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Friday, May 23 2025
Good Morning Persevering and Persevering in Prayer Co-Laborers! Amen! Whoever started the saying about the Golden Years must've been talking about someone in their 30's or 40's. Right? Life is hard and gets harder as we age. BUT GOD! He is with us always! He knows the good plans He has for us. Often those good plans come through some stretchingly hard things. Our part is to continue the journey in faith, trust and to keep praying for His Kingdom to come, will to be done and to prepare us to respond as He plans. His plans are good despite the hardness of the journey and as we age, I think, we come to understand more and more how He is working things togethjer for good and are more able to persevere in faith and prayer. We see His hand at work and know His loving presence more intimately and that sustains us and guides us to whatever may come. So keep praying, following and being open to His faithful love and plans. Amen! help us Lord!
Check out the thread for this through the devos below. God is speaking and does have some really good, even though often hard, plans for you and us to discover, grow into and persevere through until he calls us home. Seek first the Kingdom of God! be still and know! Prepare and follow well, my friends! And find some teammates to travel with and uphold. He is working all things together according to His perfect plans and timing and those plans include you, me and all who will come and all who will persevere in faith. Amen!
UR:
Trust in Trying Times
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God. - Romans 8:28 (NRSVUE)
One of the hardest tests of faith I’ve experienced was when I suffered starvation. While kept in solitary confinement as a pre-trial detainee, I was given no food for eight days straight. I cried out to God, “How can you possibly use this to help me?” After my trial, I was housed with other inmates, and I soon understood how my painful experience had changed my perspective in a positive way.
In the prison cafeteria our food portions are small, so there is no shortage of hungry adults here. It breaks my heart to see the look of sadness on a man’s face when he can’t afford to buy more food to supplement the cafeteria’s small portions. When I have money, God moves me to purchase extra food to share.
I believe God used my hardship to soften my heart. It made me more compassionate toward others who suffer from hunger. I don’t always understand how God is at work in my life, especially during difficult times, but I have learned to trust that God is working for my good — to develop my character and make me more Christlike.
Today's Prayer
Dear Father, help us to trust you when we are suffering. Show us how to be more compassionate to others. Amen.
TWFYT:
Harvest prayer:
May 18 - Approaching the Throne of Heaven
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A. W. Tozer pastored a church in Chicago for many years. One time after a minister arrived in Chicago, Tozer called him and said, “This city is a devil’s den. It is a very difficult place to minister the Word of God, and you will come up against much opposition from the enemy. If you ever want to pray with me, I’m at the lakeside every morning at five-thirty. Just make your way down and we can pray together.” One day the minister was troubled and about six o’clock he went to the lakeside. He found A. W. Tozer prostrate in the sand worshiping God. Tozer was a prophetic voice to the church of the twentieth century, and his message grew out of private intimacy with God.
Intimacy with God will always be found in a fresh, living relationship with the Father. That relationship necessitates that we have a time and place to regularly and consistently meet with Him.
When we come into God’s presence we must approach Him with genuineness and sincerity. We must never attempt to impress God with our spirituality and religiosity. Jesus taught His disciples to be careful about how they approached the throne of heaven. He said, “When you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:7). God is not impressed with the loudness or softness of our voices. He is not impressed with the beauty or multiplicity of our words. He is impressed with the sincerity of our hearts.
Holy Lord, as I come into Your presence, may my heart be completely pure. Draw me into Your throne room through a living, active relationship with You! I don’t want my words in prayer to be empty and religious talk.Guide my heart into purposeful, intimate conversation that is perfectly aligned with Your will and not my own!
--Adapted from The Prayer Factor by Sammy Tippit. This book is available at Prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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Friday, May 23 2025
Good Morning Praying Friends! I sure could use some prayer! I think we all can at times too, maybe daily. It's 2 am. Another sleepless night. I've seen two specialists with no resolution to the issues that put me in ER last Sun. I am feeling better...tired but somewhat better. The real specialist I need to see is the pulmonologist and they have no openings until July. So I appreciate prayers for healing, deliverance and for a much earlier appointment to open up. Thanks. Praise God for carrying me through vacation and for a week of forced rest this week. Thanks!
Since I couldn't sleep the thinking was to do my quiet time early and try to get some sleep after. Seems like the pattern has been to finally fall asleep between 12:30-2:30, so I'm right on track! In my tiredness, I still had a great time with the Lord. he is speaking to me and I know will to some of you as you engage with our devos below. What's God saying to you? I'm hearing that He is affirming us and wanting to lead us to his best. Are you up for that? Don't lean on your own understanding. trust God and allow Him to lead. he is capable and has great plans for you and us. And don't stop praying! I'm praying for you and believing God has some amazing things ahead as we rest in Him. Jesus said for the weary to come and find rest for our souls. Amen!
