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Tuesday, January 23 2024
Good Morning Instruments of Revival! That is us! That is you! Come Jesus Come!Today God brought some clarity to what He has been revealing to me the last few days and blogs. I will have four sermons written in four days and am not exactly sure what the Holy Spirit will do today, but I am praying for His Spirit to fall upon our gathering and for revival to come today for individuals, our gathering, our communities and this nation. Yes, Come Jesus Come! Pray the Harvest Prayer revival prayer today and sing and meditate and cry out for Jesus to come (we will sing this first thing this morning). Pray for me to be attentive to the Holy Spirit and for Him to lead me to what ever message or combo or fresh Word to bring today. Pray for open hearts and salvation to fall on those God is drawing. Come Jesus Come!
God is Light and there is no darkness in Him! Part of our struggle (my struggle) with being a purified people is the Holy Spirit trying to drive that darkness out of us. We cling to old habits and ways and I envision the darkness coming out of me like a demon being cast out kicking and screaming. God has called us to purify ourselves. He has plans for us for such a time as this. It's time to be ready and willing! Come Jesus Come!
Spend some time with God in His Word and prayer and your devotionals today. Pray for our worship service and come expecting the Holy Spirit to show up, move and bring revival today! PTL! COME! Amen! God's glory is already breaking over us like a sunrise! PTL! Pronounce that with faith over our gathering today.
Come Jesus Come (3:36) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uxFV9BOaAM
Harvest prayer Revival Blog: (Please meditate and pray through this! God is on the move!!! Come!)
January 21, 2024 - Praying for Revival (Day 21): Rise and Shine
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Revival can be described as when Christ “shows up” in His Church afresh to recapture us and reconquer us. Isaiah 60 suggests God’s glory was already breaking over them like a sunrise, exposing many dimensions of His Kingdom purposes to them. What they needed to do was “rise and shine” and seize the day. Here are some phases of revival to help describe the process of waking up to Christ:
Perceive: Be aware as God’s Spirit awakens believers to acknowledge not only that revival is urgently needed, but also that the promise of revival is for them.
Purify: In every revival, repentance must have precedence. Everything in us and in our congregations that disobeys the Holy Spirit—everything that is incompatible with Christ Himself, who is the focus of revival—must be confessed to the Father and put away.
Pray: Biblical and historical revivals reveal that whenever God is ready to reawaken His people to the glories of His Son, He stirs up prayer among them. Today, all of us should rejoice in the unprecedented prayer movement God has ignited among many churches and communities across our nation and world.
We should do everything possible to strengthen the movement inside our own congregations.
Proclaim: Since “faith comes by hearing” (Rom. 10:17), any biblical revival must be a Word-anchored revival. Therefore, Christians should promote the biblical promises for personal and corporate revival. They also should give reports of what God has done and is doing in revival around the world.
Rise and shine, for the glory of Christ is already breaking over us!
Father, thank You for the words of Isaiah 60 that the glory of the Lord rises upon your people and that Your glory appears over us, recapturing and reconquering our hearts. Awaken Your Church to the urgent hope and promise of revival that gives preeminence to Jesus. May repentance and an urgency for holiness characterize the Church across our nation. Renew a spirit of prayer and cooperation and unity between pastors, prayer leaders and the various denominations and fellowships across our land.
Pr a y e r Po i n t s:
• Praise God that “the glory of the Lord rises upon you . . . and His glory appears over you” (Isa. 60:1–2).
• Pray for God’s glory to break over you, your family, and your church. Pray that it “recaptures and reconquers” you.
• Pray for an awakening to the urgent hope and promise of revival that gives preeminence to Jesus.
• Pray for the priority of repentance and urgency for holiness to characterize the Church in our nation.
• Ask God to renew a spirit of prayer and cooperation between pastors, prayer leaders, and churches of various denominations. Ask God to use your church to lead in this movement.
--Adapted from Day 21 by David Bryant: Do It Again, Lord (30 Days of Hope-Filled Prayer for Revival) compiled and edited by Carol Madison.
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Wagner's newsletter:
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Greetings Friends,
Happy New Year from **SNOWY** Pennsylvania! While we thoroughly enjoy watching the snow fall from the warmth of our dining room table, we do want our local friends to know that even though it’s true “the Wagner’s are back on home assignment”, this does not mean “their kids must be praying for snow”! We don’t believe for a minute that our grown kids (except maybe Micah, a first-year teacher who still loves snow days) still PRAY for snow like they did as kids growing up in the southern hemisphere only possibly seeing snow every few years.
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| For the last year, we have been sharing with you about these few months when we would be Stateside. What we haven’t shared is exactly WHAT we would do during this time. |
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| REST: Time away from our most recent three plus year term of full-time ministry allows for a much-needed season of rest and renewal. This is critically important to our physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being. It allows us time and space to BE STILL and step-away from our overseas life. Different pace. Different routine. Different people. We appreciate those who have asked about Brian’s unexpected health concern mentioned in our last update. He has recently completed a series of medical tests and follow-up appointments that have ruled things out and brought more clarity as to what is going on. We are thankful for the excellent medical care he is receiving and should know details about treatment by our next update. PRAY that we would make good choices during these months that give us opportunities for rest and renewal. |
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| RECONNECT: Though we’ve been Stateside three times in the last three years for three weddings(!), it’s wonderful to have extended time for renewing relationships. Over our first 8 weeks, we have welcomed our first grandchild, spent Christmas with our big kids, traveled through 12 different States, visited with more than 30 former RVA staff and alumni and supporters, and have shared meals with extended family and friends. PRAY that the Lord would order our steps and orchestrate our schedule as we seek to renew relationships. |
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RECHARGE: One of the ways we can recharge and prepare to return to Kenya later this year, is to share “why we do what we do”! Even though we have physically left Kenya for the next 8 months, our hearts and minds are still there. We love teaching, mentoring, caring for, and discipling the next generation while supporting the important work their parents do in sharing JESUS with the nations. But…let’s be honest. Even though WE love doing what WE do (and YOU love doing what YOU do), there are days that are good and other days that are just plain hard. There are events that are uplifting and others that are challenging. There are circumstances that give us endless energy and ones that weigh us down. There are tears of great joy and tears of overwhelming sadness. No matter what job we have or what time zone we live in -- we ALL need people who encourage us to PRESS ON! PRAY for mutually encouraging conversations that leave us all feeling refreshed and recharged.
Another way to prepare for our return is by doing some purposeful professional development. More on this in our NEXT UPDATE. |
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| As promised, here’s a brief overview of the next two months, where we’ll be and when. Get in touch with us for more detailed information OR if you’d like to schedule a time to get-together! Our schedule is much more open now through mid-February. This is great time to connect. |
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January 21 – Trinity EC Church, Harrisburg, PA
February 4 – Reich’s EC Church, Marietta, PA
February 25 – Trinity EC Church, Lititz, PA
March 4-8 – AIM’s Engage Week, Peach Tree City, Georgia
March 12-15 – MK Synergy Conference, Waxahachie, Texas
March 17 – Clarks Valley Zion EC Church, Dauphin, PA |
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Thanks for your prayers as we rest, reconnect, and recharge!
Brian & Missy |
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Saturday, January 20 2024
Clothing Closet is open today from 10-1. Our lots, stairs and sidewalks are ready for today and worship tomorrow at 10.
Good Morning Praying Friends! Worshipers, (Prayer) Warriors, Watchman (on the Wall), and (Harvest) Workers. Those are different prayer stations I have been praying for God to fill in our Body. Maybe one of these is a "do" and "be" word God might want you to explore and develop in the year ahead? Yes let us worship God for Who and all He is with much thanksgiving and praise. Let us continue to battle in prayer for we fight against principalities and powers in the spiritual realm. Let us pray for eyes to see, ears to hear and mouths to sound the alarm as we pray a covering over our Body. Let us do the hard work of prayer and cry out for revival to come. One of the critical roles needed in our Good News Delivery Co. is pray-er and that shows up in all of these stations of prayer. Keep at it! Revival is coming! Birth it in prayer and prepare us in prayer to be all God made us to be and to be prepared, ready and willing. Thank you! Check out Harvest Prayer's revival prayer below! Pray through it!
Let me tell you I have been in a spiritual battle lately. I NEED your prayers and covering! Thank you! It all started when God led me to initiate the Become More in '24 Challenge. It is God's call to seek Him and His ways more. To die to self, take up cross and follow Jesus more often and fully. It's a call to (and this has been the prayer, I believe triggered this pinching) live a life fully sold out to Christ and living this life as if Christ is all that matters with earnestness and intentionality. My from-the-heart earnest prayer has been more of You Lord and less of me. Those kinds of prayers, the Bible teaches are "powerful and effective." And I can affirm that as God has led me to deep soul searching in my quest to become more like Jesus. It is a cry for personal revival and to be a man of integrity. Help me Lord!
Yesterday, I allowed God full control and invited Him to edit our completed Sunday message. He obliged with a full rewrite that consumed most of my day off. My agape word--dying to self and loving like Jesus--was put to practice. I just couldn't understand the fire and brimstone tone of the message that began as a call to teaching about spiritual gifts and words to possibly work on for us for the year. Then this morning when I invited God to come edit some more and I then opened our devotionals prayerfully God spoke and clarified. (check them out below) Oh God is speaking to my heart, pinching and answering heartfelt cries for Him to cleanse me and purify me and make me useable and His man of integrity. I may now be in a full rewrite shortly on a very busy Saturday. But His will not mine! Die to self, take up cross and follow Jesus' lead. I long to and have been crying out to become more like Jesus. That includes living, loving, teaching, leading and making disciples like Him and to allow Him to be the Lord of me, my day(s), my agendas, and my choices. I have been cut to the marrow by His Living Word in response and led to deep inspection of my ways and what needs to be corrected--purified. Can I truly say that if you don't know how to follow Jesus, follow me? Or am I one of those that call others to do what I say but not what I do? Am I a Pharisee in shepherd cloths? Purify my heart Lord!
