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Monday, December 25 2023
Joe Toy, Wagner's and Paul's newsletters below.
Good Morning Lighthouses! Jesus is the Light of the World and He lives in us wanting to light up the world around us, drive back the darkness and lead others to safe shores in Christ. AMEN! Today at our worship/brunch gathering we will have the opportunity to be His light. Pray for help, courage and wisdom as we welcome many guests that will be joining us. It's not too late to bring someone along!
Today we will be discussing who that baby in the manger is and how He has affected our lives as we worship, sing, praise, fellowship, commune, feast and shine bright as we love like Jesus! Pray for all hinderances and strongholds to be torn down for those God is sending and calling. Pray for me to bring His Word in power and for Mike as He leads an altar call and Sarah as she brings prayer to life and for all of us to love well. Pray for the Holy Spirit to come fill us, our house of worship and overflow to all who will come. God has great plans for you and for us. He is already at work. And He is working all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. (That's you and us!) We all matter and have roles to play today and always in His Good News Delivery Co. Pray for all of us to shine bright today.
Many among our fellowship are sick right now. Pray for healing and a covering of health over us all and for those we are engaging with. Our policy is that if you are sick, stay home. You can join us on Zoom. Pray for those who our mourning or going through some hard times to know peace beyond understanding and be able to choose joy. Pray for those who are depressed to be drawn out by God's love and promises and our love. And rejoice with those who are rejoicing! Sometimes, just counting blessings and choosing joy even when we don't feel like it is the key to healing. Rejoice! For unto us is born a Savior--Christ our Lord, Price of Peace, Mighty God, Wonderful Counselor, God's Word in the Flesh who came to make a way for all who will come! Rejoice! Who is that baby in the manger to you and how has He changed your life? Someone needs to hear that today, this week and wherever you step.
I'm praying for you all to have the merriest of Christmases and most blessed 2024. God loves you beyond measure! You are His masterpiece, made new in Christ and have custom made purposes awaiting! Rejoice and may your life be an act of worship as you light up the world as you choose to live and love Jesus. I'm praying for you and God is cheering you on! See you soon!
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December 24 - A Prayer for Christmas Eve
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Before you begin, ask God to reveal to your heart the ways that the enemy has robbed you of the peace that is yours because of Christ. Confess these things to Him and ask Him to pour out on you His peace that passes all understanding. Ask Him to still the storms in your life and refocus your living.
I thank You Father, that Jesus Himself is my peace and that He has completely destroyed the barrier that separated me from You! How grateful I am that I have been reconciled to Him through His blood shed on the cross and now have peace with You.
Forgive me I pray, for the times that I do not cast my cares and anxieties onto You, but instead carry them myself and allow my heart to be weighed down and needlessly burdened. I ask that Your peace, which is beyond my ability to understand, guard my heart and my mind--cover me, because I am in Christ Jesus. I belong to You. Thank You Lord Jesus, for the peace that You give to me which is so very different than the fleeting attempts of the world to quiet my heart. Guard my heart by Your Holy Spirit, that I might not be afraid. Help me to learn to be still and know that You are God, to hear Your voice in the midst of the storms that I face saying “Peace, be still.” Keep me from fear and increase my faith. May my life be characterized by Your peace no matter what situation I might face, that You may be glorified in me and through me and receive the praise that is due Your name.
May I love Your Word that I might have great peace and not stumble.
May my mind be controlled by Your Holy Spirit and produce life and peace.
May Your strength and peace fill my life because I belong to You.
Lord Jesus, You are my Wonderful Counselor, You are Mighty God, the Everlasting Father incarnate and Prince of Peace! With You all things are possible. I invite You into the impossible situations of my life and ask that as I wait on You, You fill me with Your peace – for my hope is in You alone and I trust in Your great name.
(Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 1:20; Romans 5:1; 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:7; John 14:27; Psalm 46:10; Mark 4:35-41; Psalm 119:165; Romans 8:6; Psalm 29:11; Isaiah 53:6; Matthew 19:26)
--Advent devotion written by Tiece King, author of Pray the Word for Your Church. This resource is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount on the book.
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- Focus on Jn. 15:1-17 for the next few days.
- Praise your Father, who is the gardener of your soul.
- Thank Jesus for being the true vine which nourishes and gives life to the branches.
- Confess moments when you’ve tried to sever your relationship to Jesus in some way.
- Commit yourself to welcoming God’s pruning in your life despite the pain it might bring.
- Ask God to make you more fruitful as you live for him.
- Ask that your fruit-bearing will be attractive to unsaved people you know. Pray that they will “taste [of that fruit] and see that the LORD is good” (Ps. 34:8).
Prayer Pointer
“God rules the world through the prayers of his people.” —Anonymous
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Wagner's News:
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Greetings Friends,
Last weekend, we visited the town of Skaneateles (pronounced like “Skinny Atlas”) on the Finger Lakes in upstate New York and participated in the annual Dickens festival. We were with Tim and Sandy who will be covering our dorm for the next two terms at RVA. Thanks for remembering to pray for them as they head to Kenya early next week. Today, we arrived in Minneapolis after driving from PA. This weekend, our kids will be arriving with their spouses. It will be our first Christmas together with the whole family in four years. In 2019, we were a family of 5, as none of our kids were married. This year with everyone happily married, we are a family of 9 and all will be enjoying baby snuggles with a three-week-old nephew/grandson. We rejoice and give thanks recognizing that all good things come from the hand of our faithful Father.
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We are writing this quick note to wish everyone a “Happy Christmas”, the phrase used regularly at the Dickens festival. As we remember the birth of our Lord and Savior, and the hope He brings to each of us who trust in Him, we are very thankful to be able to celebrate this wonderful gift with family!
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| We also wanted to share our contact information for the next 8 months. Our mailing address is: PO Box 214, Millersville, PA 17551. Brian’s cell is 717-615-3795. Missy’s cell is 717-615-3835. We would love to hear from you while we are in the States and try to connect in person. Please reach out as we are currently planning our travels for the next few months. In the very immediate future, we will be near northern Indiana, southern Michigan, and northern Ohio next week on December 29 and 30. Let us know if you are in that area and perhaps, we can have lunch together. |
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Please continue to PRAY that the doctors will be able to discern the cause of the excess pressure in Brian’s heart. It seems like we will start the new year with a battery of tests, essentially every other day. We continue to be thankful that we have good medical care to help diagnosis the cause of the inflammation. PRAY with us for accurate test results, clarity on the cause, and good treatment options.
The car that Micah was able to purchase ended up having the engine light come on within the first 150 miles and he has found that quite a bit of work needs to be done. We are so impressed by how well he and Lynnsi are handling this unexpected development and added expense trusting that this is all part of God’s plan, even if they don’t understand why. PRAY that they will be able to sort everything out and end up with a good reliable car that will last them a long time.
Reach out and let us know if you would like us to visit or if you would like to come see us in beautiful Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. |
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Joe Toy news:
Larry Paul News: Paul Prayer Letter December 20232
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December 2023
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!
As we look back at the year 2023, we are thankful for how God has directed, protected, and provided for us. And we appreciate the prayers and support from all of you. Because of this, we know that God wants us here serving at Faith Academy to support Bible Translation.
Larry has been busy with his additional responsibilities due to his co-worker returning to the USA to help take care of his parents and in-laws. While monitoring the transportation and grounds departments, there's added work in maintenance and campus development. The new Elementary office and classrooms and the installation of the CCTV cameras around campus are being completed and should be finished in January. After the contractor completed the fencing project around an undeveloped lot in October, they started a new project in a different area of the campus to replace a barbed wire fence with a chain link fence up a steep hill for added security. Now that it's the end of the rainy season two projects will be started in January: Replacing the concrete deck around the swimming pool and roofing and gutter work on multiple campus buildings. Larry's also beginning the design to renovate office space since his departments do not need all of the space they are currently using and other departments can use the space next school year. There are larger priority projects currently seeking funding to build a new parking lot, build a handicap ramp near the High School office, and install a wheelchair lift to allow PWD students to access all of the Middle School classrooms. Other priority projects listed this year include renovating the existing ESD office to a new classroom, building a new High School wing, and building a new facilities building so their existing space can be converted to middle school classrooms.
Enol is enjoying her time volunteering a few days a week at Faith Academy's Elementary division. She's reconnecting with old friends and making new friends while helping the teachers with their classes. Enol's mother went to be with the Lord in September. She stayed in the village after the Bible dedication in June to be with her family and friends. Unfortunately, she became sick and was taken to the hospital in the city where she passed on. Enol was able to return to the village for her funeral and be with her family during their time of grief. This was important to her since she missed her father's funeral because we were in the USA when he died.
Richard and Brayden continue to do well in school in both academics and sports. Richard is doing well and keeping up with the work needed in his AP classes, both the online classes and the in-person classes. Brayden adjusted to the expected classwork and homework in his high school classes and earned good grades for the first semester. Larry traveled to Korea with Richard and the rest of the Faith Academy varsity volleyball team to compete in the ACSC (Asia Christian Schools Conference) tournament against other Christian schools in SE Aisa. They were not expected to do very well since they lost a lot of games against volleyball club teams in the Philippines, but they worked hard and came together as a team and won the tournament! Way to go Vanguards! Brayden and the Faith Academy junior varsity volleyball team worked hard and came in second in their season-ending tournament. Richard and Brayden are both currently on the Faith Academy varsity basketball team. The team has been playing well and is currently undefeated this season. Their season will resume after Christmas break when they'll have more league games and a tournament at Faith Academy in January before going to the ACSC basketball tournament in Indonesia in February.
Praises
- Richard and Brayden doing well at Faith Academy, both with schoolwork and athletics.
- Enol can volunteer at Faith Academy
- God's provision for our needs and our good health
Prayer Requests
- Larry to continue to handle the additional responsibilities at Faith Academy
- Enol's sister Zeny, complete recovery from stroke, and her financial needs
Thank you again for your continued prayers and support of our ministry at Faith Academy in the Philippines.
Larry, Enol, Richard, and Brayden |
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New chain link fence being installed on a steep hill!
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Richard and Brayden performing at the October concert.
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2023 ACSC Boys Volleyball champions!
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Our boys playing basketball!
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Richard and Brayden playing at the Christmas concert.
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Financial Partnership
Mail a check to:
Wycliffe
PO Box 628200
Orlando, FL 32862-8200
www.wycliffe.org
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Monday, December 25 2023
It's Christmas Eve Eve! Woo who! It's almost time to remember and celebrate THE Gift! The greatest Gift of all time is Jesus Christ--God in the flesh who came in love for us! PTL! Rejoice! "For unto us a Savior has been born! He is Christ our Lord!" Amen!
Find below Sarah's update for prayerful consideration
Good Morning (maybe good night as God got me up at 12;30 and it's now 2:30 am--I used to just be getting home from the bars now in my old nature. PTL for new life and ways!) Anyway, Good Morning Joy Bringers, Love Bringers, Hope Bringers, Watering, Fertilizing, Reaping, and Good News Bringers and Followers of THE Way! That is us! And that is our prayer as we prepare for God to use us tomorrow as we worship, fellowship, eat and commune together in celebration of the birthday of our Lord and Savior! King of kings. Lord of lords. Messiah! Immanuel--God is with us and put on flesh that we might be saved, forgiven and shown how to live for Him and like Him as we prepare for eternity with Him. Joy to the World! May we incarnate and bring that joy, His love and our hope alive over the next few days, weeks and years. That's our mission and why we are here. We are sent, just as we are to share the Good News and make disciples! We all have a role custom made for custom made us with custom purposes all along the journey as we grow at living and loving like Jesus! PTL! Born that men (and women) might live!