See you Sun. God has a Word for us! he has a plan for all of us! let us pursue Him and those plans wholeheartedly and as His Body! Amen!
ODB
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On my free day in Paris during a visit a few years ago, I had some time to roam around the famed city by myself before meeting a friend by the Eiffel Tower for dinner. All was fine until my phone’s battery died. I didn’t have a map, so I wasn’t sure where I was going, but this city girl didn’t panic. I just continued to walk along the Seine River and kept my eyes on the towering Eiffel Tower. My plan worked until I got closer to the landmark, which somehow disappeared behind the surrounding buildings.
I was astonished that such a large structure could be hidden in plain sight! I finally realized I needed help, so I asked for directions and found my friend.
Life can be so unpredictable. As we face obstacles and challenges in life, we can ask God for help and direction. Asking Him helps us not get lost along our journey or be tempted to take detours or to quit. Especially when life seems hard or confusing, we can turn to God for guidance.
In Proverbs 3:5-6, Solomon encourages his readers by telling them to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
As we seek God’s wisdom through prayer and reading the Bible, He’ll guide us. Let’s continue to trust Him and follow His lead.
By Nancy Gavilanes
REFLECT & PRAY
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Why is it sometimes hard to follow God? How can you stay better connected to Him?
Dear God, thank You for leading and guiding me.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The book of Proverbs is presented as a life manual from a father to his sons (see 1:8; 3:1; 4:1; 23:15; 31:2) to teach them how to live a life that honors God. He instructs them to trust (3:5; see 22:19), obey (3:6; see 8:32-33), and fear Him (3:7; see 1:7; 14:16). Living a God-honoring life means seeking His ways and doing His will. There will be times when we won’t understand His ways (Isaiah 55:6, 8-9), but we’re to trust Him because He’s God and therefore trustworthy (Deuteronomy 7:9). Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, warns that our human intelligence is never enough: “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil” (Proverbs 3:7 nlt). We’re not to trust in our own wisdom because “those who trust in themselves are fools” (28:26).
Visit ODBU.org/OT021 for further study on wisdom in this course on Proverbs.
K.T. Sim |
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UR: Capable Hands
All of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NRSVUE)
Today I crocheted a butterfly. I found the instructions on the internet and followed them carefully, hook in hand. However, nearing the end of the instructions, I hesitated. Things didn’t look right at all. Then I read the last line of the instructions, which said to fold the work in half once the crocheting was done. When I did so, I held in my hands a perfectly lovely butterfly!
It can be like that in our Christian walk as well. There is no denying it — sometimes life doesn’t look at all as we think it should. The Lord responds to our “corrections” in Isaiah 29:16, “You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay? Shall the thing made say of its maker, ‘He did not make me,’ or the thing formed say of the one who formed it, ‘He has no understanding’”?
The Lord’s hands are capable. We can trust in his power to bring about transformation that will make our hearts rejoice. After all, the instructions are his and so is the skill.
Today's Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the way you made us. We trust in your capable hands. Amen.
TWFYT:
Friday, May 16 2025
Oh yes! PTL! What praise, thanksgiving and gratitude we lift for all Jesus has done for us, for our forgiveness and being made right with God and for our eternal hope! Yes praise the Lord! Thank God I'm forgiven!
Good Morning Cleansed, Purified, United, Body that Loves like Jesus! Amen! We can be that an much more as we humble ourselves, praise and pray, listen and follow and live our lives as an act of worship. Join me!
I have to fly to another specialist appointment, but I have to share some of what God was saying to me today...
First of all, I cannot get Phil. 2:2 out of my mind. I believe God wants to add that verse to our foundation, guiding verses for our lives and our church. "Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose." Please meditate and talk to God and process with your partners that key verse for us. be wholehearted, loving, and focused on God's plans! is that us? It can be! Pray for that to come to life and ideas, dreams and vision for how God plans to lead us through that. he loves you and us and has gathered us to go love wholeheartedly and do together what He has planned. Amen!
Check out the flow through the devos below. What's God saying to you? What will you do about it? Who are your teammates? How can your choices be an act of worship and obedience today? God has great plans for you for such a time as this! Choose to step into them wholeheartedly and with some friends! I'm praying for you! I'm praising God for you and us! And I am so thankful for God's love, for you, and for our Body that is choosing and wanting to follow Jesus wholeheartedly! Amen!
ODB
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Recently, my brother Scott acquired our dad’s military service records from World War II. As I studied the pages, there was nothing startling or shocking—nothing about who Dad was. There were mere facts. Data. It was interesting to read but ultimately dissatisfying because I didn’t come away feeling like I learned anything new about Dad.
