Good Morning Chosen Ones! I have several devotionals from the Chosen Series. We are invited to come and see and to get used to different. We are encouraged as we see examples of children of God who have transitioned from one way to another to another because of their relationship with Jesus. We are chosen, forgiven, cleansed, filled with the Holy Spirit and gifted to serve and we are very loved. That love has drawn us to Jesus and transformed our lives. He chose us and we responded. PTL! I what ways have you seen God transform your heart or your ways? Write them down and add to your gratitude list. Thank God for them! Then share them with Sarah or me or your accountability/ministry partners. Then ask God who else needs to hear this and for opportunities and courage to do so. We are blessed to bless. We are transformed to be able to go love like Jesus. Thank God and humble yourself then follow Him to His best for you /this week/year! He knows you, chose you and is calling you by name to come and see and to join Him . he's gifted you to serve and to encourage others as you join with growing His Church. PTL! What's your part? Ask for Him to reveal and help you step into it. Ask Who He has for you to partner with. Then follow well. Many blessings await you as you use your blessings to be a blessing! PTL!
Jesus said in John 14:12(from Our Daily Bread ) Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me (that's you and us) will do the works I have been doing and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. (All things are possible for God even things we have no capacity to understand) (And because He gave us His Spirit. We have potential to do all He asks and gifted us to do) WOW! Mind Blown! The Word for You reminds us that God not only calls and gifts us to serve but that He wants to work through you. And for that to work well, we have to draw close to God and abide in Him and His Words as we prepare to follow Him to the good fruit He has for us. Amen! Then check out the excerpt from the I to We devo. God has placed us right where He wants us and gifted us to accomplish His purposes for us--just as we are and right where we are. PTL! Can you tell how God has guided us together for such a time as this? he has! PTL! And we all have a purpose in His plans. Amen! And finally the Upper Room reminds us how much we need each other and how our gifts are to be used to not only grow God's Church but to encourage each other. We are blessed to be a blessing. God has blessed us with all kinds of life experiences that grow us and He wants to redeem to bless others going through the same or similar things. How often has someone shared a struggle with you and you felt the pinch of I know! I've experienced that. And then kept quiet. God has gifted and blessed you with growing experience to be used to bless another. Ask for Him to do so and lead you to who He has for you /this week. And ask for courage and wisdom to share well. Then praise Him. He loves you, chose you, calls you by name and has great plans just for you. PTL! Trust and obey. Dwell and then go! Great fruit lies ahead and you will step into your role in His Good News delivery Company. Amen! I'm praying for you to know the joy and peace of being who you are created to be and doin what you are created to do. Amen! So be it Lord! Thanks!
ODB
Recognizing Jesus
Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? John 14:9
Richard Griffin was Queen Elizabeth II’s personal police officer for fourteen years. Accompanying her on a picnic in the hills near Balmoral Castle one day, they met two American hikers. “Have you ever met the Queen?” they asked, not recognizing the monarch in plain dress. “I haven’t,” the Queen quipped, “but Richard here meets her regularly!” Thrilled to meet someone close to royalty, the hikers then handed the Queen their camera, posed with Richard, and asked her to take a photo!
It isn’t the first time someone has been in the presence of an important person unawares. “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it,” Jacob said after encountering God in a dream at Bethel (Genesis 28:16). And when Philip asked Jesus to show the disciples the Father, Jesus replied, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Like the hikers, the disciples had been ready to hand Jesus the camera, not recognizing He was the one to zoom in on (vv. 10-11).
Like the Queen that day, Jesus hasn’t always been recognized for who He really is. Beyond a “wise teacher” or “great moral leader,” He’s God in the flesh and King of the world (1:14; 18:36). What a revelation it is when we discover it!
By Sheridan Voysey
REFLECT & PRAY
What would you say to Jesus if you met Him on a picnic trip? Who do you understand Him to be?
Dear Jesus, I praise You for being the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and far more than I can ever grasp.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Lack of spiritual sight wasn’t limited to those closest to Jesus. The beginning of John’s gospel says this about people not being able to see Christ for who He is: “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (1:10-11).