God is speaking to us and awoke me early to refine His message for tomorrow, to pray into tomorrow and to encourage you to come, experience His Love and plans for you and those He is sending and to remind you to pray for the harvest and bring someone along to experience Christ's love as we fellowship and worship together tomorrow. He has great plans for you and some miracles and new life gifts awaiting some tomorrow. Come Lord Jesus! Come alive through us tomorrow! Bring new life, healing miracles, and Your plans alive! Come alive through us! May there be great celebration and joy in heaven tomorrow as we worship with your angles about Who You are, why that matters and bring You and new life alive! COME! Be glorified! Use us and bring in the harvest as we live and love like you! Thank You! Amen!
Check out Our Daily Bread and Upper Room devotionals below. Oh yes, God is speaking to you and us! What's He saying to you and what will you do about it? We are His Body and family and we get to worship, celebrate, fellowship and light up the world together! What joy we will know and love come alive we will experience! I can't wait! A word that is shared often is "believe". Yes believe in prayer with much thanksgiving for what God will continue to do as we remember and experience how He made a way from the manger and continues to light up the world as He loves through us! Rejoice! And pray for many to come to believe that that baby in the manger came to be their Lord and Savior and receive the greatest gift ever--God's love!
Yes, Joy to the World indeed! So, what's that mean to you and who needs to hear it and be invited to experience it? Pray into that! Let heaven and earth receive her King!
ODB:
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I’m not sure who’s responsible for turning out the lights and locking up the church after our Sunday morning service, but I know one thing about that person: Sunday dinner is going to be delayed. That’s because so many people love to hang around after church and talk about life decisions, heart issues and struggles, and more. It’s a joy to look around twenty minutes after the service and see so many people still enjoying each other’s company.
Fellowship is a key component of the Christlike life. Without the connectivity that comes from spending time with fellow believers, we’d miss out on many benefits of being a believer.
For instance, Paul says we can “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). The author of Hebrews agrees, telling us not to neglect getting together, because we need to be “encouraging one another” (10:25). And the writer also says that when we’re together, we “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (v. 24).
As people dedicated to living for Jesus, we prepare ourselves for faithfulness and service as we “encourage the disheartened” and are “patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Living that way, as He helps us, allows us to enjoy true fellowship and “to do what is good for each other and for everyone else” (v. 15).
By Dave Branon
REFLECT & PRAY
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What benefits do you gain from being with believers? How can you help others experience fellowship in Christ?
Dear God, please help me to be a “fellowshiper”—one who generously encourages others in love and compassion.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Scholars believe that Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, likely written around ad 50, may be the oldest writing in the New Testament. In this letter, Paul writes to a new community of believers in Jesus who emerged as a result of Paul and Silas’ visit to Thessalonica during Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 17:1-9). Paul described himself and Silas as like a “nursing mother” (1 Thessalonians 2:7) or “father” (v. 11) to the Thessalonians. The church was primarily gentile (non-Jewish) believers; we’re told they’d “turned to God” from idol worship (1:9-10), a primarily gentile practice. Paul seems to have written 1 Thessalonians in response to a visit from Timothy, who brought an encouraging report of the believers’ “faith and love” (3:6) but may have also hinted at things “lacking in [their] faith” (v. 10). In this letter, Paul reinforces the heart of the gospel message and encourages the Thessalonian believers on how to live out their new faith.
Monica La Rose |
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UR: Seasons of Joy
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. - Isaiah 60:1 (NIV)
We have a Chief Joseph lodgepole pine growing in our front yard. This unusual conifer attracts much attention and is the subject of many comments because of its seasonal change from green to yellow. In the winter, when deciduous trees are barren and dark, this pine displays needles that are an effervescent yellow, bringing joy and light to a landscape that some find otherwise depressing. In the spring, its winter job done, the tree transitions back to green.
Like this tree, Christians can spread light and joy. By following in Christ’s footsteps, we can watch for opportunities to ease the burden of others who are going through a difficult season in life. Whether we serve through formal volunteer organizations or as individuals, we may be able to lift someone’s spirit, giving hope by providing a nutritious meal, offering a ride to a medical appointment, assisting with a needed home repair, or simply by providing kind words to a fellow human.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, help us to follow in Christ’s footsteps as we strive to be a blessing to others. Amen.
Sarah email:
Hi everyone.....
Can you believe it, that Christmas is almost here! Where has 2023 gone! It seems as though it has
flown by. I hope and pray that as this busy season approaches, that you are taking time for yourself and
making time of Jesus in your life.
During this past month of December, we all have gotten to sing some of our favorite Christmas Carols. One of the carols
we sing wasn't written originally as a Christmas Song.
Isaac Watts wrote the song, based on the words of Psalm 98......
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things:
his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness
to the nations.
He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the
earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of
the ram's horn - shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;
let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.
Anyone know which carol I am speaking of? It's Joy to the World.
If you look at the lyrics of Joy to the World, you will see that the lyrics do not reflect
the virgin birth of Jesus, but rather of Christ's second coming.
Another tidbit - the first 4 notes to Joy to the World are the first 4 notes in the chorus of the
hymn "Lift Up Your Heads" from Handels' Messiah.
As you sing and/or hum this carol over the next couple of days......may we reflect on the excitement
of that day when Jesus WILL RETURN again and gather us all up and take us home!
We will all then sing.....JOY to the WORLD the LORD has COME!!!
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We ask that you continue to pray for Gladys Ketner, and Tara Walters....as they are still in the hospital.
Also keep their families in your prayers also.
Pray for our Christmas Eve service and brunch and all those that will be attending. Some may be hearing
the true meaning of Christmas for the first time; some in attendance may have strayed away and are feeling
a nudge from Jesus to come back; some may be dealing with a difficult time and/or situation during this holiday
time......pray that God's peace will surround us all and that His amazing Love, through the gift of His Son, will
be felt!
Pastor Don has visited several of our homebound family and they are doing well and send their hello's to us, their
church family. Pray for Pastor Don as reaches out to a few other homebound members in the coming week.
We look forward to seeing you all at our 10:00 am Christmas Eve service and brunch to follow.
Have a great weekend
Blessings,
Sarah
Friday, December 22 2023
Joe Toy Newsletter below
TGIF=Thank God I'm Forgiven! Thank God for that Baby in a manger who grew to be our sacrificial Lamb! Thank God for the free gift of salvation, faith, forgiveness, and eternal life! Thank God always and pray with expectation and thanksgiving!
Thank you for your prayers yesterday for our grieving family. God was with us and the family. God gave the parents strength to share during the funeral. Can't even imagine how without God. Their testimonies show that God is answering prayers and drawing them close during this horrific loss of their two year old. When we get to the end of ourselves, God is there and Travis shared how he has cried out to God because he cannot do this on his own. God is faithful! The pastor reminded us that we may never understand some of God's plans but we can know He promises to work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called by Him. Amen! We are praying for all of you who are clinging to God right now. He promises to be with you always. Receive His loving help and compassion.
Some of our devotionals speak into this today. TWFYT reminds us about doubt we often face in crisis and grief of loss. They remind us, as Travis is experiencing, "True faith only goes into operation when there are no answers." God is using many of us who have already traveled through some of these hard things to comfort others. The Upper Room discuss the "Power in Prayer" to our "Father of compassion and the God of all comfort" who comforts us, prepares us and uses us to comfort others. Ask God for help and for whom He may be sending you. Sometimes just His presence through us is all that is needed. Just listen and love. We usually have no answers for the "WHY's". Don't even try. God's ways are not ours, but He is always at work for good and is always there when terrible-in-our-minds things are allowed. Just be present and love and allow God to love and comfort through you. And keep praying like crazy for peace beyond understanding and for God's loving presence to be received. Remember all Jesus endured and how His heart often broke for His very loved children. Allow Him to comfort and love through you and try to allow Him to love and comfort you.
I end with Harvest prayer's blog today reminding us of the power in prayer. It's a reminder about praying for and receiving Jesus' power. It's about expecting the miraculous love and power of Christ to come alive in, through and around you. Pray for that power to love, comfort and bring healing, hope and new life to those He is sending you to. Pray into that for Sun. (we are expecting many visitors who need to know Who that Baby is and how He has changed your life and can change theirs) Who are you inviting and bringing along? Who are you praying for God to send and draw to Him? I simply have invited several people and they have accepted and say they plan to come. Pray for all hindrances for that to be gone, for God to draw and for strongholds to be tore down as He brings new life, healing and hope alive. I am praying with thanksgiving and expecting to see some miracles on Sunday. Pray in faith with me! God has some great and miraculous plans coming to life as we continue to work on living and loving like Jesus! Amen! and PTL!
We have been given the free gift of love, faith, and hope and are empowered to share it. This year pray into and share the greatest gift ever! The gift that keeps on giving! God's love! Amen!
TWFYT:
UR: Power in Prayer
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
My mother was 52 when she died of a heart attack. She had not been a heart patient and had been healthy, so her sudden death came as a great shock to my family and me. We did not talk much about my mother for fear that talking about her would cause more hurt.
But during that time of sorrow and trouble God was with us. My mother was a God-fearing and God-loving person. She had taught us to love God, and our family continued to pray in the morning as we always did when she was alive. My dad kept on praying for our family’s comfort, and many friends and relatives also prayed for us.
With so much prayer I started to feel peace and comfort within me. I especially felt that the presence of God was with us all. God’s love and the support of our family and friends helped us to overcome our great loss and helped us to live life normally again.
We are all sent by God to help and support one another in times of trouble. Whether we know someone well or not, we are called as Christians to hold others in prayer as together we are all united in the body of Christ.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for your love and comfort that gives us strength to keep going even in our darkest times. Amen.Harvest Prayer Daily Devotion:
December 22 - “Seeing” through Prayer
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I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father (John 14:12).
Jesus prayed for power prior to or during His miracles. Interestingly, most Gospel records of Jesus’ miracles make no mention of Jesus praying! I count fifty-eight different miracles of Jesus, including groups of His predictions. On only six of these occasions do the Gospels specifically mention Jesus prayed: feeding the 5,000, feeding the 4,000, the Transfiguration, healing the convulsive boy (prayer assumed), raising Lazarus from the dead, and at Jesus’ atoning sacrifice.
However, I believe He prayed at some point during most—if not all—of the miracles He performed. Why? First, He prayed often (Luke 5:16). Second, there are many acts Jesus did that the Gospels do not mention (Jn. 21:25). The Evangelists rarely recorded Jesus’ daily activities of eating, bathing, sleeping and praying (all of which observant Jews did)—unless something was unusual. Third, Jesus said that He did nothing unless He saw the Father do it (John 5:19)—which would include doing miracles, and prayer was the most likely way for Jesus to “see.” Fourth, He said He could do nothing on His own initiative (John 5:30, 8:28, 12:49-50), and prayer was the expected way to ask for permission. Fifth, prayer is the likely means by which Jesus asked the Father for the power to do miracles, which manifested His messiahship from God. Therefore, it makes sense that Jesus prayed each time that He performed these mighty works of God.
Lord, You performed many miracles through the power of Your Father and You have said that if I have faith in You I will do even greater things than You did on earth. Give me such faith to believe that You can and will use me and other believers to do more than we can think or imagine because You have promised it in Your word. Give Your Church boldness to step out in great faith!
--Taken from Giving Ourselves to Prayer: An Acts 6:4 Primer for Ministry (Chapter 5, God the Son and Prayer by James R. Wicker).
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Joe Toy:
| Prayer Concerns: Pray for Mardi Gras Outreach February 7-14, 2024 |
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December 2023
“...and you shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.”
Dear Friends,
As the angels brought a message of hope to the shepherds about the birth of the Messiah, so we continue to spread the good news of the gospel in the Triangle Area of North Carolina. In late November, a team of six engaged the crowds waiting for the Raleigh Christmas Parade with the good news of Jesus. We were given great liberty to walk the parade route passing out thousands of gospel tracts and reminding the crowds of the importance of God’s love expressed to the world in the giving of His Son to save sinners.
