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Saturday, July 13 2024
Worship tomorrow 10am live in person in our air conditioned sanctuary and on Zoom from the comfort of your home! Join us and invite some friends!
*Start reading Ephesians chapter 1 as we begin our trek through some of the Apostle Paul's letters to the early church. Ask God to speak to you as you read. Record what He's saying or any questions and come prepared to study how the early church learned to follow God and not lean on their own thinking or ideas.
Don't forget our gathering at Rita's Wed at 6. Be ready to move to the creamery across from Weis in the event that the expected bad weather comes. Let's put on the St Matts T shirts and go shine bright while enjoying some fellowship and cool treats! (That's putting on Jesus' easy yoke too!)
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Good Morning Patient, Worshiping, Followers of the God Who Leads Us! AMEN! This salutation flows right from our devotionals for today (below). Prayerfully meditate on them and notice how our God who speaks brings His Living Word alive and threads it through His plans for us. What's He saying to you? What's He have planned for you? Who are your processing, planning, going partners? I believe God is opening some doors for you, me, and us together. Seek first His Kingdom. Die to self, take up cross and crucify your own thinking and ways and commit to don Jesus' easy yoke and follow well and with some friends. I am amazed at how God is bringing the reality of His easy yoke alive to us! Thanks Lord! His easy yoke is stepping more fully into who you are created to be and doing the things He created you to do with Him and some friends for such a time as this. It's easy because it's made just for you at whatever season of life or circumstances you are journeying through too. It just flows naturally from who you are in Christ and brings such joy and many blessings to God, others and yourself as you follow Jesus and run your race. Thank God for this and ask Him to continue to lead you to His greater things as He grows you to be more like Jesus.
You know as I continue to sit at Jesus' feet and receive and process, it becomes very apparent that He does have some great plans for me, for some of you and for us together. He is informing, hearing and answering prayers and bringing His plans to life as He begins opening the new doors for us to discover and step through in faith. Can any of you perceive that? Is He giving you some ideas or stirring you to pray into something or process and plan with some others? Wherever God guides, He provides. Amen! Often that provision comes as we step boldly through an open door in faith and pray His provision into existence with our mustard seed sized faith. Those of you called to pray as part of your role in our Good News Delivery Co. please get at it and pray we see the open doors and step through in faith and for God's provision to come as we go. Some of you are called to step through some new door opened just for you. Do it! Some of you are called and prepared to lead us through an open door. Do it! Some of you are to remind us that some doors are closing and to refocus. Do it! We all have our custom made purposes and we need each other to process, pray, plan and go in God's power. Let us do that together earnestly! I am convinced that is why God wants us to Become More in '24 and Do More in '24 and become more like Jesus as we go. What's He revealing to you to work on, pray about and/or encourage others to do? Are you His provision for the things beyond those new doors? What's His easy yoke for you and for us as a Body?
Check out TWFYT about open doors. Then meditate on ODB reminder to begin with worship and prayer before we go. I have some ideas of things I believe God is planning for me and us that need patience and prayer before we go. I am reminded of Caesar K's teaching about slow is fast and small is big in God's Kingdom ways. I often pray for myself to remember this and wait on the Lord and also pray that I don't miss Him moving and neglect joining Him and also, that I stop banging my head against the closed doors. Be still and know is followed by process and go in God's perfect timing. The UR carries on the theme of patient waiting. But waiting does not mean doing nothing. It's abiding in the Lord, worshiping, discerning, praying, preparing and readying for the good fruit to come when God says go. Where are you in the good fruit production process? Whose helping you prepare, discern, praying for you or whoaing you down as needed? CS reminds us that God is always with us. That's in the waiting, preparing and going--always with us! Amen! God is with you and us. PTL! No matter what we are facing or celebrating, he is there working things together. He is the strength in our weakness and He inhabits our praise and He is with us every step of the way. PTL! How might He want to direct your steps today? What will you do about that? I pray it would be obedient praying, processing, planning and following! Amen.
God is on the move! New doors are opening and some are closing. Keep worshiping, praying, sitting at His feet and patiently following Him! Great things are coming! Rejoice! I am so excited an can't wait to share and process with some of you the things He is planning for me and us! Let us not grow weary or weary ourselves but step into our new nature and God's custom plans more fully as we don Jesus' easy yoke! Amen!
TWFYT:
ODB:
Worship First
They began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid. Ezra 3:6
READ Ezra 3:1-6
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I’d never planned to start a non-profit organization about adult friendship, and when I felt called to do so, I had so many questions. How would the charity be financed, and who should help me build it? My greatest help on these matters ended up coming not from a business book, but a biblical one.
The book of Ezra is essential reading for anyone called by God to build something. Recounting how the Jews rebuilt Jerusalem after their exile, it shows how God provided funds through public donations and government grants (Ezra 1:4-11; 6:8-10), and how both volunteers and contractors did the work (1:5; 3:7). It shows the importance of preparation time, with rebuilding not beginning until the second year of the Jews’ return (3:8). It shows how opposition may come (ch. 4). But one thing in the story particularly stood out to me. A whole year before any building began, the Jews erected the altar (3:1-6). The people worshiped “though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid” (v. 6). Worship came first.
Is God calling you to start something new? Ezra’s principle is poignant whether you’re starting a charity, a Bible study, a creative project, or some new task at work. Even a God-given project can take our attention away from Him, so let’s focus on God first. Before we work, we worship.
By Sheridan Voysey
REFLECT & PRAY
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Why do you think the Jews built the altar first? How could worship fit into your workflow today?
Heavenly Father, I worship You as Lord of all, including the tasks You’ve given me to do today.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The book of Ezra is one of the post-exilic books in the Old Testament, meaning it recounts events following the exile of Judah to Babylon. After seventy years in captivity, when the people were allowed to return to the land of their forefathers, they found Jerusalem a mere shadow of its former glory. With both the impact of Babylon’s attack and the seven decades of neglect having taken its toll, the city needed to be rebuilt. However, the people also needed to be rebuilt in their relationship with God as His covenant people. Described as a teacher of the law (Ezra 7:6, 10), Ezra reestablished the law of Moses and called the people to worship the God their ancestors had forsaken—which had prompted the exile in the first place. Ezra was also of the priestly line, descending from Seraiah, the last chief priest to serve in Solomon’s temple (2 Kings 25:18).
Bill Crowder |
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UR: Patient Waiting
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. - Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)
In the summer before my senior year of high school, I worked as a waitress at an inn in New Hampshire. As I sat on the front porch steps waiting for my father to come for me, the warm sun was peering through the leaves of the tall elms, and the soft breeze gently tousled my hair. I was content to wait patiently.
A guest leaving the inn noticed me and said, “Patience is a virtue.” That encounter has remained with me. I pondered it, realizing that in that moment it was easy to be patient. Waiting on the inn steps, I had no fear that my father would not come for me. I trusted in his concern for me, and I knew he would not abandon me. My father soon came, and I relaxed in the warmth and comfort of his presence.
I have also learned to await patiently the Lord’s direction in my life. Our heavenly Father cares for us, too, and our patience and expectant waiting is never in vain. When we realize that God is in control of our lives, we can release our tensions and frustrations to God. We will never be abandoned.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for always being patient with us. Help us to wait patiently and trust that you will guide us as we await your answer to our concerns. Amen.CS:
Saturday, July 13 2024
Sarah blog below and its' reminder that God is always with us and the call to embrace and remember that always! Keep her in your prayer at the loss of a dear friend and former co-worker and pray for their family
Awesome day of ministry at bread and donut day yesterday! Thank you all who hung out and allowed God to use you! Next one is Wed Aug 14th
Next Wed at 6 we will gather in our St. Matts T-shirts and chill at Rita's Emmaus (if severe weather, we will move to the Creamery (ice cream shop up the street) If you would like to order a T-shirt see Gail L. Ordered shirts are expected Sunday.
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Good Morning Friends!
Please spend some time in our devotionals for today and Sarah's blog. I gotta fly to go visit our granddaughter early today. But God really has threaded all of these through Sarah's blog and is speaking to our hearts today. I have to share that in ODB's passage I saw something I missed before (1 Tim. 1:14 "The grace of the Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love THAT ARE IN CHRIST." do you understand that we are given abundant grace no matter what we face and we are given the faith and love that are in Jesus! WOW! He fills us with His love and gives us His faith. We can wield that to endure whatever we face as we remember Christ is always with us and always working things together for good! AMEN! Charles Stanley reminds of our true identity we get to put on when we are reborn in Christ. The Upper Room reminds us to give God our heavy burdens, don Jesus' easy yoke and travel light. An TWFYT reminds us to trust God and honor Him in all we do. he is worthy!
