Donuts and conversations at the Bread Ministry today 10-12. 6-7:30 PM Dinner Huddle. All welcome to either or both! Come and see God at work in, through and around us!

Good Morning Patient, Peaceful, Plodding Along, Priests unto the Lord! AMEN! Which of these do you need to pray into, work on with some friends and garb a more firm hold of? All are a choice we are able and empowered to make in Christ. PTL! Are you anxious, frustrated, mired in the chaos all around you that you can do nothing about? Turn off the noise. Choose trust and joy. Refocus on what God has for you today. Patiently follow Him to His best. Are you dwelling in the past and what used to be's? Forget what lies behind. Build on the good things. Choose to press forward with Jesus to God's new things for you and us. God is on the move! Join Him! Are you running ahead or lagging behind God? Be still, know and yoke to Jesus as we plod along one step of time in faith to what's next while sowing as we go. We are all priests of God. We don't need a mediator because the High Priest, Jesus, lives in us and is interceding for us right now, even when we don't know what to pray. Call on His name and pronounce His name over you and your circumstances! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! There's just something about that name! We can be patient, peace-filled, plodding along with Jesus instruments of His! Choose peace and joy today! Start with meditating on and praying through our devos and blogs below! God really loves you and has great plans for you that come alive as you live and love more like Jesus! Amen! Start right now and partner with some friends!

Gotta fly! Back on normal time again and slept too late until 5:15 today. Need to be on the road already. Shalom! See you soon!

ODB:

UR: In God's Time

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. - Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

One spring during my morning walks, I noticed my neighbor building a brick walkway from his porch to the street. Gradually over several weeks, I watched as he prepared the ground, poured gravel, and laid bricks. Then for some reason I could not perceive, I saw that he had ripped up half the path and piled the bricks in his yard. Eventually, the path was completed, and the mess was cleaned up. If I had not been paying attention, the finished path might have seemed to appear overnight. But I had witnessed the process: the planning, measuring, waiting, ripping up, and restarting.

The construction of my neighbor’s walkway illustrates that sometimes things don’t happen overnight — even when God is doing something new in our lives and inviting us to grow from it.

Isaiah 43:18-19 reminds me to keep my eyes open for how God is at work in my life.

Growth is a process — one step at a time. We can trust that God is always doing something new. As we become more aware of God’s presence, we can watch for the new things God is doing, give thanks, and proclaim God’s great work.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear God, we praise your name and proclaim the new and wondrous works you do in our lives. Amen.

Harvest Prayer blog:

Don't forget...Zoom Huddle at 10! All welcome! And donut day tomorrow 10-12!

Good Morning Seen, Known, Loved, Forgiven, Humble, Followers of Jesus! You are known by God and you matter! He is with you always and leading you to His best! Humble yourself before our Lord and Savior. Confess, repent and receive His loving forgiveness. Check out all our devos and especially the Harvest Prayer blogs and prayers. We are one in Christ. We are His Body. Each of us matter and we are created, gifted and empowered to love each other, spur each other on, and grow God's Church for such a time as this. He has plans for you and us! PTL! Choose to worship, receive and follow well as you prepare yourself for the day ahead in Christ! I'm praying for you and our fellowship! Go and love well today! Amen! And cover each other in prayer as you don God's armor. Thanks!

Harvest Dave's Blog:

(Recognizing the Places of Spiritual Attack)

 By Dave Butts

Several years ago I had the opportunity to write a book entitled The Devil Goes To Church. It’s been interesting to watch the responses of people who see the title for the first time. Most of them say, “The devil sure does go to church… especially mine.” Why this overwhelming awareness that Satan is somehow interested in what happens in churches? Maybe it’s because we’re seeing his hand at work in the church. This excerpt helps us understand why Satan is interested in your church and four ways that he attacks local congregations.

There is a very real reason why the devil goes to church. The Biblical worldview is of a great cosmic battle between the forces of God and the forces of Satan. Christians are those who have changed sides in the battle. Paul writes about this changing of sides in the second chapter of Ephesians: “…in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved” (vv. 2-5).

The enemy of our God has become our enemy. We are not in a neutral position. When Christians gather as the church, we become a real threat to Satan. We are there to worship, to pray, to teach and to encourage one another to live and proclaim the Kingdom of God and as such, proclaim the enemy’s defeat. It is apparent that he will do all he can to prevent that from happening….

The real danger for us is being unaware of the enemy’s schemes. We approach every difficulty in church as though it is just a natural thing. When churches divide over whether or not to use hymns or contemporary choruses, it is not natural. When the flock turns on the shepherd, it is not natural. When the saints, called to live in love, spend their time criticizing and accusing one another, it is not natural. The devil has come to church!

…There is one obvious thing about Satan’s attacks – he is consistent. He does basically the same thing over and over again in church after church, down through the ages. We might categorize them in these memorable ways: Doubt, Deceit, Discouragement, Division.

