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Saturday, March 15 2025
Good Morning Friends of God! God loves you, delights in you, just as you are, and sings over you! Delight in Him this morning. Dwell in His love and soak it in to sustain you and direct you. Live and love like Jesus!
Pray through the Connections blog below. Then meditate on the devos below that as you dwell and delight in the Lord this morning. Worship and receive His love, heart and wisdom to go do what he has planned for, you. Pray for revival for His people, His Church and this nation and our leaders. Father! We delight in You! Thank You for Your love song over us! Fill us to overflowing with Your Love, wisdom and the want to to go live and love like Jesus today. Revive us and this nation. may You Kingdom come and will be done as we hallow Your Holy Name. Amen!
Yesterday our guest dog climbed up my leg begging for love. May we do the same with our loving Abba as we seek to dwell in His love!
Connection Blogs:
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March 15 - Father, Send Revival!
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Lord, change my heart; give me a surrendered heart, a hungry heart to know You. Show me excuses I make for not serving You and not being faithful to Your church. Show me the idols I have allowed and hidden in my heart. By faith, let me remove them. Father, teach me to seek You and obey Your Word.
Lord, I praise You for Your faithfulness, Your mercy, and Your protection and provision. Let me not be overwhelmed by the great numbers that oppose me. You are my God. Just as You did with Asa, let opposition drive me to seek You. Father, You are my refuge. Teach me to trust and rest in You as I cry out to You and obey You.
Lord, I praise You for Your Word and ask You to continue speaking to me. When Your Word comes to me through a human agent, let me receive it. I praise You. Let Your Spirit move on me. Teach me to abide in You always.
Show me anything You have told me in the past that I have failed to do. Lord, narrow the focus of my life, so that I magnify You. Give me courage to deal with idols and high places that I have tolerated but never removed. Let me restore Your altar in my life. I want to live in covenant with You. Teach me to seek You deliberately with all my heart and soul. Show me any area where my heart is divided. I want to obey You. I want to glorify You. Let my soul long after You. Father, send revival among Your people. In Jesus’ name, amen.
--Adapted from Praying with Fire: Seeking His Presence through the Revival Passages of Scripture by Mark Partin. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Read Psalm 139 and praise the all-knowing one who perfectly knows you in every action, thought, and word (139:1, 4).
- Thank God for the comforting knowledge that he is with you wherever you go (139:5-6).
- Confess any attempt to flee his all-knowing presence (139:7-12).
- Commit yourself to learning more about these wonderful human bodies he has made (139:13-16).
- Ask him to give you a love for knowing his thoughts (139:17-18), an informed hatred for those he hates (139:19-22), and an “open-book” relationship with him (139:23-24).
- Pray that your nation will repent of willful ignorance of God’s thoughts and ways. Ask that the beauty and purpose of human life be accepted and promoted (139:12-16).
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com |
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UR: A Lesson in Serving
“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.” - Matthew 25:40 (NRSVUE)
After a rough day at work, I stopped at the store. I got what I needed and chose the shortest check-out line. The man in front of me had a basket of groceries. I knew that he must have used food stamps to cover part of the cost because he told the cashier he should only have to pay for his can of soda. The cashier scrolled through the list, taking what seemed like forever. I just wanted to check out and go home.
Finally the cashier found that his food stamps could not be used to pay for his strawberries. The man asked her to check again. At this point, I thought, How much longer will this take? Then the man behind me said, “Give him his strawberries. I’ll cover it all.” The man with the food stamps told him, “Thank you. I just became homeless last night.”
I was ashamed of myself for my selfish thoughts and lack of action. Why had I not been like the man behind me and offered to cover this man’s purchase? This experience reminded me that we are to have compassion and humility, always moving to serve others as Christ commands. God will always provide us opportunities to serve. We need only to turn our thoughts from ourselves to the person in front of us.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, show us opportunities to serve you and those you place before us with compassion, humility, and a giving heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
ODB:
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Our home has a well-stocked, overflowing bookshelf. I have a weakness for beautiful books, especially nice hardcovers, and over the years more and more have been added to the collection. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the time and energy to actually read nearly as many of the volumes as I’ve collected. They remain pristine, beautiful, and—sadly—unread.
There’s a danger that our Bibles can become a bit like that. Essayist John Updike, speaking of the American classic Walden, commented that it risked being as “revered and unread as the Bible.” The difficulty of understanding ancient Scriptures written in different cultures than our own can tempt us to leave our Bibles on the shelf—beautiful, beloved, but unread.
It doesn’t have to be that way. As the psalmist does in Psalm 119, we can turn to God, asking Him to “open [our] eyes” to see Scripture’s riches (v. 18). We can find trustworthy teachers to help us “understand what [we’re] reading” (Acts 8:30). And believers have Christ’s Spirit to guide our hearts to see how it all points to Him (Luke 24:27; John 14:26).
Through Scripture, God can give us strength in times of sorrow (Psalm 119:28), protect us from deception (v. 29), and broaden our understanding of how to joyfully live (vv. 32, 35). The Bible is a priceless gift. May it be both revered and read.
By Monica La Rose
REFLECT & PRAY
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What resources help you understand the Bible? How has God used Scripture to shape your life?
Gracious God, please open my eyes to Your goodness as I read the gift of Scripture.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The main theme of Psalm 119 is celebration of the law—the instruction of God—called the Torah. The longest psalm, it’s developed as an acrostic with twenty-two sections—each beginning with succeeding letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This structure was no doubt intended in part as a memory device to aid in the memorization of these important ideas. Each of those sections contains eight verses. It could be said that Psalm 119 is part of a trilogy of psalms that celebrate Torah (see also Psalms 1 and 19). The psalm is anonymous and lacks a superscription, but verse 1 gives a clear idea of the point of the song: “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.”
Bill Crowder |
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UR:
Saturday, March 15 2025
Sarah Update below
Good Morning Faithful Traveling with Jesus and Each Other Friends of God! Oh yes! PTL! What an awesome God we serve and what an amazing flock of friends and fellow travelers he has gathered us with! PTL! Rejoice! Keep seeking, gathering, worshiping, processing and working at living and loving more like Jesus! He sure is amazing and truly loves us and is loving through us as well! PTL! Start with some praise this morning and keep praying into your day and what God has for you with much expectation and thanksgiving. Thanks Lord! Come! Fill us! Encourage us! Lead us! Love through us today! Amen!
God sure has been kind to me this week and has been encouraging me, affirming me and our ministries, and even given my joy in some storms. Don't you just love our mighty God? WORSHIP FLOWS FORM THIS WEEK FOR ME! Spend some time with open Bibles and devos and worship, receive and prepare for this day and god's great plans for you! He has blessed us with several expressions of church and opportunities to serve and worship. He has gathered an bunch of sold out, gifted servants as part of our Body. we are learning to allow God to grow us, mold us and love through us more and more and he is blessing us abundantly! Rejoice! And keep praying! I can assure you that God is leading us to revival and refreshing as we abide, trust and obey. he has given us great joy as we don his easy yoke and allow Him to shape us for all He created us to do. We are growing more and more into His image! Keep turning off the noise, stay focused on Him and allow Him o lead you today. he really does have some great things in store! Watch for them and join Him! I'm praying for you! Shalom and Joy!