I think the reminder God had me include in yesterday's blog really struck home. It's the one where God told Joshua to tell the people to purify themselves because they were to prepare themselves for obedience and service as they finally followed God into the Promised Land. That is God's call for us as well. Do we realize the awe and reverence we need to show to Almighty God and His ways. He is all powerful and holy. We are not, yet He calls us to be holy as He is holy. Ouch, right? My studies of spiritual gifts took me even deeper into this self examination before my holy God. And I wrested (still am some) with how to balance that awe and reverence with God's sacrificial love and forgiveness. He knows me and loves me despite my sins and flaws. He has a plan for me that leads from being a very unrighteous sinner to one walking fully in my potential and His holy ways. We are all somewhere in between on that journey. But if we want to see revival in the nation and even our church, we need to first purify ourselves (confess and repent our sins) before God will use us. Yet He says, come as you are. I love you! I have plans for you. Come!
Maturity in Christ and working on reaching our fullest potential in Christ moves us to leave our old nature behind and step more fully in our new. I am struggling with that. We all tend to hate change, leaving our comfort zones, dying to self and readying to roll when God calls. Purify yourself is a very soul searching endeavor and the pruning it may lead to really hurts. Think about how God had all the men and boys be circumcised before he led them to the Promised Land. it was symbolic of the cutting away of their old nature and it hurt! How could they go battle the enemy and take the land while healing? Well they had to fully rely on God. Today we are commanded to be a people of circumcised hearts. OUCH!!! But that is what God has called me and His church to be and do. 2 Chronicles 7:14 keeps ringing in my ear: Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
And I cry out COME! Prepare and send me! Help me humble and purify myself. Cleanse me and use me Lord! Bring revival and may it begin with me! Is the Holy Spirit pinching you right now? Don't turn off that noise as we tend to do. Tune into it and ask for clarity and help with what to repent and to purify yourself. God has great plans a because that is not noise, but God's whisper to you. He's waiting and wants you to be ready and willing. He is preparing a people for Himself. You can be one of those! Are you listening? Willing? Ready?
I then opened Our Daily Bread titled Calling out to God. They use Psalm 25:16-22. meditate on that. That has been part of my prayers. This some just lifted me up as I cried out to God in praise and prayer with it.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart
and free me from my anguish.
18 Look on my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
19 See how numerous are my enemies
and how fiercely they hate me!
20 Guard my life and rescue me;
do not let me be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope, Lord,[a] is in you.
22 Deliver [me, Your Church and this nation] O God,
from all their troubles!
The Upper Room followed up with Letting Go. They use Psalm 34:18, "The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." That's me. Is that you? God is preparing us to be able to connect and lead those of the world who He is drawing and whose heats are broken--those who's spirit is crushed as their world comes crashing down. God loves us with a refining, purifying, and preparing love as He sends us to people experiencing the things we have gone through. We can look back and see that but rarely understand during the purifying and pruning.
The Word for You Today kinda redirected my thinking today with their reminder from Psalm 84:7 that God will move us from strength to strength. He is not content to leave us the way we are. We are created for more and He builds on our strengths and prunes our weaknesses. Great fruit lies ahead! We have been and may still be being pruned. Why? Because that is required as we purify ourselves and offer ourselves to God. Pruning leads to much better fruit and forces us to draw on the strength of the Vine, Jesus, for nourishment, sustaining and growth. As we start to grow and bud, we become more aware of what God is doing and wants to do as He leads us to the great and lasting fruit of the Spirit we have cried out to develop for Him to use. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Have you chosen one of these as your word, like me? I have prayed for some of these and especially self control. God will gladly prune us to give us opportunities to grow into those desires of our heart. And then use them to bless and minister to others and for His glory.
Don't be surprised if you hear some of this again tomorrow. It bears repeating and really is God editing His message to us as I prayed, less of me and more of you. He loves us with a refining, patient, everlasting love. He created us with so much potential and wants us to get there for such a time as this. He has plans for today, a bright hope for tomorrow and everlasting plans for you to grow into. It's time to get earnest and intentional at purifying yourself, allowing God to have His way with you as He prepares to lead you to His best and to be one of those people He is preparing for Himself. As we sit in awe and reverence and worship, we see His hand of blessing and love upon us and come to know His peace beyond understanding as we choose joy that flows from deep trust that He knows best and is at work in us, around us and through us to prepare a people for Himself that are purified and ready. Man, I want to be one of those! How about you? Let us covenant to work on this together and hold each other up in that journey to His best. Let us seek to become more in '24! Amen!
I'm praying for me, you and us. I want to answer questions and process with you. I need accountability and so do you. Ask God for some close trusted co-laborers. He has some custom made great plans for you and us together and He is working all things together for those who love Him/agape Him and are called according to His name. Which is a call to holiness and becoming more like Jesus. Lord, help us to want to and work on Becoming More like Jesus in '24. Prepare, purify and send us! Amen
Harvest Prayer, Revival prayer:
January 20, 2024 - Praying for Revival (Day 20): Revival Is a Coronation
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The manifest presence of Christ is when God reveals His Son to a new generation of His people. He does so in such dramatic fashion that it almost seems as if Christ has been hiding from us until that moment. Then suddenly He reinserts Himself among us. He arrives, in other words.
Revival is a “Christ-awakening movement.” It is God’s people waking up to God’s Son for ALL He is, not only individually but also corporately; not only in a moment but for a season. Revival ultimately becomes a movement with wide-reaching impact on society as well as among the nations.
One could almost say that revival is like a coronation. In other words, it leads believers to reaffirm their wholehearted devotion to the Lamb who sits on the Throne (Rev. 5). It reconnects them to His marching orders as their King. It serves as a powerful sign of the supremacy of Christ. The renewing reality of revival should be basically defined as this: Jesus expressing Himself more fully to His people as Lord.
Many believe a gracious “Christ Awakening” even now is bearing down on top of us, in answer to today’s unprecedented global prayer movement. May it be so!
I praise You Jesus, for You are the Lamb who sits on the throne and reigns supreme as my Lord and King! May Your manifest presence be revealed to my generation and those to come in powerful and refreshing ways. I pray for a revival that will demonstrate Your sovereign reign before all of heaven and earth.
Lord Jesus, invade my church with Your revolutionary and transforming presence so that we will increase our vision for the proclamation of the gospel and our mission to the world.
Pr a y e r Po i n t s:
• Praise Jesus as the Lamb who sits on the throne and reigns supreme as your Lord and King!
• Pray that the manifest presence of Christ will be revealed to your generation in powerful and refreshing ways.
• Pray for a final revival that demonstrates Christ’s sovereign reign before all of heaven and earth.
• Invite Jesus to invade your church with His revolutionary and transforming presence.
• Pray that the presence of Christ in your church increases the vision for gospel proclamation and mission to the world.
--Adapted from Day 20 by David Bryant: Do It Again, Lord (30 Days of Hope-Filled Prayer for Revival) compiled and edited by Carol Madison.
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ODB:
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In his book Adopted for Life, Dr. Russell Moore describes his family’s trip to an orphanage to adopt a child. As they entered the nursery, the silence was startling. The babies in the cribs never cried, and it wasn’t because they never needed anything but because they’d learned that no one cared enough to answer.
My heart ached as I read those words. I remember countless nights when our children were small. My wife and I would be sound asleep only to be startled awake by their cries: “Daddy, I’m sick!” or “Mommy, I’m scared!” One of us would spring into action and make our way to their bedroom to do our best to comfort and care for them. Our love for our children gave them reason to call for our help.
An overwhelming number of the psalms are cries, or laments, to God. Israel brought their laments to Him on the basis of His personal relationship with them. These were a people God had called His “firstborn” (Exodus 4:22) and they were asking their Father to act accordingly. Such honest trust is seen in Psalm 25: “Turn to me and be gracious to me, . . . free me from my anguish” (vv. 16–17). Children who are confident of the love of a caregiver do cry. As believers in Jesus—children of God—He’s given us reason to call on Him. He hears and cares because of His great love.
By John Blase
REFLECT & PRAY
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How comfortable are you taking your cries to God? Why? How might you offer up a lament to Him today?
Heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your faithfulness to hear my cry and to act.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In the superscription of Psalm 25, the only information provided is that David is the author. Unlike some of his psalms (see Psalm 51), there’s no hint as to the events that triggered its writing. Based on the lyrical content, some scholars suggest that it may refer to the times when David was pursued either by Saul or Absalom, but due to the penitent nature of the psalm, others see it as perhaps following David’s sin with Bathsheba. Either way, Psalm 25 is an individual lament (as opposed to a national lament). Its main feature is that it’s an acrostic—each verse begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This feature is a Hebrew poetic device that’s likely intended to make the psalm easier to memorize. That same characteristic is found in Psalms 9, 10, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, and 145.
Bill Crowder |
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UR: Letting Go
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. - Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
My family had experienced three recent deaths: my father, my mother, and my nephew. After cleaning out my parents’ house for a new family to move in, reality hit hard. We would never gather at my childhood home again. Dad would not read Luke 2 on Christmas Day. Mom would not make raspberry jelly or pecan pies. My nephew would not give another prank gift or bear hug. Our family would never be the same.
As I walked through the empty house, Dad’s orchard, and the woods at the edge of the yard, I cried. I
thanked God for a great family and childhood home and asked for God’s blessings on the young family who would live here now. Yet, a few hours later, I realized I had never given God my grief. I understood in a new way that God loves us and reaches out to us in our sorrow. However, we must offer our sorrow and grief to God.
Doing so does not remove our pain or eliminate the need for grieving. But it does offer the assurance that God holds our lives and sustains us through any devastating loss. We will never have to carry our burdens alone because God carries them with us.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Thank you, never-failing Father, for your presence, comfort, and peace, especially in times of grief. Amen.TWFYT:
Saturday, January 20 2024
Thank God I'm Forgiven! What's that mean to you? Thank God and build that gratitude list this morning!
