Good Morning Spirit-Filled Worshipers! What a joy it is to sing, dance, celebrate and worship our amazing God!!! Have you told Him lately how much you love and appreciate Him? Have you lifted a song of praise or danced before our Lord. That's your assignment for
: worship, celebrate sing and dance before our King! When's the last time you just dwelt in His loving presence worshiping? What joy we know and get to share as we abide and he inhabits our praise! Check out the Sarah Young devo below that led me to this thinking
. I need to just worship and allow Him to lead be beside the still waters, sink my roots deep in Him and be restored! Joy does (or it can, if you choose) come in the morning! Yes Rejoice! He is enough and will supply all our needs! PTL! He is working all things together for good! PTL! he is with us always! PTL! He has unique plans for unique you! PTL! How about lifting some psalms
?
Psalm 16:5-11
New Living Translation
5 Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
You guard all that is mine.
6 The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
What a wonderful inheritance!
7 I will bless the Lord who guides me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.[a]
My body rests in safety.
10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead[b]
or allow your holy one[c] to rot in the grave.
11 You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.[d]
Good Morning Worshipers! Prepare your hearts to worship
and pray that we worship in Spirit and truth and enter His courts with
! Amen! There is so much we have to worship about! Let us prepare to lift a sacrifice of praise!
Sometimes like these sleepless, wondering early mornings, it can truly be a sacrifice to lift praise. Why Lord needs to be replaced with OK Lord, You've got this! Hallelujah! Another visit to the ER
for a fluttering heart answered no more questions than five weeks ago. So, causes have yet to be discovered, BUT GOD! He knows, cares, loves me and is working all things together for good! PTL! I have been preparing my heart since midnight to enter His courts with praise and to allow Him to lead and use me. And maybe I can get an hour or two nap in yet! PTL! God's got a perfect plan and has allowed this all for a reason...PTL! Maybe it's to slow me down and to spend some time abiding in the Vine for a season? PTL! PTL for all the servants and patient friends at St. Matts as they step in and fill gaps in my absence to heal. Yes PTL!
Ok enough of that. Check out our devos for
that really tie to my life right now. Start with TWFYT's reminder to not be afraid of aging. I'm not afraid but coming to the reality that I cannot do as much as I used to or for the same periods of time. It's a season to abide, discern and only do what he has for me
. And that's enough and an act of worship...doing what I can with what I've been given according to His plans and timing. Amen! And Sarah Young's devo flows right from this. Be thankful always. Lift those sacrifice of praise and receive a better attitude! The UR is all about what I strive for...hearing well done from God some day as I complete my race well. Guess what, that takes adjusting as we go to age, circumstances, provisions, etc. Yet God is still pleased as we do what we can with what we got! PTL! And ODB wraps things up with the reminder to leave it all with God and trust Him. He is able! he is Jireh! he knows and cares! PTL! He is our Rock and sure Foundation! Amen! Turn off the noise and focus on Him and His perfect plans for you
...
has enough of it's own worries. Put on that easy custom made yoke and walk with Jesus as you worship
and everyday ahead at His pace for you. And keep worshiping as we aim towards completing our races well! Yes PTL!
What's God saying to you as you process these devos and/or open your Bibles? he is speaking and He does have a word and plan for you. Seek Him with all your heart and process with some friends as you team up to finish the race. And keep praising--even in the storms!
TWFYT
Sarah Young
UR: Living in Mercy and Hope
His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” - Matthew 25:23 (NIV)
I like sitting quietly in the pew in our small church before the worship service. The sunlight filters through the beautiful stained-glass windows, depicting stories from the Gospels. Long ago, such artwork helped people who may not have known how to read learn and remember the stories of Jesus. They continue to prompt me to reflect on their messages for my life
.
On a recent
I was sitting in my usual spot between the windows illustrating the parables of the prodigal son and the good and faithful servant. I observed that in both stories the main characters are welcomed and embraced. One is forgiven for his past errors while the other is affirmed for his correct choices.
I thought about how living to serve Jesus is often a struggle. We have to start afresh each day in gratitude for God’s mercy and seek God’s help through the Spirit to love God and one another. It isn’t always easy.
Oh, how much I hope to hear those words from Jesus: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” But I am grateful for the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness that I see in the story of the prodigal son. I can seek to serve the Lord by also extending mercy and forgiveness to others in my life.