Doubt

Sowing doubt has been one of the enemy’s weapons from the very beginning. In Eden, the serpent stirred up doubt in Eve, causing her to sin. He caused her (and Adam) to doubt God’s word, asking the insidious question, “Has God said…?” You can almost hear the oily voice continuing, “You don’t really believe that do you?” The same voice, the very same voice, is asking the same question today, causing Christians to begin to doubt God and His Word.

Doubt was the weapon Satan used against Jesus in the wilderness. Every temptation was preceded by the word, “if.” “IF You are the Son of God,” the enemy whispers, attempting to instill doubt into Jesus. He still uses the same attack.

Doubt can come in many forms. Sometimes it is the frontal attack on the veracity of the Bible. There are many in church who simply do not believe that all of the Bible is truly God’s inspired Word. But sometimes the most vicious attack comes on those who do believe in the Bible, but are then led into doubt as to the power of God’s Word. “Will that really work?” people ask. Whole segments of Scripture are robbed of their power as Christians relegate them to some other day or time, and fail to appropriate them for themselves. Be careful when trying to explain away a clear meaning of Scripture. It may be that the enemy is raising doubts.

Doubt is also raised as to the nature of God. When tragedies come in life (and they do), even Christians find themselves doubting the love or mercy of God. “How could a loving God cause (or allow) such a thing to happen?” The whispering enemy is again at work to cause God’s people to doubt the goodness or power of their God. We’re sometimes told that to doubt is natural. Not for those who have tasted of the goodness, mercy and power of God! Faith is the natural response to God. Look at Job and the almost inconceivable tragedy that changed his life. Though facing great loss and with tremendous grief, still he words one of the great faith responses in Scripture, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21).

Doubt also comes to the individual believer regarding his/her position in Christ. The enemy continually works at trying to separate us from Christ. He doesn’t have the power to actually do that, but he tries to instill doubt in us as to who we are in Christ. The best way to counter that is with the truth of God’s Word. Christian author, Neil Anderson has written much on this topic and has prepared a wonderful list of scriptures that affirm who we are in Christ:

• John 1:12 – I am God’s child.
  • John 15:15 – I am Christ’s friend.
  • Rom. 5:1 – I have been justified.
  • 1 Cor. 6:17 – I am united with the Lord and one with Him in spirit.
  • 1 Cor. 6:20 – I have been bought with a price; I belong to God.
  • 1 Cor. 12:27 – I am a member of Christ’s Body.
  • Eph. 1:1 – I am a saint.
  • Eph. 1:5 – I have been adopted as God’s child.
  • Eph. 2:18 – I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit.
  • Col. 1:14 – I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
  • Col. 2:10 – I am complete in Christ.

Deceit

A second weapon that Satan uses against the Church is deceit. This should not surprise us since Jesus Himself described Satan as a liar. Satan delights in twisting the truth, confusing people and leading them into error. That’s rather obvious when you look at the condition of Christian doctrine, both within and without the Church. It may be as subtle as the lack of understanding concerning Christian grace or as obvious as those who deny the inspiration of the Bible.

The Apostle Paul speaks of difficult times for the Church in the last days, especially in regard to truth. We are warned of those who are “always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth, men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected” (2 Timothy 3:7-8).

Like what you are reading? This article is a part of the text from the course “The Devil Goes to Church" at PrayerU.com, the digital learning site of Harvest Prayer Ministries. For more information on this course, click here.

This passage is so clearly being lived out in the Church today, that we can easily see the enemy’s handiwork. There is no shortage of Bible studies in our churches. But we debate the meaning rather than living out the intent of God’s Word. We have fallen into the trap that James warned us about: “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). Studying Scripture without doing it is one of Satan’s great deceits.

This deception concerning the Word of God leaves the Church powerless and unable to function as God has intended. George Otis, Jr. delivers a scathing indictment of this powerlessness as follows:

“If ever there was a moment for the Church to stand up and be counted, that moment is now. Unfortunately, American Christendom is in the midst of a low, debilitated spiritual state. At almost every turn, supernatural power and insight have given way to religious inertia. Fellowships are growing numerically, but members are not maturing in character. There are programs aplenty, but little fear of God. Most ominously, modern believers seem oblivious to their own unhealthy condition. Having succumbed to the Laodicean Syndrome (see Revelation 3:14-17), they view their compromised state as normal – even blessed.

“A troubling, if predictable, consequence of this spiritual self-deception is that the Church has found itself unable to speak into the current crisis with any clarity or consistency. Burdened political leaders seeking direction from Christian clergy and prayer networks report receiving advice that ‘wanders all over the map.’ Needing wise men with keen understanding, these national decision makers are finding instead blind guides and flesh-clouded counsel” (George Otis, Jr. “Fading Light,” January 2003).

Discouragement

One of the main passages of Scripture that we often use to hit people over the head with to get them to attend church is Hebrews 10:25: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” The focus of the passage however is not merely attending a meeting, but in the process, encouraging one another.