Pray this earnestly today: O, O God Forgive Us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-lSe4earII
Good Morning Forgiven Much, Repentant, Pruned, Obedient to the Living Word, Purified, Very Loved Children of God! O, O God forgive us! Cleanse us! Purify us! Revive us! Teach us! Prepare us! Make us usable! Use us! All for Your glory and honor! Amen! When God was ready to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, He commanded Joshua to call the people to a season of preparation and purification. May we become a purified people, ready to follow God into our promised land and leading the next generations by our example! Purify My Heart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB_gCVjoNpI Please Lord! Come!
I had no idea where God would lead me this morning as I humbled myself before Him and asked Him to write this blog. Our devotionals speak about the importance of spending a sanctifying, purifying time with Him in the Living Word. Jesus is God's Living Word and the Bible is His instructions for us and called the Living Word because it is living and active and cuts to bone and marrow, directs, corrects, guides and does not come back void when spoken. We need to open our Bibles and spend time in them and even memorize passages to be recalled when needed later. Spend some time in the Word and with God as you prayerfully, humbly open your Bible today and through our devotionals and their passages. God is speaking always and especially as we open His Living Word! Be still. Listen and receive. Pray and release. Trust, obey and follow. And end with the Harvest Prayer's revival blog at the end. God is on the move and He is calling a prepared and available people to service and usefulness. Is that you? Is that our church? We are on our way but there is so much more ahead. Prepare your hearts and minds. Ask for wisdom, discernment and willing hands and feet and persevering, active faith. God has great plans for you and us! Daylight's burning! Are you ready and available?
May God's Word come alive in and through you with power and authority. May His Love protect and lead you. May you stay connected to The Vine, Jesus, and grow from pruning to massive fruit production--good and lasting fruit! May God lead you to seek Him more, become more of the person you are created to be and doing more of what You were created to do in the year ahead. And may He light revival fires through the next generations and position us to walk with them and disciple them with great and living faith! May we become a dynamic movement of God with a burning passion for Him and His ways and a missionary zeal to reach and disciple the lost. Yes, God is on the move! Hallelujah and He is using sinners like us as His vessels! May we be purified and ready! Come Jesus come! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu4VV54ZcFo
Charles Stanley:
ODB
God’s Protective Love
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Matthew 7:15
READ Matthew 7:13–23
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One summer night, the birds near our home suddenly erupted into chaotic cawing. The squawking intensified as the songbirds sent piercing calls from the trees. We finally realized why. As the sun set, a large hawk swooped from a treetop, sending the birds scattering in a screeching frenzy, sounding the alarm as they flew from danger.
In our lives, spiritual warnings can be heard throughout Scripture—cautions against false teachings, for example. We may doubt that’s what we’re hearing. Because of His love for us, however, our heavenly Father provides the clarity of Scripture to make such spiritual dangers plain to us.
Jesus taught, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15). He continued, “By their fruit you will recognize them. . . . Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” Then He warned us, “By their fruit you will recognize them” (vv. 16–17, 20).
“The prudent see danger and take refuge,” Proverbs 22:3 reminds us, “but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” Embedded in such warnings is God’s protective love, revealed in His words to us.
As the birds warned each other of physical danger, may we heed the Bible’s warnings to fly from spiritual danger and into God’s arms of refuge.
By Patricia Raybon
REFLECT & PRAY
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What spiritual warning has been speaking to your heart? How has Scripture confirmed a warning to you?
The Scriptures warn with love, dear God, and we thank You. May we heed those words today.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Matthew 7, Jesus teaches His disciples using a series of comparisons: narrow and wide gates (vv. 13-14), true and false prophets (vv. 15-20), true and false disciples (vv. 21-23), and wise and foolish builders (vv. 24-27). Craig Blomberg notes: “Jesus makes plain that there are ultimately only two categories of people in the world, despite the endless gradations we might otherwise perceive.” The contrast that Christ presents to His hearers seems at first to be a commonsense decision. Not many people would willingly choose to be foolish. However, in the explanation of the final contrast, Jesus gives a clear picture of why some might be foolish and others wise. Those who are true and wise are those who listen to and obey His words (v. 24).
JR Hudberg |
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UR: A Fruitful Vine
Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:5 (NIV)
One sunny morning I woke up to the sounds of birds chirping. I looked out my window and saw that it was the long tendrils of my passion fruit plant that had attracted the birds. I recalled Jesus’ words in John 15:5 and meditated on the verse with curiosity, knowing that the Holy Spirit had brought it to my mind to reveal something to me.
I realized that the image of the vine in John 15:5 and my passion fruit plant have something in common — they both have winding, clinging branches that bear fruit. They don’t have trunks; they cling to nearby objects for support, and their branches grow out of the vine. In John 15:5, Jesus was making it clear to us that he supplies our needs and makes it possible for us to flourish.
In order to thrive and bear fruit, climbing plants depend on a strong central vine and require occasional pruning. Jesus is our true vine, and when we remain connected to him, we can bear much fruit. All we need to do is receive and rest in Jesus’ love. Just as a plant’s nutrients flow from the vine to its branches, God’s divine love flows from Christ to us.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, as we cling to you, restore our peace and hope and remind us how much you love us. Amen.TWFYT:
Harvest Prayer
January 19, 2024 - Praying for Revival (Day 19): Acts of God in the Next Generation
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Several years ago, I spent a season in prayer. The Holy Spirit spoke to me clearly, saying, “Luke, I want you to be very careful because your generation is about to reap a harvest that it did not sow. So, stay extremely humble and give honor to those who have labored for and sown the harvest that you will reap.”
I believe the unprecedented harvest we are getting ready to reap in America—and that we are already seeing—is the result of fathers and mothers who have labored, toiled, wept, and prayed for God to move. The miraculous fruit, the rare spiritual hunger, and the powerful moves of the Holy Spirit we are seeing among Gen Z are a direct result of the prayers of the generations that preceded us. It is a multigenerational work.
This mixture of the prayers and labors of fathers and mothers—and the radical faith and actions of the upcoming generation—make for an explosive combination. In the days ahead, my sense is that the Lord’s call to Gen Z is one of wholehearted consecration—a consecration to holy lives and to God’s mission.
King of kings and Lord of lords, I praise God for the generations that have gone before me in prayer and faith – those spiritual mothers and fathers who have labored, wept, and interceded for You to move in power. Stir my heart to a deeper level of prayer, call Your Church to be renewed in a fresh dedication to holiness and consecration to God, and fill this next generation with joy and passion for Jesus. Revive Your Church and pour out spiritual awakening in this nation so that the gospel reaches to the ends of the earth!
Pr a y e r Po i n t s:
• Praise God for the generations that have gone before you in prayer and faith—and how you are the recipient of those prayers.
• Pray that God will include you as the mothers and fathers of faith who have labored, wept, and prayed for a great move of God. Ask the Spirit to stir your heart to greater intercession.
• Pray for the Church to be renewed in dedication to holiness and consecration to God.
• Pray for radical, audacious faith to fill this next generation with joy and passion for Jesus.
• Pray for a fresh move of revival in the Church and spiritual awakening in this nation—so that the gospel reaches to the ends of the earth.
--Adapted from Day 19 by Luke LeFevre: Do It Again, Lord (30 Days of Hope-Filled Prayer for Revival) compiled and edited by Carol Madison. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount on the book.
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Thursday, January 18 2024
Spiritual Gifts Test Link: https://gifts.churchgrowth.org/spiritual-gifts-survey/ If you'd like to take a spiritual gifts test to discover your spiritual gifts, here's a link to one. Please share with us your results. Praying for God to help us discover our custom made and Holy Spirit empowered purposes.
New Members Class Sun Feb 18 after church. All participants will be required to complete the gifts test before the class.
Good Morning Becoming More like Jesus Servants and Intercessors! Yes Lord COME! May we become more like You as we learn to serve, pray, teach, lead and love like Jesus! Come! Have Your perfecting way with me! Prepare me and use me well! Come! Lead me to my purposes and part. Thanks! Amen!
Today's devotional revelations tie to two things...interceding (crying out in prayer) for Jesus to come and revival to sweep over our nation. (See Harvest Prayer for today below) Our other devos (below) speak into becoming more like Jesus, our example of a servant leader, Shepherd, who was comfortable in His human flesh and dependent upon the Holy Spirit to minister to and through Him. Two of our devos use the John 13 teaching of Jesus as He washed the disciple's feet. When I graduated from Bible college we were given a towel with that passage on it to remind us that we are called to be servant leaders, like Jesus.
I placed the Upper Room between the two using John 13 because to be a good and maturing servant leader, we need to learn to die to self, not lean on our own understanding and to grow in trust and obedience as we learn to be content with Jesus being our Lord, Shepherd and Example. Learning to live, love, teach and lead more like Jesus, requires being content to die to self and cry out for less of me and more of Him as a way of life. We have to be willing to take off our old nature and toss it away like a caterpillar leaving the cocoon behind and stepping into our new butterfly nature. How well are you doing at allowing God to transform you more fully into His image? What word(s) may He want you to work on? Who does He want you to partner with to work on this?
God has great plans for each of us and us as His Body! For us to become more fully who we were created to be and do more of what Jesus has planned for us, we need to humble ourselves, invite Him to come with His patient, perfecting love and have His way with us. How can we help each other with that? Accountability is key and that comes from a few close trusted friends and much time with God. Pray for God to raise up good accountability partnerships and for how and who for you to be involved. No matter your personality, abilities, gifts, experiences, circumstances, or preferences, God has a plan and purpose just for you. And as He gathers us as His Body, He weaves us together to become a well oiled Good News Delivery machine. But we need each other! Pray for God to continue His good work in and through you and us and to lead us to our fullest potential in Christ. Please Lord! Thanks! Amen! May God bless you today with His presence, direction, joy and shalom!
Harvest Prayer's Revival Prayer:
January 18, 2024 - Praying for Revival (Day 18): Longing for Change
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How can we, as intercessors, pray both personally and corporately for transformation? How can we develop a longing for the presence and glory of Christ to flood our communities?