As the parade began, we moved off the route, so the folks could enjoy the parade. It was way cool to have one of our friends come up and say, “It’s the bus station preachers,” and then shake our hand. It shows us that our consistent witness in Raleigh is touching lives for eternity and our labors are not in vain, so we press on with the gospel.
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It is hard to believe that fifteen weeks of college campus ministry is over for the semester. We have spent two days of the week at UNC and NC State preaching, witnessing and passing out gospel literature. I have focused all of my preaching on the gospel of John attempting to make Jesus an unavoidable issue. For the first eight weeks, I spoke on the seven miracles of Jesus and His resurrection. The last seven weeks were spent on His seven I am statements. Each week, we were able to pass out lots of tracts and engage many students in conversation.
One young man asked me at UNC, “Do you believe in fatalism or free will?” That is a loaded question. But after discussing God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, we were able to converse on God’s plan of salvation and our need to trust Christ. A few weeks later we met Chris, who is an alumni, but has found himself in a place where he has walked away from a previous profession of faith. He now struggles with the brokenness of life that sin brings. It was a joy to challenge him to return to Christ in repentance. I have seen him a few times since then, but he is still not where he needs to be.
Eli and Isaac belong to a campus ministry called Wellspring. These young men are on fire and boldly preach Christ and witness to their fellow students consistently. It is a joy to work with these young men and encourage them in the task of evangelism. They are truly an inspiration and the Lord is using them mightily to rock their campus for the Kingdom of God. Pray for these young men to be steadfast in the Lord.
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We finished up our college football outreach with a team of ten people at Carter Finley Stadium for the big rivalry game between UNC and NC State. It was awesome to have a big team as the crowds of people flowed to the stadium. We were able to break into three teams and cover more of the crowd. Usually, we begin our outreach three hours before game time with gospel preaching and literature distribution. Most of the time we don’t have much gospel interaction, but there are those divine appointments that occur. As Zack Brady was preaching, a crowd of ten Muslim students engaged him in dialog. Zack did a great job pointing out the flaws of their world view and showing them how they need forgiveness of sins that only Jesus can provide. It was a great encounter and an awesome way to end our night.
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The Moore Square Bus Station in Raleigh has been a weekly outreach for over two years. Recently, there has been an uptick in crime, which has increased the police presence. We continue to preach the gospel and pass out literature. It is not uncommon for seven bibles to be picked up from our literature table. In the midst of the troubles many are being counseled and helped.
Pastor Jeremy stopped by from the Raleigh Dream Center and led one man to Christ last week. Much gospel seed is being sown and we have a group of faithful men and great support form the churches who helped provide for some of the basic needs of the men and the women.
Pray for this outreach to bear much fruit.
Thanks for all your prayers and support.
God Bless.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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Friday, December 22 2023
"For unto us a Savior has been born! he is Christ the new born King!" Rejoice!
Good Morning Reborn in Christ, Hope-Filled, Family! Contemplate that salutation as you pronounce it over you and our fellowship! God put on flesh and came to live among us that we might have the opportunity to be reborn in Christ, be filled with hope and enabled to complete our mission together as we spur each other on in faith. What joy we can know as we grow in sharing our hope and inviting others to walk with us as we learn to live and love like Jesus better. Pray into that and pray into Sunday's festive Acts 2:42 type of worship service we will celebrate together and with invited guest who don't know Jesus or us yet. Father, Thank You for love and new life. Thank You for being with us always working all things together for your glory and Kingdom. Move us to be Your hands and feet, to share our hope well and to help others find new life in You. Please tear down any strongholds or barriers for those you are sending Sunday. Thank You! In the name of Jesus we pray as we ask for new life, Jesus' love and for healing and hope to come alive. Thank You! Amen! (pray something like that often for Sun and prepare your heart to allow God to use you.)
Sunday's message will be all about pondering who that baby in the manger is and how that affects our lives. We will use a lot of the Gospel of John we have just completed. Who is that baby to you? How has He affected your life? Be prepared to share that on Sunday. Charles Stanley has a great thought about that in His devotional today. Check it our below! God has some great plans for you, us and some people He is drawing to Him for Sunday! Rejoice, pray and prepare to bring and live the Good News!
Today will be a very hard day for our family as we bury two year old Hunter, our niece's son. We covet your prayers. Thank you. Many of us know grief and are experiencing some real hard things this year. As I have been ministering in this with myself and many of you, I am constantly reminded of my hope, my solid faith, God's ever-present love and care and His compassion. Today as I read Psalm 42 from ODB (open your Bibles and read that and 43 out loud) I was reminded of the last episode of season 3 of the Chosen. Asaph had prepared a Psalm to read to David with a choir humming behind Him. POWERFUL! Watch it and listen to and contemplate that Psalm today as you thirst after God and put your hope in Him. God is there with you with open arms of love and comfort and He may be stirring you to be His comfort as well. Love like Jesus. Be present, still, and share His love and compassion.
Yesterday I was questioned by one of our seasoned, solid-in-faith homebound members about something that was troubling him. How could our God allow death and suffering. He knows the answer but His empathy and compassion were bubbling to the surface and he is struggling with his having questions of God. God loves us and loves we when we question for understanding, healing and wisdom. Think about the virgin Mary wondering how she would become pregnant when she was still a virgin and trying to wrap her head around all that was being prophesied over her. Think about the "thick headed" disciples questioning Jesus all the time. It is ok to seek God for understanding and wisdom and discernment. Don't allow Satan or your own thinking to cause you to question your faith or motives. I'm always crying out to God to help me become a disciple maker, why I am failing, who am I supposed to disciple when it seems like no one is available or wanting to. He knows our hearts. He made us. And He allows and helps us through whatever we are facing step by step including questions for understanding. And we have to know that sometimes, He won't reveal the whys or answers to our questions and learn to be ok with that and continue on in faith. Some things we will never understand this side of heaven as we continue to grow in faith and journey with Jesus. That is a fact. Remember, we walk by faith not by sight. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts not like ours. Seek and love God with all your heart. Don't lean on your own understanding. (that's a command. some things we can never understand) Acknowledge God in all your ways and trust Him to lead you step by step--even through and forward in grief and questioning. He loves you! He knows you.
At Christmas we celebrate Hope, Healing, Joy and Love coming and putting on flesh. God wants to incarnate those thing in and through you as you allow Him to put flesh on His Love, Healing, Hope and Joy and walk around displaying them wherever you wander.
Yes we often wonder as we wander. But we do know our Savior and His love is real and perfecting and everlasting. Receive it, dwell in it and share it today. God is love and Love lives in you and comes alive through you. God knows who will come and who will not. Many are choosing Hell. Shake the dust off the flip flops and place those Hell-bound ones in God's hands and look for where He is at work and join Him. But for those He is drawing and sending you to, love like Jesus. Who need to hear who that Baby is to you and hiw he changed your life?
I end below with a photo of my Harvest prayer starter guide for today (no time to type it) pray through those things as we experience God threading His love through our lives, actions and preparation time with Him. He is speaking to your heart right now and pronouncing His love over you. Sit in it a spell as you prepare to follow Him today. Go! Love like Jesus. Know Christ and make Him known! Amen!
Charles Stanley:
ODB:
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My mother’s shiny red cross should have been hanging next to her bed at the cancer care center. And I should have been preparing for holiday visits between her scheduled treatments. All I wanted for Christmas was another day with my mom. Instead, I was home . . . hanging her cross on a fake tree.
When my son Xavier plugged in the lights, I whispered, “Thank You.” He said, “You’re welcome.” My son didn’t know I was thanking God for using the flickering bulbs to turn my eyes toward the ever-enduring Light of Hope—Jesus.
The writer of Psalm 42 expressed his raw emotions to God (vv. 1–4). He acknowledged his “downcast” and “disturbed” soul before encouraging readers: “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (v. 5). Though he was overcome with waves of sorrow and suffering, the psalmist’s hope shone through the remembrance of God’s past faithfulness (vv. 6–10). He ended by questioning his doubts and affirming the resilience of his refined faith: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (v. 11).
For many of us, the Christmas season stirs up both joy and sorrow. Thankfully, even these mixed emotions can be reconciled and redeemed through the promises of the true Light of Hope—Jesus.
By Xochitl Dixon
REFLECT & PRAY
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How has Jesus helped you process grief while celebrating Christmas? How can you support someone who’s grieving this season?
Dear Jesus, thank You for carrying me through times of grief and joy all year round.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Psalm 42 is one of the twelve songs (Psalms 42-49, 84-85, 87-88) credited to the descendants of Korah, members of a Levitical choir commissioned by David to serve in the temple as singers and gatekeepers (1 Chronicles 6:31-33; 9:19; 2 Chronicles 20:19). Scholars say that Psalms 42 and 43 were originally one song, characterized by the introspective question: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” and the repeated assurance, “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (42:5, 11; 43:5).
K. T. Sim |
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Harvest Prayer Starters for today:
Friday, December 22 2023
It's beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas! What a beautiful morning with just a little snow to make things merry and bright--and no shoveling! Merry Christmas!
Good Morning Broken and Healing, Tested and True, Worshiping in the Storms, Showered with Love, Grace, and Mercy Children of the King of the Universe! Is that you? It sure can be! God is God and we are not. It's impossible to fathom and comprehend all His ways. But it is possible to know and understand that He has our best in mind always, even when we face some very hard testing of our faith, stretching of our faith, and even grief. He wants you to know and be assured that He really loves you, is with you and will help you through whatever you are facing today. Allow God to comfort, strengthen, grow and use you. He does have great plans awaiting the other side. Choose joy! Receive His shalom!
Some days, like this morning, it's very obvious that God is speaking to my heart with something for me and/or others. Last week and continuing into yesterday was not the most fun vacation yet Karen and I were able to choose joy, see God's hand in everything, praise Him and just know that He is at work. His ways are truly not ours and His plans don't always match our expectations, but so what? He knows best! And we have learned to trust Him, receive with thanksgiving His presence and stretching and peace. Yesterday continued the pattern of sickness, storms, and our plans not quite happening as we thought. BUT GOD! PTL! He always has something good in the works! Yesterday Karen started with my cold from last week on her very busy transition day back to work. God awoke me at 1:30 and we had a great quiet time. Expecting to be able to take a nice nap after I sent the blog before working on Sunday's message and plans, I turned around to find water lapping at my chair (my office is in the basement). This hasn't happened in the 4 years we lived here. (Didn't know our house came with a wadding pool!) God allowed Karen the grace and strength to have a pretty productive day. He also, showed me His loving presence with allowing me to complete Sunday's stuff and the strength and wisdom to get everything cleaned up and drying out. And He allowed me to sleep in until 3 this morning, healed and refreshed. PTL! He is really for us in spite of what we may think or our circumstances and His mercies are new every morning! PTL! I really love God and how He works! It's always something different, new, unexpected, exciting and cause for joy and thanksgiving. However, we sometimes have to choose those things and look for the silver linings as we try to count our many blessings. Wonder what all God has in store for today! Whatever, His grace will be sufficient and I have the opportunity to choose joy and receive His shalom. PTL!