One of the very practical reasons for this scriptural command is to counter the enemy’s strategy of discouraging the believers. Many faithful Christians who have withstood the more frontal attacks of Satan in the area of morality, truth and righteous living, have found themselves blind-sided by discouragement. A few words of criticism here and there, a “down” day, a little loss of fresh vision, a program that didn’t go according to plan, and suddenly we find ourselves discouraged and wondering if we can go on.

Many great women and men of God have had severe bouts with discouragement and depression. Perhaps the clearest example is that of Elijah following his great victory over the prophets of Baal. In the wake of that victory, Queen Jezebel ordered his execution. In fear, Elijah ran and ended up in this situation in 1 Kings 19:4: “He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’” Now that is serious discouragement from a great man of God. It took the intervention of the Lord Himself to bring Elijah out of that depressed mood.

You may not have sat under a tree with a desire to die, but discouragement can hit us all. The great word of God to the Church in this case is that we are called to be an encouragement to one another. We are to build one another up in our faith. Our gatherings need to be times of great encouragement. The church that is a place of support and edification is a place where the enemy’s plans have been thwarted.

There is an old story about discouragement called, “The Devil’s Tool Sale”:

“It was advertised that the devil was putting his tools up for sale. On that date the tools were laid out for public inspection. They had prices on them, and there were a lot of treacherous instruments: hatred, envy, jealousy, deceit, pride, lying, and so on. Laid apart from the rest of the devil’s tools was a harmless-looking tool, worn more than any of the others and priced very high.

“‘What’s the name of this tool?’ asked one of the customers.

“‘That,’ the devil replied, ‘is discouragement.’

“‘Why have you priced it so high?’

“‘Because discouragement is more useful to me than all the others. I can pry open and get inside a man’s heart with that when I cannot get near him with any other tools. It’s badly worn because I use it on almost everyone, since so few people know it belongs to me.’”

When we begin to understand that discouragement is of the enemy, we can begin to counter it using the weapons of our warfare. It is not natural for a Spirit-filled child of God to walk around discouraged. This is an attack of Satan to put us on the sidelines.

Division

Francis Frangipane writes, “If there ever was a false doctrine that was so widespread, so accepted in the Body of Christ, yet so contrary to the heart and teachings of Christ, it is the tradition of division within the Church” (Becoming the Answer to Christ’s Prayer, p. 2).

One of the most effective strategies of Satan has been to bring about division in the Body of Christ. It makes sense that the enemy would push for a splintered, divided Church, since Jesus desired exactly the opposite. The main focus of Jesus’ great high priestly prayer of John 17 was that His followers would be united. A strong, united Church is a testimony to the world of the love of God. Satan is doing all he can to destroy that testimony.

One of the main weapons we have against this attack is awareness of the enemy’s schemes. If we are unaware of the satanic nature of division, there is a greater tendency toward excusing it or just assuming that this is one of those things that happens occasionally in the church. When we see clearly though, that we as a church are under attack, then we will determine at all costs to guard against division. Members of a congregation are well-prepared to resist the enemy when, finding themselves in times of conflict, they begin to ask the question, “What is the enemy trying to do here?” Then, turning to the Lord, they ask the most important question, “Lord, how do we counter the attacks of the enemy against Your people?”

When a church finds itself facing issues that bring division, the prayer meeting is far more effective than the board meeting. Division always has a spiritual issue at its root and the enemy is always involved. It is heartfelt, heaven-sent prayer by the Body of Christ that will rout the devil and deal with the issues that are at hand.

I’ll never forget a church where I taught a prayer seminar in central Indiana. I’m so grateful I got there early that Sunday morning. As I walked into the church sanctuary, I was amazed to see about a dozen men walking around the room praying. They were laying hands on the pews and walking to the four corners of the room, praying for a new awareness of the Lord’s presence, a fresh moving of His Spirit, and for protection from the attacks of the enemy. What a powerful way for a group of Christian leaders to go on the offensive against Satan and to keep the devil from their local congregation.

How will you take your stand against the enemy?

Excerpted from The Devil Goes to Church: Combating the Everyday Attacks of Satan 

by David Butts, Harvest Prayer Ministries

Harvest Prayer Blog:

UR: God Sees Us

[Jesus] gave them strict orders that no one should know what had happened. Then he told them to give her something to eat. - Mark 5:43 (CEB)

In Mark 5, Jesus exorcised a demon, healed a woman of her hemorrhage, and raised a little girl from the dead. I would have guessed that after all that, Jesus would have rubbed his hands together and called it a day. Or maybe he would have sat back among a crowd to recount all that he had done. That is what I would have done. But that was not Jesus’ way.

Jesus was more concerned about the risen girl’s needs. She was not a project to him; she was not a means to make himself look better. Jesus saw the young girl as a person with needs and fears. While everyone else was ecstatic and shocked, Jesus saw that the girl was hungry and told her mother and father to give her some food.

In God’s eyes we are not means to an end. We are not just one of many pieces in the puzzle. To God, each one of us is a person with our own needs and fears. God is interested in even the tiniest details of our lives. In every moment, remember that there is nothing too trivial to bring to God.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear God, may we always remember that you are aware of our struggles every moment of our lives. As your people, we thank you for always caring about us. Amen.

