6-7:30 Dinner Huddle resume study of Missional Spirituality (Pizza/Ice Cream party too!)
Good Morning Redeemed, Made New, Friends of God! What love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, new life in Christ, and help we know as God's redeemed beloved children! God is so awesome and we are so blessed! Praise Him and abide in His love for a spell. Maybe spend some time with our devotionals below. We are forgiven, helped, gifted, and sent to live and love like Jesus! What's God have for you ? Who might you partner with to pray, prepare and go? You are sent! And you have a purpose in His Good News Delivery Company. Amen! Look for the thread thru the devos. God is speaking to you and us. We are made new for His plans to come alive in and through us. We are His agents of revival! GO! Live and love like Jesus!
before I started my quiet time, God put an old SWOT (Strength-weakness-opportunity-threats) analysis from March last year in my hands. Not a lot has changed since then. That got me wondering before the Lord, Have we atrophied, stalled,, slowed down, settled into the comfortable, or are we still thriving and moving forward as God's dynamic movement? What would your analysis be? What is God saying to you as you contemplate our church and how God is using us? Are we prospering as we grow His Kingdom or are we just muddling along with the familiar? Talk to God about that and let's pray, listen and respond together. Day Light is burning and we have a mission to complete. he is with us, placed us here and is sending us to transform society and those He is sending. So, what's your part? Who are your teammates? Let's roll, baby!
Strengths: Church full of loving, joyful people. All feel welcomed. We are givers. We are serving and helping others and doing what we can with what we've been given.
Weaknesses: Are we doing all God has for us? Are we seeking and following His lead? Could do more with more trained and willing leaders
Opportunities: night is growing and so is Bread Ministry. We are connecting to unchurched people and can connect some to God. There are many needs in our community
Threats: Lethargy, coasting along staying comfortable. People abusing our kindness. Non-biblical theologies come with new attendees. Burnout.
What's God saying to you? Who will you share that with to process, pray and prepare? He is sending us and brinmginmg in the harvest. Are we doing all we can with what He's blessed us with? Pray into all this and let's talk soon! I'm praying for you and for God to prosper us as He grows His Kingdom. Amen!
ODB:
Precious Parting Words
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 Matthew 28:16-20
My friend José was in hospice care. He’d been alert and talkative during my prior visit but a week later was now frail and speechless. I with José and his family anyway, hoping my presence would mean something to them. At the end of what would be my final visit, I was the last one in the room with him. I finally stood and slowly headed to the door but stopped and turned around one last time to say, “Love you,” not expecting a response. There I saw José moving his lips. He was mouthing the words “love you” in return.
A person’s parting words can leave a lasting impression. As Jesus was getting ready to return to His Father in heaven after His sacrificial death and resurrection, He assured His disciples that all authority on heaven and earth belonged to Him (Matthew 28:18). And He left them with this lasting charge or Great Commission, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (vv. 19-20). Christ also assured His followers that He would always be with them (v. 20).
Jesus’ parting words are for us too. May we embrace His call to tell others about Him so they can experience His love and forgiveness, live for Him, and enjoy eternal life with Him in heaven. His message is too good not to share with people of all nations.
By Nancy Gavilanes
REFLECT & PRAY
How do Jesus’ parting words touch you? Who can you share Him with ?
Dear Jesus, please help me to share Your good news with others.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Matthew 28:16-20, which includes the Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all nations,” is one of several texts with similar wording. Mark 16:15 says to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Luke 24:47 states that “repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” In John 20:21, Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And Acts 1:8 says, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
As soon as the Holy Spirit was sent on the Day of Pentecost (see Luke 24:49; Acts 2), these early believers in Christ immediately began obeying the Great Commission. , we’re invited to continue the mission of telling the good news to everyone everywhere.
Bill Crowder
UR: Leaving the Familiar
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds. - Ephesians 4:22-23 (NIV)
Before following Jesus, Peter was a fisherman; his whole life revolved around catching fish. That changed when Jesus gave him a new identity as a “fisher of men.” Yet, after three years of following Jesus — hearing his teachings, witnessing his crucifixion, and even seeing him resurrected — Peter was still unsure of his next steps. So Peter decided to return to what was familiar, saying, “I’m going out to fish” (Jn. 21:3).
Often when we feel confused or stuck, we retreat to what we know. Like Peter, when faced with uncertainty, we return to familiar waters, falling back into old habits or revisiting the places we previously frequented.
But rather than returning to the familiar, Jesus calls us to embark on new journeys, following the path he set before us. Ephesians 4:22 says to “put off your old self.” We are called to move beyond who we were before and live with purpose for the kingdom of God.
's Prayer
Faithful God, meet us in our weakness, for your grace makes us whole. Strengthen us against temptations and our old ways that still beckon us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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