THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT! AMEN! Yes praise the Lord as you begin your quiet time! I heard some great comments on the last praise song from yesterday: Never Walk Alone. Here's a link to help start and focus you to abide in God's loving presence this morning Never Walk Alone  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlBKx8hlFp4    

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Good Morning Walking with God Christ's Ones--Followers of the Way! He is with us always! PTL! Because of our fear (reverence/awe) for God We constantly seek Him, abide in Him, worship Him and obey Him. Yesterday day we wrapped up the first half of our study of the book of Acts. We then applied what we learned from the early church and apostles and disciples of Jesus--followers of the Way--to our journey to grow as a dynamic movement of God and as His Body. It was sort of a state of the union message from God of what was, what is and what will be as we walk in awe, worship, grow in trust and obedience and learn to earnestly pursue Him and then allow Him to live and love through us. He does have great plans for you and us and we are continuing our journey to discover and step into those plans as we seek to honor and glorify our God. We are custom made and gifted for such a time as this! PTL! May we allow Him to fill us and lead us to his best and perfect plans--earnestly! Amen! Remember: In this life Christ is all that matters and he lives in us and wants to live and love through us and grow us into His image! Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Will you cooperate with His Spirit?

This morning as I was wrapping up my quiet time, as I usually do, I spend some time praying and listening as I engage with God through the Connections/Harvest Prayer blogs. Man, God sure was speaking and tying up His message to us from yesterday! Please start there this morning and abide in awe of our Most High God, our Creator, Savior, Lord and Shepherd. What's He saying to you this morning and what will you do about it? May we earnestly seek, abide, refresh and reload before we step out in faith as we follow Him to his perfect plans for the day and week ahead. He loves you and custom made you for such a time as this! PTL! He has some teammates for you to seek, discover and journey with. He has a custom fitted yoke just for you. Put it on and walk with Him today and always! Amen! I'm praying for you and for Him to lead us to His best and perfect plans as we rebuild the walls, stand firm in Christ and change the world around us. COME Lord! Lead us! Amen!

I attached my other devos below for you to continue your time abiding in God's loving presence. he wants to refresh and lead you today. he does have great plans for you created in love! You matter to Him and His Church! Don't lean on your own understanding. How can we even begin to fathom the unfathomable God? Seek Him earnestly and acknowledge Him in all your ways and He WILL direct your and our steps! Amen! It's time to soar!

Connections Blogs:

March 10 - Fearing God Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you” (2 Chronicles 14:11).   The one fear that delivers humans from all other fears is the fear of God. When this fear is rightly understood and lived by, we need not fear anything else. Every day we must choose between the fear of humans and the fear of God. The fear of God comes to us at the moment of salvation. Just as we receive the Spirit of God, God places in us His fear (Jeremiah 32:39). When we fear God, it shows in how we live. To fear God means to cherish an awesome sense of His greatness, His grandeur, and His excellence. We act on what we have in our hearts.   One of the greatest gifts we can leave our children, and the next generation, is a godly testimony of faith in Christ, as evidenced by how we fear God. If we have had a foundation of faith laid for us, praise God. If we have not had this, we still must press on in Christ Jesus. We are accountable to seek God and honor Him with all our being.   Asa was a king who had a mixed heritage. His great-granddad was King David, the man after God’s own heart. His granddad was King Solomon, a man compromised with lust. His father was King Abijah, who was idolatrous. Even though they all served God with their mouths, it was their actions that proved their faith or their faithlessness and whether they truly feared the Lord.   In the midst a crisis, against innumerable odds, Asa and all of Judah sought after and cried out to God, and they were victorious. The “fear of the Lord came upon them; and they plundered all” (2 Chronicles 14:14). The fear of the Lord is one of the enablements of God for us to face the enemy and overcome. In a lost person, the fear of the Lord is consuming dread of God. When Asa and his armies attacked the cities around Gerar, the fear of the Lord, a dread, came on all those pagan villages.   They were literally afraid of Jehovah God, and with good reason. But for Asa and Judah, the people of God, the fear of the Lord was not a dread, but a reverential awe of God. They cherished that sense of the greatness and grandeur of God. When we have the fear of God in our lives, we reverence, respect, and honor God. We will seek God.   Such fear of God means we know the character of God. He is God, sovereign, holy, great, and awesome. We understand our obligation to God: to love Him, obey Him, and trust Him. Finally, as we fear God, we gain a pervasive sense of the presence of God. This sense of God’s presence has a controlling effect on a person because we know He is with us.   Asa served God when God’s people were under attack by the world (2 Chronicles 14:9). It is no different today. What are we to do? We are to do the same thing that Asa did. We cry out to God, asking Him for help. He is Jehovah Ezer (Psalm 33:20), the Lord our Helper. Then we are to recount the greatness, faithfulness, and power of God in our past.   He saved you and sustains you. He has provided for you and He has protected you, even when you were unaware of it. God often tests His children for the purpose of building their faith in Him. The test is never meant to make us rely on our flesh, friends, or family. We are tested so that our faith in God increases. We are tested to show if we will seek the Lord or forsake Him. We are tested so the fear of God can be displayed in our lives. When the other nations heard of the power of God and the victory He gave Asa, they feared God also (14:14). This fear was a terror because our God is an awesome God.   Lord Most High, for revival to come, I need to seek You. I praise You for the seasons of rest You give. Let me not waste them or use them for selfish reasons, but allow me the sense to use them for times of kingdom building and preparation for further service, just as Asa did (2 Chronicles 14:1). Father, will You manifest Your fear in my life? It has been there since salvation, but allow it to be seen and recognized by those around me. Grow Your fear in me to completion (v. 14).   --Adapted from Praying with Fire: Seeking His Presence through the Revival Passages of Scripture by Mark Partin. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Prayer Points Praise God for being a welcoming Father. Thank him for preparing an eternal home for all who believe (Jn. 14:2). Confess any unwillingness to show Christian hospitality to others (1 Pet. 4:9). Commit yourself to the practice of hospitality (Rom. 12:13). Ask God to help you separate Christian hospitality from self-absorbed “entertaining.” Pray that the members of your congregation will excel in showing mutual care and intentional acts of love toward each other and to outsiders. Ask God to move your church out of its “comfort zone” when it comes to showing hospitality. Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com

Sarah Young:

TWFYT:

UR: Like An Eagle

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

A cacophony of crows drew my eyes heavenward. A dozen or more were flying above a bald eagle, taking turns diving at the eagle’s head. It made me think about the pressures of ministry that were barraging me. When I had to dismiss a volunteer, my decision caused a ripple of dissent within the ministry. Friends were calling me to offer their advice. But I felt harassed and weary.

