. Donut Day at the bread ministry 10-12 (Come and see what God might use you for!)
Sarah Update below
Good Morning Followers of the Way--Lighthouses! Amen! my prayer calendar reminded me that we are the Light of the World commanded to go shine bright so that people will see our good deeds and glorify God. What might hat look like for you ? Shine bright! Our Daily Bread reminds us that Jesus said that He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the only way to the Father and eternity in heaven. Who needs to hear this or be reminded of this ? Ask God to direct your steps and to give you courage to share the Good news and the words needed to do so. Then share those stories with us so we can pray and praise! We've been studying James and he reminds us that our faith is shown to be effective by our good fruit. He calls us to be doers of the Word. Rosa got so excited about sharing that from my message the other week and wants to remind you that we discussed 1 Cor. 13, the love chapter, and how those good deeds and fruit flow from our love for God, each other and others. She has been spreading love and joy in the hospital and challenges us to do so wherever we are . Amen! Yes ask for help o go live and love like Jesus! He has a perfect plan for you and He will walk with you through it! PTL! Jesus is he Way and we are followers of the Way. Invite Him to come lead you and use you and then go love well!!! May God bless you and us with abundant and very good fruit as we trust and obey and follow the Way ! Amen! Be a love, peace and joy bringer! be Jesus in the flesh! Amen!
Connection blogs:
- Live at Peace with Everyone
"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is Mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:17-21).
How will the unsaved most likely come into God’s kingdom – through your revenge, or by your loving acts and your prayer for them? This is an extremely important concept grasp, and to teach children, as their first response is often to hit back, think up revenge, cease friendship, etc., rather than praying, continuing to be kind, etc.
Sometimes I say unkind things to my husband that I would normally not say to him. Precious man that he is, he always responds kindly to me and is never harsh. He doesn’t try to get back at me or say something hurtful in response. What does this do in me? It drives me to God in repentance and then to my husband to apologize! How many arguments or hurtful situations in our families could be avoided by simply responding kindly instead of fighting back – submitting to God instead of to our natural human sinful flesh! It really works! I feel terrible for hurting my husband’s feelings or lashing out at him because he is kind! If he responded back to me in anger, I doubt I would feel very repentant. But because he responds in love, it brings me back into right relationship with him, and with God.
Loving Father, I know that praying for people I love, and for those who are lost, is Your way of accomplishing Your plans and purposes in their lives! Set my heart on a peaceful path when I am angered or upset…or when I have forgotten to pray for those who have not yet stepped into the light of Your glorious kingdom! Keep me from succumbing to feelings of anger, outrage or revenge. Help me to live at peace with everyone! Set my desire upon loving all people and desiring Your best for them! Keep me from being overcome by evil so that I may continually overcome evil with good.
Praise God for his love, which is with you both night and day (Ps. 42:8).
Give thanks for the songs of praise which God brings forth from you.
Confess that you sometimes don’t feel like reveling in God’s love or singing his praises.
Commit yourself to living every day in the light of that love.
Ask God to continue directing his love toward you.
Pray for believers in the federal governments of both the U.S. and Canada.
Thank God that he has placed his people in and near the seats of highest political power. Ask that they will be enabled to make a difference because they serve the Savior.
Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayerleader.com. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
When my friend Connor takes pictures on his old film camera, he doesn’t bother to find attractive lighting or airbrush blemishes or crop out anything unsightly. His photos are startlingly raw. They stand out in my social media feed next to heavily edited photos of gorgeous people and places. Though unconventional, his work is beautiful because it communicates truth about how things really are.
We all long for what’s real, but sometimes the truth isn’t attractive to us. Close to the time of His death, Jesus declared, “I am . . . the truth” (John 14:6). His disciples were wondering how they could get to the Father’s house that Jesus spoke so longingly about (vv. 2-3). They failed to see that Jesus standing in front of them was the answer. They struggled to understand that He would bring victory through His own sacrifice.
