or monthly purposes too. Most of life is paying attention daily to God and walking with Him to His plans for you for that day and that will build to your lifelong purposes. Check out the ODB devo below relating to this as it all begins with keeping Christ our priority, putting on His easy yoke and walking with Him daily. Sometimes those daily plans and purposes are simple and easy but very important as well. Things like holding a door, praying, encouraging, smiling at someone--easy stuff. Sometimes the purposes are more heavy like opening the Bible with someone or some serving caring ministry. No matter because they all matter and are part of God's plans for you and maybe part of us together. The main thing is keeping Christ first and following Him daily and that may (usually does) require dying to self and taking up cross daily and then following Him. That's being a Purposeful Pursuers of God and His Plans. Amen. Help us with that Lord!
Now, God has some adjustments for us along the way! Have you experienced that ever?
I have and am in one of those adjustment periods where God is reminding me to hold looser, trust more, die to self, crucify some things and allow Him to mold and lead. He does have perfect plans that I have been assuming upon a bit and maybe even forcing some things according to my plans. And He said, "Whoa down Donald!" Rest. Abide. Listen. Follow. Hold loose. And do what you can with what you've been given. That's all I expect. That's His easy joyful yoke! Amen
So again, as in the past God gets my attention with hospital visits. I usually come out obeying but in short order end up back where I was. Thick-headed just like the disciples and wanting to do my things my ways. We are called to be followers of the WAY not people forcing my way. Think we'd learn! Thank God for patient love, mercy, grace and forgiveness! And for new starts. I am beginning again to allow Him to lead me to His plans and purposes at His pace--doing what I can with what I've been given for such a time as this. Pray into that with me! Maybe some of you need some adjustments too? I'm praying for you and would love to chat and plan some time soon! His plans are best and easy and a joy. When you start getting bogged down, angry, forcing things--stop! Be still, abide, find joy and peace and follow His Way well. That's life abundant we are promised. And man it is really good when we find that sweet spot! After meditating on this check out the Upper Room talking about our life long friend, Jesus, who promises to be with us always! PTL! Focus on Him and allow Him to lead and things will go smoothly and really be a joy! And He is our healer, deliverer and restorer too! Amen!
So thoughts to pursue with God and some friends
are to be: Purposeful Pursuers of God and His Plans where Christ is our priority and walking with Him at His pace for such a time as this is first on our agendas! And we will need each other to do that well! Come Jesus lead us and unite us with likeminded and those You have for us
. Thanks! Amen!
ODB
Christ Our Priority
Jesus replied, “ . . . That is why I have come.” Mark 1:38
“May we invite you to be the main speaker in our nationwide church leadership conference?” After Jose read the invitation from the renowned organization, he replied, “Please let me pray about it first.” Later, when he turned down the offer, he told a friend, “I knew God was calling me to editorial work on a mission’s project, and the speaking engagement would take time and energy away from that. I said no so I can do what God wants me to do.”
What God wants me to do—that was Jose’s priority and what determined his decision. Jesus also made God’s purpose His priority. The morning after healing many in Capernaum who were sick and demon-possessed, Jesus went to a solitary place to pray (Mark 1:32-35). The disciples came, saying, “Everyone is looking for you!” (v. 37). Some of those seeking Him were likely requesting healing. Christ, however, didn’t allow urgency or His sudden popularity to determine what He’d do next. “Let us go . . . to the nearby villages,” He said, “so I can preach there also. That is why I have come” (v. 38). Jesus followed His priority—a ministry that covered the rest of Galilee, and one that included preaching (v. 39).
How may we know God’s purpose for us? We can approach Him in prayer, be led by His wisdom found in the Scriptures, and seek counsel from people who uphold His ways. Let’s spend our life doing what God wants us to do.
By Karen Huang
REFLECT & PRAY
How can you be intentional about asking God to lead you? How have you seen God help you live with His purpose?
Dear God, please show me what You want me to do.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Mark 1:38 declares that Jesus’ mission is to preach the gospel. On a few occasions in the Gospels, Christ reveals in a deep and intimate way that He understands His mission. In Luke 4:18-19, He quotes the prophet Isaiah (61:1-2) to reveal to those listening in the synagogue who He is. Christ’s ministry included both the preaching of forgiveness and spiritual freedom as well as freeing those who were bound by various physical infirmities. During the years of His ministry, He never veered from that dedication. And He also entrusted that ministry to His disciples. He empowered them to preach the kingdom and heal the sick. They even drove out demons (see Matthew 10; Luke 10). Before Christ returned to the Father, He entrusted His mission to all His followers (see Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). God continues to show us what He wants us to do and how He wants to use us to share the gospel with others.
J.R. Hudberg
UR: Life Long Friend
Jesus said, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:20 (NRSVUE)
I never had a best friend growing up. I was a child of a career military officer, and my family moved 10 times by the time I was 13 years old. It seemed that as soon as I made a friend, my father would get orders to a new duty station, sometimes thousands of miles away. I vividly remember the hugs and tears during several partings with childhood friends. When my family settled in an area for several years when I was a teenager, I had a difficult time keeping friends. I held them at arm’s length, refusing to get too close emotionally. The hurt from all those childhood good-byes truly impacted my life.
When I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior as an adult, I found him to be the lifelong friend I had never had. He is always with me, guiding, rescuing, helping, protecting, listening, and loving me. Jesus provides all of us with everlasting joy, hope, and peace. He has promised never to leave or forsake us. We can get to know Jesus by reading his words, following his example, and praising his name. Whatever life throws at us, we know we have Jesus, our friend who is just a prayer away.
's PrayerDear Jesus, thank you for your presence with us. Help us to stay conscious of you in all circumstances. Amen.
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