Meditate on these, journal what God is saying and process with some friends! Have a blessed day! Quote of the day from yesterday< "Your a pastor? Why are you so happy?" Let the world see the joy of the Lord in you today! Surprise them with your love and joy!
ODB:
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I expected eight bananas. Instead, when I opened the grocery bags delivered to my home, I discovered twenty bananas! I quickly realized that my move to England meant I also moved from ordering groceries in pounds to requesting them in kilograms. Instead of three pounds, I had ordered three kilograms (nearly seven pounds!) of bananas.
With such an abundance, I made several batches of a favorite banana bread recipe to share the blessing with others. As I mashed up the fruit, I began thinking about the other areas of my life where I have experienced unexpected abundance—and each path led back to God.
Paul appears to have had a similar experience of reflecting on God’s abundance in his life. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul paused to describe his life before Jesus, describing himself as a “persecutor and a violent man” (1 Timothy 1:13); “the worst of sinners” (v. 16). Into Paul’s brokenness, God lavishly poured out grace, faith, and love (v. 14). After recounting all the abundance in his life, the apostle couldn’t help but express praise to God, declaring Him worthy of all “honor and glory for ever and ever” (v. 17).
Like Paul, we all received an overwhelming abundance of grace when we accepted Jesus’ offer of rescue from sin (v. 15). As we pause to reflect on all the resulting blessings, we’ll find ourselves joining Paul in grateful praise to our generous God.
By Lisa M. Samra
REFLECT & PRAY
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How have you experienced God’s abundance in your life? How will you offer praise to Him today?
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your overwhelming gift of grace.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Paul’s self-reflective narrative in his first letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:12-17) interrupts a longer discussion aimed at dealing with corrupt teachers spreading false doctrines in the church. Among the people Timothy is to watch out for are those who “want to be teachers of the law” (v. 7). The apostle explains that the law is good for identifying wrongdoing and bringing wrongdoers to repentance.
And then Paul identifies himself as the worst of them all. Not only does he condemn himself under the law as “a blasphemer . . . and a violent man” (v. 13), he zealously tries to defend that very law (see Acts 9:1-2; Philippians 3:1-6). In a way, the apostle uses his own story to present hope even for those who do wrong in and to the church. They can be redeemed, his own story says, if only by the grace of God. But that grace is more than enough.
Dive into the wisdom Paul offers Timothy and us.
Jed Ostoich |
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CS:
UR: Packing Light
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28 (NRSVUE)
On my last vacation, I was going to be out of town less than a week, so I decided to take only a carry-on and a personal item. However, after packing the essentials and many nonessentials, my bags were overstuffed and weighed down, which ultimately placed more stress on me than if I had chosen not to carry the bags.
Emotional baggage, like physical baggage, has the power to weigh us down and cause stress. When we choose to carry more than is necessary, we are telling God that we don’t need help because we can handle it all on our own. However, it doesn’t have to be this way.
Today’s quoted verse encourages us to bring our burdens to God, while Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you.” These verses highlight the fact that by handing our burdens to God, we receive strength and rest. Let us give our burdens over to God and accept God’s offer to carry them.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Compassionate God, thank you for lightening our burdens and giving us strength and rest. Give us wisdom to accept your help each day. Amen.TWFYT:
Sarah Blog:
Good evening, everyone,
Have you ever had one of those times when you lost something, and you looked everywhere to find it?
Perhaps it was your keys, wallet, checkbook, a book, the TV remote........
And you couldn't imagine where that item could be - I know of a few people who couldn't find their glasses, only to be told that they were on top of their head. OR perhaps you are looking for your cell phone and later only realize you are talking on it.
But we search all over for that lost item and retrace your steps and places you already looked and the second or possibly the third time, when you are looking, there is the item, right there where you had previously looked.
Each of us probably experience this at least once/twice a week - some of us, perhaps more often. I was thinking how often in our Jesus journey, we experience the same thing......How many times do we have experiences in our lives, situations that arise, difficult moments, health issues - and we ask, "Where is God?" We have a difficult time "Seeing God!"
Many times, we are looking for the bigger picture or perhaps we are having tunnel vision or satan is distracting us, luring our attention away from God and what God is doing in our lives/through our situations.
Satan wants us to focus on what we are able to physically see - whatever is happening right in front of us, pain, troubles, uncertainties, financial stress, unanswered questions.
As God's children we need to work hard every day to follow through with obeying/keeping focus. Hebrews 12:2 says "Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends on beginning to end."
Jesus reminds us that no matter what is going on in our lives - in Deuteronomy 31:8 and Hebrews 13:5-6 He promises that "I will never leave you nor forsake you." God promises He is always with us - It's with our physical eyes that we see what's going on around us - BUT GOD....has also given us spiritual eyes - spiritual eyes that help us see/make us aware of the spiritual things that are happening around us but are invisible to our human eyes.
In our world, the big request is usually "Show me the evidence" - we have all grown accustomed to only believing what is right in front of us, what we can physically see. Truth of the matter is - God is always working; working in our circumstances, working to help our finances; working to heal us...
If you and I would believe this, it would help us to maintain our HOPE in Him, and THEN we will SEE; recognize the evidence of His work, in His time, His way!
Joyce Meyer once said, "When I get discouraged because of a problem, I have been praying about, I would say out loud, "GOD IS WORKING"
The bible says if you will believe God is working, even when you don't see it or feel it, then God keeps working.
Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
Vs 6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God; because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
God is always with us, through whatever we are going through - JOY, Sadness, Difficulty......God is always right there!
May He open our eyes, so we are able to recognize His presence. Try to always walk in the knowledge that God is right beside you and His presence makes you UNSHAKABLE!
May we be able to say "I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me!" Psalm 16:8
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Prayer needs:
Mark Henninger had his cataract surgery and all went well. Continue prayers for healing and patience as he heals
Prayers for the Burke family - I learned today that a friend and coworker of mine, from Goodwill, who just recently retired, we on an Alaskan cruise. Her husband, daughter, grandchild, and herself went white water rafting. A landslide in the river, caused the raft to flip and become lodged. Unfortunately, Debbie's (my friend) injuries were to sever and she did not make it. Her husband, daughter, grandchild and raft guide are in the hospital in serious condition. Please keep this family in your prayers and the Goodwill family as they have learned of this tragic news.
Great time at Coffee, Donuts, Conversation today. 60 people passed through our doors to receive bread. And there were several church family members and bread volunteers there to greet them and share Jesus' love with them.
I believe that is all for now......
Stay cool....keep praying for rain!
Blessings,
Sarah
Harvest:
July 11 - Embrace God’s Purpose
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Jesus knew that He had been sent on purpose by His Father. That He lived on mission. He came to seek and save that which had been lost—the people that the Creator made in His image who had wandered from Him. Christ came to bring them back so their lives would worship and serve their King.
When Christ came to the most significant decision in His earthly life, He did not pray, “God, remove this from Me,” or, “Let me be comfortable,” or, “Save me from this pain.” As He faced the grueling prospect of the cross, the most effective prayer, the one that is always answered was this: "Father, glorify Your name."
God delights to answer this prayer and the results are stunning. This prayer, prayed from a humble, genuine heart, is the prayer that never fails.
Answer my cry, O Lord, in a way that will accomplish Your will, for Your will is good, acceptable, and perfect. If it is best for You then it is best for me and any others who may be affected by this prayer. Father, I want You to be magnified and seen in this circumstance. May all that happens ultimately glorify You!
---Adapted from Prayer with No Intermission by Bill Elliff. This book is available at prayershop.org.
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- Praise the one who came as the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6).
- Thank Jesus for giving peace to his beloved ones (Jn. 14:27).
- Confess those times when you’ve allowed Satan to fill your soul with unrest.
- Commit yourself to bearing the fruit of peace by the power of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22).
- Ask God to guard your heart and mind today with his peace (Phil. 4:7).
- Warfare, bloodshed, strife, and turmoil mar every corner of the globe these days. But the good news is that Christ came “to reconcile to himself all things . . . by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Col. 1:20). Pray for all those who seek to bring Christ’s reconciliation to a restless world.
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Saturday, July 13 2024
Thank God I'm Forgiven! And for so much more! What are you thankful about today? Tell God and share your joy with others!
I just accidently deleted probably my best blog in a long time. It took almost an hour to write and poof! Gone! Pride goes before the fall, right! Most of it was not from our devos below but they tied to it. meditate on them. Who might you process with?