Yet Jesus had expectations for those who were closest to Him—those who’d heard His words, who’d seen and experienced His works. He rebuked His disciple for not recognizing Him: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?” (14:9). When we honestly and prayerfully evaluate the words and works of Christ as seen in the Gospels, the Spirit can open our eyes and hearts regarding His identity as God’s Son and the King of Kings, and we’ll be welcomed into the family of God (1:12-13).
Arthur Jackson
TWFYT
I to We
UR: Encourage One Another
Continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just like you are doing already. - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (CEB)
In I lost my 25-year-old son, Daniel, to ALS — also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It was a dark time in my life. I knew God was there, but I questioned everything.
My son was a kind, encouraging, and loving person with a very generous heart. Daniel never lost his loving and caring nature. Even when the doctors told him there was no cure, he looked at me and said, “Mom, don’t you worry; God’s got a plan.” Even as he faced the future knowing he would never be well again, he gave me encouragement. Daniel reminded me to trust God no matter what. He helped me to remember how important it is to love and encourage one another.
God gave my son a heart to encourage others. “Encourage one another” may sound trite, but it can make all the difference in someone’s life. So let’s not hesitate to share an encouraging word. We never know whom we might help.
's Prayer
Dear Lord, teach us to encourage one another so that we may bless others and also be blessed. Amen.
Sarah Update:
Hi Everyone,
in worship we wrapped up our study of the book of James. I would encourage you to take time and go back through and
re-read the 5 chapters of James. Be reminded of what God has shared with us throughout this study......
One of the things I heard from God was "Come close to ME and I will come close to you! " James 4:8 We have to stay close to
God so we can remain STRONG!!!
Tell me what you heard!! I really want to hear....
This coming is our Spaghetti brunch!!!! Hope you are all looking forward to it. Keep Lori and team in your prayers as in their
spare time, they will prep for the brunch. Also, reach out to a neighbor or friend and invite them to come along with you to worship and
stay for brunch!!
Wanted to share the praises and prayer needs shared during worship :
Praises:
Yvonne and Chris Muik thank God for each of you, their church family for praying them through the past couple of difficult weeks.
They continue to need our prayers for healing and strength.
Marylou is praising God for helping Kris, her daughter, and surgeon, with her most recent stomach surgery. Surgery went well and she is home
recovering well. Also Kris and her husband celebrated the birth of their grandson. They were able to hear the lullaby play when the baby was born.
Harry and Millidine Waterman are getting stronger and feeling better everyday. They thank you, their church family for all your prayers. They hope to
see us all next week.
Gail and Houston Lichtenwalner are celebrating 40 years of marriage !!! Congratulations!
Nancy Wertman (Kay Paul's daughter) is praising God for the beautiful weather over the weekend and for family! They had a great time of the
family gathering together at Kay's home on .
Rosa Cruz is doing good in rehab.
Prayer Needs:
Dean is asking for prayer for Sissy Gilbert who is in rehab in Pennsburg Manor - Prayers for patience as she really would like to go home.
Pastor Don is having a doctor appointment on and an ablation surgery on his heart on . Prayers for peace and for all
to go well.
Pray for each of us to be open and ready to reach out to those who need some LOVE, some HOPE, and some PEACE. Always be ready
to share your story of your journey with Jesus! Each out and ask someone if you could pray for them......many need someone just to show
them that they care.
Barb Somers and Winnie Iobst both have asked for prayer for Judy (Barb's sister who is on hospice) she has lung cancer and is currently
at Saucon Valley Manor, being cared for. Please all of Judy's family and friends in your prayers and may God's peace rest overall during this
difficult time.
Continue to remember to pray for yourself, you know sometimes we get so caught up in praying for others, situations around us, that we FORGET
to pray for ourselves......it's so important that we are "prayed up" - it's like putting on the armor of God.....and putting on the protective bubble around us.
Prayer for us....so important! Do it ! DON'T FORGET!!!!
Hope and pray you all have a great week! Keep smiling and sharing Jesus!
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