's PrayerMerciful God, help us to extend mercy and forgiveness to others as we remember the mercy and forgiveness you have given us. Amen.
ODB:
Leave It with God
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. Psalm 18:2
Perched high on the climbing wall, Sarah could feel panic rising as her weakening fingers began losing grip on the handholds. Just how hard will I hit the ground? she wondered.
But the instructor kept calling out assurances from below. As the “belayer” tethered to the other end of the rope tied to Sarah’s harness through a pulley, his weight would hold her if she fell. “I’m much heavier than you!” he yelled. “Just let go.”
So she did—and simply swung away from the wall to dangle safely in the air.
The incident gave Sarah a new perspective of the picture of God in Psalm 18:2: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock . . . my stronghold.” Sarah observed, “God is so much heavier than all my problems. I can let go of my worries and fears, and He’ll catch me.”
King David sang the words of Psalm 18 after God rescued him from “deep waters”—these were his “powerful [enemies]” looking to bring about his “day of . . . disaster” (vv. 16-18). Even if his troubles didn’t disappear, he knew he could trust his all-powerful Savior and that God was holding on to him tightly.
By Leslie Koh
REFLECT & PRAY
What does it mean, in practical terms, to “let go” of a worry and leave it with God? How can you learn to surrender your fears to Him?
Dear Father, thank You that I can let go of all my worries, fears, and anxieties, knowing that You’re in complete control of my life and will keep me from falling.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In the superscription to Psalm 18, we read that David wrote this psalm and sang it to God “when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.” David was on the run from King Saul for more than a decade. Some estimate he was pursued for fifteen years. After David returned from killing Goliath and the Philistine army was destroyed, the women came to greet him and sang this song: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). This so aroused Saul’s anger and jealousy that “from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David” (v. 9). In Psalm 18, David’s love for and trust in God is immediately evident in his names for Him. He calls God his strength, rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, horn of salvation, and stronghold (vv. 1-2). This same God can be trusted to help us as we leave our fears and worries with Him.
Good Morning Eternal Children of God! AMEN! We wrapped up 1 John
with the reminder that God is life and eternal life is found only in Jesus. John wrote this letter to assure the new generation of believers of their promised eternity and to remind them that God is Light, Love and Life and He wants to bring His Light and love alive through us. He also wrote to battle some false prophets and to help the church turn off that noise and focus on Truth and Life in Christ. Check out TWFYT below and how it ties to this word. I love when God does that! And then there's the ODB reminder that we can throw off all that entangles us and keeps us from God's best and learn to run our races well with Christ.
God loves you, made a way for eternity with Him and a way to forgiveness. We just have to choose to open these free gifts, repent, renew our thinking and pursue Jesus as we run our races until we are called home. And when we are what joy we will find in God's Light, love, life and presence! Amen!
TWFYT
ODB:
Entangled
Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Hebrews 12:1
Watermelon vines had overtaken my garden. They snaked across the stone path, climbed the fence, and—worst of all—tried to choke my favorite vegetable plants. I knew the garden wouldn’t thrive unless I took action. So, one evening I went to work uncurling tendrils from stems and leaves. When the coils grew back, I kept removing them until the vegetable plants finally matured and produced plump tomatoes and shiny peppers.
Sins like greed, lust, and hate can overtake our lives like the vines that tried to dominate my garden. Left untended, the seed of a wrong thought may develop until it controls our desires and actions like a “sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1) and holds us back from growing spiritually.
The writer of Hebrews encourages us to “throw off everything that hinders” so that we can “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (v. 1). To break free requires that we acknowledge we need help to handle the sin. This can be difficult if we’ve convinced ourselves and others that it’s not a serious issue.
Once we sincerely admit the problem, Jesus welcomes our prayers of confession and forgives us immediately (1 John 1:9). He can show us how to change our life patterns and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, help us to overcome the bondage that prevents us from flourishing.
By Jennifer Benson Schuldt
REFLECT & PRAY
What sin has the power to make you fall repeatedly? How does God want you to address this problem?
