Good Morning Praying Friends! You prayers are being heard and releasing God's power and will on earth and in the heavenlies. PTL!

Couple of updates:

Glad Ketner has been moved out of ICU to a regular room. She is alert and tries to talk but hard to understand yet. She will be moved to a rehab in the near future. Praise God for the healing that is coming and pray for shalom over her and family and for wisdom for the staff.

Maura Specht (Pastor Don and Karen's granddaughter) has been moved to CHOP for a higher level of care. She has RSV and is on oxygen.

The Canfield family and Caleb continue to heal from bad colds

Lori Rohrer has been able to move forward with resolution with insurance companies after her accident. the car that hit her was cited and deemed at fault. However the driver gave false insurance info. Pray for provision, resolution and shalom.

Pastor Don and Karen will be flying to FL Tues. (Lord willing) to visit his mom and Terry. There will be no blogs next week.Pastor Don is feeling exhausted and a bit under the weather. Pray for healing and for God to go before them with favor. (Mon is our 19th anniversary! WOW! How did I get so blessed! Pray for Karen--you can only imagine what it's like to live with me! )

Thanks for praying!

We light the JOY candle tomorrow. I love how God keeps bringing up the theme of joy and ties things together as we sit at His feet and engage with Him through our Bible readings and devotionals! I'm going to let you check them out and engage with God through your own quiet time. Remember to ask what's going on in this passage? What is God saying to me? What measurable thing will I do in response? Who can I process this with? God is speaking to your heart right now. Turn off the noise and tune out the chaos. Be still and know! He loves you and has some good things in store for you, even today, even in the chaos as He brings His peaceful presence and joy alive through your faith. Rejoice! 

See you tomorrow at 10 in person or on Zoom. Sounds like tomorrow will be a day filled with showers of blessings, God's downpours of love, and a day of being washed whiter than snow! Rejoice! Reign our Lord and King!

Let's start with the Harvest Prayer devo for today as we release God's will together! 

You Kingdom come Father! Your will be done! May we glorify You and pray as you would have us and worship by responding well to your leading today. Cleanse us. We are purified In Christ. Thank You! May we incarnate Your Son, joy, healing and hope today. Come. be glorified! Amen

December 9 - Opening Earth to Heaven’s Influence “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will” (Romans 8:26-28). Search the Scriptures and you will search in vain for any prayer in which Jesus didn’t know what His Father wanted done. There were a few times when He was surprised (e.g., the faith of the Roman centurion compared to the faithlessness of His own people). However, even in those instances, He would wait to understand what God wanted done, and then He would pray in perfect, sinless harmony with God’s purposes. Through that praying, the will would be done on earth, just as in heaven. His role, as the Second Adam (of both earth and heaven, dust and Spirit), was to bridge the two realms, invoking heaven’s presence and power through the mediation of His earthly nature. Heaven and earth intersected in the man Jesus and opened earth to heaven’s influence. Through being joined to Christ Himself (by virtue of His atoning death and His Spirit residing within) heaven and earth intersect in us too. Our praying also opens earth to heaven’s influence as well. Through our intercessions, we act as a conduit through which the power of the Lord can flow through us to reshape the fallen creation back into something that suits God’s purposes. That is the thrust of Romans 8:18-30. We are to discern what God would have us pray, rather than simply to pray, “God do this, if it be Your will.” Holy Spirit, I am a weak created being without Your power!  I am never at a loss for expressing my heartfelt needs to God because Your groaning bursts forth on my behalf, aligned with the perfect will of the Father.  You allow heaven and earth to intersect in me…a deep and holy realization!  How I give thanks for the privilege of praying the purposes of God into reality upon earth!  --Adapted from Power Praying (Hearing Jesus’ Spirit by Praying Jesus’ Prayer) by David Chotka.   Prayer Points Praise the God who lays claim to the entire world and all that live in it (Ps. 24:1). Thank him for the food, shelter, and clothing that sustains you and gives comfort to your life. Confess the times when you have failed to acknowledge God’s riches in your life. Commit yourself to examining your acts of stewardship. Ask God to give you a heart of liberality, knowing that all you have comes from him (1 Chron. 29:14). Ask God to show your family new and creative ways to share the abundance of your lives with families who have much less.

Charles Stanley:

TWFYT:

ODB:

Good Morning Thankful Pray-ers! Thank God it's Friday is pretty irrelevant for those who are retired, people that work on weekends and those serving the Lord 24-7. However, celebrating Thank God I'm Forgiven daily is a great exercise and helps to keep our focus right, our attitudes joyful, and our lives on track. This season between Thanksgiving and Christmas is usually a blur and a reminder of how quickly time moves along. Instead of getting all bound up in the busyness, stress, and even grief this season can bring, let us commit to stilling ourselves and focusing on God with much thanksgiving and praise. Try it and watch and see how your attitudes, actions and joy level changes. Be still, know and overflow with gratitude. He came so we might live! PTL! Enjoy the life you are living in Christ. Again I say rejoice! Joy to the world flows through joyful worshipers like us! Amen!

According to some Christmas songs and hymns 'tis the season of joy, the season of love, the season to be jolly and merry. We have the opportunity and get to choose joy because of Christ's coming, His finished work on the cross, and the gift of salvation and faith given to us. Rejoice! Choose joy today as you offer many thanksgivings and praises to our Father. We just completed reading through the Gospel of John challenge we began in Sept. PTL right? And we are winding down the Become Me in '23 Challenge where we have been working on words God led us to to help us to grow into the people we were created to be and to become better at fulfilling our created purposes. PTL! I have seen much growth and experienced that myself this year. God has used these challenges the past few years to help us grow in Christ and to teach how to go live and love like Jesus better. PTL and keep at it! What word is God revealing to you to work on next year as we seek to Become More in '24? Great fruit lies ahead as God uses us well and grows us into His greater things!