C.S.

ODB:

TWFYT:

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Did you turn your clocks ahead? See at 10 am DST! Come and worship! Pray for our worship time as we continue to discuss what Church is and our parts in God's Body. Note: new member installation will be in two weeks on Palm Sun. If you are interested in joining our church (all are welcome) talk to Sarah or me. That's the day of our brunch after worship too! Sign up today!

Good Morning Bright-Eyed and Bushy-Tailed Worshipers! Well, maybe some of us have to pronounce that, choose that, and pray into that on this spring-ahead Sun. But God knows, carries us and wants us to gather and worship! Rise and shine and give God the Glory! This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! It is also the day of rest and I'm sure some of us will be napping after church today. I was up at 4 so maybe a nap before church for me? I'm praying for you and for the Holy Spirit to keep things lively during our worship time.

What an awesome morning with the Lord I had today! As always, He stirs me awake with thoughts and praises of Him and continues as I sit at His feet in my prayer closet and chew on His Word and listen to His still small voice. I'm always blessed by my time with the Lord! If you don't set aside some tome with the Lord, I urge you to do so. Start small, but start. Open His Word prayerfully. Sit with some devotionals and listen. There is no better way to start your day (or end it) then with time with God! The Pause that truly refreshes! Check out the Harvest prayer blog at the bottom speaking into this quality time with God--time well spent!

There are sorta two threads thru our devotionals today, yet, they sorta tie together too. Check them out below. Do you see the threads? How is the Holy Spirit threading them to you and your situation? What's God saying to you? Who might you process that with? And remember, we are all masterpieces of God and He is quilting us together for His purposes and glory. Amen! How might that be revealed in His teaching to you today? Spring is springing and new life is poking through the ground and budding. We can see it outside. Are you seeing it in our Body as well? Behold and worship! God is restoring the earth and us! PTL! We have stood firm through the winter. We are practicing for the hard times to come too. Keep refocusing with praise and gratitude. God is at work always and He is with us. Trust and follow well! Let the Holy Spirit fill your hearts and minds this morning and lead you into all truth and help you pray too. He is in you, ready and waiting--even in your weariness! Rejoice! Be still and know! God never sleeps! He is on the move! And He has some great custom plans for you and that can include some rest too! See you soon! Shalom!

Upper Room: Handmade Gift

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24 (KJV)

Have you ever been given something made by hand? Perhaps someone gifted you a meal from their kitchen, a flower arrangement from their garden, or a one-of-a-kind craft. Similarly, each day

is a gift from our Creator that we can receive with gladness.

Sometimes the person receiving the gift may not always understand the time and effort required to make a handmade gift. And we may not feel like rejoicing each and every day when we are facing trials or feeling ill. But before my feet hit the floor in the morning, I practice reciting this verse: “This is the day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it!”

Each morning I choose to be thankful and pray that my presence will be a reflection of the light of our Creator, the maker of heaven and earth. Let us give thanks for God’s gift of today and enter each day with a spirit of rejoicing.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Creator of heaven and earth, help us to know you and to recognize the works of your hands. We will rejoice and be glad, giving thanks for the gift of each day. Amen. Our Daily Bread:

The Word for You Today:

Charles Stanley:

Harvest Blog:

My Prayer Starters:

Good Morning Becoming More Like Jesus Children and Servants of the Most High God! We are saved by fait and this is a gift and act of great grace and mercy of God! PTL! We are created in God's image for His purposes. We are made new in Christ when we receive the gift of salvation. We get the Holy Spirit in us and he brings gifts to help us to grow to our fullest potential and He empowers us to go share the Gospel and bring Good News as we go do the things we are created to do. How blessed are we? Tell God today all about your thankfulness, your dreams about His plans for you, your struggles, and your willingness to repent, correct, grow and follow Him. Then receive His shalom, wisdom, and directions with right and willing hearts, hands and feet. The next step is to allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to the next step. then take it in faith. What's God saying to you? What's His plan for you today? What will you do about it? He is at work all around you and has some very good plans awaiting your discovery and right heart. Come and see! The more you abandon your old nature and step into your new, the more peace you will know too. Know Christ and know peace. Know Christ and make Him known is the EC mission statement. It's both and. We are created for a purpose. We matter. God has custom plans for each of us and we grow in peace and receive many blessings as we go bless and fulfill our purposes.

Check out Our Daily Bread below about doing good. Are you a do gooder? That often has a bad rap in this world. But not in God's. That is part of our created purpose. Love God, others, serve in love, make disciples and enjoy this life. That is Jesus' easy yoke. And the more focused we are on that, the more joy and satisfaction we will find in this life. Are you good-works ready? Prepare your heart right now!