God made every nation and appointed a place in time for each so that the gospel might go forth. He always intended His people to be involved in shaping history with Him. Many Scripture passages build upon this theme (2 Chron. 7:14; Jer. 18:7–8). Even those people who consider our era to be the “last days” would agree that until the very end, God calls believers to steward the land and its resources for God’s glory.
We know that only the gospel’s power can change the human heart (Rom. 1:16). But in God’s mercy, if we intercede, as faithful stewards, in fervent interrogative intercession for our morally plummeting society, there might come a quickening—even a dramatic move of God. We may yet see the presence and glory of Christ flooding our communities. Will we at least try?
Creator of all things, You are the One who determines divine purposes for every nation. Would you give wisdom and enabling from Your Holy Spirit to guard, protect and watch over this land as Your people pray? Please use me to shape history through my prayers and obedience to Your word. May the power of Your gospel transform hearts in ways that will completely interrupt the decline of our society! Please flood my community and nation with the glory and presence of Christ so that all people will know that You alone are God!
Pr a y e r Po i n t s:
• Praise God as the Creator of all things and the One who determines divine purposes for every nation.
• Pray for the wisdom and enabling from God’s Spirit to guard, protect, and watch over this land through your intercession.
• Ask God to use you to shape history through your prayers and obedience to His Word.
• Pray for the power of the gospel to transform hearts in ways that dramatically interrupt the decline of our society.
• Pray for the quickening of a dramatic move of God that floods your community and our nation with the glory and presence of Christ!
--Adapted from Day 18 by David Kubal: Do It Again, Lord (30 Days of Hope-Filled Prayer for Revival) compiled and edited by Carol Madison.
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ODB:
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On Charley and Jan’s fiftieth wedding anniversary, they shared breakfast at a café with their son Jon. That day, the restaurant was understaffed with just a manager, cook, and one teenage girl who was working as hostess, waitress, and busser. As they finished their breakfast, Charley turned to his wife and son and said, “Do you have anything important going on in the next few hours?” They didn’t.
So, with permission from the manager, Charley and Jan began washing dishes in the back of the restaurant while Jon started clearing the cluttered tables. According to Jon, what happened that day wasn’t really that unusual. His parents had always set an example of Jesus who “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45).
In John 13, we read about the last meal Christ shared with His disciples. That night, the Teacher taught them the principle of humble service by washing their dirty feet (vv. 14–15). If He was willing to do the lowly job of washing a dozen men’s feet, they too should joyfully serve others.
Every avenue of service we encounter may look different, but one thing’s the same: there’s great joy in serving. The purpose behind acts of service isn’t to bring praise to the ones performing them, but to lovingly serve others while directing all praise to our humble, self-sacrificing God.
By Cindy Hess Kasper
REFLECT & PRAY
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When has someone unexpectedly offered to help you with a difficult task? Why is humility such an important aspect of serving others?
Loving Savior, thank You for showing me how to be a servant.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Peter often misunderstood Jesus. He misunderstood what Christ was doing when He began to wash the disciples’ feet (John 13:6-9). Earlier in John, he confessed that only Jesus had the words of life (6:68-69), but he often failed to take Him at His word. He was convinced he could follow Jesus on the path of suffering (13:36-37). He assumed Christ’s goal was military conquest and started swinging a sword (18:10-11). And he ultimately denied his teacher and friend (vv. 15-27).
In every instance, however, Jesus gently showed love to His friend Peter. In the end, He called him to restoration and hope (21:15-19).
Jed Ostoich |
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UR: Giving It to God
Paul wrote, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” - Philippians 4:11 (NIV)
After I learned that I had torn my other ACL, my spirits sank. I had just recovered from the same injury to my other knee eight months prior, and now I was going to have to go through the same grueling journey all over again. Surgery, crutches, ice, and physical therapy would be my main focus for the next two weeks. I felt as if I would never understand where God was in all this or how God could possibly use this injury for my good.
It was around this time that I came across Philippians 4. I was familiar with this passage of scripture, but I had never spent much time studying and meditating on it. After reading it, I decided that although I did not understand why I was going through this trial, I knew that turning to God would be the only way I could get through it. I took a leap of faith and decided to trust God. Now I have found joy and a peace that I did not have when I was healing from my first knee injury. Giving this struggle to God is something I have to do every day, and doing so helps me remember that I am not going through this hardship alone.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear God, help us give our struggles to you daily, and remind us that the trials that we go through will strengthen our faith and trust in you. Amen.
TWFYT:
Thursday, January 18 2024
Bread Ministry 10-12 today. Wed night gathering postponed until next Wed. (There was a one call but some of us don't receive it. Sarah is working on correcting that. Pray for favor)
Good Morning Handcrafted Vessels of God! PTL for His creating, recreating, molding and preparing of you and us as His vessels of love, healing, hope and revival. Thanks Lord! Help us to die to self, humble self and allow you to have Your way with us as you continue to prepare us for what is ahead. May we be useful now, just as we are, and willing to allow you to transform us for usefulness for what's next. Come! Have your way with us and use us well for Your glory always. Revive us, direct our steps, protect us and prepare us for Your best. Bring joy alive as we learn to trust you more, love you more and allow you more access to us. More of You and less of me! More love! More power! More incarnating of Jesus and His good ways through us more often. Reveal to us things You desire for us to work on this year. Give us words and move us to work on those with You, Your Holy Spirit and each other. Lead us to Your best and use us well. Amen!
I'm going to just allow you to saturate in God's presence this morning through the blogs and devos below. God has a word for you this morning. What's He saying to you? How is He pinching or moving your heart? How does He want to inform your prayer and choices today. Invite Him to be the Lord of your heart and choices today and this week. Humble yourself. Turn off the noise and be still and reload in His loving presence. Ask Him to bring His will alive through your prayers. He has some great things awaiting your discover and cooperation. PTL! Allow His Spirit and presence to warm you to the bones and fire you up for what's next for today and beyond. Bring those revival fires to those out in the cold of distance from the One who loves us and pray for a warming of cold hearts. Ask to have a burning passion for God. Pray to be on fire for the Lord! AMEN!
Harvest prayer:
January 17, 2024 - Praying for Revival (Day 17): The Reality of Christ’s Presence
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In a Christ dominated revival, the Holy Spirit increases vision for what’s ahead. He deepens our yearnings for greater approximations of the coming Kingdom.
In New Testament-style revival, Christians are aroused to a reality of Christ’s presence and power already theirs, but currently overlooked. They are summoned not only to recapture their first love for Christ (Rev. 2), but to discover a passion for Him that surpasses whatever they have known before (Eph. 3). Re-awakening us to greater dimensions of His glory, New Testament revival is ultimately about recovering and enlarging hope in Christ.
In other words, God infuses His Church with fresh hope, passion, prayer, and mission by refocusing us on Christ for ALL He really is. In revival a church is re-captivated with the supremacy of Christ by the Spirit of Christ. That’s why my favorite term for this phenomenon is a “Christ Awakening.”
Thank You, Father, for how you have transformed the history of the world through revival and spiritual awakening. My heart looks forward to fresh expressions of the reign of Jesus Christ in my day! Please increase my vision and longing for another Great Awakening in this nation. Help my church to experience a new awakening of the presence and power of Jesus and that we will all recapture our first love in ways that transform all our relationships and everything we do.
Pr a y e r Po i n t s:
• Look back both in Scripture and in this nation and praise God for the moves of revival and spiritual awakening that have transformed history.
• Look forward to fresh expressions of Christ’s reign and pray that it will happen in our day.
• Invite God to increase your vision and yearning for another Great Awakening in our nation.
• Pray for your church to experience a new awakening of the presence and power of Christ.
• Pray that you and your family will recapture your first love of Christ in ways that transform your relationships.
--Adapted from Day 17 by David Bryant: Do It Again, Lord (30 Days of Hope-Filled Prayer for Revival) compiled and edited by Carol Madison.
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Charles Stanley:
ODB:
Choosing to Follow God
Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . . As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15
READ Joshua 24:14–18
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“The average person will make 773,618 decisions over a lifetime,” claims the Daily Mirror. The British newspaper goes on to assert that we “will come to regret 143,262 of them.” I have no idea how the paper arrived at these numbers, but it’s clear that we face countless decisions throughout our lifetime. The sheer quantity of them might become paralyzing, especially when we consider that all our choices have consequences, some far more momentous than others.
After forty years wandering in the wilderness, the children of Israel stood at the threshold of their new homeland. Later, after entering the land, Joshua, their leader, issued to them a challenging choice: “Fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness,” he said. “Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped” (Joshua 24:14). Joshua told them, “If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . . But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (v. 15).
As we begin each new day, possibilities stretch before us, leading to scores of decisions. Taking the time to ask God to guide us will influence the choices we make. By the power of the Spirit, we can choose to follow Him every day.
By Bill Crowder
REFLECT & PRAY
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What choices have you regretted making? How might you have handled those situations more wisely?
Father, sometimes life can feel overwhelming—and so can the many choices that confront me. Please guide my steps and my decision-making so that I honor You in the choices I make.
For further study, read Dangerous Decisions: Learning from the Mistakes of Lot and Achan.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The challenge from Joshua to the people of Israel who are about to take possession of the promised land (Joshua 24:14-15) gives us insight into their religious history during their time of slavery in Egypt. While some continued to worship Yahweh during their captivity, as seen in the fear of God displayed by the midwives Shiphrah and Puah (Exodus 1:15-17), today’s passage indicates that worship of Yahweh was only one form of their worship.
To the second generation that had come out of slavery (the first generation had died in the wilderness), Joshua proclaimed these words: “Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. . . . Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:14-15). This shows that the descendants of Jacob who were in slavery in Egypt had adopted various religious practices.
JR Hudberg |
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UR:
God's Protection
Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. - Psalm 57:1 (NIV)
My wife and I operate a small farm.
One evening, we were away from home when we received a call from our neighbor who told us that one of our cows was having her calf in the pasture.
