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Wednesday, April 10 2024
He is risen--indeed! Festive Family Worship with communion at 10 and on Zoom. Prepare your hearts and communion elements
Good Morning Children of the Resurrection! Today we celebrate the greatest event in the history of the universe! He is risen and victorious! PTL! We are forgiven and His Spirit lives in us and He is interceding before the Father for us. We have exchanged our filthy rags and put on His righteousness! WOW! How good is our God and how blessed are we! What love! Hallelujah! Rejoice for Christ our Lord has risen today! What can be added to that?
Check out a couple of devos below and Joe Toy newsletter. Reminder: Pastor Don begins vacation after worship today. Sarah is available for any emergencies this week. There probably will not be any blogs this week. Tue Huddle and Wed night dinner huddle have off this week. Enjoy a week of worship, rest and renewal! God loves you and is speaking to your hearts! What's He saying to you? Be still and know! Karen and I covet your prayers for a fun week of rest and renewal, great weather and health too. Thanks! Jesus loves you and so do we! Shalom!
Charles Stanley:
Our Daily Bread:
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Before Charles Simeon attended university in Cambridge, England, he loved horses and clothes, spending a huge sum on his attire yearly. But because his college required him to attend regular Communion services, he started to explore what he believed. After reading books written by believers in Jesus, he experienced a dramatic conversion on Easter Sunday. Awaking early on April 4, 1779, he cried out, “Jesus Christ is risen today! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” As he grew in his faith in God, he devoted himself to Bible study, prayer, and attending chapel services.
On the first Easter, life changed for the two women who arrived at Jesus’ tomb. There they witnessed a violent earthquake as an angel rolled back the stone. He said to them, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said” (Matthew 28:5–6). Overjoyed, the women worshiped Jesus and ran back to tell their friends the good news.
Encountering the risen Christ isn’t something reserved for ancient times—He promises to meet us here and now. We might experience a dramatic encounter, such as the women at the tomb or as Charles Simeon did, but we might not. In whatever way Jesus reveals Himself to us, we can trust that He loves us.
By Amy Boucher Pye
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How has God shown Himself to you? How have you changed because of your encounter with Him?
Risen Jesus, thank You for coming and dying on the cross that I might have life eternal. I worship You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Matthew’s resurrection account is stunning, particularly in its honesty. In addition to the joy of the women upon seeing the risen Jesus (28:8), we’re also told of the disciples’ unbelief (v. 17). When you weave together the resurrection accounts in the various gospels (and 1 Corinthians 15), it’s clear that Jesus had appeared to His disciples several times at this point, yet some still doubted. We might find a small measure of comfort in that. In spite of all Christ has done for us and the ways He’s proven Himself merciful and faithful, we still can struggle with doubts as they did. Like the father of the demonized boy, we find ourselves praying, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).
Bill Crowder |
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Joe Toy Newsletter:
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| “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” |
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Dear Friends,
One of our prayer items as we prepare for an outreach is to have team unity. Each team is made up of diverse people from many differing backgrounds and various levels of spiritual maturity. The Lord truly blessed us with a great team of students from Liberty University. Even though we had a few people with timid personalities, they jumped into the task each day and did their best to share the gospel and represent Christ to the lost. One of our team shared this, “I was very uncertain when I first signed up for the trip and I didn’t even know if I wanted to go. However, I realized that I would never put myself out there and evangelize if I did not force myself to. The trip was an eye-
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opening experience and helped me to realize that to grow closer in my relationship with God and challenge my faith, I would need to do things like this.”
One of the blessings of being an evangelist is to take others with us and give them experiences to see the power of God at work in the ministry. All of these young people learned to trust God and were challenged to do things whereby they had no choice, but to seek God’s help each day, whether it was teaching inner city children or sharing their faith in Christ with college students and international tourists who were visiting Miami Beach. |
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This was our third year of working in Buena Vista Apartments and the welcome mat was out. Miss Bella called us to make sure that we were coming and as we arrived she was already gathering up the children. She is the matriarch of this small community and is well respected by all her neighbors. It was an awesome start to our five day club as we had over thirty kids in attendance. Our team did a great job interacting with the kids as they learned Bible verses, sang gospel songs, enjoyed object lessons and observed an illustrated bible lesson each day and of course who does not love game time. One student's reflection of her time is summed up this way, “The very last day of the kid’s ministry was the best in my opinion because I got to share the gospel with a group of kids that were very attentive and listening and seemed receptive to the message.” These types of mission trips not only impact people with the gospel, but also transform the lives of the team as they see the need to reach the lost.
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The city of Miami Beach made it very clear that they were divorcing themselves from Spring Break. They no longer desired to deal with the toxic behavior of drunken students, who would fight, riot, and even shoot each other as has happened the last few years. There were no planned events, parking in city lots was $100 and they implemented a midnight curfew. On Friday night, there was probably only ten percent of the crowd that was there last year and the police presence was unreal. In all my years of ministry with the countless events, I have never seen this many police at one place. We spent most of our night on Ocean Drive on South Beach. Although the crowds were not thick, we had plenty of people to talk to each night. Our main tool was an illustrated puzzle which end with the question, “Is there life after death?”
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The team did a great job interacting with whoever stopped. One night Gretel, who is from Hong Kong, was able to use her language skills to share the gospel with a group of Chinese students. How awesome is the Lord to set up that encounter!
I can remember talking to groups of people from Africa, India and Brazil in my first hour on the street. Some encounters are sad as one young man told me, “I am a little too drunk to talk about this right now and I am just not ready yet.” I thank God that I was able to share some gospel truth with him. One of our team had the blessing of leading a young lady to the Lord as she stated, “I think that I need to do this now”, so they prayed together as she called out to Christ. Needless to say, that was an exciting God moment that fired up the team. The seven days together went fast, but the memories remain. |
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A big thanks goes out to Calvary Chapel Miami Beach for housing us as we had our housing fall through and they made room for us. They were a big help to us and a great reflection of Jesus' love as they offered us their hospitality. May the Lord bless them richly. Keep us in your prayers, God bless you.
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Wednesday, April 10 2024
Resurrection Sunday Family Worship Celebration with communion 10am Live and on Zoom. Bring some friends!
Good Morning Loved Ones of God--His Redeemed! On this Saturday, be still and know that He is God. He loves you! He has redeemed You! He is calling you by name! Listen...meditate...worship! Meditate on the passages and devos below as a start to your quiet and prayer time. Be bold and courageous today and look for opportunities to share your hope and God's love. Darkness and evil are closing in (our President has declared Easter Sunday to be a day to celebrate transgenders. The enemy is trying to anger us and steal our joy of the resurrection celebrations. Wonder how many "churches" will have drag queen readers tomorrow?) BUT GOD! But remember also, we have all gone astray too and are sinners worthy of eternal punishment in Hell! BUT GOD! And we are His children of Light! We have hope! We are forgiven and made new in Christ! Amen!
Turn off the noise and open God's Word as you prepare your hearts to worship tomorrow! The resurrection is the greatest event in all of history! Death and the grave have been defeated. Our sins have been sacrificed on that cruel cross. We have been redeemed and we have been given the opportunity to choose new life in Christ. Yes we were one way, BUT God! By His love and grace we are now another! Rejoice! Jesus is our resurrection and life! he is the way, the truth and the life. The only way. he is calling you by name! he loves you beyond measure!
Isaiah 43: (My highlights)
But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;
I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Others were given in exchange for you.
I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.
Isaiah 53:
He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!
ODB:
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Before Jim Caviezel played Jesus in the film The Passion of the Christ, director Mel Gibson warned that the role would be extremely difficult and could negatively impact his career in Hollywood. Caviezel took on the role anyway, saying, “I think we have to make it, even if it is difficult.”
During the filming, Caviezel was struck by lightning, lost forty-five pounds, and was accidentally whipped during the flogging scene. Afterwards, he stated, “I didn’t want people to see me. I just wanted them to see Jesus. Conversions will happen through that.” The film deeply affected Caviezel and others on the set, and only God knows how many of the millions who watched it experienced changed lives.
The passion of Christ refers to the time of Jesus’ greatest suffering, from His triumphal entry on Palm Sunday and including His betrayal, mocking, flogging, and crucifixion. Accounts are found in all four gospels.
In Isaiah 53, His suffering and its outcome are foretold: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (v. 5). All of us, “like sheep, have gone astray” (v. 6). But because of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, we can have peace with God. His suffering opened the way for us to be with Him.
By Alyson Kieda
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What aspect of Christ’s life most impacts you? How does His suffering affect you?
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The Song of the Suffering Servant we most often associate with Isaiah 53 actually begins in the previous chapter at verse 13. There, the servant is introduced as one who is wise and who will be “raised and lifted up and highly exalted” (52:13). If that final phrase sounds familiar, that’s because it’s one of Isaiah’s favorite ways to describe his encounters with Yahweh (God) Himself.
In Isaiah 6:1, the prophet recounts seeing the God of Israel in His temple “high [rum] and exalted [nasa’]”; in 52:13, the niv translates the same two Hebrew words as “raised and lifted up.” Isaiah associates the exaltation of the Suffering Servant with the very person of Yahweh, looking ahead to the Son Himself, Jesus.
Jed Ostoich |
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UR: Holy Saturday
After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed his body. - John 19:38 (NRSVUE)
Holy Saturday is a day of quiet, somber reflection. It’s an odd, in-between day after Jesus’ death but before his resurrection. I often think about what the day might have been like for the disciples and others who followed Jesus at the time — particularly
Joseph of Arimathea.