Thankfully, in giving us a record of the life and work of Jesus, the four gospels are much more than just data. They are descriptions that reveal who Jesus was in His time on this earth as well as what He did and said. In Mark’s gospel, that record was for the purpose of proving Mark’s thesis statement: “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God” (1:1). Immediately, Mark tells us how John the Baptist testified about this Messiah. John said, “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie” (v. 7). Mark’s account makes it clear that Jesus is the Son of God. As John the disciple adds in his own account of Jesus’ life, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).
The evidence of Jesus’ life is abundant. These questions remain: What does He mean to you? How has He changed your life?
By Bill Crowder
REFLECT & PRAY
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What do you think of the evidence of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection? How might you tell someone about your response to it?
Father, thank You for the clear record of Your Son’s life.
Learn more here: ODB.org/personal-relationship-with-god.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Mark begins his gospel account declaring that Jesus is “the Son of God” (1:1). Then he moves to introducing the Messiah’s promised forerunner, John the Baptist (vv. 2-4). In contrast to the gospel of Matthew, which was written to a Jewish audience and is filled with messianic prophecy, Mark wrote to a gentile audience and offers fewer Old Testament references or allusions. One of the few Old Testament quotes in Mark (1:2-3) is from Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3 and establishes from the outset that Mark’s story of Christ lines up with Israel’s story and how it would find fulfillment in its promised Messiah. Mark also tells the reader up front that John the Baptist wasn’t the Messiah but was preparing the way for one “more powerful” than himself (Mark 1:7). John the Baptist’s self-awareness is fleshed out more fully in the gospel of John (see 1:20; 3:22-36). He knew his role as one pointing to the Messiah who had come—Jesus.
Bill Crowder |
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UR: Blessing Others
The Lord had said to Abram . . . “I will bless you; I will make your name great, andyou will be a blessing.” - Genesis 12:1-2 (NIV)
Our oldest grandchild is a senior in high school. He is a very talented young man. He plays the saxophone in his school’s marching band, jazz band, wind ensemble, and symphonic band. He not only plays at school but performs solos and duets at his church and other churches in our county. He has even provided wedding music for one of his teachers.
Naturally, we are very proud of our grandson. We are proud because he has been blessed by God with his amazing musical ability, and he is willing to share his blessing with others.
Many times God gives us talents but we fail to share them. We hide them and keep them to ourselves. Maybe we’re afraid we won’t be good enough and lack confidence in our ability. Maybe we don’t have the courage to step out of our comfort zone. Whatever the reason, God is always encouraging us and wants us to use the talents we have been given to bless others.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the many talented young people in our world who are willing and able to use your blessings to bless others. May our talents be shared in love and praise to you. Amen.
TWFYT
Friday, May 16 2025
Good Morning United Body of Christ! They will know we are Christians by our love--love for God, each other, others and even self and our loving like Jesus! I pray constantly for us to be His untied Body--ONE--overflowing with love that attracts many to God. We are blessed to be part of a Body that is pretty united and focused and moving together with God! PTL! And keep working at that unity and overflowing love--living and loving like Jesus! The world surely needs to see that kind of love from us today! United in love. Going in love. Living love. Serving love! Agape (sacrificial, dying to self) love. Love as we have bee loved is a command from Jesus! How's that going for you and us as a Body? What may we need to die to self with or work on for that kind of love to always be what others see and that attracts them to God's love. Too many Bodies are too busy back stabbing, gosiping, undermining the love of Christ. We are blessed with love that is growing and overflowing and uniting us! PTL! And keep working at it!
Today, one verse really stood out as God's Word to us. It's from Phil. 2:2, 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
Meditate on that today. Talk to God about what may need to happen for this verse to come alive to you and through our Body. Process it with your teammates. May we be known for our love, working united focused on God and His plans for us and wholeheartedly. We are created, gathered, gifted, empowered and sent for such a time as this to live and love like Jesus. Help us Lord! We need each other and for each of us to do our parts to be love and to go love well. We are ONE. His Body of many parts united in Christ and for His mission! Let us pursue that wholeheartedly with one mind and purpose. today--always! Amen!
Friday, May 16 2025
Good Morning Praying, Abiding, Following Friends of Christ! Amen! May that be us Lord! Grow our prayer lives and raise up intercessors, worshipers, warriors, watchmen and workers of the harvest. Teach us to pray and give us your heart and mind to pray in power. Hear our prayers! Unite us in prayer. Give us You heart, mind, passion and compassion to pray constantly and powerfully and effectively. Thank You! Your Kingdom come and will be done and may that come alive as we pray and abide in You. Amen!
