***Don't forget brunch after worship tomorrow at 11:30. Bring some friends to worship or brunch! God knows and always provides enough. he is Jireh after all--enough! Our Sufficiency!
Rejoice! The Lord Reigns and His Love rains over us like a spring rain, watering the garden of our souls and preparing our soil for good fruit to come! Amen! Yes rejoice! Dwell in His Love and draw near and sink those roots deep into Love and the Living Word and draw out all the nourishment you need!
Good Morning Loving Because We have Been Loved, Very Loved Children of the Most High God! Amen!
Hey, these blogs have been coming later because I am unable to really sleep until around 3am and then I sleep in and still spend my extended quiet times with the Lord when able or maybe have to rush a little to get out the door for the days events. I was thinking this morning of how, as we age, we are able to, maybe forced to hold more loosely to our agendas and allow our all-knowing God to lead us to His plans for the day. How could we teach the younger generations the importance of holding loosely as we seek to invite God to be the Lord of our days and aligned with our seasons of life. There is a season for everything. Sometimes we need help to remember what season we are in and sometimes help to move past this season. Who are your teammates? Who are you allowing to lovingly help you or are your reaching out to in love? God has someone for each of us for whatever season we are in. And no matter the season He has sent us to live and love like Him. Meditate on that some today. How might He want to love through you today and what may you need to let go of or take on to do so well? Who might you need to talk to, pray with and partner with today?
Below are a few devos to use in your time today. I've always said and even taught that a life lived well in Christ is one living out the Greatest Commandments and Great Commission for such a time as this. That's Loving God and others as you love yourself and going to make disciples and teaching others to walk in the way of Christ. It all begins with love, flows from and through love to go love. How's that going? Who are you praying for? How does God want to stretch you as you step out in faith and go love with boldness and courage from Christ? Who are your teammates and accountability partners? Answering those questions and determining to go live and love like Jesus more earnestly, as you are, is part of Coming Alive in '25. These are the things that grow us towards our created and made new potential and to become a dynamic movement of God. We are very loved and sent to love as we live more like Jesus. Keep praying into that. Ask for dreams, visions, and ideas and for a heart to love well and the courage to do so. You are made for such a time as this and God's not finished with you yet! So rejoice, surrender, seek and follow well. I'm praying for you and God is cheering you on! How can you fail with all that help! And remember, as we step into these things we find true joy and peace and great fruit buds and grows! Amen! Yes it's all about love allowed to grow and lead us to go love well. That is Jesus' easy yoke! Be you and let Him have His way in and through you. Amen and Shalom!
I to We
ODB
Action—Not Distraction
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you. Joshua 1:7
READ Joshua 1:1-9
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A school bus driver passed out at the wheel, and his large vehicle loaded with sixty students was careening out of control. Seventh grader Dillon Reeves burst from his seat, rushed to the front of the bus, and slowly stepped on the brake in the nick of time. While most students were busy texting or playing games on their phones, Dillon—who didn’t have a phone—had his head up and reacted. He knew to depress the brake slowly as he’d seen the driver do many times. Remaining alert and not distracted helped him save the lives of all aboard, including the driver who later revived.
Joshua had to step up courageously after his leader, Moses, was no longer “in the driver’s seat”—leading the people of Israel. God said to him, “Moses my servant is dead. Now . . . get ready” (Joshua 1:2). What’s more, He instructed, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to . . . not turn from [the Book of the Law] to the right or to the left” (v. 7). God was telling Joshua not to get distracted and to keep his focus, and to keep his eyes on the instructions He’d given—meditating on them “day and night” (v. 8).
We can be distracted by screens and other things that cause us to take our eyes off God and the wisdom found in Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Instead, as we remain alert “by keeping our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2 nlt), we can spring into action when God calls.
By Tom Felten
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Why is it vital to keep your eyes on Christ? How can you be ready for His call today?
Dear Jesus, please help me to avoid distractions as I follow You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Joshua first appeared as the military commander who “overcame the Amalekite army with the sword” (Exodus 17:13), and he was one of the twelve spies Moses sent to survey the promised land (Numbers 13:1-16). His name was changed from Hoshea, meaning “salvation,” to Joshua, meaning “Yah [Yahweh] saves” (vv. 8, 16). In Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8, the Greek equivalent for Joshua is Iēsous or Jesus (Matthew 1:21). Joshua succeeded Moses as national leader when he was already an octogenarian (Joshua 14:10). He died at age 110, some 25 years after he entered the promised land. His epitaph reads, “The servant of the Lord” (24:29)—a servant who clearly kept his eyes on God.
K.T. Sim |
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UR: Divine Detour
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. - Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
My cousin Christine had always desired to study peace-building, but after high school she studied social development instead. Years later, she decided to study peacebuilding at a university in Nairobi. But when she visited the university’s website to apply, she saw a job opening for an assistant registrar. She applied and got the job.
Though it seemed like a detour to her career, Christine joined the university as an employee and helped others become peace ambassadors. Three years later, the university gave her a scholarship for her master’s degree in peace-building, and now she has graduated. She intends to work for an organization that enhances peace in Africa. Christine’s journey shows that sometimes unexpected paths can ultimately lead to our fulfilling our desires and being a blessing to others.
Sometimes our initial plans may not unfold exactly as we envision them. But God can use unexpected opportunities and circumstances to lead us toward our true desires and purpose. Christine’s story is a reminder to me that God’s plans may not always align exactly with our own. But God is always working behind the scenes to guide us toward what is best for us.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, help us to trust in you even when life seems uncertain. Help us to use unexpected opportunities for your glory. Amen.
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