Joseph had a lot of influence and was an important Jewish leader. He would risk his reputation and standing in the community if his belief in Jesus became public. So he kept his belief quiet.
But on Good Friday, when Jesus died on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea proclaimed his faith publicly by going to Pilate and asking for Jesus’ body so he could bury it.
I imagine Joseph spending most of Saturday wondering if he had made the right choice. He took a great risk with this act. And on Saturday, Jesus was still dead in a tomb.
In a similar way, we take risks when we choose to follow Jesus publicly. Those risks can sometimes cause us to stay quiet or to keep our belief secret. However, while making our faith public may make for an uncomfortable Holy Saturday, it makes for a much more celebratory Easter Sunday.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Jesus, help us not to hide our faith but to follow you boldly. Amen.
Harvest Prayer Starters:
- Give praise to Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Rev. 22:13).
- Thank him for his promise, “Yes, I am coming soon” (22:12).
- Confess those periods of time when you have lost sight of the hope of his coming.
- Commit yourself to waiting each day for “the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
- Ask God to renew in you the hope that “when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 Jn. 3:2).
- Ask God to open the eyes of your unsaved friends so that they may see the spiritual kingdom that lies behind the physical realm.
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Friday, March 29 2024
Thank God I'm Forgiven! That takes on an extra special significance on this Good Friday. Meditate on that today as you begin your quiet time and worship in Spirit and Truth. Come back to this often today as you remember and worship.
Good Morning Saved-By-Faith, Loved, Forgiven, Redeemed of the Lord! Thank You Jesus! Amen!
Good Friday is always a day where I seem to be extra still, extra thankful, more contemplative as I remember the love of God and the beating and sacrifice of Jesus that my sin caused. Forgive me! Cleanse me! Restore me! Thank You Lord!
The crushing heaviness is almost overwhelming as I remember and meditate. Then my thoughts go to what the disciples and followers must have been experiencing right now as they have betrayed, denied, run away, hid, were confused and as some stood by and watched Jesus die on that cruel cross. Father, forgive me! Thank You for Your love! Jesus, words cannot covey the heaviness and gratitude of You standing in and dying in my place! I love You! Help me to die to self, take up cross daily and lay down my sin and my life as I follow You. Thank You! Amen! "It is finished"!
I've been sitting here in worship, prayer, meditation and stillness for almost three hours. What blessings we know as we dwell in Christ's loving presence and what blessings we know lie ahead for us who are saved by grace! Amazing love has been poured out in red just for you! Jesus is looking into your heart right now saying, "Come! I did this for you!"
I am just going to attach our devos for today and give you space to remember and worship today. Thank God I'm Forgiven! What extravagant, lavish, expensive love God has shown you! Meditate on that today and just worship...
Charles Stanley:
Our Daily Bread:
Jesus, Our Substitute
Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18
READ 1 Peter 3:13–18
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A wealthy twenty-year-old was drag-racing with his friends when he struck and killed a pedestrian. Although the young man received a three-year prison sentence, some believe that the man who appeared in court (and who subsequently served a prison sentence) was a hired surrogate for the driver who committed the crime. This type of thing has been known to occur in some countries where people hire body doubles to avoid paying for their crimes.
This may sound scandalous and outrageous, but more than two thousand years ago, Jesus became our substitute and “suffered once for [our] sins, the righteous for the unrighteous” (1 Peter 3:18). As God’s sinless sacrifice, Christ suffered and died once and for all (Hebrews 10:10), for all who believe in Him. He took the penalty for all our sins in His own body on the cross. Unlike a person today who chooses to be a substitute for a criminal to get some cash, Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross provided “hope” for us as He freely, willingly gave His life for us (1 Peter 3:15, 18; John 10:15). He did so to bridge the chasm between us and God.
May we rejoice and find comfort and confidence in this profound truth: Only by the substitutionary death of Jesus can we—sinners in need—have a relationship with and complete spiritual access to our loving God.
By Marvin Williams
REFLECT & PRAY
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How has Christ’s substitutionary death changed your life? What does it mean for you to have access to God and eternal life because of Jesus' death on the cross?
Dear Jesus, thank You for dying in my place so that I might have access to God.
Learn more about having a personal relationship with God.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In 1 Peter 3:13-14, the apostle encourages believers in Jesus to “do good,” even if they suffer for it. Believers in Christ aren’t to fear but are to trust in God and be prepared to witness for Him. Peter reminds us that Jesus suffered unjustly and died for our sins, “the righteous for the unrighteous” (v. 18). His was a once-for-all sacrifice. Whoever believes in Him as their Savior and repents of their sins receives His forgiveness. Our salvation doesn’t guarantee we won’t suffer; today’s passage and other Scripture passages tell us something quite different. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18); also, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (v. 20). And Paul tells us, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12).
Alyson Kieda |
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Upper Room: Good Friday
The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” - 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 (NIV)
I awoke on Good Friday thinking of the introduction to our church’s Communion services: “On the night he was betrayed . . .” During Communion and Good Friday services, Christians tend to focus on the physical pain Jesus experienced during his trial and crucifixion, sometimes forgetting the excruciating emotional pain he endured.
For three years, Jesus had loved and taught his disciples. Yet they turned away after his arrest, as did many others who had once applauded him. (See Mk. 14:43–15:15.) Those following Jesus betrayed him for different reasons — Judas disclosed Jesus’ location for 30 pieces of silver; Peter denied him out of fear; the crowd chose instead to release a rebel insurrectionist named Barabbas. Betrayal can come in many forms and for various reasons, but it is always emotionally painful. Those who have experienced betrayal know the deep emotional wounds it causes.
During Communion services, we are reminded of the betrayal Jesus experienced. These services offer us time to think about those who betrayed Jesus and the significance of Jesus’ body and blood being sacrificed for those very people. Jesus’ death reminds us that we are all called to love our betrayers as Jesus loved his.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help us to follow your example and extend forgiveness and love toward those who have wounded us emotionally. Amen.The Word for You Today:
Harvest Prayer Prayer starters:
- Praise God as the Creator who makes all things new (Rev. 21:5).
- Give thanks for his power to bring even the most deadened souls to life in Jesus— including your own (Eph. 2:1-5).
- Confess those times when you have lost faith in God’s power to renew and restore.
- Commit yourself to renewing your mind every day in prayer and in reading God’s Word.
- Ask God to teach you what it means that you are now God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works (2:10).
- Pray that those who are outside of God’s family may be made new creations in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).
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Friday, March 29 2024
Good Morning Faithful Servants of the Lord! What an awesome, serving, loving, praying, providing congregation and gathering of believers God has blessed us to co-labor with in Emmaus! PTL! and continue to pray for that to grow, flourish and explode around the Lehigh Valley. Yesterday began with another great day of serving and ministering through our bread ministry. So many are feeling God's love as we meet physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. One man who is being drawn by God said, "I have never felt so close to God as I do when I am here." Yes God is living and loving and drawing through us! PTL! God carried me through an amazing day of being used, being loved and of loving through me. The building's spring cleaning should be finished this morning just in time for my vacation next week and will be ready for our festive family worship and celebration of the Resurrection Sun. at 10 with communion. Invite some family, friends and even enemies to come and see and experience the love of God with you.
What a blessing for me and us last evening as we gathered to feast, fellowship, study, pray and enjoy an evening together. God was very present and bringing His Word alive as we looked at the events of this week before the resurrection. Gina and Marie (a new servant that is joining us) offered to and prepared dinner and cleaned up. They relieved me of my duties for the evening and blessed me and us as they took to heart Jesus' command to His disciple after washing their feet to serve as He served and new command to us all to love as He loved us. Thanks ladies! What a blessing! Check out ODB below as it speaks into Jesus' example. Jesus came to seek and save the lost and showed God's kind of love by being a servant leader. I am so thankful for all the servant leaders God has placed in our fellowship for such a time as this! His love is real, growing and being felt by many as it comes alive through us and our servant leaders! Praise God for them and continue to pray for us all to live and love more like Jesus this year. Become more in '24! Amen!
The Upper Room uses one of my life verses, Rom. 12:12, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer." Here is a whole years worth of stuff to work on to become more like Jesus! Think about how He chose to live this out these last few hours before the crucifixion. "I have given you an example to follow." And the Good News is that He has forgiven, cleansed, equipped, empowered and gifted us to love and follow well. PTL! Live to honor and glorify Him.
TWFYT reminds us of something we've been working on for years now--healthy balance--choosing God-honoring healthy rhythms for our lives. We always work on that healthy balance Jesus exhibited and left as an example for us between UP-IN-OUT relationships. Our congregation and ministries over these years has moved to being pretty balanced at this, even through COVID. Thank you for striving towards this and keeping this in mind as we go and love more like Jesus. We are becoming a dynamic movement of God that is very balanced in our up relationship with the Father, in relationships with each other, and out relationships with those God is sending. We are a pretty healthy church! PTL! But there is always an intentionality needed to keep balanced well. TWFYT reminds us of the balance needed between grace and truth. A balance that Jesus lived well and left as an example. Really love people and help them to become all that they were created to be by showing much love, grace and the patience God shows us while speaking the truth in love. This is again a reminder of the importance of small groups of friends that are working on life in Christ together with permission to speak truth in love to each other, hold feet in the fire with love, and help each other to move towards our fullest potential in Christ well. Who is (are) the partner(s) for you? Jesus' command to love as He loved us is following His examples as He made disciples--loving patiently and helping His friends.