The time immediately after birth can be dangerous for both the mother and the newborn since both are weak and the birth process often attracts predators.
It was dark when we got home. After getting our flashlights and going out to the pasture, we were rewarded with the sight of a healthy newborn calf lying beside its mother. We also found our llamas and our livestock guardian dog standing in a circle around the cow and calf. The llamas and dog provided comfort and protection to their vulnerable charges. As we moved the cow and her calf to the shelter of the barn, we were escorted by the llamas and dog.
For me, that was a memorable illustration of the protection and refuge God provides. We may not face the same physical threats as livestock, but we do face fear, worry, temptation, loneliness, and grief that prey on our relationship with God. When I look back at difficult times in my life, I can see that God provided protection and comfort, often in the form of support from fellow Christians. Just as the llamas and dog provided protection and comfort to the cow and her calf, God provides protection and comfort to us.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Our Father, thank you for the many ways you comfort us when we are vulnerable. Help us always to find our refuge in you. Amen.
Tuesday, January 16 2024
10 AM on Zoom today Huddle resumes! All welcome!
Wed. 10 AM Bread distribution. 6 PM Family Ministries/Adult Huddle begins with dinner. Soups for a chilly night of warmed hearts gathering together to fellowship, study, pray and play. All welcome!
Sat 10-1: Clothing Closet
Good Morning Igniters of Revival Fires! Pray into that and continue to sow lavishly in prayers as you enjoy the abundant life in Christ--living, loving, teaching, leading and praying more and more like Jesus! John 10:10 reminds us that Jesus came so that all who will believe may not only have life but enjoy the abundant life. That's a promise to proclaim today! And as we live that sold out abundant life in Christ, we get to not only witness but be a part of His promised end times revival. PTL! Keep your focus right, your prayers flowing, and your feet following step by step in faith as you enjoy and bring to life this promised abundant life! AMEN!!!
All our devotionals are of worth today, especially as they lead you to be still and spend time with God. But I am only focusing on two: Harvest Prayer's revival prayer for day 16 and Charles Stanley's God's Purpose for Your Life daily devo. What might God be saying to you as you engage Him through these? What will you do about it?
Today in huddle we will probably discuss these and few other things more deeply as we reunite to study, pray, fellowship and plan. Join us! And possibly may do the same tomorrow evening as Family Ministry/Adult Huddle resumes at 6.
For a long time I've been trying to discern exactly how to share what God is saying to me and where He is wanting to lead me and us. He has great plans for each of us and our church that are coming to life and good fruit is budding. He's wanting to (and making some headway as we surrender to Him and His ways) help us grow into the people we were created to be, doing the things He has planned for us as we don Jesus' easy yoke and enjoy His abundant life. He's given us life, new life, and now wants us to grow to experience His abundant life as we live more fully for Him and walk more earnestly in His ways. Help us Lord! Help me!
Check our Charles' devo below and meditate on this as he put into words all I've been sensing and God has been leading us too. We can love God and enjoy this life, even the promised abundant life, if we choose. What might the abundant life feel like for you? How might you move towards it? Part of it will be living life as if Christ is all that matters, learning to become more like Jesus and allowing Him to live and love through you. Maybe as you contemplate this, He's leading you to know His shalom and promised rest for your souls and to a word or two to focus on this year to help you move towards your fuller potential? Talk to Him about that and process with some others. Are you hungry and thirsty for more? Panting after God's best for you like a deer longing for water? The Satisfier is available and so is His abundant life and so is the joy that comes from the deep soul satisfaction you can know as you grow in Christ and bring Him alive! That's revival as God's Word goes out and doesn't come back void and comes alive in and through you. PTL! Now the challenge is how do we bring this alive to others? Especially the importance of embracing this and choosing well as a child and young adult? Who may God be sending you to encourage with your experiences and these truths as you live your best life and help others towards theirs?
It's time to ignite some revival fires, maybe under your own butt, as you choose Christ's promised abundant life. That's choosing to live and love more like Jesus. Become More in '24! Do More in '24! Love More in '24!
Be Jesus More in '24!!! I'm praying for you! Choose the abundant life and start right now!
Charles Stanley:
Harvest prayer:
January 16, 2024 - Praying for Revival (Day 16): From Death to Life
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Death Valley is an expansive desert in California, known as the lowest, driest, and hottest location in all North America. It is a barren, desolate place that holds the record for the highest recorded temperature in the Western Hemisphere—a mere 134 degrees Fahrenheit!
In 2005, a rare torrential downpour deposited six inches of rain into the cracks of the rock-hard valley floor. Suddenly this lifeless desert blossomed with abundant and gorgeous flowers that had not been seen in 20 years! Dormant seeds, sitting underneath the soil for years and barely hanging on to life, were suddenly awakened when saturated with life-giving rain. The desert was alive, much like the promise of Isaiah 44:3–4: “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.”
This is a picture of revival—when the Spirit saturates a church with God’s Word about God’s Son so that God’s people come alive to His glory in whole new ways.
God Almighty, I praise You for Your heart to pour out water on a dry and thirsty land! Send the refreshing waters of revival in our day! Please show me the areas in my own life, in my family and in my church that need an outpouring of Your Spirit. Saturate each area with Your Word and may a fresh wind of Your Spirit blow across my community and nation to extend the reign of Jesus Christ!
Pr a y e r Po i n t s:
• Praise God for His heart to pour out water on a dry and thirsty land! Ask Him to do it again with refreshing waters of revival in our day.
• Identify places in your own life, your family, and your church that need an outpouring of God’s Spirit—and invite Him to send a torrential downpour!
• Pray for your church to be saturated with God’s Word about God’s Son—and for your congregation to come alive to the glory of Christ.
• Pray for a Christ awakening that changes both your church and society.
• Pray for fresh winds of the Spirit to extend the reign of Christ to your community and nation.
--Adapted from Day 16 by David Bryant: Do It Again, Lord (30 Days of Hope-Filled Prayer for Revival) compiled and edited by Carol Madison.
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Tuesday, January 16 2024
Good Morning Gathered and Sent Surrendered, Faithful Servants of the Lord--Co-Laborers! Please Lord! Grow us as we gather. Equip us. Empower us! Send us to be your vessels of love, healing, hope and revival. Team us up with others--co-laborers and raise up some small group leaders. We are Your very loved children, longing to be used to advance your Kingdom and make disciples of Jesus. Come! Thank You for creating us and placing us right where you want us for such a time as this! Shepherd lead us and use us well for your glory. Amen!
And AMEN! Come Jesus us come! This morning as I sat down at my desk and pondered yesterday, Psalm 23 came to mind again...The Lord is my Shepherd. Is He your Shepherd? Are you allowing Him to lead you beside the still waters and restore your soul? Are you walking with Him through the dark valley today? Are you content in His provision and following His provision? I shall not want! Are you allowing Him to guide you in the paths of righteousness? Why? "For His name's sake!" Are you living up to the calling of being a sheep and allow the Great Shepherd to be your Lord? That's where revival begins as you humble yourself, even die to self and let go of control, for His names sake! So, surprise, as I open my Charles Stanley devo that begins with Palm 23:3. Oh, yes God is always speaking. PTL! Are we being still and listening? Are you allowing Jesus to lead you as you serve others for His name's sake? Are you working as if you are working for the Lord? Praying, serving, repenting as if for the Lord? God has great plans for you just as you are and is wanting to grow you to your fuller potential and His greater things. Rejoice! Surrender and live this life as if Christ is all that matters, because it's true! Engage Him through the devotionals below as you turn off the noise and tune into God. Ask Him to reveal a word for you to work on this year too. He has at least one! Come Jesus come!! Have all of me and grow me to my fuller potential in Christ and use me as I am, today right where you place me, for such a time as this. Bring revival and send me as you agent of it. Come! Thank You! Amen! (Pray the Harvest Prayer revival prayer at the end--earnestly for those prayers are powerful and effective!)
What's God saying to you today and what will you do about it? Who is He leading you to partner with? is He leading you to lead a small group? What word(s) is He leading you to for growth? How might He want to use you to advance His Kingdom? Who might He be leading you today? ASK! LISTEN! and receive! Then share and process that with Sarah, me, or your small circle of friends. And worship for all He is and will do! God is on the move! Hallelujah!
Charles Stanley:
TWFYT:
ODB:
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Actress Nichelle Nichols is best remembered for playing Lieutenant Uhura in the original Star Trek series. Landing the role was a personal win for Nichols, making her one of the first African American women on a major TV show. But a greater win was to come of it.
Nichols had actually resigned from Star Trek after its first season, to return to her theater work. But then she met Martin Luther King Jr., who urged her not to leave. For the first time, he said, African Americans were being seen on TV as intelligent people who could do anything, even go to space. By playing Lieutenant Uhura, Nichols was achieving a greater win—showing Black women and children what they could become.
It reminds me of the time James and John asked Jesus for the two best positions in His kingdom (Mark 10:37). What personal wins such positions would be! Jesus not only explained the painful realities of their request (vv. 38–40) but called them to higher goals, saying, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (v. 43). His followers weren’t to seek personal wins alone but, like Him, use their positions to serve others (v. 45).
Nichelle Nichols stayed with Star Trek for the greater win it provided for African Americans. May we too never be content with a personal win alone but use whatever position we gain to serve others in His name.
By Sheridan Voysey
REFLECT & PRAY
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What are your current personal and career goals? What doors could you open for others right now?
Dear Jesus, show me how to use my position to serve others in Your name.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
James and John’s request to sit at Jesus’ right hand and left hand after He’s glorified (Mark 10:37) shows they didn’t yet understand that Christ’s path to glory would be through suffering. Jesus responded by referring to His coming “cup” and “baptism” (v. 38)—both metaphors referring to His future suffering for His people. He would drink the cup of suffering and identify fully with His people to save them—taking on the consequences of sin for their sake. In response to James and John’s request for honor, they’re instead promised that as Christ’s disciples, they’d suffer like Him (v. 39). And Jesus used this occasion to teach all His disciples about offering themselves in service (vv. 42-45).