Above my head, the eagle appeared not to notice the annoying crows. Its speed and altitude never changed when the crows swooped within inches of its head. The eagle continued to fly a straight course. I wanted to be like that eagle, to remain swift and unfazed. I was reminded of today’s quoted scripture: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.” I closed my eyes to sit in God’s presence, and God assured me that I had done the right thing. When I opened my eyes a few minutes later, I felt confident and able to face any challenge.

Spending time in God’s presence renews our strength when we feel harassed or weary. With God’s help, we can move forward with speed and endurance like an eagle.

Today's Prayer

Thank you, Father, for the peace of your presence. You give us the strength and hope to rise above any struggle. Amen.

ODB:

Did you spring ahead? See you at 10 for worship and the last day of Children's Church study on the Armor of God.

Please let me know today of you can attend the Spiritual Gifts study with dinner at 6 Tues. or noon on Zoom Wed. This study will last about 3-4 weeks.

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Good Morning Growing Like Christ Children of Our Abba! AMEN! May we be about God and His business as we allow Him to transform us into the people we are created to be and doing what we are created to do for such a time as this. That all begins as we still ourselves at His feet, spend time with Him and in His Word and then move out refreshed, prepared and ready to incarnate (bring alive) Christ to those God is sending our way and empowered to do the things He has planned for us each day. He really does love you and has an easy yoke custom fitted for you that leads to His best and perfect plans. Meditate on that and worship. Be still and soak in His love and character. Then go live and love like Jesus. Prepare your hearts to worship today as well. He is worthy of all praise, glory, honor and obedience! Amen!

Below the Harvest blogs are a great place to begin as you still yourself and process things with Abba. There is a flow through my devotionals today (below) that has really spoken to my heart and is a word from God to some of you as well. Turn off the noise. Be still. Seek, listen and receive. He is speaking His love over you and wanting to encourage you and direct your steps for today. What's He revealing to you? Let's process that together or with some friends. And let's pray into those things together.

I wish I was allowed to share pictures of our grandkids. There is one of my granddaughter cuddled on my lap reading a book. It reminded me of how God wants us to sit with Him and engage with Him through His Word. In the picture, you can feel the love of the Father who said, "Let the children come to me." and then He blessed them and sent them on their way. He wants to hold you close, speak to your soul, encourage and train you to go live and love like Jesus. It's His refreshing easy yoke. It's laboring with Him as you put on His character and follow Him to the perfect things He created you to do. Oh Lord, HELP! I want that! Draw us up on Your lap and speak Your love and encouragement over us. May I be as happy to see and spend time with you you as my granddaughter is with me. Lord may I enjoy You and life with You and be about You and Your business. Thank You! Forgive me for being like Martha too often. May I be more like Mary. Abiding in You and Your Word. Recharge me and renew my mind for the day and week. May I come with a spirit of worship today that flows into the week ahead. I need you! Come! Breathe life into me. Fill me to overflowing with Your heart, mind, Spirit, Love and wisdom. May I produce good and lasting fruit as I become more like You while following You daily. May people look at me and see Jesus at work and want that and then help me to lead them to You and make disciples like Jesus. Thank You for the plan You have created me to do. May Your Kingdom come and will be done in, through, and around me for Your glory alone! I need You! Come! Have Your way with me! Amen!

I'm earnestly praying for you! Please pray for me as I pour myself out for Christ, while seeking to honor God's healthy rhythms. Pray I abide and move from His presence to good fruit in the Way of Jesus. He has big plans for me, you and us! PTL! May we earnestly pursue Him and allow Him to lead us to become His dynamic movement of disciple makers. Amen! May we steward well all of God's blessings and cultivate good soil that will produce good and lasting fruit! What's your part? Let's talk about and process that! God is speaking to your heart right now! Listen, receive and then share what you are hearing/sensing. And then go! Live and love like Jesus today!

ODB:

Sarah Young:

UR: Breath of Life

The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. - Ezekiel 36:34 (NIV)

Where I live, the weather can be very humid, but our plants are accustomed to it. On the other hand, the winter season can be very cruel. This year, during a particularly cold season, my plants were devastated. The patio where I keep almost all my plants looked like a wasteland. At a glance, they looked dead. I began to cut the dry twigs and stems, though I wondered if any of this work was worth it. When I came to my favorite plant, I saw what I thought were the tiniest sprouts on the side of each dry stem. Thinking I might be mistaken, I took a closer look. Lo and behold, I could see the miracle of life. The plant was greening — slowly but surely.

I paused to reflect on parallels in my own life. How many times have I walked through a spiritual desert alone, almost lifeless, bereft of hope? Yet, somewhere deep in the innermost part of my heart, the Lord always offers whispers of hope. The ways of the Lord are beyond my understanding, but what I do know is that it is the Lord who infuses new life in me. Where there is life, there is hope. God is the life source — ever-present and working miracles in us and through us.

Today's Prayer

Giver of life, in the desolate seasons of life, surround us with your presence. When it appears that all is lost, renew our hope. Amen.

