Good Morning Team! We are God's Team--His Body united in Christ, gathered together to worship and go make disciples. We are His Bride united in love. Go team! I thank God for you and the team He has gathered at St. Matts! I thank God that your unified effort has allowed me this respite to be still, rest, abide, reload and to get many projects done around my property which will allow me to focus more fully on God's plans and enacting them moving forward. He is leading me beside the still waters and restoring my soul as He leads me to lush green pastures and even through the valley too. He has gathered us, gifted us, united us, sent us and He is producing and will produce much good fruit in and through us! PTL! Go team! One thing God keeps driving home to me is our call to team up and to find teammates to travel with thru the journey He has for us. I see this being played out and coming to life through our bread, clothing and brunch ministries. How else might He be calling you to team up to serve and go love? Talk to Him as you abide and ask for eyes to see who He has for you to team with and minister with and to. Then try it! (You'll like it!) I really value you, my teammates! Thank you for praying for and blessing Karen and me through this sabbatical, restorative, refreshing time. I have much going on and there has been much drama regarding mom's affairs and Terry is about to step into Jesus' arms, maybe even . We have mom's funeral next week too. But through all the drama and chaos, the Lord has shepherded me to still waters and He is restoring my soul. Thanks Lord! And thanks team! Keep praying for God to unite and lead us and for me to be restored, refreshed and ready to return in a few weeks. He really does have great plans for us for such a time as this and much good fruit awaits as we abide, unite and keep going together and as we live and love more like Christ and according to our potential. So, seek some teammates and ask God to use you and for His eyes, ears and heart to be Jesus to someone together! Amen! One other note: Last year at this time I was very sick with major heart issues and spent two weeks in the hospital. The past two weeks I had two different types and cardiologists visits and some follow up testing. God is awesome and our healer! I had great reports from both and even got off some meds! He is awesome and worthy of all praise! Guess He has some more work ahead for me and us! PTL!
I had no intention of doing blogs during this time unless God led me to share His heart with you. Well, at 2 He stirred me to arise and abide. As I did, His heart for us came alive through our devotionals for . Check them out below. Maybe even chat about and process what God is saying to you and leading you to do with your teammates. Don't have any? Prioritize that! God wants us to work on teaming up as we follow. And He is preparing the way. What's He saying to you as you abide? What will you do about it? Who does He have for you to team up with, pray, prepare and go to live and love like Jesus united in Him and His love? He does have great plans for such a time as this for you and us!!! Seek first His Kingdom and go love well, united! The good fruit is budding! Amen!
The Upper Room: Spirit that Gives Life
The Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest. - Isaiah 32:15 (NIV)
Two months ago I caught COVID-19, and I am still dealing with lingering symptoms. I could only get a deep breath every few minutes, and my chest hurt from the effort. I had to rest a lot and walk slowly. This was still an improvement from the first weeks of illness when my chest was tight all the time and I struggled to breathe. I am grateful that I can breathe deeply .
In the original languages of the Bible, the word for air or breath also means spirit: ruah in Hebrew and pneuma in Greek. I find that just as I need to breathe air to live, I also need God’s Spirit. Sometimes I struggle to live as God would want, and I don’t see the fruit of the spirit such as joy, patience, and generosity manifesting in my life (see Gal. 5:22). When I am out of breath or feel pain from breathing hard, I have to stop and rest. Likewise, when I start to get irritable, lonely, or self-centered, I need to take a break from the busyness of daily life and rejuvenate my spirit by spending time with God who sustains me.
's Prayer
God of abundant life, we thank you for making us whole through the gifts of breath and of your Spirit. Amen.
Our Daily Bread:
It hasn't posted yet but it's about being prepared to share. try it with your teammates! God has someone just for you that needs to feel His love and hear the Good News! Amen!
Until next time, know I am seeking God and His plans and praying for you and preparing for what He has for me and us now and in the future. He is at work and he is Love! Love lives in you and wants top love through you. And he has gathered us to love like Him. try it! It's awesome and leads to much fruit and praise and glory to God! Hallelujah!