Life lived well in Christ is really all about love. Loving God, self and others well and offering ourselves as a living sacrifice (agape love) that is a pleasing aroma to God to be used for His glory. How can we help each other with that? Jesus commands us and left an example for how to love as He has loved us. How does that look for you and what is your custom part in doing that balanced and well in Christ and as part of His Body? Who is helping you or are you helping? What are you putting into practice? It does take practice to become all you are created to be and to reach your fullest potential. God REALLY loves you! He has great custom plans for you! Rejoice! Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer with some loving friends as a start towards His best for you. Amen! Now where's that towel?
ODB:
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In a tradition starting as early as the thirteenth century, members of the royal family in the United Kingdom give gifts to people in need on Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday. The practice is rooted in the meaning of the word maundy, which comes from the Latin mandatum, “command.” The command being commemorated is the new one that Jesus gave to His friends on the night before He died: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).
Jesus was a leader who took on the role of a servant as He washed His friends’ feet (v. 5). He then called them to do the same: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (v. 15). And in an even greater act of sacrifice, He lay down His life, dying on the cross (19:30). Out of mercy and love, He gave Himself that we might enjoy the fullness of life.
The tradition of the British royal family serving people in need continues as a symbol of following Jesus’ great example. We may not have been born into a place of privilege, but when we place our faith in Jesus, we become members of His family. And we too can show our love by living out His new command. As we depend on God’s Spirit to change us from within, we can reach out to others with care, affirmation, and grace.
By Amy Boucher Pye
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How have you observed or embodied servant leadership? In what ways could you “love one another” today?
My great Savior, what a gift of love You give! Thank You for being the ultimate Servant, laying down Your life for me.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
What does it mean that Jesus gave a “new” command to love (John 13:34)? A command to love was already central in Jewish faith (Leviticus 19:18). But what seems “new” is to love “as I have loved you” (John 13:34). Through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, the disciples would be given a new example of self-giving love that should shape their lives. But far more than just an example, Jesus would also give them the ability to love this way. Through the gift of Christ’s Spirit, they could experience and share the love Jesus shared with the Father (17:22-24).
Monica La Rose |
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UR: Our Greatest Hope
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. - Romans 12:12 (NIV)
Learning about all the injustices around us and throughout the world can lead us to question our own humanity. Today specifically I prayed about two serious global situations: the suffering caused by the war in Ukraine and the repressive, brutal treatment women endure in some societies. We live in a time of uncertainty and anguish. Is it possible that we are ignoring completely that each of us was created by the mighty hand of God and for God’s glory?
Stubbornness, lies, and arrogance distract us from God’s divine plan and cause us to overlook the suffering of others. But the Lord is our one true Source, on whom we can rely. And so our greatest hope is to persevere in word and deed — prayer and action — asking God to forgive and renew us by the Holy Spirit so that we may be in harmony with God and in harmony with all God’s people.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear God, cause the Holy Spirit to move in us and through us to confront injustices and work to honor you, our rock and our strength. Amen.
TWFYT:
Here are the devos we use that are available at church and can be oredered on line:
Don 
Friday, March 29 2024
Good Morning Reconciled, United, Gifted, Loving Servants of God! Oh yes we are! PTL! And we are growing more fruitful in our pursuit of this salutation. Pray it. Pronounce it in faith over you, our Body and those we partner with in ministry. God hears and answers those prayers and we are seeing the fruit of that bud and grow, even as we serve bread today and gather tonight as His extended Body of believers to eat, fellowship, study and pray. Join us at 6 and bring a friend. We will celebrate communion tonight as well as Sunday.
God awoke me very, very early this morning (1:30) and after laying in bed praising and praying for an hour, I decided to come join Him for some quiet time in my prayer closet. What a beautiful time we have had together! Thanks Lord! A lot is heavy on my heart, as is typical this week before the crucifixion. There is so much to prepare and do as well. I feel like Martin Luther who wrote, "I have so much to do today that I needed to get up three hours early to pray and prepare with the Lord." (My paraphrase) I laid in bed wondering how God will sustain me for what will be about 20 hours? But I know He can and does sometimes. He may allow a nap after my 6 am huddle and before I need to head to church at 9. No matter! He is my Lord and I asked Him to be my Lord and Shepherd today and I know He will work all things together according to His plans and sustain and take care of and use me as well. Thanks Lord Come! Write the rest of this blog too. What do you want to share today with our friends? Come! Amen
The salutation above came from our devos. We are, "Reconciled, United, Gifted, Loving Servants of God!" Amen! I always invite God to write these blogs. I try to order our devos how I think He is threading them together and share some of my journal notes. Today's salutation is not in the order that I had them, but seems to be God's order as He speaks to us. Let's see what He is saying to you.
Let's start with "reconciled" through Charles Stanley's "God's Purpose for Your Life" daily devo for today. (below) This whole week is about God fixing the sin issue Adam and Eve ushered in. We are all born sinners, yet God, who is pure and holy and can have no sin or unrighteousness around Him, created us to be in fellowship with Him forever. So, because He loves us so much (John 3:16-17), He sent His Son, Jesus, to die in our place and atone for our sin and now offers us the opportunity to choose to be washed white as snow in the blood of Jesus and be with Him forever. PTL! Just meditate on that a bit today. What love! No matter how much we fail, mess up or sin, we can receive forgiveness and help to repent and get back on track with God. What Good News!
Really spend some time with the Harvest Prayer Connection blog for today. meditate and pray through it for us as Christ's unified Body. God has called us together and placed us in Emmaus for such a time as this. We all have a part to play in His Good News Delivery Co. All parts matter and are of equal importance even if it doesn't seem it or in spite of if you feel useful or not. You matter. Your were created, gifted and placed here to do your part. Let us pray for, encourage and help each other to God's best for each other and as His Body! Amen!
Our Daily Bread speaks into being a fruitful believer. Check out the Mark Passage we will be discussing tonight. Mark 11:12-20 is about Jesus heading into town during this week and cursing the fruitless fig tree. The fig tree often represented Israel and God's people. Think about the heavy burden Jesus was carrying as He neared the day of the cross. Think about how He wept over Jerusalem because the people had gone astray and wandered from God and His ways. Jesus almost seems angry as He curses the tree. It cuts me to the heart to think that He could look at me or the Body I help lead and see fruitlessness. Pray it is never so. PLEASE! And pray to always produce the fruit you are created to produce--good, abundant, lasting fruit. ODB questions, "What fruit do others see in you?" and "How might you be more fruitful?" We always need to be examining ourselves and our ministries and sowing into and pouring ourselves into what God is doing, as we are created and gifted. You are custom made and gifted and gathered here for such a time as this. May we always keep working at being fruitful and multiplying disciples of Jesus!
Being fruitful and multiplying disciples begins with and is built on love as The Word for You Today reminds us. We are friends and family in Christ commanded to and living out the Greatest Commandments--love God, each other, self and others like Jesus. Amen! Thanks Lord! May we always be known for our love and for sharing your love well. Amen! TWFYT sorta speaks into the importance of small group accountability and deep, knowing-each-other-intimately, love. What kind of friend are you? Jesus is a friend of sinners. PTL! He loves us so much that He can't leave us as we are. He sent His Spirit to us to help us be transformed into His image which includes living and loving more and more like Him. Who knows you deeply and loves you well like Jesus? Who do you know and love like that? Talk to God about becoming more intentional, more earnest at loving like Jesus always as you follow Him with some close friends.
And that leads us to he Upper Room's reminder that we are servants of God. How are you/we doing at that? They use our Eph. 2:10 passage we are using as a cornerstone for our fellowship and growth: "You are God's masterpiece, made new in Christ to do all God has planned for you." (My paraphrase). Embrace and meditate on the UR today. Our Bread and clothing servants come to mind. Thank YOU! You represent God and us well and are a model for how several churches can come together to serve! Jesus is our leader and our goal is to live, love, and serve more like Him. But here's the best part, you all have a part custom made for you, just as you are according to your life circumstances. PTL! Right? The pressure is off. Just be you doing what you are made to do with Jesus help, Holy Spirit gifts and power, according to where you are in life. It's such a sweet spot to be in as you embrace who you are in Christ and don His easy yoke. He has great plans for you today and in the years ahead. He has the same for our Body! PTL! Pray for Him to continue to draw new servants, equip and use us well to build each other up and serve those He is sending. Amen!
We are: Reconciled, United, Gifted, Loving Servants of God! PTL! What's God saying to you today and who are you processing with? He loves you beyond measure and has some amazing things to discover and do today. Rejoice! Worship! Pray! Process well! And don that easy yoke as you follow Jesus! Amen! and shalom!
CS:
Harvest Prayer's Daily Connection Devotional:
March 27 - Intercede for the Body of Christ
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For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (Romans 12:4–5)
How beautiful are the gifts of the Spirit as displayed through the Father’s children! What a treasure we experience every time one of our clay vessels pours forth God’s love in the distinct and personal offering we are privileged to give. The family of God is beautiful! She is black, white, brown, yellow, red—all shades of flesh imaginable. She votes Republican, Democrat, independent—and sometimes refrains from voting at all. She is active and peaceful, boisterous and calm. The body of Christ is alive, diverse and gifted. The unified church is beautifully diverse and eternally powerful. We are, together, his Body, completely different and miraculously united in him. We are one in Jesus.