This morning I was able to review Sarah's message about prayer and praying woman from Sunday. God has spoken to and through her, informed her prayers, and given her a heart to pray and teach to pray. PTL for her and His work in and through her. My understanding is that some prayer teams have been raised up from Sunday. Please continue to unite in prayer, encourage in prayer and release God's will and power in prayer. Please continue to bind up the enemy, cover each other, and lift up our leaders in prayer. Pray His armor over you and us. Seek first His Kingdom from your quiet place and then follow Him out into each day, covered and filled and ready. Be in a state of constant prayer. God loves that and will guide and answer your prayers as you humble yourself before Him with open hearts and listening ears.
Today is donut day at the bread ministry. There are many opportunities to pray there. Come join us, sit and watch for God to give you someone to encourage and pray with. We need to become a House of Prayer for the Nations. God keeps reminding me of our call as His Body to this. Many have the call to pray as part of their role in our Good News Delivery Company and as encouragers and world changers. Pursue God and His plans and release them in prayer today--earnestly! Prayer is critical and does matter for the future God has gathered us to achieve.
And woman are not the only ones called to pray. We all are! Today's Connection Blog talks about some praying men and how God led them to pray and abide and then led them daily to produce good fruit. Check it out and prepare your hearts to pray without ceasing. And watch for more opportunities to pray. Is God calling you to start a prayer ministry at our church or some diner or public place? Do it! We will soon have our second quarter season of prayer during worship. How might God be calling you and us to pray. If you are too timid to share with the group, let Sarah and me know what you are hearing that God wants us to pray into or release in prayer. Maybe rise up as a prayer team and share with us. God wants us to pray, teaches us to pray, models how to pray and hears and answers our prayers. PTL! Prayer is foundational to all that happens in His Kingdom and will happen through our gathered and sent Body. So, PRAY! Jesus is interceding for you right now. Join Him! Amen! let your prayer rise like incense to God--a sweet aroma.
Connection Blog
May 14 - The Private Chambers of Prayer
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“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
The purpose of prayer is not the applause of men. The purpose of prayer is intimacy with the Father. Men and women who have made the greatest impact on the world for the glory of God have had an intimate, private relationship with the Father. They have discovered that the power of public ministry comes from the private chambers of prayer.
There is no room for backslapping, ego building, or reputation seeking in the private closet. There is only room for a heart that eagerly pursues God.
A study of the men of God of past centuries clearly displays this principle. It has been said of Hudson Taylor that the sun did not rise in China without finding Taylor in his private place of prayer. Taylor founded the China Inland Mission and was mightily used of God to impact that country for Christ.
A. W. Tozer pastored a church in Chicago for many years. One time after a minister arrived in Chicago, Tozer called him and said, “This city is a devil’s den. It is a very difficult place to minister the Word of God, and you will come up against much opposition from the enemy. If you ever want to pray with me, I’m at the lakeside every morning at five-thirty. Just make your way down and we can pray together.” One day the minister was troubled and about six o’clock he went to the lakeside. He found A. W. Tozer prostrate in the sand worshiping God. Tozer was a prophetic voice to the church of the twentieth century, and his message grew out of private intimacy with God.
Intimacy with God will always be found in a fresh, living relationship with the Father. That relationship necessitates that we have a time and place to regularly and consistently meet with Him.
Lord Jesus, You live to intercede for me and I go about my daily life completely oblivious to this fact! May I walk in humility as people like Tozer and Taylor, so that my life will become a fragrant offering to You. I desire the kind of intimacy these men had with You instead of the usually rushed chatter of my disjointed prayer life. Teach me how to spend unhurried time in Your presence so that whatever I do for You is birthed from Your purposes instead of my own desires.
--Adapted from The Prayer Factor by Sammy Tippit. This book is available at Prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise the Lamb, Jesus Christ, who with his blood “purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9).
- Thank the Lord that he covenanted with Abraham long ago and that you have the blessing of being part of God’s own people.
- Confess any tendencies that you have to judge people by color, ethnicity, or background. Commit yourself to showing no favoritism, just as God shows none (Acts 10:34).
- Ask that you will do your part in the kingdom of priests who serve God (Rev. 5:10).
- Give thanks for the gifts, abilities, and perspectives of those whom God has given to you, and ask his blessing upon them.