Most of the blog was about unity with God and each other that comes as we come to Christ. We are one and Jesus prayed we would be the night before the crucifixion. PTL! Ask God for some ideas for us to gather together more often to pray, study, and serve. pray for some small groups to do that with or maybe for your home to become a gathering place. Let us commit to living this life in Christ together well! PTL that He has created us and joined us together for such a time as this. Seek Him and His plans for that.
I prayed for you a lot this morning. God is at work already bringing all things together according to His plans. he's preparing you and us and wanting to shepherd us to His best. Have a blessed day. Turn off the noise. Sit at His feet. Die to self and allow Him to crucify your sins and hindrances and put on Jesus' easy yoke as you follow Him today. Amen!
Shalom!
22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
CS:
UR: A Lesson in Humility
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. - Philippians 2:3 (NIV)
We have an avocado tree on our property. When in season, the tree is so fruitful that our family of seven struggles to eat all the avocados. Often when I travel back to the city, I carry a sack of avocados to share with my friends and workmates.
One evening, almost one hundred avocados were strewn on the ground around the tree, so my dad had invited neighbors to come and collect some.
As I observed the tree and the many people collecting avocados, I gained a new understanding of humility.
The avocado tree is fruitful enough to feed dozens of people, and even though people thank my dad and me for the avocados instead of thanking the tree, it just humbly sways to the rhythm of the wind and blesses us with more fruit.
Our avocado tree reminds me always to be humble, even in success. God promises to bless and exalt each of us and to prepare a table for us, but the Bible reminds us always to stay humble.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son, who humbled himself for our sake. Remind us to remain humble like Christ. Amen.
TWFYT:
Harvest:
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July 12 - For God Does Speak
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Unfortunately, many churches today teach that God speaks only through the Bible. That teaching comes out of a fear of excess. Many have seen others abuse authority and power by saying, “God told me that you (or we) should (fill in the blank).” Or they’ve seen people who put as much weight on what they thought they heard God saying to them as they did on Scripture. Both of those criticisms are accurate. People often do both of those things. But you do not throw out something clearly taught in Scripture (the fact that God speaks to His followers) because of a few people’s abuses.
Writing on this topic, prayer leader Timothy Jones comments, “Some Christians conclude that God said all that needed saying 2,000 years ago. He stopped talking much when Jesus ascended and the Bible was compiled. Our listening, they argue, should be confined to what we read in Scripture. Perhaps, they allow, God communicates through ethical principles or a pastor or religious leader. But a specific, personal word? That smacks of mysticism or wishful thinking.”
I am confident in telling you that God does indeed speak today! Both experience and Scripture bear this out. In John 10:27, Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (emphasis added). Earlier in that chapter, speaking of natural sheep and the shepherd, Jesus said, “The sheep listen to [the shepherd’s] voice” (verse 3). God told Isaiah “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21, emphasis added). The indication is that communication—through speaking and hearing—will take place between God and His followers. As you grow in your prayer life and learn some listening skills, you will hear God talking to you.
Loving Father, thank You that You are still speaking today! Your voice comes in so many different ways, because You are a creative God! You know just what I need to hear and how I need to hear it, if I will be attentive to Your voice. Teach me to be a good listener so that I can faithfully walk in Your ways.
--Adapted from The Power of Personal Prayer (Learning to Pray with Faith and Purpose) by Jonathan Graf. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God for his patience.
- Thank the Lord for being patient with you and allowing you to come to repentance in Christ (2 Pet. 3:9).
- Confess impatience you have felt or expressed toward God or other people.
- Commit yourself to bearing the fruit of patience through the power of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22).
- Ask God to fill you with his patience.
- Impatience is a hallmark of our me-first society. Pray that the church will have a softening influence, proclaiming and demonstrating a patient “Jesus-first” message. Ask that the church will be patient even in the midst of affliction (Rom. 12:12).
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. |
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Saturday, July 13 2024
Sarah Update below
Good Morning Supple, Adjusting, Faithful Followers of Jesus! He is the Way! He brings the Truth alive! He gives life as we submit to Him. We need to remain supple, moldable, teachable and willing to adjust to what He reveals and what He leads to. Help us Lord! This train of though flows right from our devos for today. What's God revealing to you as you ask Him to search your heart? What are you willing to do about it? Who is praying with you, encouraging you and holding your feet in the fire to do so? God has great custom made plans just for you! Rejoice! Ask Him to help you stay focused on Him, cleansed and ready to follow well, and humble yourself as you trust, correct and obey. He loves you and wants you to choose His best. Do it today! He is our source, strength and help! Turn off the noise and distractions and focus on Him and His will for you! I already prayed for you! Shalom and enjoy this day in the Lord!
ODB: Ask God to do this and receive from Him with an open heart and mind and ask for a willingness and help to adjust to Him!
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To reduce food waste, a supermarket chain in Singapore sells slightly blemished fruits and vegetables at lower prices. In one year, this initiative saved more than 850 tons (778,000 kg) of produce that previously would’ve been thrown out for not meeting aesthetic standards. Shoppers soon learned that outward appearances—scars and quirky shapes—don’t affect flavor and nutritional value. What’s on the outside doesn’t always determine what’s on the inside.
The prophet Samuel learned a similar lesson when he was sent by God to anoint the next king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1). When he saw Eliab, the firstborn son of Jesse, Samuel thought he was the chosen one. But God said: “Do not consider his appearance or his height . . . . People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (v. 7). Out of Jesse’s eight sons, God chose the youngest, David—who was tending his father’s sheep (v. 11)—to be the next king.
God is more concerned with our hearts than with outward credentials—the school we attended, what we earn, or how much we volunteer. Jesus taught His disciples to focus on purifying their hearts of selfish and evil thoughts because “what comes out of a person is what defiles them” (Mark 7:20). Just as Samuel learned not to consider outward appearances, may we, with God’s help, examine our hearts—our thoughts and intentions—in all that we do.
By Jasmine Goh
REFLECT & PRAY
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When have you done a “good thing” with the wrong motive? How can you ensure that what’s in your heart is pure?
Dear God, please help me to do what honors You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
When David was selected to succeed Saul as king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:8-12), it was because God saw his heart and that it was bent toward Him. David was far from perfect, for the Scriptures describe his failures very clearly. He had a continuing desire to maintain a pure heart before God, however, as expressed in Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Bill Crowder |
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CS: Not my will but Yours O Lord!
TWFYT: I can do all things in Christ's strength for when I am weak, He is strong!
UR: Help in Old Age. Choose joy, worship, trust, die to selfyyh and become a joy bringer!
The Lord said, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. - Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)
One morning I woke up with a stiff neck and a throbbing headache. I have arthritis in my neck from a past injury that causes occasional headaches, but this one was worse than usual. With my husband away on business and no family living close by, I felt weak and vulnerable. I texted a prayer request to the women in my weekly Bible study. They soon texted back their prayers. One woman, Sarah, called to pray with me over the phone.
One of Sarah’s prayers particularly grabbed my attention: “God, we thank you for the body parts that are working well.” Hearing her words, I realized how often my conversations with friends are dominated by complaints over our aches and ailments. At 68, I sometimes feel like everything in my body is wearing out. I’m ashamed to confess that it hadn’t occurred to me to thank God for the parts that are still working.
When our call ended, I took time to thank God for eyes that can still see sunsets and red roses; for ears that can still hear symphonies and my dog’s delighted squeals; for a mouth that can still taste strawberries and chocolate and fried chicken. Soon, joy replaced my distress as I remembered God’s promise to care for me even as I grow old.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Father God, thank you for our wonderful bodies. Thank you for promising to care for us all our days, even as our bodies are aging. Amen.
Harvest prayer starters...choose joy and be a joy bringer!
- Rejoice with the prophet Isaiah, who wrote, “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness” (Isa. 61:10).
- Thank God for producing such joy in your life.
- Confess any lack of Christian joy. Commit yourself to bearing the fruit of joy through the power of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22).
- Ask God to fill you with an inexpressible and glorious joy (1 Pet. 1:8).
- Pray for your own expression of joy in the Lord. Do unbelievers recognize it in you? Do they know the source of your joy? Ask God to make your joy genuinely contagious.
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| Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. |
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Sarah Update:
Good morning, everyone,
Received some folks that are in need of our prayers, so passing them on to you, so you are able to start
lifting them up and supporting them through your prayers.
Dean, has asked for prayer for a friend of his - Debra Swisher Rivell - she is having some health issues and is low on oxygen and her red blood cell count is low. May we pray for her healing and the doctors and medical team working with her.