TWFYT:

Harvest:

March 9 - Renew My Mind Father God, You who make all things new through the power of the Holy Spirit, renew my mind, I pray! May I not conform to the things of this world, but instead may I be continually transformed by the renewing of my mind with Your Word.   Lord in many ways I have been lazy and undisciplined in regards to the use of my mind. Forgive me, I pray, and renew my mind. I lay before you my use of my computer and technology, my TV and DVD viewing, the things I read . . . (Pause and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.)   I have entertained philosophies of the world that are contrary to Your Word. Lord, forgive me and renew my mind. I lay before you the way that I have rationalized behavior or condoned values of this world. . . (Pause and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.)   I have watered down the truth of Your Word in order to condone my sin. Lord forgive me and renew my mind. I lay before you the excuses that I have made for my thoughts, attitudes, and actions that are contrary to Your Word . . . (Pause and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.)   I have allowed fear and anxious thoughts to overwhelm me. Lord, forgive me and renew my mind and make my heart steadfast. I choose now to cast all of my cares and fears onto You and ask that Your peace be poured out on me . . . (Pause and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.)   Give me, I pray, a fresh hunger to study Your Word, that I might be equipped for every good work. And Father, in a world of watered-down truth, empty philosophies, and hopelessness, empower me by Your Spirit to be prepared to answer everyone who asks me to give the reason for the hope that I have. May Jesus be seen clearly in my daily living. Strengthen my faith, Father, for Your Word says that if I do not stand firm in my faith I will not stand at all. O God, help me to stand. In Jesus’ name. Amen.   Romans 12:2; Colossians 2:8; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 2:15; Philippians 4:7-8; 1 Peter 3:15; Isaiah 7:9   --Adapted from Pray the Word: 31 Prayers that Touch the Heart of God by Tiece L. King. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Prayer Points Praise God for being perfectly just in all his works. Thank him for loving righteousness and justice (Ps. 33:5). Confess any ungodly bias you harbor toward any people. Commit yourself to viewing others with a loving, Christlike attitude. Ask God to help you value justice more highly in all relationships of life. Pray for the uprooting of governments which oppress their citizens and withhold justice from them. Ask that justice will “roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (Amos 5:24) in countries held in the grip of lawlessness.    Prayer Pointer “He who prays as he ought, will endeavor to live as he prays.” —John Owen Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com

Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! Oh my mind can't contain or fathom all that means to me and us! PTL Yes rejoice! And meditate on all facets of your salvation gift and build those gratitude lists! What joy our salvation brings! What hope we now know! PTL!

Good Morning Forgiven, Thankful, Visionary Followers of the Way! Jesus is the Way! He's also the Truth and the Life! Amen! What do those mean to you? Sunday we will discuss what it means to be a Follower of the Way and how what we have learned from our journey with the early church thru 12 chapters of Acts applies to our Body of Christ! There is so much to mine from those chapters and the examples of the early church to put into practice. Amen!

Speaking of practice, how is practicing your faith going today? How can we pray for you to grow in Christ, love like Him, put on your new nature, and activate your spiritual gifts? Talk to Sarah or me and process with some friends. God created you for such a time as this and has great plans for you to discover and step into. PTL! Sometimes we worry. Do you realize that is a sin and one that distracts you from God and His best for you? Repent and choose the joy that comes from an activated faith life. ODB (below) speaks into that as does the UR's  message about finding encouragement. One of my morning readings encourages us to write down and share three things God has given you as His child and to share them with some friends. Who can you encourage by sharing what God and salvation have blessed you with? We are very blessed and blessed to be a blessing! 

I think the most important devo today comes from The Word for You today (below). Meditate on that and ask God to give you holy imagination for ideas of how to reach others for Christ or to have fun encouraging some neighbors. Ask for dreams and vision and ideas. I pray that over us all often. God will and is and I'd love to hear some of your thoughts abut how to be His church more earnestly. Pray for us to see, hear, and respond well to God's plans and to be a church that prays in power for God to move in mighty ways and to be glorified in and through you and us as we respond to Him and His plans. We are created, redeemed, gifted, empowered, gathered and sent to be His Good News Delivery Company. We all have a role. What's yours? What will you do about that today? I'm praying for you and for us to be His Church on mission with Jesus! Come! lead us Lord! Your Kingdom come and will be done in, thru, and around us! Amen! Be encouraged and choose the joy found in faithfulness today. And encourage and help each other! Amen

ODB:

UR: Finding Encouragement

David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. - 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV)

After high school, I had high hopes for my continued education because I passed the university entrance examinations. To my surprise, however, I wasn’t on the list of candidates for my preferred school. I had prayed and trusted God, but my expectations were dashed and discouragement set in. I was also upset because a friend who had earned a lower score was accepted. I became angry with God, my faith became weak, and I stopped attending our local church.

However, I heard a sermon that changed my perspective. The preacher talked about a difficult time in David’s life and emphasized that despite all that befell David, “He encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” He was at risk of being stoned, yet he did not give up on God. Thinking of David’s response, I felt ashamed of how I reacted to my situation.

I learned that God wants us to encourage ourselves during our difficult times by remaining close to God. If we hurry off in anger, we might not learn what God has to teach us. Eve n when we feel discouraged or distressed, we can follow David’s example and encourage ourselves in the Lord. Doing so demonstrates our true trust in God.

Today's Prayer

Dear God, give us wisdom to learn from our challenges. Help us to encourage ourselves through scripture and by staying close to you. Amen.

TWFYT:

REMINDER to Spring Ahead tonight! Turn those clocks ahead and get to bed early to catch up.

Worship tomorrow 10am

Tues 6PM Spiritual Gifts Dinner Huddle (So far only one responded. Email me if you are able to attend)

Wed. 10-12 Donut Day at Bread Ministry; 6PM Dinner Huddle

Thurs. 6:30 Support Team Zoom

Sat. 10-1 Clothing Closet

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Good Morning Surrendered Followers of the Way! Yes Jesus is the Way. Prov. 3:5-6 reminds us to not lean on our own understanding but to trust God and He will direct our steps. I think we all can use help with that, or at least time to time. What voices are you listening to? Turn off the noise and focus on God. Rest in Him and allow Him to direct your steps today. Peter sank in the choppy seas when his focus shifted from Jesus. He is our Leader and the Way. Keep your focus on Him and may we encourage and spur each other onto the works He has planned for us! Shift your fears to trust and joy as you start lifting praise. Check out the devos below as you abide and prepare to follow Jesus, THE Way, today! I'm praying for you! Yes turn off the noise, abide, revive, and walk in grace to His best for you today! Amen!

TWFYT:

 

UR: Wind and Waves

When [Peter] saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” - Matthew 14:30 (NIV)

For a while in my life, I struggled with anxiety. It had become so bad that it was difficult for me to visit the local supermarket for groceries and other necessities. Usually, I would just grit my teeth and push through, but sometimes the fear became overwhelming. It seemed silly to fear something so mundane, especially in comparison to the bravery of Peter as he stepped out onto the waves. Forget jumping out of a boat! I could hardly take a stroll down aisle 9 for laundry detergent.