Isaiah prophesied that the coming Messiah would have no beauty or majesty, “nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). Much of what Jesus said was so challenging and unexpected that it turned religious people against Him (John 11:45-48). Yet He gave an open invitation to know the truth and find real life. “If you really know me,” said Jesus, “you will know my Father as well” (John 14:7). In the midst of an airbrushed and unrealistic world, we can embrace that beautiful, raw truth !
By Karen Pimpo
REFLECT & PRAY
When and why have you sought superficial beauty instead of truth? How can you embrace Jesus’ words more and more?
Dear Jesus, I choose to follow You as the source of all truth.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In John 13-17, we encounter a scene best viewed with reverence and awe. These chapters contain Christ’s final instructions to His disciples before His arrest and crucifixion. Immediately after Judas had departed to betray Christ, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him” (13:31). The reality of His violent death for us was the pivot point of Christ’s entire mission. At first, the disciples couldn’t accept this. The crucifixion brought the rawest truth they would absorb. Yet His death was essential to providing restoration to our heavenly Father. Jesus promised, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” His words “I will come back and take you to be with me” (14:2-3) convey the culmination of that raw truth—eternal joy with our Father.
Tim Gustafson
Sarah Update:
Good evening, Everyone,
We had a good day at worship and it was great seeing everyone! I wanted to remind everyone of the praises and prayer needs that where
shared , so that we can be reminded to lift up these people and situation in our prayers throughout the week.
Praises:
Debbie Siegfried and Josie both praised God for family and for beautiful holiday weekend. Each of them got to spend quality time with their families.
All went well and a great time was had by all. Great memories. They were surrounded by His Nature and it was beautiful. Thanking God for these special
family opportunities!
Kay Behle praised God for great test results, all was benign
Mark Henninger praised God for his parents that brought him to worship at St Matthew's as a child, on up. And he continues to be a
part of this family
Kris Eichman is praising God for having less back pain after her procedure this past week. She is looking forward to having a few days at the Shore
this week.
Prayer Needs:
Harry Waterman is dealing with COVID but is now on the mend. Milidine has started with a bad cold, to date it has not been diagnosed as COVID.
Please keep them in your prayers for patience with their body and for Eric, that he remains healthy as he checks in on them,
David Mercer (financial advisor of Gary Bastan) his cancer has returned and may have to start Chemo treatments back up. He also has a turmor
on his hip that may need to be removed.
Sandy Ritter - as she continues to heal from her broken wrist. We miss you Sandy.
Rosa (Joy Lady) had to have open heart surgery this past weekend. Pastor Don was able to visit with her and she was in
good spirits. She was getting so excited talking about Jesus with Pastor Don, that the nurses came in and had to calm her down LOL
She will be having surgery again () Please keep her and her medical team in your prayers.
Pam Lesher (Friend of Neen's) is suffering from a really bad cold, cough and sore throat. Please pray for her healing.
Larry Paul headed back to the Phillipians . Praying for his safety through all the traveling. (He arrived safely and with luggage! PTL!)
Mark Haggerty (a connection of Sarah and Neen) He is dealing with 2 pinched nerves in his back, a torn muscles in his hip and a hernia.
He will be seeing his medical doctor on . Pray for healing and for his medical team as they plan
Diane Huber/Schwenk is in the hospital for testing. Please keep her and her family in your prayers as the medical team works on
finding treatment that would work.
Lindsay (Friend of Neen and Sarah) will be having a port put in surgically on . Prayers for peace
**
Just a reminder, is our Coffee, Donut and conversation day from 10 - 12pm during Bread Ministry. If you are free, why not plan
to come and join us!
Snippet from what I heard from 's message:
Humble ourselves, Obey God, and Trust Him
Be aware of the 'world' around us and do not let it influence you. Make sure you have the whole armor of God on.
LISTEN ONLINE