Instead of quibbling over our differences, judging our uniqueness and debating our distinctions, let’s join together in gratitude and humility for all Jesus has done and what he will do as we unite together in him and for him. He wants to use us all for his glory. He wants to change the world through the power of our unity and our selfless faith. Join me as we celebrate the diversity of our oneness and pray for more of his power in our unified lives.
Dear Father, we are grateful that, in your wisdom, you made us in your image with many gifts, abilities and callings. We are forever united in you and purpose to move and breathe as one for the glory of your name. Please help us to see and appreciate the varieties of gifts you have given us. Show us how to honor one another as more important than ourselves, to make room for one another’s gifts and to encourage one another daily. We ask you to help us lay down our preferences and destroy our prejudices so that the world may see you in us. We want to represent you and welcome many into your family. We want to strengthen the weak and celebrate those who are moving in the strength you provide.
Forgive us for comparison and every type of judgmental measuring. Cleanse us of our need to be right and our desire to win. Help us to lay down our lives for your loved ones and to bear their burdens. We want to see one another through your eyes and hear the longings of our brothers and sisters with your ears. We want to enjoy the diversity you have created and make room for the various expressions of your beauty. Make us one as you and the Father are one, Lord Jesus. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and overwhelm us with love for our God-family as we pursue you together.
--Adapted from Praying God’s Word Over Your City: 40 Days of Prayer for A Transformed Community by Trey and Mary Anne Kent.
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ODB:
Fruitful Believers in Christ
Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. Mark 11:13
READ Mark 11:12–20
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Cindy was excited for her new job in a nonprofit company. What an opportunity to make a difference! She soon discovered her coworkers didn’t share her enthusiasm. They mocked the company’s mission and made excuses for their poor performance as they looked elsewhere for more lucrative positions. Cindy wished she’d never applied for this job. What looked great from afar was disappointing up close.
This was Jesus’ problem with the fig tree mentioned in today’s story (Mark 11:13). It was early in the season, yet the tree’s leaves signaled it might have early figs. Nope. The tree had sprouted leaves, but it hadn’t yet produced fruit. Disappointed, Jesus cursed the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again” (v. 14). By the next morning the tree had entirely withered (v. 20).
Christ once fasted forty days, so He knew how to go without food. Cursing the fig tree was not about His appetite. It was an object lesson. The tree represented Israel, which had the trappings of true religion but had lost the point. They were about to kill their Messiah, the Son of God. How more barren could they be?
We may look good from afar, but Jesus comes near, looking for fruit that only His Spirit can produce. Our fruit need not be spectacular. But it must be supernatural, such as love, joy, and peace in hard times (Galatians 5:22). Relying on the Spirit, we can bear fruit even then for Jesus.
By Mike Wittmer
REFLECT & PRAY
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What fruit do others see in you? How might you be more fruitful?
Holy Spirit, prune me so I might bear more fruit.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The barren and withered fig tree, representing an unfaithful nation soon to be overrun by its enemies, is a common Old Testament image (Isaiah 28:4; 34:4; Jeremiah 8:13; Hosea 2:12; Joel 1:7, 12; Amos 4:9; Nahum 3:12; Habakkuk 3:17). Quite often, the center of Israel’s faithlessness was its abuse of the temple services, and the prophets used a withered fig tree as a warning of the temple’s destruction. In fact, the passage quoted in Mark 11:17 is just such a text. Jesus quotes the prophet Jeremiah who condemns Judah for hypocritically thinking that temple attendance would expunge the guilt of her idolatry (see Jeremiah 7:2–4, 8, 11).
Adapted from Moving Mountains: The Practice of Persistent Prayer.
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TWFYT:
UR: A Servant of God
We are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we may walk in them. - Ephesians 2:10 (NRSVUE)
I spent many years as a volunteer for a local food program. Each day, we delivered hot meals to folks who were unable to leave home to get their own food. We got to know the people we delivered to quite well, and we always arranged our schedule so that we could spend a few minutes visiting with each person.
One day, a woman to whom I was delivering food told me, “You are truly a servant of God.” I was stunned. I had considered myself a volunteer and nothing more. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I was doing what the Lord asked his followers to do — spending time serving others.
There are many ways to serve God. We help make our world a better place when we live God’s words and do God’s work. Not only do we transform the lives of others but we transform our own lives as well. People often strive to serve and imitate good leaders, and in the Lord we have the best leader of all. We should always try to serve the Lord well.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for equipping us and using us to build up others. Guide us to imitate you in all that we do. Amen.
Tuesday, March 26 2024
Happenings:
Zoom Blog at 10 today. All welcome
Family Ministry/Adult Huddle with dinner 6pm tomorrow. All welcome as we discuss the events of this week and receive the Lord's Supper together.
Sun 10 am Festive Resurrection Sunday Family Worship with Communion. Live and on Zoom. Bring some friends! Come as you are!
Good Morning Fiends of Jesus! How's that relationship going? Are you working on really connecting to Him and enjoying hanging out? It is the most blessed place to sit at His feet. Make some time for that as a daily priority. He wants to be your friend and to hang out with you all the time!
Our devos today are kinda all over the place. I'll allow you to use whatever you use for your own personal time with Jesus today. Maybe you even finished already and are about your daily routine. Don't forget to include your Friend in all you do today and watch for where he wants you to join Him. ODB reminds us of the basics of knowing Scripture and spending time with Jesus as we work on growing in faith and like Him. The UR reminds us that He is with us all the time. He promises to never leave nor forsake you! Amen! Contemplate the Harvest Prayer blog as you finish your quiet time in prayer. Shalom!
ODB:
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For decades, McDonald’s ruled fast food with their Quarter Pounder burger. In the 1980s, a rival chain cooked up an idea to dethrone the company with the golden arches. A&W offered the Third Pound Burger—larger than McDonald’s—and sold it for the same price. Even more, A&W’s burger won numerous blind taste tests. But the burger bombed. Nobody bought it. Eventually, they dropped it from the menu. Research revealed that consumers misunderstood the math and thought the Third Pound Burger was smaller than the Quarter Pounder. A grand idea failed because people missed the basics.
Jesus warned of how easy it is to miss the basics. Religious leaders, scheming to trap and discredit Him during the week He was crucified, posed a strange, hypothetical scenario about a woman who was widowed seven times (Matthew 22:23–28). Jesus responded, insisting that this knotty dilemma wasn’t a problem at all. Rather, their problem was how they didn’t “know the Scriptures or the power of God” (v. 29). The Scriptures, Jesus insisted, aren’t first intended to answer logical or philosophical puzzles. Rather, their primary aim is to lead us to know and love Jesus and to “have eternal life” in Him (John 5:39). These are the basics the leaders missed.
We often miss the basics too. The Bible’s main aim is an encounter with the living Jesus. It would be heartbreaking to miss it.
By Winn Collier
REFLECT & PRAY
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How do you miss Scripture’s basics? How can you return to the basics . . . to Jesus?
Dear God, sometimes I get lost even amid good things. Please help me.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Matthew 22 contains one of the many examples in the Gospels of a “shame/honor contest.” Much of the Eastern world today is still rooted in the concept of shame and honor because those cultures are more defined by community expectations than by individual rights. In Western culture, however, the individual is more prominent. In a shame/honor contest, the goal is to take honor from someone and bring shame on them. This requires an audience—the community.
In Matthew 22, the religious leaders attack Jesus in front of the crowds with a series of questions intended to dishonor Him in the eyes of the people (v. 15). Christ answers with irrefutable wisdom, and the religious leaders fail in their attempts to shame Him.
Bill Crowder |
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UR: God Goes with You
Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6 (NRSVUE)
“Where did all the days go?” I wondered aloud as I stared at my planner. As a soon-to-be mom with only a month left before my expected due date, I was growing more anxious each day. I had so many things I had not yet prepared. Our finances were tight, which made me all the more intimidated about our new responsibilities and our future hospital bill. On top of that, I had never taken care of a baby before. An incredible sense of insecurity and helplessness crept into my heart. I felt overwhelmed with feelings of inadequacy.
My husband heard my question and came to me. He embraced me and patted my back to comfort me. He read something from my planner that I had written a few weeks back: “Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.”
I have known this verse for so long that at times I have felt extremely casual toward it. However, in that moment of great fear, it consoled me. It was as if my heavenly Father had come to hold me and remind me in that exact moment: “I go with you.” I no longer needed to live in dread of my insecurities.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Loving Father, thank you that you will never leave us or forsake us. Help us to live in this truth daily. Amen.Harvest Prayer Blog:
March 26 - Give God Your Undivided Attention
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For those who have come by faith, Christ—through His death and resurrection—has taken us by the hand and walked us into the Throne Room. God is on one side, we are on the other, and Jesus has introduced us to the Father. We once were at war with the One on the throne, but now we have “peace facing God!” What a glorious privilege! What an unspeakable honor!
Pause as you enter and look around. As you gaze throughout the Throne Room you will see Christ seated at the right hand of the Father and you will notice that He “always lives to make intercession” for His children. Angels hover around the throne. Praise is unending. Let the wonder of this environment overwhelm you. Your heart will begin to be filled with worship.
As you have entered, begin to pray. Filled with this vision, you will probably not rattle off meaningless rituals. You are going to “close the door and pray TO YOUR FATHER.” There is a singular direction. You are not praying to others. Your whole vision is filled with the Almighty. You are directing your prayers to the One who is seated upon the Throne!