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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 |
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Friday, May 16 2025
Good Morning Abiding in the Vine Friends of God! You are a friend of God! PTL! He reigns and rules the universe! (He even waters our gardens! PTL!) And nothing can overcome His plans for you, us and His Kingdom! PTL! He brings the sun and rain and walks with us through it all! PTL! Do we take time to abide in His loving presence? Do we sit in prayer and make prayer a priority? One of the the things God keeps revealing for our church is the call to become a House of Prayer for the Nations. Sarah taught us about prayer on Sunday. (Thank you Sarah for covering for me while I was away and for bringing God's Word and plans alive with some practical application as we start some prayer groups!) Let us commit to abiding more intentionally and often and in prayer throughout the day. Check out the Connection blog about that below. What's God saying to you? As we ponder our roles in God's Good News Delivery Co., let us not forget that for some of us and for some of us in this season of life, God has called us to be His prayer warriors. Partner up with some others and pray often--even daily. Take personal time to abide, pray, listen, receive and release in prayer. God hears and will respond according to His will and plans. The prayers of a righteous person ARE powerful and effective. Because of our abiding relationship with Jesus, we are God's righteous people opening up the window for powerful and effective praying! PTL! He loves to hang out with us and answer our prayers powerfully! PTL! We need your prayers and He is waiting for you to abide and pray! Do it! Amen! Praise God for all His blessings and answered prayers and spend some intentional time in prayer and abiding today. Pray we become a House of Prayer and disciple makers. Pray for Donut Day tomorrow at the Bread Ministry to be an opportunity to minister to those God will send and is preparing for you and us. Thank Him for His provision and for using us! Amen! Yes, God reigns! He is awaiting your abiding presence and prayer to release His will. be still and know that He is Gid then go follow His lead into this day and week. I'm praying for you!
Connection Blog:
May 13 - Taking Time to Ponder God
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Among the disciplines needed for personal prayer is the discipline of time. In a survey by Leadership magazine it was discovered that thirty-four percent felt “time” was the greatest hindrance to personal prayer. A similar survey was conducted by Evangelical Missions Quarterly, which reported out of 390 missionaries surveyed, eleven percent spent less than an average of five minutes per day in prayer. Sixty percent spent between eleven and thirty minutes daily in prayer. In contrast consider Andrew Bonar who wrote in his diary, “I work more than I pray. I must at once return, through the Lord’s strength, to not less than three hours per day spent in prayer and meditation upon the Word.” Or consider Adoniram Judson, who said: “Arrange thy affairs, if possible, so that thou canst leisurely devote two or three hours every day not merely to devotional exercises but to the very act of secret prayer and communication with God. Endeavor seven times a day to withdraw from business and company and lift thy soul to God in private retirement.”
We’ve seen the time discipline of two of the great prayer warriors in the faith. The difference between their practice and ours is not one of inherent nature. It is simply that they took time to ponder God, to study God in an act of supreme attention. We are too greatly overrun with our own trivial pursuits to find leisure for such time of spiritual pondering.
Lord, prayer is Your idea. You desire relationship with Your people and have created us to seek Your face. Yet, because of our busy lives and our lack of discipline, we have considered the things we do for You to be more important than the time we spend with You. Forgive me, Father, for my prayerless life! Grow my desire to fellowship with You as Jesus did…for only then will my life fulfill the kingdom purposes for which You created me!
--Adapted from Giving Ourselves to Prayer: An Acts 6:4 Primer for Ministry (Chapter 25, Disciplines of Personal Prayer by Dan R. Crawford). This book is available at Prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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TWFYT
UR: God Is Present
Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me. - Psalm 66:20 (NRSVUE)
On July 10, 2022, after finishing my job for the day, I began my journey home. I had to get home to care for my wife, who was suffering from a fever. That evening it was raining heavily all over our city, and the ground was becoming waterlogged.
I was moving forward in knee-deep water, and trees had fallen all around. As I stepped over a huge fallen tree, I began to sink deeper in the water into a crater created by an uprooted tree. It was impossible to get help in the middle of the night.
So I called upon God: “O God, save me. Pull me out from this crater!” And God answered my prayer. As soon as I got out of the hole, I remembered the words of Psalm 23:4 — “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Prayers spoken in faith are always heard by God who can see us through any situation. I am alive today because of God’s mercy and grace.
Today's Prayer
Gracious and loving God, we are thankful that you never forsake us, even when we are in some dark valley. Help us to trust you always. We pray in the name of our Savior, Jesus. Amen.
Sarah Young
Friday, May 16 2025
Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday!!! Yes PTL everyday for His mercy, grace, forgiveness--His agape love! He was willing to die for you, for me and for all who will come! PTL! Thank God for these things and for those He is still drawing and drawing through you and us! Yes! PTL! Pray for Him to use you and open your eyes to the ones He has for you to share the Good News with and minister to and disciple. Pray we become a disciple making hub for the Emmaus area and thank Him for the harvest workers and harvest and for drawing workers from the harvest. Thank Him for the 30+ new people He is sending our way! Pray for many new opportunities to be His hands and feet and for new connection points to those He is drawing. Thank God for revival and new life, restored and redeemed life and for spurring us towards becoming His dynamic movement! God is on the move! PTL! What's your part? Ask and follow well and process with some friends as you team up to be His vessels of love, healing, hope and Good News! Amen! (Check out the flow through this with our devos below). We are God's team, gathered and sent to go live and love like Jesus! How are you being Jesus in the flesh? How's the process of becoming more like Him going? Talk to Him and some friends about that today! he's listening and ready to help! Are you?