The Upper Room asks an important question: If you knew you had 40 days to live, what would you choose to do? For me, that would be to be more earnest about being about my Father's business and loving on others. Their premise is: why aren't we doing that all the time? They talk about Lent (one of those man-made holidays moving us to do something we should be doing already all the time) They ask what you are giving up. My thought is the better question: What are you giving? How about starting with yourself, your heart, your gratitude, your availability? Yes giving up sin is critical in being prepared to be used by God. But confession and repentance should be a daily thing as we die to self, take up cross daily (crucifying our sins) and following Jesus. As should being about our Father and His business. Put off that old nature more fully today and step into your new one more fully as you work on becoming more like Jesus. (I hesitate to share the UR because it feels legalistic to me. But it may be profitable to remind us of our daily call to crucify self.)

The Word for You Today a two day teaching on moving from failure to success. We are all failures. We all fall short of God's standards. Yet, we are forgiven, cleansed and purified as we confess and repent or begin the journey of repentance. PTL for His grace, mercy and forgiveness and for using us as we are and growing us to our fuller potential. He wants us to succeed and He helps if we seek him, humble ourselves and allow Him to. Keep persevering in faith. Keep striving towards Christlikeness and your fullest potential. Aim high! Aspire to the big things God has for you as you take each step of faith and do the little things along the way. No matter how dire things may appear, we know what lies ahead--victory in Jesus and eternal life with Him. This life is preparation for the next. It's promised that we will encounter very hard times before we get there. Those hard times produce character, grow faith and mold us into God's masterpieces and harvesting machines. He does really love you and have great custom made things for you! rejoice. Stand firm! Journey forward in Christ today! And find some allies to journey with! We are better together! And we are more than overcomers! Amen!

Come join us tonight as we feast, fellowship, study, pray and grow in our journey. And/or find some friends and do the same. We are an Acts 2:42 church growing in Christ and doing more of His plans His way. come and see! Come and experience how much fun it is to partner with others as we grow and go love! I'm praying for you and us! Ask God who He may want you to bring along! Pray for our Bread Ministry today and for us to connect to those God is sending and that they would feel and want to know more about His love. Thanks! Shalom!

ODB:

UR: Let God In

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. - Matthew 4:1 (NIV)

What are you giving up for Lent? I know I am supposed to give up something in order to reflect on Jesus’ 40 days in the desert and to prepare for the commemoration of Jesus’ death and resurrection. My immediate answer for way too many years has been “chocolate” and “playing pickleball.” But if I knew I was going to die in 40 days, giving up food and fun would not make the list at all! So, what would I give up?

I’d give up wasting time. I would focus on all the people I haven’t seen or talked to enough and tell them how much they mean to me.

I’d give up trying to tell my grandkids what to do! Instead, I would write down my life’s story — hopefully to leave answers to questions they will surely have after I am gone.

I’d give up harbored anger, resentment, and frustration over my failures, the relationships that turned out badly, and the opportunities I ignored.

I’d give it all up to let God in — not just for Lent or 40 days, but from this day forward. Let us renew our commitment to follow Jesus’ example of obedience as we seek fullness of life in God.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear God, help us to appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Give us the courage to follow his leading toward wholeness of life. Amen.TWFYT:

Harvest Prayer Blog and Prayer Starters:

Good Morning Guided, Secure, Child-Like, Followers of Jesus! Thank You Lord! May we grow in this as we humble ourselves and offer ourselves to You for Your will to be done in, through, and around us and for Your glory. May we yoke to Jesus well and be part of His team and plans today. Amen! 

God is speaking and wanting to direct your steps all the time. Are you attentive? Willing? Obedient? Yoked to Jesus? God has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us. PTL! Where's He steering you today? What is He revealing to do, correct, or wait for? God created you and placed you right where He wants you for such a time as this. Trust Him and ask for help to follow well. Check out Charles Stanley's devo below about obeying God's promptings. Be still, know, hear, receive, process and follow well today!

Maybe you are in troubling times, or find what God has for you today a bit troubling. Are you shrinking back? Caving in? Giving up? Stop it! Be still. Lift some redirecting praise. Run to your High Tower! Allow Him to shelter, protect and lead you today. Check out Our Daily Bread below. God is our refuge. Maybe the Holy Spirit is leading you to go as His agent of comfort, redirection, or help to someone mired deep in the muck of life--DO IT! He is you Helper, Refuge and Strength!

Many of us are very many season past our childhood. Remember what it was like? Remember the zeal and fresh faith life and action when you first came to saving faith? That is still available to us. PTL! In fact, Jesus reminds us through the Upper Room today that we can still choose childlike faith. It is available. And it is very beneficial and actually crucial to choose that always! It's just plain old simple faith--believing God for everything and that He is able and will respond well. Childlike faith overpowers any fears, doubts, concerns and hindrances we face each day. It's the faith of the Little Train that Could...I know I can. I know I can by the grace of God! God carries us through or over the deep waters ahead. Climb on His lap and receive His love today! Believe and receive His help today as you take each baby step in faith like a child. I envision skipping along God's path for me today singing with joy and thanksgiving knowing He is with me leading me, and that He's already overcoming what ever I will face and providing all I need. Come Lord! Your will be done! I believe! I trust You. Fa-a-la-la-la... Thanks! Amen!