Rosalind Rinker said, “I have discovered that prayer’s real purpose is to put God at the center of our attention and forget ourselves and the impression we are making.” This posture changes everything for us in prayer. We are looking at Him, and Him alone. Everything else pales in comparison to this vision.
If we will enter in like this, giving God our undivided attention, the greatest reward will be God Himself.
Father, my heart is filled with worship as I consider what Your throne room must be like in reality. I don’t have to wait until the end of my life to experience some of what Your word says is truly taking place right now in heaven. Help me to focus on the lovely description of the place where I will spend all of eternity! I can’t even comprehend the beauty of it! For the rest of my life, my deepest desire is to be in Your presence!
---Adapted from Simply Prayer by Bill Elliff. This book is available at prayershop.org.
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- Praise God, who is perfect in beauty and holiness (Ps. 50:2).
- Thank him for making everything beautiful in its time (Eccl. 3:11), including your own life.
- Confess those times during this past week when your words or actions did not reflect to others the beauty of Christ.
- Commit yourself to being transformed into his likeness (2 Cor. 3:18).
- Ask God daily to change the ugliness of sin in your life to his loveliness.
- Pray that the spirit of worship may fall upon all who enter your church’s sanctuary on Sunday, that they may desire “to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple” (Ps. 27:4).
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| Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. |
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Kim's Blog:
8 Scriptural Prayer Practices to Engage God
By Kim Butts
Over the past several years, God has been stretching my creativity and my imagination in prayer. It has been such a refreshing season of growth for me, as I am one who, in the past, tended to get stuck in comfortable ruts.Like many of us, I grew up praying with my head bowed, eyes closed and hands folded in my lap. I was often told that this posture came about as an effective way to keep children from doing what they shouldn’t do during prayer time. The practice continued into my adulthood, as I was never taught another way. Even in worship services, it is common to hear the admonition to “close your eyes and bow your heads” as we are led in prayer.
As I studied the Bible, I discovered multiple examples for utilizing our bodies and our voices in prayer. This started a rich practice of utilizing the numerous ways God’s people in Scripture and throughout the ages sought and responded to Him in prayer and intercession.
I highly recommend letting the Holy Spirit speak to your heart and guide you (and/or your family, small group, etc.) into what may seem unusual or strange to you at first, but which may give your prayer lives fresh life! Following each, I will give you one or two suggestions for utilizing the practice.
1. Bowing Your Head or Body
Bowing heads or bodies shows reverence and submission to God as an act of worship– Genesis 24:26-27 (Abraham’s servant bowed low in worship to God when his very specific prayer had been answered); Exodus 34:8-9 (Moses bowed his body toward the earth and made his request before God).
Consider putting on some worship music and bowing before the Lord as an act of reverence before Him. Consider a prayer request that is close to your heart and offer it to God in this posture. See if this position brings your prayer to a different level as you consider the God on the other end of your prayer.
2. Kneel
Kneeling has always been a universal sign of submission and obedience – Daniel 6:10 (Daniel knelt three times a day, praying and giving thanks); Luke 22:39-44; Matthew 15:25; 2 Chronicles 6:12-14.
Pray for your unsaved family and friends as you kneel before the Lord. If you feel led to, spread your hands toward heaven, as King Solomon did.
3. Raise Hands
Raising or spreading out our hands as a sign of both praise and petition – (The Hebrews used their hands to show their dependence upon God and their respect for Him. Lifting up holy hands was the common prayer posture among the Jews and the early Christians. Lifting their hands symbolized an expectant attitude and trust in God–that He would fill their empty hands with His blessings) Exodus 9:29; Exodus 17:10-13; 1 Kings 8:54-55; Psalm 63:4; Psalm 141:2; 1 Timothy 2:8.
Pray for the leaders of your nation, your state, and your community. Lift up holy hands as you do. Pray that God will give them wisdom and discernment. Pray for their health and protection. Pray for their families.
4. Stand
Standing is a sign of reverence and respect – 1 Chronicles 23:28-31 (The Levites were instructed to stand every morning and evening to praise the Lord); 2 Chronicles 20:2-9; Luke 18:9-14.
Stand alone or with others and give praise to God. Take turns thanking Him for all of the blessings He has brought into your lives. If you want, say short sentence prayers like this: “Lord, I praise You for_____.”
5. Lie Prostrate
Lying prostrate before the Lord – This is a position taken in times of deep, intense, emotional prayer. There is no more humble position than this one. Deuteronomy 9:18-20, 25-27 (Moses lay prostrate before God for 40 days and nights); 1 Chronicles 21:16-17; Matthew 26:39.
Think of some deeply important needs–your own or someone else’s. Perhaps someone is struggling with a life-threatening disease or some kind of life crisis. Perhaps sin has been weighing you down–this would be an appropriate position in which to confess and ask the Lord for forgiveness. Or maybe you need to ask God something very important. Come before the Lord on behalf of these requests, and lie face down before the Lord. You can pray quietly by yourself or pray out loud with others.
6. Look Up
Looking up – (Jesus looked up when He gave thanks for the loaves and fish) Mark 6:39-44.
As you give thanks for a meal, look up to heaven as you do. Spend time thanking the Lord for the way He has provided everything you need–your food, your clothing, your housing. Look toward heaven when you pray.
7. Pray Quietly
Spend some time praying quietly. – 1 Samuel 1:9-18 (Hannah prayed quietly before the Lord).
God is perfectly capable of hearing our thoughts when we pray silently. There are times when praying in this way is very appropriate. We need to learn as an individual or a family to be comfortable with silence, because out of silence the Lord often speaks very clearly.
Spend some time in silent prayer. Ask the Father to speak to your heart. If you have trouble concentrating, picture Jesus in your mind and concentrate on Him.
8. Shout
Shout your praise to the Lord – Psalm 66:1-4 (The director of music was directed to shout for joy before the Lord in this psalm.) Psalms 71:23; 95:1; 98:4-6. It is certainly appropriate to cry out to the Lord in times of desperate prayer. It is also appropriate to raise our voices in praise!
Try praising God in a loud voice, saying Acts 4:24: “Sovereign Lord . . . You made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.”
Conclusion
It is important to learn that if we seek the Lord, He will be found by us (1 Chronicles 28:9). It is also important to know that our Heavenly Father rewards those who seek Him in faith: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Model this passage: “Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always” (1 Chronicles 16:10-11).
–Kim Butts is the co-founder of Harvest Prayer Ministries.
Tuesday, March 26 2024
Good Morning Friends in Christ--Brothers and Sisters in the Lord! I am so thankful for you and our relationships and even our co-laboring! God has sure blessed us and our Body! Yesterday, we received 6 new members who are already serving with us. PTL! There are some others already waiting to join when we do it again at the end of April. We fellowshipped and connected to 70 during brunch after worship too! What a great day of food, fun, fellowship and worship! Thanks to all who cooked, served, worshiped, and joined us! Invite some friends to Resurrection Sunday worship and communion this Sunday! We are gathered by God together and sent to love like Jesus together for such a time as this! PTL! He has great plans for us and will continue to guide and provide as we continue to walk and grow in faith into our fuller potential in Christ! PTL and keep praying into that! God is on the move! Hallelujah! Jesus has invited and commanded us to "Follow Me". Continue to do so, by His grace, always! Amen!
This morning, God took me on two tracks that sort of thread together from our devotionals and my quiet time. God has a Word for some of you today, maybe all of us! Yesterday we discussed continuing to accept Jesus' invite and follow His command to "Follow Me" even through the most confusing and hardest of times. Can we even imagine what it was like for the thick headed, slow learning disciples (as Jesus described them) during this week before the resurrection? Many of us have been through or are traveling through some very hard and confusing times as well. What's it like to trust God one step, one baby step, maybe one crawl, at a time in faith as we choose to continue to follow Jesus always? Maybe you can't even move right now as all the wind in your sails is gone and all the breath sucked out of you in despair and grief? Be still and know is all I have to offer you right now. I am here if you need someone to sit with you awhile and I am praying. Who might God be sending you to strengthen and walk with--maybe carry a few steps in prayer and help? Jesus prayed for Peter because Satan wanted to sift him and the others and did so. Jesus told Peter that He prayed for him and for when he came back to faith to strengthen his brothers. Peter ran away after denying Jesus, but came back, gathered his brothers and was restored by Jesus and then helped his brothers to walk by faith again. We can do that too, even after the most horrible failures. BUT, we need to get out of our heads, out of what the world is telling us, tell Satan to get lost, still ourselves, return to God and fill our minds with His Word and wisdom. Then you need to be open to receive His restoration. And we will probably need to accept some strengthen help of some of our brothers and sisters. Jesus is standing on the shore with open arms calling to you to come.
I began my quiet time with a new study I am doing from season one of the Chosen. WOW! Get used to different for sure! Check out this song from yesterday. The Jesus Way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfm5_CVOKLs
Will you trust and follow always and choose to walk in the Jesus way always? Talk to God about that! Worship in the storms. Get out those gratitude lists, refocus and choose well. I'm praying for you, my friends. I'm here if you need to talk.
The Chosen season one begins with Mary Magdalene being delivered from demons processing her. Jesus calls her, as He does with you, by name. He knows you and everything about you. He formed you in the womb. He is ready to deliver you. Come! They use Isaiah 43 in a flashback to Mary's childhood as her dad teaches and loves on her before he suddenly dies while she's a little girl. She clung to that verse, even through all the wondering and wandering from God. Jesus spoke it over her. Is He speaking this to your heart today? From Isiah 43: "Thus says the Lord your God.
