Good Morning Children of the Ever-Present, Active-, God Almighty! Amen! God had me challenge you to watch what He was doing and be willing and ready to join Him and allow Him to use you in the moments of the day. That should become a daily practice as we work at forgetting what lies behind and focus on what God is doing now and as we prepare for the new things He has for each of us and us as His gathered and sent Body. So what does God have for you ? Who is He sending your way or you too? Talk to Him and process with your teammates and pray into this day and the days to come. Thank God for being with you always and always wanting to lead you to the new things He has planned. Thank Him for all He has done and is doing and will do. Keep praying expectantly. He hears, cares and is able. He has great plans for you and us awaiting willing and prepared servants. Are you one? You can be! Just show up with open heart and mind and eyes on Jesus with a willing heart and moving feet. Amen!
People need to hear stories of the faithfulness of our Almighty God and the things He did and will do to develop faith and hope to face this day and join Him in faith for what is to come. Who might He have for you to help with that? Will you? He has and continues to write His story through you. PTL! What's He up to? Who can you process and plan with? Who needs to hear these things? How might you pray ? Be still and know. Prepare and go. Step out into faith to the new things God has for you. I love the line from the Chosen, "I was one way and now another and the thing that happened in between was [Jesus]." What's His new plans and ways for you to step into ? Talk to Him and follow Him as you prepare your willing heart to get to do His perfect will and plans custom made for you where you are and as you are.
God showed up in many ways at bread ministry and during our Chosen dinner huddle. So many ways! PTL! There are so many personal stories to share of His presence and His using us and us as His Body to bless, teach, pray and help many. PTL! God is doing big things in, through and around us on Wednesdays! PTL and come and see! He has plans for you too. Just show up ready to join Him and watch what He has planned for you and for others through you and just worship! We are entering the month we focus on . We need to pause each week to share with thankful hearts and praising mouths as we recount all He is doing. Come and see! Miracles are happening. Healing and deliverance is happening and in process. New life and living water is coming alive. People are being served, helped and loved on. Joy is rising. And many are feeling loved, accepted and valued. And so much more! PTL! God is writing His love story through us! Come and see! And share those stories! We all need to hear them as we grow to trust our God who is able and who is at work always in and through us! I think about how we began this year praying for 30 new attendees. They are showing up on Wednesdays! PTL! Come and see the new things God is doing and has for you! Amen!
Check out the devos below for that spoke to my heart from God's. Think about Isaiah 43 where our Abba Father says, "Fear not for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine! I will be with you always." Amen! Sarah Young reminds of His ever-present love. He speaks this truth over you and our Body, "I am with you." ALWAYS! PTL! The Upper Room asks, "God has given me this day; how best can I use this gift?" We get to do the things God has for us and He promises to go with us and hold us in His hands. Reach out and hold His hand as you step into this day trusting and in faith. Walk with the Holy Spirit and watch for what has been prepared for you. Go! Live and love like Jesus, doing the things you were created for. And never forget the reminder from Our Daily Bread. We all were one way being transformed to another as God moves our willing feet and repentant and willing hearts to the new things He has made us for and planned in advance. He repurposes us and never wastes anything He has allowed us to go through. Will you allow that? Will you hold His hand and walk into this day and new story He is writing for and through you? I'm praying for you, expecting His Kingdom to come and will to be done and watching for the new things on the horizon as we walk into what is . He is leading, holding and preparing you for and His future plans! PTL! Yes rejoice! Thanks Lord! Come! Hold us, prepare us and lead us to the things to come. Glorify Your holy name! Amen! I was/we were one way and now another with much more to come! PTL! Trust and follow and allow God to write His story through you and share that Good News with someone ! And just worship!
Sarah Young
UR: Hold and Step
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. - Psalm 63:8 (NRSVUE)
The youngest member of our family was learning to go up and down our very steep front steps on her own. As she made her way up and down, whoever was with her would remind her to keep a tight grip on the handrail, saying, “Come on, Laila! Hold tight and step.”
Some time later, after a lengthy hospital stay, I came home and was still very unsteady on my feet. As I stood hesitating at the top of the steps, a little voice piped up, “It’s all right, Grandma. Just hold tight and step.” She kept on encouraging me until I reached the ground.
What a wonderful life lesson! We may not be floundering in deep water as Peter was in Matthew’s Gospel, but whenever we are experiencing trouble, fear, or weakness, all we need to do is firmly grasp God’s hand and move forward in faith. Out of great love for us, God will provide the strength that we lack.
's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for your love and grace. Remind us that when we reach out in faith, you will always be there to help and sustain us. We pray as Jesus taught us, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil” (Luke 11:2-4, KJV). Amen.
ODB:
Repurposed by God
[Joseph] kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Genesis 45:15
In the early 1930s, Cleo McVicker came up with a product that could be used as wallpaper cleaner. Back then, most homes were heated by coal, and walls became covered in soot. Cleo’s invention could be rolled over wallpaper and would pick up the grime. Well, the wallpaper cleaner never became popular, but decades later, a teacher used Cleo’s product in her classes to create ornaments. From that was born a new company—Rainbow Crafts—and the wallpaper cleaner was repurposed as a children’s toy: “Play-Doh.”
On a far greater scale, God has a way of repurposing people. We remember the biblical story of Joseph and his “coat of many colors.” As a young man, he was a lowly shepherd and was sold into slavery by his brothers. But God led Joseph through great difficulties and into the top ranks of government. Eventually Joseph became “repurposed” as “the ruler of all Egypt” (Genesis 45:26). Yet Joseph’s calling was not about power but about grace—something he extended to his brothers as he forgave them (v. 15).
In a sense, all of us are “failed products.” It’s through “the grace of a Son,” Jesus, that we are repurposed into greater things. As you do life , think of your higher purpose and remember to extend grace to others, just as Christ does for us.
By Kenneth Petersen
REFLECT & PRAY
How has God repurposed you in your life journey? What might you learn from the example of Joseph’s life?
Dear God, if I’ve forgotten the grace You’ve called me to, please remind me and help me extend it to others.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Genesis 45 describes a beautiful experience of forgiveness and reconciliation. Joseph had risen from being a slave in Egypt to someone with incredible power as Pharaoh’s second in command (41:43). Joseph could have chosen to exact revenge on his brothers for selling him into slavery. Instead, he offered grace: “Do not be angry with yourselves” (45:5). The reason Joseph gives is that God had still brought about good even through their wrongdoing—saving the lives of His people (v. 7). His story is a reminder that even when people fail, God is still at work for good. Because Jesus has extended grace to us, we can offer grace to others.
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