Good Morning Renewed, Readying, Revivalists of God! Praise and pray into that! Pray with expectation and much thanksgiving! I'm excited! Are you? We are not called to be couch potatoes or pew sitters but to be more than hearers as we work at becoming doers of His Word. Is that you--doer? It can be! We all have an age and circumstance appropriate part to play in God's Good News Delivery Co. We need each other and all of us to be excited to have the opportunity to do our parts in serving God, each other and others and building His Church! Yes, PTL! There are so many things to be excited about! There is so much to pray for with expectation and thanksgiving! We are God's very loved people, called, gifted and sent to change the world one soul at a time. Who is the one God has for you? Ask and follow and team up to go live and love more like Jesus! Who are the people of peace you are connecting with? Ask for boldness, courage, words and God's heart and mind to do your part in Kingdom building--one soul at a time and just as you are.
I only have another blog or two before Karen and I fully disconnect and head away for a vacation of renewal, revival, rest and much fun, Lord willing! We appreciate your prayers for God's favor, protection, provision and for us to choose to disconnect and reload. Thanks. (pray I bless Karen and agape well and for fair weather too. Thanks!) Anyway, we are so excited! This will be our first ever full week, big getaway as we celebrate our 20th anniversary and our birthdays. We've never done more than a few days within a hundred miles or two. To say we are excited, scared, anxious, and ready is an understatement. It got me wondering if we are excited, scared, anxious and ready to follow Jesus to His new things and people He is preparing. Are you? We get to do this! We plan for this. And now it's time to go as we step out in faith, gifted, prepared, and ready. That is how it is for us for vacation and also this time of rest is preparation for the new things God has for us when we return. Are you readying and excited for all that's to come? Pray into that because God has been revealing a lot of ideas for what's next and a future of being His agents of revival. And that's for all of us! We all have a part. (However, you cannot be a part of our vacation and restoration time, except to not text or email. Contact Sarah with any ministry needs next week). You see, we are a team. And we all have our parts to carry out for that team to prosper and produce great fruit. Sometimes, self care is part of that. For Karen and me self care and rest is key right now to be ready to roll with Jesus moving forward. Sometimes we need to rest and abide. Sometimes we need to crawl, then walk, then run. And sometimes we need to endure a marathon with some teammates cheering us on and handing us some living water as we run our race. We all have a season and roles and God with us! PTL! What's His plan for you? What season is He leading you through that will produce better fruit? Who are your cheerleaders and helpers? Who are the ones God is sending you to or to pray for? Step into your anointing and season with joy, thanksgiving and expectation like getting ready for a big vacation and new thing of God! He is on the move, working all things together for good and He wants to lead you to His best! Yes rejoice, surrender, rest and abide and prepare to thrive and produce some amazing fruit. And worship! What a mighty and awesome God we serve! He knows you and is calling you by name to come to Him for His perfect plans for you for this season! Rejoice! Amen! It's time to come alive in '25! Expect and prepare for that! It's coming alive and so are we! PTL! It's time to choose and know His abundant life! It's time to choose to really live and love like Jesus! Amen! I can't wait to see all things God has for us to choose as we allow Him to lead us to be His dynamic movement and followers of THE Way!
Sarah Young
I to We
UR: God Will Make A Way!
I will recount the Lord’s faithful acts; I will sing the Lord’s praises, because of all the Lord did for us, for God’s great favor toward the house of Israel. God treated them compassionately and with deep affection. - Isaiah 63:7 (CEB)
I grew up in abject poverty, and my education would have ended after primary school. But because of my passion for education and knowledge, I worked to save money to go to secondary school in one of the prestigious institutions in the western part of my home country, Nigeria.
Two years into my secondary education, I had spent all my savings, and my hope of finishing school was dashed. But then God brought people into my life who helped me through. The principal of the secondary school gave me a scholarship. Two American missionaries, serving in the town where the school was located, sponsored me and took responsibility for all of my other educational expenses. From then on, I was able to continue my education through scholarships from different sources. Now I have several degrees. By God’s divine providence, these three individuals raised me from poverty to what I am today.
Through my determination, focus on my goals, and the faithful help of community, God made a way for me. Nothing is impossible for God. We need only to have faith and believe in God’s promises.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for sending us helpers when we feel hopeless. May we support others as we have been supported. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
ODB
Bert placed his debit card atop the restaurant bill. The waiter scooped it up and then paused to ask, “Wait, who is this guy who says, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life?’ That’s so conceited!” Bert realized the waiter was reacting to the words printed on the card by his Christian financial company—Jesus’ words from John 14:6. Amused at the waiter’s response, Bert explained the identity of “this guy” and His sacrificial offering to bring us to God.