He who created you...
He who formed you...
'Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name,
you are mine...
I will be with you...
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Your Savior." I say, AMEN!
Meditate on this. Memorize it! This is your true identity in Christ! Redeemed, restored, cared for, loved created child of God! You belong to God! He knows you and calls you by name. He is making a way to your deliverance. You are precious to Him and you matter. Be still and know! Fear not! Come to Him right now! He's there! Can you sense His loving presence? Can you feel His loving, healing, delivering embrace?
Turn off the noise around you and in your head. Tell Satan to beat it. Listen for that whisper..."Come all you who are weary and I will give rest to your souls. Follow Me." Amen!
Who is this man, Jesus to you? Your answer changes everything! Check out Charles Stanly's and The Word for You Today devos speaking into this. God forgives and restores. Walk by faith always! And then contemplate Our Daily Bread and Upper Room devos showing a way to help get out of the pit...serving, loving like God, using your gifts, just as you are, where you are. God loves you so much you cannot measure how much. He is with you always, loving on you and wanting to take your hand in restoration and wants to help you. Will you trust and follow always?
"Thus says the Lord your God.
He who created you...
He who formed you...
'Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name,
you are mine...
I will be with you...
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Your Savior." I say,
CS:
TWFYT: 
ODB:
Love God by Loving Others
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40
READ Matthew 25:31–40
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The Alba family experienced the rare occurrence of birthing two sets of identical twins just thirteen months apart. How did they juggle their parental responsibilities as well as their jobs? Their community of friends and family stepped in. Grandparents on both sides took a set of twins during the day so the parents could work and pay for health insurance. One company gave a year’s supply of diapers. The couple’s coworkers donated their personal sick days. “We couldn’t have done it without our community,” they agreed. In fact, during a live interview, the cohost removed her mic and ran after one renegade toddler, continuing the communal investment!
In Matthew 25:31–46, Jesus tells a parable to make the point that when we serve others, we serve God. After listing acts of service, including providing food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, lodging for the homeless, clothes for the naked, and healing for the sick (vv. 35–36), Jesus concludes, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (v. 40).
Imagining Jesus as the ultimate recipient of our kindness is true motivation to serve in our neighborhoods, families, churches, and world. When He prompts us to sacrificially invest in the needs of others, we serve Him. When we love others, we love God.
By Elisa Morgan
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How might you serve Jesus in your community today? How can you love God by loving others in your path?
Loving God, please open my eyes to the needs of others around me so I can help meet them and love You better.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In the parable typically referred to as “the sheep and the goats,” Jesus describes separating people when He returns as one would separate “the sheep from the goats” (Matthew 25:32). The two groups are separated based on their care of others. The group identified as “righteous” (v. 37) and the other group both address Jesus as “Lord” (vv. 37, 44). This would have reminded hearers of Christ’s words in Matthew 7:21—that “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Monica La Rose |
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UR: Using Your Gifts
In Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. - Acts 9:36 (NRSVUE)
When my mother passed away, I inherited her sewing basket, filled to the brim with thread, needles, and every conceivable sewing accessory. I was pleased to have this keepsake, but I cannot sew a stitch! I have always admired individuals who possess sewing skills, those like Dorcas, whose story of generosity is recorded in Acts.
Dorcas was not only talented at sewing, but she unselfishly shared the garments she made with friends. In fact, Dorcas was so admired for her generosity that the apostle Peter immediately left the nearby city where he was ministering to come to Dorcas’s house when he heard that she had died. There several widows proudly showed Peter the clothing Dorcas had sewn for them. When Peter brought Dorcas back to life, Acts records that many people came to believe in the Lord.
I cannot help but believe that many came to know Jesus as Savior through the gift of Dorcas’s sewing. While I am not a seamstress, I have other gifts I can use to share the love of Christ. We all have gifts that we can use to help others to know Jesus.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, help us to use our gifts to do good and to help those in need. Amen.
Tuesday, March 26 2024
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday worship at 10 am live in person and on Zoom. We will receive new members during this service (Don't for get your rocks!). After worship, join us for brunch in the Fellowship Hall! All welcome! Invite a friend!
Good Morning Peace-Bringing, Extravagant-Loving, Powerful Disciples and Apostles of Jesus! That is our Church and that flows from prayer, relationship, time in God's, and processing with teammates. Pronounce this salutation over you and us in prayer and out loud. We are students and sent ones of Jesus. We are sent to incarnate, bring alive, and distribute His peace, love, Good News, hope and help and we are doing so already! PTL! And He has so much more for us as we learn, discern and follow Him! Pray into that! What's your part, distributor? Where does He want to use you as you go about your daily routine? Where has He sent you to be more intentional in your distributing? How does He want to bring to you and then incarnate through you His peace, love, and Good News? He is our power source and He has some great things ahead for you and us today and this year as we earnestly seek to become more in '24 and be used more powerfully. Amen!
Check out our devos below and process them with God and some friends and then go and live and love more like Jesus today! He is with you! Amen! Invite Him to be your Lord today.
Harvest Prayer Blog:
March 23 - Let Your Peace Come
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If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. (Matthew 10:13)
Jesus had peace within him. He could not only speak of peace, but could offer it to others. And in a wonderful transference, he gave that ability to his followers. When the peace of Christ becomes a living reality within us, we not only speak of it, but we offer it to others. In practical ways that means we pray God’s peace for others, we model living in peace in front of others, and we offer the good news of the Prince of Peace to those who do not know him. When we do this, we become distributors of the peace of God!
One very practical and historical way of doing this, and of regularly reminding ourselves that we can indeed give peace, is the “passing of peace” during a worship service. I did not grow up in a church tradition where this was practiced, but I find it to be a helpful way of speaking peace into others’ lives and receiving peace from others.
The following excerpt gives some insight into this ancient and modern practice:
“Christian worship is filled with profound actions: heads bowed in prayer, arms raised in praise, standing in reverence during a Scripture reading, coming forward to give an offering. One ancient and significant gesture in worship is the passing of the peace. Passing the peace is a tradition rooted in Scripture that embodies our identity as peacemakers (Matt. 5:9; 2 Cor. 5:20) and trains ours hearts, hands, and tongues in the ways of peace.
From the beginning Christians have exercised this practice. Peace be with you’ is a greeting Jesus himself used with his disciples (Luke 24:36; John 20:19, 26). The apostle Paul opened each of his letters with the words “Grace and peace be with you” (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2).
Today in many congregations, we may pass the peace during a mutual greeting, after words of assurance, prior to celebrating the Lord’s Supper, or at the conclusion of a worship service. At these times we leave the comfort of our seat, turn to our neighbors, grasp their hands, and speak the words, ‘The peace of the Lord be with you’ and receive the words in turn, ‘And also with you.’
The gesture is simple, but the meaning is profound. When we extend our hand to another, we identify with Jesus, who extended his life to the point of death to make peace with humanity (Col. 1:20-21).
What’s more, in the midst of divisions, we symbolize our unity through handshakes and hugs (Eph. 2:14-21). Likewise, when we regularly pass the peace, we practice God’s call to make every effort to maintain the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3).”
—from ReformedWorship.org, Issue 99, March 2011
Whether you choose to “pass the peace” in worship gatherings or not, we all need to accept our role as those who are emissaries of the Prince of Peace. We live out his peace in our lives. We look for ways to give his peace to others. We learn to shout with the angels outside of Bethlehem long ago, “on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14).
Choose today to whom you will give the peace of Christ. Ask the Lord to open the door for you to do so.
Lord, thank you for giving me your peace. You literally spoke it into being in my life and I am so grateful. Help me to carry your peace with me wherever I go. Forgive me when I have failed and instead brought division and dissension. Show me how I can give your peace to those around me today.
--Adapted from Prayer, Peace and the Presence of God (A 30-Day Journey to Experience the Shalom of Jesus) by David Butts.
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ODB:
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My seatmate on the flight told me she was nonreligious and had immigrated to a town that was home to numerous Christians. When she mentioned that most of her neighbors went to church, I asked about her experience. She said she could never repay their generosity. When she brought her disabled father to her new country, her neighbors built a ramp to her house and donated a hospital bed and medical supplies. She said, “If being a Christian makes one so kind, everyone should be a Christian.”
Exactly what Jesus hoped she’d say! He told His disciples, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Peter heard Christ’s command and passed it on: “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God” (1 Peter 2:12).
Our neighbors who don’t have faith in Jesus may not understand what we believe and why we believe it. Don’t sweat it, as long as there’s one more thing they can’t understand: the extravagance of our love. My seatmate marveled that her Christian neighbors continue to care for her even though she isn’t, in her words, “one of them.” She knows she’s loved, for Jesus’ sake, and she gives thanks to God. She may not yet believe in Him, but she’s grateful that others do.
By Mike Wittmer
REFLECT & PRAY
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Who do you know who needs Jesus? How can you love them for His sake?
Heavenly Father, let Your light shine through me.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In the books of 1 and 2 Peter, the apostle Peter writes to comfort and encourage Jewish believers in Jesus “who are living as foreigners” (1 Peter 1:1 nlt)—known as the Jewish diaspora—throughout Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) and are now facing persecution because of their faith in Christ (vv. 1, 6). As a disciple of Jesus, Peter understood, for he too was persecuted and even jailed three times for sharing the gospel. The apostle most likely wrote his letters around ad 62-65 from Rome, where it’s believed he was martyred during Emperor Nero’s rule. At this time in the Roman Empire, Nero initiated a great persecution of believers in Jesus who were tortured and killed for their faith. Peter wrote to encourage believers in Jesus to live in such a way that nonbelievers would be drawn to Him—with lives characterized by good deeds, even though they were far from home and in difficult circumstances (2:12).