Today, I believe God has a word for some of you too as we engage with Him through our devotionals. What's He saying to you? Journal it and discuss it with some friends and choose joy and receive shalom. Charles Stanley speaks about God's restorative mercy. He begins with this thought, "Today, you may be wondering, Can the Father bring joy and meaning back to my life? Can He really heal me of all my regrets?" Well, we all know the Sunday school answer to that, but do we really know and believe and experience the truth? Are we able to make the transition to receiving His loving best and choosing joy? Try to turn off the noise inside your head, of your circumstances and of the chaos all around and still yourself to know and receive. Next I read ODB about learning from our scars. How often have we wrestled with God? How many of us have that "limp" from His reminder and blessing? How has that been transformative as you shed your old ways and nature and step into your new name more fully? As I was meditating on that, I couldn't help but think about Paul's thorn in the flesh. Lo and behold I open TWFYT talking about that and being broken, restored and used by God as He and/or we humble ourselves. What "thorn" is keeping you humble and reliant on God? We remember who we were and how we used to be with regrets and Satan loves to keep bringing those failures to mind. Turn off that noise! You are forgiven--MUCH--Always! Humble yourself. Dying to self sometimes includes letting those past things go and refocusing on our Forgiver, Healer, Restorer. As I was recounting the new lives of Jacob/Israel and Saul/Paul, I started praising God for my new life and His growing me into His man doing His plans. Then I opened the UR reminder of celebrating with all our hearts as we remember and see and know God is at work! Even in the storms, we can choose to count our blessings and refocus. We may not feel like dancing but tapping toes to the beat of a great praise song or hymn can lead to happy feet that want to dance with Jesus! Try it! Keep building those gratitude lists! God is for us and His ways are not ours. Rejoice and keep trusting and growing in faith and usefulness!
So as if that wasn't enough, the last thing I did was open my prayer starter book with these prayer starters. Yes God is speaking to you and wants to speak to someone through you today! PTL! Pray along with me..."Praise God who has invited you into His circle of fellowship through Jesus Christ. Thank Him for His invitation to love Him with all your being (Mk.12:33). Confess to God that sometimes you don't love and honor Him as you should. Commit yourself to Deut. 10:12: 'To fear the Lord (YHWH) your God, to walk in His ways, to love Him, and to serve [Him] with all your heart and with all your soul.' Ask God to enable you to fulfill that commitment today. Think of the oldest and youngest members of your family today. Ask God to meet special needs of those two people. [I can't help but think of and pray for the Henley family at the loss of their 2 year old and the funeral Thurs. And how He wants us to minister to them?] Thank God that His love spans the generations. Pray that the evangelistic outreach of your church will be driven by simple love for people. Ask that any pride or self-will will be confessed and repented. [pray for our evangelistic worship and brunch Sunday to draw many to God and new life and for God to use each of us well] Pray that the knowledge of Christ will be spread throughout the world, even as tiny seeds grow into vigorous plants (Mk. 4:31). Pray for faithful preachers of the gospel (Mt. 24:14). [pray we would all be one, with words and deeds] Ask God to make you alert to the needs of unsaved people you know. Pray that God will show you practical ways you can minister to them and ultimately show them how to believe and become disciples of Jesus." Pray for me as I spend the next two days visiting and loving on our homebound members. (Health, wisdom and overflowing love and joy. Thanks!)
God is Love. He loves you beyond measure! He is with you always! And He is working all things together for those who believe (or will come to believe). He created you for such a time as this and is working you into your best in Christ and for His purposes. Yes sometimes it's hard to see it and know it, but it's always true. (I can't imagine what the HENLEY'S ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW? But I do know that as they journey through this, God will be there holding them and ready when they are to come to His shalom.) I'm praying for all of you to journey well and with God always! I'm praying for you to be able to choose joy and continue to grow in faith. I love you all! Wish I could give you a big hug right now! God really does love you, know and care! Rejoice! 'Tis always the season for that! Again I say rejoice!
Shalom to you all!
Charles Stanley:
ODB:
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Faye touched the scars on her abdomen. She had endured another surgery to remove esophageal-stomach cancer. This time doctors had taken part of her stomach and left a jagged scar that revealed the extent of their work. She told her husband, “Scars represent either the pain of cancer or the start of healing. I choose my scars to be symbols of healing.”
Jacob faced a similar choice after his all-night wrestling match with God. The divine assailant wrenched Jacob’s hip out of socket, so that Jacob was left exhausted and with a noticeable limp. Months later, when Jacob massaged his tender hip, I wonder what he reflected on?
Was he filled with regret for his years of deceit that forced this fateful match? The divine messenger had wrestled the truth out of him, refusing to bless him until Jacob owned up to who he was. He confessed he was Jacob, the “heel grabber” (see Genesis 25:26). He’d played tricks on his brother Esau and father-in-law Laban, tripping them to gain advantage. The divine wrestler said Jacob’s new name would be “Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome” (32:28).
Jacob’s limp represented the death of his old life of deceit and the beginning of his new life with God. The end of Jacob and the start of Israel. His limp led him to lean on God, who now moved powerfully in and through him.
By Mike Wittmer
REFLECT & PRAY
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What spiritual scars do you have? How might they symbolize the end of something bad and the start of something new?
Father, my limp is a sign of Your love.
Learn more about finding God in life’s hurts.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The context of Jacob’s mysterious wrestling match (Genesis 32:22-32) is his coming encounter with his brother Esau (vv. 3-6). Because of Jacob’s past treachery (25:29-34; 26:34-27:41), he feared Esau would attack him and his family (32:6-12). Soon after, “a man wrestled with him till daybreak” (v. 24). In other passages of Scripture, when God reveals Himself in human form, people are initially unable to recognize the visitor as more than human (see Genesis 18:1-2; Judges 6:11-22; 13:10, 21-22). But as daybreak dawns, Jacob seems to grow aware that the stranger is more than human, so he clings in hope of blessing (Genesis 32:26-30).
Monica La Rose |
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TWFYT:
UR: All My Might
David danced before the Lord with all his might. - 2 Samuel 6:14 (KJV)
On the last day of the school term, I went to my daughter’s class. The teacher had turned on a radio to entertain the children. Most of them were sitting and swaying their little bodies to the music. Then a very popular Christian song began to play, and the children jumped up from their desks. Gleefully they began singing along and dancing in unison. They all knew the dance moves for that particular song.
I was fascinated as I observed how one song could immediately change the atmosphere from calm to full of energy. I thought about the power of music and how in 2 Samuel 6:14-16, David “danced before the Lord with all his might” as he brought the ark of the Lord to Jerusalem. I remembered also how Jehoshaphat appointed people to sing and praise the Lord, which changed the outcome of the battle they were facing. (See 2 Chron. 20:21)
From that day forward, as I offer my praise to God each day during my prayer time, peace and assurance flood my soul. I feel God’s presence and see God acting in my life whenever I worship through songs of praise. This thought keeps me joyful throughout the day and gives me assurance that God is always with me.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear God, help us to appreciate the importance of glorifying your holy name. We sing our heartfelt gratitude to you. Amen.
Friday, December 22 2023
Good Morning Very Loved, Forgiven, Purposeful Perseveres! Oh Yes! Pronounce that out loud over you and us with much joy and thanksgiving! Your are very loved creations of God--His masterpiece! When we confess and come to Christ in repentance we are forgiven--always! We were created for God's purposes and when we come to Christ, we are gifted and enabled to complete them. We come just as we are and grow into who we were created to be and now able to do all the great things we were created to do. Our part is to stop, repent, trust God, choose joy and persevere in faith, on step at a time, as we complete our assignments until He calls us home. The Good News is that we are able to do so because God is with us working all things together for good and guiding our steps, providing all we need each day, and empowering us to complete our assignments well. That just blows my mind sometimes! Praise God. Trust and follow well. Choose joy and be blessed and a blessing today!
You know we were all one way and now another and as we run our races well we will grow into other ways as we journey to become more like Jesus. He has something good very day and stage of our lives. He sees you. Loves you. Is with you every step of the way from cradle to grave and has so many great plans for you. Rejoice! Yesterday I again had the pleasure of visiting our 103 year old member Doris Hausman. What a joy! She is still worshiping and serving our Lord as she can with what she got where she is at. That can be you everyday as well. Yes she is in a wheelchair in a nursing home but that doesn't matter. She knows and loves Jesus, prays all the time, brings joy to staff, residents and visitors and allows God to love through her. And that is all we need to choose to do as well. Does she have hard days? Sure, even hard hours, BUT she is able to repent when she grumbles and has a pity party, praise and refocus on God and choose joy as she allows Him to comfort, forgive and lead her to her next assignment. That's all God requires of us as well. Choose joy, trust, obey and be used as you are where you are with what you got. Live and love like Jesus! Period! Turn off the noise of circumstances. Choose joy and allow God to use you. That's Jesus' easy yoke that brings many blessings alive. Here's a photo from yesterday with daughter Sally. Notice Doris always carries a Jesus doll with her and even sleeps with Him as a reminder that he is with her always. He is with you always as well! remember that!
Today this song came to my mind as I read Charles Stanley devo. More Love. More Power: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q539OrgDxk0.
As we continue to work on becoming who we were created to be and doing more of the things we were created for more better, we need God and His power. Still yourself today. Worship with this song and receive His love, power and strength to fulfill your purposes today and for the rest of your life. He is with you, for you, and cheering you on! And wanting you to choose more too. Hammer down!
Here are our devotionals for you today to contemplate with God and some friends. What's God saying to you? What do you need to repent of? Who might you help with refocusing and choosing joy? Who might help you? What is one thing that will help you to take the next step of faith? Do it! What is something measurable that God is revealing for you to do and what will you do about it? More of Christ and less of me! When I am weak, He is strong. Father, give us willing hearts, moving feet and more of You, more love, more power, more of You in our lives and more of You overflowing to others today. Come! Have Your way with me! Use me well and grow me into all You have planned for me! Thank You! I love You and rejoice to do what I can with what I got for Your glory! Bring more alive! Thank You as we seek to become more like Jesus and ask in His name for His glory. Amen!
We are learning to live and love like Jesus more better! PTL! Rejoice I say! More love and more power are available to you today--everyday! Rejoice and cry out for them and receive them with joy as you go, follow and love well!
Charles Stanley:
ODB: read Isaiah passage. What's God saying to you? Let go, let God and move forward with him!
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Jill Price was born with the condition of hyperthymesia: the ability to remember in extraordinary detail everything that ever happened to her. She can replay in her mind the exact occurrence of any event she’s experienced in her lifetime.
The TV show Unforgettable was premised on a female police officer with hyperthymesia—to her a great advantage in trivia games and in solving crimes. For Jill Price, however, the condition isn’t so much fun. She can’t forget the moments of life when she was criticized, experienced loss, or did something she deeply regretted. She replays those scenes in her head over and over again.
Our God is omniscient (perhaps a kind of divine hyperthymesia): the Bible tells us that His understanding has no limit. And yet we discover in Isaiah a most reassuring thing: “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions . . . and remembers your sins no more” (43:25). The book of Hebrews reinforces this: “We have been made holy through . . . Jesus Christ . . . [and our] sins and lawless acts [God] will remember no more” (Hebrews 10:10, 17).
As we confess our sins to God, we can stop playing them over and over in our minds. We need to let them go, just as He does: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past” (Isaiah 43:18). In His great love, God chooses to not remember our sins against us. Let’s remember that.
By Kenneth Petersen
REFLECT & PRAY
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What regrets do you harbor in your memory and play over and over again? How can you give them to God and release the past?
Dear God, thank You for forgiving and forgetting my sins.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
God’s people in Israel and Judah were unfaithful. They’d stubbornly refused to repent and return to God (Isaiah 43:22-24). He’d warned them that He’d use foreign nations to punish them for their covenantal unfaithfulness (7:18-25; 10:3-6; 39:6-7). Against the backdrop of their severe chastening, He reminded them that as His chosen people, they had an unbreakable bond with Him and assured them of His unfailing love: “You are precious and honored in my sight, and . . . I love you” (43:4). God said He’d rescue, redeem, and restore them once the disciplining was complete (vv. 5-21). In His grace and mercy, He’d remove their guilt and forgive their sins (v. 25). This forgiveness wouldn’t be based on what they deserved but on who God is: “I do it because of who I am. I will not remember your sins anymore” (v. 25 nirv).