Dear God, please forgive me for the actions and attitudes that grieve You and help me change from this point forward.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The original audience of the letter to the Hebrews was Jewish believers in Jesus who may have considered reverting back to Judaism or were straying toward false teachings (see 2:1-4; 3:1-4). Many scholars believe the book was written before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in ad 70 because it includes references to Jewish ceremonies and sacrifices. The author understood that the readers would need perseverance to face trials and persecution. Hebrews encourages believers to endure and hold fast to Christ (2:1-4; 3:7–4:13; 5:11–6:2). In chapter 11, known as the “Hall of Faith,” the author commends the many men and women of the Bible who lived by faith and sometimes died because of it. Therefore, because of their witness and example, believers in Christ are prompted to “throw off everything that hinders”—including sin—and “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (12:1).
Thank God I am forgiven! Loved, forgiven and restored. Amen!
Good Morning Forgiven Much Children of God! Yes let all that I am, praise the lord! He alone is worthy of all praise, and glory, and honor! Lift up a sacrifice of praise
!
As I contemplate this forgiveness
, something came to mind--humility. Jesus humbled Himself before the Father's will and allowed the pain, mocking and cruel cross for you and me. I don't think I could endure what He knew was coming, yet He humbled Himself, prayed, prepared and bore our sins. If that doesn't lead to
, nothing will! Jesus died to self, took up Hs cross and trusted God to lead Him to the Father's perfect plans and we are all beneficiaries of the humble faithfulness! PTL!
Check out the Upper Room and the reminder that we need to humble ourselves, crucify some things nd allow God to prune us so we can produce better and lasting fruit. How's that working out in your life
? Have you humbled yourself? Are you willing to die to self, take up cross and follow Jesus? Talk to God and some friends about that
. he has great plans awaiting your humble surrender and obedience! Do it! And then share those stories ad struggles with some others. Amazing fruit is awaiting! Amen!
I'm praying for you and available to chat or discuss any of this! Humble yourself and follow well
!
UR: Clearing the Way
Jesus said, “[My Father] removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit.” - John 15:2 (CEB)
The buzz of chainsaws and the roar of wood-chipping equipment filled my ears as I slowed my car to a halt. A work crew was lopping off big limbs of trees that had stood along this rural road for decades. Some of the trees were being readied for complete removal. At first, I felt sad to see these noble trees removed; then I recalled frequent power outages caused by branches falling on power lines or even falling on vehicles due to high winds or ice.
The pruning was necessary to keep the roadway clear and safe.
Sometimes aspects of our lives need pruning to help us stay aligned with God’s will. Like Jonah, we may not be happy about what God is doing. We may not understand the plan or the route to get there. Often I am reluctant to give up an attitude or habit that is detrimental to my faith journey or to others.
Through prayer, meditation, and study of scripture, we can come to trust that God is our protector. When we welcome God’s clearing work in our lives, we can stay faithful and remain safely on the road we should travel.
's PrayerAlmighty and all-knowing God, help us accept your ways and acknowledge that you know what is best for us. Amen.
Good Morning Abiding Warriors! Abiding in Christ Prayer warriors. One of my prayers is that would be me and all of you. Being still, listening, receiving, releasing in powerful prayer! Satan wranglers of Christ following in His ways! Amen! We abide, load up, release and follow as we go live, love and serve like Jesus and as we battle against the enemy. We know as we are pulling people from his grasp, he will be prowling about after us. But we just can't stop! Our mission is to go make disciples and rescue the lost. Although this sounds tedious, dangerous and like hard work, it need not be for Christ is with us always working all things together for good. He created you for such a time as this and has activated you to do your part. Plus He has gathered us with a full Body of believers that pray, encourage and serve together. Really that is Jesus' easy yoke He invites us weary ones to put on and then to walk with Him in. And that is a joy that brings peace to our souls and impacts the world around us for good. We are finishing up 1 John
. He reminds the new generation of believers that God is Light, Love and Life and assures them of their eternity with Him as they trust, obey and follow the Jesus way. That's our call too. Love God. Follow Jesus. And enjoy life! I pray that all falls into place for you and us. God does have great plans for us! Let's boldly and joyfully receive them and step into them. I'm praying for you! Doing what we can with what we've been giving, loving God and people and enjoying life! Sounds pretty good to me! (Check out the devos below relating to all this as you abide and load up for
!)
Upper Room: God's Help
The Lord will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. - Psalm 121:7-8 (NIV)
At one time in my life, I was surrounded by many social and economic issues. I was stressed day and night, and it was quite unbearable. When I tried to handle the problems on my own, it only seemed to make things worse. I felt helpless.