Alyson Kieda |
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UR: Our Source of Power
The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. - Matthew 4:16 (NIV)
It is six o’clock on a cold winter morning, and I am in darkness. The power will be off for more than two hours, as our national power grid is no longer sufficient to supply the needs of our population. To eke out and share the available power, we have rotational power outages known as “rolling blackouts” or “load-shedding.”
But the world outside is not completely dark. In the street, the bright lights of cars move boldly through the darkness. These vehicles carry within themselves a power source that constantly regenerates.
I liken these vehicles to faithful Christians, who relentlessly move forward in an often dark world. When the power of the world is no longer sufficient to sustain us, we have a continuous and never-failing power source available to us — the light of Christ. We carry Christ’s love within ourselves and regenerate it through studying scripture, worshiping, and loving others even as we move forward in the darkness.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Source of Light, we praise you and thank you for all the beacons that you place along our path to direct us and lead us to your never-failing light and love. Amen.TWFYT:
Tuesday, March 26 2024
Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna!
Worship at 10 with Children's Church followed by brunch. All welcome!!!
(Wagner's update below)
Good Morning Worshiping, Trusting, Followers of Jesus! Who is this man to you? How has following Him changed your life? Will you follow Him always, even through the promised hard times? We will discuss today the examples and lessons of the disciples of Jesus this crazy, up-and-down week and beyond of trusting and following Jesus always. Come and see! Shout hosanna with welcoming, trusting always hearts! Hosanna! Get those palm branches ready!
Check out our devos below describing following our King always. He came lowly on the colt of a donkey but will come back on a mighty war horse. He's always doing the unexpected and the followers are about to experience the craziness and confusion of their King, the Messiah, doing very unexpected things--things beyond the imagination or wheel house of all who were gathered in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. Our Passover Lamb has come. Hosanna! The time is right. the History of the universe was about to be changed forever. Come and see! Will you trust and follow Him always?
UR: Palm Sunday
They took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord — the King of Israel!” - John 12:13 (NRSVUE)
Soon after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, a crowd of excited people followed him to Jerusalem. As Jesus rode in on a donkey, I wonder if Lazarus walked along with the crowd, waving palm branches to signify that Jesus was a great deliverer. I imagine that first Palm Sunday would have been personal for Lazarus as he walked with and worshiped his friend and hero who had just given him new life.
Easter is my favorite holiday because it reminds me of how I once moved from death to life. When I first prayed asking Jesus to forgive my sins and come into my life, I had a momentary sensation of warm oil pouring over my head. I felt inner peace, as if I had just walked out of a tomb, and I began to hunger for more, reading scripture as if it were God’s personal letter to me.
We all can welcome Jesus’ entry into our lives every day. He is our Lord and Savior, our personal deliverer, who conquered death and called each of us out of a tomb. We can trust in him each day to deliver us, bring peace to our minds, and lead us to an abundant life.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Jesus, we welcome you into our lives today. Thank you for giving us victory over sin and death. Amen.
ODB:
Renaissance in Jesus
Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. John 12:24
READ John 12:23–26
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We know Leonardo da Vinci as the renaissance man. His intellectual prowess led to advances across multiple fields of study and the arts. Yet Leonardo journaled of “these miserable days of ours” and lamented that we die “without leaving behind any memory of ourselves in the mind of men.”
“While I thought I was learning how to live,” said Leonardo, “I was learning how to die.” He was closer to the truth than he may have realized. Learning how to die is the way to life. After Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (what we now celebrate as Palm Sunday; see John 12:12–19), He said, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (v. 24). He spoke this about His own death but expanded it to include us all: “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (v. 25).
The apostle Paul wrote of being “buried” with Christ “through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:4–5).
Through His death, Jesus offers us rebirth—the very meaning of renaissance. He has forged the way to eternal life with His Father.
By Tim Gustafson
REFLECT & PRAY
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How do you measure the value of your life? How might you need to change those values?
Dear Father, I can find meaning and purpose nowhere else but in You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), Jesus predicted His death at least three times. The first prediction followed Peter’s declaration of Jesus as the Messiah (reported in Matthew 16:21-23; Mark 8:31-32; Luke 9:21-22). The second and third instances are found in Matthew 17:22-23; 20:17-19; Mark 9:30-32; 10:32-34; and Luke 9:43-45; 18:31-34. These gospels all record Christ explicitly saying that He would die at the hand of the teachers of the law and would rise three days later.
The predictions in John’s gospel, however, are more subtle (12:7-8; 13:33; 14:25-29). In John 12:23-36, Christ’s death is predicted in somewhat poetic language. Jesus said that “the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (v. 23) and that seeds need to die to produce more grain (v. 24). Each of the gospel writers recorded their stories for a deliberate purpose and to serve an intentional end.
JR Hudberg |
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Chas. Stanley:
Harvest Prayer Blog and prayer starters:
March 24 - God Waits for Those Who Will Listen
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God is talking all the time. He is not silent, but there are few who get quiet enough to hear Him. There are few who listen.
All around you right now are radio waves filled with music and talk. They are loud and incessant, but you walk through your day, blissfully ignorant of their presence. If, though, you turn on a radio receiver and dial into the right channel, you will immediately realize that this communication has been going on all along. It was there, waiting for you.
God is here. You can leave the receiver dialed to Him constantly and hear the dialogue of His love, encouragement, and direction. To go there means you must lay down other voices and distractions and give Him your attention. You must tune away from every idol and loud, competing voice. He is here, but He will not be heard if you do not refuse the noise around you. (This is one of the great values of fasting from the incessant voices of the world. Your soul is humbled and quieted by a refusal of the world’s noise. In the quietness, God can be heard in exquisite ways.)
You must do whatever is necessary to listen for His voice. And, it must be highly intentional, fueled by a deep understanding of your spiritual poverty and need. You must pray, not just with a bowed head or bended knee, but with a heart that is gladly tuned to Him throughout every moment of the common day. You must realize that prayer is not a part of the Christ-life, it is the Christ-life, and you must sacrifice everything to still each competing voice.
If you do, you will find the sweetest, most intimate words that a human can experience. You will be surprised at its refreshment and joy. Amazed at its consistency. Stunned that it is so personal. Awed by how perfectly God knows exactly what you need to hear, every second of the day. And, you will wonder why you have waited so long to pray without ceasing.
Loving Father, how I long to hear Your voice! Teach me to listen with attentiveness and a deep desire! May I bow my heart before You and seek You consistently and continually! Help me to persevere in prayer…to expectantly wait for You! Show me how to quiet my soul and spend time in stillness. Teach me to long for all that You are and to joyously wake in the morning with eager expectation. May the last voice I hear as I close my eyes at night be Yours!
---Adapted from Prayer with No Intermission by Bill Elliff. This book is available at prayershop.org.
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- Praise God because he is the encourager and comforter of his people.
- Give thanks that God loved you and by his grace gave you eternal encouragement and good hope (2 Thess. 2:16).
- Ask forgiveness for all those times when fear and anxiety replace the courage that God gives.
- Commit yourself to seeking God’s encouragement to face every obstacle in your life.
- Ask God to encourage your heart and strengthen you in every good deed and word (2:17).
- Pray for special encouragement for teachers as they educate. Pray that parents will be supportive of teachers who seek what is best for students.
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| Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. |
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Wagner's update:
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Greetings Friends,
We’re thankful for your prayers which filled our hearts with peace and encouragement going into Brian’s heart repair on Thursday. The procedure went smoothly without complications even though the hole was larger than anticipated. Give thanks to God with us for His protection over Brian’s health over so many years as we were completely unaware of this defect. Brian is feeling great with little to no discomfort from the procedure. His resting heart rate is no longer registering low when sitting and is remaining steady. This is what originally prompted questions at his routine physical back in November. Brian will have several follow-up appointments over the next months. We’d be grateful for your continued prayers.
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“O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name!” I Chronicles 29:13
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The choice to serve at RVA, is the choice to serve strategically as a teacher, dorm parent, nurse, maintenance supervisor, administrator, office staff, and more(!), enabling missionaries to make Christ known among Africa’s remaining unreached peoples, knowing their children are being taught and discipled well.
There are still a few critical needs for the 2024-2025 school year.
Dorms: High School girls (G9/10), High School boys (G9/10), Elementary girls (G5/6)
Teachers:Elementary teachers (G4 and G5), Academic Support Coordinator, Spanish teacher, PE teacher
Other: HS Principal, Elementary Principal, College & Career Coordinator, Student Travel, Child Safety team member
Learn more here:
https://us.aimint.org/serve/rva |
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Check out our website for previous updates and more resources, including our upcoming travel schedule. We would love to connect.
Thanks for your prayers!
We appreciate YOU!
Brian & Missy |
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Tuesday, March 26 2024
It's Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! What are you tankful for today? As we approach Holy Week and as I completed homebound communion visits, Jesus' sacrifice for me, for you, for all who will come to Him in faith is very much on the forefront of my thinking, praising and quiet time. Spend some time contemplating the cross, your forgiveness, God's sacrifice, and your hope as you lift some praise today. Lifting praise and thanksgiving helps to redirect our thinking and renew our minds as well. PTL for that and keep building those gratitude lists and keep them handy.