Sarah Update:
Good evening, church family,
Haven't the last couple of days been great. Loved those temperatures in the high 60's/early 70's yesterday!!
Here are a few new prayer requests and a reminder from Sunday's worship service, of the prayer requests that were shared.
Lisa Wenner - asked for prayer for Todd Becker - he had a reaction to a new medication and remains in the hospital.
But is feeling better. Tomorrow/today, (depending when you are reading this) Todd will be having an aneurysm removal surgery. Please pray that all goes well.
Chris Muik - will be having his second surgery on Friday! Prayers for all to go well and for healing. Chris and Yvonne are very grateful for you and all your prayers and support.
Josie C asking for prayer for her dear friend, Dottie, who has had surgery and while in the hospital caught pneumonia. She is currently in rehab and doing better, but really hopes to be going home soon to her own home.
Darlene Geiger's sister, Sandy is not tolerating her radiation treatments well. Prayers for perseverance and strength.
Mary Rehm's sister, Pat is dealing with heal issues.....prayers for healing and strengthening
Marshall Rehm's friend, Bob - has been diagnosed with cancer. He was given 6 months to live. Please keep
him and his family in your prayers during this difficult time.
Dean Marks is asking for prayer for his friend, Larry. We have been praying for him, as he has cancer. His treatments are working and showing signs of improvement.
Larry and Enol Paul and the family say hi to all!! They are doing good.
Sarah and Neen are asking for prayer for a young woman who is going through some difficult health issues currently.
She may be receiving some difficult news from her physician, please keep her and her family in your prayers. Her name is Abey.
Today was another day of great ministry at St Matthew's......many attended our Bread Ministry - Coffee. Donuts, Conversation day. (See Pictures on our Facebook page) And tonight (Wednesday night) another great evening of gathering around the table with a good meal and study. 30+ in attendance !
Praising God for what He is doing with the help of our church family!
That is all I have for now.....keep looking for and being open to God's lead in how you can help Him accomplish His
Mission all around you!
Choose JOY,
Sarah
Saturday, March 15 2025
Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! Keep building those gratitude lists!
Good Morning Forgiven, Thankful, Children of God! What a joy those three titles bring to us as we step into and operate from our true identity in Christ! I wrote a blog earlier and accidently deleted it right before hitting the send button. Fridays are typically my day off since I work Sundays. I was frustrated and decided to take a nap. Naps are lovely and mine are filled with prayer and praise often. They refocus and refresh. We try to follow the example of Jesus who napped, prayed and reloaded from the Father before moving into His daily routine refreshed and informed. May we do that also and operate more fully from our true identity, not for others expectations but for our Fathers and just as we are in Christ. Amen!
I'm not going to recount my whole blog. I never can when this happens because I invite God to write it as I move from my quiet time with Him. What I remember is the encouragement from something I read, maybe a devo that included the Eph. 2:10 passage I often use to remind us of our true identities and purposes. We are God's Masterpieces made new in Christ t do all He planned for us from long ago. PTL and Amen! It sure encourages me when others speak into what God has been leading me to say and do! So start today with centering your spirit and mind by praising and praying through the song linked below. Then ask God to open his Word to you and meditate on Eph. 2:1-10. What's He saying to you? Who needs to hear that? Who might you process that with or invite along today? Then pray through the Connections blog and worship before you step into this day. You are unique and you matter. Ask God to lead you to your custom purposes today and this weekend. I'm praying for you and now heading to my day off refreshed and ready. Shalom! (I found the Eph. passage in ODB and added that too--God is speaking! Be still and know. Then prepare and go!)
Amazing Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwjTT2bqKk0
Eph. 2:1-10 Made Alive with Christ
2 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
ODB:
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At first, I ignored the card fluttering to the ground. The father and his little girl who dropped it were just twenty feet away, and I was late for work. Surely they would have realized it, I told myself. But they kept walking. My conscience got the better of me, and I went over to pick it up. It was a prepaid bus ride pass. When I gave it to them, their effusive thanks left me feeling unexpectedly satisfied. Why do I feel so good about doing such a small thing? I wondered.
It turns out that the human body produces chemicals that improve our mood when we’re kind to others. We’re made to feel good when we do good! That’s not surprising, because we were created by a good God who made us to be like Him.
Ephesians 2:10 shows us that blessing others is a part of our very purpose: “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” This verse doesn’t simply give an instruction to do good; in a way, it also reflects a part of our God-made nature. We don’t have to be doing great things all the time. If we do something small to help others in our daily lives, we not only get the reward of satisfaction, but we also know that we’re pleasing God—doing exactly what He made us to do.
By Leslie Koh
REFLECT & PRAY
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Who needs a helping hand or an encouraging word? What kind word or simple gesture can you extend to a friend, colleague, or neighbor?
Dear Father, please open my eyes to see how I can be kind to someone today.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The creation account in Genesis says that “God created mankind in his own image” (1:27). Ephesians 2:10 also declares that “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Jesus set the example for us during His earthly ministry by doing “many good works from the Father” (John 10:32). Peter elaborates and says: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, . . . he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him” (Acts 10:38). As believers in Christ, the Spirit will provide the opportunities and empowerment to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and do good works. The fruit of the Spirit’s work in us is “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Alyson Kieda |
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Connections Blog:
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March 14 - O Lord, You Are My Strength
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Before you begin, sit quietly before the Lord. Ask to be given a “willing spirit”—willing to repent, to change, to listen, to obey.
Father, thank You for the promise of Your Word that those who hope in You will renew their strength. You alone are the source of all strength, for You are the ruler of all things and in Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to me. Strengthen me to stand firm, to stand for righteousness, to stand for Your kingdom! Like Daniel, may my life be characterized by integrity and “above-reproach conduct.” Even in the midst of injustice, may I be one who turns to You in worship and thanksgiving. May I always run toward You and not grow weary.
Empower me, I pray, to walk and not faint. Help me to not fear or be dismayed, regardless of the situations that I am in, or the condition of the world around me—for You are God and You hold all things together. Hold me together, I pray! Strengthen me and help me—uphold me with Your righteous right hand and with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart in all of His fullness—in all His fullness! Have mercy on me, Father and help me to lean on You and find my strength in You alone for my spirit is willing but my flesh is so weak and I confess to You, Lord: the weakness of my faith and flesh . . . O Lord, have mercy!
The undisciplined use of my mind . . . Renew and strengthen my mind by Your Word! The sin that I yet hold on to . . . Wash me and cleanse me. The timid ways in which I still live . . . I turn from a spirit of fear and trust in Your name!
Increase my faith. Destroy doubt and unbelief in my heart and mind and empower me to live boldly. May the sphere of influence in which You’ve planted me resonate with the praise of Your name and the imprint of Jesus be left on all that I touch. For Your name and Your renown are the desire of my heart. In Jesus’ powerful name I pray. Amen.
Isaiah 40:31; 1 Chronicles 29:12; Isaiah 41:10; Daniel 6; Isaiah 40:31; Isaiah 41:10; Colossians 1:17; Ephesians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Matthew 26:41; Romans 12:29; Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 26:8
--Adapted from Pray the Word: 31 Prayers that Touch the Heart of God by Tiece L. King. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Read Psalm 24 and praise God as the King of glory, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, the Lord almighty!
- Give thanks for God’s power poured into your life and ministries.
- Confess any attempts to live and minister by your power instead of the power of the Spirit.
- Commit yourself to being a channel of his powerful love.
- Ask God to give you clean hands, a pure heart, integrity of soul and honest speech (24:4), so his power can flow through you unhindered.
- Pray that God will bring a powerful revival to your nation. Ask him to bring his almighty, King-of-glory presence into your neighborhood through your own example and words.
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com |
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Saturday, March 15 2025
Happy Donut Day! Join us 10-12 at the Bread Ministry today, eat some donuts and hang out and fellowship and maybe even pray with those God is sending our way. All are welcome!
Tonight 6-7:30 is dinner huddle and a Tim Tebow teaching. All are welcome! Bring a friend.
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Good Morning Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Gifted Followers of Christ! Amen! What an awesome night last evening as wee gathered to discuss and learn about our gifts and how they are custom tailored for who we are created to be in Christ. God does have some great things for all of us to discover and step into and He has gifted us for success as we learn who we are in Christ and how to do those custom made things He has for us. PTL!
Yesterday's Zoom Huddle discussed God's Word, our Bibles, and how to use them to pray, seek God and apply His teachings to our lives. We are more than hearers and are becoming doers of His Word. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. It sure was an active day of study and God encounters! Thanks Lord!
The Upper Room and Our Daily Bread (below) speak into some aspects of allowing God to use us to be His hands and feet and to do our parts in His Good News Delivery Co. Prayerfully engage with God through them and His Word. Ask Him to speak to your heart and guide your feet as you open His Word and abide in his love before entering this day fired up and ready for all He has for you. he does have some great things for you! rejoice! Seek and follow well today! I'm praying for you! Shalom! May we love as we have been loved! Amen. Really pray through and meditate on the connection blog at the end. It is our mandate! Live and love as Jesus loved us and like Him! Go! make disciples and do so with some friends! Amen
UR: Holy Tears (Have you ever sowed in tearful prayers? God hears your heart and collects your tears!)
Whatever you do, do it from the heart for the Lord and not for people. - Colossians 3:23 (CEB)
Due to our lead pastor’s absence one Sunday, the associate pastor asked several lay members to help with various roles during the worship service. I was asked to lead the congregational prayer time. Prayer is such an intimate and often emotional experience for me that I sometimes have difficulty holding back tears during prayer. Even so, I agreed.
At the appointed time, I stepped boldly to the podium, feeling confident I could keep my composure. I had uttered only a few words of humble praise, however, when my voice trembled and my chin quivered. Sure enough, tears escaped from my closed eyelids, and the tears flowed harder the more I prayed. Somehow I managed to finish with the Lord’s Prayer and make it back to my pew, but I felt remorseful and embarrassed by my public display.
Then I remembered that God doesn’t demand a performance from me. God wants me to serve with my whole heart.
Emotions are real and God-given, and tears can be a kind of holy water. Our Creator made me with a tender heart. It doesn’t matter what others think or say about my prayerful tears. Perhaps that day wasn’t my shining moment, but it was God’s.
Today's Prayer
Almighty God, we are thankful that we have constant access to you through the power of prayer. Amen.
ODB:
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Late one night, a Kenyan elephant sanctuary received a call that an elephant calf had fallen into a well. The rescue team arrived to cries of despair flooding the darkness and discovered that two-thirds of the baby’s trunk had been lost to hyenas. Transporting the calf to their safe haven, they named him Long’uro, which means “something that has been cut.” Though he possessed only one-third of his trunk, Long’uro healed and was embraced by the rest of the herd at the sanctuary. Elephants innately know they need each other, so they help each other.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul underscores our need to help each other within the body of Christ. He uses the metaphor of the human body and its individual parts to describe how God intends His people to welcome all gifts in all people because all are needed for His body to function (vv. 12-26). Then Paul explains how unity in diversity is accomplished. “God has put the body together,” he wrote, “giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other” (vv. 24-25).
Whether weak or strong, fancy or common, let’s help each other. Like the elephants, people need each other too.
By Elisa Morgan
REFLECT & PRAY
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When have you received help from the family of God? What will you do to help other believers today?
Dear God, please help me to understand the vital value of each member in the body of Christ and show me how to both receive and give help so that together we’re stronger.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The concept of unity that Paul highlights in 1 Corinthians 12 depends on two things. The first is its diversity. Each part of the body has a different function, yet every part is vital. Paul wrote to a society steeped in slavery, and the church brought together groups of people unaccustomed to equality with each other—slave and free, Jew and gentile (v. 13). How could such a diverse body experience unity? Because of God’s Holy Spirit, who unites us in one purpose. This kind of unity was unique in the world. Paul tells us, “We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body . . . and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (v. 13). Whether great or small, each member is important for the body to perform properly. As Paul said, “God has put the body together” (v. 24). Many members. One body. One Spirit.
Tim Gustafson |
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Harvest Connection blog:
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March 12 - By This All Men May Know
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A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34–35)
This passage, along with the Great Commission, was part of Jesus’ parting instructions to His followers. It was the essence of what He came to teach. It is similar to the second part of the greatest commandment—that we love our neighbor as ourselves. God is love, and His disciples are to be so known for their love for one another that this has been called the badge of Christians.
People living outside the church see that love and they are drawn to Jesus. They want to get in on it. When we love, we let our light so shine before men that they see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:18).
Do you want to know how we are to love one another? Like Jesus loves us. Paul wrote, “Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). And in Colossians 3:12–14, he wrote, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” There can be no greater love. I think the phrase “bear with one another” is important. When someone hurts us or offends, we are not to try to get even. We are to bear it in love. That’s what Christ would do. And we are to forgive, as Christ has forgiven us.
There is a fellowship in the church that is like no other. We love to be together, for when we are together, Christ is in our midst. The fellowship is a precious experience, especially when we pray together, for Christ always lives to make intercession for us (see Hebrews 7:25). I feel He is right there among us praying with us and loving us. That fellowship, love, and acceptance is the promise that comes from following this command.
One of the members of our Four Flats Quartet (which became Barbershop Harmony Champions of the Pacific Northwest), became a student at our Christian college right out of World War II, not because he wanted to be a Christian, but because he wanted to be with a girl who was attending there. For a long time he resisted the Christian gospel. When we sang in churches and an altar call was given, he said his knuckles got white because he was hanging on so tightly to the seat in front of him. One day, during spiritual emphasis week, I gave him a list of all the reasons I thought he should give his heart to Christ and asked him to turn the paper over and list the reasons he should not accept Christ. He fumbled with the paper for a while, then he said, “I guess there aren’t any.”
That night he practically dove to the altar and gave his heart to Jesus and later became an effective preacher of the gospel. I believe that was a situation where we virtually loved him to Christ. He couldn’t resist the love he saw in the believers on campus.
Lord, this command to love one another has to be so close to Your heart since it so closely reflects Your own nature and practice. Help me to love as You love. Pour Your love into my heart through Your Holy Spirit. Forgive me when I make excuses for not loving someone. Break through hard hearts that have resisted Your love, even as they have proclaimed Your name. Lord, please make the congregation I am a part of to become known as Your followers because of the depth of the love we have for one another.
--Adapted from Encountering Jesus: Praying the Commands of Christ into Your Life by Norval Hadley. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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Saturday, March 15 2025
Good Morning Very Loved, Walking By Faith, Co-Laborers! What a joy to learn, grow and serve with you all! God is at work, using us, and leading us to His new things! PTL! Seek Him about that and your purposes and roles. Maybe process that with a friend or Sarah or me. God has some great custom made things for you to discover and grow into! And that works best in teams! Please pray for those of us starting spiritual gifts trainings tonight. God is leading us deeper and will unite us in His plans and purposes as we learn how to grow into the people we are created and gifted to be.
Pray for our Donut Day and Bread ministry tomorrow and our Wed evening dinner huddle and today's Zoom huddle. Any and all are welcome to any of our gatherings. Bring a friend!
Check out my devos below. God was sure speaking to me. I'm praying He does to you as well. He really loves you! Sometimes He stretches you to grow you and test your faith. He is always doing some new things and He has some ahead for you and us. May we continue to abide in His love, seek his wisdom and direction and earnestly pursue His best for us and for those He is sending our way. May we live and love more and more like Jesus and learn to walk in his ways better! Amen! He really does love you beyond measure! ALWAYS! How might you show your love to Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength today?
ODB:
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When Abigail’s parents died tragically in a car accident, she inherited a large real estate portfolio. She also learned that her parents had arranged to place the portfolio in a trust. For the time being, she could access only enough money for her college tuition. The rest would come when she was older. Abigail was frustrated, but she later realized her parents’ wisdom in planning a measured delivery of the inheritance.
In Galatians 4, Paul uses a similar example to illustrate Israel’s situation as promised heirs of God’s covenant with Abraham. God had made a covenant with Abraham to bless him, and circumcision was a sign of that promise (see Genesis 17:1-14). However, the sign wasn’t the promise. Abraham’s descendants would await a future descendant who would fulfill it. Isaac was born and pointed to the future birth of a Son who would redeem God’s people (Galatians 4:4-5).
Israel, like Abigail, had to wait until the “time set by his father” (v. 2). Only then could Israel take full possession of the inheritance. What they wanted immediately would arrive in due time with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. All who put their faith in Christ were no longer slaves to sin, “but God’s child” (v. 7). A new covenant has been established. We have access to God! We can call him “Abba, Father” (v. 6).
By Matt Lucas
REFLECT & PRAY
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If you profess Jesus as Savior, how are you no longer a slave to sin but a child of God? What does it mean to know Him as Father?
Loving Father, thank You for sending Your Son to address the sin problem of the world.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Huiothesia is used only five times in the New Testament (and only by Paul). This word, translated as “adoption to sonship” in Galatians 4:5, is packed with meaning. Huiothesia is a compound Greek word from huios (“son”) and thesia (“placing”). Adoption took place when a child (almost exclusively males in the ancient world) was placed in a family that lacked a suitable heir. With adoption came privileges, rights, and responsibilities of family membership. Paul used the term adoption, but the concept of family membership is also present in John’s writing: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! . . . Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:1-2).
Arthur Jackson |
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UR: Love Never Fails
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. - 1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)
One day I was feeling lonely and discouraged. I was struggling with unemployment and felt as if no one cared about me. I decided to go for a walk to clear my mind, and I noticed a beautiful flower by the side of the road. It was bright yellow with delicate petals and looked like a ray of sunshine amid the gray day. I felt a surge of joy and gratitude as I admired it. God had sent me this sign, reminding me of God’s love and presence. God had not forgotten or abandoned me.
I thought of 1 Corinthians 13, which describes God’s love. It is patient and kind. It does not remember the bad things we do. It never fails. This reminder comforted and encouraged me. I decided to trust God more and share God’s love with others.
I picked the flower and gave it to a passing stranger. She smiled and thanked me. I felt a connection with her and with God. God loves us with an everlasting love that never fails.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, thank you for your unfailing love. Help us to recognize the signs of your love that surround us each day and to share them with others. Amen.
Sarah Young:
Chuck Swindoll
Joyce Meyer
Saturday, March 15 2025
THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT! AMEN! Yes praise the Lord as you begin your quiet time! I heard some great comments on the last praise song from yesterday: Never Walk Alone. Here's a link to help start and focus you to abide in God's loving presence this morning Never Walk Alone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlBKx8hlFp4
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Good Morning Walking with God Christ's Ones--Followers of the Way! He is with us always! PTL! Because of our fear (reverence/awe) for God We constantly seek Him, abide in Him, worship Him and obey Him. Yesterday day we wrapped up the first half of our study of the book of Acts. We then applied what we learned from the early church and apostles and disciples of Jesus--followers of the Way--to our journey to grow as a dynamic movement of God and as His Body. It was sort of a state of the union message from God of what was, what is and what will be as we walk in awe, worship, grow in trust and obedience and learn to earnestly pursue Him and then allow Him to live and love through us. He does have great plans for you and us and we are continuing our journey to discover and step into those plans as we seek to honor and glorify our God. We are custom made and gifted for such a time as this! PTL! May we allow Him to fill us and lead us to his best and perfect plans--earnestly! Amen! Remember: In this life Christ is all that matters and he lives in us and wants to live and love through us and grow us into His image! Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Will you cooperate with His Spirit?
This morning as I was wrapping up my quiet time, as I usually do, I spend some time praying and listening as I engage with God through the Connections/Harvest Prayer blogs. Man, God sure was speaking and tying up His message to us from yesterday! Please start there this morning and abide in awe of our Most High God, our Creator, Savior, Lord and Shepherd. What's He saying to you this morning and what will you do about it? May we earnestly seek, abide, refresh and reload before we step out in faith as we follow Him to his perfect plans for the day and week ahead. He loves you and custom made you for such a time as this! PTL! He has some teammates for you to seek, discover and journey with. He has a custom fitted yoke just for you. Put it on and walk with Him today and always! Amen! I'm praying for you and for Him to lead us to His best and perfect plans as we rebuild the walls, stand firm in Christ and change the world around us. COME Lord! Lead us! Amen!
I attached my other devos below for you to continue your time abiding in God's loving presence. he wants to refresh and lead you today. he does have great plans for you created in love! You matter to Him and His Church! Don't lean on your own understanding. How can we even begin to fathom the unfathomable God? Seek Him earnestly and acknowledge Him in all your ways and He WILL direct your and our steps! Amen! It's time to soar!
Connections Blogs:
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Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you” (2 Chronicles 14:11).
The one fear that delivers humans from all other fears is the fear of God. When this fear is rightly understood and lived by, we need not fear anything else. Every day we must choose between the fear of humans and the fear of God. The fear of God comes to us at the moment of salvation. Just as we receive the Spirit of God, God places in us His fear (Jeremiah 32:39). When we fear God, it shows in how we live. To fear God means to cherish an awesome sense of His greatness, His grandeur, and His excellence. We act on what we have in our hearts.
One of the greatest gifts we can leave our children, and the next generation, is a godly testimony of faith in Christ, as evidenced by how we fear God. If we have had a foundation of faith laid for us, praise God. If we have not had this, we still must press on in Christ Jesus. We are accountable to seek God and honor Him with all our being.
Asa was a king who had a mixed heritage. His great-granddad was King David, the man after God’s own heart. His granddad was King Solomon, a man compromised with lust. His father was King Abijah, who was idolatrous. Even though they all served God with their mouths, it was their actions that proved their faith or their faithlessness and whether they truly feared the Lord.
In the midst a crisis, against innumerable odds, Asa and all of Judah sought after and cried out to God, and they were victorious. The “fear of the Lord came upon them; and they plundered all” (2 Chronicles 14:14). The fear of the Lord is one of the enablements of God for us to face the enemy and overcome. In a lost person, the fear of the Lord is consuming dread of God. When Asa and his armies attacked the cities around Gerar, the fear of the Lord, a dread, came on all those pagan villages.
They were literally afraid of Jehovah God, and with good reason. But for Asa and Judah, the people of God, the fear of the Lord was not a dread, but a reverential awe of God. They cherished that sense of the greatness and grandeur of God. When we have the fear of God in our lives, we reverence, respect, and honor God. We will seek God.
Such fear of God means we know the character of God. He is God, sovereign, holy, great, and awesome. We understand our obligation to God: to love Him, obey Him, and trust Him. Finally, as we fear God, we gain a pervasive sense of the presence of God. This sense of God’s presence has a controlling effect on a person because we know He is with us.
Asa served God when God’s people were under attack by the world (2 Chronicles 14:9). It is no different today. What are we to do? We are to do the same thing that Asa did. We cry out to God, asking Him for help. He is Jehovah Ezer (Psalm 33:20), the Lord our Helper. Then we are to recount the greatness, faithfulness, and power of God in our past.
He saved you and sustains you. He has provided for you and He has protected you, even when you were unaware of it. God often tests His children for the purpose of building their faith in Him. The test is never meant to make us rely on our flesh, friends, or family. We are tested so that our faith in God increases. We are tested to show if we will seek the Lord or forsake Him. We are tested so the fear of God can be displayed in our lives. When the other nations heard of the power of God and the victory He gave Asa, they feared God also (14:14). This fear was a terror because our God is an awesome God.
Lord Most High, for revival to come, I need to seek You. I praise You for the seasons of rest You give. Let me not waste them or use them for selfish reasons, but allow me the sense to use them for times of kingdom building and preparation for further service, just as Asa did (2 Chronicles 14:1). Father, will You manifest Your fear in my life? It has been there since salvation, but allow it to be seen and recognized by those around me. Grow Your fear in me to completion (v. 14).
--Adapted from Praying with Fire: Seeking His Presence through the Revival Passages of Scripture by Mark Partin. 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 being a welcoming Father.
- Thank him for preparing an eternal home for all who believe (Jn. 14:2).
- Confess any unwillingness to show Christian hospitality to others (1 Pet. 4:9).
- Commit yourself to the practice of hospitality (Rom. 12:13).
- Ask God to help you separate Christian hospitality from self-absorbed “entertaining.”
- Pray that the members of your congregation will excel in showing mutual care and intentional acts of love toward each other and to outsiders. Ask God to move your church out of its “comfort zone” when it comes to showing hospitality.
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com |
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Sarah Young:
TWFYT:
UR: Like An Eagle
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
A cacophony of crows drew my eyes heavenward. A dozen or more were flying above a bald eagle, taking turns diving at the eagle’s head. It made me think about the pressures of ministry that were barraging me. When I had to dismiss a volunteer, my decision caused a ripple of dissent within the ministry. Friends were calling me to offer their advice. But I felt harassed and weary.
Above my head, the eagle appeared not to notice the annoying crows. Its speed and altitude never changed when the crows swooped within inches of its head. The eagle continued to fly a straight course. I wanted to be like that eagle, to remain swift and unfazed. I was reminded of today’s quoted scripture: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.” I closed my eyes to sit in God’s presence, and God assured me that I had done the right thing. When I opened my eyes a few minutes later, I felt confident and able to face any challenge.
Spending time in God’s presence renews our strength when we feel harassed or weary. With God’s help, we can move forward with speed and endurance like an eagle.
Today's Prayer
Thank you, Father, for the peace of your presence. You give us the strength and hope to rise above any struggle. Amen.
ODB:
Working Together for Jesus
We rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. Nehemiah 4:6
READ Nehemiah 4:1-9
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During a trip to Brazil with a short-term missions team, we helped construct a church building in the Amazon jungle. On the foundation, already laid, we assembled the various parts of the church like a giant LEGO set: supporting columns, concrete walls, windows, steel beams for the roof, and tiles on the roof. Then we painted the walls.
Some people were concerned because they wondered if we could build the church in time during monsoon season. But by God’s grace, the intense rain held off. With help from a few locals and despite various obstacles, we got the job done in record time.
When Nehemiah and the Israelites returned from exile to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, they faced many obstacles. When their enemies found out what they were doing, they were furious and insulted them (Nehemiah 4:1-3). But Nehemiah prayed and the people persevered together: “We rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart” (v. 6). When their foes threatened to attack, the Israelites prayed and kept guard as they worked (vv. 7-23). They rebuilt the wall in fifty-two days.
Sometimes we’re faced with a daunting task. Obstacles appear in our way, and we and our brothers and sisters in Christ can lose hope. But times like this can be a triumphant moment with God’s help. Trust Him to hold off the rainstorms and look to Him to overcome.
By Nancy Gavilanes
REFLECT & PRAY
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Why is it hard to live in unity? How can you work together with others?
Dear God, please help me to seek unity with other believers in Jesus.
For further study, read Missing the Mission: Disciples in an Age of Abundance.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Nehemiah is a gripping account of inspiring leadership during intense opposition. The Bible introduces us to other heroic figures during this time of exile and restoration. Daniel was betrayed by rival advisors but survived a den of lions (Daniel 6). His three Jewish friends were also betrayed yet endured a burning furnace (3:8-25). Esther stood up to a genocide planned by Haman, “the most powerful official in the empire” (Esther 3:1 NLT; see chs. 4-8). In a period when Israel wondered if they’d ever have security in their dispersion or in their homeland, God provided hope. He inspired courageous leaders and supernaturally protected His people by turning the tables on their enemies.
Tim Laniak |
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Saturday, March 15 2025
Did you spring ahead? See you at 10 for worship and the last day of Children's Church study on the Armor of God.
Please let me know today of you can attend the Spiritual Gifts study with dinner at 6 Tues. or noon on Zoom Wed. This study will last about 3-4 weeks.
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Good Morning Growing Like Christ Children of Our Abba! AMEN! May we be about God and His business as we allow Him to transform us into the people we are created to be and doing what we are created to do for such a time as this. That all begins as we still ourselves at His feet, spend time with Him and in His Word and then move out refreshed, prepared and ready to incarnate (bring alive) Christ to those God is sending our way and empowered to do the things He has planned for us each day. He really does love you and has an easy yoke custom fitted for you that leads to His best and perfect plans. Meditate on that and worship. Be still and soak in His love and character. Then go live and love like Jesus. Prepare your hearts to worship today as well. He is worthy of all praise, glory, honor and obedience! Amen!
Below the Harvest blogs are a great place to begin as you still yourself and process things with Abba. There is a flow through my devotionals today (below) that has really spoken to my heart and is a word from God to some of you as well. Turn off the noise. Be still. Seek, listen and receive. He is speaking His love over you and wanting to encourage you and direct your steps for today. What's He revealing to you? Let's process that together or with some friends. And let's pray into those things together.
I wish I was allowed to share pictures of our grandkids. There is one of my granddaughter cuddled on my lap reading a book. It reminded me of how God wants us to sit with Him and engage with Him through His Word. In the picture, you can feel the love of the Father who said, "Let the children come to me." and then He blessed them and sent them on their way. He wants to hold you close, speak to your soul, encourage and train you to go live and love like Jesus. It's His refreshing easy yoke. It's laboring with Him as you put on His character and follow Him to the perfect things He created you to do. Oh Lord, HELP! I want that! Draw us up on Your lap and speak Your love and encouragement over us. May I be as happy to see and spend time with you you as my granddaughter is with me. Lord may I enjoy You and life with You and be about You and Your business. Thank You! Forgive me for being like Martha too often. May I be more like Mary. Abiding in You and Your Word. Recharge me and renew my mind for the day and week. May I come with a spirit of worship today that flows into the week ahead. I need you! Come! Breathe life into me. Fill me to overflowing with Your heart, mind, Spirit, Love and wisdom. May I produce good and lasting fruit as I become more like You while following You daily. May people look at me and see Jesus at work and want that and then help me to lead them to You and make disciples like Jesus. Thank You for the plan You have created me to do. May Your Kingdom come and will be done in, through, and around me for Your glory alone! I need You! Come! Have Your way with me! Amen!
I'm earnestly praying for you! Please pray for me as I pour myself out for Christ, while seeking to honor God's healthy rhythms. Pray I abide and move from His presence to good fruit in the Way of Jesus. He has big plans for me, you and us! PTL! May we earnestly pursue Him and allow Him to lead us to become His dynamic movement of disciple makers. Amen! May we steward well all of God's blessings and cultivate good soil that will produce good and lasting fruit! What's your part? Let's talk about and process that! God is speaking to your heart right now! Listen, receive and then share what you are hearing/sensing. And then go! Live and love like Jesus today!
ODB:
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Several years ago, a study analyzed the link between teenage depression and the amount of sleep teens received each night. After reading the study, a young woman commented on the results: “I never seem to know when to stop—I push myself so hard that I end up making myself sick from lack of sleep and stress.” Then she said she wanted to know what it really meant to manage her time to honor God. What was the difference between busyness and fruitfulness?
Being busy is no guarantee for being productive, faithful, or fruitful. Yet we might think that being busy is what’s most important. In Luke 10:41, Jesus gently reminded Martha that she was “worried and upset about many things” and that her sister Mary’s choice of sitting “at the Lord’s feet” (v. 39)—a posture of discipleship—was the better choice.
In our desire to serve Christ, are we doing too much, thinking that He’ll notice us more if we do more? Colossians 3:17 says, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” However, it doesn’t say to burn ourselves out in His name. In Psalm 46:10, we hear this reminder: “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Let’s take some time to slow down and spend time with Christ rather than focusing solely on our to-do list. Only then can we find true “rest for [our] souls” (Matthew 11:29).
By Brent Hackett
REFLECT & PRAY
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When have you been too busy to be faithful and fruitful? How can you find rest in Jesus to accomplish what He wants you to do?
Dear Jesus, please help me replace busyness with being still so I can know that You’re God and my life can be fruitful.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Luke 10:38-42 isn’t the only place we read of Jesus interacting with Mary and Martha. In John 11, Christ once again found His way to Bethany—but not for dinner. Lazarus was sick, and his sisters sent word to Jesus (vv. 1-3). In Luke, the setting was domestic (10:40); in John, the situation involved distress and death (11:3, 17). However, certain dynamics were present in both situations. In Luke 10:38-40, Martha is distracted with serving. In John 11:20-22, she’s distressed with grief. But in both cases, Christ put things into perspective (Luke 10:41-42; John 11:23-26). As for Mary, in Luke 10, she’s sitting at Jesus’ feet “listening to what he said” (v. 39). In John 11, she’s at His feet again but this time in desperate grief (v. 32). Christ provides the ultimate hope in our grief: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (vv. 25-26).
Arthur Jackson |
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Sarah Young:
UR: Breath of Life
The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. - Ezekiel 36:34 (NIV)
Where I live, the weather can be very humid, but our plants are accustomed to it. On the other hand, the winter season can be very cruel. This year, during a particularly cold season, my plants were devastated. The patio where I keep almost all my plants looked like a wasteland. At a glance, they looked dead. I began to cut the dry twigs and stems, though I wondered if any of this work was worth it. When I came to my favorite plant, I saw what I thought were the tiniest sprouts on the side of each dry stem. Thinking I might be mistaken, I took a closer look. Lo and behold, I could see the miracle of life. The plant was greening — slowly but surely.
I paused to reflect on parallels in my own life. How many times have I walked through a spiritual desert alone, almost lifeless, bereft of hope? Yet, somewhere deep in the innermost part of my heart, the Lord always offers whispers of hope. The ways of the Lord are beyond my understanding, but what I do know is that it is the Lord who infuses new life in me. Where there is life, there is hope. God is the life source — ever-present and working miracles in us and through us.
Today's Prayer
Giver of life, in the desolate seasons of life, surround us with your presence. When it appears that all is lost, renew our hope. Amen.
TWFYT:
Harvest:
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Father God, You who make all things new through the power of the Holy Spirit, renew my mind, I pray! May I not conform to the things of this world, but instead may I be continually transformed by the renewing of my mind with Your Word.
Lord in many ways I have been lazy and undisciplined in regards to the use of my mind. Forgive me, I pray, and renew my mind. I lay before you my use of my computer and technology, my TV and DVD viewing, the things I read . . . (Pause and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.)
I have entertained philosophies of the world that are contrary to Your Word. Lord, forgive me and renew my mind. I lay before you the way that I have rationalized behavior or condoned values of this world. . . (Pause and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.)
I have watered down the truth of Your Word in order to condone my sin. Lord forgive me and renew my mind. I lay before you the excuses that I have made for my thoughts, attitudes, and actions that are contrary to Your Word . . . (Pause and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.)
I have allowed fear and anxious thoughts to overwhelm me. Lord, forgive me and renew my mind and make my heart steadfast. I choose now to cast all of my cares and fears onto You and ask that Your peace be poured out on me . . . (Pause and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.)
Give me, I pray, a fresh hunger to study Your Word, that I might be equipped for every good work. And Father, in a world of watered-down truth, empty philosophies, and hopelessness, empower me by Your Spirit to be prepared to answer everyone who asks me to give the reason for the hope that I have. May Jesus be seen clearly in my daily living. Strengthen my faith, Father, for Your Word says that if I do not stand firm in my faith I will not stand at all. O God, help me to stand. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Romans 12:2; Colossians 2:8; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 2:15; Philippians 4:7-8; 1 Peter 3:15; Isaiah 7:9
--Adapted from Pray the Word: 31 Prayers that Touch the Heart of God by Tiece L. King. 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 being perfectly just in all his works.
- Thank him for loving righteousness and justice (Ps. 33:5).
- Confess any ungodly bias you harbor toward any people.
- Commit yourself to viewing others with a loving, Christlike attitude.
- Ask God to help you value justice more highly in all relationships of life.
- Pray for the uprooting of governments which oppress their citizens and withhold justice from them. Ask that justice will “roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (Amos 5:24) in countries held in the grip of lawlessness.
Prayer Pointer
“He who prays as he ought, will endeavor to live as he prays.” —John Owen
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com |
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Saturday, March 08 2025
Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! Oh my mind can't contain or fathom all that means to me and us! PTL Yes rejoice! And meditate on all facets of your salvation gift and build those gratitude lists! What joy our salvation brings! What hope we now know! PTL!
Good Morning Forgiven, Thankful, Visionary Followers of the Way! Jesus is the Way! He's also the Truth and the Life! Amen! What do those mean to you? Sunday we will discuss what it means to be a Follower of the Way and how what we have learned from our journey with the early church thru 12 chapters of Acts applies to our Body of Christ! There is so much to mine from those chapters and the examples of the early church to put into practice. Amen!
Speaking of practice, how is practicing your faith going today? How can we pray for you to grow in Christ, love like Him, put on your new nature, and activate your spiritual gifts? Talk to Sarah or me and process with some friends. God created you for such a time as this and has great plans for you to discover and step into. PTL! Sometimes we worry. Do you realize that is a sin and one that distracts you from God and His best for you? Repent and choose the joy that comes from an activated faith life. ODB (below) speaks into that as does the UR's message about finding encouragement. One of my morning readings encourages us to write down and share three things God has given you as His child and to share them with some friends. Who can you encourage by sharing what God and salvation have blessed you with? We are very blessed and blessed to be a blessing!
I think the most important devo today comes from The Word for You today (below). Meditate on that and ask God to give you holy imagination for ideas of how to reach others for Christ or to have fun encouraging some neighbors. Ask for dreams and vision and ideas. I pray that over us all often. God will and is and I'd love to hear some of your thoughts abut how to be His church more earnestly. Pray for us to see, hear, and respond well to God's plans and to be a church that prays in power for God to move in mighty ways and to be glorified in and through you and us as we respond to Him and His plans. We are created, redeemed, gifted, empowered, gathered and sent to be His Good News Delivery Company. We all have a role. What's yours? What will you do about that today? I'm praying for you and for us to be His Church on mission with Jesus! Come! lead us Lord! Your Kingdom come and will be done in, thru, and around us! Amen! Be encouraged and choose the joy found in faithfulness today. And encourage and help each other! Amen
ODB:
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Nancy feared the future, seeing only trouble. Her husband Tom had fainted three times during a hiking trip in rural Maine. But doctors at a small nearby hospital found nothing wrong. At a larger medical center, where doctors conducted additional tests, they also found no problem. “I was very afraid,” Nancy stated. As her husband was released, she questioned the cardiologist one last time, asking, “What do we do now?” He gave her words of wisdom that forever changed her outlook. “Go live your life,” he said. “It wasn’t in a flippant way,” Nancy recalls. “It was his advice to us.”
Such guidance captures Jesus’ instruction in the Sermon on the Mount. He said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25). Such guidance doesn’t say to ignore medical or other problems or symptoms. Instead, Christ simply said, “Do not worry” (v. 25). He then asked, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (v. 27).
The prophet Isaiah offered similar wisdom. “Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come’ ” (Isaiah 35:4). For Nancy and Tom, they’re inspired now to walk more than five miles a day. No longer walking with worry, they step out with joy.
By Patricia Raybon
REFLECT & PRAY
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What’s your greatest fear? How can giving your worry to Christ enhance your life?
If I’m feeling worried today, dear Jesus, please grant me confidence to give my fear to You as I live out Your peace.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus promises to provide for our needs. One of the most dramatic examples of God’s comprehensive care took place in the desert as the Israelites journeyed to the promised land. They were totally dependent on the divine Shepherd during their forty-year trek. And, just as God provides for the birds (Matthew 6:26) and clothes the flowers (vv. 28-29), He provided food for His people and clothing that didn’t wear out (Deuteronomy 8:3-4)! Moses explained the purpose of the wilderness classroom: “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna . . . to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord ” (v. 3). Our physical cravings are meant to reveal a deeper, spiritual dependence on God whose words sustain us. We can spend our energy focused on His interests, knowing He’ll take care of all our needs (Matthew 6:33).
Tim Laniak |
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UR: Finding Encouragement
David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. - 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV)
After high school, I had high hopes for my continued education because I passed the university entrance examinations. To my surprise, however, I wasn’t on the list of candidates for my preferred school. I had prayed and trusted God, but my expectations were dashed and discouragement set in. I was also upset because a friend who had earned a lower score was accepted. I became angry with God, my faith became weak, and I stopped attending our local church.
However, I heard a sermon that changed my perspective. The preacher talked about a difficult time in David’s life and emphasized that despite all that befell David, “He encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” He was at risk of being stoned, yet he did not give up on God. Thinking of David’s response, I felt ashamed of how I reacted to my situation.
I learned that God wants us to encourage ourselves during our difficult times by remaining close to God. If we hurry off in anger, we might not learn what God has to teach us. Eve n when we feel discouraged or distressed, we can follow David’s example and encourage ourselves in the Lord. Doing so demonstrates our true trust in God.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, give us wisdom to learn from our challenges. Help us to encourage ourselves through scripture and by staying close to you. Amen.
TWFYT:
Saturday, March 08 2025
REMINDER to Spring Ahead tonight! Turn those clocks ahead and get to bed early to catch up.
Worship tomorrow 10am
Tues 6PM Spiritual Gifts Dinner Huddle (So far only one responded. Email me if you are able to attend)
Wed. 10-12 Donut Day at Bread Ministry; 6PM Dinner Huddle
Thurs. 6:30 Support Team Zoom
Sat. 10-1 Clothing Closet
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Good Morning Surrendered Followers of the Way! Yes Jesus is the Way. Prov. 3:5-6 reminds us to not lean on our own understanding but to trust God and He will direct our steps. I think we all can use help with that, or at least time to time. What voices are you listening to? Turn off the noise and focus on God. Rest in Him and allow Him to direct your steps today. Peter sank in the choppy seas when his focus shifted from Jesus. He is our Leader and the Way. Keep your focus on Him and may we encourage and spur each other onto the works He has planned for us! Shift your fears to trust and joy as you start lifting praise. Check out the devos below as you abide and prepare to follow Jesus, THE Way, today! I'm praying for you! Yes turn off the noise, abide, revive, and walk in grace to His best for you today! Amen!
TWFYT:
UR: Wind and Waves
When [Peter] saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” - Matthew 14:30 (NIV)
For a while in my life, I struggled with anxiety. It had become so bad that it was difficult for me to visit the local supermarket for groceries and other necessities. Usually, I would just grit my teeth and push through, but sometimes the fear became overwhelming. It seemed silly to fear something so mundane, especially in comparison to the bravery of Peter as he stepped out onto the waves. Forget jumping out of a boat! I could hardly take a stroll down aisle 9 for laundry detergent.
I found it comforting to know that even brave people like Peter can fall when facing frightful wind and waves. But ultimately, it wasn’t Peter’s bravery that helped me conquer my own fears. It was realizing that what truly mattered was that he kept his eyes on Christ. It wasn’t until Peter took his eyes off Jesus, focusing on the things to fear, that he began to sink. Admittedly, that’s when I begin to sink into my fears as well.
Through Christ, I have come a long way in my anxiety and have made strides I never thought possible. I do my best to focus on Christ rather than the wind and waves and take comfort that he will be there to catch me if I fall. Christ will always be there to save us, no matter the storm.
Today's Prayer
Father in heaven, in you we can do all things and overcome any obstacle. Help us to keep our eyes firmly focused on you. Amen.
Saturday, March 08 2025
Good Morning Choosing Joy Always, Trusting in God Who Is Always with Us, Co-Laborers! Please Lord! We give our anxiety, hurts, doubts and fears to you. Bring Your promised peace and strength as we choose joy and grow in trust today! Lead us to the joy of bringing your love and hope alive. Thank You for being with us always and working all things together for good! Come! Amen! Contemplate that salutation today as you turn off the noise, refocus on God with thanksgiving, and receive His help and joy. He loves you and has great plans for you that sometimes leads through the hard times and stretching of faith. Redirect your focus to Him with praise and thanksgiving and choose the joy that trust brings! Amen! Keep building those gratitude lists!
Work through the devos below with God and maybe a friend or two. And then check out the summary from Harvest Prayer about what to do when we don't know what to pray or feel like praying. There is also a link to a lengthy but very good article from them about being an effective pray-er. God expects us to pray and has called us to become a House of Prayer for the Nations. The Holy Spirit teaches us and helps us to pray, even when we don't know what to pray. PTL! He has been speaking to us about prayer recently. Commit to learning to stay focused on God in prayer and allowing Him to use your prayers in powerful and effective ways! I'm praying for you and I know that God is with you always and does have some really good plans for you! Rejoice! Choose joy as you focus on Him and grow in trust. He is able and He will bring about His good plans for you and us! HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU! RECEIVE IT AND FOLLOW HIM TODAY. Amen!
Sarah Young
Joyce Meyer
Chuck Swindoll
The Word for You Today
The Upper Room: Resting in God's Love
[O God], when I am afraid, I put my trust in you. - Psalm 56:3 (NRSVUE)
As I sat down in the hospital waiting room, I hoped that everything would go well with my father’s surgery. The doctor had said that it was not a serious procedure, but my anxiety began to increase as time wore on. As I waited, I prayed. I found great relief when I entrusted my father’s life to God. Even so, two more hours passed until the doctor came to tell me the surgery had been successful.
During this time I learned to rely fully on God. When fear and anxiety want to grow in our hearts — even when the shadow of death looms near — resting in God’s love will refresh us and bring us strength and comfort.
Let’s not give fear a chance to control us. God is greater than all our fears and anxiety. When we surrender our worries to God, we can find our burdens lifted and rest in the assurance that God is always with us. Through each struggle that life may bring, God’s goodness and protection surround us. Knowing this, we can trust in God’s care through all our days.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, so much in life can make us fearful. Teach us to lay our struggles at your feet, trusting that you will bring the comfort we need to live joyful lives. Amen.
Harvest summary
As a summary, remember these things when you don’t feel like praying:
1. God is still there! Trust Him!
2. Breathe in a fresh awareness of His presence!
3. Turn your thoughts off of your issue and onto Jesus, the One who can deal with your issue. Play worship music and join in! Focusing on Jesus is a good antidote to situations that keep us from wanting to pray, or knowing what to say in prayer.
4. Silence/Listening – sometimes it is best to simply get quiet and listen for the voice of God. There is healing in stillness and wisdom in listening. Remember – even if you don’t sense that you hear anything from God, He is there.
5. Remember that the Holy Spirit is there to give voice to your prayers in alignment with the will of the Father when you are unable.
6. Consider that what might be causing your inability to pray or your lack of desire for prayer might be sinfulness in your life. Use Psalm 51 as your prayer so that God can reveal the hidden things, and so that you can take the time to repent and confess. Your relationship will be fully restored and a prayer of thankfulness will likely be the result.
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