We are finishing up reading and meditating on John 20 and 21 this week. We've been asking the questions weekly, "What's going on in this passage? What's God saying to me? What is a measurable response I will pursue to what God is saying?" I added the challenge for you to process these things with someone besides what we have been discussing on Sundays. Why this challenge? To help us learn to hear God better and to understand how we can help others hear and grow as disciples of Jesus. We are commissioned to make disciples. How are we doing? "Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if He were me." We are challenged to know Christ and make Him known as we work on becoming a dynamic movement of God. Those will continue to be challenges for us at St. Matts for the year and years ahead. What's your part?

The failure of many churches at vitality and growth has been created by the failure to make disciples. Church is not about gathering in a building an hour or two a week and listening to some talking head babble on about his thoughts. Church is about being Christ's body with Him as the head leading us to what's now and what's next in our journey to become disciples that reproduce disciples that reproduce disciples of Jesus. That happens as we adapt to our context and follow Jesus, becoming more like Him and doing the things He is doing. All of that takes prayer and each of us fulfilling our created purposes for such a time as this. What's your part? Talk to God about that and process with some others as you discover some measurable ways to move towards that. God has plans for us. Future fruit is beginning to blossom and bud. PTL! But we need to stay connected to God and following Him to His plans and new things along the way. We need to stay supple and open as we carry out our assignments and we need to keep checking in and evaluating how we are doing and what may need to change or be focused on. We even need to expect and be ready for some pruning along the way. That is being the best stewards of all God has given!

Last night our Support Team had a lengthy meeting as we sought God, worked through and tweaked our budget to follow His provision for us into 2024 and beyond. If the provision dries up, whether that provision is finances, laborers, or God's open door we need to know that, make His plans and adapt. God provides where He guides is a fact and what we need to focus on and adapt to constantly if we are to become a dynamic movement of God. And that is our goal and focus at St. Matts. Who knows what lies ahead? Only God but we get clues along the way as He reveals our next steps. Our leadership team is that vision team for us as well and are committed to meeting quarterly with the finance team next year to assess our progress and seek God's leading for what is now and what's next. We are committed to becoming a dynamic movement of God and flourishing in Christ well into the future or to pour ourselves out and do what we can with what has been given until there is no more and only God. We are learning to rely on Him more fully and follow well as we learn to live sacrificially and love lavishly like Jesus. Thank you for doing your part and choosing joy and to have an open-handed approach to follow Jesus with us. His best lies ahead! Amen!

Everything of value in Gods Kingdom is birthed from prayer and carried out through prayerful, faithful servants that love God and long for His Kingdom to come and will be done. Servants who do what they can with what they got as they follow the Holy Spirit to their created purposes for His glory. And that is our Good News Delivery Co. called St. Matts. Rejoice! Keep seeking, releasing, receiving, birthing and empowering through prayer as you move more fully into your purposes! God has some great stuff for you! Thank God I'm/You're  Forgiven and being used by God! Rejoice!

Prayer Pointer
“It is not possible to explain the power and effectiveness of the New Testament church without reference to prayer.” —Anonymous

Good Morning Obedient, All-In, Living and Loving like Jesus Believers! Oh that is us! Pronounce that out loud over you and us today and pray it expectantly with thanksgiving as you offer yourself to God as a living sacrifice, receive His best and go love like Jesus! What joy and satisfaction you can know as you live your life well in Christ! I'm going to let you spend some more time with our Daddy this morning as you engage with Him through our devotionals below. He was really speaking to me this morning! Thanks Lord! What's He saying to you and what will you do about it? Who is helping you on that journey and who are you bringing along?

I just want to let you know that Tue afternoon we celebrated the Bread/Clothing/Pantry volunteers with a nice luncheon and last evening we celebrated a great meal with all our other church volunteers. What joy and fellowship both days. Thank God for these faithful servants and for Him using and growing us. Pray for God to continue to speak to and lead us to His best and more of Jesus in 24. I am so honored to be called to this church full of love, prayer warriors and faithful, love-filled servants! What joy!

Be still, listen, receive, journal and share with some others what you are hearing as you turn off the noise and tune into God now. he loves you and is speaking right to your heart! Shalom!

I end with a great devotional and prayer form Harvest prayer that wraps this all up so well. God loves you and has great plans for you today...choose joy, trust and follow well to His best! Shalom!

Charles Stanley:

ODB:

UR: Something New

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

My spouse and I have two amazing children. As they grew older and more independent, I was thrilled by my increasing freedom. But when I realized they no longer needed my assistance as much, I felt a little depressed. I worried my life would continue without anything new. Then the Lord encouraged me to volunteer in my community. Since then, I have volunteered as a Bible study leader, tutor, mentor, and served in other roles. I’ve learned a lot, met many people, and experienced many new things.

Some stages of life can cause us to fall into monotonous cycles. The lack of variety in our lives might cause us to lose hope and become depressed. Yet we must always remember God has more for us. God knows us far better than we even know ourselves. When we feel stuck in our routine, we can ask our loving Father to show us something new. It might be a fresh way of thinking, a new way to live, or another unexpected change for the better. Every day is a gift the Lord has made for us to rejoice in. God has new mercies for us today, tomorrow, and far into the future.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Almighty God, forgive us for letting fear hold us back. Help us to accept the new experiences you offer us with joy and courage. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.TWFYT:

Harvest Prayer

Good Morning Focused Friends of God! Try it! You'll like it! Turn off the noise and tune in to what your Friend has to share with you today! I worshiped God this morning by honoring His healthy rhythm of working from rest. I slept in until 7 this morning after a rough night. I have been awakening between 2-3 the last few weeks. God knows I have a crazy busy and long day today and needed some rest. I didn't get to spend as much time with Him as usual but it was quality time and I know He will be my Lord today and lead me to where I need to be, what to say and what to do. God is good at that! So, I won't be babbling on here sharing all i heard today even though in my brief hour of quiet time I heard plenty. Thanks Lord! I will let you discover for yourself the joy if sitting and listening and understanding.