Check out The Word for You Today as well below. We are promised the abundant life in Christ. There is nothing like living the dream for real, in Christ. What joy we can know and enjoy--contagious joy! What peace we can experience as we abide in Christ and His love, peace and the joy of our salvation. Satisfaction and joy grow as we abide, follow and allow God to use us each step of the way through life. Nothing else satisfies like the good fruit produced by childlike faith and action! And it feeds on itself and grows. Part of that is asking and allowing the Holy Spirit to fill, guide and use you each day. It comes alive as you ask Jesus to be the Lord of this day and of your choices and as you go. Faith keeps growing and so does good fruit as you do! Maybe praying the Serenity Prayer daily will help you start off with a right focus as you die to self, prepare your heart, ask Jesus to be Lord and then follow with childlike faith looking for where He is at work and joining Him. Great fruit is in reach as you do! Amen! That is the abundant life we are promised and it is not dependent upon our circumstances or seasons of life. Fa-a-la-la-la PTL!

At the bottom is the Harvest Prayer blog about unity and some prayer starters. We are in this together. God's best is for us to partner together as we travel through this life. He even desires for churches to work together too. Keep praying into that for you and us. How does God want to grow more small groups and house or neighborhood gatherings? How does He want us to partner with other churches and ministries? Who is He raising up and stirring to lead some of these? Which others is He leading us to partner with--even other churches and ministries? God is in the revival business and as we go and grow with others, we will see more of that developing and producing good fruit. It has that snowball rolling down a hill effect too! Share what you are hearing with Sarah, Mike and me too so we can pray and help. God is on the move! Revival is at hand! Let us be committed to our parts in that! Amen! Yesterday we gave bread to 53 people. Some of our bread ministry gals are from other churches. Half of the 18 that gathered last night for dinner and huddle are not members of our church. PTL! God has already begun! Seek Him for what's next. Thanks! 

He really does have some great plans for each of us and us together to discover, process, prepare for, and to do. We all have our custom parts in His Good News Delivery Co. and no part is any less important. Each of you are known, loved, matter and are created and placed here for such a time as this! PTL! Be still, know and follow well and dwell in His shalom and joy today with childlike faith as you skip merrily along His way! Fa-a-la-la-la! Amen!

C.S.

ODB:

UR: Childlike Faith

Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” - Mark 10:15 (NIV)

Eli was four years old and learning to swim. He could cross the shallow end of the pool with ease, but he had been afraid of swimming across the deep end. Then in one swim lesson, Eli did it.

As we were walking up to the house, I encouraged him about his monumental accomplishment. I asked him, “How did you do it?” Without hesitation, Eli said, “God helped me.” I thought, If only my first thought would be, “God helped me,” when I face huge challenges in my life! Where would I be in my walk with God?

Jesus loved children for their simple faith. They were willing to climb up into his arms and rest, knowing that Jesus loved and protected them. God’s power is made perfect in childlike faith. David demonstrated childlike faith when he used a stone from the creek to slay Goliath. (See 1 Sam. 17.) The stones weren’t magical, but David’s faith in God overpowered the giant.

The next time we face overwhelming fear, I pray we have the childlike faith to cross the deep end and entrust ourselves to God. God will help us!

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear God, whenever we are afraid, help us to trust you with childlike faith. Amen.TWFYT:

Harvest Prayer Blog and Starters:

Zoom Huddle today at 10. All welcome! And/ or join us for our dinner huddle with Family Ministries and Adults tomorrow evening at 6. (I was told E.C. stands for eating constantly! Come and join us for food, fellowship, study and prayer as found in Acts 2:42.) Pray for more "around the table" ministry opportunities for our Church and new ways to do that outside the church this summer.

Visited The Sosa's yesterday and Amber and Arianna are mending and in good spirits. Pray for continued healing and for provision and guidance for another car today. They appreciate our prayers!

Visited Glad Ketner yesterday. She continues to improve from her stroke and is happy and doing well. She still sometimes struggles with words but is filled with joy. Pray for continued healing and send a card or stop by and visit.

Stopped to pray with Houstin and Gail Lichtenwalner. Houstin injured his leg getting off some farm equipment and will be out of commission for awhile and may need surgery for a possible ham string tear. Pray for God's presence, provision, favor to see docs soon, and patience in the process. Pray for Gail as she has to cover the things Houstin did on the farm. Pray for health and strength and wisdom for the family.

Please continue to pray for the Henley family as they continue the fresh and challenging journey through grief at the lose before Christmas of their two year old son and grandson. Karen and I were able to spend some time with them the other day. This is a very difficult journey. May they know God's shalom, presence and strength and draw close to Him.

PTL my sister Connie is still at home and recovering from her breathing issues.

PTL Sarah should be getting her van back from the shop soon and be able to get out and about again.