John Chobot has been diagnosed with prostrate cancer. May we praying for a miracle of healing and strengthening, also pray for his medical team as they work with John in coming up with the best plan of treatment. Also keep Donna, his wife in your prayers as they go on this journey together, and the rest of his family, Tim and Megan.
Continue to pray for those in our church family that are having medical tests done to find out what is causing their symptoms and/or that are struggling physically and emotionally: Ramon, Marylou, Tracy, Diane
Pray for Larry and Enol and their sons as they wrap up their time here in the states. They will be headed back to the Phillipians next week. Prayers for their son Richard, who is looking at various colleges, praying the Lord's guidance and direction in his life, and may he be open to where God is leading him.
Continue to lift up and check in on one another. If the Lord lays someone on your heart, pause and pray for them.
Stay cool everyone, and don't forget that if you are doing anything, Coffee, Donuts and Conversation are happening TOMORROW, in our Fellowship Hall from 10 - 12pm.....why not come and hang out!!
Blessings,
Sarah
Saturday, July 13 2024
Good Morning Team! I wasn't going to do a blog today and I really am not. Man there was so much good stuff in our devotionals today, it's hard not to write something! For those of you that don't have the devos, I'll include them at the bottom. Check them out and ask God to speak to your heart as you do! He will!
The reason I am doing this today after my delayed start due to some tests I had today (All is well! PTL!), is the Harvest Prayer Tuesday blogs are so relevant to what we talked about Sunday and our call to pray and be instruments of revival. Check them out! Pray! And GO! God has great plans just for you today--always! PLEASE! Take some time to read and meditate on the UPPER Room Model for revival! Please! God is calling us to pray and go.
Stay cool! Stay inside, turn off the TV and connect to God! Ask for some holy hydration and for streams of living water to flow from us to this weary land! Amen! Bring revival Lord! Send us! Amen!
Dave Butts Blog:
WHAT CAN THE RIGHTEOUS DO?
by Dave Butts
As our nation continues its moral spiral downward, a scripture that is increasingly referred to is Psalm 11:3: “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” It is certainly a contemporary question. The problem comes when we try to supply our own answer to this important question. The answers can come fast and furious: vote this way, protest this action, write your congress person, boycott that group…and much more. All of those answers actually might be valid in small ways. The difficulty is that they are all insufficient and fail to address the answer found in scripture.
When we pick one verse, we often do so at the expense of the verses around it. That’s especially true in this case. The answer to the compelling question, “What can the righteous do?” is found in verse 4. “The Lord is in his holy temple; The Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.” The answer to the question is simple – Look up! God is still in charge.
When seismic changes are taking place in culture, it looks as though everything is falling apart. Our nature is to jump in and try to fix it, or to retreat in despair and discouragement. The command of God’s Word though, is to look to The Lord. It’s time to pray. It’s time to draw near and realize that ultimately God is in charge and nothing is happening of which he is unaware. It doesn’t mean that we might not need other action in addition to prayer. But after we have prayed, our actions will not be acts of desperation but that which emerges from the leadership of the Holy Spirit. God is still on His throne. And we are those who come boldly into His throne room to lay before him our requests for His will to be poured out on earth as it is in heaven. What can the righteous do? We can pray!
Harvest Blog:
The Upper Room: God’s Revival Model
By Armin Gesswein
The Book of Acts is the greatest book on revivals which has ever been written – greater than Charles Finney’s word or that of Jonathan Edwards – God’s own Word.
I spoke one day to the Youth for Christ leaders at the Moody Church in Chicago about revival. Afterward, standing on the steps of that great church, Ken Anderson said to me, “Armin, you ought to write a book on revival.” At once I said, “Ken, that book has already been written. It is the book of Acts!” It really surprised him.
I have read the Acts hundreds of times, and portions of it a few thousand times. Here is one of the plainest books in the Bible, yet I often miss or read right past what is very plain. In chapter one I read right past verse 4, in which our risen Lord gives His last and in a real sense, His most powerful, most commanding command. He actually “charged” them, a military term, “not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father” (ASV).
He literally commanded them to go to the Upper Room and to abide in prayer. And they did. In verses 14 and 15 we read that these all, about 120, continued in prayer and supplication.
Why did they do it? Because Jesus commanded it. Our trouble today is that we have not seen the Upper Room prayer meeting as a command of Jesus. We seem to have little authority when it comes to getting our churches into prayer meetings and all that God wants to do there. I have to say to congregations: “If Jesus commanded you to go to prayer meetings, would you go?” “Well, yes,” they reply, “if Jesus told me to, I would go.” “Well, He does tell you, commands you, to go. Will you go?”
The Great Commission is our mission in the Church. We hold to that, and uphold it. And here is the last, most forceful and imperative of all His commandments, and we don’t heed it, often don’t even seem to hear it. This is a great part of our problem and weakness – getting corporate prayer and revival back into our churches (Acts 1:4).
In Acts 1 we have a full account of Jesus’ last day on earth and of His last things, which are now to be our first things. His last command becomes our first responsibility.
Secret of the Upper Room
The Upper Room pattern holds the secret of it all. There the Lord shut about 120 people in a prayer meeting and gave them the keys to the kingdom of heaven. With it He gave us His masterpiece, and His master plan for revival. He at once made it the centerpiece of the New Testament, and of history – turning history into His Story for revival, and for everything else, including the fulfillment of His Great Commission.
One little prayer meeting of about 120 in an Upper Room in the city of Jerusalem is to do it all? Who would believe it? Who would have thought of it? No man! Men have tried to improve on that plan, but they always fail. “But, dear Lord, don’t You have an alternate plan? A back-up plan, in case this one fails?”
Jesus could answer something like this: “No, I have no alternate plan. And My plan will not fail! That prayer meeting will do it all! It will be so powerful that even the gates of hell will not prevail against it. It will speedily become My Church, and I’m going to change the world with it. You just read the book of Acts and you will see how I do it!
“In fact, I did tell you. Were you listening? I told you in My last word on earth. I never spoke more plainly. Did you hear Me? ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1:8 NIV). Didn’t you hear Me? I’m going to change the world through abiding prayer.”
How Are Our Prayer Meetings?
That’s the big question in all our praying for revivals. The acid test of New Testament revival is the Church. And the acid test of the Church and of the churches is prayer and prayer meetings.
The devil is no fool! He knows what’s going on in our lives, and in our churches. He also knows God’s plan. So he is very busy working overtime, to kill churches. All he has to do is kill abiding prayer and prayer meetings and that church is dead!
The Spirit of Prayer is the Spirit of Revival. The first revival in any genuine revival is a revival of prayer. The revival spirit leaves churches when true prayer meetings depart; and revival returns with the return of abiding prayer and prayer meetings. It’s that simple! And there is no other way.
Pentecost, let us not forget, came to a prayer meeting in that Upper Room and to those 120 Christians praying in one accord. There the Lord gave the standard, the pattern of revival, indeed, the pattern for every church since Pentecost.
Revival is not subtle – it is simple. Revival truth is the plainest truth in Scripture. All backsliding is from plain Scripture, not from all the prophetic mysteries we do not understand. Let us not complicate the message of revival!
The devil has decimated and all but devastated the prayer life of Christians and of their homes and of their churches. Many churches still don’t have prayer meetings. And where they do, they usually are the weakest, most anemic of all the many meetings.
But the Lord is changing this. Thank the Lord for the many new movements of prayer. We are on our way back to the Upper Room, back to the real, normal pattern of the Spirit-filled life for every Christian and for every church.
The Upper Room is God’s own master plan to bring revival. That plan has not changed; it is still God’s plan today. Will you go to the Upper Room?
From Intercessors For America Newsletter 4/99.
Armin Gesswein was a pastor and revivalist who founded the Pastor’s Revival Fellowship. His book With One Accord in One Place is a modern classic that looks at prayer in the early church.
TWFYT:
UR: Helping Others
The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” - Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
Every week I travel 20 kilometers by bus to my workplace. One summer day on the bus, I sat next to a couple traveling with their young son. They only had an empty water bottle with them, and the little boy became thirsty and started crying. I immediately gave his father my water bottle, and the boy drank from it and stopped crying.
The next day I went to the bank to credit my paycheck. I learned that due to an employee strike, my check would not be credited until the next day. I only had a small amount of money with me, so I decided to spend it on lunch and borrow money from someone for my evening meal.
That evening, I ate at a hotel. When I went to the counter to pay, the cashier told me that somebody had already paid for my meal. It was a miracle for me, and I did not have to ask anyone to lend me money. As we help others in their times of need, God will provide for us too.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, grant us loving hearts and minds to help the people we come in contact with today. We ask this as we pray the prayer Jesus taught us, “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation” (Luke 11:2-4, NIV). Amen.