Then one day I received a call from a man of God who asked me to join a prayer meeting. Even though the meeting was at a location far away from me, I decided to go. When I arrived, I was heavily burdened. I joined the group in worship and prayer, and as I did so, I began to receive peace in my heart and my heaviness was gone. I believe God led me to that place.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28, KJV). God can perform miracles when we think there is no way forward. We can trust God to help us in all our circumstances.
's PrayerGracious and loving God, thank you for strengthening us to face difficult situations. We pray in the name of the One who saves the world and whose grace is abundant. Amen.
Bread 10-12; Possible Dinner Huddle (Pastor Don is again/still struggling with health and no sleep. Watch for shout out if we cancel)
Good Morning Very Loved, Guided Children of the Most High God! Just think about that and all it means to you, your life, our church! WOW! Amazing Love! I'm just including Sarah Young's devo
. Really sink your roots into this and maybe even process with some friends. What's God saying? He's calling you by name to receive this and incarnate it too. Turn off the noise and focus on drawing close to and following our God who is always good and kind! Amen. Time to try to sleep. Please Lord! I'm tired of this! Guess sleeplessness is part of aging. This is part of my unique journey right now. God knows, loves me and has a plan. Amen! May we all find His plans and purposes for each of us and us as His body and go love like Jesus! Amen! Shalom
Sarah Update below (and info on men's and woman's prayer groups)
Pause and Reflect
Oftentimes, it’s easiest to look to the next “thing” and rush by what God has been saying to us. Take time
to review what God has said to you over the past seven days.
The work God has begun in your heart can spread to others. Our prayer is that revival spreads from an individual (you and me) to a church, then to a community, to a nation, and beyond.
God has so much He wants to do in and through your life as you follow Him. This is a great time to seek the Lord and ask Him for opportunities to share with others. Watch for those opportunities to arise, and then follow through.
Good Morning Contemplative, Prayerful, Followers of the Way! Jesus is the way and there are many layers to mine for what it means to be in Him, of Him, for Him and His reflection. What's He saying t you? How might He be wanting to release revival through you? What will you do about that? Talk to Him and some others and don't shrink back. You were made for such a time as this! God's got some miracles for you to release and some people awaiting your prayers of salvation and encouragement. Live and love like Jesus and even laugh and enjoy this life in Christ! What a thrill ride we are on!
I've been up most of the night. This time because our Maggie really hurt herself before bed and I've been trying to comfort her and then was just too awake to sleep. It's a little after 5. Time to head back to bed before our ZOOM HUDDLE. Take some time to abide in our Vine, take in nourishment, meditate on what he's revealing, pray in power for Him to use you, draw many and unite you with some co-laborers, and release some miracles. he'll do that if your heart is right and you are willing to follow His plans and way. DO IT! Begin with abiding worship
! And prepare for a day of joining God as you go. He's got some great custom made plans for you for such a time as this! Rejoice! Trust! Obey! And follow the Jesus' way. Check out the link to this praise song as you abide, worship, pray and prepare: The Jesus' Way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARSGgC9iQb0&list=RDARSGgC9iQb0&start_radio=1
Shalom! We are followers and bringers of the Way! Amen!
Sarah Update:
Good afternoon, warriors,
I wanted to remind everyone of those that are in need of our prayer support and upliftment:
Ed Rohrer - had a liver biopsy
. They are waiting for the results in the next week or so.
Barb Somers - asking for prayer for her sister who is on hospice, and is preparing to enter her eternal home
Please keep Barb and the family in your prayers as they will miss her very much
Debbie and Gerry Siegfried's fur baby, Challa. She is having some health issues and the Vet staff and medical team
is working diligently to find out why she won't eat and isn't feeling well.
Gary Bastan is asking for prayer for his friend, Dave Mercer - Dave is hoping to remain in remission for 6 to 24 months
so he can then have a T cell procedure.
Continued prayer support for Matthew Stauffer - experiencing some ups and downs with his health situation.
Prayers for our young people, kids and our grads. Richard Paul (Larry and Enol's oldest son) will be attending
Lehigh University in August. He will be studying Accounting.
Lori Rohrer - she will have the fusion of her right SI joint on
. Pray for her and her family and
medical team as they prep for this procedure.
** ** **
Prayer plays a valuable role in our Jesus journey. Prayer is the way we communicate with our Heavenly Father.