Here is the Charles Stanley devo today as he verifies what I've been reminding you for a long time now--turn off the noise and tune in to God! ODB and UR follow. Have a blessed day! Come have some donuts with us this morning! And worship God well as you are by following His lead. Let every heart prepare Him room! May we learn to live sacrificially and love lavishly like Jesus and receive our daily marching porders from our Master! Amen! God loves you and has great plans for you today! What's He saying to you? What will you do about it!

I have seen God at work in and through many of you the past few days as you listen, receive, follow and allow God to use you! How awesome it is to be part of this Body of Christ! Keep living, loving and worshiping well! Shalom!

UR: Prepare Him Room

To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

In October 1975 I had a near-fatal car accident and suffered a dislocated hip, a wounded knee, broken ribs, and facial lacerations. After multiple surgeries and two weeks in the hospital, I was released to recuperate.

When Advent arrived, m

emories of past Christmases engulfed me: gift-giving, letter-writing, baking, candy-making, pageants, parties, cantatas, caroling, and special worship services. I lay in bed with a tear-stained face and cried out, “Dear God, how will I ever get ready for Christmas?” Then familiar words sprang into my mind, “Let every heart prepare him room.”* I realized that the only preparation I truly needed was to prepare my heart to receive Christ anew.

And what blessings I received! My children were close by and helpful. I embraced the help of my sisters in Christ who worked around my home. I discovered ways to minister while I recuperated at home. When I was able to get around on crutches, I attended three events that made my Christmas season feel complete. Let us truly hear and respond to the call to prepare room for Christ in our hearts.

*Isaac Watts, “Joy to the World,” 1719.

TODAY'S PRAYER

All thanks and praise to you, Holy One, for the precious gift of Jesus Christ. Open our hearts to accept Christ anew and serve him joyfully. Amen.ODB

(Sarah update below and Nov financial statement)

Good Morning Bold and Courageous Followers of Jesus! AMEN! Our devotionals tie to this today talking about the faith of Abraham and Joshua, both called to follow God in faith into the unknown. Walking by faith and not by sight seems to be a theme this week! Step by step our mustard seed size faith keeps growing as we follow Jesus step by step. We have a promised land we are heading toward and we are building treasure in heaven as we trust, obey and follow well. PTL! Be bold and courageous my friends!

We finish up our reading of the Gospel of John this week (20 and 21). Where are you seeing faith discussed and grown in these readings? How about Doubting Thomas? Is that you sometimes? How about Peter being restored. Imagine what that did for His faith journey! We see that reflected in Acts as he became a bold and courageous apostle on mission with God. Isn't that our life story? We were one way and now another and growing in faith and being used by God, just as we are. Then growing into the greater things He has for us. PTL! That is our mission in life and God is using you and us! This week we have the opportunity to bless and thank our servants. Today Bread, clothing and pantry workers and tomorrow all our other volunteers and servants. Thank God for all the workers and how He is using them to touch, bless and draw some of our neighbors. Pray for His continued provision and for our growing faith to seek, trust and follow Him well into the unknown like Abraham and Joshua. He does have great plans for us and good fruit is budding! PTL! (I am told we have had 8 different people from the Bread Ministry try us out. Several want to join. PTL! Who are you inviting to join us and bringing along? Pray for us to find some new connection points in '24 where we can serve neighbors and connect them to God. Thank Him for what He is already doing and what He plans to do as we follow in faith!)

See our devos below. Sit at God's feet for a spell. Listen, receive, reload, and go live and love like Jesus today! He does have something special for you and for someone you will encounter! Share that Good News as you live it! And ask God to unite you with a couple of close friends to process and grow with. As we will be seeking God for More in '24, part of getting to that "more" will require us processing, praying, and helping each other in small groups or huddles. Ask God to raise them up and to send you to some to join with.

Today at 10-11 on Zoom is our last huddle until Jan. All are welcome. This huddle has actually become a church plant of sorts as we have attendees from FL, Myerstown and our area that are unable to attend but have become a big part of our church. Pray for how God may want to grow this new church in the new year. Thanks! Groups like this may become a growing ministry for us. 

God is on the move! He's calling you to trust and step out in faith to follow Him to unknown blessings and opportunities today and always. Seek, listen, receive, trust and obey--for there really is no other way! have a blessed day of being a blessing! And may you be filled with the joy of the Lord each step of faith along the way! Shalom!

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Nov finances: As you can see we are running at above a $25,000. deficit for the year. Please consider your year end giving to bolster our general fund. All our other funds are good right now and we will let you know if there is a need. Yes we walk by faith and God will keep providing as we trust, obey and follow Him in faith. Maybe God is calling you to tithe? Even if not, He loves a joyful giver as we give back from what we've been blessed with! All we have is a gift from God!

St Matthew’s Financial Update

The figures for the “General Fund” include all revenue and all expenses for the month.  This includes all revenue from offerings, rent, and other income.  The expenses reported above are actual expenses for the month.  The totals reported for Missions and the Rebuilding Fund are also included in the “General Fund” figures.

Sarah Prayer Update:

Good evening, church family,

Here we are on the eve of the first day of the week. Hope your  Monday has been going well.

Just a few reminders of those that need our prayer support and encouragement:

Friend of Lisa Wenner's - Andy's husband, Jack is in his 70's and is suffering from dizziness, and a nasty sinus infection.  Prayers for healing.

Extended family member of Barb Schware's - Jackie is going through some marital problems - divorce 

She has an 8 yr old daughter and things have the potential to become messy. Prayers for Jackie, her daughter and family that is there to support her.