ODB:
Actress Sally Field finally felt what we all long for. When she won a second Oscar in 1985, she exclaimed in her acceptance speech: “I’ve wanted more than anything to have your respect. The first time I didn’t feel it. But this time I feel it. And I can’t deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me.”
An Ethiopian eunuch was also amazed by his acceptance. As a gentile and as a eunuch, he was denied entrance into the temple’s inner courts (see Ephesians 2:11-12; Deuteronomy 23:1). Yet he yearned to be included. Philip found him returning from another unsatisfying pilgrimage to Jerusalem (Acts 8:27).
The Ethiopian man was reading Isaiah, which promised that eunuchs who “hold fast to my covenant” will receive “within my temple and its walls a memorial and . . . an everlasting name” (Isaiah 56:4-5). How could this be? Then Philip “told him the good news about Jesus,” and the man responded, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” (Acts 8:35-36).
He was asking, Am I really allowed in? Do I belong? Philip baptized him as a sign that Jesus had bulldozed every barrier (Ephesians 2:14). Jesus embraces—and unites—everyone who turns from sin and puts their trust in Him. The man “went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:39). He finally and fully belonged.
By Mike Wittmer
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Why do all believers in Jesus belong in His family? How might baptism impress this fact on your heart?
Dear Jesus, I belong with God and His family because I belong to You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Eunuchs were men—usually castrated—who served as officials in a royal court. Both Greeks and Jews often looked down on eunuchs; Greeks sometimes mocked them as “half-men,” while Jews might disdain them for their inability to produce heirs and because the law of Moses excluded them from entering “the assembly of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 23:1). However, the prophet Isaiah spoke of God’s full acceptance of eunuchs and foreigners who sincerely worshiped and sought Him (Isaiah 56:3-8). In baptizing the eunuch in Acts 8:26-39, Philip affirmed that this man was fully included and embraced in the family of God.
Monica La Rose |
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CS:
Saturday, July 13 2024
(Note: No blog tomorrow as I will be having some test very early. Spend two days in this very important message from God! and pray like crazy!)
Good Morning Good News Bringing, Sent, Revivalists! Oh that is you and us! PTL! Yesterday God spoke to us as we celebrated all He has been doing and we began praying into what's next. He has great plans for you and us that are custom made for such a time as this and coming alive as we trust, obey and step into who we are in Christ and start doing what He made us to do. PTL! I mean really praise God for all He is doing and has plans to do! We are on our way to becoming His dynamic movement bringing revival and being used to transform our neighborhoods through the love of Christ. AMEN! So, what's your part? Check out the attachment at the bottom, or if you have one in your hand from yesterday, pray through this handout about becoming God's Good News Delivery Co. Man, the world is in need of Jesus and some Good news that He has given you to bring! What's your part? Pray about that and commit to be about what you are created to become and do! Go live and love more in '24! Amen!
Maybe you noticed yesterday how God showed up and spoke during our worship service? He spoke to our hearts through what some of us shared. Did you hear Him? He pronounced some prophesies over some of us too. The Holy Spirit brought His Word alive during my message time as I only read a few paragraphs and then He started speaking our purposes over us, encouraging us, and stirring some ideas and vision plans. I love when God does this and His presence becomes very real! Check out the Dave Butts blog about revival attached to the handout. What's God saying to you? What will you do about it? We need to pray earnestly for revival and for the harvest and God's plans for us to come to life. We need to be praying! Some of you are called to prayer as your part in His Good News Delivery Co. I am feeling nudged to have a prayer service or three for revival too. Would you attend? Maybe we could do it on zoom too? BUT we need to start praying earnestly, sharing what we are hearing so our prayers can be more informed and so we can start processing and doing what God is revealing. And we need to keep praising and celebrating! God often shares bits and pieces with several people. He may also be forming up some smaller prayer groups that He reveals pieces to to pray and then maybe even go do something. We are sent to bring the Good News and transform neighborhoods with God's love, hope and help! Who is God revealing to you that needs some Good News? What is that good news He wants you to bring to their chaos? What will you do about it? begin with prayer and then team up with some others to go or to pray for and cover you as you go as God's vessel to change a life. He has great plans for you and for someone He is bringing to mind right now!
In case you think I be making things up as I go, check out all our devotionals and blogs for today! God clearly is speaking a word to us today and He does have some great plans for us to discover and pursue and earnestly pray into! He even has those custom made things for you for such a time as this being revealed. PTL! What's He saying to you? How does He want you to pray? Will you pray, serve, go, as you are and as His vessel for such a time as this? That's the question of the year! He does have great plans for you and for some others through you! Seek first the Kingdom of God and don't lean on your own thinking--process with some others too and go live and love more like Jesus! Amen! And remember that Jesus' easy yoke for you is easy because you are made, equipped and empowered to do it for such a time as this!
So? What's for today and what's next Lord? Lead us! Come Father! Revive us! Send us as Your revivalists that bring Good News to those You are preparing. Come! Fill us! Lead us! Use us for Your glory! Bring revival and may it begin in and through me/us! Your Kingdom come and will be done! Amen!
I can't wait to see what God has planned for us and what He will do in and through each of you! I know He has some really great things ahead that begin today as we pray, seek, keep knocking and listen! And then as we process, plan and go, He will bring revival and expand our territory! Amen! I'm praying for you right now! And I'm just worshiping and praising God for encouraging us, His easy yoke, and preparing us to complete our missions! Amen! Yes rejoice!
Our Daily Bread:
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In the early 1800s, Elizabeth Fry was appalled by the conditions in a London women’s prison. Women and their children were crowded together and made to sleep on the cold stone floors. Although they weren’t given bedding, a tap flowed with gin. For years, she visited the prison and ushered in change by providing clothes, opening a school, and teaching the Bible. But many saw her biggest influence as her loving presence and clear messages of hope.
In her actions, she followed Jesus’ invitation to serve those in need. For instance, while on the Mount of Olives, Christ shared several stories about the end of the age, including one about the welcome of “the righteous to eternal life” (Matthew 25:46). In this story, the King tells the righteous people that they gave Him something to drink, invited Him in, and visited Him in prison (vv. 35-36). When they couldn’t recall doing so, the King responds: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (v. 40).
What a wonder that when we serve others with the help of the Holy Spirit, we serve Jesus! We can follow Elizabeth Fry’s example, and we can also serve from home, such as through intercessory prayer or sending encouraging messages. Jesus welcomes us to love Him as we use our spiritual gifts and talents to assist others.
By Amy Boucher Pye
REFLECT & PRAY
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How do you react to hearing that we serve Jesus when we serve others? How could you reach out to someone in need?
Loving Jesus, please help me discern where I can put my love into action today.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Matthew 25:31-40 opens with Christ’s words about the time of judgment when the sheep (believers in Jesus) will be separated from the goats (unbelievers): “He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left” (v. 33). What does this parable represent? The Expositor’s Bible Commentary offers this explanation: “In the countryside, sheep and goats mingled during the day. At night they were often separated. Sheep tolerate the cool air, but goats have to be herded together for warmth. In sparse grazing areas the animals might be separated during the day as well. But now these well-known, simple, pastoral details are freighted with symbolism. The right hand is the place of power and honor.”
Bill Crowder |
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Charles Stanley:
Upper Room: Refreshed
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and God will say, “I’m here.” - Isaiah 58:9 (CEB)
I was attempting to process a document for the senior center where I volunteer, but the sender wanted an electronic signature. On a good day I can master email, but I soon concluded that the e-signature wasn’t going to happen.
I have had similar frustrations with computer passwords, weak cell phone signals, dropped calls, car clocks that don’t want to be reset, and smart televisions that are clearly smarter than me.
What a blessing it is, I thought, that our Lord offers frustration-free, two-way communication 24 hours a day, seven days a week! The lines are always open, and no password is required. A simple prayer uttered during a busy day never results in an error message.
I realize the value and efficiency of the latest technology, but I’m far more comfortable with low-tech devices. I also prefer the simple practices of prayer, meditation, and communing with nature. While modern technology can at times leave me feeling exhausted, a walk and talk with the Holy One on a forest path has never failed to leave me feeling refreshed and recommitted to following Christ by loving others.
TODAY'S PRAYER
O Lord, thank you for allowing us unlimited access to your peace and mercy, even in this busy, sometimes confusing world. Amen.
The Word for You Today:
Harvest Blogs:
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July 8 - Fulfilling God’s Mission
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There is no mystery about our mission. Whether we realize it or not, engage in it or not, we have one mission, for which Paul requested prayer.
“Pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make know with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:19-20).