K. T. Sim |
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TWFYT: What's the most important thing for you to do today? Will you do it?
UR: What can you give as an offering to God and blessing to Him and others, just as you are and where you are right now? Receive His sufficient grace as you journey forward in Christ!
Paul wrote, “[The Lord] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” - 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
Every Christmas I get a little depressed. In this season, Christians do many things to make life brighter for others. But I can’t do the majority of them since my age prevents me from driving or doing much physical activity.
One Christmas, however, I kept hearing the song “The Little Drummer Boy.” It changed my focus from what I can’t do to what I can. The lyrics of the song explain that the little drummer boy couldn’t buy a gift or do something brave for the Christ child, so he didn’t think he had anything to offer. But then he realized one thing he could do: play a song for Jesus.
So I quit thinking about what I can’t do and started concentrating on what I can do. I can pray; I can be cheerful and friendly to those I meet at the senior center; I can celebrate Jesus’ birth at my church. Sometimes God helps us to do things we don’t realize we can. And God will honor even seemingly small actions if they are done to glorify God. So like the little drummer boy who played his very best for Jesus, we can do our best and honor God with our service.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, help us do our best for you in whatever ways we are able. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Friday, December 22 2023
Good Morning Listening, Birthing Pray-ers! Be still and know. Listen, receive and birth God's will in prayer. Keep persevering at fulfilling your call to pray and as one of our key players in God's Good News Delivery Co. God is hearing and responding as He reveals what to pray and brings to life our prayers. Pretty cool, huh?
I often, like today, think I know where God is wanting to lead me for these blogs which are my journal notes from my quiet time each day. And as usual, God has revealed something slightly different as I listen, receive, process with Him and release His Word, will and plans in prayer. I don't know if I can emphasize enough the importance of the role of prayer warrior for our Good News Delivery Co and for God's Kingdom to come and will to be done in, through and around us. Keep persevering in prayer and know that you are a very valued and critical part of our Body and mission! Thank You!
SO let's start with Our Daily Bread (ODB) devo today reminding us of the nearness of God. He is very close and speaking to us all the time. Are we listening? Processing? Releasing? Look at their questions as they remind us of His peace He brings as we still ourselves, listen, understand and pray His peace and presence over ourselves and circumstances. Yesterday Mike reminded us of how we can know God's peace amidst the chaos and know He is with us, near and working all things together. Prepare your hearts to receive His wisdom, peace beyond understanding, and marching orders for the day. Turn off the noise by choosing hope, faith, joy and peace and then release His peace in prayer.
The Upper Room (UR) reminds us to pray without ceasing and to persevere in faith, praying, and following God to His best. We can learn perseverance, how to pray and how to become more like Jesus by practicing, just as we are, and working on growing into the fullness of these gifts. As I think about words to work on for next year, perseverance, prayer warrior, faithful servant are just a few God has brought to mind as ones that some of you (and maybe I) need to work on as we seek to Become More in '24. What's God saying to you? What may He be calling you to release in prayer today? What are you going to do about that?
Before engaging with these devos and God, start with praying through this daily devo/blog from Harvest Prayer about prayer. God has some great plans for you including powerful and productive times as you still yourself, listen, receive and persevere in prayer. St. Matts needs you and God has created you for such a time as this! I end with re-using yesterday's Harvest prayer blog as it informs and releases God's plans for us as we move forward into His plans and future for us. We can never pray enough!
One final note: Yesterday morning when I awoke, I was troubled about the future of our church and where workers would come from and with whom God wants us to connect and disciple. God stilled my spirit with this thought and then reminded me of it during my quiet time yesterday. He said, "I am giving you some workers that are recipients of bread. They want to serve and help. I am preparing and sending them. They have some purposes to discover and gifts to share. So I prayed into that. Last night I learned that two of these ladies that have been joining us in worship responded to Sarah's request for bread ministry help. PTL! Right? He reveals, hears and releases His will as we still ourselves, listen and release His will in prayer! He is at work through you and us! Keep at it harvest workers! Fruit is budding and growing! We have much to celebrate!
May you have a joy and peace filled day as you live, love, pray and serve like Jesus! Rejoice! God has chosen you, is preparing you and is working through you and your prayers! Thank Him! Rejoice!
Harvest Prayer Blog 12-18-23:
December 18 - Praying the Heart of God
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“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19, NKJV).
Know God.
Know God’s heart.
Then:
Pray God’s heart into the creation.
Creation is waiting for that reality to be so—for the people of the Spirit to retake the rightful oversight of the creation under God the True Spirit. This is the paradigm for prayer ministry—to know the will from the clear teaching of the Bible and by the experience of the Spirit, and then to pray it into existence.
Praying Christians have known about this principle all their days of prayer. A burden to pray enters their heart. They know the person, and they are given some sense of how they are to pray. Then they pray until the intercession is accomplished.
Today ask God for Him “to initiate” in your praying. When you find yourself thinking of someone and offering a prayer, take this as God at work, reshaping your inner prayer life.
Father, I ask you to reshape my prayer life! Initiate my prayers by placing people and situations upon my heart that You desire me to bring before You. Help me to listen with my spirit as Your Holy Spirit leads me to intercede until Your purposes are accomplished.
--Adapted from Power Praying (Hearing Jesus’ Spirit by Praying Jesus’ Prayer) by David Chotka.
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ODB:
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For more than thirty years, Lourdes, a voice teacher in Manila, had taught students face to face. When she was asked to conduct classes online, she was anxious. “I’m not good with computers,” she recounted. “My laptop is old, and I’m not familiar with video conferencing platforms.”
While it may seem a small thing to some, it was a real stressor for her. “I live alone, so there is no one to help,” she said. “I’m concerned that my students will quit, and I need the income.”
Before each class, Lourdes would pray for her laptop to work properly. “Philippians 4:5–6 was the wallpaper on my screen,” she said. “How I clung to those words.”
Paul exhorts us to not be anxious about anything, because “the Lord is near” (Philippians 4:5). God’s promise of His presence is ours to hold on to. As we rest in His nearness and commit everything to Him in prayer—both big and small—His peace guards our “hearts and . . . minds in Christ Jesus” (v. 7).
“God led me to websites about fixing computer glitches,” Lourdes said. “He also gave me patient students who understood my technological limitations.” God’s presence, help, and peace are ours to enjoy as we seek to follow Him all the days of our life. We can say with confidence: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (v. 4).
By Karen Huang
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How can knowing that God is near change your reaction of worry to one of peace? What specific requests can you present to Him?
Dear God, thank You for being near me. Because of Your loving presence, help, and peace, I don’t have to be anxious.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Centuries before Paul penned the letter to the anxious believers in Jesus at Philippi (see Philippians 4:6-7), God inspired Asaph to write about the blessedness of His nearness (see Psalm 73:23-28). The psalmist’s faith had been challenged by what he’d witnessed around him (vv. 2-14). Those who were far from God—“the wicked” (v. 3)—were doing well for themselves. The writer’s perspective changed, however, when he “entered the sanctuary of God” (v. 17). Then he acknowledged, “You hold me by my right hand. . . . Whom have I in heaven but you?” (vv. 23, 25). He concludes by saying: “But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me” (v. 28 NASB). When we’re anxious by what’s going on around us, we can be encouraged by His nearness. Paul assures us that “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
Arthur Jackson |
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UR: Learning to Whistle
Pray without ceasing. - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV)
I remember the struggle I endured learning to whistle. I spent days upon days trying with no success. But I was determined to succeed. I did not ask for help; I just blew and blew until it happened. It felt great to be able to whistle, and I practiced and practiced after I got the hang of it. It was a glorious time.
What I learned was perseverance — a spiritual directive found throughout scripture. God instructed Israel to continue trusting and believing. The New Testament writers encouraged believers to keep believing and living the word they had heard because Christ was going to return.
Being willing to persevere changed me from a kid who wanted to whistle to a kid who could not wait to hear what new sound my mouth and lungs could create. Additionally, perseverance for me became not just striving to know God’s word but allowing the word to change me into something better. (See Jas. 1:22.)
I keep wondering what new song I might hear from God’s Spirit if I continue to persevere in faithfully following Christ.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear God, help us to persevere in seeking and knowing the gifts of your grace. Thank you for Christ and those who demonstrate their faith by their perseverance. Amen.
Harvest prayer blog 12-17-23... Our Mission being released in prayer! Keep praying this to life! Thanks!
December 17 - Free Gift (Third Sunday of Advent)
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Before you begin, meditate on this thought: God has chosen to work through me.
Father how I thank You that because I have put my faith and trust in Christ, He has made me a new creation! The old has gone--the new has come! This great redemptive work is from You Father, through Christ, for me! My relationship with You has been made right and because of His finished work on the cross You do not hold my sin against me! Hallelujah! Praise Your holy name! (Pause and be thankful that Christ Jesus has saved you from your sin.)
Now Father I ask that You help me to understand what it means that because I am in Christ the message of reconciliation is lived out and proclaimed, through me! May I be found worthy of the name “Ambassador of Christ” and faithfully implore others to be reconciled to You.
The free gift of salvation through Jesus that alone can make us to be the “righteousness of God” is good news that most around me need desperately to hear. I ask that You capture my heart again I pray, with the joy of this great salvation in You and open my lips that I might praise You and proclaim with great joy, the gospel message. You are the God of all hope and I ask that I would overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit and continually be prepared to give the reason for the hope that I have in You.
This day I ask You Wonderful Counselor, that You open my heart and mind and give me ears to hear what You would say to me, what You would speak through me. Make me increasingly sensitive to Your voice and gentle promptings, and give me a willing, submissive spirit that I might obey.
Mighty God, may Your power be evident through the way I live and conduct my life, that I would truly live and move and have my very being in You alone.
Everlasting Father may Your fatherly embrace and great love be expressed through my life. In my conversations and interactions with the world around me, be glorified I pray. May Jesus be seen through me in such loving ways that many are drawn to Him.
Prince of Peace in the midst of this chaotic fearful world, may the peace of Christ be spread through my life. Increase my trust and hope in You that I in turn might minister to those around me who are as sheep without a shepherd.
Give me Your heart. Your eyes. Your ears, O Lord. That in all things I might respond as Jesus would, and be a worthy ambassador of the gospel. In the name of Jesus, Emmanuel, I pray. Amen.
(2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Psalm 51:12,15; Romans 15:13; 1 Peter 3:15; Acts 17:28; Matthew 5:16)
--This Advent prayer was written by Tiece L. King, the author of Pray the Word.
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Friday, December 22 2023
Updates:
Sarah will be sending some out later. PTL! Maura (our granddaughter) is home and heading to day care today. Please continue to pray for full healing, health for Eric and Racheal and rest and refreshing. Thank you!
As soon as this sends, we are on vacation. PTL that the family doesn't need Karen to babysit today and that we can celebrate our 19th anniversary today and get ready for our flight to Florida early tomorrow. Pray for nice weather. It's suppose to rain all week down there and for refreshing and fun for us. Thanks!
Last evening I received a call from a distressed friend. She and her husband are going through a lot and both are depressed yet seeking God. I was able to refer her to Sarah (counseling should be with same sexes). Thank God for Sarah and her wisdom of resources and shepherding heart. Pray for her as she covers for me this week. Pray for this couple to find shalom, provision, wisdom, and joy.
Pray for Mike Laise. He is preaching for me on Sunday. God spoke to his heart yesterday and gave him a good word for Sunday. PTL!
Pray for all of us to continue to grow in faith and to be able to choose joy more quickly. I am including the Harvest Prayer from yesterday again below. It is a powerful prayer to pray over you and for others. Maybe share it with a friend in need. The couple above came to mind when I prayed it again this morning.
