Good Morning Masterpieces of God, Activated Servants! Amen! we will focus on the Upper Room Devotional and The Connection Blog. We are God's masterpieces even if we don't believe it. He created us in love and in His image for His plans and purposes for such a time as this. He gathered us and our gifts to encourage each other and build His Church. And He sends us out to live and love and make disciples like Jesus. We all have our parts to play in His Good News Delivery Co. And we do really need each other to do our parts. Amen! When we come to faith, the Holy Spirit indwells us and brings to life the spiritual gifts God has just for each of us and according to our faith and His purposes for us. He gathers us as His family to help each other and to go with others to build the Kingdom. How cool is our God! We are created to be like Jesus to others and then saved, gifted and empowered to do just that! PTL! Plus He joins us with teammates to travel and go with. Thanks Lord! Come! Fill us! Empower us. Hear our prayers. Use us for Your glory and to do our created purposes. Thanks! Amen!
at Clothing Closet and at Brunch we have the opportunity to worship, and love like Jesus. We can bring Him and His ways and love alive as we engage with those He sends our way and with each other. Amen! He has things for us to work on (has He given you a word or something to work on this year? Share it! do it!) and He has gathered us for His perfect plans to be more like Jesus and to love neighbors to Him. Thanks Lord!
I started with mentioning how we sometimes question our worth or purposes. Somerimes we down ourselves and belittle our abilities. STOP! Turn off that noise! God made you and said, "WOW! This is my masterpiece! I have great plans for you!" Believe it! Receive it. Live them in Christ! You are creaTED AND ACTIVATED FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS AND WE ALL NEED EACH OTHER TOO. REMEMBER THE GREATEST COMMANDMENTS? "Love the Lord your God with all your being and love your neighbor as yourself." Love God, others and yourself is not a suggestion. Stop downing and belittling God and His workmanship (you and others). You are His masterpiece, made new in Christ to do what He created you to do. That also includes teammates. Who are yours? And He created those He is sending in His image with plans for us to bless them with the love, hope and help we know. We are commanded to love like Jesus. How's that working out for you?
I often think about when Jesus was left behind at 12 and found teaching the teachers. His response was actually, "Didn't you know I needed to be about my Father." That applies to us! Be about our Father and then His business as one Body like He is One. Amen! Let us continue to work at being who we are created and gathered to be and doing what we are created and gathered and sent to do--together and for His glory! Amen! Thanks Lord! Your Kingdom come and will be done. Unite us in You and mission. Lead on Good Shepherd! We love you and want to offer our best and grow to our fuller potential in Christ. COME! Help! Bring revival and may it begin in me, Your masterpiece made new in Christ. Amen!
Upper Room: Something Good
We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
Recently I noticed a multicolored ball of yarn in my yarn collection. It looked too ragged for any good use, but instead of throwing it away I decided to try crocheting something with it. The result surprised me! I followed the instructions and wound up with a warm woolen hat of beautiful colors — a perfect fit.
Some things in life can be just like that scruffy yarn: poor quality and apparently without purpose. At times, our life experiences can get us down and cause us to lose perspective. But here is where the hand of the Creator comes in. God is willing to make something incredible from whatever we have to offer. The Bible assures us: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
Because of who God is, God can bring good from anything. May we never doubt the skill of God’s hand who can creatively use what we offer for the good of the world.
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's Prayer
Creative God, we surrender to you all the pieces of our lives. Thank you for transforming them into something good. Amen.
Connection Blog
- The Holy Spirit Unites Believers
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had (Acts 4:31-32).
The first-century church received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and was continually filled and equipped by the Spirit to be the kind of church God intended. One of the Holy Spirit’s roles is to bring unity to the hearts and minds of believers to accomplish God’s mission in His church. Unity is vital among God’s people and in our church . The Spirit does not work among a church in disunity.
Oh Lord, unity is a huge thing on Your heart for Your people. May Your Holy Spirit fill every believer at my church with unity of heart and mind so that we have increased unity in our mission and vision. Convict us and correct us of anything that causes or breeds disunity in our midst.
--Adapted with permission from The Summit Church (thesummitchurch.org) we are inviting you into 21 days of prayer and fasting at the beginning of this new year! Each day will focus on a different biblical attribute of the Holy Spirit.
