Thank God I'm Forgiven ! Yes PTL and lift many thanksgivings for His amazing love, grace, mercy and forgiveness! Amen!
Reminder: BRUNCH (Souper Bowl) Moved to at 11:30. (Spread the word!) Congregational meeting is at 11 before brunch. Watch for details for next week soon.
We will determine around noon () if is Zoom only due to snow forecast.
Clothing Closet is open (21st) from 9-12.
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Good Morning Living for Jesus Co-Laborers! It's awesome to be united with you in Christ and His mission! He has created, gifted, activated, gathered us and is sending us to bring new life and revival all around us and we are His Good News Delivery Company and dynamic movement transforming lives and neighborhoods! Amen and PTL! We are living for and like Jesus and He is using us! PTL! We are doing our best with what we've been given to walk in His footsteps and to grow in trust and joy as we release all anxiety to Him. Check out the devos below threaded thought that. He has good plans for you and us! PTL!
Karen and I were discussing how the rain is washing and cleaning the snow just like we are washed in the blood and ready to be made new and washed white as snow . A song came to mind from old days--Let It Rain. God reigns in us and the whole world. Let it rain, Lord! Open the floodgates of Heaven. Click here to listen and worship and invite God into your day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghHfnXPp2AA&list=RDghHfnXPp2AA&start_radio=1
Praise and worship as you begin this day! I'm praising God for all of you and praying for His Kingdom to come and will be done in, through and around you and us! Amen!
ODB:
Living for Jesus
[Jesus] died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 1 Thessalonians 5:10
In 2023, Kenyan police intervened to end what’s being called the “Shakahola Massacre”—in which hundreds died after following a cult leader’s directions to starve themselves to meet Jesus. The leader had allegedly promised he too would leave earth in this way after his followers did. After his arrest, he denied ever teaching this.
The tragedy is a troubling example of how dangerous it is to blindly trust those claiming to be spiritual leaders. Cult members were so deceived that they resisted those who came to save them from starvation. One survivor described getting “addicted” to the leader’s teachings.
Jesus Christ is the true leader of those who trust in Him. He loved us so much He was willing to die for us to have life (1 Thessalonians 5:10). He calls us to live for Him, “awake and sober” (v. 6) and to test any teaching of others against His teaching (vv. 20-22).
We respond to Christ’s love not by harming ourselves or others but by “encourag[ing] . . . and build[ing] each other up” (v. 11). By living “in peace with each other” (v. 13) and striving “to do what is good for each other and for everyone else” (v. 15). Through daily reliance on and trust in Christ’s Spirit (v. 19), we can live a life of love as we eagerly await Christ’s coming (v. 23).
By Monica La Rose
REFLECT & PRAY
When have you seen damage done through false teaching? How can Christ’s example of love help us recognize untrustworthy leaders?
Loving God, please help me never replace Jesus in my heart with any other leader and help me live for You.
In addition to Paul’s warning in 1 Thessalonians to reject false teaching (5:20-22), the New Testament warns elsewhere against untrustworthy leaders in harsh terms. Jesus warned, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15). False teachers teach what is contrary to the “sound instruction” of Christ and “are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy [and] strife” (1 Timothy 6:3-5; see Romans 16:17-18). They “pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:4). We can recognize good teachers by their “fruit” (Matthew 7:16-20). They teach the doctrine of Christ and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The evidence of a loving relationship with Jesus is apparent in their lives. The Spirit can give us discernment to recognize false teaching and live for Christ.
Alyson Kieda
UR: Footsteps
You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. - Psalm 139:13 (NIV)
My husband and I have three sons, and I noticed recently that I can easily identify each one by their footsteps on the stairs in our home. One goes quickly and jumps down the last few steps with a thud. Another has a lighter step, and the third has a steady, even gait. I cultivated this skill without even realizing it!
I love and know my sons thoroughly. But as much as I know my sons, how much more does God — the One who knit me together in my mother’s womb — know me! God knows my innermost thoughts. God knows what I will say, do, or think before it happens. It’s both comforting and unnerving to be so completely known. It’s comforting because I am secure in God’s love for me, but it’s unnerving because I know that I am flawed. However, I think of my love for my sons. No matter their flaws or mistakes, I love them completely, and this reminds me of God’s unconditional love for me. Even so, just as my children apologize and acknowledge their mistakes, I too must confess and repent of my sins.
It delighted me to discover that I have this special knowledge of my sons. I trust that God delights even more in knowing me.
's Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for creating us, knowing us, and loving us completely. May our footsteps always follow yours. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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