Good Morning Joy Choosing, Growing in Faith, Praying, Friends! This is the day the Lord has made! Rejoice and be glad in it! Joy and choosing joy continues to be the theme as we move toward God's shalom.
Below are our devos today that continue the themes of joy, faith, peace and the importance of small groups and huddling with friends. What's God saying to you and what will you do about it? Choose joy! Grow in trust! Follow God with some friends. Complete your journey here well! God loves you and created you for such a time as this. Rejoice! And receive His shalom. Amen!
Have a great week! Promise, no more blogs until next Mon. However, God will speak to you as you engage with Him on your own or with some friends. Rejoice! Shalom!
Harvest Prayer Blog: from yesterday.
December 10 - Peace, Be Still (Second Sunday of Advent)
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Before you begin, ask God to reveal to your heart the ways that the enemy has robbed you of the peace that is yours because of Christ. Confess these things to Him and ask Him to pour out on you His peace that passes all understanding. Ask Him to still the storms in your life and refocus your living.
I thank You Father, that Jesus Himself is my peace and that He has completely destroyed the barrier that separated me from You! How grateful I am that I have been reconciled to Him through His blood shed on the cross and now have peace with You.
Forgive me I pray, for the times that I do not cast my cares and anxieties onto You, but instead carry them myself and allow my heart to be weighed down and needlessly burdened. I ask that Your peace, which is beyond my ability to understand, guard my heart and my mind--cover me, because I am in Christ Jesus. I belong to You. Thank You Lord Jesus, for the peace that You give to me which is so very different than the fleeting attempts of the world to quiet my heart. Guard my heart by Your Holy Spirit, that I might not be afraid. Help me to learn to be still and know that You are God, to hear Your voice in the midst of the storms that I face saying “Peace, be still.” Keep me from fear and increase my faith. May my life be characterized by Your peace no matter what situation I might face, that You may be glorified in me and through me and receive the praise that is due Your name.
May I love Your Word that I might have great peace and not stumble.
May my mind be controlled by Your Holy Spirit and produce life and peace.
May Your strength and peace fill my life because I belong to You.
Lord Jesus, You are my Wonderful Counselor, You are Mighty God, the Everlasting Father incarnate and Prince of Peace! With You all things are possible. I invite You into the impossible situations of my life and ask that as I wait on You, You fill me with Your peace – for my hope is in You alone and I trust in Your great name.
(Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 1:20; Romans 5:1; 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:7; John 14:27; Psalm 46:10; Mark 4:35-41; Psalm 119:165; Romans 8:6; Psalm 29:11; Isaiah 53:6; Matthew 19:26)
--This Advent prayer was written by Tiece L. King, the author of Pray the Word. This resource is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount on the book.
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- Praise God as the one whose arm is “not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear” (Isa. 59:1).
- Thank God for the promise to hear you when you come to him in prayer.
- Confess any sin which may result in his not hearing your prayers (59:2). If you are struggling in this area, commit yourself to regular, daily times of prayer and fellowship with God. Ask him to draw close to you as you fellowship with him.
- God has long arms when it comes to salvation. No one is beyond his reach. Thank him for that truth and pray for one unsaved person you know.
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ODB:
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Ellen was on a tight budget, so she was glad to receive a Christmas bonus. That would have been enough, but when she deposited the money, she received another surprise. The teller said that as a Christmas present the bank had deposited her January mortgage payment into her checking account. Now she and Trey could pay other bills and bless someone else with a Christmas surprise!
God has a way of blessing us beyond what we expect. Naomi was bitter and broken by the death of her husband and sons (Ruth 1:20–21). Her desperate situation was rescued by Boaz, a relative who married her daughter-in-law Ruth and provided a home for her and Naomi (4:10).
That might have been all Naomi could hope for. But then God blessed Ruth and Boaz with a son. Now Naomi had a grandson to “renew [her] life and sustain [her] in [her] old age” (v. 15). That would have been enough. As the women of Bethlehem put it, “Naomi has a son!” (v. 17). Then little Obed grew—and became “the father of Jesse, the father of David” (v. 17). Naomi’s family belonged to Israel’s royal line, the most important dynasty in history! That would have been enough. David, however, became the ancestor of . . . Jesus.
If we believe in Christ, we’re in a similar position to Naomi. We had nothing until He redeemed us. Now we’re fully accepted by our Father, who blesses us to bless others. That’s so much more than enough.
By Mike Wittmer
REFLECT & PRAY
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When has God blessed you beyond what you imagined? How has He shown you that He’s more than enough?
Jesus, You’re more than enough for me.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz takes place during the period of the judges (Ruth 1:1). Though we don’t know which judge presided during the days of Ruth, the contrast between the events of the book of Judges and the story of Naomi and Ruth’s redemption is striking. During a time when “everyone did as they saw fit” (Judges 21:25) and “did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (a phrase used seven times in Judges; see 2:11; 3:7,12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1), Boaz looked out for the good of another—a foreigner. In a setting of selfishness lies a story of compassion and grace.
J.R. Hudberg |
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UR:
From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. - Psalm 22:10 (NIV)
For as long as I can remember, my father was not present in my life. During my childhood, I struggled and felt sad when we had homework regarding Father’s Day or when I heard from friends about how their fathers were the center of their families.
When I was in middle school, a friend invited me to church. Many of my friends and their families also attended the church. Occasionally, I was filled with longing when I saw the fathers there with their families.
In high school, I met a girl who loved God. One day she and I discussed faith. She had also been brought up by her mother, and she too had experienced the difficulties of not knowing her father. She told me that since becoming a Christian, she had come to know God as her father.
Her testimony deeply resounded in my heart, and tears streamed down my cheeks from the inferiority I felt for being without a father. She then shared with me scriptures that comforted her. That day I understood the spiritual meaning of having a heavenly Father who created me. And I was greatly comforted.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Father God, thank you for the comfort of knowing we have life in you. Help us to comfort our brothers and sisters as you have comforted us. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.TWFYT
Charles Stanley:
Friday, December 22 2023
Please pray for Mike Laise as he brings God's Word today and for Sarah as she leads worship. Pray for any kids that come to connect to God as we have no Children's Church teacher available today. Ask God to raise up a few more helpers for that.
Good Morning Teammates! Even though in many ways this week of vacation could be deemed the week from Hell for us, Karen and I were able to choose joy as we allowed God to give us rest, His peace beyond understanding and to experience His unfailing, even refining, love. Thank You Lord! In the midst of sickness, and a washout rainy week, we learned that Karen's ex-sister-in laws family had a major tragedy (we are still very close with this part of her ex's family and numb right now). Karen's niece and our kids cousin lost her two year old son in his sleep on Thurs. with no apparent cause at this time. We will be burying him Thursday. Please pray for the Henley family, especially Paige and Travis the parents. We just got their photo Christmas card on Friday. Ask our God of comfort and peace to come and be very real to them and to help us minister to them all.
I really had no intention of restarting my blogs until at least tomorrow, BUT GOD! He had other plans, so here I am trying to recount and recall all He has been revealing this morning. He awoke me with a headache and sore throat and a dream or vision of some plans for us, so I got up at 1:30. Please bear with me as this may get a bit long. (I guess He wanted to make up for lost time!  Actually, He used this down time to bring to light a ton of things for me and for us together. I'm still trying to process and this blog will be an attempt to journal some of all He is revealing. Thanks Lord!) Lord open all of our hearts and minds to hear Your heart and discern Your revelation for us individually and as Your Body. Thanks! Lead us into much more of You and Your plans in 2024. And Lord bring dreams and visions to our St. Matts Vision team for our gathering in Jan. As we ask in Jesus' name and for your glory. Come! Amen
I think what God is showing me is that He does have a future and hope and some great plans for us that need some processing with the leaders of our church. We know that our bishop has called us to become a dynamic movement of God as we get to know Christ more and make Him know more all around us. We know His plans for us include learning to live and love like Jesus as we bring Him to life to those He is connecting us to. We know we need to find a few more connection points to those He is drawing besides our bread/pantry/clothing ministry. We have been praying and seeking and receiving. It's time to continue to do that as we move towards enacting His will, plans and way for us. Keep asking Him to reveal what's for now and what's for next and discernment and a willingness and hunger to become disciple makers. We are birthing in prayer His next steps for us. Keep up the good work team!
Over the past few years, God has been leading and growing us from B.E.L.L.S. and realizing He wants to use and is sending each of us. He has led us through several challenges as He continues to help us grow into the people we were created to be and preparing and readying us for our purposes for such a time as this. God really does have great plans for us being revealed each step of faith and growth with Him. Thanks Lord! We are completing the Become Me in '23 Challenge and God recently revealed to me that for next year He wants to expand on that with the Become More in '24 Challenge. More of Him and less of me! Become more of who we are in Christ and become more better at fulfilling our purposes. Amen!
Today He wants us to just listen, dream and receive as we sit at His feet prayerfully, open-heartedly and engage with Him through our devotionals. In each one he revealed a piece of the puzzle to me today. What's He revealing to you? Charles Stanley reiterates God's Mission or plan for us. ODB reveals the how to for growing into His plan. The UR speaks into His provision for this plan. (He always provides Where He guides and we are His provision too). And TWFYT reminds us of the cost we need to assess to see His plans come to life. As you study there today ask God to give you a word or two to work on next year and for some people to process with. As I finished my time with God the Harvest Prayer blog was in my email. End with praying that and save it to pray often. May God bless you with ears to hear, hearts to respond well and many dreams and visions of His plans for you and us. And may he bless us with others to process, pray and plan with. he is speaking and we do have a future and hope. may we all choose joy as we grow in faith and trust as he leads us to the new thing that is springing forth in our midst! Shalom!
Please pray for Mike Laise as he brings God's Word today and for Sarah as she leads worship. Pray for any kids that come to connect to God as we have no Children's Church teacher available today. Ask God to raise up a few more helpers for that.
Good Morning Teammates! Even though in many ways this week of vacation could be deemed the week from Hell for us, Karen and I were able to choose joy as we allowed God to give us rest, His peace beyond understanding and to experience His unfailing, even refining, love. Thank You Lord! In the midst of sickness, and a washout rainy week, we learned that Karen's ex-sister-in laws family had a major tragedy (we are still very close with this part of her ex's family and numb right now). Karen's niece and our kids cousin lost her two year old son in his sleep on Thurs. with no apparent cause at this time. We will be burying him Thursday. Please pray for the Henley family, especially Paige and Travis the parents. We just got their photo Christmas card on Friday. Ask our God of comfort and peace to come and be very real to them and to help us minister to them all.
I really had no intention of restarting my blogs until at least tomorrow, BUT GOD! He had other plans, so here I am trying to recount and recall all He has been revealing this morning. He awoke me with a headache and sore throat and a dream or vision of some plans for us, so I got up at 1:30. Please bear with me as this may get a bit long. (I guess He wanted to make up for lost time! Actually, He used this down time to bring to light a ton of things for me and for us together. I'm still trying to process and this blog will be an attempt to journal some of all He is revealing. Thanks Lord!) Lord open all of our hearts and minds to hear Your heart and discern Your revelation for us individually and as Your Body. Thanks! Lead us into much more of You and Your plans in 2024. And Lord bring dreams and visions to our St. Matts Vision team for our gathering in Jan. As we ask in Jesus' name and for your glory. Come! Amen
I think what God is showing me is that He does have a future and hope and some great plans for us that need some processing with the leaders of our church. We know that our bishop has called us to become a dynamic movement of God as we get to know Christ more and make Him know more all around us. We know His plans for us include learning to live and love like Jesus as we bring Him to life to those He is connecting us to. We know we need to find a few more connection points to those He is drawing besides our bread/pantry/clothing ministry. We have been praying and seeking and receiving. It's time to continue to do that as we move towards enacting His will, plans and way for us. Keep asking Him to reveal what's for now and what's for next and discernment and a willingness and hunger to become disciple makers. We are birthing in prayer His next steps for us. Keep up the good work team!