Monica La Rose |
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UR: Working for the Lord
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord. - Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
Preparing to graduate from university and commissioned as a military intelligence officer in the United States Army, I envisioned a highly successful career in the armed forces. I experienced health issues during my senior year of college, however, and I was medically discharged. My plans were dashed. Reeling from disappointment, I accepted the first job I could find after searching for months. I found an entry-level position answering phones for a small business. I was disappointed and struggled with a poor attitude about my work. How will I possibly find fulfillment in a job like this? I wondered.
In Colossians 3:23, the apostle Paul encourages us to work at whatever we do with our entire hearts, as if working for the Lord. No job God has placed us in is unimportant. When we commit whatever we do to God, working willingly with everything we have, we honor God. Whether we are working as a CEO, custodian, teacher, secretary, or stay-at-home parent, God can help us to bear fruit for the kingdom. No job is small or insignificant because we do not serve a small or insignificant God.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear God, help us to commit everything we do to you and to remember that nothing we do is small in your eyes. Amen
Harvest revival prayer:
January 15, 2024 - Praying for Revival (Day 15): Come Upon Your People Again
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Our hearts are growing increasingly urgent about the need to pray for God’s mercy and grace in our country. This is the simple prayer that the Lord put on my heart:
Lord, throughout our nation’s history You have blessed us with times of spiritual awakening and revival. Your Spirit moved in our midst to restore godly worship. You empowered Your people to be witnesses to Your truths and to take stands for righteousness and justice.
Oh, God, do it again! Come upon Your people again in reviving power. Before our nation can be changed, our hearts must be changed. Turn us from selfishness and sin to Your loving ways.
Your Word tells us, Lord, that judgment begins in the house of the Lord (1 Peter 4:17). May Your mercy and grace also begin there. Pour out a spirit of repentance upon the Church in America. Forgive us for making our faith more about us and our comfort and preferences than about Your purposes on planet earth. Fill our pulpits with godly preachers who will proclaim Your Word fearlessly.
We will respond to Your Word as those who are called by Your name, humbling ourselves before You and in prayer, seeking Your face and turning from our wicked ways. Father, will You then hear from heaven and forgive our sin and heal our land (2 Chron. 7:14)?
We ask this in the powerful name of Jesus! Amen.
Pr a y e r Po i n t s:
• Praise God for His mercy and the many ways He has blessed our nation.
• Praise God for the way He has used this nation as a beacon of righteousness to the world and ask Him to use us again to reflect the love of Christ.
• Pray that God will use His Church to be a standard of righteousness and justice in a hurting world.
• Ask God to pour out a spirit of repentance on His Church that paves the way for revival.
• Pray for God’s blessing of the fulfillment of 2 Chronicles 7:14.
--Adapted from Day 15 by Dave Butts: Do It Again, Lord (30 Days of Hope-Filled Prayer for Revival) compiled and edited by Carol Madison.
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Sunday, January 14 2024
Worship live in person and on Zoom at 10 with Children's Church. (attached below is the handout in our bulletins for those joining on Zoom.) Today we begin our journey in learning about the Holy Spirit, Spiritual Gifts and what that all means to us as we seek to Become More in '24. We will have a lot of words to pick from as we ask God to reveal to us what He desires us to work on in '24 as we seek to become more like Jesus and doing more of what we were created to do. I'm excited! Hope you are too!
Good Morning Very Loved Masterpieces of God, Family, Friends, and Empowered Sent Ones of God! There is one thing I always pray to do and that is to love like Jesus--to incarnate or bring His love alive to all those He sends my way. We are commanded to love God and others just like Jesus does--sacrificially, lavishly. And I pray that that continues to grow and come alive in, through and around me. I pray that over all of you as well as we continue to grow in and work on living sacrificially, loving lavishly and being all in for God's ways like Jesus.
God is looking right into your heart and reminding you that He knows you and everything about you and still loves you with an everlasting love. Jesus has His arms wide open for you to feel His loving embrace as He calls you by name to come to Him. His hand is outstretched to you as you are sinking in the waves of the storm and reminds you to turn off the noise and chaos and focus on Him--the Prince of Peace. He is cheering you on and wanting you to grow into His purposes for you. He sent His Holy Spirit to help you and to gift you to grow into your fullest potential and do all He has for you. His Spirit not only equips, but empowers you to go love well, grow His Kingdom and Church and make disciples of Jesus as you complete your custom purposes and mission. What joy and blessings we know, are growing into and get to share! Man, God is so awesome and good--all the time! PTL! Prepare your hearts to enter His courts with praise today!
Times are hard but not unexpected as Jesus told us to be ready for all the trials, troubles and tribulations that are to come. Our devotionals continue the reminder to be ready, stay focused on Christ and to persevere in growling faith. Check them out below. God is weaving all things together for His purposes and the good of those who believe. Keep your eyes fixed on Him and your feet following. Be attentive and be still. Listen to hear His whisper and directions. Spend time with Him and in His Word so He can speak, you can respond and He can guide you step by step in faith. He has great plans for you! You know that but do you really believe that always--especially when in the storms? Prepare your heart by working on a growing relationship with our Lord and Savior. When you ask Him to be your Lord or the Lord of the day, you can be assured that no matter what happens, it is filtered through God's hands, part of His plan and will eventually help to lead us to His best. So choose joy always as you learn to die to self, take up your cross daily and follow Jesus earnestly! As we do, His peace beyond understanding overwhelms us and we find the strength, help and wisdom to continue on this journey to Christlikeness and for God's glory alone! He is worthy of a fully surrendered life of obedience and worship that will lead us to His best! Amen! and rejoice! Sing the hymn as a prayer today, "I Surrender All". He is worthy and will lead us to His best and prepare us for eternity with Him. Amen! A life well lived in Christ begins with surrender and grows as you seek Him more with all your heart. We are learning to live and love like Jesus. Lead us Lord! Thank You! Amen
I Surrender All: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW8EA7DEQ2M
Harvest Revival Prayer Blog:
January 14, 2024 - Praying for Revival (Day 14): Hope Deferred
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Hope can be defined as the belief or expectation that something can or will happen. Proverbs 13:12 describes it this way: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
How do we pray when hope seems lost, when a situation deteriorates rather than comes to resolution?
How can we keep from becoming discouraged and giving up when our nation slips further and further into darkness? How do we maintain confidence in the grace and love of God when judgment, logical consequences, and the downward slope of destruction seem inevitable?
There is a reason Paul reminded the Church at Rome: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom.15:13). The God of hope wants us to overflow with hope, but it will require the power of the Spirit in our lives.
Just imagine: complete joy, total peace, and an abundance of hope! Isn’t that what we need?
I praise You God of hope, for You pour out joy and peace as I trust in You! Please give me renewed endurance in my prayer life to keep interceding even when I don’t see immediate evidence of revival. Pour out Your mercy on our nation even when it seems judgment is what we deserve.
Father, please increase my faith and inspire my prayers with “the assurance of things hoped for.” Send a wave of repentance and a flood of revival throughout the Church in this nation.
Pr a y e r Po i n t s:
• Praise the God of hope who pours out joy and peace when we trust in Him.
• Pray for renewed endurance in your prayer life to keep interceding even when you don’t see immediate evidence of revival.
• Pray for God’s mercy on our nation, even when it seems judgment is more appropriate.
• Ask God to increase your faith and inspire your prayers with “the assurance of things hoped for.”
• Pray for a wave of repentance and a flood of revival throughout the Church in this nation.
--Adapted from Day 14 by Jim Jarman: Do It Again, Lord (30 Days of Hope-Filled Prayer for Revival) compiled and edited by Carol Madison. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount on the book.
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Charles Stanley:
ODB:
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Nineteenth-century Scottish pastor, Thomas Chalmers, once told the story of riding in a horse-drawn carriage in the Highlands region as it hugged a narrow mountain ledge, along a harrowing precipice. One of the horses startled, and the driver, fearing they would plummet to their death, repeatedly flicked his whip. After they made it past the danger, Chalmers asked the driver why he used the whip with such force. “I needed to give the horses something else to think about,” he said. “I needed to get their attention.”
In a world overflowing with threats and dangers all around us, we all need something else to arrest our attention. However, we need more than merely mental distraction—a kind of psychological trick. What we most need is to fasten our minds upon a reality more powerful than all our fears. As Isaiah told God’s people in Judah, what we truly need is to fix our minds on God. “You will keep in perfect peace,” Isaiah promises, “all who trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3 nlt). And we can “trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock” (v. 4 nlt).
Peace—this is the gift for all who fix their gaze on God. And His peace provides far more than only a technique for holding our worst thoughts at bay. For those who will surrender their future, their hopes, and their worries, the Spirit makes an entirely new way of life possible.
By Winn Collier
REFLECT & PRAY
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Where do you normally fix your attention? How might you renew your gaze on God?
Dear God, my mind can be a scary place, and I fear so much. Please give me Your peace.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In calling His people to trust Him instead of trusting in other nations, God proclaimed Himself sovereign over all human history (Isaiah 24-27). He’s at work behind the scenes, orchestrating events to the triumphant outcome He planned for the end of time. He’ll judge and punish the wicked and the proud (24:16-23; 25:10-12) but will bless those who humble themselves and trust in Him (25:1-8). Isaiah 26 is a song of praise celebrating the salvation and blessings God will bestow on those who trust, obey, and honor Him (vv. 7-9).
K. T. Sim |
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TWFYT:
UR: Behind and Ahead
[The Lord] guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. - Psalm 23:3 (NIV)
I am facing south on a long, narrow strip of land that is nearly at the southernmost point of Africa. Sometimes it is calm and beautiful at Cape Point, but today it is buffeted by storms. The raging Atlantic Ocean is on my right and the turbulent Indian Ocean to my left. I have walked bravely but with trepidation to my present position below the towering lighthouse that has guided mariners for many years. Behind me is the solid bulk of the African continent, and far ahead of me, unseen beyond the horizon but certain in my mind, is Antarctica. I stand awed and exhilarated.