Ron Boyer - 41 year old - having testing done at Hershey Medical Center, testing currently for a heart transplant. Pray for a donor and his medical team.

Harry Waterman will be having a catherization procedure on Tuesday. Prays that it goes well and in the very near future he will have a valve replacement.  Praying for God's peace and comfort to surround him.

Caleb, His mom, Dani and grandmother Kathy Canfield, have all been dealing with a horrible cold since

Thanksgiving. Please pray for baby Caleb to be able to fight off this cold and for Dani and Kathy to feel themselves soon so are able to keep up with helping Caleb......He is our miracle baby.  

UPDATE as of TODAY: Caleb was to the doctor today and his lungs sound good, but his ear is beginning to start with an infection. He is on an antibiotic. Dani is also on medication to help with healing.  Kathy is asking for prayer to get this sickness out of their home!  

Ruth - the friend of Josie's that we were praying for housing for recently passed away. She had strong faith in

God so she has finally moved into her forever home!

Praises that were shared....let's continue to praise God for what He is doing:

Darlene Geiger has been ill recently and she is praising our Awesome God for healing and recovery.

Harry Waterman is praising the Lord for healing on his shoulder. It's feeling better and the pain has

diminished.

Sally Williams is thanking God for her mom and the energy she has. She is 103 years old and went out to eat

with the 'gang' where she lives.

Pastor Don and Karen's daughter, Lauren, has been able to find housing that is closer to her place of employment. She will be transitioning in January.  Please keep Lauren's parents in your prayers as they make this transition with her.

Praising God for providing a vehicle for Pastor Don

Yay God - our church family is able to support the ministry of Everlasting Life. And for this Christmas holiday, we have collected $400 to send to them to help with the Christmas dinner. Please pray for the take out dinner in your prayers: the volunteers, those that will be coming to receive a meal. They expect to pass our over 400 cooked meals.

Outreach opportunities:

The Kindness Project - we are continuing to collect items for the project. The Kindness Project helps Foster families settle in children that may come to their homes without any supplies/clothing.

  Items that have been suggested to collect are:   Twin bed sheet sets, New games for kids, Hygiene items, Gift cards for local stores.  

Thank you to all of you who have already brought items in for this project and have placed them on the back table.

Food Pantry - over the past several weeks we have been able to assist several families who were in need of food.  So our pantry supplies is growing thin. If you are able to assist with helping with this need, and can purchase a few cans of non-perishable food items to help with the pantry, please place them in the tote at the back of the sanctuary.  

Wednesday, December 5th - in our Fellowship Hall, 10:00 - 12:00pm - it's time for Coffee, Donuts, and conversation!   Why not plan to join.....it's a great opportunity to chat with some that just want to chat with

someone.  This time is a great time for us to share Jesus Love to those He brings into the Fellowship Hall.

I believe I have covered everything....

Let me just remind you that as we are in the Advent season, we, as His children are waiting with anticipation of Christ's return at the Second coming. As we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, we are honoring the sacrifice He made for us. As we gather around the manger, that is only part of our Advent season, We also need to 

journey to the foot of the cross.  May we all be intentional this year to take time during Advent to prepare our hearts. Remember that God laid aside His glory to become human because of His great love for you, and He WILL return one day to restore glory to His people.

Have a great rest of your week......keep an eye out for opportunities to share Jesus with others.

 Blessings,

    Sarah

UR: Stepping Out In Faith

Abram trusted the Lord, and the Lord recognized Abram’s high moral character. - Genesis 15:6 (CEB)

Abram was a man in a seemingly impossible situation. He had been commissioned by God to leave his father’s house and journey to an unknown destination. The commission came with a promise: God would bless him and his descendants immensely.

As wonderful as this promise was, it must have seemed just as impossible as the commission. Abram was advanced in years and his wife was barren. But despite the odds, Abram decided to believe the Lord. Abram took a leap of faith, trusting the word of an unseen God who made a never-ending covenant with him.

This is the kind of faith that pleases God. Faith requires that we do what God calls us to do, trusting that God knows our abilities better than we do. And God will back us with power and resources we otherwise wouldn’t have so that we can step out in faith to obey God’s call.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Faithful God, thank you for calling us to follow and serve you. Help us to rely on you as we step out in faith. Amen.ODB:

Charles Stanley:

TWFYT:

Good Morning Receivers of Love, Wisdom, Healing, Hope, and Faith! Love came down at Christmas is an old carol yet so true. For God so loved not only the world, but you! He made a way that all who will come to Him can actually choose. Many reject. We chose Love. God gave us the faith to believe and receive His saving grace through coming to faith in Jesus and His finished work on the cross. Yesterday, we lit the "FAITH" Advent candle and I tried to discuss faith. I am never really sure what all I say and how far along the Holy Spirit allows me to move through the message when I wing it. What did you hear yesterday?

Faith is a free gift from God that humans have the opportunity to open. PTL! We chose to open it! As we open that gift and receive His love, forgiveness, healing, hope and help we are given another gift, the Holy Spirit, who brings more gifts, spiritual ones, and the gift of His help to lead us towards becoming more like Jesus and to grow into our fuller potential as we work on our faith journey. Our faith journey can be a wild ride, like a roller coaster of many ups, downs twists and turns, but of we stay on track, God will lead us to His best and our final destination. PTL! Check out our devos below and spend some time at Jesus' feet preparing for the day and weeks ahead. Listen, receive and then process with some others. What's God saying to you? What will you do about it? Who is praying for you and helping you to process and move forward towards that goal? Who are you inviting to join your journey or to experience faith for themselves?