Prayer is not merely about getting a few things for yourself or simply being helped when we are in trouble. It’s about advancing the kingdom of God! It is God’s weapon to help invade Enemy territory and snatch people from the jaws of Satan who has come to “steal, kill, and destroy.”
It is telling that almost every prayer Paul requested from others was for boldness to proclaim the gospel. Not for health, wealth, or prosperity. Not even for safety. Paul asked them to pray that he would open his mouth and boldly proclaim the gospel. He needed their prayers for mission-driven courage.
There are millions of people who are enslaved to the Enemy. We have the singular message that can release them from his clutches. They cannot be delivered unless we pierce through the Enemy lines and get the life-saving message to them. And prayer is the power that makes all of this work!
“Up in a little town in Maine, things were pretty dead some years ago. The churches were not accomplishing anything. There were a few Godly men in the churches, and they said: 'Here we are, only uneducated laymen; but something must be done in this town. Let us form a praying band. We will all center our prayers on one man. Who shall it be?'
They picked out one of the hardest men in town and centered all their prayers upon him. In a week, he was converted. They centered their prayers upon the next hardest man in town, and soon he was converted. Then they took up another and another, until within a year, over two hundred people were brought to God, and the fire spread out into all the surrounding country. Definite prayer for those in the prison house of sin is the need of the hour.”
When do lost people need to hear the gospel? All the time, every day. When do Christians need boldness to share the gospel? All the time, every day. When should we be praying for the fulfillment of God’s mission through us? All the time, every day.
Majestic Father, I confess my weakness and fear to boldly confess the gospel of Jesus Christ! There are so many people bent on heading to hell in my family, my city, my church, my nation and beyond. Give me boldness to share what You have done for me with those who desperately need to hear not just some good news, but the best news of all!
---Adapted from Simply Prayer by Bill Elliff. This book is available at prayershop.org.
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- Praise God as the one who again has supplied you with all you have needed this week.
- Thank him for putting some of his resources into your care.
- Confess any waste or mismanagement of those resources this week.
- Commit yourself to sharing with God’s people who are in need (Rom. 12:13).
- Ask God to bring to mind the name of someone with whom he would have you share by showing hospitality (12:13).
- Pray that your children and those of your friends learn principles of Christian stewardship from an early age. Ask God to make you an excellent example for them.
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. |
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Saturday, July 13 2024
Good Morning Powerful Intercessors, Prayer Warriors, and Prayer Apprentices! The earnest prayers of the righteous person are powerful and effective! Amen! And we are righteous because of our faith in Jesus and His finished work on the cross. PTL! So that means we can be powerful prayers. These blogs began as an attempt to trach us to pray, inform our prayers, remind us to journal and share all God is doing in response to our prayers. We'll do that soon in church as we celebrate all God has been doing. Check out Harvest Prayer's blog below for more teaching on prayer. Remember that Sarah and I and Mike and all our leaders covet your prayers! Thanks for Praying!
Our Words matter too. Start pronouncing blessings instead of curses. Start pronouncing life over things that are dead or dying. Choose your words well. Often when someone asks how I am doing, trying to be funny, I say I'm crazy. Now that explains a lot. But I need to stop pronouncing that! I do not want to go crazy or pronounce dementia over myself. I should say I'm very blessed. That would lead to further conversations and pronounce blessing over myself too. What are you pronouncing? Declaring? Pronounce life and blessings! Check out The Word for you today about this and prepare to start pronounce blessings and bringing God's will to life through your words and prayers. See ya soon!
Harvest:
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July 7 - Seeking God for Others
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What are some ways to develop your own personal ministry of intercession? Pick a few things outside your own needs for which to begin interceding. Start with areas or people that you feel some passion about. Perhaps it is your children or spouse, maybe your church or pastor, maybe the salvation of a neighbor or coworker. Once focused on the issues you feel led to pray about, begin seeking God as to how to pray for them. Do some fact-finding, if appropriate. If you are praying for your church or pastor, ask for requests. Where do they think they need prayer? Ask God for specific Scriptures to pray.
Do whatever works best for you to keep track. Maybe you want to keep a list in your Bible. Or, perhaps keep a journal where you can write down what you are praying for, what God is saying to you about that issue/person, and when the prayers were answered.
Lord God, I don’t always know the best way to pray for some of the people and situations in my life – but I know YOU do! Please help me to be a good listener so You can teach me and show me what is on Your heart for people and situations. I want my prayers to align with Your perfect will. Show me scriptures that will bear fruit in lives, change circumstances, and draw people into Your kingdom! Help me to keep track of what You do so that I can give You thanks as You answer! Then I can share Your goodness and faithfulness with others! Thank You Lord, for being willing to hear and respond to me when I seek You.
--Adapted from The Power of Personal Prayer (Learning to Pray with Faith and Purpose) by Jonathan Graf. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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TWFYT:
Saturday, July 06 2024
Good Morning Praying, Faithful, Friends of God! Jesus said we are no longer enemies of God and He taught us how to pray. PTL! Through our free gift of faith that we received from God, we find ourselves becoming more connected to Him, more faithful and trusting and obedient and really wanting to work at becoming more like Jesus. As His friends, He helps us, teaches us, molds us and leads us to His best. What joy we know in Christ! -These seem to be the theme threading through our devotionals for today (below). I'm going to let you sit at His feet and chat today as you spend time with Him through the devos. What's God saying to you?
We have much to celebrate and some things to keep working on. We also have some great things to discover yet in our journey to Christlikeness and for growing His Church. What's your custom part in all of that? Ask Him and for what He wants you to do next. Then do it! Tomorrow we will celebrate some of the great stories we have of God's faithfulness, share some of the dreams and visions He's given us to move forward and pray into His plans earnestly. Start with these devos and then intercede for tomorrow for His good works to be celebrated, His plans to come to life, His presence to overwhelm us and for His Kingdom to come and will to be known and done. Thanks!
Mediate on the prayer Jesus taught us as well: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come and will be done on earth as in heaven, Provide for all our needs today. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Forgive us our sins and help is to forgive and love as we have been forgiven and loved. May we live and love like You more in '24. For we want to honor You because You alone are worthy and Yours is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory. Amen! Be glorified as You lead us Lord. Amen!
UR: To Know God
“He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the Lord. - Jeremiah 22:16 (NIV)
As a teenager, I was often asked, “How is your relationship with God?” I was unsure how to respond because I could not hear the voice of God as it seemed others in the church could. Could I sincerely say that I knew God?
I prayed and asked God to speak to my heart.
The more I prayed and studied scripture, the more God worked in my heart. God did not speak to me as often as I wanted, but God did not leave me without an answer.
In Jeremiah 22:16, the prophet tells us what it means to know God: to do what is right and just and to defend the cause of the poor and needy. And Jesus rebuked the Pharisees saying, “You have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former” (Matt. 23:23). Live and work for truth, justice, goodness, but do not forget prayer and the study of scripture. Then, without a doubt you will be able to say, “I know God!”
TODAY'S PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for sending answers to our prayers that change our thinking and move us toward a fuller knowledge of who you are and how you call us to live. Amen.Harvest blogs:
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This week and this year each of us will face many different experiences. Problems will arise, burdens will come. Decisions will need to be made and many are life-altering. You might be facing some today. If not today, then soon.
What will we do? If we are serious followers of Jesus, we know we must pray, because only prayer brings God into the middle of our circumstances. God has created us in His image. As such, we have a certain level of control. We can decide to do things without God, or prayerfully invite Him in.
If we try to handle life alone, we will quickly discover that our mere humanity will fail us.
We all want to pray effectively. No one desires to lift some flimsy, selfish prayer that accomplishes little, but the "effective, fervent prayer" that “accomplishes much," of which James 5:16 speaks.
Jesus, as always, gives us the answer for effective prayer. He models for us the perfect prayer to pray in any situation—the prayer that is always rewarded: "Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” (John 12:27-28, emphasis mine)
Lord Jesus, my prayer life has fallen woefully short of Your example as You yielded Yourself to the will of the Father in the garden. Your word says that when I am weak, that is when You are the strongest in my life. Please look on the situation I am in, the people I am praying for, and all that I should be bringing to You in prayer that I have decided I have the right to fix myself. Remind me that You, the Almighty God, are on the other end of my prayer, seated on the throne of heaven, and that You alone have the authority to dwell in that place. It is not about seeking my own solution or answer, but Yours. Father, help me to see that You alone are to be glorified in the midst of my prayers!
---Adapted from Prayer with No Intermission by Bill Elliff. This book is available at prayershop.org.