I liken my situation in this moment to my life in Christ. At times calm, at times buffeted and storm-tossed, I have walked bravely along a narrow path. But Jesus is my eternal beacon. If I listen carefully I can hear his voice calming the waters and bidding me to keep the faith, knowing that behind me is the solid ground of forgiveness, power, and love. Ahead of me, unseen and awesome but certain, lies eternity with Christ.
TODAY'S PRAYER
O God, grant us strength and guidance when we encounter the stormy gales of life. Help us to be beacons of your grace and shelter for others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Bulletin Insert: Words...
Become More in ’24 Challenge
Pray about and pick a word or two to work on: a “be” word to help you become who you were created to be and a “do” word to help you to work on what you were created to do
Possible words to work on
Words for ’23:
Faith, hope, peace, time, value, understanding, bold, change, patience, pause, energy, stewardship, useful, courage, relationships, restoration, rest, agape and discipleship
Spiritual gifts words:
1 Corinthians 12:8–10:
1. Prophecy 2. Serving 3. Teaching 4. Exhortation 5. Giving 6. Leadership 7. Mercy
1 Corinthians 12:28–30
1. Word of wisdom 2. Word of knowledge 3. Faith 4. Gifts of healings 5. Miracles 6. Prophecy 7. Distinguishing between spirits 8. Tongues 9. Interpretation of tongues
Romans 12:6–8
1. Apostle 2. Prophet 3.Teacher 4. Miracles 5. Kinds of healings 6. Helps 7. Administration 8. Tongues
Ephesians 4:11
1. Apostle 2. Prophet 3. Evangelist 4. Pastor 5. Teacher
1 Peter 4:11
1. Whoever speaks 2. Whoever renders service
My word(s):_____________________________
Saturday, January 13 2024
Good Morning Resting in the Lord, Preparing, Persevering, Faithful Followers of Jesus! Amen! May this be us Lord! You know us and call us by name to come rest and abide in Christ. You are preparing us to be used in this life and for our duties in heaven. Thank You! You are allowing the circumstances of our lives and this nation to grow us, mold us and teach us to persevere in faith. Thank You! Help us to always trust You, persevere in faith, choose joy and allow you to carry us to the other side of whatever we face. May we be your faithful servants as we learn to live and love like Jesus more fully and follow Him fully surrendered to You. Thank You! May Your Kingdom come and will be done in, through and around us today. May we be ready and willing to follow You. Come! Amen!
Today as I stilled myself and interacted with God through our devotionals and His Word and in prayer, it became evident of the thread through what He provided for study today. (See devos below and ask God to speak to your heart). He also affirmed to me His call to equip, prepare you and help you to be ready for the promised hard times ahead, yes even persecution that may come because of our faith and walk with Jesus. The way things are going it may not be very long before this nation is taken over by China or some anti-Jesus regime. Heck, it's already being led by anti-Jesus minions of darkness. Will you be ready and prepared to stand up for Christ, persevere, even lay down your life for your faith? Are you ready to stand up and live your faith out loud, even in captivity like Daniel? God keeps impressing on me the importance of preparing for that possibility. In days gone by we could never imagine that it could happen here. Yet here we are. Are you ready? If Jesus would come back next year would He find you persevering in faith and standing firm in Christ?
I don't want to be Donald Downer, but we are commanded to prepare and persevere in faith, to patiently endure suffering that produces growing faith. We are committed to becoming more like Jesus who endured and prevailed over all trials He faced, even death. We are working on growing into our new nature more fully and doing more of the things we were created to do. That's living this life as if Christ is all that matters. And that is the truth that motivates our commitment and obedience. Pursuing that will lead to opposition as the enemy and the culture around us rises up against Him. But fear not! Be strong and courageous! (That's a command given at least 365 times in the Bible so it's doable!) Christ has overcome death, sin and the world! He's already defeated Satan. And His Spirit lives in you to help and direct you. PTL! We are just waiting as we travel through this life representing Him. He is with us and in us! He is able to protect and carry us home. BUT GOD! But God has created us and placed us here to prepare for our next life and to bring people along and teach others how to persevere in Christ. And God spoke today through all our devotionals reminding us of this. Are you ready? Who are you helping to prepare? Be of good cheer! Chose joy as you endure and allow God to mold and use you. He does have great plans for you! What might that be for today? Talk to Him about that and commit to walking by faith and not sight into His future for you and us with His armor firmly affixed to our bodies and guarding our minds in Christ Jesus. Turn off the noise and focus on what really matters in this life--Christ and His good ways. Count your many blessings and choose joy and faith over fear and doubt. We know the Victor and He lives in us! PTL! Come Jesus! Your will be done! Amen!
Abide in Christ! Don't give up! Cast all your anxiety on the Lord. Know His peace beyond understanding, His new mercies everyday an His strength and wisdom to carry on. You can know deep rest for your soul and have confidence to stand firm, live sacrificially and love lavishly more like Jesus. He's equipped you, is with you and cheering you on! He has great plans for you that carry into our life in heaven with Him. Rejoice! This is not the time to coast along, shrink back in faith or turn back to the world in fear of offending someone or being ostracized! We are not of this world! We are in a battle and if we want to see revival, we need to be the bringers of it through Christ in us! Be strong and courageous. You were created for such a time as this! PTL! I'm praying for you, us and God's Body worldwide to rise up and shine bright in this time of darkness. We are overcomers! Pronounce that; believe that; and live like it! Amen
Harvest Prayer, Revival Prayer Blog:
January 13, 2024 - Praying for Revival (Day 13): Hope in Suffering
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The apostle Paul knew the secret and the cycle of hope:
“Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Rom. 5:1–5).
Are we hoping for national tranquility, church/ministry growth, or relief from our suffering? Or is our hope that “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14)?
Paul wasn’t focusing on tranquility of the heart but on a relationship with God. We may feel more like lamenting than rejoicing in our suffering, but God tells us to persevere and to allow Him to lovingly transform our character through repentant prayer and grateful worship.
Ultimately, we will always cycle back to hope when we recall with Paul that God’s compassions never fail, and He continually pours His love into our lives.
Father, I praise You for the ways You strengthen me and reveal Your character in my times of waiting. In times of suffering, You renew my hope and peace in Christ! I ask You to continue to use my life for Your glory even as You fill the earth with the knowledge of Your glory! May Your overflowing and abundant love permeate every area of my life so that I may be a witness and an encouragement to others. Please give me a deeper relationship with Jesus that gives me hope to persevere and the faith to continually pray for revival and spiritual awakening.
Pr a y e r Po i n t s:
• Praise God for the ways He strengthens you and reveals His character in your times of waiting.
• Pray that in your suffering, God will renew your hope and peace in Christ. Ask Him to use your life for His glory.
• Invite God to fill the earth with the knowledge of His glory— even in our day!
• Pray that God’s overflowing and abundant love will permeate every area of your life—and be a witness to others of hope in Christ.
• Pray for a deepening relationship with Jesus that gives you hope to persevere and faith to pray for revival and spiritual awakening.
--Adapted from Day 13 by Kay Horner: Do It Again, Lord (30 Days of Hope-Filled Prayer for Revival) compiled and edited by Carol Madison.
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ODB:
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When I was studying in seminary years ago, we had a weekly chapel service. At one service, while we students were singing “Great Is the Lord,” I spotted three of our well-loved professors singing with fervor. Their faces radiated joy, made possible only by their faith in God. Years later, as each went through terminal illness, it was this faith that enabled them to endure and encourage others.
Today, the memory of my teachers singing continues to encourage me to keep going in my trials. To me, they’re a few of the many inspiring stories of people who lived by faith. They’re a reminder of how we can follow the author’s call in Hebrews 12:2−3 to fix our eyes on Jesus who “for the joy set before him . . . endured the cross” (v. 2).
When trials—from persecution or life’s challenges—make it hard to keep going, we have the example of those who took God at His word and trusted in His promises. We can “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (v. 1), remembering that Jesus—and those who have gone before us—was able to endure. The writer urges us to “consider him . . . so that [we] will not grow weary and lose heart” (v. 3).
My teachers, now happy in heaven, would likely say: “The life of faith is worth it. Keep going.”
By Karen Huang
REFLECT & PRAY
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Who’s inspired you to keep going in your faith journey? How does their example encourage you to endure in times of trial and hardship?
Dear Jesus, help me to keep fixing my eyes on You. When I’m weary and losing heart, thank You for Your example.
For further study, read Going the Distance: Practices to Strengthen Your Faith.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Who are the “witnesses” the writer refers to in Hebrews 12:1? That’s a matter of some debate, but a plausible interpretation is that they’re the faithful believers who’ve gone before us. Now they stand as “witnesses,” while we on earth remain in the arena, competing in our race of faith (v. 1). We accomplish this by “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (v. 2). This means that Christ is our leader as we live it out. The word pioneer in the Greek is archēgos. Other translations render it “author,” “champion,” or “originator.” The path Jesus took was far more difficult than the one we’re on. He bore the sins of the whole world, yet it led to His rightful place “at the right hand of the throne of God” (v. 2). Our race is difficult as well, but we know the joyful conclusion, for He’s blazed the trail for us.
Tim Gustafson |
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TWFYT:
UR: Making Time
Anyone who goes too far and does not continue in the teaching about Christ does not have God. Whoever continues in this teaching has both the Father and the Son. - 2 John 1:9 (CEB)
At our mountain cabin, nestled among the quaking aspen, we have a small pond. Every summer a family of ducks with several ducklings nests in the pond’s cattails, and we spend a lot of time watching them from our deck.
One day I watched as the ducklings played. Some of them explored on their own and then rushed to catch up; several scurried ahead, not waiting for their mother; and a few stayed beside the mama, mimicking her every move.