When we encounter people who know nothing about our faith, we might respond with ridicule or even judgment. But the apostle Peter challenged us, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). Then he warned, “Do this with gentleness and respect” (v. 15). In Colossians 4:6, Paul explained the power of such a response, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Just as salt on our food enhances flavor, salty answers invite others to come closer to faith.
Questions may come in surprising settings from those completely unfamiliar with Jesus. When we respond with gentleness and grace, our answers offer a saltiness that entices questioners to yearn for more.
By Elisa Morgan
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How have you been surprised by a question about God? How might you prepare yourself to give a “salty” answer to the questioners in your life?
Dear God, please prepare me for the questions You bring my way, that I may give gracious and loving answers.
Be prepared for the next time you need to give an answer for your faith.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
First Peter was written to believers in Jesus who were being persecuted because of their faith. In chapter 2, echoing Christ’s teachings in Matthew 5:10-16, Peter encourages believers to live holy lives and to do good so that those who don’t believe might be won to Jesus (1 Peter 2:11-25). In chapter 3, he says to remain faithful, to continue to “revere Christ as Lord” and to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (v. 15). Paul makes similar calls for righteous living in his letters (see Philippians 2:14-16; Colossians 4:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12; Titus 2:7-8).
K.T. Sim |
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Pastor Don
Friday, May 16 2025
Another sleepless night and some other things leaves no ime for a blog. Please open your Bibles and devos and sit at God's feet a spell. What's He saying? What will you do about it? Praying for you!
Friday, May 16 2025
Good Morning Friends! It's been one of those sleepless in Boyertown nights again. This will be my last blog for a week as we ready and leave for vacation. See you in church today! I'll be praying for you and appreciate your prayers too. Thanks!
Spend the week with open Bibles and hearts and sit at Jesus' feet. he is always speaking and loves you. Be still and know, reload and go!
Today we will talk about WWJD? and WIJD? If Jesus were you, what would He be doing? What is He doing right now that he desires you to join? Pray into those two this week and follow Jesus always! Amen
Shalom shalom!
Friday, May 16 2025
Good Morning Surrendered, Focused on God, Followers of THE Way! Pronounce that over you and our Body! We were one way and now another! PTL! We are supple in His hands! Amen! We are focused on Jesus and His Spirit leads us to God's best! PTL! Be still and know as you turn off all the noise and sit at His feet receiving love, healing, hope, forgiveness, strength and direction. You are made for today and he is with you transforming you from what was and what is to what will be by His grace. Step out focused, surrendered and in faith! He is working all things together for good and you are being held and loved and molded by Him to be ready for all to come! Rejoice!
Maybe some of us need a reminder of Whose we are? Maybe some of us need some affirmation that we are being surrendered to His molding and that His plans are best? Some of us need to remember that God is with us and has teammates for us to work through whatever and pray and be accountable to. Some are struggling right now. Someday we will all face trials, struggles, corrections and stretching's that require focus, surrender and help. God is always with us! Amen! God is love and all he does for His beloved (us) is done in love, even if it hurts for a season. Rest in Him. Allow Him to nourish you. Watch for Hs assignments that will lead you from where you are to what will be in Christ! Get out those gratitude lists if needed and lift some refocusing praise and worship. Abide then thrive! He is up to something new and better as he leads you and us from glory to glory. Amen! Check out the flow through our devos below that speak to us with a thread through this. God is whispering His love to your spirit. Turn off whatever the noise is and be still, listen and receive. he will lead you today and everyday to His best for you, even if once in awhile that path takes you through a dark valley. remember He is with you. He knows, cares and loves you. Your name is engraved on His palm and your picture is on His fridge. Rejoice. And choose to let go and let God! I'm praying for you and me. Restoration and revival are at hand! Amen!
God is with you and He is speaking! PTL! Can you hear the whisper? Are you receiving His love and direction and willing to step out in faith? Try it! Share what you are hearing with someone and process together. he does have a great day ahead! Smile!
Chuck Swindoll
ODB
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In the early twentieth century, New York City had become a noisy place. With an overhead train, cars, trolleys, newsboys yelling, and people rushing around—life was loud! Yet, one day at Broadway and 34th Street, a man named Charles Kellogg declared to his friend, “Listen, I hear a cricket.”
“Impossible,” his friend answered. “With all this racket, you couldn’t hear a tiny sound like that.” Yet Mr. Kellogg insisted and eventually found the cricket, chirping in the window of a bakery. “What astonishing hearing you have,” his friend proclaimed. “Not at all,” Mr. Kellogg replied. “It’s a matter of where you focus your attention.”