I found it comforting to know that even brave people like Peter can fall when facing frightful wind and waves. But ultimately, it wasn’t Peter’s bravery that helped me conquer my own fears. It was realizing that what truly mattered was that he kept his eyes on Christ. It wasn’t until Peter took his eyes off Jesus, focusing on the things to fear, that he began to sink. Admittedly, that’s when I begin to sink into my fears as well.

Through Christ, I have come a long way in my anxiety and have made strides I never thought possible. I do my best to focus on Christ rather than the wind and waves and take comfort that he will be there to catch me if I fall. Christ will always be there to save us, no matter the storm.

Today's Prayer

Father in heaven, in you we can do all things and overcome any obstacle. Help us to keep our eyes firmly focused on you. Amen.

Good Morning Choosing Joy Always, Trusting in God Who Is Always with Us, Co-Laborers! Please Lord! We give our anxiety, hurts, doubts and fears to you. Bring Your promised peace and strength as we choose joy and grow in trust today! Lead us to the joy of bringing your love and hope alive. Thank You for being with us always and working all things together for good! Come! Amen! Contemplate that salutation today as you turn off the noise, refocus on God with thanksgiving, and receive His help and joy. He loves you and has great plans for you that sometimes leads through the hard times and stretching of faith. Redirect your focus to Him with praise and thanksgiving and choose the joy that trust brings! Amen! Keep building those gratitude lists!

Work through the devos below with God and maybe a friend or two. And then check out the summary from Harvest Prayer about what to do when we don't know what to pray or feel like praying. There is also a link to a lengthy but very good article from them about being an effective pray-er. God expects us to pray and has called us to become a House of Prayer for the Nations. The Holy Spirit teaches us and helps us to pray, even when we don't know what to pray. PTL! He has been speaking to us about prayer recently. Commit to learning to stay focused on God in prayer and allowing Him to use your prayers in powerful and effective ways! I'm praying for you and I know that God is with you always and does have some really good plans for you! Rejoice! Choose joy as you focus on Him and grow in trust. He is able and He will bring about His good plans for you and us! HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU! RECEIVE IT AND FOLLOW HIM TODAY. Amen!

Sarah Young

Joyce Meyer

Chuck Swindoll

The Word for You Today

The Upper Room: Resting in God's Love

[O God], when I am afraid, I put my trust in you. - Psalm 56:3 (NRSVUE)

As I sat down in the hospital waiting room, I hoped that everything would go well with my father’s surgery. The doctor had said that it was not a serious procedure, but my anxiety began to increase as time wore on. As I waited, I prayed. I found great relief when I entrusted my father’s life to God. Even so, two more hours passed until the doctor came to tell me the surgery had been successful.

During this time I learned to rely fully on God. When fear and anxiety want to grow in our hearts — even when the shadow of death looms near — resting in God’s love will refresh us and bring us strength and comfort.

Let’s not give fear a chance to control us. God is greater than all our fears and anxiety. When we surrender our worries to God, we can find our burdens lifted and rest in the assurance that God is always with us. Through each struggle that life may bring, God’s goodness and protection surround us. Knowing this, we can trust in God’s care through all our days.

Today's Prayer

Dear God, so much in life can make us fearful. Teach us to lay our struggles at your feet, trusting that you will bring the comfort we need to live joyful lives. Amen.

Harvest summary

As a summary, remember these things when you don’t feel like praying:

1. God is still there! Trust Him!
2. Breathe in a fresh awareness of His presence!
3. Turn your thoughts off of your issue and onto Jesus, the One who can deal with your issue. Play worship music and join in! Focusing on Jesus is a good antidote to situations that keep us from wanting to pray, or knowing what to say in prayer.
4. Silence/Listening – sometimes it is best to simply get quiet and listen for the voice of God. There is healing in stillness and wisdom in listening. Remember – even if you don’t sense that you hear anything from God, He is there.
5. Remember that the Holy Spirit is there to give voice to your prayers in alignment with the will of the Father when you are unable.
6. Consider that what might be causing your inability to pray or your lack of desire for prayer might be sinfulness in your life. Use Psalm 51 as your prayer so that God can reveal the hidden things, and so that you can take the time to repent and confess. Your relationship will be fully restored and a prayer of thankfulness will likely be the result.

Don't forget spring ahead Sat night! Get to bed early so you're ready to worship! This Sunday the kids finish up the Armor of God lessons and next week, the 16th, they will model and explain the armor to us.

Beginning Tues we will study and learn how God wants us to use our spiritual gifts. I will be sending private invitations to those who have emailed me their results from the spiritual gifts survey. We will try Tues with dinner at 6 in the Fellowship Hall (at least for the first week) and possibly in person and zoom Wed at noon. If you want to participate, tomorrow is absolutely the last day to send me your results. Thank you! God has gifted us for His purposes! Can't wait to explore and step into our gifts and His purposes together!

    ***Even if not participating, please pray for those who are to grow into their gifts and to discover how to apply them to God's plans and purposes to grow His Church. Thanks!

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Good Morning Gifted, Empowered Followers of God and His Ways! Amen! We are gifted and empowered by the Holy Spirit to follow Jesus as we learn to live and love more like Him! Let's keep praying into that, focusing on that and learning together how God has created, gifted and wants to use us!

Some concern was expressed to me yesterday because I didn't do a blog. Remember there may not be a daily blog. I'm not pushing and stressing over producing them daily. When God allows time or gives me a word to share, you will have a blog in your in box. Yesterday was a sleep in, then 6am zoom huddle, then off to church to shop, cook and prepare for Wed. evening huddle and so no time or solid word from God to do a blog. This highlights the importance of seeking, listening, receiving and following God to His best and perfect plans for you daily! WWJD should be replaced with WIJD (What IS Jesus Doing) and what's my part today. He has great plans for you and is with you to help you discover and step into them daily and with some friends. PTL!