Many of us chose words to work on this year as part of the Become Me in '23 Challenge. I've been praying for you all year and processing with you how that has been going. I've seen some great growth and strides towards growing in that chosen spiritual weakness. Faith was a word several chose and really all our words flow from and towards faith in Jesus and knowing He wants to help us become more like Him. Keep at it! As we move towards the New Year I am challenging you to seek God for the next word to work on or if you should keep working on the word you chose. Our focus next year is Become More in '24. It's about less of self and more of Jesus in our lives--dying to self and taking up cross to follow Jesus more better.It's about continuing to work on our faith journey's to become more like Jesus and doing more of the things He planned for us before we were created.

I'm attaching below the handout from yesterday that many of you left behind. We never got to the last part and I want to challenge you to process that for the rest of Dec. and talk to God about what He wants to work on with you next for your growth. Process with some others and to grow into the greater things He has for you. We do walk by faith and not by sight. Things are not always as they appear in the physical realm. We are believing that God is bringing revival and that comes to life as we allow Him to grow our faith and lead us to His purposes for us for such a time as this. We may be traveling through some dark valleys and trials right now, BUT GOD! He's allowed them and will walk with us through them to better things (ODB). We need to make time to be still in this busy time of year and prepare and listen and receive to know His peace and follow Him well (UR). We never retire from serving the Lord as we prepare for eternal life. We need to keep learning, growing and adapting to who we are and where we are today (TWFYT). God has placed us here for a reason and He has great plans for you today--everyday!

I think Charles Stanley's devo for today really sums up what God has been leading me to, as I try to lead you to what He is revealing as His desire for us individually and then as His body. He came to offer us a personal relationship that will help us to grow into our fullest potential, impact His Kingdom here and now and prepare us for what's next and what is eternal. He loves us so much! He is standing with open arms of love and saying come, weary one, and find rest. Put on my yoke and walk with Me to My best. Come! I am your Friend, Deliverer, Defender, Lord and Savior. Come! Let Me grow your faith as you see how much I love you and experience the great plans I have for you along the way. You are mine. I call you by name. I am with you always. I am working all things together for the good of those who believe. And if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move any mountain you are facing or climbing together. Let me grow you and your faith! I love you! Come! And I say AMEN! May we all have the faith or grow into it, of Mary the mother of Jesus who said, "Have you way with me Lord. I trust you! Come!"

Who is that man Jesus? How is He impacting your life? Who is being drawn to Him by your love and joy?Process these questions and the ones at the end of the handout below. I'm praying for you and God is cheering you on! Come and see and experience all He has for you!

FAITH Handout for Sun 12-3-23

Hebrews 11:1, Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

Matthew 24:45, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.”

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” 

Become Me in ’23 Challenge words people are working on:

Faith, Hope, Love, understanding, restoration, relationships, boldness, change, peace, time, energy, useful, courage, rest, valued, patience, pause, agape, stewardship, healthy rhythms, disciple maker

·       Faith is the basis for all these words as we work on growing our faith and working on journeying to becoming more like Jesus. These words are also used to help us do our custom made tasks better.

·       This is a word God may want me to work on for 2024________________________________

Becoming More in ’24…more of You and less of me, Lord!

Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were me. I am who I am because I am allowing I AM [God] to be who He is in and through me.

In Luke 8:28 Jesus asked the disciples, “Where is your faith?” [O you of little faith] The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”

Matt 17:19-20, 19 Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”

20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

Paul reminds us in 2 Cor 5:17, for we walk by faith, not by sight.

·       God said it. I believe it. That settles that!

o   Do you have faith the size of a mustard seed?

o   How is your faith showing up in your actions?

FAITH…how would you explain your faith to someone?

·       Faith starts with the most important question anyone can ask…who is that man Jesus?

o   And faith shows up in how He affects our lives!

Our faith is a gift from God, given to those who He knows will respond to His call to life in Christ

What does your life reflect that you are putting your faith in?

·       Who is that man? How is He impacting your life?

Since we walk by faith and not by sight, what might be limiting your faith walk?

What things that seem impossible are you praying in faith to happen? 

What BIG GOD things would you like to see happen in your life or in and through our church?

ODB:

UR: Making Time for God

[Jesus] answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things.” - Luke 10:41 (NRSVUE)

I’ve been doing early morning devotions using The Upper Room for over 35 years. I am now retired, but I remember that when I was working there were mornings when my mind was preoccupied with work and family responsibilities. Sometimes I felt I had so much to do that I shortened my devotion time so I could move on to that day’s activities. In hindsight, I can see that I was putting other priorities ahead of spending time with the Lord.

We see several examples of this in the Bible. One story is in Luke 9:57-62, where two men said they would follow Jesus, but only after they had attended to other tasks. Another example is from today’s Bible reading. When Jesus arrived to visit Martha and Mary, Martha was too distracted and busy to spend time with the Lord. When she complained about Mary sitting and listening to Jesus, he gently rebuked her. Martha let little things get in the way of big things. I can relate because I have done the same.

As I now reflect back, I can see that the days when I was “too busy” were exactly the days I should have been spending more time in prayer, not less. Our goal is not to fit Jesus into a busy schedule; it’s to make him the focus of our life.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we know that sometimes we get too caught up in the daily activities of life. Help us always to focus on you. Amen.TWFYT:

Charles Stanley:

Good Morning Baptized by the Spirit, Anointed, Worshiping Servants of the Lord, Jesus! Ok! There's our blog for today! See at church or on zoom soon! 

That is an apt description of Christians. It's part of our true identity in Christ. We were custom created by God for His purposes. We were baptized by His Spirit when we were born again. We are anointed to complete our purposes. As we live and love like Jesus and fulfill our purposes we are worshiping. Worship is more than sitting in a pew or behind a computer screen and attending a worship service. Worship flows from our gratitude and love for God as we fulfill our purposes and celebrate all God has, is and will do. Without Jesus as your Lord and Savior and the seal of the Holy Spirit in you, you really can't worship, trust, and obey God or fulfill your created purposes well. BUT GOD! He calls us His masterpieces and made a way for sinful us to come to Him for forgiveness, eternal life, and His gifts and help to achieve all we were created to do and become all we were created to be. Now that should lead to some true worship!