Elijah was a prophet of God who’d just seen Him perform an amazing display of His power, but now the prophet was hiding in a cave for fear of the pagan queen (1 Kings 19:1-9). This time, however, God didn’t want to communicate in a powerful way. Even though He had sent a great wind, an earthquake, and even a roaring fire (vv. 11-12), it was time now for Elijah to commune with God personally and quietly. God wanted to speak to the prophet in “a gentle whisper” (v. 12).
Today, there’s a surplus of noise in our lives, yet God still speaks in a quiet voice through the Scriptures and by His Spirit. Taking time to prayerfully focus our attention on God will help us tune in to His comforting, guiding voice.
By Brent Hackett
REFLECT & PRAY
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What noises are crowding in on your life? How can you listen for God’s voice in your busy world?
Dear Father, I thank You that I can listen for Your Spirit to speak to me quietly.
Learn how prayer helps us tune into to God's voice and focuses our thoughts on Him.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Some scholars believe that in 1 Kings 19, Elijah was suffering from depression. He was weary after three and a half hard years of ministry, the events on Mount Carmel, and his flight from the wrath of Jezebel. But notice how kindly God cares for his discouraged servant. He gives Elijah rest to compensate for his fatigue and then provides him with food to restore his strength (vv. 5-7). Later, God would continue His care for him by assigning him new tasks to focus on—anointing kings and training Elisha (vv. 15-18). Today, as we serve God, we can listen for His voice and receive His compassionate care.
Bill Crowder |
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UR: Every Season
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. - Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)
When my friend Ginny came to visit me in New England, she delighted in the fall foliage. She had never before experienced leaves with such vibrant shades of red, yellow, and orange. The brilliant swamp maple leaves especially caught her eye, so she gathered a few and preserved them to show her students back home.
While Ginny appreciated the spectacular colors as one of God’s treasured gifts, often I have a different reaction. At times I miss the beauty of autumn because I’m focused on what comes next — winter. Where I live, winter means blustery winds, ice, and nor’easters — strong storms that can deposit more than a foot of snow. Rather than investing in fully living in the present season, I tend to live with a heart and an eye turned toward the next season.
Today’s scripture reminds us that seasons change, and each is valuable and purposeful in God’s sight. Seasons can be physical, like fall and winter. Or seasons can be spiritual like those described in Ecclesiastes. Each season has its own merit and carries God’s tender touch. Whatever the season, may we be fully present and alive to God’s presence and love.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for each season. Help us to pause in the present and be attentive to you this day. Amen.
TWFYT
Joyce Meyer
Sarah Young
Connections:
May 1 - Kingdom-Vision for Passionate Prayer
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“While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the LORD my God for his holy hill - while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed” (Daniel 9:20-23a).
Daniel’s fervency incited some stunning responses from the Lord. When Daniel prayed for “X,” instead of receiving a simple answer (like “X”), God entrusted to him spectacular truths that went beyond a mere “answer.” God’s replies were more like “XYZ” overload-type responses! The Daniel model verifies that passion in prayer does not just get results; it totally slants our perspective on life. Such a personal revolution prays from a particular angle: a kingdom-angle.
Passion in prayer evokes kingdom-based requests. God’s “answers” were always kingdom related; they seem to spotlight His kingdom reign over His people. God’s view of us kingdom people is not one of millions of personal mandates; according to Daniel’s revelations, kingdom people must embrace one big prophetic kingdom mandate. Our passion in prayer must fit into the King’s prophetic game plan: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10). Passion in prayer intensifies because God’s kingdom is all about something that actually happens within space and time right here in our neighborhood.
Lord, I confess that so often my prayers are passionless and routine. My mind struggles to stay focused and my heart sometimes wanders off into meaningless places instead of staying focused upon Your kingdom. Help me to see with Daniel’s eyes, the glory of Your presence as I connect with You in intimate conversation. Precious Redeemer and King, please pour out a spirit of fervent zeal within me, so that my prayers are filled with continual expectation that You will respond with power.
--Adapted from Giving Ourselves to Prayer: An Acts 6:4 Primer for Ministry (Chapter 22, A Biblical Role Model of Personal Passion in Prayer by Gloria J. Wiese). This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God for his holiness (Ex. 15:11).
- Thank him for calling you to live a life of holiness through the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Confess contentment with areas of your life that do not reflect God’s holiness.
- Commit yourself to avoiding anything that “contaminates body and spirit” (2 Cor. 7:1).
- Ask God to give you a daily desire to obey his command to “be holy, because I am holy” (Lev. 11:45).
- Thank God for the leaders in your congregation. Ask that they would be committed to personal holiness. Pray also for their marriages and families.
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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 |
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