You know God does have plans and partners for each of us! Our faith is built on a relationship with Jesus, not religious activities. He sent His disciples out in teams. He has gathered and gifted us to build His Church, spur each other on to good works He has for us, and to co-labor as we do. Who are your partners? Pray into that! Reach out to the ones God is highlighting to you. Maybe it's a prayer partner or two. Maybe it's someone to serve others together with. Maybe it's some people to gather and study God's Word. Maybe it's as simple as going for a meal or shopping together while looking for what God's doing with willing hearts to join Him. Maybe it's prayer walking a neighborhood. God has all kinds of opportunities for you and us to go live and love like Jesus together! PTL! Seek and follow well today! Check out the Harvest blogs below about relationships. What's God saying to you? Then check out my devos I am sharing below that. God is always with us and working all things together for good and He expects us to earnestly seek and follow Him daily and to persevere in faith through the hardest times. He is always good! He is always our Lord and Savior.! PTL! Seek and follow Him and with some friends!

The Lord is my/our Shepherd. We have all we need! He is leading us to green and budding pastures and fruit orchards and beside the still, refreshing, calming waters. He is with us in the darkest places, anoints us for healing, guides and comforts us. What a mighty and awesome God we know and love! PTL! Last evening we had a great dinner huddle and discussed who and Whose we are. Our true identity is that we are God's masterpieces and He knows, loves, calls us by name and has redeemed us. When we receive Jesus as Lord, we are made new and we are gifted and empowered to go do all He created us to do. That comes alive with co-laborers that pray, encourage and compliment our giftedness to go connect to new relationships that lead to saving relationships with Jesus. And then helping them to grow as disciples of Jesus. It's Jesus' easy yoke, custom fitted to you and with some partners. May we be all about that! God has some great things for you and us to discover and step into! Let's roll baby! Amen!

Harvest:

March 6 - Developing a Relationship “The Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’ “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” —Genesis 4:9-10   Yes, you are your brother’s keeper. The essence of being a Christian is a relationship—a personal, one-on-one relationship with Jesus Christ. And Jesus calls us to “love one another”—even our enemies (John 13:34; Matthew 5:44-45). So being a Christian also involves relationships with all other human beings—for all are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27).   Relationship takes time. They take energy; they take commitment; they involve risk. Relationships can bring incredible blessings; they can also bring excruciating pain. God has experienced all of these in his relationship with each one of us.   The same can happen to you as you take the step of sharing the gospel—the good news of Jesus—with your neighbors. I’m not going to sugarcoat this one. If you want to involve yourself in one of the greatest experiences of the Christian life—realizing that the Spirit of Christ has used you in some significant way to make an impact on one of your neighbors for the Lord for eternity—it will cost you.   All relationships involve a healthy investment. As you begin to make such an investment, it’s critical that you place yourself in the hands of the God who promises to walk alongside you. Place yourself in the hands of the one who has already made the ultimate investment in your life and in the life of your neighbor.   It’s important to know that your neighbor is a person of inestimable value. Your neighbor matters to God. Your neighbor is precious to Christ, who was willing to sacrifice his own life for him or her. If that’s how valuable your neighbor is to God, if he or she matters that much to God, then you and I need to make the commitment to treat that neighbor with love and sensitivity. If God loves your neighbor that much, then the time, the energy, the joy, and even the possible pain or discomfort of developing a relationship with that neighbor is a small price for you to pay.   Think about being a channel of God’s love to your neighbor. Think about being an instrument God can use to reveal himself to your neighbor. Ask God today to help you pray for, care for, and share with your neighbor, entering into relationship for Jesus’ sake. God wants to do amazing things through you. Are you ready?   Prayer Starters for Praying Genesis 4:9-10 • Praise God for loving you as a person of inestimable value. • Thank him for the people in your life who have considered you their brother or sister in the Lord. • Confess to God any ways in which you have ignored the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of people whom he considers to be your brothers and sisters. Ask God to forgive you for these shortcomings. • Ask God to bring to your mind the name of anyone in your relational circle (family, neighborhood, classmates, co-workers) whom he desires to adopt into his family, as your spiritual brother or sister. When God brings names to your mind, write them down and begin praying for them. • Ask God to help you view each of your neighbors as a person of inestimable value.   --Adapted from Be Jesus in Your Neighborhood (Developing a Prayer, Care, Share Lifestyle in 30 Days) by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Prayer Points Praise God, who is majestic in holiness (Ex. 15:11). Give thanks for the privilege of sharing in his holiness (Heb. 12:10). Confess any impure thoughts or actions that remained unconfessed. Commit yourself anew to living the holy life that God has called you to live (1 Thess. 4:7). Ask God to impress upon you the vision of Isaiah: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isa. 6:3). Pray that your loved ones will be drawn closer to God as they see your example of holy living. Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com

Sarah Young

Growing Deeper Together (I to We)

TWFYT

Tuesday is the last day to email me your results from your spiritual gifts tests. God wants us to understand how we are made and gifted and to grow into our purposes. Understanding these gifts is critical to that growth promised in Christ. Here's the link: Spiritual Gifts | FREE Spiritual Gifts Survey | Assessment, Analysis, Test

Note: All Vision Team and new members are expected to complete these assessments by Tus and email the results to me. Any others are invited to do this as well. After I have these, we will determine several opportunities to study and understand and seek to grow in our giftedness. These are God's custom made gifts for us to grow in Christ and grow His Church.

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Good Morning Forgiven, Abiding in the Living Word, Protected, Joyful, Gifted, Mighty Warriors! Amen! May that come alive in and through us! Prepare your hearts to worship this morning. God does inhabit our praises! As we gather and worship He is there with us, speaking to us, informing us, and preparing us for His perfect plans. Thanks Lord! Come! We have so much to worship and be thankful for! We are students of the Word that abide in the Living Word, Jesus. He protects and leads us as we don His easy yoke and allow Him to use us as we are and grow us into His purposes. As we pray and wield that Sword of the Spirit (God's Word) against Satan, he flees! Amen! Today the kids will study about the Sword of the Spirit in Children's Church and we will be meditating on the early church in parts of Acts 9-11 as they follow God to some new things and wield that Sword too. God wants to use us to overcome the enemy, go make disciples and to grow into the people He made us to be as we grow His Church. And as we abide in Christ, we are molded and empowered to do these and many more things for God's glory. Often that comes alive as stretching of us and moving us out of our comfort zones. God is always at work. Sometimes as we are moving with God and closer to His plans, Satan loves to attack and derail us from His best and perfect plans. Pray on that armor. Stand firm in Christ. And wield that Sword and Satan will flee. PTL! And we need each other too. We need to cover, help, and work together to move towards God's best and perfect plans. We need to be His mighty warriors and co-laborers with Jesus who is with us always. And we can choose joy always as we grow in trust and overcome together! May it be so Lord!