It's a way we share our joys, our sorrows, our anxieties, our needs with God. It's the way that we can talk with
God at any time; day or night.
It's important that we pray for one another. That we, St Matthew's become a house of prayer, where all of our church
family members are praying for one another; praying for our outreach programs and opportunities; prays for pastoral
staff; praying for those that are willing to serve in many different aspects within the church and/or out in the community.
Ladies, that were present on Mother's day - received a mug and were divinely put into prayer groups. You also received
a card with the women's names on it that are in your group. You are to pray for each other, in your group. You also have
their email addresses and they are placed into a group that you can email your requests for prayer. Or share some moments
of JOY with each other; or share something that you read in your devotions that day. Lift up our church and what God is
doing within each of us and all around us. Pray about what is next....what does God want us to help Him next.
Connect and stay connected with one another.
There are four groups of Sisters in Christ: Deep Blue, Light Orange, Light blue, and Orange. And several of you are already
communicating and sharing with your group. That's awesome!
If you have not present to have been put into one of these groups, but would like to be part of a group, please let me know and I will get
you into a group.
** ** **
Men,
if you were in worship, you received a gift and a name of another man within our church family.
All we are asking is that you would be in prayer for that guy that was taped to the lid of your box. Pray for him daily,
pray for him when the Lord lays his name on your heart. You do not need to call this person, unless the Lord leads you to.
You do not need to email him, unless the Lord asks you to. We are asking you to just pray for him. Pray a great way
to support each other. You never know the pray you whisper for them, may help them make a wise decision, help to heal him,
keep him safe...... remember, if you aren't sure what to pray for your person, just whisper his name to God. God knows what his needs
are......
If you were not at worship
, guys and would like to be part of our mens prayer warriors, let me know.
** ** **
Praying that you all have a great rest of your
.....
If you have a prayer request, and would like our Warriors to pray for you, let me know and I will make sure your request gets
(Please note that due to my fluctuating health conditions
evening dinner huddle could be cancelled at last min. Keep an eye open in case this happens again this week. Thanks for you understanding and patience!)
Happy Late Morning Greetings to You, My Teammates, Co-Laborers in Christ! God is good and with us always and has great plans for the week ahead for you and for us as His gathered and sent Body. Invite Him to come abide and lead with open hearts, hands and minds and willing feet to follow Him.
we explored 1 John 3-4. We continued to hear John teaching of the importance of love, loving one another, loving God and others, dwelling in and following love and allowing our God who is Love to love through us. They WILL know we are Christians by our love! We were reminded of all the anti-Christ types in the media and around us speaking lies and spreading false teachings and how they will be aligned against us because they refuse to believe or follow God and don't want to be reminded of their sinful choices and ways by the example of us following God and living and loving well. We also saw how some of these false teachings invaded the church in John's days and how that is happening
with many churches trying to scratch itching ears and water down the Bible or alter God's teachings to fit their lifestyle choices and how they try to force us to affirm those choices because they feel guilty and shameful. And we say "NO!!!" We will always stand on Biblical standards, God's teaching and commands and follow His holy and righteous and good ways. AMEN! May that be us and our denomination always! You alone Lord. The Bible alone! Your holy and perfect ways alone! Amen. And may we always stand firm against false teachings, sin, lies and hate. May we seek You always, check all teachings against your Word, like the Berean's, and follow you and Your ways alone and lovingly help others to find you and walk in your ways. Thank You! Come fill us and lead us to live and love more and more like Jesus and to walk in Your good ways always. Thank You! Come! Lead us! Amen! May they know we are Christians by our love and by our walk and fruit. You are all we need and Your ways are perfect! PTL! Help us to choose well and shine bright into the darkness around us. Bring revival and protect us from the evil one and foolish choices. Amen!
Perfect mid day prayer and beginning of week commitment! God is Love. Love created us to love and lives in us to love through us. Think about how that may be playing out
and this week and follow Jesus with much joy and
and of course overflowing love! Who might He have for you to process with, pray with, plan with and go with? Pray into that and do something about that. Maybe with the woman's prayer teams or men prayer partners? We are united in Christ as His Body and we need each other. What's your part in this love machine? Step into it boldly!