As we approach the celebration of God putting on flesh and coming to live among us with the purpose of making that way to Him, we may encounter some that ask why we celebrate or what Christmas is really all about. Would you be able to answer like Linus to Charlie Brown? Would you be able to explain who that man Jesus is to you and how He has impacted your life?  We all do have stories to share of how we were one way, met Jesus, and how He led us to be another way. Come and see! Even in our journey through life in Christ and as we work on reaching our fullest created potential, maybe even daily, we can share how we were one way but by the grace of God and love of Jesus, He has transformed and refined us to a better way. That's the real story of Christmas and our lives as Christ's ones. God incarnate (God in the flesh) came to us, changed history, destiny, and us, and opened the door for all who will come. What love!

As we incarnate Jesus (bring Jesus to life) to the world around us, may many see Him and be drawn to Him and changed to new ways too. Pray into that and ask God to show you someone to invite along Christmas Eve and on the journey to Christlikeness with you. Christmas is coming, but the door of hope has been opened and as we walk in faith with Jesus may we bring His light, love and hope alive with great joy this year and beyond. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father, except through me." Who do you know that needs to understand how that works and how Jesus has changed and impacted your life? Check out Our Daily Bread below talking about Surrendering to Jesus. That's what it really is all about Charlie Brown!

Check out our other devos as well speaking into ministering to those grieving this holiday season and how to have wisdom to minister to all who are struggling with love and how to keep seeking God for wisdom, learning, understanding and growing. We were one way, but now another. And if we keep at this faith journey we will be another way soon as we follow Jesus to His best into eternity. May God grant you the faith, courage and wisdom to follow Jesus well, reach your fuller potential and disciple some others! He has some very good plans for you and is steering you to some who need some Good News today! Rejoice! Celebrate! And worship in Spirit and Truth! Amen!

ODB:

UR: (Note: today is technically the first Sunday in Advent, but we started a week early and are lighting the second candle today--the faith candle)

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. - Isaiah 53:4 (KJV)

In July 2014, my stepson Ryan was killed in an accident. For three days he was a missing person before we found him and learned what had happened to him. Grief overshadowed my joy that Christmas.

One December day I was home alone. It was late afternoon and had gotten dark outside as I sat on the couch. Holiday music played in the background, but I paid it no attention until “O Holy Night” began. The words “and the soul felt its worth” broke through my thoughts and reconnected me with hope.

Isaiah 53:4 says, “Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” The word used for griefs in that verse means sickness, disease, anxiety, affliction. It refers to suffering. Reading that verse as we began the journey to Advent after Ryan’s death reminded me that Jesus came not just to take away the sins of the world but also to walk with us through our darkest times because he loves us.

Seven years later “O Holy Night” is one of the first carols I listen to as I prepare for Christmas because it reminds me to turn my pain and my empty seat at the table over to Christ. It also serves as a reminder of all Jesus has carried me through.

Each of us has faced loss, and holidays can magnify the missing faces at the table. I understand. More important, Jesus understands.

TWFYT:

Good Morning Patiently Waiting Brothers and Sisters in Christ! Are you longing for more of Jesus or for God to intervene in some situation you are facing? Are you crying out for God to come and bring a prodigal to Jesus, heal something, bring His favor, change you or something? Are you trusting and choosing joy while you wait? BUT GOD! He is not slow, hasn't forgotten you or forsaken you--even in times of testing and stretching and pruning. PTL! He is working all things together and knows how many hairs you need on your head to accomplish His custom made plans for you. Think about that and check out the Charles Stanley Devo below speaking into how to wait on the Lord successfully. I think about all the Jewish people waiting for God to speak again and to send the Promised One in those long, dark, silent years before Jesus came. Think about Jesus starting His ministry and very few realizing God had already put on flesh and come down as a baby. God is at work, even when we don't see it, know it, or sense it. He is with us always and He is always at work. PTL! Look for Him and keep steadily plodding forward with His Spirit as your guide. Have faith like Mary the mother of Jesus who basically said, Lord, Whatever! Here I am! Have at it!

Check out Our Daily Bread about building up Goodwill. Peace on earth and goodwill to people...what's that mean? Goodwill is actually valuable if you own a business. The price of my business was affected by the goodwill I had built up before I sold it. Does our church have goodwill? Absolutely! But we are not selling it. We are continuing to invest in our goodwill as we bless many as we live sacrificially and love lavishly. We are pouring out ourselves and stewarding all God's blessings to build His Kingdom and goodwill. Can you see and sense the goodwill asset of St. Matts? I really like the story of the CEO in ODB. What truth we glean as we apply that to out church! Many people and churches have the tendency to circle the wagons and hold tight to resources instead of investing and sowing lavishly when times are hard. It's human nature and helps us have a little sense of security. But is it really wise and God's way of thinking? His Word reminds us to sow lavishly and reminds us that we reap what we sow. If we sow nothing, we reap nothing. God's ways are surely not our ways of thinking!