Today we will study how God stretched Peter and used him to go to this new thing He was doing as the persecution drove the followers of the Way, the new believers, out of Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. God is always up to something new as He uses His people to take that Great News, the Gospel, to the world and connect to them where they are. He's doing that with us as He grows our fellowship, leads us to new people, and is working to transform us more fully into His image and as His prepared and sent servants. And the enemy flak is being launched around us and at us. Stand firm and uphold each other! God does have great plans for us--His overcomers in Christ! Amen!

It was prophesied over us that we should change our name to Joy Church. Why? Because joy is what we exhibit and are known for as we love God and bless others and bring joy alive. And that is right where Satan is attacking--or joy. Stand firm and choose joy always is a command we need to keep working at. I have been experiencing severe attack on my joy and trust. I need you to cover me and uphold me before God. I need you to, like Aaron and Hur with Moses, hold my arms up as I pray for the victory to come. We/I need some mighty warriors by our/my side! We cannot back down or yield ground to the enemy! I am feeling your prayers and I have been able to pray on that armor and refocus on God instead of circumstances and the lies of the enemy. Please continue to pray, help, carry me and each other to the Lord in prayer and stand firm in Christ with that Sword of the Spirit at the ready! We are overcomers. We need each other! Satan has been defeated. Don't let Him defeat you or us or God's good plans! Let us commit to that and continue to seek, knock, put on that armor and follow well. Amen!

Check out the Upper Room and Our Daily Bread for today and the prayer starters from harvest prayer. Let us abide, seek, listen, pray and help each other to overcome! Let us follow Jesus and produce that promised good and lasting fruit as we do--together!. God does have great plans for me, you and us and they come alive as we focus on Jesus, step into our purposes and overcome together! Amen! Where's he leading you? How do you need some help to overcome or understand your purposes? Talk to Sarah or me and team up with some friends. Put on that armor and work at growing in your spiritual gifts which are custom made and given to you to become God's mighty warrior and good fruit producers. Amen! Worship and focus on these good things. Turn off the noise and wield that sword well. We are His Good News Delivery Co. sent to change the world and bring Christ and His ways alive! Let's choose surrender to God, joy and trust as we grow into that! And rejoice! His grace is sufficient for you and us! Rest in the Lord. Worship! And prepare! I'm praying for you!

UR: Embraced in God's Grace

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. - Deuteronomy 33:27 (NIV)

After many years as a stay-at-home mom, I was preparing for an interview. I was anxious, not feeling certain that the Lord wanted me to work outside the home. Just before I left for the interview, the mail arrived. There was an envelope postmarked from the United States. “Embraced by his grace” was written in the corner of the envelope. My heart jumped. It felt like the Lord was saying it directly to me: “You are embraced by my grace.”

I opened the envelope and inside were some stickers I had ordered a long time ago. The sender’s business card had 2 Corinthians 12:9, my baptism verse, printed on it: “My grace is sufficient for you.” Her tagline was “Grace: where our weakness meets God’s strength.” She had also included a free sticker that said, “Follow God’s heart.”

In these messages, I felt God whispering to me: “I embrace you. My grace is still enough for you. My power is made perfect in weakness. Follow my heart.” I went to the interview knowing I walked with God, whatever the outcome. As today’s quoted scripture reminds us, “Underneath are the everlasting arms,” and they are arms of grace.

Today's Prayer

Loving God, may we always know that we are embraced by your grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

ODB:

Prayer Starters:

Pastor Don

This Week:

Tue Zoom Huddle 10am

Tue: Deadline to email spiritual gifts surveys to pastor don. Here's the link: Spiritual Gifts | FREE Spiritual Gifts Survey | Assessment, Analysis, Test

Wed 10-12 Bread Ministry

Wed 6-7:30 Dinner Huddle

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Good Morning Friends! This is coming a little later than normal since I slept in and had to run to a doc appointment. But God was really speaking to me this morning and wants me to share some thoughts with you. So, here I am now! I love how God speaks to us as we still ourselves, seek, abide, listen and receive. Sometimes He makes things very obvious and affirming I/we are hearing Him and on the right track, like today.

God has been stirring me/us to begin some prayer teams and to work at becoming a House of Prayer for the Nations. Besides discovering and working on stepping into our spiritual gifts, prayer is our critical next step for growth and to be moving with God. Start today by spending some time with the Connection Blog about becoming a house of prayer. Yes God is speaking! What's He saying to you about this? Please share with Sarah or me, pray about it, and join with some friends to begin praying earnestly. The prayers of a righteous person (that's anyone who is in Christ) are powerful and effective.! PTL! As we spend time with God and in prayer together, the Holy Spirit will teach us to pray, inform our prayers and move us to be the answer to some prayers. Pretty cool! That is another part of Jesus' easy yoke for you--spend time with God, pray, love and serve just as you are. We will be having more opportunities for corporate (all church) prayer and for developing some prayer teams. Watch for those and keep asking God to lead you to pray and participate.

After some time with the connection prayer letter and starters, check out some of our devotionals for the day that were speaking to my heart and how God wants to speak to your heart. Man! He sure loves us! And He made and gifted us for such a time as this! If we turn off the noise and focus on Him, we will hear Him, feel His love and be empowered to go share it. 