PTL that I continue to heal and have good numbers. Pray for my A-Fib to correct on its' own and for docs to be amazed at what God is doing. Thanks.

PTL for all those He is sending to our fellowship and for all the caring ministries that are touching our neighbors and friends and drawing them to Jesus. Pray for His love to continue to come alive through us, His provision to bless and for some new connection points to those He is drawing. Pray for boldness to share some help and Good News and to invite others to join us. (Remember in Dec. when we prayed for us to see those to invite and the thought that if we added one person a month to our gatherings, in a year we would have 12 new members. PTL that we are already well on our way to doubling that! Keep at it! Each of those new faces have come from an invite through our ministry connections.)

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Good Morning Cradled in the Arms of Jesus, Comforted, Strengthened, Standing on the Rock, Faithful Followers of Jesus! Oh may that be us, be me, Lord! Come! Comfort! Strengthen! Redirect! Help! Be our Fortress! Hold us and shelter us under Your wings! Empower us to carry on through the storms, trials, testing, and attacks! Cover and protect us! Deliver us! Keep our minds fixed on You! Use us, even in our weakness, to be strong and for others and to bring Your comfort and joy--Your shalom! Come! Fill us! Use us! Give us Your heart and mind and help to go love like Jesus. Or to choose to dwell in Your love for a few minutes, as we are able, and grow that time with you. Come! We love You! We need You--every hour! Come! Amen!

Our experiences the past week have ranged from highs to lows, mountain tops, to deep canyons and every where in between. Sometimes up and down drastically within in minutes even. BUT GOD! He IS always there and available even when we don't sense it or push Him away or ignore Him. He is singing over you and whispering His love to you. Stop. Be still and know that He is Love and He is wanting to love on you right now. He inhabits our praise. That's a truth! Sometimes we have to choose to praise. Keep building those gratitude lists for the hard times to have as starting point to redirect us as we choose to praise in the storm. Sometimes we need the reminder and help of others to start looking for the silver linings and things to be thankful about even though we feel far from thankful or like praising. Start by asking God for help and direction for who He is bringing to mind today for you to reach out and love on. Or maybe you need to stop and cry out for help. Ask for boldness and courage and humility to seek some help. Where is God wanting and needing to show His love, comfort and peace today? Who is He sending to you or you to? Do you need help to receive it? Courage and wisdom to share it? Ask and receive. Keep knocking and keep redirecting from the highs and lows with praise. Sometimes we even need to force ourselves to half-heartedly start to praise. That's OK. Starting leads you further along in the journey out of the pit and helps your mind to become accustomed to choosing joy in the hardest places. Jesus is our Rock. We need to prepare for the promised harder and harder times to come. Start preparing and practicing today. God will always be with His faithful servants. Holding us tight. Keep your hands open and reaching for Him! Ask Him for help to take that next step of faith with Him. Consider joining our Zoom huddle today at 10 as we discuss this further.

Check out our devos for today below. They really led to this and thread through what God wants us to understand and put into practice today. We are more than hearers. Right? What might He be leading you to today? What will you do about it? Who will you come alongside to journey with? God's got some custom things for you to receive and build upon today! Thank Him and come to Him you weary ones and find rest and shalom as you go about this day. Pronounce that this is the day and year of the Lord's favor and pray for that in confidence. May His favor lead you as His love and shalom overpower you today! He's right beside you whispering His love over you. Be still and know! Then go and love more like Jesus today--one step of faith at a time. Amen! The world around you may be falling apart or in shambles and even this nation is sinking deeper in the pit...BUT GOD! He knows already and has prepared you for such a time as this! He's even preparing you for the greater things to come. PTL! Be bold and courageous and stand firm as we follow Him into the Promised Land. Amen!

ODB:

UR:  My Rock and My Fortress

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. - Psalm 18:2 (NIV)

After graduation, I was looking forward to my dream job of joining the Defense Force to serve my nation. Unfortunately, I did not get a good enough score to be eligible. So I pursued my master’s degree and became eligible to take the entrance exam — it felt like my last chance to make or break my dream career.

My family and I prayed for my interview and other tests, asking that I would be selected for a job. With God’s grace, I was selected.

During training, I started to lose hope that I would make it through. But God comforted me with confidence and strength to overcome my situation. Against the odds, I made it through, bringing joy to me, my family, and my community.

God never leaves us in our struggles. When we depend on God, our rock and strong fortress, we find the hope and perseverance to wait patiently on God’s deliverance.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Faithful God, thank you for the ways you comfort and guide us through our struggles. Give us hope and patience as we trust in your will for our lives. Amen.

Dave Butts Harvest Prayer Blog:

JUST LIKE US

by Dave Butts

James gives us some very important teaching on prayer in James 5:13-18: 

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”

We are told that whatever we are facing…good or bad, we should pray. Good advice. The problem in the text is that the example given of a man of prayer is that of Elijah. However, Elijah, in our eyes, seems to be this amazing man of prayer.  How can we be like him?