How people view us is our goodwill. People are seeing us as caring, compassionate servants of God. Thank you! And thank God as He blesses us, guides and prospers our sowing. Let us keep at it no matter what we face! Here's the reality, we can hoard our resources and hang on for 7-10 years before we run out of money or we can pour ourselves out for God's glory and invest in His Kingdom as we sow lavishly. There are two possible outcomes of this: We close our doors in 7-10 years with people knowing we ran our race well and loved lavishly like God; or, We start reaping and growing and producing many new disciples of Jesus and our legacy carries on for decades. (FYI: that has begun to blossom already! PTL!) Along the way, we need to constantly evaluate and adjust as God reveals the next steps, but either way we bring Him glory. There is one more options: circle the wagons and hoard our resources and hang on until "ICHABOD"--the Spirit has left us and we close our doors. It's kinda a Scrooge type of living. If you want to call that living.  Honestly, that could easily happen in five years or less if we aren't careful to keep trusting God, sowing lavishly in love and living sacrificially live Jesus. I see us more as the first two options kind of people--pouring ourselves out for God's glory. No matter what, trusting Him and doing what we can with what we got to keep building His Kingdom. As long as you will have me as your shepherd, we will continue to work on pouring ourselves out, living sacrificially and loving lavishly like Jesus. He has great plans for us and is working all things together for good as we humbly trust and follow Him. Peace to you all and His goodwill for all people who He sends our way! We are moving forward to become the dynamic movement of God that will bless many, attract them to God, meet needs and produce good and lasting fruit as we sow lavishly and love like Jesus. I can't wait to see what God will do next and where he will lead us next in our journey forward! PTL! And keep praying into it!

One last thought, we are family. God has brought us together for His custom made purposes for each of us and us as His body. We all have roles. Like any marriage, God seems to bring some opposites together and they flourish by learning how to balance life and goals. The church is full of all different sorts. Our priority is to meld together as one. That takes a lot of grace, love and even some hard work. We all have ways we think are best and even assume they are God's best. We need to constantly work at deciphering the times and God's plans for us and how He wants us to continue to invest and sow in ways that keep us unified and focused on following God together. He knew what He was doing when He brought us together. He knows best how we can all feel comfortable while being stretched as we follow Him. It take unity of the body and we need to keep working at that. Read through those Ephesian passages in ODB and ponder with God how to die to self, take up cross and follow Jesus for His benefit and for His Kingdom plans for us. We will all be stretched and have to move out of our comfort zones but we will be in it together and glorifying God! And I believe continue to be a healthy growing body of Christ that produces great fruit and many disciples for decades to come. PTL!

What's He saying to you right now? What measurable thing will you do about it? Who will you process with? Maybe we will talk about that tomorrow as we light the "Faith" candle and discuss having faith like jesus. he has faith in us! Do we have faith to follow Him?

Charles Stanley:

ODB:

Thank God I'm Forgiven! And Thank God It's Friday! What are you thanking God about? (I'm thanking Him for all of you, your prayers, and our fellowship and friendship!)

Don't forget those gifts for The Kindness Project and non-perishables for our pantry.

We are collecting for Ever Lasting Life Ministries Sunday

Please sign up for our Christmas Eve Brunch and invite someone to join you (bulletin board in rear of sanctuary)

Pray for our Support Team meeting Thurs. as we review and hopefully approve the budget for next year. Pray for wisdom to follow God's vision for us while being the best stewards. Thank God for all his servants at St Matts!

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Good Morning Empowered Disciple Makers--Servants of the Lord! Pronounce that out loud over you and our church. (The words we say and the things we think do matter!) Say this, "I am/ we are empowered disciple maker(s) serving the Lord and others with love and wisdom! God has created us, gifted us, empowered us and sent us to make disciples. Send me! Thank You!" That comes alive as we serve others through our God-given gifts and abilities empowered by the Holy Spirit and led by Jesus. He is bringing alive His great and greater plans as we respond to His invite to join Him on mission with very thankful and surrendered hearts. PTL for all our empowered, willing and responding servants of the Lord! Check out Our Daily Bread and Upper Room devos below as they tie to this and your part.

You need to know and celebrate that God is responding to our prayers and using us to grow His Kingdom and bless many. Keep praying and serving expectantly with thanksgiving! God is on the move!

Let's end with some prayer starters for today: "Praise God who is a refuge for the poor and needy (is. 25:4). Thank Him for caring about those in desperate circumstances. [Lift those you know who are desperate to Him by name]. Confess times when you have not shown compassion to the needy. Commit yourself to serving others in new and stretching ways. Ask God to provide those opportunities for you and for willing hands and feet. Thank God for being a shelter from the storm for your family (25:4). Pray that teens and young adults will seek that shelter rather than taking refuge in the world. Ask God to anoint the fellowship in your congregation with the Holy Spirit. Pray that any friction between members will be addressed and healed. Pray that new comers will find love and refuge in your congregation. Intercede for ministries which bring Christ's compassion to the poor and needy. Pray that their needs will be met as they bring hope to thousands. [Lift our bread and clothing ministries and the Kindness Project before God for provision, great stewardship, wisdom and vision from God]. Pray that one unsaved person you know will see and desire shelter which Jesus offers. Ask that God will use you to guide that person into eternal safety." Amen

ODB:

UR: Courage to Act

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. - 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

My mother adjusted to her blindness so well that her sight-loss support group asked her to visit new members who needed help. Eventually, we wrote a pamphlet with information for those with low vision. The trouble was that no one wanted to publish it. An editor suggested that I write a blog instead because the information changes so fast.

No. I can’t do that, I thought. Forget it. How could those with low vision even find a blog? I repeated those negative words and believed them for two years. I did not have the courage to step out of my comfort zone.

When I read the words in 1 Peter, I wondered, Is this the way the devil works? Is the devil blocking me from serving God and helping those with vision problems?

Negative thoughts can determine our actions or, in my case, inaction. Instead of dwelling on negative thoughts, we can repeat God’s words of affirmation and love: “Peace be still.” “I am with you.” “I will help you.” “Come unto me.”

Six years and 64 blogs later, I’m glad I listened to these positive words. God’s promises can strengthen our faith and give us courage to act.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Guiding Father, help us to be attentive to your voice. Give us courage to act when we hear your call. Amen.