Over the past few years, God has been leading and growing us from B.E.L.L.S. and realizing He wants to use and is sending each of us. He has led us through several challenges as He continues to help us grow into the people we were created to be and preparing and readying us for our purposes for such a time as this. God really does have great plans for us being revealed each step of faith and growth with Him. Thanks Lord! We are completing the Become Me in '23 Challenge and God recently revealed to me that for next year He wants to expand on that with the Become More in '24 Challenge. More of Him and less of me! Become more of who we are in Christ and become more better at fulfilling our purposes. Amen!
Today He wants us to just listen, dream and receive as we sit at His feet prayerfully, open-heartedly and engage with Him through our devotionals. In each one he revealed a piece of the puzzle to me today. What's He revealing to you? Charles Stanley reiterates God's Mission or plan for us. ODB reveals the how to for growing into His plan. The UR speaks into His provision for this plan. (He always provides Where He guides and we are His provision too). And TWFYT reminds us of the cost we need to assess to see His plans come to life. As you study there today ask God to give you a word or two to work on next year and for some people to process with. As I finished my time with God the Harvest Prayer blog was in my email. End with praying that and save it to pray often. May God bless you with ears to hear, hearts to respond well and many dreams and visions of His plans for you and us. And may he bless us with others to process, pray and plan with. he is speaking and we do have a future and hope. may we all choose joy as we grow in faith and trust as he leads us to the new thing that is springing forth in our midst! Shalom!
Charles Stanley: Our Mission
ODB: Read and meditate on Prov. 3: 5-18. WOW! Our how to!
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David and Angie had felt called to move overseas, and the fruitful ministry that followed seemed to confirm it. But there was one downside to their move. David’s elderly parents would now spend Christmases alone.
David and Angie tried to mitigate his parents’ Christmas Day loneliness by posting gifts early and calling on Christmas morning. But what his parents really wanted was them. With David’s income only permitting an occasional trip home, what else could they do? David needed wisdom.
Proverbs 3 is a crash course in wisdom-seeking, showing us how to receive it by taking our situations to God (vv. 5–6), describing its various qualities such as love and faithfulness (vv. 3–4, 7–12), and its benefits as peace and longevity (vv. 13–18). In a touching note, it adds that God gives such wisdom by taking us “into his confidence” (v. 32). He whispers His solutions to those who are close to Him.
Praying about his problem one night, David had an idea. Next Christmas Day, he and Angie put on their best clothes, decorated the table with tinsel, and brought in the roast dinner. David’s parents did the same. Then, placing a laptop on each table, they ate together via video link. It almost felt like they were in the same room. It’s become a family tradition ever since.
God took David into His confidence and gave him wisdom. He loves to whisper creative solutions to our problems.
By Sheridan Voysey
REFLECT & PRAY
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What dilemma are you facing? What loving solution might God have for you?
Father God, please whisper to my heart Your creative solution to my problem.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Proverbs 3 contains a father’s instruction to his son on the vital importance of wisdom and how humility plays a key role. In verses 11-12, the father highlights the importance of accepting discipline from God. These verses provide a classic example of how the New Testament engages with the Old. The writer of Hebrews quotes this passage while emphasizing the father-child relationship we enjoy with God. “Do not lose heart when [God] rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son” (Hebrews 12:5-6). The writer then notes, “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?” (v. 7). It’s fitting that an earthly father should offer his son advice with our heavenly Father’s correction of His children in view.
Tim Gustafson |
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UR: (Our Provision)
If the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. - 2 Corinthians 8:12 (NIV)
I once participated in children’s ministry at a church in an impoverished community. As Christmas approached, my colleague announced that the church would host a celebration and invite children from a local orphanage. Since the children in the church were in need themselves, I didn’t expect them to offer anything to the children from the orphanage.
On the eve of the Christmas celebration, I was surprised to see the children bringing gifts to church. It turned out that in early December, the children had worked together to collect discarded water bottles. They used the proceeds they received from recycling the bottles to buy gifts which they presented to the children from the orphanage. Our children opened my mind because they succeeded in doing what the verse above states. Even though our children were living in poverty, they gave what they had to the children in the orphanage to show their love and care.
It is easy to feel burdened by difficult circumstances and think, Why should I give while I am still lacking? However, God gives us the strength and the ability to do God’s will. We can all offer something to help the children of God.
TODAY'S PRAYER
O Lord, give us the strength and ability to do good for our neighbors. Amen.TWFYT: Count the cost
Maybe start with this and end with this today!
Harvest Prayer blog:
December 17 - Free Gift (Third Sunday of Advent)
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Before you begin, meditate on this thought: God has chosen to work through me.
Father how I thank You that because I have put my faith and trust in Christ, He has made me a new creation! The old has gone--the new has come! This great redemptive work is from You Father, through Christ, for me! My relationship with You has been made right and because of His finished work on the cross You do not hold my sin against me! Hallelujah! Praise Your holy name! (Pause and be thankful that Christ Jesus has saved you from your sin.)
Now Father I ask that You help me to understand what it means that because I am in Christ the message of reconciliation is lived out and proclaimed, through me! May I be found worthy of the name “Ambassador of Christ” and faithfully implore others to be reconciled to You.
The free gift of salvation through Jesus that alone can make us to be the “righteousness of God” is good news that most around me need desperately to hear. I ask that You capture my heart again I pray, with the joy of this great salvation in You and open my lips that I might praise You and proclaim with great joy, the gospel message. You are the God of all hope and I ask that I would overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit and continually be prepared to give the reason for the hope that I have in You.
This day I ask You Wonderful Counselor, that You open my heart and mind and give me ears to hear what You would say to me, what You would speak through me. Make me increasingly sensitive to Your voice and gentle promptings, and give me a willing, submissive spirit that I might obey.
Mighty God, may Your power be evident through the way I live and conduct my life, that I would truly live and move and have my very being in You alone.
Everlasting Father may Your fatherly embrace and great love be expressed through my life. In my conversations and interactions with the world around me, be glorified I pray. May Jesus be seen through me in such loving ways that many are drawn to Him.
Prince of Peace in the midst of this chaotic fearful world, may the peace of Christ be spread through my life. Increase my trust and hope in You that I in turn might minister to those around me who are as sheep without a shepherd.
Give me Your heart. Your eyes. Your ears, O Lord. That in all things I might respond as Jesus would, and be a worthy ambassador of the gospel. In the name of Jesus, Emmanuel, I pray. Amen.
(2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Psalm 51:12,15; Romans 15:13; 1 Peter 3:15; Acts 17:28; Matthew 5:16)
--This Advent prayer was written by Tiece L. King, the author of Pray the Word. This resource is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount on the book.
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- Praise God who has invited you into his circle of fellowship through Jesus Christ.
- Thank him for his invitation to love him with your whole being (Mk.12:33).
- Confess to God that sometimes you don’t love and honor him as you should.
- Commit yourself to Deut. 10:12: “To fear the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, to love him, and to serve [him] with all your heart and with all your soul.”
- Ask God to enable you fulfill that commitment today.
- Pray that the knowledge of Christ will spread throughout the whole world, even as a tiny seed grows into a large and vigorous plant (Mk. 4:31). Pray for faithful preachers of the gospel (Mt. 24:14).
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Charles Stanley: Our Mission
ODB: Read and meditate on Prov. 3: 5-18. WOW! Our how to!
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David and Angie had felt called to move overseas, and the fruitful ministry that followed seemed to confirm it. But there was one downside to their move. David’s elderly parents would now spend Christmases alone.
David and Angie tried to mitigate his parents’ Christmas Day loneliness by posting gifts early and calling on Christmas morning. But what his parents really wanted was them. With David’s income only permitting an occasional trip home, what else could they do? David needed wisdom.
Proverbs 3 is a crash course in wisdom-seeking, showing us how to receive it by taking our situations to God (vv. 5–6), describing its various qualities such as love and faithfulness (vv. 3–4, 7–12), and its benefits as peace and longevity (vv. 13–18). In a touching note, it adds that God gives such wisdom by taking us “into his confidence” (v. 32). He whispers His solutions to those who are close to Him.
Praying about his problem one night, David had an idea. Next Christmas Day, he and Angie put on their best clothes, decorated the table with tinsel, and brought in the roast dinner. David’s parents did the same. Then, placing a laptop on each table, they ate together via video link. It almost felt like they were in the same room. It’s become a family tradition ever since.
God took David into His confidence and gave him wisdom. He loves to whisper creative solutions to our problems.
By Sheridan Voysey
REFLECT & PRAY
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What dilemma are you facing? What loving solution might God have for you?
Father God, please whisper to my heart Your creative solution to my problem.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Proverbs 3 contains a father’s instruction to his son on the vital importance of wisdom and how humility plays a key role. In verses 11-12, the father highlights the importance of accepting discipline from God. These verses provide a classic example of how the New Testament engages with the Old. The writer of Hebrews quotes this passage while emphasizing the father-child relationship we enjoy with God. “Do not lose heart when [God] rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son” (Hebrews 12:5-6). The writer then notes, “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?” (v. 7). It’s fitting that an earthly father should offer his son advice with our heavenly Father’s correction of His children in view.
Tim Gustafson |
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UR: (Our Provision)
If the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. - 2 Corinthians 8:12 (NIV)
I once participated in children’s ministry at a church in an impoverished community. As Christmas approached, my colleague announced that the church would host a celebration and invite children from a local orphanage. Since the children in the church were in need themselves, I didn’t expect them to offer anything to the children from the orphanage.
On the eve of the Christmas celebration, I was surprised to see the children bringing gifts to church. It turned out that in early December, the children had worked together to collect discarded water bottles. They used the proceeds they received from recycling the bottles to buy gifts which they presented to the children from the orphanage. Our children opened my mind because they succeeded in doing what the verse above states. Even though our children were living in poverty, they gave what they had to the children in the orphanage to show their love and care.
It is easy to feel burdened by difficult circumstances and think, Why should I give while I am still lacking? However, God gives us the strength and the ability to do God’s will. We can all offer something to help the children of God.
TODAY'S PRAYER
O Lord, give us the strength and ability to do good for our neighbors. Amen.TWFYT: Count the cost
Maybe start with this and end with this today!
Harvest Prayer blog:
December 17 - Free Gift (Third Sunday of Advent)
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Before you begin, meditate on this thought: God has chosen to work through me.
Father how I thank You that because I have put my faith and trust in Christ, He has made me a new creation! The old has gone--the new has come! This great redemptive work is from You Father, through Christ, for me! My relationship with You has been made right and because of His finished work on the cross You do not hold my sin against me! Hallelujah! Praise Your holy name! (Pause and be thankful that Christ Jesus has saved you from your sin.)
Now Father I ask that You help me to understand what it means that because I am in Christ the message of reconciliation is lived out and proclaimed, through me! May I be found worthy of the name “Ambassador of Christ” and faithfully implore others to be reconciled to You.
The free gift of salvation through Jesus that alone can make us to be the “righteousness of God” is good news that most around me need desperately to hear. I ask that You capture my heart again I pray, with the joy of this great salvation in You and open my lips that I might praise You and proclaim with great joy, the gospel message. You are the God of all hope and I ask that I would overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit and continually be prepared to give the reason for the hope that I have in You.
This day I ask You Wonderful Counselor, that You open my heart and mind and give me ears to hear what You would say to me, what You would speak through me. Make me increasingly sensitive to Your voice and gentle promptings, and give me a willing, submissive spirit that I might obey.