 James, inspired by God, says Elijah was a human being, just like us. He was simply a normal person with no special dispensation from God.

So let’s look at a summary of the obedience of Elijah’s prayer life:

·         I Kings 17:1: Rain did not fall in Israel for several years – “Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.’”

·        I Kings 17:7-16: A widow and her son did not starve – “For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah” (v. 16).

·        I Kings 17:17-24: The widow’s son was raised from the dead – “The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived” (v. 22).

·        I Kings 18:16-40: Elijah called on the Lord and was victorious over the prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel – “Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire – he is God” (v. 24).

·        I Kings 18:41-46: Rain falls from heaven – “And Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain’” (v. 41).

Elijah, because of his obedience, had an amazing response to his prayers. And Scripture says that Elijah was a person just like us? How can this be?

We can see the answer to this question when suddenly everything changes for Elijah in I Kings 19:

·        He became fearful: “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life” (v. 3).

·        He was depressed and discouraged: “…he came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die” (v. 4)

·        Elijah, mistaken about what was going on, was filled with self-pity: “I am the only one left and now they are trying to kill me too” (v. 14).

We can all tend to be like this side of Elijah from time to time – fearful, wanting suffering to end, mistaken about what is happening, and filled with self-pity. We can do that!

Here’s my point. Elijah was a flawed man. He had great successes and some failures too. In spite of some amazing answers to prayer, his life was not easy. The purpose of prayer is not to make life easy.

 As Elijah learned, when we commit to obeying God and serving Him in prayer, we become an integral part of the purposes of God on planet earth.  Elijah got in on some really good stuff, because he prayed.  And we can too!  As a matter of fact, I will tell you bluntly that God has made us for this.

 To pray like Elijah means:

1.    Praying prayers that are focused on God’s purposes.

2.    Praying prayers that are filled with faith.

3.    Praying prayers that involve acts of obedience.

 Our job is to pray as Elijah did…with focus, faith, and obedience so that God will receive glory. The final result always rests in God’s capable hands.

Harvest Prayer starters:

Updates: Installation of new members has been postponed for a few weeks due to illnesses and injuries. 

The Muik's (Chris and Yvonne) have been battling COVID and sickness for over a week. Please continue to pray for them. 

The Sosa's will be home as Amber and Ariana begin healing from broken sternums from their head-on crash. Pray for healing and comfort and shalom for the whole family. Pray for God's provision as their only car is totaled. All five were to be part of today's new member's group.

Darlene Skinner continues to recover from spine surgery. Please pray for healing and patience in the process and for shalom for the family.

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Good Morning Light, Joy, and Peace Bringers! We are children of the Light and we get to know and share love, joy and peace. Amen! We live in very chaotic times and are living through tests and trials of faith and often very hard times. BUT GOD! He specializes in bringing shalom to the chaos and often uses us as we choose joy and peace and allow His love to come alive in and through us. Check out the Upper Room and Harvest Prayer Blogs below and sit at Jesus' feet, choosing and receiving His love, peace, joy and wisdom and courage to share them.

Begin this day with choosing joy and lifting praise. Maybe you need to dig out that gratitude list to help you start with refocusing praise. Jesus is the Light and the Joy of our salvation. Rejoice! He is always with us! He is our Shepherd and we can know and hear His voice and follow Him through every valley. He calms the storms and shelters us under His wings. He is our Rock and Strong Tower. He is the Prince of Peace! And He loves you! Yes rejoice! Know His peace beyond understanding. Abide in His Love!

See you all soon as we gather to worship in person and on Zoom at 10. Pray as I message the service for today. What's Church? You and we are the Church! See you in the building where we gather or on the airwaves as we gather to worship, pray, praise, study God's Word and encourage each other. Prepare your hearts to enter His courts with praise and thanksgiving! yes, REJOICE!

UR: God of Light

Let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy. - Psalm 68:3 (NRSVUE)

I stared at the calendar, and my heart sank. Years before, on the first day of spring, my son had died unexpectedly. This year the anniversary of his death fell on a Sunday, and although I wanted to stay home, God urged me to go to church. During the children’s time in the worship service, the leader used a flashlight to teach the children about sharing Jesus’ light with others. Memories of my son in Sunday school came flooding back.

As the children left the sanctuary, one little boy skipped toward the door shouting, “This will be amazing!” After a few giggles, the congregation turned their attention back to the pastor; but I kept thinking about the boy. Through the excitement in his voice and spring in his step, the light of Jesus spread into my heart.

It’ s sometimes easy for despair to douse the light of Jesus. I had arrived at church feeling low. However, God helped me realize that sharing the light of Christ with others is a way of honoring my son. On my walk that afternoon, birds sang and flowers bloomed. I collected empty cans in the road to recycle as my son would have done. Shining through dense, gray clouds were streams of sunlight. The little boy was right; this day was amazing!

TODAY'S PRAYER

God of light, we thank you. Continue to illuminate our hearts and brighten our spirits. Help us to serve you better. In your Son Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Harvest Prayer Blog and prayer starters: