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Saturday, December 14 2024
Good Morning Hope-Filled, Hope-Bringers! Amen! Today we light our first candle of Advent. The HOPE candle and our focus today is on hope. Jesus is the Hope of the World and we are sent to bring hope alive to the hopeless around us. Harvest prayer's blogs prays into Advent and our mission to live and love more like Jesus. Our other devos flow from Jesus' loving presence to hope and faithfulness we find in Christ as we live lives of integrity and faith before a watching world and work at bringing Hope and Love alive. You all know that we all have a role to play in God's Good News Delivery Co. and we are working on discovering and growing into those roles. We know how much God loves us and is molding and shaping and empowering us to go love well for such a time as this. He has great plans for you and us to discover and step into. PTL! And He goes with us and helps us to succeed and grow. What hope and love we know. We have assurance of eternal life in Christ and that flows to grateful service as we want to become more like Jesus and do more of what He has for us and keep moving towards that until He calls us home. So, what's your part and who are your partners? Who has God brought to your mind to pray for with our 5-5-5 challenge to pray for 5 people, 5 days a week for 5 weeks. Is He stirring you to invite them in or go lovingly serve them? Keep seeking, knocking, joining and partnering to go bring Christ alive! He is the Hope of the World and God knows the world needs His Hope. We are His vessels and we get to go live and love like Jesus and make disciples in His name! PTL and Amen! And today is a special day of worship as we seed our going to bless in the name of Jesus! I can't wait to hear the stories God is about to write in and through you and us! Come Lord! Use us! May we bring You, our Hope, alive to those You are sending. Amen!
Harvest Prayer:
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December 1 - First Sunday of Advent
Be Still and Know
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Ask God for a fresh revelation of the significance of the incarnation. Commit to Him in prayer, your desire to be still this Advent season and know that He is God.
Thank You Father that Jesus became flesh and lived among us, and that His glory was revealed! Father, thank You for sending Jesus, Your own Son, in the likeness of sinful man, to be a sin offering for me, providing the way for me to become Your child. Jesus the Messiah is born!
You alone Lord Jesus are Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. It is in You alone, Lord Jesus that all the fullness of God dwells, and through You alone that I have been reconciled to God because of Your shed blood on the cross! I confess Lord Jesus, that You alone are the way to God the Father, you alone are the truth and the life. No longer am I alienated from God, but instead, because of Your sacrifice for me, I am now presented as holy in the Father’s sight, without blemish and free from accusation! Help me I pray to continue in my faith, established and standing firm. Empower me by Your Spirit, to convey this “gospel-hope” to those around me. May the light of Jesus and the gospel so shine from my life to others that they will turn and glorify You Father.
Forgive me, I pray for the ways that I have allowed the light of Christ in me, to be diminished--for You have said Lord Jesus that if the light within me is darkness, how great is that darkness! You Lord Jesus, who is the light of the world, and has entrusted me with the light of the gospel--shine through me!
Fill me with Your compassion for those around me, and help me to love like You love. Destroy complacency and the desire for comfort in me. Change me that I might be willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of others and the gospel. Open my eyes to the needs of those around me, and may I be one who invests in what is eternal.
By Your Spirit, may I always be prepared to give the reason for the hope that I have. You, Lord Jesus are my hope. But may I always do so with gentleness and respect, that the incarnation of the gospel may be lived out through me. As I enter this season, celebrating Your coming Lord Jesus--the first Advent, I pray that the wonder of Your coming to earth would capture my heart once again. Fill me with child-like awe and inexpressible joy. I ask this in Your mighty name. The name of Jesus, Amen.
(John 1:14; Romans 8:3; John 1:12; Isaiah 9:6; John 14:6; Colossians 1:19-23; Matthew 5:16; Matthew 6:23; 1 John 2:15; Matthew 9:36; 1 Peter 3:15)
--By Tiece L. King, author of the Pray the Word series: Pray the Word: 90 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word: 31 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word for Your Church. These resources are available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God, who is a refuge for the poor and needy (Isa.25:4).
- Thank him for caring about those who are in desperate circumstances.
- Confess times when you have not shown compassion to the needy.
- Commit yourself to serving others in new and stretching ways.
- Ask God to provide those opportunities for you.
- Ask God to anoint the fellowship in your congregation with the Holy Spirit. Pray that any friction between members will be addressed and healed. Pray that newcomers will find a refuge in your congregation.
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Sarah Young:
Charles Stanley
TWFYT:
UR: What Do You Need
[The Lord] has shown you . . . what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. - Micah 6:8 (NIV)
This past Christmas at church we decided to do something different. During the first week of Advent the sanctuary was set up as normal: wreaths and candles in the windows, a decorated tree up front, a full crèche scene, and candles for each Sunday of Advent with the words Peace, Love, Joy, and Hope in front of them. Every week that followed, though, something was removed. First the wreaths came down from the windows. Then the tree. Eventually, by Christmas Eve, only Mary and Joseph were left.
During the service, the children were called up to the simple scene that remained. But before they placed Jesus in the manger, they were asked why we took down all the decorations except Mary and Joseph. A young boy responded, “Because we don’t need them.” He was asked, “What do we need then?”
His answer put tears in our eyes. “Peace, love . . .” And the congregation helped him finish, “joy and hope.” With that, baby Jesus — who is the source of peace, love, joy, and hope — was placed in the manger. Christmas is not the bows or the presents, the cards or the decorations; it is the celebration of the birth of our Savior, God incarnate. And for that, all we need is an open heart.
Today's Prayer
Holy One, help us to remember the simplicity into which you came. Remind us that the only necessary preparations for this day are for our hearts to be open to receive you. Amen.ODB:
Good Reputation for Christ
Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
READ Titus 2:6-8
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During his college days at Florida State University, Charlie Ward was a two-sport student athlete. In 1993, the young quarterback won the Heisman Trophy as the country’s best college American football player, and he also starred on the basketball team.
During a pregame talk one day, his basketball coach used some foul language as he talked to his players. He noticed that Charlie “wasn’t comfortable,” and said, “Charlie, what’s up?” Ward said, “Coach, you know, Coach Bowden [the football coach] doesn’t use that kind of language, and he gets us to play awfully hard.”
Charlie’s Christlike character allowed him to gently speak to his basketball coach about this issue. In fact, the coach told a reporter: “It’s almost as if there was an angel looking at you” when he talked to Charlie.
A good reputation with unbelievers and a faithful witness for Christ are hard to maintain. But at the same time, believers in Jesus can grow to be more like Him as He helps and guides us. In Titus 2, younger men, and by extension all believers, are called to “be self-controlled” (v. 6) and to “show integrity . . . and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned” (vv. 7-8).
When we live that way in Christ’s strength, we’ll not only honor Him but also build a good reputation. Then as God provides the wisdom we need, people will have reason to hear what we say.
By Dave Branon
REFLECT & PRAY
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How does a good reputation help you influence others? What will help you grow in Christlike character?
Dear God, please help me to grow in character that reflects You and honors You.
For further study, read Evangelism—Reaching Out through Relationships.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Titus was one of the young men that Paul mentored in ministry. Unlike Timothy (see Acts 16:1-3), we know little about Titus. We’re not told how he and Paul met or how he came to have the apostle as his mentor. Titus is mentioned ten times in 2 Corinthians (2:13; 7:6, 13, 14; 8:6, 16, 17, 23; 12:18 [twice]) and two times in Galatians (2:1, 3)—solidifying our picture of him as an important member of Paul’s team. The only other mention of Titus (aside from the letter addressed to him) is in 2 Timothy 4:9-10, where Paul writes to Timothy: “Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.”
Bill Crowder |
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Friday, November 29 2024
Good Morning Thankful Worshipers! May God bless you and yours today as you prepare, worship and feast with family and friends! He see you and is with you and is inhabiting your praise! PTL!
Here's a song to start your day with praise...counting my many blessings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz0cjGr2h4k
Today can be a very busy Martha-kinda-busy day. Be still a bit and prepare yourself before you pour yourself out in loving service. Today can be a very hard day, breathe out. Be still. Dwell in His love and receive His peace, comfort and strength. And today begins that sprint to Christmas and all the crazy busyness. Breathe out and breathe in a refreshing, renewing, shalom-filled breathe of the the Spirit. God is with you always. He knows you and all about what's going on and His perfect plans for you that lead to this great joy and satisfaction in the Lord. PTL! Yes rejoice and invite Him to come inhabit your praise and direct your steps to His best. And then continue to count those blessings He brings as you go be a blessing. Amen! He has some great plans just for you for such a time as this! Rejoice!
Below are just a couple of my devos from today. Begin with worship and praise that overflows into a day overflowing with gratitude and love! And keep adding to those gratitude lists! Amen and shalom shalom to you and yours today!
CS
SY
Harvest
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November 28 - The Fervent Prayer
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Thanksgiving Blessings from Harvest Prayer Ministries!
"Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; lighten the eyes (of my faith to behold Your face in the pitch-like darkness), lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed over him," and those that trouble me rejoice when I am shaken." (Psalm 13:3-4, Amplified Bible)
David does the one thing that a fallen, helpless man in a fallen, helpless world can do: He cries out. In fervent prayer, He asks God to answer him and enlighten his eyes to see the real truth and the bigger picture.
This is what we need. An ant looks at a large stone in front of him and sees it as an insurmountable obstacle. We look at the scene and see a clear path for the ant if he will simply walk around the rock to the food on the other side. It is a mountain to an ant, but a molehill to a human. It is huge to the small, but inconsequential to the one who is above.
God is above our trouble. He sees it with Divine perspective. David asks God for the eyes of faith to see with God's clarity so he will not be overwhelmed with despair.
"But I have trusted, leaned on, and been confident in Your mercy and loving-kindness; my heart shall rejoice and be in high spirits in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me." (Psalm 13:5-6, Amplified Bible)
At the end of his prayer, David is reminded of the lovingkindness of God. Think of that word. God is not only loving towards us, but also kind. Everything He does is driven by this never-changing attribute.
David remembers that God is a Savior in the full sense of that word. He has saved him over and over from trouble and He will not forsake him now. The Lord speaks to David, because he prayed. He comes to the place of being in "high spirits,” and even singing to the Lord! He knows—in spite of all the seemingly overwhelming problems around him—that God will deal bountifully with him.
Are you in this David moment? There is one remedy, and only one. Come to the Father with honest questions and a fervent cry. It will lead you to a refueled faith and a rejoicing heart.
Pray through the specific issues you are facing right now. Cast “all your care upon God, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
Merciful God, You know everything about me and all that I am facing today! You care deeply for every sorrow, difficulty and uncertainty. Please increase my faith and give me a deep trust in Your lovingkindness to walk me through each hard place with a rejoicing heart. Thank You for teaching me how to cast all my cares on You because You care for me!
---Adapted from Prayer with No Intermission by Bill Elliff. This book is available at prayershop.org.
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- Praise God as the one whose arm is “not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear” (Isa. 59:1).
- Thank God for the promise to hear you when you come to him in prayer.
- Confess any sin which may result in his not hearing your prayers (59:2).
- If you are struggling in this area, commit yourself to regular, daily times of prayer and fellowship with God.
- Ask him to draw close to you as you fellowship with him.
- God has long arms when it comes to salvation. No one is beyond his reach. Thank him for that truth and pray for one unsaved person you know.
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Friday, November 29 2024
Tomorrow is decorating the sanctuary Sunday! 10-12. We need some help! All welcome!
Good Morning Thanks Living Followers of Jesus! We know our lives should be characterized with much thanksgiving as we live and love more and more like Jesus. May it be so Lord! may many see you and be drawn to you as our gratitude for you and all you do overflow to streams of Living Water as we follow Jesus and His examples better. Amen!
We move from a national day of thanksgiving that was started by one of our presidents to recognize that our God is indeed worthy of our heart felt thanks for His provisions, protections, and many blessings in establishing and sustaining our great nation. Thanks Lord! And thanks for placing us here for such a time as this! Use us well!
We move to TGIF Friday=Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday and our practice of thanking God for all the nuances of our forgiveness and faith and building our gratitude lists. Today is often called Black Friday because retailers get out of the red and move to making money. However, I am reminded of Good Friday that started out as the blackest of days. Yet because of God's love for us and His grace and mercy, turned to a day of celebration and promised forgiveness, victory over the grave and resurrection for us. PTL! his blood overcame our debts and sins and lead us to living debt free in Christ! PTL! Let us celebrate and continue to live in Christ with much thanksgiving! Amen!
Some of us have been traveling some very hard roads in our journey. Some are carry some heavy things to like unforgiveness, bitterness, guilt and sicknesses. Release those to God and allow Him to transform you, your thinking and choices to ones that focus on, trust, and follow His best ways. Check out our devos below as God ordered them today and spoke to my heart and is speaking to some of you. Choose joy, thanksgiving, forgiveness and to follow Jesus and His example more and more as we work on living sacrificially and loving lavishly like Him. he is speaking to you and many of us today. PTL! He is loving on you and wanting to lead you to His best. PTL! Thank Him and find some friends to process with. Sometimes, well all the time really, we need to die to self, take up cross and crucify some things to be ready to follow Jesus. help us Lord! May we overflow with thanksgiving and obedience and we worship and trust you each step of each day! Come! Fill us o overflowing! help us forgive and move on heal us and restore us. You have great plans for each of us and us together, remember Your promises. Come! Help! Lead! All for Your glory! Amen!
Time for day two of Family Thanksgiving for us. Sometimes we need to be flexible to be able to share love. May it be so Lord! Help us to really love like You and more and more! Amen!
REMEMBER:
ODB:
A man in court filed a restraining order against God. He claimed God had been “particularly unkind” to him and had exhibited a “seriously negative attitude.” The presiding judge dismissed the suit, saying the man needed help not from the court but for his mental health. A true story: humorous, but also sad.
But are we so different? Don’t we sometimes want to say, “Stop, God, please, I’ve had enough!” Job did. He put God on trial. After enduring unspeakable personal tragedies, Job says, “I want to argue my case with God himself” (Job 13:3 nlt) and imagines taking “God to court” (9:3 nlt). He even puts forth a restraining order: “Withdraw your hand far from me, and stop frightening me” (13:21). Job’s prosecution argument wasn’t his own innocence but what he viewed as God’s unreasonable harshness: “Does it please you to oppress me?” (10:3).
Sometimes we feel God is unfair. In truth, the story of Job is complex, not providing easy answers. God restores Job’s physical fortunes in the end, but that isn’t always His plan for us. Perhaps we find something of a verdict in Job’s final admission: “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know” (42:3). The point is, God has reasons we know nothing of, and there’s wonderful hope in that.
By Kenneth Petersen
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What occasions have prompted you to “take God to court”? Why is it okay for you to ask Him tough questions?
Dear God, I sometimes feel angry about what I’ve had to endure. Please help me bring my complaints to You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
We rightly remember Job as an exceptionally good man. “They have the patience of Job,” we say when we notice someone who demonstrates remarkable restraint under pressure. Not to be missed, however, is Job’s obvious humanity. Having lost his children, his health, and his wealth, we see him lash out at his friends who offer him useless counsel. “You . . . smear me with lies,” he says, and calls them “worthless physicians” (Job 13:4). The problem with Job’s friends is that they imagined they were speaking wisely when they were merely spouting empty platitudes. Job says of their advice, “Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay” (v. 12). This raw picture of his response to his trouble and his alleged “comforters” (16:2) humanizes him, enriching our understanding of human pain and suffering. We also learn to guard our speech when we encounter another in deep pain.
Tim Gustafson |
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cs
TWFYT
UR: Working for Good
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28 (NIV)
When I attended the memorial service of a person very dear to me, a reference was made to Romans 8:28. It troubled me to say that “all things work together for the good” about a dear friend’s death. But the words remained with me, and I revisited the text, trying to make sense of it. I decided to start keeping a journal where I noted different situations — good and bad — to see what the outcome was.
One particular experience helped me to appreciate fully how God worked for good in my life. I joined an organization where, despite my being a senior manager, responsibilities were taken away from me without consultation. To fill the emptiness, I started to coach young colleagues informally. My manager noticed and acknowledged that I was good at helping people develop their skills and talents. I was encouraged to seek appropriate training, and the organization would pay for it. What a blessing! God had truly worked out all things for my good.
Over time, as I continued with my journal, I was amazed to see the ways that indeed God was working for good, even when the circumstances seemed otherwise.
Today's Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for showering us with blessings in all life’s circumstances. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
SY
Friday, November 29 2024
This Week: Tomorrow (Tues.) 10-11 Zoom Huddle
6PM Thanksgiving Eve Eve Taco Tuesday dinner worship! All welcome!
Wed. Bread Ministry 10-12
Sat. 10 AM decorate for Christmas
This is the last two days to register to receive $50 on Sunday to use to bless others or the Kindness Project. If you haven't signed up, let Sarah or me know of your interest today to be able to join us in being a blessing this holiday season.
Sun. Dec 22nd we will install some new members. If you are interested in joining our fellowship of believers, let Sarah or me know and we will get you an application.
******PTL! Last Dec. Mike Laise encouraged us to pray for and invite people to join us and we started praying for 12 new members this year or for one per month. God has been faithful to answer those prayers and has drawn some through our invites to come and check us out. He is so faithful!!! Yesterday we talked to our 13th new member! God hears and answers!!! So Sunday Dec 22nd, 3 more will be received into membership and adding their rocks to our altar as they covenant with us to live and love like Jesus as part of His Body and Good News Delivery Co.! He has also answered the prayer to raise up servants from the harvest He is sending and most of these new members are already serving or wanting to! Yes! Thanks Lord! Keep hearing and answering those prayers!!!!
Sarah Update below: (Update to hers: Chris Muik was admitted to St. Luke's for further evaluation. Keep him, Yvonne and family in your prayers)
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Good Morning Thankful, Focused on Jesus, Faithful Worshipers! Amen! This salutation is a word from God to us flowing through our worship, Sarah's message and our fellowship yesterday. It flows from my quiet time and devotional studies this morning to us from God! He is speaking to your heart right now affirming you and your faith and leading you to live a life filled with thanksgiving, faithfulness and worship as you are created to do. PTL! Be still for a bit and dwell in His love, presence and Word as you prepare for a day of worshipful service that flows from a heart overflowing with His love and from much grateful thankfulness for who He is, what He's done and from His deep love for you. He created you for such a time as this and He is with you always, walking with you and holding you in the palm of His hand. He informs, comforts, strengthens, delivers and helps you each step and you get to offer yourself as an act of worship and follow Him to his best. Yes, PTL! Worship with a thankful heart and follow well today! I'm praying for you too! So here is the flow from my devos: What's God saying to you? What thanksgivings can you raise from these and your time with Him. What will you do in response today? Who are your partners? God does have great, custom made plans for you that will lead to much joy and thanksgiving as you follow Him o His perfect plans for you! rejoice and worship today! Amen!
ODB:
Being Thankful Despite Trials
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to [God] and praise his name. Psalm 100:4
READ Psalm 100
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I’ve been following and praying for a fellow writer who’s been posting online about her cancer journey. She alternates between sharing updates about her physical pain and challenges and sharing prayer requests with Scripture and praises to God. It’s beautiful to see her courageous smile whether she’s in the hospital awaiting treatments or at home wearing a bandana because her hair is falling out. With each challenge, she never fails to encourage others to trust God during trials.
When we’re going through difficulties, it may be challenging to find reasons to be grateful and to praise God. However, Psalm 100 gives us reasons to rejoice and give God praise despite our circumstances. The psalmist says: “Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture” (v. 3). He adds, “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (v. 5).
Whatever our trial, we can take comfort knowing that God is near to our broken hearts (34:18). The more time we spend with God in prayer and reading the Bible, the more we’ll be able to “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise” and “give thanks to him and praise his name” (100:4). We can “shout for joy to the Lord” (v. 1) even and perhaps especially when we’re in a difficult season because our God is faithful.
By Nancy Gavilanes
REFLECT & PRAY
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What are you grateful for? What can you praise God for right now?
Dear God, please help me to praise You even in my trials.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Psalm 100 is the last of eight consecutive psalms (93-100) that emphasize God as King. Each psalm highlights a particular aspect of this King’s reign. Psalm 93 shows God ruling over the seas (vv. 3-4)—a characteristic especially meaningful to a people who’d passed safely through the Red Sea as their enemies drowned behind them (see Exodus 14). Psalm 94 shows God as the righteous judge who opposes the wicked. Psalms 95-97 praise the incomparability of the one true God, “the great King above all gods” (95:3), extolling His “righteousness and justice” as “the foundation of his throne” (97:2). This emphasis on God “above all gods” (v. 9) is vital for Israel as they were surrounded by nations that worshiped false gods. Psalm 100 recognizes this true King as Israel’s creator and shepherd (v. 3) and calls everyone to “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise” (v. 4).
Tim Gustafson |
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Sarah Young
Charles Stanley
Chuck Swindoll
Joyce Meyer
Upper Room: Making An Impression
As God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. - Colossians 3:12 (CEB)
Sometimes after I put together an outfit that I think looks good, and more importantly is comfortable, my wife will look at me with a smile and ask, “Why are you leaving the house dressed like that?” So . . . I change my clothes. We laugh about it, but my wife’s attentiveness to the clothes I wear reminds me that how we present ourselves makes an impression on others.
With Christ, we are given the grace to clothe ourselves with love, kindness, compassion, and patience.
Early Christianity grew in part because outsiders witnessed the changed lives, good qualities, and virtues of those who followed Christ. As Jesus said in John 13:35, “This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.” Jesus taught his disciples to show the world what they believe and where they find hope.
I still find it tempting to go back to old patterns of living. But I am constantly reminded of Jesus’ transforming grace which allows the world to see Christ through us.
Today's Prayer
Holy God, guide us to clothe ourselves in love and kindness. May the world see Christ when they look at us. Amen.
TWFYT
Harvest Prayer
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November 25 - Finding God in the Midst of Your Trouble
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Every day, if we are wise, we will realize our increasing need for God. We were designed to depend on Him, just like our lungs crave oxygen and our heart needs blood.
This world is full of difficulties that are beyond us, problems that at any moment threaten to pull us down into the quicksand of despair and defeat, and decisions that are above our capabilities. We need Someone bigger.
So, how do we find Him in the midst of such a troubled and fallen world?
"How long will You forget me, O Lord? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I lay up cares within me and have sorrow in my heart day after day? How long shall my enemy exalt himself over me?" (Psalm 13:1-2, Amplified Bible)
David is describing in prayer what life feels like at the moment. It seems like the Lord has forsaken Him. He doesn't sense His presence. He is overcome with cares and sorrow. His enemies seem to be winning the day.
Every person has days like this. David's Psalm strikes a chord in us because of his raw, unfiltered honesty. He’s voicing what is in our hearts when it seems God is distant and unconcerned.
Lord, some days I feel like King David. There are times when it seems You are silent and distant. Yet, I know that You are always present and leaning in to hear my prayers. Help me to faithfully come to You when I feel lost, afraid, sad, confused or anxious. Give me increased faith that even when I can’t see Your hand at work, I can always trust that Your heart is for me.
---Adapted from Prayer with No Intermission by Bill Elliff. This book is available at prayershop.org.
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- Praise God, the one who keeps you in perfect peace (Isa. 26:3).
- Give thanks for peace which is far beyond your understanding (Phil. 4:7).
- Confess that you sometimes look to the world to bring you peace rather than to God.
- Commit yourself to living in peace with others (1 Thess. 5:13).
- Ask God to give you a peaceable spirit.
- Jesus promises to give his peace to those who believe in faith (Jn. 14:27). Pray for one unsaved person you know to receive Jesus’ precious peace.
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Sarah Update
Good afternoon, prayer warriors,
What a great day of worship today.....and then the brunch.....yummo, those pancakes were delicious!!!
A huge thank you to Lori and her team! Great job!
Here are the praises and prayer needs from worship:
Chris and Yvonne Muiks are praising God that their daughter is doing much better after having an allergic reaction to the colonoscopy prep med.
Prayers for Chris, this morning he noticed that his foot was red, and was going to the ER to get it checked, after he and Yvonne worshipped with us via Zoom. Praying for your healing Chris!
Josie's grandson, Craig is doing well, and he wearing his brace and taking physical therapy. Prayers that he takes his time and allows his body to heal and that he has patience with the process.
Carol will be having heart surgery tomorrow at 7:30am. Pastor Don and Darlene helped to lay hands on her and pray over her this morning. May God's peace surround Carol and her medical team get a good night's rest....so they are ready for the day's work.
Ken - Sandy Ritter's husband is having a procedure on his back on Tuesday. Sandy is asking for prayers for Ken to be comforted and have peace. Praying his anxiety will be replaced with His peace.
Let's continue to pray for Diane, Houston, Matt Stauffer, and others in our church family that may be going through a difficult time in their lives. Pray also for the family members of these folks.
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Here is Gladys Ketner's new address:
Gladys Ketner
Heather Glen
415 Blue Barn Road
Room E 3
Allentown Pa 18104
Her lunch time is from 12 - 1pm and they ask for no visitors to come during that time.
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Okay everyone.....be grateful for all that God has blessed you with and if you can't find something to be thankful for,
stop and take a breath, and exhale.....and then thank God for that breath!
Blessings,
Sarah
Friday, November 29 2024
Don't forget! Thanksgiving Eve Eve Taco Tuesday dinner and worship 6-7:30 tonight! Bring a friend!
Good Morning Thankful Friends and Persevering Followers of Jesus! Can we be both? We need to be! Yet sometimes we find little to be thankful about and loose our faith that leads us to persevere always in Christ. During the holidays, I used to get ugly. I hated, loathed Hallmark Holidays made up by man to sell cards and make us feel guilty for not blessing others or making us very sad for missing loved ones. God has delivered me from that the past few years as I prayed and asked Him to do so. I ask to see with His eyes and respond with His heart and mind. He has given me empathy and compassion for those who struggle with grief, loss, lack, and changed that to a desire to worship, enjoy, comfort and bless. How can we persevere in faith when we are in those darkest valleys? How can we be thankful IN all things as commanded. I pour my heart out to God for those who may be unable to so, that they would feel His loving presence, peace and deliverance through tough holidays. Join me in lifting those you know who are struggling in some way or another through these holidays. Father, come, comfort, deliver, provide as You promise. Lead me/us to be Your vessels to the hopeless and hurting this year. Help! Thanks! Amen!
Who just came to your mind as you prayed? What might God be leafing you to do in response to His nudges? Who might you team up with to go comfort and bless in the name of Jesus and with His help? There are many we know all around us, even in our fellowship that need a hug of comfort right now. Part of the idea behind our Christmas Giving Challenge is to gift you to go do something for those in need of a touch of Gods love and provision. Keep praying for wisdom and direction for that.
One of the directives God has given me is to prepare His people to be ready to endure and persevere in faith when the hard times come. We are promised that they will come and will increase in intensity as the end gets closer. Are you ready? Part of that is knowing in advance that Your God cares, knows, is able and allows things for His purposes. Things to deep for us to understand. He is God and we are not. Sometimes as part of life we experience deep loss and it is beyond reason or our control. Are you ready for those intensely hard and dark times? You can prepare to be able to redirect to God more quickly and in trust and faith that is able to even be thankful and choose joy always in all thing. Help us Lord! Prepare us to be able to stand firm in You no matter what comes. May we always remember you are sovereign and in control and allow things we can't understand to be part of Your good and perfect plans. Help us to memorize and be able to recall Your many promises of comfort, help, provision and deliverance and be able to stand on those as needed. Raise up Your army of comforters and peace bringers from our fellowship. Raise up people who see with Your eyes and respond with Your heart and mind to bring Your comfort alive. Thanks Lord! Prepare us. Send us. And may we always stand firm in You and go as Your vessels. Thank You for Your promises and to always be working things together for good. Help us to be able to stand firm and redirect to You quickly when these hard times come. Please comfort those who are hurting, grieving and lacking this holiday season. May Your promise of comfort and love, peace and joy come alive as we grow in trust and see You at work always. Come! Help! Comfort! Send me! Amen! Thank You!
Check out our devos today that speak into this and the faithfulness of God. Check the harvest prayer link for some Thanksgiving ideas. It will help you to redirect and to go comfort. Prepare your hearts to always stand firm in Christ, lift thanksgiving always and be His vessel. Amen! I'm praying for you and us! Build those gratitude lists too that will help when needed to refocus on God and things above. He really loves you and is always at work. He promises to comfort, help and provide. Worship and focus on that!
UR: Comfort in Grief
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. - Psalm 139:16 (NIV)
I received news that no one ever wants to hear. My three-month prenatal ultrasound showed no signs of a heartbeat. I would never hold my precious baby in my arms. The sadness was overwhelming.
After the initial waves of sadness, I felt a sense of shame for my intense sorrow. My mind told me that I shouldn’t feel such anguish over an early pregnancy loss and that this amount of grief should be reserved for late miscarriages or for people who have lost loved ones after years together. I wanted to keep my grief a secret so that no one would think I was overreacting.
But these feelings of shame and embarrassment were quickly replaced with something God had written on my heart years ago. Psalm 139 reminded me that this child was lovingly created by God and that God treasured all of my baby’s days.
Remembering that God knows and values my baby has comforted me in my grief, and it has helped me to be open to God’s grace that transforms our pain.
Today's Prayer
Father God, thank you for comforting us when we mourn. Thank you for the gift of your word that offers peace during difficult times. Help us to be open to your transforming grace. Amen.
Sarah Young
Chuck Swindoll
TWFYT
Charles Stanley
Harvest Blog link for Thanksgiving ideas: https://www.harvestprayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Give-Thanks-with-a-Prayerful-Heart.pdf
Friday, November 29 2024
Feels like Thursday since we gathered last evening instead of Wed for taco Tues worship. What a great night to gather, fellowship and worship and of course eat! Close to 40 of us did just that. God was present and we had a great evening! Thanks God and all who came!
Note: Wed Huddle is on Holiday break until Jan. 15th when we gather again to feast, fellowship, study and pray. Just like the church in Acts 2:42. Pray we continue to grow as this kind of church and through our table ministries. PTL! Last night our 15th new member for the year has asked to join!! God is on the move! Amen!
Tues the 3rd will be our last Zoom Huddle until Jan. 14th.
Saturday we gather at 10 to decorate the sanctuary, All needed and welcome!
Sunday is the beginning of our Christmas Giving Challenge. In the past we called this the Light 'em Up Challenge because we go out to bring some light to the darkness and help to the hopeless and needy. Pray for God to lead and use us!
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Good Morning Thanks-Living Friends! May we always live overflowing with thanksgiving and faithfulness that flows from our gratitude of what Christ has done and is doing for us! AMEN! God is on the move and He has custom made perfect plans for you to bring His love and Kingdom alive. PTL! Seek, knock, worship, receive and follow well today. I've already prayed for you.
I'm just sharing two devos and Psalm 103 that we used last night to begin building or to expand our gratitude lists. What are you thankful about? Write it down and save it to your heart. God is so worthy of all praise, glory, and honor, Yes rejoice, again I say it, PTL! May thanksgiving and God's love overflow you today and springs of Living Water gush forth as you go live and love more and more like Jesus! Amen and shalom!
Sarah Young
Charles Stanley
Psalm 103
Friday, November 29 2024
TODAY is the last day to sign up to receive $50. next Sun to go be a blessing before Christmas. See bulletin board in sanctuary and sign up today!
Don't forget out Thanksgiving Eve Eve Taco Tuesday dinner and worship this Tues. All welcome. Bring a friend or three!
See at worship at 10 and brunch at 11:30 today!
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Good Morning Thankful, Focused and Faithful Servants of the Lord Almighty! AMEN! Come you thankful ones of the Lord and let us worship and praise with hearts overflowing today an always. Amen! Check out the flow and thread through my devotionals from a deep quiet time of worship this morning. Check Swindoll reminds us of spontaneous worship and how that broke our for the pilgrims in response to God carrying them through a very hard first winter. Sarah Young reminds us that thanksgiving can take the sting out of adversity as we shift our focus to our Father who is always with us and able. It's a reminder to keep building those gratitude lists to pull out in the hard times to help us shift our focus with thanksgiving and praise. Joyce Meyer reminds us to always choose to stand on our solid Rock, Jesus in faith and with much thanksgiving. Charles Stanley reminds that our God is worthy of all praise and worship and how near He is to us always. The Upper Room reminds us to turn off the noise, shift our focus and find shalom in the stillness. TWFYT calls us to never give up or quit. Breakthrough and deliverance are on the way! Remember the promise that no weapon formed against us will prosper and stand firm in faith with much trust and thanksgiving. God is able and worthy of all our trust and praise. Amen! What's He whispering to your heart today? Lift those thanksgiving praises and refocus on Him and His best for you. Keep at it and battling those demons and doubts and fears as you lift those praises. I'm praying for you! Shalom!
Check out this song to start your day...Hard Fought Hallelujah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd3r3sWPM84
Chuck Swindoll
Sarah Young
Joyce Meyer
Charles Stanley
Upper Room: Peace in Stillness
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. - Psalm 4:8 (NIV)
Last year I was in the hospital for surgery to have my gallbladder removed. It was my first time under general anesthesia; but lying obediently on the gurney, I breathed myself to sleep. Only after I woke up with a sore and bandaged abdomen did it occur to me what a gesture of trust I had made toward the doctors and technicians. I had put myself completely at their mercy. I had had complete confidence in their integrity and skill.
Why, then, when I was so ready to put myself in the hands of fallible human beings, am I so reluctant to trust in God’s integrity and care, to believe in God’s promises?
I think of this experience whenever I sit down to pray, attempting to surrender myself to God’s will. When my anxieties and petty concerns keep crowding in, preventing me from fully entering into quiet prayer, I try to let go, breathe, and feel myself held in a space of love. God provides me with care greater than any human physician. When I surrender to God, God calms my restlessness so that I can experience resurrection life.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, you are with us always. Help us find stillness in our restless souls so that we can know you and receive your healing power. Amen.
The Word for You Today
Harvest prayers:
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Faithful Father, humble my heart before You. Keep me self-controlled and alert as I resist Satan whenever he tries to tempt me or divert me from Your purposes. Keep my relationship with You strong, for in Your presence I will learn more about how to fight the battles that come my way! Help me to read, meditate on and memorize Your perfect and powerful word so that I will always be able to deflect the flaming arrows of the enemy.
--Adapted from The Power of Personal Prayer (Learning to Pray with Faith and Purpose) by Jonathan Graf. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God, the one who strengthens and helps you (Isa. 41:10).
- Give thanks for God’s promise to be with you when you “pass through the rivers” or “walk through the fire” (Isa. 43:2).
- Confess those times when you’ve doubted God’s loving presence and care.
- Commit yourself to trusting in God to protect and defend you.
- Ask him to increase your faith.
- Pray for the political leaders of your country. Ask that they will be men and women of integrity and honor. Pray that their primary allegiance will be to God alone.
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Saturday, November 23 2024
Tomorrow: Prepare your hearts for an Acts 2:42 kinda day! They gathered. Studied God's Word. Prayed, Ate and fellowshipped. We will do that beginning at 10 with worship and Sarah leading us through the Word. Then we get to gather downstairs and eat and fellowship. Who are you bringing along to our Pancakepalooza? Pray for God to bring someone to mind to invite and for no hindrances for those God is sending.
Only two weeks left to sign up ofr our Christmas Giveaway Challenge. (See sheet on bulletin board in back of sanctuary to sign up to receive $50. on Dec 1st to go bless someone or to give to the Kindness Project. God has great plans for us to go bless and show His love this holiday season! Join the fun!
Don't forget to update our directory at the back of the sanctuary. Are your address and contact info up to date?
Sunday Dec. 22nd will be new member Sunday as we receive some new members. If interested in joining out fellowship, speak to Sarah or Pastor Don. Keep praying for God to send those He is drawing to Him through our Body. PTL that He has heard and sent new members and attendees in answer to our prayers we started last Dec. for 12 new members. He is faithful to hear and answer! PTL! and He is using us and growing our reach! Amen!
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Good Morning Joy-Bringers and Agents of Shalom! PTL that is us! We are so filled with joy and actively incarnating His shalom that many are noticing and being attracted to Him and our gatherings. So many weary and downtrodden are seeking Joy and peace that is only found in Christ and through His faithful servants (US!!!!)! PTL that He is positioning and sending us to live and love like Jesus and impart His love, healing and hope! We all have a part in this and are stepping into our custom made roles for bringing His love and Good News alive. Thank Him for that and keep offering yourself as His vessel. He is molding, shaping and using us just as we are for such a time as this. PTL! And He is blessing us as we allow Him to use us for His purposes made for each of us and us as His gathered people! I'm am so stoked at all God is doing and for the open doors He has showed us for bringing His Good News to our neighbors and those He is drawing. I just can't help but worship, praise and offer much thanksgiving! Keep praying for those God is sending you to invite to come and see and for courage to do so and for some teammates to travel with into the ripe harvest fields! We are springs of living water flowing to this dry and weary land! PTL!
My quiet time began today with this Scripture for the day and flowed through some of our devotionals to remind us that we are His and His stream of Living Water--a people filled to overflowing with His love, peace and joy and sent to be Christ to the Christ-less for such a time as this! Yes, PTL! And keep doing your part as you seek and follow Him to bless many and be filled with His joy and love overflowing. Rejoice in the Lord today and know His shalom and then go bring it alive! What story is God writing or wanting to through you? many need to hear these! Keep watching, joining, serving and recording all God is doing in, through and around you and be filled to overflowing Streams of Living Water, Joy Bringing, agents of Shalom! Yee Ha! We are in for the ride of our lives as God leads us to His best and perfect plans! AMEN!
Scripture of the day:
Our Daily Bread
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In 2015, local ministries in Colorado Springs, Colorado, teamed up to serve the city, and COSILoveYou was born. Each fall, in an event called CityServe, the group sends believers in Jesus out to serve the community.
Several years ago, my children and I were assigned to a downtown elementary school during CityServe. We cleaned. We pulled weeds. And we worked on an art project, lacing colored plastic tape through a chain-link fence in a way that approximated mountains. Simple, but surprisingly beautiful.
Whenever I drive past the school, our humble art project reminds me of Jeremiah 29. There, God instructed His people to settle down and serve the city they were in. He commanded this even though they were in exile and didn’t want to be there.
The prophet said, “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (v. 7). The word peace here is the Hebrew word shalom. And it encompasses the idea of the wholeness and flourishing that only God’s goodness and redemption can bring.
Amazingly, God invites each of us to be His agents of shalom—right where we are. We’re invited to create beauty and practice redemption in simple, concrete ways in the spaces He’s placed us.
By Adam R. Holz
REFLECT & PRAY
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When have you seen shalom restored? How might you use your time, talents, and resources to help your community?
Father, thank You for inviting me to be an agent of Your blessing. Please help me to see how I can serve my community.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The Hebrew word shalom is used three times in Jeremiah 29:7 and is translated “peace,” “prosperity,” “prosper[s].” It appears at least once in the majority of the thirty-nine Old Testament books. Its significance isn’t limited to the number of times it’s used, however. The concepts embodied in this rich word are noteworthy and far exceed the notion of “quiet from war.” The general idea is that of well-being encompassing health, prosperity, safety, wholeness, soundness, completeness—personally, communally, and cosmically. The King James Version reflects the literal repetition of the word peace: “Seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.” In Isaiah 9, the source and scope of universal well-being come into focus. Jesus is our shalom, our “Prince of Peace” (v. 6), and His reign will result in universal wholeness (v. 7).
Arthur Jackson |
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Charles Stanley
Sarah Young
Harvest prayer Blogs
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November 23 - Praying with Others
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Most of the praying we study in the New Testament was done in groups. Like sticks of wood that increase a fire, mutual intercession aids us in praying. Someone comes into the group and is terribly distracted, but another is focused and ready to pray. One is discouraged, but another intercessor’s prayers lift them before the meeting is over. We fuel each other in prayer.
If you are not praying with others, you must. Start a group, join a group. Ask a godly older man or woman that you know is an intercessor to train you by praying with you.
As a pastor for over 50 years, I have been absolutely astounded to discover countless pastors who never pray with their leaders and staff. How can we possibly expect to let the Head of the church lead His body if we are not talking to Him? How can we build genuine unity in a staff without united prayer? What are we training others to be if we never train them in prayer?
Also, real unity—the kind that moves mountains—cannot be gained by administration or tasks alone. Get a group of people into the presence of God in sustained, well-led prayer and unity will be automatic. There will be a depth of unity that cannot be experienced any other way.
Lord Jesus, teach Your people to pray! Teach Your pastors to lead in prayer and guide their staff and leadership in prayer so that You can accomplish Your purposes in and through them and their congregations! You desire unity among Your people, Father. Teach us how to come together in Your presence with a unified purpose to seek Your face!
---Adapted from Simply Prayer by Bill Elliff. This book is available at prayershop.org.
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- Praise God, the one who is never far away from his children.
- Thank him for being close to you when you feel brokenhearted or crushed in spirit (Ps. 34:18).
- Confess your own unwillingness to have a God so near.
- Commit yourself to drawing near to God in daily prayer and fellowship (Jas. 4:8).
- Ask him to bless you by his presence throughout your life.
- Intercede for the great worldwide mission effort of the church. Ask God to raise up more workers to enter the harvest around the world. Pray specifically for missionaries whom you know or support financially.
Prayer Pointer
“God does nothing on earth save in answer to believing prayer.” —John Wesley
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Saturday, November 23 2024
It's Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! Woo Who! There is so much to contemplate with thanksgiving in just that truth! Yes you and I and all who will come to Christ are and will be forgiven! PTL! Spend some time with God and your gratitude list this morning as we begin our time together.
Good Morning Thankful, Abiding in the Living Word, Servants of the Lord! Yes and amen to that! Many of us have been traveling through some very hard times or we know some who are. Yet we are called to be thankful IN all things. Not for but thankful as God carries and walks with us through those dark, stretching faith, valleys. Having and choosing an attitude of thanksgiving shifts our focus from us to God and helps us to choose joy as we trust Him to work all things together for good. It's still hard but we have a better focus and attitude as we turn to God with thanksgiving on our hearts and lips. As we shift our focus up, we are more able to abide in God's Love and with His Living Word. Having Scriptures to lean on, inform our prayers and direct our steps and is critical to a life lived well and with God's peace. We can have confidence that He knows, cares and is with us working all things together for good and not harm. We are reminded of our blessed assurance in Christ as well. And then we can or are better able to choose to get busy serving which also helps shift our focus up as we join God in blessing others. Blessed to be a blessing and blessed back for being one is another step in the process of developing a thankful heart always. Thanksgiving is not just for a day but part of a life lived well in Christ everyday. Today's devotionals flow through this line of thought and thread it together. Prayerfully, thankfully engage God through them as you shift your focus to Him with thanksgiving and praise and as you open and abide in His Word and prepARE YOUR HEARTS TO GO LOVE LIKE JESUS. That's thanks-living. He is with you--always! He loves you even when it doesn't feel like it. So, rejoice and lift some praise today as you still yourself, turn off the noise and chaos and spend some time in the presence of the God who whispers His love to you. Then pray about who He is stirring you to reach out to to encourage, pray and walk with today or serve in some way. He does have great plans for you, even when it may not feel so great. Yes rejoice and receive His shalom this morning! I'm praising for you and prayed for you already. Shalom! Thankful, Abiding in the Living Word, Servants of the Lord!
Sarah Young
Charles Stanley
Upper Room: Repurposing Our Lives
“I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.” - Isaiah 41:9 (NIV)
I enjoy turning recycled junk into art. I take items that are going to be discarded — vintage tools, hardware, old china, tiles, game pieces, aluminum cans, and other everyday objects — and I generate fresh, unique artwork that conveys a positive message. To redeem a once-valuable item that would have been thrown away gives me great satisfaction!
For a while, especially during the height of the pandemic, I felt insignificant, isolated, and purposeless. But then opportunities arose for service projects that I could do at home. I could glorify God and serve others by creatively rejuvenating old ways of serving. Even the little things we do can make an impact when we allow a loving heart and a spirit of service to guide us.
We may feel that we don’t have much to offer because we are broken, flawed, or lack confidence. But we can be recreated to glorify God, and our brokenness can be renewed. “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10). Regardless of our age or abilities, when we seek opportunities to do good works, our lives can be repurposed to love and serve God.
Today's Prayer
Lord God, guide us to follow your purpose for our lives each day. Help us to look and listen for ways to serve you. Amen.
The Word for You today
ODB
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Sell my late mother’s house? That decision burdened my heart after my beloved, widowed mother passed away. Sentiment drove my feelings. Still, my sister and I spent two years cleaning and repairing her empty home, resigned to sell it. This was in 2008, and a global recession left us with no buyers. We kept dropping the price but got no offers. Then, while reading my Bible one morning, this passage grabbed my eye: “Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox” (Proverbs 14:4 esv).
The proverb spoke of farming, but I was intrigued by its message. An unoccupied stall stays neat, but only with the “mess” of inhabitants would it yield a harvest of crops. Or, for us, a crop of value and family legacy. Calling my sister, I asked, “What if we keep Mama’s house? We could rent it.”
The choice surprised us. We had no plans to turn Mom’s home into an investment. But the Bible, as a spiritual guide, also offers practical wisdom. As David prayed, “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow” (Psalm 25:4 nlt).
With our choice, my sister and I have been blessed to rent Mama’s home to many lovely families. We also learned this life-changing truth: Scripture helps guide our decisions. “Your word is a lamp for my feet,” wrote the psalmist, “a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105). May we walk in God’s light.
By Patricia Raybon
REFLECT & PRAY
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What tough choices are you facing? How can the Scriptures provide answers?
As I make decisions, dear God, please guide me with the light of Scripture.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm. All 176 verses celebrate the words of God and affirm their authority, supremacy, priority, and sufficiency in the lives of those who trust in Him. God is referenced in every verse of this song. Oppressed and persecuted by powerful enemies who scorned and ridiculed the psalmist’s obedience to God’s “statutes” and “decrees” (vv. 22-23, 157), he finds great strength and comfort by meditating on them and obeying them. Not wavering, he vows to remain fully committed to following God’s “righteous laws . . . [and] decrees to the very end” (vv. 106, 112). The psalmist affirms that God’s “word” is his security and safety in a dark and dangerous world; a lamp that leads him to walk in His ways and a light that provides perspective, hope, and guidance on how to respond to the harsh realities of life (vv. 105, 130).
K. T. Sim |
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Harvest
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November 22 - Praying Through God’s Word
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There are several excellent books on my shelf that directly address how to pray through the Bible.
One is Praying the Bible by Donald S. Whitney, professor of spiritual formation and author of a number of books on the spiritual life. Actually, he has talked about this for years, and Praying the Bible is his most thorough look at encouraging Christ-followers to draw ever closer to God as we meditate upon his Word.
Whitney reminds us that the Holy Spirit lives inside of us and guides us in our prayers through the Scriptures. He encourages us to pray verse by verse. Wherever we are in the Bible, we can ask the Spirit’s help to apply it in our lives. Whatever, whoever comes to mind—again, as the indwelling Holy Spirit leads—we key off of the particular verse and use it as fuel for prayer.
While Whitney encourages us to pray through any portion of the Bible this way, he favors turning to the Psalms as Jesus did (see Matthew 27:46), and also as we see in the early church (see Acts 4:24–26). In Simplify Your Spiritual Life, he gave a practical demonstration of what this looks like:
For example, if I were praying through Psalm 27, I would begin by reading verse 1: ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation.’ Then I would pray something like, ‘Thank You, Lord, that You are my light. Thank You for giving me the light to see my need for Jesus and Your forgiveness. Please light my way so that I will know which way to go in the big decision that is before me today. And thank You especially that You are my salvation. You saved me; I didn’t save myself. And now I ask You to save my children also, as well as those at work with whom I’ve shared the gospel.’”
When I have nothing else to say, instead of my mind wandering, I have a place to go—the rest of verse 1: “Of whom shall I be afraid?” Then I might pray along these lines: “I thank You that I do not have to fear anyone because You are my Father. But I confess that I have been fearful about____.” I would continue in this way, praying about whatever is prompted verse by verse, until I either complete the psalm or run out of time.
Father, You did not leave us alone here on earth! Not only did You send Your Spirit to be our teacher, but You gave us Your word! “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:5), and when I pray the words You have given, I always know that my prayer is in Your perfect will! Thank You for Your powerful word!
--Adapted from Walking and Talking with God: A Simple Way to Pray Every Day by Dean Ridings. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God for all his mighty works (Ps. 46:8-10), for his power, his majesty, his magnificent splendor over all the earth.
- Thank God for this psalm’s very clear and uplifting picture of God’s grandeur.
- Confess that you sometimes live as if God were small, powerless, and expendable.
- Commit yourself to serving this grand and glorious God with humility and reverence.
- Ask God to reveal something of his splendor in your life this week.
- Pray that “the works of the Lord” might be so evident as to draw unbelievers to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Ask for spiritual blinders to be removed.
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Saturday, November 23 2024
Sunday is our 2 Peas in A Pod Brunch (Pancake Palooza!) after worship. Who ya bringin'? All are welcome! Come join us for worship and then fellowship around the table. It's an Acts 2:42 type of morning! God has plans for you and us and for some who are yet to come! Rejoice and join Him and us!
Don't forget the 5-5-5 prayer challenge. Pray for 5 neighbors for 5 days a week for 5 weeks and ask God how He wants to use you to be an answer to some of thise prayers! Yesterday, he already answered one of mine as a lady from Bread Ministry was invited and joined us last night and connected to us and God a little more! PTL! (there is a spot to record answered prayers for this challenge. Keep praying, believing, responding as God leads and lifting thanksgiving!
You have two Sundays to sign up for our Christmas Blessing challenge. Sun Dec 1st, all who signed up will receive $50, to be used to write a story of how God used you to bless another or others. You can even team up with others and pool your money. OR you can opt to have the church give your $50. to the Kindness Project that helps foster families in the area. Pray into this and for God to multiply and use us and what He's given to go bless abundantly and have great stories of His loving faithfulness through us to share. (Remember this money comes from a tithe from our church for all God has provided for us this year. He truly does bless the tithing of His people!)
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Good Morning Grateful, Surrendered, Obedient and Trustworthy Vessels! AMEN!!! This salutation flows from our devotionals for today and from Harvest Prayer's blog. Did you catch the God thing in their blog? Last night at our Chosen gathering we saw the reenactment of Jesus getting the colt of a donkey for His triumphal entry and today's harvest blog uses that same Scripture to lead us in praise and prayer. What's God saying to you as you encounter their prayer starters? He's speaking to you and informing your prayers and praise! Pretty cool! I have been so blessed to be part of these Chosen gatherings and for how God uses me. The Holy Spirit is evident in me as He brings to mind and recalls Scriptures and God's teachings to answer the many questions and teach about each episode. I am humbled how God uses me! Thanks Lord! He can do the same for you as you store up Scripture in your hearts and the Holy Spirit brings them to mind as you answer other's questions and arguments. Thanks Lord! Come! teach us! Use us! Fill us to overflowing with You Love and Word. Thanks! Amen.
The rest of our devos flow together to speak to us about our hearts of gratitude and trust for who God is and all he has planned! he loves you and is leading you to His perfect plans and your purposes. Build those gratitude lists! offer your hearts, trust and much praise and thanksgiving to God today. He is so worthy! I gotta fly. May God bless you and speak to your hearts and fill them with gratitude and direct our steps. Shalom, shalom!
Harvest:
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November 21 - Trustworthy Vessels
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“Go to the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here soon’” (Mark 11:2-3).
Jesus possessed accurate foreknowledge. Because He knew His disciples would follow His instructions, His disciples experienced “God adventures.”
When we follow Jesus’ instructions, we won’t stumble. In fact, receiving His instruction and acting on it will create testimonial “God adventures.” Let us live as God’s trustworthy vessels knowing that the Lord’s leadings will prove accurate.
Lord, I repent for every time I’ve ignored and disregarded Your specific instructions. I repent for every time I didn’t trust Your leadings. I repent for every time I partially followed You instead of following through on exactly what You indicated. I repent for any way in me that leaves me untrustworthy. I want to know Your will and implement it in any given situation.
Whatever the past, I declare I will be trustworthy. You can trust me, and I’m willing to prove it to You. Give me little things and let’s build trust. I want to receive Your accurate leadings.
I thank You that You will build me into a trustworthy vessel, that You can trust me with even more than transportation logistics (i.e., the donkey). I thank You for Your desire to trust me.
I praise You that You’re trustworthy. I praise You that You know the beginning from the end. I praise You that Your will, will be done on this earth. I praise You for the call You placed on my life. I praise You that it’s Your desire for me to complete the purposes and plans You designed for me before I filled my mother’s womb. I praise You for following through and “sealing deals.” You’re thrilling! I love You!
--Adapted from Praying What Jesus Says by Natasha Miller. 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, the one who is your “light” and your “salvation” (Ps. 27:1).
- Thank him for shining his saving light in your darkness.
- Confess times when you’ve preferred to live in the darkness of sinful actions and habits rather than in the light of Jesus.
- Commit yourself anew to living in his light.
- Ask God to surround you every day this week with his light and salvation.
- Pray for Christian ministries which bring healing light into some of our society’s darkest corners. Pray for those who work with the homeless, with substance abusers, with the poor, with persons in mental institutions, and others. Ask that the love of Jesus will soothe every hurting heart.
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Joyce Meyer
Sarah Young
Charles Stanley
The Word for You Today
The Upper Room: Our Advocate
The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words. - Romans 8:26 (NRSVUE)
When I was a child, my home environment was filled with violence. I felt completely insignificant. When I was only seven or eight years old, I was depressed and harbored dark thoughts bordering on suicide.
As I grew into a teenager, my childhood continued to haunt me, and I experienced lingering thoughts that I did not deserve to live. Then I learned about Jesus, a man who experienced great suffering at the hands of his peers and was crucified. I marveled at the great injustice he had suffered. I prayed earnestly, asking Jesus to take away my problems. But Jesus Christ taught me instead to forgive my aggressors. Eventually, I came to understand that they treated me the way they did because they could not give me what they did not have.
Even though my parents abandoned me, the Lord welcomed me lovingly with open arms. I learned that I cannot change people, but the Holy Spirit can. My advocate, the Holy Spirit, awakened in me the desire to commit to a new future and the belief that I could choose a new life in Christ. Thanks be to God!
Today's Prayer
Even before we cry out to you, great God of mercy, you already know our needs. Help us to accept ourselves as beloved children created in your image. Amen.
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