Yesterday we looked at parts of Acts 9-11 and realized how God was moving His people out of their comfort zone to go love, serve, and share the Good News with people who were different, maybe even people they didn't like or want to be around. Man, that is so relevant today, isn't it? We obviously live in the Divided States of America just like Israel was a divided nation. Opinions are just that--opinions. And they are usually formed from personal preferences. But like God sent the new believers to those with different lifestyles and opinions, so is He sending us today. How can we bring the love of Jesus and unity in Christ when we are divided? At times, church feels like being part of what it must've been like for the religious elite after Jesus ascended to heaven and this group called the Way began leading people away from them and their rules and ways to the love and easy yoke of Jesus. We learned that many religious elite did come to believe in and follow Jesus in those early days. Jerusalem was divided and persecutions from the elite pushed Jesus' followers out of Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria and the world with the Good News. Things got very uncomfortable in divided Jerusalem and God used that to spur His true followers to go spread His love and Good News. Yesterday we experienced Peter being stretched as God sent Him to the Gentiles and God used him and verified that He was in this new things that led to many outsiders joining together with the Jewish believers. Love and unity became the new things for them all and it attracted many more to Jesus. And God's Kingdom expanded despite all the disunity and chaos and even persecution because they were one in Christ, love and mission.

So, we have to be very careful to keep our focus on God and what He's doing and off what is going on in the world around us. We need to keep politics and personal preferences out of our conversations so we can focus on what matters most, Jesus, and become more unified in Christ, His love and His mission for us to those not yet in the Kingdom. Col. 3:11 keeps coming to my mind and it applied back in those early days as well as today: "It doesn't matter if you are Jew or Greek (Gentile), slave or free, Democrat or Republican; Christ is all that matters and He lives in me." And He longs to live and love through me, you, all of us and our unity. Amen! Our questions to God and each other and our prayers should be, "How can we grow in love and unity?" and "How do You want to use us to go live and love and pray and make disciples like Jesus?" And then work on that--earnestly! God has made you for such a time as this and He has gifted you to go grow His Church. What's your part? I'm praying for you and us! Love! Joy! Unity! Prayer Warriors! Disciple Makers! True Friends of God and each other! May that be us! Amen!

Connection Prayer:

March 3 - Becoming a House of Prayer A House of Prayer, besides involving an entire church, can also be a cluster of two or more believers banded together to pray for, care about, and share the blessings of Christ with those who live or work nearby. You can pray alone, but why not join together with one or more believers—your spouse, your family, believing neighbors, or fellow employees—and form a House of Prayer?   Why should I pray for my neighbors? Your neighbors matter to God. They are precious sons and daughters whom he loves. God grieves over those who are apart from him and wants them to return “home.” Prayer will move them toward the Father, and heaven will rejoice when they come home (Luke 15:7, 11-24). Also, God commands that “requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone.” “Everyone” includes your neighbors who God wants “to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4). And, as you bless others, you too will be blessed.   Can I do more than pray? Yes! Make yourself available to God, and he will lead you into ministries of caring and sharing. You’ll have a threefold impact. By praying, you’ll release God’s grace into people’s lives. By caring, you’ll build bridges of love to them. By sharing the gospel, you’ll help people come to know Jesus Christ and be saved.   Will my prayers really make a difference? Yes! When we pray, God works! The Bible says, “The prayer of a righteous [person] is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). All of the power in prayer is God’s power, but God has chosen to have this power directed to persons and places through our prayers. Things will happen as you pray that won’t happen if you don’t pray.   In Michigan, for example, House of Prayer members reported that in the neighborhoods they prayed for, people got out of drugs, unemployed people got jobs, a father stopped drinking, two persons were miraculously healed, a person was delivered from an evil spirit, a Bible study began, and five persons came to know Christ.   After a Mississippi church formed Houses of Prayer, the pastor reported, “When we began our Houses of Prayer, almost immediately we saw people begin to come to church who hadn’t been in church for years. We see new faces almost every week. Our attendance in Sunday school has increased by forty percent, and worship attendance by 30 percent. The presence of God is evident weekly.”   How should I pray? Always pray with a clean heart. The prayers of the righteous are “powerful and effective” (James 5:16). Pray with compassion. Be like Christ, who was moved with compassion toward the needy (Matthew 9:36). Pray with persistence. God listens to those who pray earnestly (Acts 12:5; James 5:17).   How do I start? Start by saying yes to God. Pray a commitment prayer like this: “God, I know that my neighbors matter very much to you and that you have commanded me to make ‘requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving’ for them. So, out of obedience to you and out of love for my neighbors, I commit myself to ask for your blessings for them for five minutes a day, five days a week, for the next five weeks. I’ll do this, with your help, to the best of my ability. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”   –Adapted from Shine His Light: A Simple Way to Pray, Care and Share Jesus in Your Neighborhood by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Prayer Points Praise God, whose kindness toward you will last forever and ever. Thank God for loving you with an everlasting love and drawing you with lovingkindness (Jer. 31:3). Confess any ways in which you have not reflected that kindness to others. Commit yourself to considering God’s kindness to you (Rom. 11:22). Ask God to clothe you with compassion, kindness, and humility (Col. 3:12). Pray that you might have an opportunity this week to tell someone of the many kindnesses of the Lord to you (Isa. 63:7). Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.

Sarah Young:

ODB:

UR: The Power of the Invitation

Jesus said, “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:20 (NRSVUE)

No one knows the right time or place to invite people to become a Christian and into the fellowship of the church. Christians must always be open and willing to provide the invitation.

During my mother’s funeral the minister told a story about my mother. He said, “I wouldn’t be here today if your mother had not invited me to church.” When the minister was a teenager, our church was having a revival. My mother invited his family to come and sit in the pew with us. This began their regular attendance at our church and later a commitment to become Christians and join the church. This changed his life and later inspired him to become a pastor. My mother’s invitation to his family changed his life.

No one knows the time or place that people will be open to an invitation into a fellowship with Christ; as Christians, we must remain open to the leading of God’s Spirit.

Today's Prayer

Dear God, when the opportunity presents itself, help us to be bold and willing to offer Christ to others. We pray the prayer Jesus taught us, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil” (Lk. 11:2-4, KJV). Amen.

Pastor Don

Good Morning Hearers and Doers of the Word! As we grow and fall more in love with God's Living Word we are led and changed. As we abide in the Living Word we are trained in righteousness and empowered to follow the examples of Jesus and other devout mean and woman that followed Him well. Amen.