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- Praise God as the one who will soon crush Satan under your feet (Rom. 16:20).
- Thank him for revealing the mysteries of his salvation to you (16:25-27).
- Asking God to show you your sin, confess any ways in which you have been involved in causing divisions in Christ’s people or have put up obstacles that impeded the spread of his Word (16:17-18).
- Commit yourself to being “wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil” (16:19).
- Pray for workers to go into the harvest fields of the world. Ask God to prompt his people to abundant contributions of finances, prayer, and encouragement to send these missionaries.
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. |
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Pastor Bailey’s newfound friend shared with him the story of his abuse and addiction. Though the young man was a believer in Jesus, because of his exposure to sexual abuse and pornography at an early age, he was plagued with a problem that was bigger than he was. And in his desperation, he reached out for help.
As believers in Christ, we wage war with unseen forces of evil (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). But we’ve been given weapons to fight our spiritual battles. They aren’t the weapons of the world, however. On the contrary, we’ve been given “divine power to demolish strongholds” (v. 4). What does that mean? “Strongholds” are well-built, secure places. Our God-given arms include “weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense” (6:7 nlt). Ephesians 6:13-18 expands the list of things that help protect us, including the Scriptures, faith, salvation, prayer, and the support of other believers. When faced with forces bigger and stronger than us, appropriating these munitions can make the difference between standing and stumbling.
God also uses counselors and other professionals to help those who struggle with forces too big to tackle alone. The good news is that in and through Jesus, we needn’t surrender when we struggle. We have the armor of God!
By Arthur Jackson
REFLECT & PRAY
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Who might you reach out to for support in your personal struggle? What spiritual armor will you put on?
Dear Jesus, You’re more powerful than any force—seen or unseen. I need Your presence and power to be at work in me today.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Putting on spiritual armor to fight our spiritual enemy is a theme throughout the New Testament. Believers in Jesus need His help and guidance to navigate this life and “fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). That’s why He’s given us His armor to equip us. Paul calls us to “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12 esv). In Ephesians 6:13-18, the apostle details what makes up the armor of God: “the belt of truth,” “the breastplate of righteousness,” “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace,” “the shield of faith,” “the helmet of salvation,” and “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Through faith, by God’s grace, we receive salvation and the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives us strength to fight, and our faith shields us from the enemy’s attacks.
Alyson Kieda |
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Saturday, July 06 2024
Thank God I'm Forgiven! PTL! Hallelujah! AMEN! How often do you question this? STOP! If you belong to Christ (You have asked Him to come live in you, forgive you, change you--You belong to God. PERIOD!) You were one way, came to Him, are forgiven, and now working on becoming more like Him, and now a new way and growing into your new nature as you shed the old more and more. PTL! TGIF! All of this ties to our devotionals below. Check them out prayerfully and prepare for the day God has planned for you. Rejoice!
Good Morning Transformed, Bold, Disciples and Apostles! Well this is probably part of the becoming process as you work on becoming more like Jesus and grow in these things. That's the perfect place to be as you humble yourself, die to self, take up cross and follow Jesus daily. Have you earnestly asked God to examine your life, ways and choices and thin out the junk and hindrances? We are a work in process, and prayerfully, progress. Tis the season to be weeding our gardens and harvesting some fruit, veggies and flowers. I've been doing tons of weeding lately physically and spiritually. How about you? I'm anxiously awaiting the promised good fruit from my efforts. What needs some weeding in your life? What are you doing about it? Yesterday a dear friend and I pondered this as we are both looking at what the last working years of our lives should look like and how to shed the good and better things for God's best. There's some weeding that needs to happen for the best fruit God has planned for us as we trust and follow Him. Jesus' modeled healthy rhythm of pruning, abiding, preparing and then good fruit production (the semi-circle) came to mind and the reminder of working from rest and pruning, abiding then fruit came to mind. What might God be stirring you to work on? God has some really good plans for you or He would have called you home. They are custom made for you for whatever season you are in. Focus in on those, shed the peripheral things that are ok but not His best. I think as we age we get better at this out of necessity and the new reality that we really cannot do it all or do all the things we used to. We learn to travel light and focus on the most important things. I wish I had learned and applied this earlier in life! BUT GOD is gracious and as we focus on Him, He helps us to shed the old and step into the new more earnestly. PTL! What are you focused on as you enter the last leg of the race set before you? What will you do about that? As I am learning this, God keeps stirring me to disciple and help others learn all this sooner in life and to choose God's best over self. I often think about how different my life would be had I learned and embraced and chose to live this way earlier in life. Who might God be bringing to your mind to mentor in this? Start praying for them and opportunities and boldness to go share in love and disciple well. Soon our building will be ready to accommodate small groups of disciple makers year round to gather in small discipleship groups. Pray into that and how may want to use you and who is drawing to join Him and us in this. Hone in on His best and pursue the very best and lasting fruit like Jesus, disciples and apostles. Amen! It only take mustard seed size faith to produce amazing fruit! PTL!
Check out our devotionals below and how they all tie to this. There is a thread. Do you see it? What's God saying to you today? Who are you processing and planning with? Who is God calling you to invite in? What will you focus in on and do? Daylights burning! Pray, Receive, Focus, Process, plan, GO! You are custom made for such a time as this! Great fruit is ripening! Can you taste it? Check out the Harvest Blog at the bottom because some of you will need to work on this and at turning off the noise, releasing anxiety to God and to obey by praying for our leaders, putting the country and world in His hands in prayer and refocusing on the things that He has for you to change the world one soul at a time. help us Lord! Amen!
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A longtime friend sent me a note after my husband’s death: “[Alan] was . . . a grappler with God. He was a real Jacob and a strong reason why I am a Christian today.” I’d never thought to compare Alan’s struggles with the patriarch Jacob’s, but it fit. Throughout his life, Alan struggled with himself and wrestled with God for answers. He loved God but couldn’t always grasp the truths that He loved him, forgave him, and heard his prayers. Yet his life had its blessings, and he positively influenced many.
Jacob’s life was characterized by struggle. He connived to get his brother Esau’s birthright. He fled home and struggled for years with his kinsman and father-in-law, Laban. Then he fled Laban. He was alone and afraid to meet Esau. Yet he’d just had a heavenly encounter: “The angels of God met him” (Genesis 32:1), perhaps a reminder of his earlier dream from God (28:10-22). Now Jacob had another encounter: all night he wrestled with a “man,” God in human form, who renamed him Israel, because he “struggled with God and with humans and [overcame]” (32:28). God was with and loved Jacob despite and through it all.
All of us have struggles. But we’re not alone; God is with us in each trial. Those who believe in Him are loved, forgiven, and promised eternal life (John 3:16). We can hold fast to Him.
By Alyson Kieda
REFLECT & PRAY
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When have you wrestled with God? How is it comforting to know He’s with you in your struggles?
Dear God, please help me to bring my questions and troubles to You knowing You hear them. One day my questions will be no more.
For further study, read Making Decisions God’s Way.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Jacob’s wrestling match with a stranger, who turns out to be God in human form (Genesis 32:24-30), marks a turning point in his life and is the event that explains the origin of the name of the nation of Israel. The name Israel can be translated “the one who strives with God” or “God strives.” Israel is a combination of the Hebrew words sarah (“to rule,” “contend with,” or “strive”) and El, the Hebrew name for God. Jacob names the place of his life-changing encounter with God Peniel, which means “the face of God.”
Monica La Rose |
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Upper Room: Prayer Changes Us
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. - Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
Years ago, an assistant pastor of the church to which I belonged at that time spoke to me in such angry tones that I wanted to change churches. However, since I was in charge of a special ministry in that church with people depending on me, I stayed.
The last thing I wanted to do was pray for that pastor, but I did. At first, my prayers were not charitable. However, as time went on, I began to pray certain Bible verses for him. Over time, our interactions became more friendly. Six years after the initial incident, at the farewell reception that the church held for him and his wife before they moved to another state, that pastor hugged me and said he appreciated my devotion to ministry.
From that situation I learned not to take it so seriously when someone offends me; the circumstances can, and probably will, change. And I discovered that it is difficult to continue to feel angry toward someone for whom I am praying. Our criticism of others often will not change anything, but our prayers certainly will.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Gracious Lord, thank you for the way prayer changes us and changes others. Give us the courage to keep praying in difficult times. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Harvest Blogs:
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July 5 - Honor Those Who Govern
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Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. (1 Peter 2:17)
These four commands of Scripture will revolutionize our lives if both understood and obeyed. Honor everyone. Honor means to esteem, value at a price, or reverence. Biblically it is considering others as more important than ourselves. Love your brothers and sisters. This is seeking the highest good of others through Christ. Fear God. Stand in holy awe of our God. Honor the emperor. This is the greatest challenge of them all and seems counterintuitive to our normal way of thinking. Reverence your leaders, your president, mayor, or governor as someone appointed by God and pray for their success in governing wisely.