Good Morning Very Loved, Forgiven, Adopted, Made New in Christ, Gifted, Empowered, Sent, Heirs of the Throne of the Most High God! The King of the Universe created you in love to go love like Him and He is with you always and wants to be with you for eternity. Rejoice and may your life be offered back as a sacrifice of praise for His lavish love! Amen! He brought us together and placed us where we are to be His hands and feet together for such a time as this! How cool! We are one in the Spirit. We are one in the Lord...and they'll know we are Christ's ones by our love! Amen.
Our Abba Daddy continues to speak to our hearts and thread us together through our devotionals today. Really spend some time meditating on them. Talking to God about them. Then processing them with some others. What is God whispering in your ear today? How is He exciting you? What dreams and visions is He bringing alive to you? What will you do about that? He has custom made great plans for you today and for us as His Body for the rest of the year and beyond as we seek to Become More in '24. More Jesus. More power. More fruit. More lavish love. I'm praying for you and us. Prepare your hearts and begin processing and planning with some others today! Go! Live and love more like Jesus and watch for the fruit that is budding in you to blossom! Rejoice!
Charles Stanley is our starting point today. You need to know, understand, embrace and operate out of your true identity before good and lasting fruit can grow, bud and blossom. Yesterday's is here too and worthy of thinking about again as well. God is our provider and enough! Amen! "God's goal for you is to love you, lead you to a life that is fulfilling and fruitful, influence others around you, and prepare you for eternity." Amen! That comes alive and is lived out through you as you embrace and step more fully into your new, true identity in Christ. Shed the old! Put on the new and go live and love more like Jesus. It is the best and abundant life God promises us!
Our Daily Bread reminds us of the next step--LOVE! As we began today contemplating the lavish love of Jesus and His example of agape (dying to self) love, we are reminded that love is an action that we need to take. Who around you or which family members will you encounter the next few weeks needs to know God's lavish love? We know love and He lives in us and has commanded us to love like Him. What's His plan for you to put love into action, just as you are, where you are, according to your circumstances? Who is He wanting you to partner with? Pray hard into that and keep talking to God about that and looking for some others to process, pray, plan and go love lavishly with! We know John 3:16-17, but do you know and put into action First John 3:16-18? Meditate on that some today.
The Upper Room speaks into our opportunities to serve. I love Col. 1:10! I'm praying that over me, you and our Body. May we live lives worthy of the Lord. May we produce good and lasting fruit as we grow to know Him, understand how we are made and His custom plans for us and put them into action! Amen! Pray to make space in your schedule for God to work and to use you and for a willing and available hearts to respond well. Pray to work from rest, not have to rest from work, to become a normal healthy rhythm for you. Pray you don't become a couch potato or miss God's appointments for you. Pray for some good accountability and prayer co-laborers. Ask God to open your mind and to bring dreams and vision for ideas for you to be used right where you are and for where your daily routine takes you.
Harvest Prayer's blog speaks into unity of believers and living on purpose together with even other churches and believers. We see some of that happening at bread and clothing ministries as half the servants are from other churches. Same with our Wed. night dinner huddle. PTL! Seek Him for more opportunities to combine forces with others and to go love lavishly well together in unity of the Spirit! Pray for Revival Church and for wisdom for us and them to know if we should open our sanctuary for them on Sun. evenings. Pray that if we do, that we would partner well together to grow in serving the least of these and reaching the marginalized and lost and making disciples together. God brought to mind to me the other day how we have been praying for revival. It's just like Him to send Revival Church knocking on our door! Thanks God! Unify and use us well!
We end with The Word for You Today's reminder and teaching about standing on God's Word. Meditate and pray through the Scriptures included in their devo. We are called to move from isolation to distribution of God, His love, His blessings and His help. We are called to abound in good works and to step into our custom purposes. That goes best when done with others, begins with prayer and is built on our solid Rock, Jesus. We are commanded to steward well all of God's blessings while sowing lavishly and trusting Him to provide where He guides. Pray into that. Stand firm and on His Word and pray to become better doers of it!
He does have great plans made just for you! What love! Rejoice and prepare! I'm praying for you and for all of the above to become part of our DNA because it is part of Jesus' DNA and He lives in you! May you all know the joy and satisfaction of your salvation and of living out of your true identity and in your created purposes well! May you know the peace that comes from walking in God's best for you! And may you go live and love more like Jesus! May good and lasting fruit become what we are known for! Amen!
Charles Stanley:
ODB:
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What would cause someone to help a competitor? For a restaurant owner named Adolfo in Wisconsin, it was the opportunity to encourage other struggling local restaurant owners adapting to Covid regulations. Adolfo knew firsthand the challenges of operating a business during a pandemic. Encouraged by another local business’ generosity, Adolfo spent his own money to purchase more than two thousand dollars in gift cards to give away to his customers to use at other restaurants in his community. That’s an expression of love that’s not just words but action.
Building on the ultimate expression of love demonstrated by Jesus’ willingness to lay down His life for humanity (1 John 3:16), John encouraged his readers to also take the next step and put love into action. For John, to “lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (v. 16) meant demonstrating the same type of love exemplified by Jesus—and that would most often take the form of everyday, practical actions, such as sharing material possessions. It wasn’t enough to love with words; love required sincere, meaningful actions (v. 18).
Putting love into action can be hard because it often requires personal sacrifice or disadvantaging ourselves for another person. Enabled by God’s Spirit and remembering His lavish love for us, we can take the next step of love.
By Lisa M. Samra
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How have you experienced love in action? How can you take the next step to love someone in a practical way?
Dear Jesus, please help me to follow Your example and take the next step to demonstrate genuine love in my actions today.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In 1 John 3, the author focuses on the concept of love lived out in practicality. Like Cain, a lack of love-in-action is comparable to hatred and murder (v. 15). Instead, the author appeals to the example of Jesus, whose act of laying down His own life demonstrates the kind of love we should live out as His children. But what does that love look like practically? The letter makes it very simple: care for the physical needs of fellow believers (vv. 17-18).
And lest we think that the words of 1 John 3 are only a recommendation, it’s important to remember that God took Israel to task—destroying their wealth and sending them into exile—in part because the wealthy failed to care for the needy among them (see Amos 5:11–12). God deeply cares for the poor and marginalized, and we demonstrate Christlike love when we show them that same care.
Jed Ostoich |
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UR: Opportunities to Serve
We’re praying this so that you can live lives that are worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way: by producing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. - Colossians 1:10 (CEB)
After enjoying the first few months of retirement, I found that days of fun and relaxation do not always bring the peace and contentment I thought they would. Some days I have too much free time on my hands. It’s frustrating for me not having a schedule.
As I have taken this to the Lord in prayer, asking for guidance about how to spend my time, I have received a surprising answer. I have learned that even those unscheduled hours have God’s purpose stamped on them. Sometimes the purpose may be to teach me patience or to have a positive attitude no matter what is happening — or not happening — that day. The Bible says we are to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18, NIV).
As I have accepted unplanned times of rest and relaxation, God has given me peace. I’m not rushing through my day, and I have the glorious privilege of spending more time studying scripture and in prayer. Having a more leisurely pace to my days has opened up new opportunities to serve: taking ice cream to a friend recovering from surgery, helping friends clean and pack for a move, or sitting with a cancer patient during chemo treatments. I have found God’s peace in the unplanned moments.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Almighty Father, our time is in your hands. Help us to serve you each and every day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Harvest Prayer Blog:
March 22 - Seek God for Unity of Spirit
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I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1–6)
To walk in a manner worthy of the Lord is to walk unlike the world, and even unlike much of the church world. The high calling upon us is to walk in humility, gentleness, patience, and love. These are the building blocks of true, Jesus-glorifying unity. Many of us have been raised in a culture of independence, in families with deep brokenness, and live where division is commonplace. Now we are born into a kingdom, a family, where unity is the atmosphere and grace and love are the fuel for this blood-bought oneness in Jesus Christ. Let’s contend for this unity. Seek God for our lives, families, churches, and communities to display the unity he calls for and empowers us to enjoy.
Father God, I seek you today with my whole heart for your people in my community to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. Cause us to overflow with love, patience, gentleness, and humility. I ask that our Jesus communities and families would shine forth in contrast to this world, a symmetrical and consistent love expressed in deep and lasting unity. Today, enable me and your people to bear with one another. Open our eyes to see that, together, we are one body, and that each one of your people is joined together in this one body that we might live and work in complete agreement. Praise you that your one Spirit has filled all your people. Your Spirit makes us one. We all carry and are filled with the same unifying Holy Spirit. Today, may your Spirit overflow in your people, shining forth the one hope that belongs to us all. May your hope in us be shared clearly and purely with the watching world. Our unity rests in our one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. There is so much more that unifies us than divides us. Manifest your Spirit of unity in your church in our community this day.
--Adapted from Praying God’s Word Over Your City: 40 Days of Prayer for A Transformed Community by Trey and Mary Anne Kent. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God that he graciously chooses people to belong to him!
- Give thanks “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
- Confess to the Father any doubts or objections you may have about how he works things out.
- Commit yourself to the one who chose you in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight (Eph. 1:4).
- Ask that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).
- Pray that governmental officials may not be tempted by power or money. Ask God that those who have fallen to these temptations may be changed or removed from their positions.
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