Check out and meditate on 2 Timothy 3:14-16 from Our Daily Bread today. Something that God highlighted is a Word for many of us...verse 15: "It is from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures." That is the truth for many of us, including me. We grew up in church and learning our Bibles. The power comes when we move from being more than just hearers but doers of those Truths. God's Word is powerful and cuts to the marrow. And as we respond to what the Holy Spirit highlights as we spend time in the Word, we are changed. We are convicted and moved to repent. We become active doers of the Word we know. How's that going for you? Let's continue to work at abiding in and doing what God reveals through His Word. May we also look for the next generations to teach and help to ingest and bring alive God's Word in their lives. Yes, we are more than just hearers. We are doers of what God reveals through His Word. Let's focus on that as we move to come alive in '25 and find some friends to study with, pray in power through and live out His Living Word! It is active! Is it active in you? Thank God for His Living Word. Thank the Holy Spirit for bringing it alive. Ask to become more than just a hearer of it! Then go and live and love as we follow the example of Jesus and other children of God. Amen!

Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! What are you most thankful about your salvation and new life in Christ? Who needs to hear that today? Start with worship and thanking God and then go into this day praising and sharing your hope!

This weekend is the last week to submit your spiritual gifts results to me before we start scheduling our working on growing in them. I need them by Tues and we will start the following week to work on understanding and applying our gifts.  Remember God has given each of us at least one gift when we come to Christ as our Savior and receive His Holy Spirit into us. What are your gifts? They are given to help you repent, grow into the person you are created to be and used to bless others and unify to grow His Church. We need each other to step into our custom given gifts and use them in unity to bless God, others, each other and to grow His Church? What's your part? Let us figure that out and work better together to be His dynamic movement of disciple makers and Church revival bringers. Amen! LINK to test: Spiritual Gifts | FREE Spiritual Gifts Survey | Assessment, Analysis, Test

Sat. 10-1 Clothing Closet

Sun. Worship 10 am with Children's Church. We will be collecting for Everlasting Life Ministries

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Good Morning Righteous Child of God! Amen! Thinking about that should lead to worship an much thanksgiving. That should overflow in to the day as you die to self, take up your cross, shed you old nature more, step into your new nature more and step out in faith and prepared to follow Jesus well today! Amen. Contemplate that today and maybe process with a friend or two. What's God saying to you right now? What will you do about that?

Col. 3:8-17 Meditate on this and check out how this flows through our devos for today below and then engage with the Connections Blogs/ Worship, surrender and prepare to follow Jesus today! Yes rejoice!

NOTE: In the NLT verse 11 is rendered Christ is all that matters. Are you living like that? Is He you all and in all you do? Talk to the Holy Spirit about that!

8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

TWFYT:

ODB:

UR: Enduring Adversity

Do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

At a young age, I faced the heartbreaking loss of my father and grew up separated from my mother due to our impoverished background. Life became even more difficult when I tragically lost my mother when I was 17. I endured threats and physical abuse as I pursued my education. In search of peace, I made the difficult decision to flee my country.

Throughout my journey, my faith in God has not wavered as I have witnessed God’s hand at work, giving me the strength to persevere. God blessed me with a resilient and positive mindset, which has sustained me.

Matthew 6:26 reminds us of God’s unwavering love and care for us, which assures us that we are valuable. This encourages me to trust in God’s providence during challenging times. Isaiah 41:10 reminds us that God is always by our side, ready to offer strength, help, and support. With God as my constant companion, I know I can face any challenge.

Though my journey to find peace is ongoing, I find solace knowing God remains faithful. I choose to focus on the positive aspects of my story, for they remind me of the resilience and faith that have carried me this far. I am confident that as I continue to rely on God’s strength, I will find the peace and fulfillment I am searching for.

Today's Prayer

Dear God, we seek your grace and guidance. Guide our steps and fill our hearts with your love. Amen.

Connections Blog

February 28 - Desire God’s Purposes to See Unity Grow I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me (John 17:22-23).   Most people’s prayers seek the best fix for a situation. We typically pray whatever we are told to pray for a situation, with no real thought of “What does God want to do here.”  Something happens to that dynamic, however, when people pray together. They start to let go of their desires to see their purposes fulfilled and start to open themselves up to what God wants. The value of this to a church is huge when it comes to ministry and decision making. If people pray together over an issue, even if people come to prayer thinking they know what the church should do, praying together opens them up to God’s desire. Years ago, I was a part of a church plant in Colorado Springs that was meeting in a school. We felt the Lord leading us to purchase land. We found two pieces of property—one was very close to the school and 42 of our families, the other was five miles away. That distance was not a big deal, but it was not in the neighborhood we had been ministering in for the past five years. The property close to us cost 1.5 million, the other $450,000. Many of us felt the issue was not the difference in price, but where God wanted us. Pray, figure that out, and He will provide. There were plenty of leaders on both sides of which piece to purchase. We started praying together. We even called a corporate prayer meeting on one of the pieces of property. As we did that God began to put a vision of the ministry we could have on the $450,000 piece of property into those of us who wanted the other piece. That is what God will do when we pray together—agreement comes so we can pray His will with confidence. People who are disgruntled with decisions a church has made usually have not prayed with the body over that issue. Pray together and watch unity grow.   Righteous Father, how You must grieve when Your people fuss and want their own way instead of coming together to pray so that You can guide hearts toward unity. Show me how to be one who always suggests prayer over getting what I want. Give me a heart that is yielded to what You desire rather than what seems best to me. Fill me with joy in Your house of prayer as You bring our faith family together on our knees.   --Adapted from the article The Benefits of Praying Together by Jonathan Graf.  Check out this powerful resource also written by Jon Graf: Praying Like Paul: Learning to Pray the Kingdom for those You Love, available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Prayer Points Worship God with reverence and awe as a consuming fire blazing with holiness (Heb. 12:28-29). Give thanks for his plan to refine your faith through trials and tests (Jas. 1:2-4). Confess any times this week when you have not seen God’s purpose for you in these trials (Mal. 3:2-4). Commit yourself to submitting to God’s testing in your life. Ask God to strengthen you with his power (Eph. 6:10-11). Pray for those who are undergoing severe testing, that God may show them his purpose and strengthen them in their weakness (Heb. 12:7-13). Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com