Mighty God, may Your power be evident through the way I live and conduct my life, that I would truly live and move and have my very being in You alone.
Everlasting Father may Your fatherly embrace and great love be expressed through my life. In my conversations and interactions with the world around me, be glorified I pray. May Jesus be seen through me in such loving ways that many are drawn to Him.
Prince of Peace in the midst of this chaotic fearful world, may the peace of Christ be spread through my life. Increase my trust and hope in You that I in turn might minister to those around me who are as sheep without a shepherd.
Give me Your heart. Your eyes. Your ears, O Lord. That in all things I might respond as Jesus would, and be a worthy ambassador of the gospel. In the name of Jesus, Emmanuel, I pray. Amen.
(2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Psalm 51:12,15; Romans 15:13; 1 Peter 3:15; Acts 17:28; Matthew 5:16)
--This Advent prayer was written by Tiece L. King, the author of Pray the Word. This resource is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount on the book.
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- Praise God who has invited you into his circle of fellowship through Jesus Christ.
- Thank him for his invitation to love him with your whole being (Mk.12:33).
- Confess to God that sometimes you don’t love and honor him as you should.
- Commit yourself to Deut. 10:12: “To fear the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, to love him, and to serve [him] with all your heart and with all your soul.”
- Ask God to enable you fulfill that commitment today.
- Pray that the knowledge of Christ will spread throughout the whole world, even as a tiny seed grows into a large and vigorous plant (Mk. 4:31). Pray for faithful preachers of the gospel (Mt. 24:14).
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Friday, December 22 2023
Good morning Joyful, Rejoicing Worshipers! We will hear a lot about joy and rejoicing today during worship as we light the Joy Candle on our wreath and explore joy in the Gospel of John. I think back several years when we explored a different spiritual virtue each month. Maybe one of those virtues might be a word God is leading you to work on next year as you work out your salvation with fear and trembling and work on becoming more of the person you were created to be or doing more of the things you were created to do. God has plans for you and is at work in you and all around you to bring His perfect will and plans to life. REJOICE! The spiritual virtue for Jan. was joy. I think about how we get to choose joy often since that study and have been working on that virtue myself since then.
Joy is a choice we get to make despite our circumstances. Joy flows from an active faith life where we know God is always at work bringing His will to life, that He never forgets us, and is working all things together for good for those who believe. He is working ALL things together and may allow some trials, testing and hardships into your life as part of that working all things together. So, choose joy as you trust Him to be with you, carry you, teach you, prepare you, stretch you and use you for His glory and plans for you. Check out our devos below as they do tie to this theme of trust and joy and the peace beyond understanding that you can know in Christ. We will start with Harvest Prayer's blog for today about praying for that.
You all have purposes no matter your age, circumstances, faith level or gifts and abilities. God knows, cares and has something just for you just as you are. One of the most important purposes in our Good News Delivery Co. is the role of praying. Prayer is vital! And what's cool is everyone can pray and learn how to pray more effectively as you practice praying. Check out this quote from Harvest Prayer's blog today:
Prayer Pointer
“Ministry without prayer becomes work in the power of the flesh. Prayer without ministry is complacent Christianity.” —Anonymous
May you grow in faith as you trust God more, choose joy and come to know His peace. Rejoice and worship well today! Shalom!
Harvest Prayer Blog:
December 10 - Peace, Be Still (Second Sunday of Advent)
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Before you begin, ask God to reveal to your heart the ways that the enemy has robbed you of the peace that is yours because of Christ. Confess these things to Him and ask Him to pour out on you His peace that passes all understanding. Ask Him to still the storms in your life and refocus your living.
I thank You Father, that Jesus Himself is my peace and that He has completely destroyed the barrier that separated me from You! How grateful I am that I have been reconciled to Him through His blood shed on the cross and now have peace with You.
Forgive me I pray, for the times that I do not cast my cares and anxieties onto You, but instead carry them myself and allow my heart to be weighed down and needlessly burdened. I ask that Your peace, which is beyond my ability to understand, guard my heart and my mind--cover me, because I am in Christ Jesus. I belong to You. Thank You Lord Jesus, for the peace that You give to me which is so very different than the fleeting attempts of the world to quiet my heart. Guard my heart by Your Holy Spirit, that I might not be afraid. Help me to learn to be still and know that You are God, to hear Your voice in the midst of the storms that I face saying “Peace, be still.” Keep me from fear and increase my faith. May my life be characterized by Your peace no matter what situation I might face, that You may be glorified in me and through me and receive the praise that is due Your name.
May I love Your Word that I might have great peace and not stumble.
May my mind be controlled by Your Holy Spirit and produce life and peace.
May Your strength and peace fill my life because I belong to You.
Lord Jesus, You are my Wonderful Counselor, You are Mighty God, the Everlasting Father incarnate and Prince of Peace! With You all things are possible. I invite You into the impossible situations of my life and ask that as I wait on You, You fill me with Your peace – for my hope is in You alone and I trust in Your great name.
(Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 1:20; Romans 5:1; 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:7; John 14:27; Psalm 46:10; Mark 4:35-41; Psalm 119:165; Romans 8:6; Psalm 29:11; Isaiah 53:6; Matthew 19:26)
--This Advent prayer was written by Tiece L. King, the author of Pray the Word. This resource is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount on the book.
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- Praise God as the one whose arm is “not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear” (Isa. 59:1).
- Thank God for the promise to hear you when you come to him in prayer.
- Confess any sin which may result in his not hearing your prayers (59:2). If you are struggling in this area, commit yourself to regular, daily times of prayer and fellowship with God. Ask him to draw close to you as you fellowship with him.
- God has long arms when it comes to salvation. No one is beyond his reach. Thank him for that truth and pray for one unsaved person you know.
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ODB:
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As a child, I collected postage stamps. When my angkong (Fukienese for “grandfather”) heard of my hobby, he started saving stamps from his office mail every day. Whenever I visited my grandparents, Angkong would give me an envelope filled with a variety of beautiful stamps. “Even though I’m always busy,” he told me once, “I won’t forget you.”
Angkong wasn’t given to overt displays of affection, but I felt his love deeply. In an infinitely deeper way, God demonstrated His love toward Israel when He declared, “I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15). Suffering in Babylon for idolatry and disobedience in days past, His people lamented, “The Lord has forgotten me” (v. 14). But God’s love for His people hadn’t changed. He promised them forgiveness and restoration (vv. 8–13).
“I have engraved you on the palms of my hands,” God told Israel, as He also tells us today (v. 16). As I ponder His words of reassurance, it reminds me so deeply of Jesus’ nail-scarred hands—stretched out in love for us and for our salvation (John 20:24–27). Like my grandfather’s stamps and his tender words, God holds out His forgiving hand as an eternal token of His love. Let’s thank Him for His love—an unchanging love. He will never forget us.
By Karen Huang
REFLECT & PRAY
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When were you clearly reminded that God never forgets you? How can His unchanging love give you hope and security in your present situation?
Father, thank You for Your constant love and presence.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The scope of Isaiah’s ministry is introduced in Isaiah 1:1: “The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.” While Isaiah’s ministry was largely localized to Jerusalem and Judah, it spanned decades and the rule of four different kings. J. A. Martin, writing in The Bible Knowledge Commentary, says: “Isaiah ministered for at least 58 years (from at least 739, when Uzziah died [6:1], to 681, when Sennacherib died).” Isaiah’s name means “Yahweh is salvation,” which is appropriate since his writing gives numerous prophecies of Jesus the Savior, including Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; and 53. The work of Jesus is clearly in view in Isaiah 53:5: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Bill Crowder |
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UR:
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. - Luke 2:4 (NIV)
Every year, many of us enter the Christmas season with a vision of the perfect Christmas. We dream of smooth and safe travels, gatherings filled with laughter, no one sidelined by illness, gifts perfectly selected and joyfully received. But rarely do we get that ideal Christmas!
Even the first Christmas was not perfect. The government had issued a decree, so Mary and Joseph packed what they needed and made their way to Bethlehem. As she neared the end of her pregnancy, probably the last thing Mary wanted to do was leave her home and her community of friends.
Maybe in this first week of Advent some situations are already far from ideal. Family tensions, financial burdens, health challenges, work-place stress — any and all of these can steal our joy. But God comes to be with us in the life we have right now, not the life we wish we had. Circumstances we resent won’t change the truth of Christmas. The first Christmas in Bethlehem is a powerful reminder to us that God comes to be with us in places and circumstances that are sometimes less than ideal — offering us the light of eternal love.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Gracious God, we need your presence with us in all our circumstances. Come this Advent, we pray, and meet us in the reality we are living right now. Amen.
TWFYT:
Wagner's Newsletter:
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Greetings from cold and snowy Minnesota,
As we sit in the living room of Luke & Rachel’s home in Minnesota, holding our newborn grandson and watching the snow(!), it is hard to believe that classes at RVA finished just two weeks ago. Over the last few weeks, we have witnessed God’s perfect timing again and again.
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We arrived in the US just 10 days ago. Three days later, we were on a train to Philly where we boarded a plane to Minneapolis. Arriving that afternoon, we enjoyed family time together and made plans for the next day, as we anticipated waiting a few days for this little one to arrive. Those plans changed quickly as we joyfully welcomed Cayden Thomas into the world the very next afternoon! God’s perfect timing - amazing! Getting over jetlag while enjoying a large dose of baby snuggles has been a wonderful gift to our weary minds and bodies.
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Our last weeks at RVA were quite full, as expected, celebrating an early Christmas with concerts and fun parties before sending our dorm boys and students off for the December term break. We also had some unexpected things to navigate. Missy had been dealing with a cracked tooth since May. The repair worked for a time, but early in November it began hurting again. A week before our departure, she was having the tooth extracted. Thankfully, this is much easier and cheaper in Kenya where we have an excellent dentist. Again…God’s perfect timing as we could deal with the tooth before leaving and not have to figure it out in the US.
As part of the process of preparing to leave, we also scheduled regular physicals and other medical check-ups. The doctor that Brian was supposed to see was not available; and instead, he met with a different doctor. One of the questions that came up was a low resting heart rate that has been noticed in the past, but not really a big concern. This doctor decided to run some extra tests that turned up an issue for which Brian is not showing any symptoms. That led to even further tests right before we left Kenya, including a cardiac MRI on the morning of our departure. Again…God’s perfect timing, as these tests were easy to schedule, relatively inexpensive, and fully covered by our overseas insurance. |
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| Now that we have a diagnosis in hand along with extensive testing data, we are scheduling doctor appointments on this side of the ocean to figure out exactly what is going on and determine the best course of treatment. We’re thankful for our Kenya connections as one doctor contacted another, who contacted another and ultimately got Brian an appointment with a pulmonologist this next week. We are in the States, able to get excellent care, with the time and space needed to do the follow-up necessary…God’s perfect timing! |
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PRAY that the doctors will be able to discern the cause of the excess pressure in Brian’s heart and develop the best treatment plan. We are so thankful that this has been discovered before it causes any noticeable symptoms and long-term damage. PRAY with us for accurate test results, clarity on the cause, and good treatment options. We are grateful that we have time to work through this.
This next prayer request just turned into a PRAISE! Micah has been diligently searching for a car and prayed about several options with God closing the doors each time. Earlier today, he and Lynnsi purchased a car! We’re thankful for this provision for them which allows us to use our own car throughout the next nine months. |
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We will travel back to PA early this coming week and spend about ten days there before driving back out to Minnesota for a family Christmas. As our travel plans begin to solidify for 2024, we will share more frequent updates to let you know where we will be and when. We would love to have time together while we are in the States.
Thanks for standing with us in prayer. You are a blessing!
Brian & Missy |
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