Father, today we have lost our sense of honor. At this moment I begin to honor you, reverence you, and esteem you above all. I esteem and submit to your perfect Word, even when I do not fully understand it. Enable me and your people to honor everyone. Forgive me now for the specific ways I have dishonored others in word and deed. Empower me to love my brothers and sisters in Christ. Give me specific ways to both treasure them and practical ways to serve them in this season. I cry out today for holy fear of God to be brought back to your church. Teach us to trust you with all our hearts and to lean not on our own understanding. May the awe of you and your name take root in your people so we once again will be known as those who fear you. You know that we live in a season when dishonor is far more common than honor. To honor those who lead us as president, mayor, and governor seems insincere and tainted with evil. Forgive me and forgive us for vilifying those you’ve placed in office and those who are running for office. Give us the gift of honor, so we can learn to esteem even those with whom we disagree by displaying your love and grace towards them in word and deed. Right that which is wrong in me, in my family, community, and city. Display honor and grace through my life and choices today.
--Adapted from Praying God’s Word Over Your City: 40 Days of Prayer for A Transformed Community by Trey and Mary Anne Kent. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God for the depth of the riches of his wisdom and knowledge (Rom.11:33).
- Give thanks that “from him and through him and to him are all things” (11:36).
- Confess times of thinking that God owes you favors or explanations (11:35).
- Commit yourself to thinking deeply about God until you come to the end of your ability to understand.
- Ask God to help you reach that point with wonder and amazement rather than doubt or cynicism (11:33-36).
- Pray that God will help all believers to be students of his ways with eyes to see and minds to understand more of his caring control. Ask that God’s kingdom will soon come in fullness.
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. |
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Saturday, July 06 2024
Good Morning Free in Christ, Dependent upon God, Transformed, World Changers! PTL! That is what we are growing to become as a Body and individually! Today we celebrate those who stood for, fought for and gave their all for--our freedom from tyranny and liberty! This nation was birthed and built upon God's good ways of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I think that is reflected from Solomon's conclusion to Ecclesiastes, "The best life, God's best for us, is to love God with all our hearts and enjoy life in Him." (my paraphrase). For us today, that's learning to live and love more like Jesus and doing more of what we are created and gathered to do for such a time as this. Today we celebrate our independence as a nation and also pray for and remember those fighting for our freedoms here and around the world. And we thank God for our freedom in Christ, worship Him, and seek His will and plans for us to transform this nation through leading those around us to the love, life, and liberty found only in Christ. May God bless America and America bless God again! And may He continue to bless and lead us to become world changers of Christ! Amen! Check out the Harvest Blogs below for more on praying into all of this that overflows to action.
The Word for You Today reminds me of the bold sacrifices of those who founded this nation and those throughout history that lived, breathed and fought for God's Kingdom to advance. We are reminded in Joshua that we get to chose Kingdom life and to be bold and courageous. What are you choosing? Who are you choosing? We are also reminded that the battle is the Lord's and He has already decreed and won the victory. Turn off all the noise and chaos and hatred being spewed all around and chose God, Love and bold faith to stand firm in and for Christ. Keep fighting on your knees and through your choices and actions for His Kingdom to advance and His will to be done. We are in God's hands as Charles Stanley reminds us today. He is the King of the Universe and Lord of our lives in Christ. Amen! He created us and placed us here for such a time as this. PTL! So what's your role in His Kingdom and your part in helping us to advance it? Pray into that and let us choose to be about our Father's business together! We are sent to change the world one soul at a time! That comes about as we die to self and live this life as if Christ is all that matters. Check out the Upper Room that reminds us of our mission to transform by being love and living and loving like Jesus. Let us don His easy yoke and go love well and allow God to use that to transform this nation and advance His Kingdom one soul at a time! AMEN!
COME! Fill us! Prepare us! Cloak us in Your armor as we don the easy yoke and go love as we are created to do for such a time as this! Thank You for our freedoms and for placing us here! May we be about your business and live and love more earnestly like Jesus. Unite and bless your people to go bless this nation and may this nation bless You again! Yes Come! Your will be done and use us! And Father, please bless and protect those fighting for our freedoms here and around the world. Provide for their needs and protect them and their families. Brings Your shalom. Bless our wounded warriors too and provided for their needs. Raise up Your revival army as we humble ourselves, repent of our wicked ways and pray. Heal our land and use us well! The battle is Yours and already won! Thank You! All for Your glory Lord! Your Army in One and in His name we ask! Amen!
Harvest Blogs:
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Happy 4th of July from Harvest Prayer and OneCry!
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July 4 - Freedom to Pursue the Heart of God
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And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. (Acts 19:8)
When you consider the inalienable rights identified in the Declaration of Independence—gifts given to us by God—you see that “liberty” comes right after “life.” To truly understand what that liberty is and why it must again be declared and defended in our nation, we need to start with a very specific liberty—religious liberty. Why? Because it is truly our first freedom.
Do you recall the story of the Pilgrims? They hold a special place in our hearts as models for setting aside time to give thanks to God our provider and sustainer. But they also influenced the founding spirit of our nascent nation with their commitment to liberty. The Pilgrims famously arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620 after fleeing persecution for their faith in Europe. Once on this side of the Atlantic, they proceeded to establish the Mayflower Compact— a covenant made expressly before God, and which upheld religious toleration.
Wave after wave of settlers came here and embraced the Pilgrims’ desire to freely pursue faith and freedom, and this became a core element of America’s DNA. In fact, religious liberty became so foundational to the framework of our nation that it was actually incorporated as the very first freedom designated for protection in the Bill of Rights.
Now, our nation’s Founders didn’t come up with this idea on their own. It is based on ideals from the Bible. We know all people have dignity as individuals made in the image of God, and we quickly see in the early chapters of Genesis that part of that dignity includes a freedom to choose right from wrong. In the New Testament, too, we find that Jesus does not force decisions on His hearers and that gospel missions are based on persuasion, not coercion. Ultimately, robust faith requires every one of us to choose for ourselves whom we will serve.
We must focus our intercessory attention on this first freedom— to freely pursue God’s heart—for without it we are lost as a nation. May Americans never falter in cherishing the freedom to choose Christ and to worship Him freely. May we be a people of true and robust faith.
Lord God Almighty, thank You for the spiritual seeds of thanksgiving, faith, and freedom that the Pilgrims sowed in our land. Please stretch me, and every other believer who wants to see America remain a beacon of light for religious liberty in our world, towards a deeper level of intercession than we have ever known! Gather Your people and Your Church together to ask that each person in this nation will cherish our liberty to seek and honor You freely. May hearts in our land turn fully to You, Lord Jesus, and may we choose to serve You wholeheartedly!
--Adapted from We Declare: 31 Days of Intercession for America by David Kubal. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God verbally, saying, “Jesus is Lord” (Rom. 10:9).
- Thank Christ for fulfilling God’s law for you and granting you his righteousness (10:4).
- Confess any attempts you are still making to earn righteousness and favor with God.
- Commit to a lifestyle of confessing the lordship of Jesus.
- Ask God to remove any lingering distrust (10:11).
- Pray for God’s kingdom to come and his will to be done on your part of the earth as it is in heaven. Ask that the lordship of Christ, which we confess verbally, will be applied in just and righteous actions.
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here.
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Charles Stanley:
Upper Room; Love Your Neighbor
[The expert in the law] answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” - Luke 10:27 (NIV)
I moved from Moscow to North Carolina to live with my daughter and son-in-law. Since they worked many hours, I often stayed at home alone. Three months after moving I didn’t have any new friends because I didn’t speak English. Missing my extended family and church community in Russia, I was depressed.
Then on my morning walk one day, I met a neighbor named Nancy whose heart is full of love for those in need. Even though my English was limited, Nancy showed interest in me. She called my daughter, and with Nancy’s encouragement, my daughter enrolled me in an English course. Nancy became a good Samaritan to me, offering friendship, support, transportation to church, and help with English.
The Bible teaches us to love and care for those who suffer as we would care for ourselves. Suffering is not always easy to spot, and it comes in many forms. But the Holy Spirit guides us as we look for ways to care for others. Loving your neighbor includes acknowledging those in need and caring for them with love.
TODAY'S PRAYER
God of love, help us to acknowledge and care for others as you care for us. Amen.
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