I had an amazing night of peaceful and restful sleep and slept until 8
. I am just wrapping up an amazing quiet time. (the first in over a month) God sure has been speaking. I could share like 7 or 8 devos threading through the above and for you, but God said let them fend for themselves
and seek me with all their hearts. Please check out the second part of my
. blog and pray a covering over me, you and us. Pray on that armor and prepare to stand firm in Christ. The enemy is prowling about trying to kill, steal, destroy, derail and side track those God is using. God is using us and has great plans. Stand firm and be prepared for the hate of the world, attacks of Satan and God's deliverance and leading forward to His perfect plans. They are coming alive as we are coming alive in '25 and as we move closer to becoming that dynamic movement of God. We need each other and covering and encouragement. Let us unite, stand firm and commit to follow Jesus well the rest of the year! God is enough and His plans for us are perfect. Amen and PTL! Now time for some brunch! God loves you as do I and He has gathered our loving Body to go love well. That's our mission and it's coming alive! PTL! and shalom! They will know we are Christians by our love! May we choose to live and love well together! Amen!
Good Morning Worshipers! Happy Father's Day, especially to our awesome Father in heaven! Father is Love and we love because he first loved us. Turn that into worship
because life in Christ lived well is really all about love! No time for a blog
. Worship! Read 1 John 3-4 that we will study and see what you might discover anew about love and then go live and love like Jesus
Good Morning House of Prayer for the Nations and Disciple Makers! Keep on prayin', receiving and following Jesus! There is power in your prayers and things God is awaiting our releasing in prayer. We draw near to God as we pray. He informs our prayers and steps for the day. Praying is something we are all expected to do (fasting too) as well as making disciples (well, doing our part with that). However, some of us have the Good News Deliver Company role of prayer warrior, watchman on the wall, worshiper and all of those are positions as pray-ers. And we all have a part in His Good News Delivery Company! What's your part? Let your roots sink deep into God, His Word and the Living Water that nourishes and leads to great fruit. Yes, keep on prayin'! And keep surrendering and following too.
I'm sharing two devos below: Our Daily Bread and The Upper Room. They really were speaking to my heart
about our relationship with the Father and the abiding in Him that leads to deep roots and eventually good fruit. I love the thought of how much God wants to hear us yelling, "Wait Daddy, I'm coming." He loves when we seek after Him to just hang out with no agenda but to be with Him. And then as we hang out, our roots sink deeper into Him and He will prepare us and lead us into His plans for the day. Amen! He really does have some great plans for you (and us as His Body) to discover that become clearer as we abide and then are activated through our prayers and choices to follow Him forward at His pace and with hearts prepared and wanting to join Him and hang out. He will then use that to show us our purposes and ministry opportunities as we go with Him. That's His easy yoke! Put that on
as you abide, receive, sink deep roots and determine to just hang out, watch what He's doing and then join Him. That's also doing your part in His Good News Delivery Co.
Since we've been talking about prayer and how I shared how I need your covering and prayers and help, I want to share something God made apparent as I was trying to fall asleep. Three times over the past 20+ years someone while laying hands on or pointing to my stomach has prophesied over me that streams of living water will flow from me. And they have and continue. PTL And I'm sure there is more of that to come as God uses me to teach, lead and make disciples and as I pray in power. Now within the past year and a half two church members had dreams about my big belly. The Word that came to both in the dreams was that I would be birthing a new thing our having a baby of new ministry coming. Pray into that please because it is coming alive and because that is where Satan has been attacking. My congestive fluid retention and bad pains are in the stomach area. God is on the move and using me to bring living water and we have begun the process of planting a church. Satan is ticked and after me. I need your covering and prayers for deliverance! Maybe God has allowed some testing over the past two months or so and maybe Satan has set out to deter me and maybe even incapacitate me. BUT GOD! He has other plans and I need to be leaning fully on Him and seeking and following Him alone. I was or Satan was leading me down some rabbit trails too. I've caught on and caught myself (with the help of some accountability from some of you! Thanks!) and have begun repenting and renewing my mind as I abide, sink my roots deeper, pull in nourishment for the journey and crucified some things to allow space for God to mold and lead me forward. Please, please please...keep praying for and covering me. Then ask God how you might need to adjust, correct and/or repent then put on that armor and join me as we follow Him together to what He has for us and our church each day. He does have very good plans for us just as we are. But remember, coming just as you are does not mean staying as you are. He is always wanting us to come hang out with no agenda and to allow Him to mold and lead us forward. Amen! And Satan will be ticked and attacking as we advance the Kingdom. So, let us cover each other, process together, celebrate what God is doing, allow Him to mold and lead us and praise Him in the storms and for the good fruit that's on it's way! Amen! Yes streams of living water are flowing and new life is being birthed! PTL and prepare for battle! God is making a way as we abide, pray and determine to follow Him just as we are, armored up and with open, ready hearts. Yes, PTL!