Good Morning Partakers and Sharers of the Bread of Life--Bread from Heaven! In John, Jesus proclaimed, "I am the Bread of Heaven" and went on to explain that He brings life and sustains it. He talked about ingesting Him, feeding on Him and allowing Him to satisfy our heavenly hunger and fill us to overflowing to share this "mana" with other hungry seekers. He has been faithful to use us and our ministries to do so as we feast on His Word and bring it alive to others as we share bread and clothing! PTL!

Let us celebrate and worship for all God is doing in, through and around St. Matts' bread and clothing ministries and for those who serve our community and bless God and many as harvest workers through meeting many needs. Thank God for His provision of bread, cloths, food, funds, care givers and harvest workers. Thank God for using us and making His love, care, and help known to many in need around us! Thank God for drawing some to Him and our fellowship thru these ministries of His love and care! Thank God for the surplus of bread weekly that is used to bless the feeding ministry of another church in Macungie. (it's kinda like the 12 baskets of bread and fish left over after the feeding of the 5000 weekly as God supplies more than enough!) He is El Shaddai--our powerful, all-sufficient God! He is lovingly caring for the least of these through us and blessing us back as we bless. It is really cool to experience all the ways God uses this simple ministry as we do what we can with what He provides and as we offer ourselves to be used! Thank You Yahweh Jireh--our Sufficient Provider, El Shaddai!

Next Wed. Dec. 6th from 10-12 is our next Bread Ministry Donuts and Conversation Day. Please consider joining us! Pray ahead for what God wants to do, to come to life next week. Pray ahead for our Brunch Christmas Eve and for God to draw and connect many of these to Him through our loving service and fellowship! Pray expectantly for Him to grow this ministry and feed the growing harvest with Bread from Heaven!

Yvonne and Chris are joining our church and have come to us through a brief donut day encounter last month as they were searching for a church that loved well. We prayed for Chris a few Sundays ago for stomach surgery he was having. He made it through that ok but is having complications now with that and his feet and may need some toe removal. Yvonne came for some bread yesterday but really for some prayer and ministry. God used us to comfort, pray and bring some mana into her need. Please pray for a healing miracle for Christ, for God to meet their many financial needs (they have custody of their teen grand daughter) and for shalom to over come them. Chris has become weary of this health journey and wants to give up. Pray for spiritual, emotional. mental and physical healing.

Isabel joined us Sunday at brunch. We have been praying for her for what sounds like Gall stones and for lack of help and concern from docs. She has severe pain for over a month as she awaits a doc visit and answers. She has connected to a few of us as we continue to love on her and pray with her and comfort her. Thank God for using us! Pray for a quick resolution, favor for timely doc care, and that she would experience the overwhelming love of God. She sometimes show up on bread day, not for bread, but for loving mana an ministry.

These are but two of the many stories that happen weekly as we offer bread and Bread from Heaven to our neighbors in need. Keep praying for this ministry and for God to become very real to not yet saved neighbors as they see God at work through us and see and experience true Love, hope and help come to life. I am just overwhelmed weekly as the workers and I process and experience all God is doing. PTL! Come sit and experience it yourself next Wed. as we share some Bread and eat some donuts.

Check out our devotionals below as they tie to this. God threaded them together for a reason. Sit at His feet, process with an accountability or "faith friend" and ask God to continue to prosper His work through us and raise up some small groups and new ministries of love. He is at work! Praise Him, continue to pray and commit to joining Him as you do your part. Again remember that prayer is a vital part of all we do. Thank you to our prayer warriors! Keep at it! God is answering in mighty ways! PTL! Someone said, "The Church's greatest deficiency today is in power--not in programs, strategies, materials, or ideas. And power for ministry can be released only through prayer." How true. We know the all powerful one and are experiencing His power being released through your partnering with Him and our ministries in prayer, giving and serving! Thank you! Ask God how we might help some of our own who are going through some very hard and troubling times as well. Christmas may be very hard and dismal this year. Ask God to connect you to one of these and show you how to come along side and bless them. And thank God and ask Him what plans He has for you for such a time as this with a heart ready to follow. 

It is truly an honor to experience your hearts for God and His plans and willingness to do your part as we grow into His dynamic movement together. We may be small, but we are being used by the All-Powerful, All-Sufficient, Care Giver in mighty ways! Amen! Come and see! Great fruit and greater things are on their way. 

Thank you all! I love serving together and am so thankful that God has called us together for such a time as this to bring Good News, healing, hope, help and His love alive together. There is much more going on in the spiritual realm than meets the eyes as we continue to walk by faith and not by sight! PTL! His great plans for us are coming alive through our faithfulness to who and Whose we are and allowing Him to use us for our custom made purposes! Rejoice! Worship! Keep at it! Amen.

Charles Stanley

ODB:

UR: God's Great Care

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you — you of little faith! - Luke 12:28 (NIV)

About 10 years ago, there was a huge playground just beyond the walls of my house. The chattering of adults and the giggling of children always gave life to it. Now it is abandoned, but to me it is more beautiful than ever. Grasses have taken over the whole playground, painting it green. Giant trees continue to grow, and their yellow, pink, and red flowers glow against the blue sky and white clouds. Occasionally a gardener cuts and burns the grasses, allowing new grasses to sprout up even greener, moving with the morning breeze and sparkling in the sunlight that shines among the leaves of the trees. What a perfect picture of God’s creation!

Just as that playground was abandoned, we may at times feel forgotten by our friends, our family, or people around us. But we need not become discouraged. People abandoned the playground, but God redecorated it, making it more beautiful and peaceful. When we encounter situations that challenge us, we need not be anxious. The grasses are cut and burned, but they are always reborn with perfect beauty. If God wonderfully cares even for these small things, God will surely care for us. We can rest assured that God will care for us because we are God’s beloved children.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Lord, thank you for never abandoning us. Encourage us with your love. When we are overwhelmed by life’s problems, remind us of your care. Amen.TWFYT: