Good Morning Worshiping Saints! Yes our loves are being poured out for the Kingdom like a drink offering and we continue to stand firm and worship in the storms and joys of life. Our obedience is also and act of worship. Check out the devos below and keep building those gratitude lists. Keep lifting praise always. Keep using worship and praise to shift your focus to God and His best ways and things for you. he is with you always! PTL we know it's true because He promises to be with us always. PTL! He can't lie and He is faithful! What might you add to your gratitude list ? Maybe you need to start one? We are in the month focused on , which should be a 24-7 practice. Keep building those lists and keep praising and worshiping and keep stepping out in faith to follow our Good Shepherd! he is with you, has great plans for you and created you for such a time as this! PTL! Pause. Lift some praise and worship. And step out in faith overflowing with His love and Living water. He has perfect plans for you ! Rejoice. Refresh. Go live and love like Jesus. PTL for Him and His sacrificial love and never ending presence to those who believe. Amen! Romans 12, that we'll look at for verses to refocus to and praise, has some life verses for me. Romans 12:12 is one where we are reminded, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer." Count your many blessings and keep your focus on Jesus as you endure, praise, pray and follow Him. Every time I think of you I praise God! Thanks for being my co-laborers and friends and my prayer support and encouragers. Love you guys and serving together. rejoice! shalom shalom!
On a road trip to Montana one summer, we stopped at a rest area to stretch our legs. Inside one of the buildings was a young man who was singing a familiar praise song as he mopped the floor. Then he started singing the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul.” I couldn’t resist. When he called out the phrase “it is well,” I repeated it. When he sang, “with my soul,” I echoed the words. Together, we sang the last line: “It is well, it is well . . . with my soul!” He grinned, gave me a fist bump, and said, “Praise God.” When I got back to the car where my husband was waiting, he asked, “What’s with the big smile?”
Think of the things for which we can praise God, such as His goodness, righteousness, compassion, promises, provision, and protection. And Psalm 145 is one of many psalms that urges us to continually praise Him. David wrote, “Every day I will praise you” (v. 2). Many people praise God by playing an instrument; others by reading or reciting Scripture; or by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16). Some express their praise through liturgical dance. But all genuine praise springs from hearts that are full of gratitude.
Our spirits were designed to praise God. It’s because of His sacrificial love for us that we can say with confidence, “It is well with my soul!”
By Cindy Hess Kasper
REFLECT & PRAY
When do you find it easy to express your praise for God? What might help you focus on praising Him in a new way?
Dear God, I want my life to be one of continual praise and worship. May You alone receive all the glory.
The book of Psalms is divided into five books or divisions (Psalms 1-41; 42-72; 73-89; 90-106; 107-150). And within these books are subdivisions or collections of psalms. For example, Psalms 120-134 are known as the Songs of Ascents. Another subset of psalms are Psalms 146-150, known as the Hallelujah Psalms because they begin and end with the words “praise the Lord” (Hebrew, halelu-yah).
Psalm 145 is an appropriate preface to these final five psalms because it ends with the commitment, “My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever” (v. 21). The remaining psalms (146-150) begin and end with the simple call, “Praise the Lord,” adding their own voices to Psalm 145’s challenge. The words of Psalm 145 remind us that our spirits were designed to respond in praise to God for all He’s done.
UR: Always Thankful
Give thanks to [the Lord]; bless his name. - Psalm 100:4 (NRSVUE)
I am a big fan of thank-you notes. I like sending them; I like receiving them; I even keep a file of the thank-you notes I have received over the years.
One of my favorite notes came from a former parishioner. It was handwritten in her beautiful script on an ivory-colored card embossed with her initials. She was thanking me for taking the time to meet with the community organization she helped lead — an organization that was close to her heart. She also offered some kind words about the brief meditation on gratitude I had shared that night. “It is so easy,” she wrote, “to take our many blessings for granted, as you pointed out. I stopped to think about some of the things I have to be thankful for. Thanks for reminding me.”
God has given us so much to be thankful for. But sometimes, like children caught up in the excitement of receiving new toys, we forget to give thanks. Psalm 100 tells us that God made us and watches over us like a shepherd watches over sheep. How truly blessed we are!
's Prayer
Generous God, you have given us much to be thankful for! Keep us ever mindful of that reality. Thank you for your love, care, and presence in our lives. Amen.
Sarah update:
Good afternoon Warriors,
I love Fall.....the smells, the beautiful colors, the pumpkin spice coffee and pie, the changes we see God working throughout our world,
around us.
This quote hits the nail on the head:
"God is quite an artist this time of year. His hues hint at HOPE and a PURPOSE to the changes we often struggle with on our path"
Those words emphasize the beauty of God's creation during this Autumn season and it should and hopefully does encourage us to find
purpose when things change in our lives. God has a purpose and a reason for change in our lives. We need to embrace the trust in
our awesome God, that He has each of our lives in the palm of His hands and under His control.
Enjoy Autumn and all it's colors and flavors!!
Here is a prayer need:
Diane Huber has been admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. Please keep her in prayer for healing and strengthening.
Lori Roher has an MRI on her back. Please pray that the MRI can be read quickly and then follow up with
her insurance company and Doctors happen in good timing.
Please keep all the folks that come through our bread ministry and the families in need that surround us.- may we as a church
family help to meet those needs when and wherever we are able. And may our awesome God provide for their needs.
Looking forward to seeing you at worship on at 10:00am. Take time to read through Romans12 so you are
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