Thank God I'm Forgiven ! Amen! Let Him know how thankful you are for Him choosing and forgiving you! Thank Him hat your forgiveness is for always and will bring our hope of eternity with Him alive as we continue to repent and allow Him to mold and improve us. Amen! Thank God for...
Good Morning Abounding in Grace, Abiding in the Living Word, Loving Co-Laborers. Amen! That's us! Is that you? It can be! Be still and know. Turn off the noise and distractions and things that lead you away from God's love and His ways. Receive and share His grace. Abiding in His Word and Love And go live and love more like Jesus . Someone needs love, friendship, salvation and help to walk with Jesus. Who is God bringing to mind? How might He have for you to bless them? How might He be wanting you to grow to do so better? Who are your teammates? Has he given you something to work on this year? Ask and then share it with us and your team. Trust and choose joy as you abide live in and love with and grow in His grace. And go make disciples of Jesus that walk in His ways as they follow you as you follow and love like Him. His forgivenss received brings all this and much more alive in and through you. PTL! Now go! Be jesus and transform the world aound you with his loving ways. Amen! He loves you and is calling you by name to come abide and then thrive in Christ, our Living Word. Amen!
TWFYT
ODB:
An Enlarged Heart
I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart. Psalm 119:32 nkjv
In his Confessions, Augustine wrestled with how it was possible for God to be in relationship with him. How could the one who created the universe come into something as small and sinful as his heart? But he pleaded with God to make it possible, praying, “The house of my soul is narrow. Enlarge it, so that you may enter it. It’s in ruins! Repair it! It has things in it that would offend your eyes. I confess and know it. But who will cleanse it, or to whom will I cry, but to you?”
we know Augustine as Saint Augustine, a revered philosopher and theologian. But he saw himself simply as someone transformed by the wonder of a God who wanted to know him.
In Psalm 119, the psalmist is also in awe of God’s revelation of Himself, particularly through Scripture (v. 18). “You shall enlarge my heart” (v. 32 nkjv), the psalmist celebrated. It’s only because God is graciously willing to enlarge our hearts that we can joyfully walk the path He shows us (v. 45). He turns our hearts away from what is corrupt (vv. 36-37) to the “path of [His] commands,” where we find His infinite “delight” (v. 35).
We are small, and our hearts are fickle. But when we turn our longing hearts to God (vv. 34, 36), He guides us down the paths of joy and true freedom.
By Monica La Rose
REFLECT & PRAY
How has God “enlarged” Your heart? Where might you need to ask Him to bring growth?
Dear God, thank You for opening my heart to Your greatness. Please enlarge my heart and every day.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The image of “walking” is one of Scripture’s most common metaphors for describing someone’s lifestyle—whether in close fellowship with God (see Genesis 5:24; 6:9; Psalm 1:1; 15:1-2) or in opposition to Him (Proverbs 4:14; 1 John 1:6). Psalm 119 begins with this metaphor, emphasizing that “those . . . who walk according to the law of the Lord” are blessed (v. 1). The psalm paints a vivid picture of what it looks like to walk closely with God through immersion in and obedience to Scripture. In verse 32, this imagery intensifies as the psalmist shifts from describing walking to running—suggesting not just steady obedience but an eager pursuit of God’s ways. Unlike those whose feet “rush into evil” (see Proverbs 1:16; 6:18), the psalmist in Psalm 119:32 runs in joyful freedom down the path of God’s commands, liberated by His grace and captivated by His beauty.
Monica La Rose
UR: What Really Matters
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. - Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)
Many years ago, I attended a children’s soccer game. A large, open field provided plenty of area for the game but also plenty of sideline space for spectators.
As I watched the game, I noticed two dynamics at play. First, while the children were young enough that some of their soccer skills were rough around the edges, they were also old enough to understand the game. Running, kicking, scoring! The children played like they meant it!
The second dynamic had little to do with the skill of the players. It was how everyone came together. A sense of camaraderie among spectators and players allowed everyone to cheer for everyone else.
Who ended up with the most goals wasn’t all that important. All the people involved mattered — and so did all of their efforts! It should be the same in our churches and communities.
The “scorecard” of who has or who does the most isn’t what’s important. We can freely cheer for one another — giving support and encouragement wherever, however, and to whoever needs it.
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's Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege of being a part of the body of Christ. Lead us to work together for the good of all your children. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Prayer Starters:
Prayer Points
Praise the one who is King of kings and Lord of lords.
Give thanks for everything in which you may find godly pleasure : for work, food, books, music, and friends.
Confess any pain you have unnecessarily brought into the lives of others.
Commit yourself to doing to others what you would have them do to you.
Ask God to guide you in all your ways, to guard you against all that would harm you in body and soul, and to strengthen you in the face of temptation.
Pray for your pastor and church leaders. Ask God to give them wisdom and integrity and the filling of the Holy Spirit, that they may be mature in faith and may exercise their offices with prayer, patience, and humility.
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.
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