ODB
What Your Father Wants
The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. Romans 8:15
Steve grabbed his chainsaw and headed out to the woods. That’s when he heard five-year-old August. “Wait for me, Dad! I want to come!” Grabbing his toy chainsaw, work gloves, and earmuffs, August followed Steve out the door. Steve set out a couple of logs for him a safe distance away. After ten minutes, August was worn out. Cutting logs with a fake chainsaw is hard work! But he was happy to “help” his dad, and his dad was delighted to spend time with his son.
Isn’t this how it is with our heavenly Father? We suppose we’re helping. “Wait for me, Dad! I need to get my chainsaw!” But our chainsaw is the least important thing about us. We’re not helping as much as we think. God cares far more about the first part, “Wait for me, Dad!” He doesn’t need our output.
If you love His Son, Jesus, God has adopted you into His family and given you His Spirit. “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship” (Romans 8:15). You’re not a servant who earns his place by hard work. You’re a child who’s loved by your Father, no matter what. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).
Our heavenly Father is delighted when we serve Him. But He doesn’t need us. He simply wants us.
By Mike Wittmer
REFLECT & PRAY
What do you think of when you consider what God wants from you? How will you spend time with Him
?
Heavenly Father, thank You for adopting me into Your family as Your child.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In John 14-16, Jesus revealed the work of the Holy Spirit, whom he called “the Advocate” and “the Spirit of truth” (14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7, 13). In Romans 8, Paul tells us more about the importance and the work of the Spirit in the life of the believer in Christ. Calling Him “the Spirit of God” and “the Spirit of Christ,” the apostle says that if anyone doesn’t have the Spirit, “they do not belong to Christ” (v. 9). He’s the source of our life (vv. 10-11); He’s the seal and deposit guaranteeing that we belong to God (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14). Through the Spirit, God now lives in every believer (Romans 8:11) and we’re called “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (v. 17). The Spirit enables us to affectionately call out, “Abba, Father” (v. 15), empowers us to live godly lives (vv. 5-13), and helps us to pray by interceding for us and with us (v. 26).
K.T. Sim
UR: Firmly Rooted
Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. - Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV)
I studied the slender branch in our garden. My father-in-law had taken the cutting from his parents’ blackberry bush and replanted it in our tiny garden. I anticipated sharing juicy berries with my two preschool-aged sons.
Approaching the garden, I inspected what I hoped to be the beginning of my thriving blackberry bush. However, no buds were visible on the delicate plant. As I stepped closer, something wasn’t right. I wiggled the plant and, much to my shock, it popped right out of the ground! Upon further observation, I found that my sons had pulled it up and replanted it multiple times. The branch no longer had roots. Since the plant had not stayed firmly in the dirt, roots could not form.
Sometimes I get busy and don’t pray or study the Bible, and my spiritual roots shrink like that of the plant. In Colossians 2, Paul encourages believers to continue to follow Jesus and let their roots grow down into him. When we spend time with God in prayer, Bible study, and regular worship with other believers, we build our lives on Jesus. Only then will we have roots strong enough to hold our lives steady and allow the fruit of God’s Spirit to be seen in us.
's PrayerDear Lord, help us build our lives in obedience to your will for us. Guide us as we pray and study your word. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Sarah Update:
Good afternoon, church family,
Hope you are all having a good
.....hey the Lord has brought us through another week!! We look forward to worshipping together, on
. Praying you all are able to join us.
Larry and Enol Paul and their sons made it safely home, and we are looking forward to seeing them
very possibly, in worship,
.
A prayer concern:
This past week, Pastor Adam Robert's niece suddenly passed away and walked into the arms of Jesus.
His Sister, husband and children are devasted at Emily's passing. Please keep The Roberts and the Snibbe
family in your prayers during this difficult time. She will be deeply missed.
Thank you for your prayers for one another.....continue to pray for our communities and for all those that serve
our community and our country.
is flag day.....commemorates the adoption of the official flag of the United States by the Continental Congress on
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