It occurred to me that their actions resembled my walk with God over the years. Many times I would lose focus, letting my Bible study and time with God take second place to more “urgent” matters. Eventually, I would realize my need to focus on God, so I’d hurry to catch up, hoping I hadn’t missed God’s message for me. Other times, I would be trying to get on to the next thing, so I would rush ahead in my studies, not taking the time to meditate on scripture and its meaning. But when I have stayed anchored to God’s side, following God’s leading and studying scripture, I have been rewarded. Whenever I take time to hear God’s voice in God’s word, I find my faith is stronger and more fruitful.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Faithful God, help us to block out distractions and take time to walk with you, anchoring ourselves in your word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.Charles Stanley:
Saturday, January 13 2024
Thank God I'm Forgiven! Thank God I'm Restored! Thank God for using you as His vessel of love, forgiveness, restoration and example! What stories we have to share of ALL God has and is doing and we will have many more to share AS WE CONTINUE TO ALLOW HIM, INVITE HIM TO USE AND SEND US! Thank God I'm forgiven and empowered to go love!
Good Morning Springs of Living Water and Lighthouses! That's God's pronouncement over us today in the dark, dry and weary land. We are redeemed, restored and sent to bring the Light to darkness and springs of Living Water to the thirsty. Today darkness continues to try to overcome our communities and nation. Many are weary and thirsty for some love, truth and hope found only in our Living Water, Jesus. We are commissioned to go, love and bring life where things are as dead. Satan and His minions are relentless and continue to lead to great sin, self-serving love, chaos and hopelessness. He is a liar and on mission to deceive and destroy. Many are entranced and consumed by his darkness and ways. BUT GOD! But we have the remedy and He lives in us! Many are becoming weary and need to sip some of the Living Water we have in us. We have the Light that drives back the darkness. Someone said, "God eagerly awaits the chance to bless the person whose heart is turned toward Him." We know and experience these blessing and we are sent to bring them to those God is drawing and are searching for Him and His Life, Light, Love, Hope and our help. On this TGIF Friday, commit to allowing God to use you to shine bright among those of the darkness and bring life and Living Water to the thirsty. Pray a covering over us. Pray for God to open our eyes to the thirsty and weary He is drawing out of the darkness. Pray for Him to prepare and use you well. Thank Him for redeeming and restoring and wanting to use you. Thank Him for preparing you for such a time as this. Revival begins on our knees and in each of us before it explodes around us. Pray for revival to explode around us and to be a firecracker that is part of that. Pray for blind eyes, deaf ears and hard hearts to be open to Truth, Light, Love and Life. Come Jesus Come! Send me! Use me! Bring revival and let it begin with me!
Check out the thread through our devotionals today. Do you see it? Turn off the noise and chaos of this day and tune into Truth, Love, Light and Life that comes from our Living Water and His Living Word! ODB reminds us that we are God's Workers. In the Become More in '24 Challenge God wants us to seek Him more and do more of our created for, custom made assignments each day. Do you know yours? God is always speaking, directing and bringing life to His plans for you and for us as His Body. Ask Him to direct you to the words He'd like you to work on this year to become more like Jesus and do more of your created purposes. God always draws me to Eph. 2:10...we are God's masterpieces, made new in Christ to do all He planned for us before we were born. We all have purpose and potential and we matter. What's your part and what are you doing about it? The UR reminds us of God's renewing, restoring power and how He restores us so we can restore others. Be refreshed in His Living Water today and then allow springs of Living Water to flow from you and refresh the thirsty.
Now all of this thinking may cause you to shrink back and grumble as you are set in your ways and comfortable. God is in the business of growing our faith by stretching us and leading us from being couch potato Christians to going, as His vessels, of life. Like the Bishop reminds us, to be a movement of God, people have to get off the couch and move with God. Are you willing. It all begins with little steps of faith. maybe those first steps are to turn off the TV and pick up your Bibles? Check out TWFYT's reminder to take control of the little things so God can lead you to the greater things He has for you. God is speaking and the darkness will never push back His Light and the dryness will never snuff out His Living Water. Where's your focus today? Grumbling pity party is where Satan loves to keep you. But Jesus has the words that bring life. He's speaking them over you wanting to speak them through you. Turn off the noise, receive His Living Water and Light and go love well today! Amen! TGIF! Who needs to know how to receive that Good News? God has great plans for you and us! PTL. Go light up your neighborhood and bring refreshing love and new life to the thirsty God is placing near you. Revival is coming! PTL! Go and join Him in it.
Today many will gather in Emmaus to gush over our president. Many of these are blinded and think the government has all the answers and put their hope in lies, deceit and man. Whichever side of the political fence you are on, we know man and his ways are folly compared to God's wisdom and ways. TURN OFF THE NOISE! Don't be deceived! The dominion of darkness controls this nation no matter who is president. Pray for deliverance and revival. We know Hope! We know Truth! And we know Life! Pray for the people of this nation to stop putting hope in man and their plans but to come to Christ, our only hope. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Trust Him. Turn off the noise and cry out for His Kingdom to come and will to be done and for Him to use you and us as His change agents and Good News Bringers. Ask God to lead you to one person who is weary and needs to be refreshed by the Living Water. This is the year of the Lord's favor and we are His vessels of Good news. What's your part in His Good News Delivery Co? What will you do about that? Start on your knees today!
Harvest Prayer Day 12 revival prayer:
January 12, 2024 - Praying for Revival (Day 12): Yet We Have Hope
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Jeremiah offers the consummate answer to life’s dilemmas—hope in God! The weeping prophet defines the anchor of our hope as the Lord’s infinite love, unfailing compassions, and abounding faithfulness:
“This I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:21–23).
Jeremiah continues by recounting the reasons for his hope. He then challenges himself and the people of Zion to examine their ways, return to the Lord, and acknowledge their sin (vv. 25–42).
When divisiveness pervades a nation, this bright picture of repentance and hope, against the dark backdrop of despair, becomes a starting point for prayer. Even when the doors of prayer seem tightly shut, the foyer of weeping is always open.
The prophet’s hope confronts his sorrows. Faith debates fears. Night or day, the Lord God of heaven and earth demonstrates His extravagant kindness and inexhaustible faithfulness. God’s covenant love always wins the argument!
Jesus, I praise You that I can continually put my Hope in You as my Lord and Savior! Your great love keeps me from being consumed, and Your unfailing compassions are new every morning!
Oh God, renew my prayer and praise, even in the midst of disappointments that sometimes seem insurmountable in our nation. I ask for a spirit of weeping and repentance to overcome the Church and for a nation-transforming demonstration of Your extravagant kindness and inexhaustible faithfulness.
Pr a y e r Po i n t s:
• Praise God that we can always put our hope in Him as our Savior and Lord!
• Praise the Lord that His great love keeps us from being consumed, and His unfailing compassions are new every morning!
• Ask God to renew your prayer and praise, even amid disappointments that may seem insurmountable in our nation.
• Pray for a spirit of weeping and repentance to overcome the Church as a prelude to revival.
• Pray for a nation-transforming demonstration of God’s extravagant kindness and inexhaustible faithfulness.
--Adapted from Day 12 by Kay Horner: Do It Again, Lord (30 Days of Hope-Filled Prayer for Revival) compiled and edited by Carol Madison. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount on the book.
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ODB:
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In a refugee camp in the Middle East, when Reza received a Bible, he came to know and believe in Jesus. His first prayer in Christ’s name was, “Use me as your worker.” Later, after he left the camp, God answered that prayer when he unexpectedly secured a job with a relief agency, returning to the camp to serve the people he knew and loved. He set up sports clubs, language classes, and legal advice—“anything that can give people hope.” He sees these programs as a way to serve others and to share God’s wisdom and love.
When reading his Bible, Reza felt an instant connection with the story of Joseph from Genesis. He noticed how God used Joseph to further His work while he was in prison. Because God was with Joseph, He showed him kindness and granted him favor. The prison warden put Joseph in charge and didn’t have to pay attention to matters there because God gave Joseph “success in whatever he did” (Genesis 39:23).
God promises to be with us too. Whether we’re facing imprisonment—literal or figurative—hardship, displacement, heartache, or sorrow, we can trust that He’ll never leave us. Just as He enabled Reza to serve those in the camp and Joseph to run the prison, He’ll stay close to us always.
By Amy Boucher Pye
REFLECT & PRAY
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When have you experienced God’s redeeming action, such as Reza and Joseph did? How does Joseph’s story help you to trust Him more?
Saving God, You never leave me, even when I face the hardest of circumstances. Please give me hope and eyes to see Your work in my life.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Genesis 39, the word translated “prospered” (v. 2) or “success” (vv. 3, 23) is the Hebrew word tsalakh. In Genesis 24, it’s used in connection with the mission of Abraham’s “senior servant” to find a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac (vv. 21, 40, 42). Elsewhere in Scripture, “success” is associated with obedience to the Scriptures. After the mantle of leadership had been transferred from Moses to Joshua, God told Joshua that he’d be “prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8) when he obeyed God’s law. In Psalm 1, the person who delights in the words of God “is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers” (v. 3). The success of God’s servants is based on God’s provision—His presence and His strength to obey Him.
Arthur Jackson |
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UR: God's Renewing Power
[The Lord] turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground. - Psalm 107:33 (NRSVUE)
One day, I looked across a valley and saw a garden of maize. I wondered why the garden had been planted in such a hot, sandy, and dry place. I was surprised there could be such green growth in an almost desert area. Then I learned that the farmer had dug wells to water his garden so that he was able to plant the maize and get a plentiful harvest.
When I seem to be stuck in barren situations, God is able to make waters spring up and bring me renewed life. Oftentimes, when we feel like we are dwelling in a desert, our needs overwhelm us. When our work seems not to be yielding anything good, we feel lifeless, barren, unfruitful. But God is able and willing to cause waters to flow in the midst of our deserts to give life, fruitfulness, and productivity — even where there seems to be no hope. So let us be encouraged by our powerful and loving God!
TODAY'S PRAYER
O Lord, may you create fruitful fields from the barren situations in our lives. In the name of Jesus. Amen.TWFYT:
Charles Stanley:
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